Karris, a Commander within the Imperial ranks, was subordinate to Moff Delian Mors, who commanded the Imperial Forces situated on Ryloth. During a smuggling run to Ryloth by the rebel YT-209 freighter named Eclipse, he served under her command. The rebels, despite the Empire's efforts, managed to escape capture.
Serving as an Imperial Commander, Karris reported directly to Moff Delian Mors, the Governor of Ryloth and commanding officer of the local Imperial forces. In the year 13 BBY, he was stationed at the Imperial space traffic control center on Ryloth. Following the rebel YT-209 freighter Eclipse successfully bypassing Imperial defenses in orbit around Ryloth and disconnecting from automated control, a power surge occurred within the Imperial grid. Karris assured that his technicians would repair the damaged systems. Subsequently, Denner, a technician, informed him that one freighter, the Tirion, was unaccounted for.
Mors then directed Karris to dispatch Lieutenant Niol's squadron of V-wing starfighters to locate the missing freighter. The Tirion was, in reality, the rebel freighter Eclipse, engaged in smuggling gattis-root extract to Lessu. After the Eclipse successfully evaded Imperial forces and delivered its cargo to Lessu, Mors instructed Karris to impose a lockdown on the city and to order the warship named Despot to intercept the YT-209 freighter. However, the Eclipse once again eluded Imperial forces, escaping into hyperspace. Upon Mors's order for a complete lockdown of the city, Karris suggested that the ship's crew were merely smugglers. Mors, however, responded that she was determined to acquire information regarding the freighter, its cargo, and the intended recipients.