Due to the dangerous nature of Alpha Matter, Alpha mining operations have a bloody and destructive history throughout the galaxy. For generations, the Alpha Star Council struggled to maintain peaceful relations between its member races, as factions became embroiled in bitter conflict over Alpha resources. Numerous worlds were lost due to catastrophic mining accidents or deliberate sabotage.

Approximately one thousand years ago, a breaking point in galactic politics was reached when a catastrophic accident on a council-lead joint mining operation resulted in the loss of the entire Hoag System, and an estimated 2 billion casualties across the council races. This latest in a long line of mining-related disasters, and the then-recent arrival of the Structs Conglomerate to the galactic stage, led to the establishment of still-controversial legislation banning colonization of worlds with known Alpha deposits, effectively requiring all mining operations to be unmanned.

Not recognized as sentient lifeforms by the Alpha Council, Structs quickly became the preferred labour force for Alpha mining across the galaxy, with their effectiveness greatly outmatching the initial automated or remote mining efforts attempted by other races.