As a male Chiss, Tanik held the rank of Mid Commander within the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet of the Chiss Ascendancy. He operated under the command of Admiral Ar'alani on the warship Steadfast during the Imperial–Grysk conflict.
The family of Tanik, a Chiss family, maintained a rivalry with the family of Senior Captain Khresh.
Timothy Zahn's 2019 novel, Thrawn: Treason, featured Tanik in a supporting role.