Hija was a Human male lieutenant of the Imperial Navy during the early stages of the Galactic Civil War. He served as the chief gunnery officer aboard the Imperial Star Destroyer Devastator, under the command of Lord Darth Vader. In 7 BBY, Vader commanded Hija to conduct an orbital bombardment of the planet Falleen in order to stop an Imperial-produced bacterial plague from spreading out of control. Later, in 0 BBY, Hija participated in the Devastator's capture of the Rebel CR90 corvette Tantive IV, during which he spotted an escape pod fleeing from the impounded Rebel vessel. However, Gunnery Captain Bolvan ordered Hija not to fire on the pod because the Devastator's gunnery sensors detected no lifeforms aboard.