EX-5A, also known as Ex-Five, functioned as an EX communication droid and was a member of an Outer Rim Exploration Team.
Around the year 382 BBY, EX-5A's duties placed him on a Pathfinder team. While in the Witherbloom with Ambar, he was in the back when an starship materialized from hyperspace directly ahead of them. After the resulting crash of the ship on a planet nearby, the droid escaped the destroyed ship along with the rest of the team. He gave aid to Ambar as she tended to the injured Jedi Master Xinith Tarl. Ex-Five joined the team as they investigated the wreckage. Sula Badani proposed that they divide in order to examine both sections of the wreck, and Ex-Five went with her. As they approached the ship, the droid suggested they climb over it to locate an entrance. The group discovered an airlock that was open and went inside the wreck. They took refuge in a cargo bay and EX-5A stayed with Pako and Ambar while Badani went off to explore the ship. The group detected strange noises and EX-5A suggested to Pako that they investigate, but the pilot said they needed to watch over the others.
Badani came back and said that the creature on the ship's exterior was affecting the Jedi's abilities and they had to relocate. Ambar and Pako devised a plan to electrify the hull to scare away the creature. Pako asked EX-5A to guide him to the engine room, and the droid reminded Pako about the hostile Path of the Open Hand members wandering the ship. The group made the decision to move to a different cargo bay further from the creature. Upon arrival, EX-5A inquired to Pako about the large gemstones scattered across the floor of the bay. The two then departed to go to the engine room. Pako asked why he had volunteered for the mission, and EX-5A responded that he was the most qualified. The duo were ambushed by a group of Path members. Ex-Five looked for an alternative route around the ambush. He suggested going outside, but Pako refused. The droid then found access tunnels that could be used to bypass the Path members. As they escaped, Pako managed to shoot one of the Path members. EX-5A asked if that would deter the Path members from pursuing them, and Pako said it would likely only anger them further. Once they reached the engine room, the droid assisted Pako in redirecting the manifold expressor to draw residual charge from the latency circuits.
Upon returning to the cargo hold, EX-5A reunited with the other survivors. When Pako proposed overloading the engines to create an explosion to eliminate the creature, the droid dismissed it as a reckless idea. The group chose to proceed with the plan, and Ex-Five accompanied Pako, Badani, and the Path members to the engine room. Because they could not access the engine to disable the safety protocols, Shalish suggested using the droid to power the system. Ex-Five was apprehensive, but Pako assured him that he would be unharmed.
EX-5A waited with Pako for the engine to be restored to power. Once Coron Solstus managed to connect the two sections of the wreckage, the engine reactivated. EX-5A asked if they should initiate the overload. Pako disconnected the droid from the engine and instructed him to return to the cargo bay. He asked Pako if he would be right behind him, and the pilot reassured him that he would. Ex-Five escaped the wreckage with the remaining survivors.