Merj, located in the Outer Rim Territories, served as the original homeworld for the Morseerian species, who are known to breathe methane. This planet aligned itself with the Confederacy of Independent Systems throughout the Clone Wars. Close to this time, smugglers like Has Obitt secretly provided it with various pieces of equipment and resources. To contribute to the war against the Galactic Republic, Morseerian scientists residing on Merj were engaged in the development of a biological warfare weapon intended to target the Grand Army of the Republic's clone troopers, which triggered a mission aimed at stopping the research and capturing the scientists to be used as leverage in a future prisoner exchange.