The Qektoth Confederation was an organization whose members opted for biological technology, rejecting conventional, non-living technology. A group of scientists from a colony within the Kathol sector established it around 17 BBY. This group, the Qektoth Confederation, was of the opinion that conventional technologies diminished a being's spirit, which in turn weakened the immune system and caused early death. To validate their theories, the scientists carried out multiple experiments; however, their conclusions were generally met with skepticism, particularly from businesses that produced non-biological technology.
In the subsequent years, the Confederation attracted more scientists who shared their beliefs. Gradually, the group's objective evolved, transforming it into a militant organization that targeted those they held responsible for weakening the galaxy's inhabitants. This shift in focus led many of the Confederation's original founders to depart, repulsed by the organization's transformation. Under the leadership of Trann Shoame, the Confederation persisted in its biological research and also expanded into chemical research. At a research facility located in the Qu'mock system, they started creating a potent biological weapon intended for use against the entire galaxy.
Shoame intended to initiate the Confederation's war against its adversaries once the new weapon was perfected, a combination of a biochemical agent and an unknown technology discovered by an expedition dispatched into the Kathol Rift. Moff Kentor Sarne became aware of the Confederation's activities and sought to exchange the unknown technology for a number of new starships. Sarne supplied the Confederation with the requested ships and crews, and one of the assault shuttles was utilized to test their newly developed weapon.
In 8 ABY, the New Republic corvette FarStar engaged the Qektoth attack cruiser Scourge in the Qu'mock system. The New Republic ship launched a mission to retrieve data from the research station within the system, with the goal of creating a cure for the Confederation's novel weapon.