In the year 9 ABY, Grand Admiral Thrawn initiated an offensive against the planet of Bpfassh, coupled with assaults on two other adjacent star systems within the Sluis sector. This was a calculated ploy intended to draw the New Republic Defense Fleet to Bpfassh. Thrawn's objective was that by enticing the fleet into a concentrated location, he would be able to seize the undefended, abandoned capital ships stationed at Sluis Van. He planned to use mole miners, which had been previously pilfered from Lando Calrissian's mining operation situated on Nkllon.
The New Republic were indeed drawn into Thrawn's trap, and following the theft of the mole miners, the Empire launched an assault on the Sluis Van shipyards. Despite this, the attack was ultimately unsuccessful.