Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

Let's get to it.

Chapter 27- Mustering

(February 1, 1944)

Admiral Nimitz climbs out of the car as it pulls to a stop along one of the lines of docks at Pearl Harbor. The base is busier than it has ever been.

Nimitz walks up along the dock, looking up at the hull of the USS Intrepid as the carrier is having some minor work done to prep it for the upcoming battle.

Over the last month, Nimitz has been calling all available assets to Pearl Harbor for the battle ahead. Nimitz had left a number of escort carriers in South Pacific, as well as the light carriers Langley and Cabot and two old battleships, to maintain the illusion that the US and British fleets were still active in the South Pacific. All of their more modern warships, and many older ones, were all brought north.

Nimitz' plan called for the US fleet to be divided into four different task forces. The first of them, Task Force 17, under command of Vice Admiral Fletcher, had sailed from Pearl Harbor just the day before. It was comprised of three carriers (the USS Saratoga and two light carriers), two capital ships, and 20 more escorts. TF 17 was headed north. Their assignment was to protect the Aleutian Islands, which was believed to also be a target as a distraction from the main operation at Midway. However, intelligence suggested that the Japanese were not sending a particularly strong fleet after the Aleutians. With the support of aircraft flying from the Aleutians, Fletcher's fleet would be strong enough to turn back the Japanese.

The other three task forces were being sent to the Midway. Two of them were the carrier task forces, with over ten carriers between the two by the time the battle was believed to begin. The first was Task Force 38, also known as the Third Fleet, under the command of Admiral Halsey, which contained some of the more advanced warships and more fleet carriers. The second, Task Force 54 or the Fifth Fleet, was under the command of Admiral Spruance. While his carriers were still very capable, many of his escort ships were older ships, particularly his battleships.

The Third and Fifth Fleets would be statyioned north-east of Midway. Their job was similar to the American task forces in the original Battle of Midway: to surprise the Japanese fleet and sink them with airstrikes.

The third task force, Task Force 36, was under the command of newly promoted Vice Admiral Willis A Lee, had a different task. Nimitz was worried that the invasion fleet, which was powerful enough in its own right, may be able to make it all the way to Midway. Therefore, Task Force 36 had been formed with half a dozen American and British battleships, 5 cruisers, and 18 destroyers. Lee was ordered to take up station around Midway itself, within just a few miles of the atoll. TF 36 was to protect Midway from any landing or bombardment attempt by the Japanese invasion fleet.

Also present for the battle was a massive force of submarines, under the command of Vice Admiral Charles Lockwood. The force included 34 American submarines and 2 British submarines, arranged in patrol patterns around Midway, scouting for the approaching Japanese fleet. They were to also assist the fleets in attacking the Japanese fleet.

In addition to these forces, the US would also have the support of the British Pacific Fleet. There were some objections among the US leadership to having the British supporting them in defending Midway and Hawaii, but Nimitz had decided to ask them to join the defending forces. The British had a few escort carriers in the South Pacific to assist in the deception that the fleets were still in the South Pacific, while the rest of the British Fleet, including their three fleet carriers and 2 modern battleships, would be joining the defense and operating alongside the Third and Fifth Fleets.

However, there was one thing that was concerning for Nimitz. Despite multiple requests from him, there was no word yet from Washington on whether or not the carrier named after him in the future would be sent to support the defense of Midway. Nimitz felt that the supercarrier's presence would greatly tip the scales in his favor. However, there was no word yet on whether his request would be granted.

However, as Nimitz begins walking up the gangway to board the Intrepid, he thinks to himself that it won't be too difficult. He has the superior force. His carriers are more capable, his aircraft are far more advanced and capable, his other warships are more advanced, and he has the support of his submarines and the aircraft stationed on Midway. Even without the supercarrier named after him, he feels confident that he can win.

"How much time until the work is done?" Nimitz asks the Intrepid's captain, who has come up beside him.

"Workers say it should be finished within a few days," the captain says.

Nimitz nods. The battle is expected to begin sometime between the 20 and 22nd of February. With luck, all of his forces, including the brand new carrier Kearsarge being sent out to the Pacific a bit early, will be in position and ready to fight by the time the Japanese arrive.

(Sydney)

Admiral Fraser gets out of the Jeep as it pulls up to the dock. Towering over the dock is his flagship, the battleship Duke of York.

Although the US fleet in Pearl won't be sailing for Midway for almost two more weeks, the ships of the BPF are due to sail north today to rendezvous with the Americans off Hawaii.

