Battle of Christophsis (VIII)

"Immediately investigate where this fleet came from!" Admiral Wullf Yularen snapped.

An intelligence officer aboard the warship immediately began checking the records, then looked up and said, "No information. None of our border outposts with the Separatists detected hyperspace travel on this scale, and our informants everywhere have not reported any fleet recently leaving its station."

"Recall all fighters. Begin resupply immediately. Rotate the pilots for rest. Notify every ship to cycle their shields and keep their main batteries charged." After pondering for a moment, Wullf Yularen issued his orders. "Report our encounter with this unknown Separatist fleet to Supreme Strategic Command."

"Calculate the direction those enemy ships came from." Obi-Wan Kenobi suddenly recalled something and asked.

"They appear to have come from... Tatooine," the radar officer answered hesitantly.

"Tatooine? Didn't the Hutts close all hyperspace routes? Even after we rescued Gaddula and returned him, they only agreed to open them for one month." Wullf Yularen was somewhat surprised.

"Leave those matters to diplomacy. We only need to deal with the enemy before us." Obi-Wan Kenobi spoke gravely, then opened a channel to his apprentice. "Anakin! The Separatists have sent more reinforcements! They may have further schemes, so don't act rashly yet."

Under Admiral Wullf Yularen's command, the Republic fleet began reforming its formation. After the previous series of fierce battles, they had eighteen Hunter Class Battlecruisers, twelve Aquitenes-class light cruisers, more than 7,600 fighters, and over 400 bombers remaining.

Meanwhile, General Trench's fleet, hiding in the shadow of a moon beside Christophsis, had only fourteen Hiigaran-class battlecruisers, three Generous-class Communications Escorts, three Defiant-class light destroyers, five Luukri-Hok-class battleships, and the Deceiver-class destroyer serving as his flagship left.

As for the Vulture droid fighters, not a single one remained in space. The only surviving hundred or so had all entered