The initial armed conflict known as the skirmish at Qoribu occurred between the Killiks and the Chiss Ascendancy relatively early in their war; it was triggered by a border disagreement that arose in the period just before the larger conflict. The Killiks, having been displaced from their original home and confined to relatively small habitats, initiated the war by extending their territorial claims into areas bordering Chiss space. This unforeseen expansion by the insectoid race provoked the ire of the Chiss Ascendancy, who grew concerned that the Killiks' presence would disrupt their tranquil society. As the Killiks persisted in their territorial expansion, the Chiss sought assistance from both the Galactic Alliance and the New Jedi Order in an attempt to arbitrate the situation; however, when the Killiks advanced to Qoribu, posing a direct threat to Chiss territory, these diplomatic efforts proved unsuccessful, and the Chiss Ascendancy formally declared war against the Killik hives.
In an effort to offset their comparatively weaker military capabilities, the Killiks, guided by the former Jedi Raynar Thul, recruited several Jedi Knights who had previously collaborated and fought alongside Thul during the Yuuzhan Vong War. Nevertheless, despite the strenuous efforts of both factions, neither side could gain a decisive advantage over the other, leading to a condition of deadlock and significant losses on both sides.