R5-J1 was an astromech droid who worked in the droid maintenance shop in the Retreat during the Galactic Civil War between the Galactic Empire and the Alliance to Restore the Republic. The Retreat was a settlement on the planet Cholganna, created by the surviving crew members of the Confederacy of Independent Systems Munificent-class star frigate Sa Nalaor, which crashed on to the planet whilst trying to escape Republic space at the end of the Clone Wars. R5 aided Rewna, the Human survivor in charge, whilst in the shop as much as possible, although its usefulness was limited by the fact it often broke down due to excessive wear.