Early during the time of the Imperial Era, Ciddarin Scaleback, who operated as an information broker, collaborated with Clone Force 99 to pilfer sansanna spice from the criminal figure Roland Durand with the intention of creating problems for him with the Pyke Syndicate. Durand, previously a client of Scaleback, was trying to gain prominence within the criminal world, and had become entangled with the Pykes, seizing control of Cid's Parlor in the process. Scaleback, with the aim of reclaiming her establishment, orchestrated a clandestine operation through the mining tunnels situated beneath the city to take the spice that Durand was storing in her office, which he was obligated to deliver to the syndicate. The act of stealing was a success, but Durand pointed the finger at Scaleback as the culprit, leading the Pykes to abduct the child Omega as leverage to force Scaleback and her associates to recover the spice, a mission made more difficult due to an irling outbreak within the tunnels. Following the successful recovery of the spice, the Pykes removed one of Durand's horns as a cautionary measure before their departure.