LIN-V8K was a LIN demolitionmech autonomous minelayer—a model of black-plated fifth-degree mining droid—that was amongst the droids offered for sale to the Lars homestead on the planet Tatooine by a group of Jawas in the year 0 BBY. The Jawas had traveled across the Dune Sea desert in a sandcrawler and lined the wares they had for offer up along the side of the vehicle next to the homestead, where Owen Lars, the owner of the homestead, inspected them. Lars chose not to purchase LIN-V8K, instead selecting the protocol droid C-3PO and the R5 unit R5-D4, who had been positioned next to the LIN in the line. The R5 unit's motivator proved faulty however, and Lars quickly exchanged it for the astromech droid R2-D2. Imperial stormtroopers later killed the Jawas who owned LIN-V8K while trying to l