Shens, a male Human, was an Imperial Cadet hailing from the Raithal Academy. In the year 19 BBY, Shens journeyed to Coruscant to complete his training and graduate, achieving the rank of Ensign. He counted Caul Gentis and Laurita Tohm among his friends, with the latter holding the distinction of being the valedictorian of their Academy class.
Secretly, Shens was also a participant in the coup led by Headmaster Gentis, a celebrated figure from the Clone Wars. Gentis's aim was to seize control of the Galactic Empire to put an end to the constant deaths of Imperial officers, which he attributed to the orders of the Emperor. Following Gentis's instructions, Shens and Caul imprisoned Tohm within a prototype TIE Fighter, intending to prevent his involvement in the initial stages of their coup. Although the initial assaults successfully eliminated seventy-two Imperial officers and severely injured Palpatine, Shens was among the masked attackers who faced a counterattack from Darth Vader. Vader used telekinesis to hurl a massive stone fragment onto Shens and several others, crushing them. Tohm, having escaped the fighter by activating its ejection seat, stumbled upon the injured Shens, who clutched at his ankle and pleaded for assistance. Tohm was aghast to discover that his friend, along with Gentis himself, had betrayed the Emperor. He questioned Shens about his lack of involvement, and Shens explained that his deformities and success made him too conspicuous, increasing the risk of detection. Shens then implored him to assassinate Vader, but Tohm retorted that he should have made that request sooner before shooting Shens in the head, resulting in his death.