Hey, everybody Back with another chapter.

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Chapter 32- Storm Breaking

On the flight and hangar decks of the Nimitz, the carrier is in an uproar. Every deck crewman is racing to finish arming the aircraft for the carrier's first airstrike.

The Nimitz is in fact prepping two airstrikes. The carrier's Hornets and Intruders, along with 4 Tomcats are being sent to engage the main Japanese fleet, while the remaining Tomcats, along with the ship's Helldivers, Avengers, and about half of its Hellcats are being sent to attack the Occupation Force.

This will be a major operation for the Nimitz. Not only is it her first time launching an airstrike with her WWII aircraft, but it will also be the first time her Hornets will operate as torpedo bombers. Eight of the Hornets have been designated to carry a pair of aerial torpedoes to attack the main Japanese fleet with.

On the bridge Yelland takes a pair of binoculars and looks over towards the spot where the Kearsarge is resting, about two miles away, and watches as her crew are working to ready her aircraft for the strike on the Occupation Force.

Then, the phone from the control center rings. Yelland picks it up and says, "Yes?"

"Sir, Hornets and Intruders are ready to start launching, and our remaining aircraft are almost," the air boss says.

"Good. Start launching," Yelland orders.

"Copy that," the air boss says. He then puts the phone back and yells out, "We've got the green light! Get 'em in the air!"

Down on the flight deck, two of the four Tomcats assigned to accompany the Hornets and Intruders taxi up to the catapults. The shooters and catapult crew prep the Tomcats, and within seconds, the catapults spring forward, hurling the two Tomcats off the bow and into the air. As the two Tomcats climb into the air, crewmen across the ships of the task force cheer loudly at the sight.

The Nimitz continues launching her aircraft. It doesn't take too long before the Hornets and Intruders are in the air along with the four Tomcats. Also accompanying them are two KA-6s and 2 S-3s operating as tankers. The four tankers will refuel the jets just south of Midway, then return to the carrier.

As the strike force sets off in the direction of the main Japanese fleet, one of the men in the control center calls out, "Sir, prop planes are ready!"

"Get 'em in the air! Radio Wasp and Kearsarge and tell them to launch!" the air boss calls out.

Down on the Nimitz' deck, the escorting F-14s begin to launch from the forward catapults, while the Hellcats, Helldivers, and Avengers begin launching off the angled part of the deck. As the Nimitz' prop planes begin to launch, the Wasp and Kearsarge also begin launching their aircraft.

It takes a little while to get the whole strike force airborne. However, within 20 minutes, all aircraft are in the air. A dozen Tomcats are flying top cover (4 Tomcats are staying behind to protect the task force). Also providing fighter escort are 50 Hellcats. Finally, the three carriers have launched 62 Helldivers and 48 Avengers. The strike force turns in the direction a trailing submarine reported that it had spotted the Japanese invasion fleet and sets off, the Tomcats flying from side to side to avoid overflying the prop planes.

(170 miles north-west of Midway)

Just under the surface of the water, the USS Nautilus moves slowly through the water, closing in on the Japanese fleet. Nautilus is the oldest submarine assigned to the submarine force around Midway.

In the con, Nautilus' captain is watching the Japanese fleet through his periscope. A Kagero-class destroyer is just making its way across his field of view. However, of greater concern to him is the light carrier Hiyo almost directly ahead.

"We got a light carrier, maybe 3,000 yards. Dead ahead," the captain calls out.

"Captain, if we get too much closer, those destroyers will detect us," his XO says.

"No. We're going in," her captain says firmly. He then calls out, "Increase speed to 16 knots."

The engines throttle up a bit, driving the submarine up to 16 knots. The captain then calls out, "Make tubes one and two ready."

The order is relayed forward, and the number 1 and 2 torpedo tubes are loaded, locked, and flooded. The submarine moves in closer, ready to make its attack on the Hiyo.

In the conn, the captain watches as the carrier gets closer and closer. Finally, at a range of about 2,000 yards, with everything set, the captain calls out, "Tubes one and two, fire!"

Tube one fires first, with tube two firing a second later. The two torpedoes streak through the water towards the Hiyo. The first torpedo malfunctions and the torpedo's engine cuts out, and the torpedo falls to the ocean floor. The second torpedo streaks in and impacts the Hiyo on her stern.

The torpedo detonates just forward of the engine room. The explosion sends a massive column of water skywards and blows a hole in the hull. The damage disables several of her boilers, instantly cutting the ship's top speed to 17 knots.

"Crash dive!" the captain says. Immediately, the Nautilus dives as several Japanese destroyers charge in to attack.

(Battleship Yamato, 30 minutes later)

Aboard the flag bridge of the Yamato, Yamamoto considers the current situation. The Hiyo is thankfully still operational, though is listing 4 degrees and slowed to 17 knots. The entire fleet has had to slow down until her engines are fixed, as Yamamoto doesn't want to leave the carrier behind, and personally feels he doesn't have too much to worry about from slowing the fleet down.

However, one thing concerns him more than the Hiyo's damage, and that is the state of Midway. According to his original strike force, not much damage has been caused to the base, and there's still a lot of aircraft on the base. However, of greater concern to him is the report of warships around the island. Although his strike force he's preparing to send to Midway will include bombers armed for anti-ship warfare, he's concerned about that not being enough.

Yamamoto finally turns to one of his communications officers. "Signal Admiral Kondo. Order him to charge with the landing forces, and prep his aircraft for a strike on Midway. He is to bombard Midway with his battleships and cruisers and get his troops on the island as quickly as possible. The Americans will be on their way. We must get our soldiers ashore before they get here." The officer nods and walks off as Yamamoto stares out at the ocean around him.

And, I'll end there. Hope this was good, even if it was short.

Next chapter should be up soon. Until it is, leave a review, and stay tuned!