In 22 BBY, a significant engagement occurred during the Clone Wars. The Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems clashed when Separatist forces attempted to seize the strategically important planet Nexus Ortai. Defending the world was a Republic fleet under the command of Admiral Wullf Yularen, High Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, and Jedi Commander Ahsoka Tano. Although the Republic successfully fended off the initial Separatist assault, they suffered substantial losses. The arrival of General Grievous with Separatist reinforcements forced the Republic to withdraw from the system.
Early in the Clone Wars, specifically in 22 BBY, the Confederacy of Independent Systems launched an invasion of the peaceful world of Nexus Ortai. Their aim was to conquer the planet due to its strategically vital location at the intersection of hyperspace lanes. A Galactic Republic fleet, led by Admiral Wullf Yularen, High Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, moved to defend the planet and engaged Confederate Munificent-class star frigates and Vulture droid starfighters in the skies above Nexus Ortai. Flying Delta-7B Aethersprite-class light interceptors, Kenobi and Skywalker spearheaded Ghost Squadron's V-19 Torrent starfighters against the Separatist Vulture droids. Although Ahsoka Tano, Skywalker's Padawan, was eager to join the battle, Skywalker forbade her from doing so, instructing her to remain aboard one of the Republic's Venator-class Star Destroyers and learn from Yularen.
After both sides had incurred significant damage, Skywalker directed Ghost Squadron to target the Separatist command ship, while he and Kenobi dealt with the droid starfighters. Despite Kenobi's objections, Skywalker single-handedly engaged numerous droids, showcasing his exceptional piloting skills by destroying them. Ghost Squadron eventually succeeded in destroying the command ship, leading the Republic to believe the Separatists were defeated. However, more Separatist starships arrived, under the command of General Grievous. Recognizing that their forces could not withstand the Separatist reinforcements, Kenobi ordered Yularen to prepare the fleet for retreat, much to Skywalker's frustration. After retrieving the two Jedi and the remaining pilots of Ghost Squadron, the Star Destroyers entered hyperspace and withdrew to Republic territory.
The loss of Nexus Ortai resulted in the Republic's retreat from almost two dozen worlds within the Mid Rim region of the galaxy. This was primarily due to the Confederate Navy's superior size, possessing four times as many ships as the Republic. In response, Jedi Master Mace Windu suggested attacking one of the InterGalactic Banking Clan's shipyards that produced warships for the Confederacy. Subsequently, Skywalker devised a strategy to infiltrate the Separatist-controlled Gwori system and destroy the shipyards located there.
The battle of Nexus Ortai was depicted in the 2008 graphic-novella titled The Clone Wars: Shipyards of Doom, penned by Henry Gilroy and visually rendered by the Fillbach Brothers. It serves as a tie-in to The Clone Wars TV series.