Surround the Point and Strike the Reinforcements
"What?! Gandrossi VI? Recover the exploration ship immediately—we're heading there at once!!" Master Sass-Tiin shouted.
"Careful, Master Sass-Tiin," Master Yoda said. "The truth buried beneath events, you should seek. Why such devastation? Barloi's ship."
Sass-Tiin calmed down at once and quickly said solemnly, "Thank you for your guidance, Master Yoda. I will proceed with caution."
"May the force be with you," Master Yoda said with a nod.
"May the force be with you as well." Sass-Tiin bowed.
Master Sass-Tiin recalled half of the ground forces—6,000 Clone Troopers—and left behind one Acclamator-class assault ship to provide cover. He then led the remaining Acclamator-class assault ship and four Hunter Class Battlecruisers in a small fleet directly toward Ganderos VI.
"Have we established contact with the planet?" Sass-Tiin asked.
"No, General Sass," the communications officer replied. "We checked the communication logs. Ganderos VI stopped transmitting any information two days ago."
Sass-Tiin's expression darkened. "Why was this only discovered now?!"
"General, this sort of situation is actually quite common. Astronomical phenomena such as solar flare changes or supernova explosions can disrupt hyperspace communications within a particular region. That is why no one noticed when Valk Planet lost contact before," the communications officer said.
"So if it hadn't been for that distress signal, we would never have noticed what was happening on Ganderos VI?" Sass-Tiin frowned deeply.
"That is correct."
"Then there is a high chance this is a trap," Sass-Tiin said.
"So, are we retreating?" the Clone Trooper Commander asked.
"No. We will continue the investigation," Sass-Tiin answered.
"Forgive my frankness, General Sass, but perhaps General Barloi had the same mindset at the time," the Clone Trooper Commander said. "And this enemy exploited precisely that mindset, which was why General Barloi met such a fate."
Sass-Tiin