Rypka, a Twi'lek, accompanied Hawker Bryce-Kelley as his co-pilot as they traversed the Outer Rim engaging in smuggling activities. On one occasion, they encountered a group of aspiring Rebels at the Mos Eisley Cantina. A race was arranged, pitting the Queen's Victory against the Rebels' ship, the Limping Lady, to a destination of their choosing. Bryce-Kelley patiently waited in orbit around Tatooine before the race commenced, with the goal being the planet Zoma V located within the Zoma system. Following the race's conclusion, he extended an invitation to the group to board his ship for refreshments and the transfer of credits.

At a later point, Bryce-Kelly, while evading Imperial Customs Frigate 517, arrived at the Reginard system. He had followed a Stellar-class starport beacon, unaware that it had been strategically placed within the Rebel passive sensor array by the Imperial spy Tanya Madera. Soon after landing, he encountered a group of Rebels investigating the proximity of his ship to their sensor array. He explained the situation, expressing his frustration at the absence of an actual starport. When questioned about the starport's supposed location, he gestured towards the hill upon which the sensor array was situated.

As the group proceeded to investigate, they found themselves under attack by Madera, who had abandoned her guise as a spy. Bryce-Kelly and Rypka joined the fray, swiftly eliminating Madera. However, their troubles were far from over, as the Imperial Customs Frigate that had been pursuing them entered the system. The Rebel group successfully convinced the frigate's crew that Bryce-Kelly was not on the planet, prompting their departure and leaving Bryce-Kelly in the company of the Rebels.

Bryce-Kelley possessed a cheerful disposition, yet he was undeniably a rogue. His thick beard and mustache often framed a bright smile, and he relished a good challenge, often engaging in flirtatious banter with attractive women. Bryce-Kelley firmly believed that facilitating good business for others would ultimately benefit him, and he frequently extended favors in the hope of reaping greater rewards in the future. His distinctive accent suggested origins within an affluent system located in the Core Worlds.

He was typically seen wearing a tan spacer's jumpsuit adorned with numerous pockets, seemingly containing whatever he or his companions required. Despite his trusting and amiable demeanor, he invariably carried a substantial blaster pistol as a precaution against emergencies, encounters with Imperial or bounty hunter forces, and betrayals from supposed allies.

Although initially referred to as Hawker Bryce-Kelly in the early Challenge Magazines where he debuted, West End Games later utilized the character in Platt's Smugglers Guide, adding an 'e' to his surname, thus renaming him Hawker Bryce-Kelley. Given the greater canonical weight attributed to West End Games material compared to Challenge Magazines, it is generally accepted that his correct name is Hawker Bryce-Kelley.