The rebel TIE fighter, famously known as "Sabine's masterpiece," was originally an Imperial TIE/ln space superiority starfighter, flown by Baron of the Empire Valen Rudor. However, Ezra Bridger and Garazeb Orrelios, members of a rebel cell situated on the Outer Rim planet of Lothal, stole it. The two rebels then utilized the starfighter in an attack against an Imperial Troop Transport, freeing Imperial prisoners on board. They falsely reported to their leaders, Hera Syndulla and Kanan Jarrus, that they had deliberately crashed the fighter, when in reality they had concealed it elsewhere on Lothal. Sabine Wren, the crew's artist, learned of its existence and adorned it with her artwork, deeming it among her finest creations. Later, the fighter played a role in a rescue operation to free Jarrus from Imperial imprisonment.
This TIE Fighter was initially under the command of TIE pilot Baron Valen Rudor during a simple resupply mission, until Zeb and Ezra absconded with it while fleeing from stormtroopers. They flew the ship away from the city of Kothal and across the open plains of Lothal with fruit juice obscuring the ship's viewport. When Ezra and Zeb informed Kanan about the TIE, he insisted that they dispose of it, fearing that stealing a TIE would draw unwanted attention and potentially alert the Empire to their location.
After disabling the locator beacon, Ezra and Zeb journeyed to the Rebel rendezvous point, where they discovered a situation unfolding at a farm belonging to Morad Sumar, a friend of Ezra's parents. They employed the TIE to aid the farmers in escaping the Imperials. Subsequently, they proceeded to reunite with the Rebels. Zeb and Ezra falsely claimed that they intentionally wrecked the stolen TIE Fighter; however, they had secretly stashed it away, where Sabine discovered it and embellished it with graffiti art and Rebel insignia.
The TIE Fighter was instrumental in the Rebels' mission to liberate Kanan, who was being held captive on Tarkin's Star Destroyer, the Sovereign, which was in orbit above Mustafar. They remotely piloted the TIE Fighter onto the ship, and once inside, they unleashed an electromagnetic pulse, rendering the Sovereign powerless. As the vessel began to explode, Hera, Zeb, and Sabine utilized the starfighter to make their escape, while Ezra and Kanan commandeered the Inquisitor's TIE Advanced and rejoined the transport ship they had stolen, fleeing into hyperspace alongside a fleet of fellow rebels.
At one point, Fulcrum agent Ahsoka Tano piloted the starfighter within an atmosphere. Additionally, sometime after joining the rebellion, Captain Rex flew the TIE fighter in space combat in proximity to a white celestial body.