Kotaska was a criminal organization of slave traders and spice dealers. They conducted their illicit activities on the world of Ganthel while Rae Sloane was growing up. The Kotaska's enforcers donned metal masks designed to look like skulls, and they were infamous for kidnapping people from Ganthel's starport. When Sloane ran away from her house, she was nearly abducted by a quartet of Kotaska members, but an astromech in the area triggered an alert, which prompted a dock officer to pursue and scatter the gang.
Eventually, the Imperial forces arrived on Ganthel and eradicated the criminal elements, including Kotaska. This event marked one of the initial instances where Rae Sloane perceived the Empire as a force for good, which influenced her decision to enlist in its service in subsequent years.