As the strike force headed towards the planet, the Jedi realised what they were after and Jedi Master Nin gathered all his fighters together and headed out to intercept the strike force. The Republic fighters left the strike force and moved to block the incoming Jedi and hundreds of fighters clashed in the skies above the planet. Although the Jedi pilots were far superior to anything the Republic could throw at them, the number of Republic ships kept them from reaching the bombers.