Shokaku's and Shoho's strike wave had rendezvoused with Soryu's and Jun'yo's strike wave. Their combined strength wasn't as strong as they would have liked but it would have to do. They closed in on the carrier's location and spotted the enemy fleet. The surface fleet that had been spotted before had reinforced the carrier's escort. To their surprise, they didn't see a CAP anywhere.
A burst of flack nailed a D3A1 destroying it and three other bombers around it! The pilots looked below them to see if they're flying over Abyssals but one of the Zeros saw a flash come from the carrier, three bombers were destroyed! That Abyssal was hitting them at a range that far outclassed anything Shokaku, Shoho, Soryu, or Jun'yo had seen. They pressed on and more AA fire met them but while it wasn't as accurate it came in rapidly and heavy! The explosions constantly rocked the bombers and they fell from the sky alarmingly quickly! They are ordered to loosen their formation and take basic evasive action which helps to a degree. Their escort spots a formation of fighters coming in off their left wing and move to intercept.
AA fire intensifies as the entire Abyssal fleet opens fire! Their smaller caliber AA guns open fire sending hundreds of tracers towards the bombers! Seven bombers are shot down in rapid succession and eighty percent of the strike wave has damage ranging from light to heavy, the torpedo bombers start to descend. The dive bombers enter their dive! They drop their bombs and pull away!
The torpedo bombers come under concentrated AA fire and they drop their torpedoes before banking away! Columns of water explode upward as three torpedoes find their mark! As the bombers head back to their carriers they check the target to see what damage they have caused. To their surprise, the carrier didn't seem to have any damage and was launching aircraft despite being hit by multiple bombs.
The AA fire suddenly stopped. The Zeros reported the fighters they were engaging broke away so they reformed with the bombers. Fireballs started to appear and they saw over a dozen dots dive on the carrier. They assume, correctly, that they are American dive bombers and watch their attack. Multiple bombs slam onto the deck but besides destroying aircraft on the deck it looks ineffective. Two columns of water explode upward off its port side but, once again, it doesn't seem to affect the carrier. They report what they see to their home carriers.
"No visual effect? Understood."
"Ise-san, what's your status?"
"...Ise-san, do you copy?
"...Ise-san, please respond."
"Shokaku-san, Ise-san and Hyuga-san have sustained heavy damage. Aircover would be appreciated. Over."
Despite her calm tone of voice Shokaku could hear the worry in it. "Understood Amagi-san. I'm vectoring my Zeros to your position now. We are going to rendezvous with the second fleet. Over."
"Understood. Thank you, Shokaku-san. Out."
Amagi lowered her hand and looked to Ise and Hyuga. Ise had a list of seventeen degrees to port while Hyuga had a list of fifteen degrees. Their clothes are torn and ragged and Ise has a wound on her stomach that is bleeding profusely along with dozens of smaller wounds all over her body. Her sister doesn't look any better with deep wounds across her body that are steadily bleeding.
"Hang in there, Ise-san."
Karukaya looked like she was about to cry, actually, she was. Amagi could see tears running down her cheeks. Ise tried to smile but winced. "I'm... not going to sink... not while you're by my side."
Oyodo is staying close to Hyuga and providing what help she can. "Sister, how are you doing?"
"Could be a lot... better... big sister. I do have Oyodo-san next to me so... not everything is bad," she smiled at her.
"My floatplanes report no Abyssals within fifty kilometers of us," Maya reported.
"Good. I want you to keep searching though."
"Got it."
Shokaku's and Shoho's fighters and bombers landed for refuel, rearm, and repair. The last attack had depleted their strength and they had no spares to replace the losses. It's worse for Shoho because her aircraft capacity is smaller than Shokaku's to begin with. Because of her losses she can not send up any full-strength squadrons.
"How are we going to sink that carrier? It has strong AA defense along with the fleet supporting it, plus, we didn't have to fight a CAP during the first attack and we still lost a large portion of our strike force."
"Maybe we don't attack the carrier with aircraft."
"Go on."
"The battleships break off escort from the carriers and attack the fleet directly. We can provide air cover for them and assist in sinking the Abyssal battleships and battlecruisers."
"It would be better than sending our aircraft into concentrated AA fire. I'll radio Akagi-sama and see what she thinks."
