Rake Gahree's story begins at Skystrike Academy, where he trained as an Imperial cadet. He formed strong bonds with fellow cadets Wedge Antilles and Hobbie. Together, with the assistance of rebel operative Sabine Wren, they plotted to defect and join Phoenix Cell. Tragically, during their initial escape attempt, Captain Vult Skerris destroyed Gahree's TIE fighter, resulting in his death.
Gahree's path led him to Skystrike Academy, where he trained to become an Imperial cadet and a skilled TIE fighter pilots. His friendships with Wedge Antilles and Derek "Hobbie" Klivian grew strong. Two years prior to the pivotal Battle of Yavin, Gahree and his comrades grew increasingly disillusioned with the Galactic Empire after witnessing the Empire's ruthless destruction of unarmed rebel vessels that had already surrendered. They transmitted a message to Phoenix Cell, which was intercepted by the rebel agent known as Fulcrum. Fulcrum then contacted Phoenix Cell, who dispatched Sabine Wren, a former Imperial cadet and skilled Mandalorian warrior, to facilitate their extraction.
As Governor Arihnda Pryce and Agent Kallus arrived to investigate the potential presence of defectors at the Academy, Gahree and his two friends had discussions regarding the inherent risks involved in their planned escape. Later, Wren connected with Antilles, informing him of her mission to rescue him and his companions. An opportunity for their escape presented itself when Governor Pryce and Instructor Goran ordered all cadets to participate in a simulated battle exercise. However, this was a carefully orchestrated trap devised by Pryce to expose the defectors. Following Wren's instructions, the defecting cadets steered their TIE fighters in the direction of a rebel CR90 corvette.
However, Pryce then disabled the solar collector panels on the TIE fighters, leaving the pilots stranded and vulnerable in the vastness of space. A squadron of TIE interceptors, commanded by Captain Vult Skerris, launched an attack on the rebel corvette. Acting under Pryce's direct orders, Skerris unleashed a barrage of fire upon one of the cadets' TIE fighters, striking Gahree's craft. Gahree met his death while his friends and Wren were forced to watch helplessly. Despite this tragic loss, his friends and Wren persevered and successfully executed a second escape attempt.
Later, Antilles and Klivian sought to offer their condolences to Gahree's parents, making a visit to their home. However, the two quickly realized that their friend's family held them responsible for their son's demise, harboring a desire for revenge. Their fury intensified when Goran offered Antilles and Klivian the chance to return to the Empire, leading them to demand justice for Rake's death.
Gahree was a young pilot who enrolled in the Skystrike Academy, a training ground for future starfighter pilots of the Empire. He befriended Antilles and Hobbie, sharing their growing dissatisfaction with the Empire's increasingly brutal methods. This discontent motivated their escape attempt, which ultimately resulted in Gahree's tragic death. He clearly shared a strong bond with his father, mother, and brother, who sought retribution against Antilles and Hobbie, mistakenly believing them to be directly responsible for Gahree's demise. They turned against Goran when he showed a willingness to welcome Rake's alleged 'murderers' back into the Galactic Empire.
Gahree's character made his debut as a supporting figure in the Star Wars Rebels episode titled "The Antilles Extraction." The episode premiered on Disney XD on October 8, 2016, and featured the voice acting of Corey Burton, who also provided the voice for Instructor Goran in the same episode.