"And this battle will be very difficult..." Pong Krell said gravely. "I just spoke with the navigators. We can't confirm the conditions at the landing sites. In other words, our Acclamator-class assault ships will have to land in complete darkness."
"We can't even determine the terrain or enemy fire distribution?" Anakin asked.
"We can scan the basic terrain, but that's all. If I were the Umbaran commander, the moment our fleet appeared in planetary orbit, I would have prepared every possible landing zone." Pong Krell said.
Anakin Skywalker frowned deeply. "And our starfighters are completely unsuited for fighting on this planet. It's also impossible to use our usual LAAT gunships for assault landings. We can only set the Acclamator-class ships down directly on the surface. That reduces our mobility to its absolute minimum."
"Exactly! Once our troops are aboard the assault ships, that is the last of our mobility." Pong Krell said. "After that, it will be a frontal assault."
"If that's the case, our only option is to land directly near the Umbara capital. But there's no doubt we'll face extremely heavy resistance. I can't even guarantee the ships will land safely." Anakin Skywalker said.
"Send out an advance force. Force a landing, and conduct reconnaissance by fire." Pong Krell said bluntly.
"But that will cause severe casualties, especially among the advance force. I don't think any of them will survive." Anakin Skywalker said with a frown.
Pong Krell shook his head and asked, "Then let me ask you, young Skywalker. Did we lead our army to the Umbara planet in order to bury our troops?"
"No! Retaking the Umbara planet is of vital importance! General Grievous is extremely cunning. On the very day he committed the Separatists to the Umbara planet, he immediately sent troops to invade the