"Akagi-sama do you read?"
"What do you need?"
She felt her anger rise at Akagi's tone but tried to let it go. She was stressed, they all were. "We have a plan to sink that carrier- "Yes, we send in wave after wave until it's a shattered hulk!"
She let her calm down, "That might work but our aircraft would be depleted and we would be unable to defeat airstrikes or launch our own."
Akagi was silent for a moment but she could hear Kaga talking in the background. "What do you suggest Shokaku-san?"
"We have our battleships break off and attack the fleet directly. We can provide air cover and assist in sinking the Abyssals battleships and battlecruisers. Our battleships won't go alone of course, they'll have cruisers and destroyers backing them up."
Akagi was silent, "I agree with this plan. Let's rendezvous first."
Forty-five minutes later, Shokaku's CAP spotted Zeros flying towards them. They met them and greeted each other before continuing on their patrols. Ten minutes later, both fleets spotted each other and as they got closer the damage to the First Carrier Division became apparent. They all had burn marks and blisters on their hulls. Their flight decks, save for Soryu's and Jun'yo's, are destroyed. Ryujo is the worst, half of her flight deck is just gone and her skin is marred by burn marks, lacerations, and her skin is burned away around her flight deck.
"Akagi-sama."
"Shokaku-san. Where's the rest of the Tenth fleet?"
"Ise's force was heavily damaged by suicidal torpedo boat attacks when they attacked Midway. They're trailing behind us by eight nautical miles."
"Understood. We'll continue without them. We need to sink that carrier before it gets away."
"Right."
"Shokaku-san do you copy?"
"I read you Ise-san."
She sighed, "I hate to say this but, my sister and I would be a liability in any further battles. I'm sending Amagi-san, Maya-san, Oyodo-san, Sagiri-san, Ushio-san, Hatsuharu-san, Yakaze-san, and Umikaze-san to assist in the attack. The rest of my task force is heading back to Japan. Over."
"Understood Ise-san. I wish you a safe journey. Out."
"What was that about?"
"Ise has concluded that her sister and herself are too damaged to participate in any further battles. She's sending Amagi-san, Maya-san, Oyodo-san, Sagiri-san, Ushio-san, Hatsuharu-san, Yakaze-san, and Umikaze-san to assist while the rest of her task force heads back to Japan."
Akagi nodded and turned to Ryujo. With a hint of worry, she turned to Hibiki. "Hibiki-san, take Ikazuchi-san and Inazuma-san and escort Ryujo-san to Ise-san's taskforce. I am not losing a carrier this day."
She nodded and the three of them took up escort formation around Ryujo who nodded thankfully to Akagi, she nodded back. Ten minutes later, the rest of the Tenth fleet arrived. The capital ships broke off and increased speed leaving a hand full of destroyers escorting the carriers. To assist in the upcoming clash, Shokaku, Shoho, Soryu, and Jun'yo planned another airstrike against the Abyssal fleet. The objective of this attack is to cripple or sink the battleships and battlecruisers. As their planes are taking off they receive a report from their floatplanes detailing the position, speed, and heading of the enemy fleet. They are heading away from Midway. The objective of the airstrike immediately changed. Its new objective is to cripple the carrier's propulsion.
The Zeros fly ahead of the bombers but a few stay with them. After a long, uneventful flight, the Zeros spot an Abyssal fighter squadron. The Abyssals turn towards them but the Zeros decline a head-on pass. The Zeros entered a climb and the Abyssals fly under them. The Zeros turn around and see the Abyssals turning back on them. This time they engage in a head-on pass! They fire a burst and break off to avoid the return fire! They shoot past each other and both formations break up to engage. Some go high some go low and some turn around for a third head-on!
While the Zeros are engaged in a dogfight the bombers and their light escort continue on. After another eight minutes of flying a small squadron of Abyssal fighters are spotted heading straight for the bombers! The Zeros increased speed and entered a climb to get above them. They dive and open fire tearing into the fighters and sending six plummeting toward the ocean! The remaining six attacked the bombers shooting down five! Their tail guns opened fire while the Zeros flew over them! When the Abyssals turned for a second attack the Zeros shot them all down!
