261 was an astromech droid of the R-series, painted black-and-gold, that served the Galactic Empire. Prior to the Battle of Yavin, droid 261 was one of many tasked with upkeep duties on the Death Star battle station. Despite its programming, the astromech turned against its masters, absconding with classified files and fleeing aboard a Lambda-class T-4a shuttle. In response, the Empire contracted Bossk, a Trandoshan bounty hunter, who tracked 261 down to Tatooine, recovering it from a Jawas clan. Subsequently, the renegade astromech was returned to Imperial custody.