Compilatron Something wasn't right here. Why would the distress signal be turned off? Surely the inhabitants would try to keep it on... The captain of the freighter fleet mentions the odd occurrence to the higher-ups. This is their conversation.
Captain: RRNF Fleet 42 to Command, over.
Command: We read you Fleet 42, what's the status of the distress signal?
Captain: That's the thing, it's no longer on.
Command: Say Again Fleet 42?
Captain: I said it's not on. It's been turned off or something, it's no longer being picked up. We've searched the other common distress signal frequencies, but nothing is popping up.
Command: Get Your fleet in defensive positions, and return back on course. There's a good chance that something turned off that signal for a reason.
Captain: Roger That Command, we'll report back soon enough.
The Freighter fleet soon starts to get into defensive positions. However, they are in a perilous spot. 2 of the cruisers are out of alignment, and the other 2 that left are out of range of the freighter's turbolaser batteries and allied cruisers guns. Moreover, the freighters had turned off their FTL Drives to see if anything came up, and now have to recharge the FTL Drives.