More Abyssals are reported above them and off their left and right wings! The Zeros split up and position themselves to intercept the fighters. Seven more bombers are shot down before the Zeros can intercept! As the Abyssals climb and start to flip around for a second pass the Zeros strike! At the peak of their climb, the Abyssals have no speed and are easy to shoot down! Only four Abyssals survive the attack. They attack again shooting down three more bombers before diving away!
Three minutes later, the enemy fleet comes into view. It's already under air attack from the Americans. Two of the battlecruisers are on fire and a third seems to have disappeared in a cloud of fire and smoke! Wildcats are engaged in dogfights above the fleet while torpedo bombers make their runs against the enemy carrier! Flack clouds and tracer rounds fill the sky and planes from both sides seem to be constantly shot down! A small squadron of Abyssals spot the bombers and turn towards them but the Zeros break up the attack!
The B5Ns drop altitude and attract anti-aircraft fire! Flack clouds create a minefield and tracer rounds fly all around them! The D3A1s don't attract the same amount of attention. The carrier starts to turn as the B5Ns drop their torpedoes! They're aimed toward the stern of the ship but with the increase in speed and the turn to port it dodges the torpedoes! The rest of the bombers have to adjust their attack angle. The D3A1s dive on the carrier and release their bombs! Unfortunately, most of the bombs miss and the few that hit do minor damage. The last of the torpedo bombers come in and drop their torpedoes! The carrier turned... and two torpedoes found their mark slamming into the stern of the ship! As the bombers fly back to their carriers they see the Abyssal carrier continue to turn.
"Understood. Good work, out."
"I take it the airstrike was effective."
"It was. Two torpedo hits were scored near the stern of the ship. Its rudder looks to be jammed."
"Excellent."
Above the battleships and their escorts, the bombers fly overhead. Half of the Zeros stayed with the bombers while the other half covered the fleet.
"Enemy fleet sighted."
"What's the status of the carrier?"
"It's trying to escape with the fleet. Looks like they don't want a fight."
"Too bad for them because we're going to give them one!"
"We need to weaken its escort first. Target the battleships, battlecruisers, and cruisers first."
"Understood Yamato-sama!"
They picked their targets and fired! Their shells screamed towards their targets either landing short, long or on target! The Abyssals turned to fight and the carrier kept running. Maya and Tone targeted the carrier and AP shells slammed into its flight deck and island.
Yamato's guns roared for the third time! Two shells slammed into the battleship's bridge blowing huge holes in it! Her next salvo scored one hit that didn't do any damage. The Abyssal's salvo scored two hits but the shells failed to penetrate. Ahead and off her port side, Amagi fired her fifth salvo. She scored four hits against an enemy battlecruiser whose return salvo scored two hits.
Amagi is leading the battlecruisers in a line. Kongo is second in the line Hiei is third and Haruna is fourth. Kongo was firing at the second battlecruiser, Hiei was fighting the third battlecruiser and Haruna is targeting one of the battleships. Yamato is leading the battleships with Nagato second in line and Mutsu third in line.
Maya and Tone had spent the last couple of minutes shelling the enemy carrier and the damage showed. Its flight deck is marred with shell holes, fires are raging in the hanger deck, and its island is a wreck. Despite this damage the carrier is still pulling away from the fleet. Because Maya and Tone are focusing on the carrier two heavy cruisers are left unengaged.
One of the cruisers fires at Tone! Two shells land on her aft deck destroying two of her floatplanes and starting a fire that quickly spreads! She immediately switched her fire to the cruiser and Maya switched her fire to the second cruiser. In her second salvo against her target Maya scored six hits. One of the shells destroyed its floatplane and started a fire. Two of the shells hit the superstructure while a fourth slammed into its bridge! Two shells punched through its belt armor and exploded causing black smoke to pour from the holes! The smoke made it difficult for Maya to spot her shell splashes. Ahead and off their starboard bow, the battleships' and battlecruisers' secondary battery fired away!
Their destroyer screen engaged the Abyssal destroyers with their guns! The Abyssal destroyers turned towards them! Hatsuharu and Yakaze score multiple hits on two destroyers and within a few minutes, they were burning wrecks! Fubuki and Akatsuki engaged two destroyers with their guns while Shimakaze engaged one destroyer with her guns and launched her torpedoes toward their formation!
