Warburton served as the commanding officer for a group of rebels. These rebels made their home in the sub-facility located on the planet of Tol Ado, and Warburton himself was a Wookiee.
Warburton operated alongside a number of individuals who had escaped from the Deathblock, which was the Imperial prison on Tol Ado, circa 0 ABY. His rebel group would routinely harass Imperial patrols that were sweeping through the sub-facility, attempting to recapture the escaped prisoners. During one of these planned raids, Warburton encountered Luke Skywalker, along with his companions Sidney Shortfang and Erling Tredway. Tormey, Warburton's scout, had discovered them wandering through the sub-facility. When the Imperials launched an assault on the sub-facility, Warburton instructed Skywalker and his allies to defend it as proof that they were not Imperial spy.
The defense was a success, but the men under Warburton's command wanted to execute Erling Tredway due to his incompetence during the fight. However, Skywalker provided Warburton with evidence implicating a spy within their own ranks. Santo, Warburton's lieutenant, was exposed as a traitor after Skywalker witnessed him in secret communication with the Imperials. Warburton swiftly ordered the Twi'lek's execution for his treason.
Troy Denning was the creator of Warburton, who made his debut in one of the role-playing scenarios found within Jedi's Honor, a 1990 role-playing supplement produced by West End Games. The outcome of the attack against the Imperials during the scenario is determined by the decisions made by the reader. If Skywalker allows Tredway to bungle the ambush, the Imperials are not completely defeated, and Warburton's forces are forced to devise a desperate plan to defend against a superior Imperial force. Conversely, if Skywalker prevents Tredway from botching the ambush, Tormey and his Gorums decisively defeat the Imperials, placing the sub-facility forces in a favorable position for the future.