The Nqei were a race of reptoid scholars who ruled a group of three heavily colonised star systems in close proximity to each other. A thousand years before Rogue Squadron encountered them, the Nqei were almost wiped out by the first Dukhang rampage. As a result, they enhanced their bodies with technology, turning themselves into lumbering suits of armour. They spoke more like droids than living beings, and seemed to have a form of non-verbal communication, possibly of a technological nature. For a millennium, they protected their borders jealously from all incursions.
Their vessels seemed to be constructed totally at random, asymmetric to the point of headache, with no designated front or back apparent. None bore any resemblance to each other past their lack of uniformity. This was a result of the insectoid creatures called Fabricators which built all their technology.
Rogue Squadron sought to form an alliance with them against Malphuus's Imperial Union. They initially declined, but after a group of their Fabricators started to breed and mutate uncontrollably and nearly destroyed Hunter, they saw that their isolationism could potentially lead to disaster.
When the Dukhang emerged for a second time, the Nqei were once again forced to fight for their survival, eventually joining Rogue Squadron in battle over Kalaxh as the failsafe virus was released.