During the Imperial Era, a secret operation known as Tase Somer's black market network facilitated the covert trading of extraordinary artifacts. The network's inventory included relics dating back to the High Republic Era. After the smuggler Remy listed a stolen Nihil Path engine for sale on the network, Beol De'Rruyet, the founder of De'Rruyet Industries, purchased it. Subsequently, De'Rruyet embarked on an endeavor to duplicate the device and its unique capabilities.
This underground marketplace served as a hub for the clandestine exchange of exceptionally rare and valuable artifacts. Accessible through a terminal interface, the network presented a series of artifact listings, each accompanied by an image and descriptive text, along with an option to place a bid. The network's reach was extensive; the renegade archaeologist Doctor Chelli Aphra herself characterized it as the largest she had ever encountered. Some of the artifacts offered for sale originated from the time of the High Republic Era.
In the time of the Galactic Empire, the network operated in utmost secrecy. The smuggler Remy came across a Nihil Path engine within the wreckage of a starship on the planet Dol'har Hyde. He then offered it for sale on the network. Beol De'Rruyet, the founder of De'Rruyet Industries, discovered the listing and accessed the network from his office in De'Rruyet Center on the planet Midarr. De'Rruyet finalized the purchase of the Path engine from Remy on Corellia and returned to Midarr, where he began his attempts to replicate the device and its functionality.
Although his reproduction was not perfect, De'Rruyet planned to showcase the Path engine at a expo. This prompted his rival, Domina Tagge from the Tagge Corporation, to enlist Doctor Chelli Aphra to investigate his claims and prevent the release of the technology. Aphra, accompanied by the smuggler Sana Starros, infiltrated De'Rruyet Center and investigated De'Rruyet's office. After discovering messages about the Path engine, Aphra found the network from which De'Rruyet had acquired it. Intrigued, Aphra considered exploiting the network to amass wealth by identifying buyers and stealing from them. Their activities were interrupted when De'Rruyet entered his office and found them at his desk.
Although the network lacked a formal designation, its initial mention occurred in the comic Doctor Aphra (2020) 8, penned by Alyssa Wong and released by Marvel Comics on March 24, 2021. It subsequently reappeared in the following issue, also written by Wong, with pencils by Minkyu Jung, and published on April 21, 2021.