Scouting mission to the Massassi Site

A secret scouting mission to the Massassi Site on Yavin 4 was performed a little over four months after the start of the Clone Wars at the behest of Palpatine, Supreme Chancellor the Galactic Republic. Palpatine, who was in fact the public persona of a Dark Lord of the Sith called Darth Sidious, knew of Yavin 4's past affiliation with the Sith Empire of old, and he wished to recover any worthy dark side relics from the ruins. He dispatched Vice Chancellor Mas Amedda to scout the ruins, with the protection of elite clone troopers. While Amedda could not find any artifacts, he did not return empty-handed. The Vice-Chair managed to bring several piranha beetles, a species of carnivorous insect. Palpatine was satisfied with that discovery, as he immediately foresaw how he could use those insects in the future. Many years later, Palpatine, now sole leader of a Galactic Empire, would use piranha beetles in the execution of Bevel Lemelisk.