Melch, designated "Laborer 429," was a male Ugnaught slave laborer who worked on Reklam Station, an Imperial-controlled salvage yard located in the atmosphere of the planet Yarma, which recycled old Y-wing starfighters. Melch aided members of Phoenix Squadron, as well as pirate Hondo Ohnaka, in capturing some of the Y-wings, which were to be used by the rebellion. In return, Melch and several other Ugnaught workers were allowed to escape the station with Ohnaka aboard a stolen Sentinel-class landing craft.
Later, Melch and the other Ugnaught workers took part in an unsuccessful mission to steal cargo from an Imperial cargo transport. However, the cargo ship drifted into the stormy upper atmosphere of the planet Wynkahthu. Melch's fellow Ugnaught crew were killed boarding it but Melch survived. Melch was bitter than Hondo had abandoned them but reconciled with Hondo when the latter offered to give him a 2 percent stake in the treasure. Melch survived the dangerous second attempt to retrieve cargo from the Imperial ship. He later rejoined Hondo and his business partner Azmorigan on their travels.