Fraser makes his way over the gangway and boards the battleship. Duke of York had just finished a refit here in Sydney, which included newer, American designed additions to her anti-aircraft arsenal, refurbishing of damaged or worn systems, and upgrading of some of her electronics. She is more ready than ever for combat with the Japanese.

Fraser makes his way to the bridge, where his chief of staff and Duke of York's captain are waiting for him. As he reaches the bridge, the captain of the Duke of York says, "Admiral. We have received final confirmations. Fleet will be ready to sail in one hour as scheduled."

"Good," Fraser responds. He then heads for his cabin to drop off his things.

Over the next hour, the British Fleet make their final preparations to sail. Finally, an hour after Fraser boards the Duke of York, a message is sent out across the fleet, and the ships of the fleet begin to untie from the docks, weigh anchor, and begin to move.

Duke of York leads the British fleet out of the port. The British ships begin to assemble outside Sydney Harbor, as the fleet prepares to head north to rendezvous with the Americans.

(Off the coast of Florida)

On the bridge of the Nimitz, Admiral Yelland watches for the ships he's waiting for. Unknown to almost anyone except a few in Washington and London, Yelland had received orders to head to the Pacific to support Nimitz' effort to defend Midway. However, Admiral King was determined to keep that fact a secret. Even in the event that the Japanese learned about the American forces being sent to defend Midway, King as determined to make sure they didn't know about the Nimitz, for fear that it would scare the Japanese back into port. Both King and Nimitz had expressed that they wanted this chance to finally destroy the Japanese fleet.

So, an elaborate deception had been set in motion. Radio transmissions had been sent saying that the Nimitz would be assigned to provide support for air operations over western Europe, and to protect Arctic convoys on the first leg of their journey. To make this happen, a number of the carrier's aircraft had been sent ashore. 8 of the ship's Vikings, along with 2 Sea Kings, had been deployed to an Allied airfield on Iceland to run ASW and rescue operations. One of the ship's Hawkeyes was deployed to Italy to support operations there. Another Hawkeye, along with four Tomcats, two Hornets, two Intruders and two Prowlers had been deployed to Britain to fly operations over France, Belgium, and Holland. A total of 22 aircraft had been sent ashore for this deception operation.

However, that gap left was not going unfilled. To replace the aircraft that had been sent ashore, Nimitz had taken aboard 52 aircraft of the time, including 16 F6F Hellcats, 20 TBF Avengers, and 16 SB2C Helldivers. They would be operating as part of the ship's air wing, rather than being used to replenish other carrier air wings.

She sailed from Britain a few days earlier, accompanied by 6 destroyers and the battleship HMS Prince of Wales, which was finally headed back to the Pacific for its second tour of duty in the theater. They had been ordered to head to a rendezvous position south-east of Florida to join a force being dispatched from the US to join them for the trip to the Pacifc.

This force, dubbed Task Force 39, was under the command of Yelland, who just a few weeks ago, on order from President Roosevelt himself, had been promoted to Vice Admiral. It was hoped they would be able to make it in time to provide support in the battle. Given the force would have to sail around Cape Horn to reach the Pacific since Nimitz could not fit through the Panama Canal, tankers had been stationed along the route to refuel the other ships in the task force, as they would be making the entire journey at full speed.

"Anything?" Yelland asks one of his operators.

"We still have them on radar, sir. They should be within sight momentarily," an officer responds.

Yelland scans the horizon with his binoculars again. Suddenly, he spots something on the horizon. He focuses on it. And soon enough, it comes close enough that through the binoculars, he can identify it. The new Essex class carrier USS Kearsarge and USS Wasp, accompanied by the new heavy cruiser USS Canberra and two destroyers.

"Signal the Kearsarge and Wasp. I want them three miles off our starboard side, and the escorts to integrate into our escorts. Once they're in position, set course 180 at flank speed," Yelland orders.

The Kearsarge and Wasp moves into position off the Nimitz' starboard side, and Task Force 39 turns south and accelerates to full speed, beginning their journey to the Pacific.

And, I'll end there.

So, now you've got an idea of some of the forces at play for the Allies, and Nimitz' plan to defend Midway. I can promise this will be an epic battle

Next chapter will show the fleets finally setting sail for Midway, and the beginning of the battle for the Aleutians, which will be much smaller than the one at Midway.

Next chapter will be up soon. Until then, leave a review, and stay tuned!