Gunfire from the Abyssals caused heavy damage to Umikaze, Sagiri, and three more destroyers! Two of Shimakaze's torpedoes find targets immediately sinking the destroyers!
"Yeah! How'd you like those torpedoes!?"
The destroyers turned away. "Be on the lookout for torpedoes!"
In the skies above the fleet, the Zeros providing aircover headed back to their carriers. Six minutes later another strike wave of dive bombers and torpedo bombers fly overhead. The dive bombers are going after the carrier but the torpedo bombers are going after the battleships. The AA firepower of the fleet was weakened due to gun positions being destroyed in the battle.
Two torpedo bombers are shot down as they approach. The first group scored two hits on their target! The second group scores three hits while the third scores one! Unfortunately, the final group score no hits on their target.
The D3A1s start their dive on the carrier! Heavy AA fire shoots three of them down before they drop their bombs! The carrier slowly turns to starboard and adjusts speed. Four bombs are near misses but six find their mark! Two bombs slam into the fore-end of the flight deck but fail to penetrate the deck! One bomb lands just behind the island while another lands directly on a gun turret destroying it! The last two bombs land on the aft-end of the deck which has been weakened from multiple 203 mm shell hits. The two bombs smashed through the weakened deck and explode in the hanger! The explosion destroys the planes in the hanger and ignites fuel and oil which starts to burn violently! Eight minutes later a huge explosion rocks the carrier! The weakened portion of the flight deck is destroyed or blown upwards as a fireball rises!
"Yeah!"
"That right there, is a beautiful sight!"
"Let's sweep these Abyssals aside and finish it off!"
"Stay on your guard! We're still in battle!"
"They're still trying to defend the carrier!"
BOOOOOOM!
A colossal and ear-shattering explosion roared across the ocean! A second fireball rose hundreds of meters up into the air from the carrier! It disappeared into an ever-expanding cloud of smoke and fire!
"Fucking hell!"
"What was that!?"
"It came from the Abyssal Demon!"
"Did its boilers explode!?"
"Who cares! There's no way it survived that!"
"The Abyssals are retreating!"
"Yamato-sama! Permission to peruse!"
"...No. Our primary objective is not complete yet. Set course for Midway."
The fleet changed course for Midway. As they approached they saw dozens of fires raging across the two islands. On the other side they could see flashes as the American fleet started their bombardment. For twenty minutes straight both fleets shelled Midway. The island was subjected to two airstrikes from both the Japanese and American carriers during that time.
After twenty minutes a bright light suddenly blinded both sides and an explosion that overshadowed the one from the carrier rocked the island! A huge ball of smoke and fire rose up from the island reaching well over a kilometer into the sky! All of the structures on Midway were erased, dozens of fires raged uncontrollably across both islands and towers of thick, black smoke rose hundreds of meters into the sky.
For a second everything is quiet. "VICTORY!"
The fleet exploded into cheers! Nagato staggered when someone latched onto her back. "Wh-? "We did it big sister!" Mutsu rubbed her head into her sister's shoulder. Nagato shook her head but smiled. "We did. Today, victory is ours."
The destroyers hugged whoever was closest to them and Amagi watched with a smile. "Amagi-sama." She turned and Kongo, Hiei, and Haruna are behind her. "It was an honor to fight by your side. Amagi-sama." Kongo bowed and her sisters followed suit. Amagi smiled and bowed, "It was an honor to fight by you and your sisters Kongo-san."
Oyodo stood next to Maya. "What do you think is going to happen now?"
Maya looked at her, "The war will continue. This is a major victory but the war is still raging across the world. This is going to be a long war Oyodo-san, but we will win. Of that, I have no doubt."
Oyodo nodded, "I agree, and I will fight by your side until that day comes."
"...Thank you, Oyodo-san."
"Akagi, this is Enterprise. Do you read?"
Akagi broke her embrace with Kaga. "I read you, Enterprise-san."
"Did you have any causalities?"
"No. You?"
"No... I wish you a safe journey home."
"...As do I Enterprise-san."
She ended the transmission. Akagi opened one to the fleet. "Everyone, our mission is complete. Let's head home."
A/N
That's a wrap. I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I did writing it. To all of my readers out there, thank you. Stay safe out there.
Echo08, sighing off.
