An HK-87 droid leader oversaw a squad of HK-87 assassin droids under the direction of Witch Morgan Elsbeth. This particular droid was characterized by its dark red paint job and a dark grey [photoreceptor]. Its equipment included an electrostaff, and it was draped in a worn, grey cloak.
In the year 9 ABY, these droids received orders to secure a star map illustrating the Pathway to Peridea. Their target was a Nightsister stronghold situated on the planet Arcana. However, their mission took an unexpected turn when they encountered former Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano, who had already acquired it. The droid leader strategically positioned itself while the four droids in its unit advanced on Tano, trying to strike her with their electrostaffs. In response, the Jedi lured them into the stronghold's basement, creating openings in the ceiling with her lightsabers to trap them. Subsequently, the leader engaged Tano in a short-lived duel, which ended swiftly with Tano overpowering and decapitating it. After their leader was destroyed, the four remaining droids initiated their self-destruct sequence using their explosive charges, compelling Tano to flee to avoid the resulting explosion.