A stormtrooper known by the designation TK-626 served the forces of the Galactic Empire on the planet Lothal in the years preceding the pivotal Battle of Yavin. It is known that TK-626, a known schoolyard bully, was specifically chosen by Imperial forces due to his aggressive tendencies. He and a number of other stormtroopers sought to capture Sabine Wren, a rebel operative on Lothal, as she planted an explosive device on the TIE/ln space superiority starfighter landing platform. This was intended as a diversionary tactic, allowing the Ghost to escape the area without being detected. The explosive detonated, covering TK-626 and his fellow troopers in a coat of blue paint. Months later, he was again on guard at the TIE depot and tried to stop Sabine, but the depot was ultimately destroyed.
TK-626 was a young male of the human species who functioned as an Imperial stormtrooper on the world of Lothal. During his formative years, he was a notorious bully within his school environment, a fact reflected in his extensive record of detentions. At some stage, an Imperial recruiter visited his school and recruited him because of his aggressive traits. The recruiter told TK-626 that bullies made excellent stormtroopers because they did not question orders or think for themselves. As with many fellow stormtroopers, TK-626 exchanged his name for a stormtrooper designation number: TK-626. While stationed on Lothal as a stormtrooper, TK-626 took pleasure in bullying and intimidating the local population. Furthermore, he harbored a strong dislike for rebels and yearned for the opportunity to capture one, thereby demonstrating his unwavering loyalty to the Galactic Empire.
On one particular night, TK-626, alongside his stormtrooper colleague MB-223, was engaged in patrol duties at an Imperial airfield on Lothal, where several TIE fighters were stored. After patrolling the airfield for 108 times without any incident, they discovered the young Mandalorian rebel Sabine Wren spraying the starbird emblem onto the wings of a TIE fighter. Sabine goaded the two stormtroopers into shooting at her but their shots missed and instead hit the TIE fighter's wing. Sabine then taunted them and led them on a chase through the airfield. TK-626 and MB-223 fired their blaster rifles at her but kept on missing the agile rebel. The two stormtroopers were determined to catch since they were already in trouble for damaging the stabled TIE fighters and knew that they would be in even more trouble for letting a rebel escape.
While MB-223 continued the pursuit, TK-626 used his helmet's comlink to contact his commander to bring reinforcements. Later, he caught up with MB-223 who had cornered Sabine near a TIE fighter. While Sabine hid in a secure hiding place, she repeatedly taunted her pursers into shooting at here. At some point, TK-626 caught side of her swerving between two rows of TIEs. He and MB-223 pursued her and snaked through the assembled TIE fighters. Despite repeatedly firing at Sabine, TK-626 and his companion were unable to catch her. Sabine was familiar with stormtrooper procedures and was able to run rings around her pursuers. Shortly later, his commander arrived with three other stormtroopers. He order his men to split up and capture her alive. While TK-626 and his fellow stormtroopers spread out across the airfield to hunt down Sabine, the young Mandalorian rebel continued spray-painting starbird symbols onto a TIE fighter's wings. As a final "parting gift," she also planted a paint bomb on the TIE's wing, which was disguised as the starbird's "beak." Before Sabine could sneak away, she was cornered by one of TK-626's companions. However, Sabine escaped by kicking him to the ground. The trooper's yell and blaster fire drew the attention of three his comrades who tried to apprehend Sabine. However, the young rebel was able to escape their blaster bolts by darting between and underneath the TIE fighters. Sabine succeeded in escaping the airfield by drawing all of the Stormtroopers into one group. While the commander was preoccupied with questioning his men, she took the opportunity to sneak past them and climb over a wall.
By the time TK-626 and his comrades had arrived at the scene of the blaster fire, Sabine had escape. At that point, TK-626 saw the blinking "beak" on the TIE fighter wing but it was too late. As planned, the TIE fighter exploded, destroying the vessel and throwing all the stormtroopers onto the tarmac. TK-626 and his comrades survived the explosion but their armor was covered in purple paint. The paint bomb also created a starbird-shaped purple cloud that was seen by many Lothal locals. Sabine's diversion enabled her rebel friends on the Ghost to escape the city unnoticed.
As punishment for their failure to apprehend the graffiti artist Sabine Wren, TK-626 and MB-223 were not allowed to rotate for service aboard a Star Destroyer and were relegated to night patrol duty. Months after his encounter with Sabine, he and MB-223 were performing their 109th patrol of the airfield when they encountered Sabine while patrolling the wall on north side, sector nine. Having learnt that her rebel leader Kanan Jarrus was being imprisoned above Mustafar, Sabine and her friends decided to steal a transport from the airfield in order to rescue him.
TK-626 and MB-223 attempted to shoot Sabine but she dodged their blaster bolts. TK-626 alerted the other stormtroopers at the airfield who joined the pursuit. Eventually, Sabine leapt onto the fuselage of a TIE fighter. In the midst of the commotion, Sabine's rebel friends stole a Gozanti-class cruiser which began taking off from the airfield. Sabine escaped on the transport but not before leaving her signature parting gift. When TK-626 noticed the bombs attached to the assembled TIE fighters, he remarked "not again!" before diving for cover as the explosives destroyed an entire row of TIE fighters. TK-626 and MB-223 survived the explosion which also left behind a smoke plume in the shape of the starbird symbol. Humiliated for a second time, TK-626 bowed his head in shame.
TK-626 was equipped with a complete set of stormtrooper armor and carried an E-11 medium blaster rifle.
TK-626 was a bully by nature, finding satisfaction in intimidating others. These characteristics were the primary reason for his recruitment into the Empire's stormtrooper ranks. TK-626 frequently followed orders without question and lacked independent thought. He did not object to relinquishing his name in favor of a stormtrooper designation, which then became his new identity. Similar to numerous other stormtroopers, TK-626 held a deep-seated hatred for rebels and sought to prove his dedication to the Empire through their capture. TK-626 and his fellow stormtroopers also generally subscribed to a "Shoot first; ask questions later" approach.
TK-626 also expected other sentient beings to automatically show him respect because he was a stormtrooper. TK-626 was irritated when he and MB-223 accidentally damaged several TIE fighters while hunting down the rebel Sabine Wren because they knew that the TIE pilots were very protective of their starships and enjoyed bullying the lower-ranking stormtroopers. TK-626's inability to "think outside the box" enabled Sabine to run circles around him and his comrades. In addition, TK-626 hated art and despised artists.
TK-626 also joined the Lothal stormtrooper corps because he hoped to be assign to a Star Destroyer which would allow him to travel the galaxy. As punishment for his failure to apprehend the rebel graffiti artist Sabine Wren, he and his comrade MB-223 were relegated to night patrol duty. Following the theft of a transport from the Imperial airfield, TK-626 feared being reassigned to permanent cleaning duty.
Despite being known for his mean streak TK-626 seemed to respect and work well with fellow stormtroopers and never targeted his bullying side towards his comrades.
TK-626 was conceived as a relatively minor antagonist within the animated television series Star Wars Rebels, which debuted on Disney XD on October 13, 2014. He was featured in a point-of-view chapter within Michael Kogge's children's spinoff chapter book titled Rise of the Rebels, which draws its content from episodes of the Star Wars Rebels television program.