Solenoid, a droid type, was in service to the Techno Union. This organization was a prominent technological enterprise that sided with the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the period known as the Clone Wars. Around 21 BBY, the Separatist corvette to which Solenoid was assigned was attacked within the Ando system by a Galactic Republic task force. During this battle, the ship suffered critical damage and was subsequently boarded by a group of freelance agents who were allied with the Republic. Solenoid, along with Gura Tran, a Thaereian military envoy, launched an attack on the agents in a corridor, with the intention of killing them and seizing their starship. However, despite their efforts, the agents ultimately prevailed over Solenoid and Tran.
Solenoid, a droid model, performed duties for the Techno Union, a major technological power in the galaxy. During the Clone Wars, a war fought between the Confederacy of Independent Systems and the Galactic Republic, the Techno Union aligned itself with the Confederacy. Approximately in 21 BBY, Solenoid received an assignment to serve as the Techno Union's representative on a Separatist Corellian corvette. The ship was en route to a Separatist base located on a planetoid inside the Ando system. However, shortly after its arrival in the system, Strike Force Cularin, a Republic flotilla dispatched to capture the Separatist base, attacked the corvette.
The corvette sustained significant damage in the engagement, resulting in the deaths of most of its crew. Subsequently, the Heroes of Cularin, a team of Republic-aligned freelance agents, boarded the damaged Separatist vessel to search for any remaining survivors. Shortly thereafter, Solenoid and Gura Tran, a Thaereian military envoy to the Confederacy who was traveling on the corvette, encountered the agents in a corridor. Recognizing the agents, Tran immediately instructed Solenoid to eliminate them so that they could commandeer the agents' starship. Solenoid promptly engaged the agents in combat, while Tran provided supporting fire from behind the droid, attempting to use Solenoid as partial cover. Nevertheless, despite their combined efforts, the agents ultimately overcame Solenoid and Tran.
Solenoid was an armored, boxy, and somewhat clumsy-looking droid. His appearance bore a resemblance to Wat Tambor, the Skakoan leader of the Techno Union. He was equipped with a built-in comlink, a remote receiver, a blaster rifle, and a vocabulator that gave him a metallic voice. Additionally, Solenoid was fitted with an implant that would cause his memory core to self-destruct if anyone attempted to shut him down or tamper with it. Solenoid possessed strong diplomatic skills and was also a formidable combatant. However, during his confrontation with the Heroes of Cularin, the confined environment aboard the crippled corvette limited his ability to fully utilize his fighting skills.
Solenoid was a creation of Ronald A. Heintz and made his debut in Decision: Almas, a 2004 roleplaying adventure that formed a part of the Decisions trilogy within the Living Force campaign. In this scenario, players assume the roleplay of the Heroes of Cularin. Solenoid's exact combat abilities and equipment are determined by the players' roleplaying experience tier. If the players are in the lower or medium tiers, Solenoid's statistics are based on those of a B1-series battle droid. His equipment consists of a blaster rifle, a comlink, a remote receiver, and a vocabulator. If the players are in the higher tier, Solenoid retains the same equipment as in the lower tiers, but his statistics are instead modeled after a B2 super battle droid. Furthermore, in the upper tier, Solenoid's statistics are based on those of a droideka. He is equipped with two antique, integrated repeating blasters and a set of deflector shields that are slightly weaker than those of a droideka, but he lacks a vocabulator. The "Characteristics" section of this article describes the equipment and armament Solenoid possesses when facing player characters in the lower, medium, or higher experience tiers. During their battle with Solenoid and Gura Tran, players have the option to either destroy or capture Solenoid. If captured, he refuses to communicate with them.