In the early morning hours of the twenty-eighth of August Taskforces Thirty and Fifteen sortied. Their objectives are to destroy possible Abyssal installations on Hawaii and known installations on Johnson Atoll as part of Operation Silver. At eighteen Knots, it will take Taskforce 30 four and a half days to reach the operational area. On the thirty-first, Taskforce Fifteen wished Taskforce Thirty good luck and split off.

By mid-day on the First of September Taskforce Thirty arrived at the operational area and launched multiple Kingfishers to scout the Eight major islands of Hawaii. One such Kingfisher, launched by Northampton, had the task of scouting O'ahu. As it approached the island, more details became apparent. The lush greenery that once covered the island was gone destroyed by the dozens of Abyssal bombardments leaving the island barren. It was nothing more than a dead island a fate that the whole island chain had suffered.

The pilot swing around the island bringing what should have been Honolulu insight but, there was nothing. The entire city had been erased from exitance. The only thing that remained was the broken roads that once connected a city. The pilot shook his head and turned his attention to Pearl Harbor. To his astoundment, the base wasn't completely destroyed. Now, that's not saying much. He could just see four or five buildings that hadn't been erased from existence and even then they looked to barely be standing. He turned his attention to Ford Island and found three buildings that were still standing. He couldn't quite tell but they looked to be in better shape than the others.

He banked to the right and looked through his observation scope. He made a pass over Ford Island and took four pictures before banking right again and taking six pictures of Pearl Harbor itself. Satisfied with what he had he turned back to the fleet.

One hundred and forty-seven miles from Pearl Harbor another Kingfisher finished its scouting of Ni'ihau. It still had Seven hundred miles of endurance so Savannah ordered it to enter a search pattern in the Johnson, Midway, Hawaii triangle. The pilot plotted out a course that would cover the most area and started his patrol.

As the floatplanes reported in it became clear the Abyssals had made no move on Hawaii. That was a surprise considering how hard the Abyssals fought them for it months earlier.

"Rear Admiral Smith, do you copy? Over."

"Go ahead North Carolina. Over."

"Scouting of Hawaii is complete. The Abyssals have not made any moves to occupy the islands. Over."

"That's good news. What of Pearl Harbor's installations? Over."

"Most of the installations are destroyed save for eight buildings. The pilot took photos before he returned. Over."

"Understood. North Carolina, get those photos back to base ASAP. Over."

"Copy. Out. Northampton."

"Ma'am?"

"Get those photos back to base ASAP. Gridley, Craven, McCall, Maury you're her escorts."

"We'll get there as fast as we can."

They broke formation and the four destroyers formed up with Northampton. She increased her speed to 'Full' and set course for the base creating a large wake as she did.

Savannah, who was sailing astern and off Indiana's port side, received a report from her Kingfisher.

"Enemy submarine spotted at the following coordinates. Contact lost ten seconds after sighting. Over."

"Understood. Follow its heading for as long as possible. Out."

"There's no Abyssal presence on Hawaii. What now?"

Wasp spoke up, "We'll take our task force around the Northern side of Kaua'i and Ni'ihau. From there we'll head toward Midway island."

"Midway? Wasn't it sunk after that massive explosion?"

"No one knows for sure. The Japanese didn't stay around long after that and neither did we."

"If we're heading towards Midway you should know my Kingfisher spotted an Abyssal sub at these coordinates. I've ordered it to follow its heading."

"So the Abyssals do have ships in the area."

"Maybe. Or, it's just a lone submarine on patrol."

"Hm. That is a possibility as well. I want more Kingfishers in the air."

As more Kingfishers were launched, she readied six more Wildcats to reinforce her CAP. Seven minutes later, the Wildcats roared off her deck and took to the sky.

"Rear Admiral Smith do you copy? Over."

"Go ahead Wasp. Over."

"We're moving to scout Midway Atoll. Over."

"Understood Wasp. I need you to survey the extent of the damage the explosion caused. Over."

"Understood sir. Out."

The next day, Taskforce Thirty was close enough to launch Kingfishers to scout Midway. They launched ten and they formed a wide scouting arc in front of them. They hadn't heard anything on how Taskforce Fifteen's mission had gone but Wasp and Carolina were confident they had completed their raid and were on their way back.

"What do you think we'll find?"

"Nothing, hopefully."

"Well, since the Abyssals are using Johnson Atoll as a base, I think that's a good tell."

"It is. Still... a lot of people want to know what's left of Midway and if the Abyssals are trying to rebuild there."

"If the Abyssals are rebuilding on Midway, Wasp will just bomb them to oblivion," Indiana shouted with a grin.

Four hours later, a Kingfisher sighed Midway or, more accurately, where it had once been. The only thing the confirmed this was Midway Atoll, were their maps. The explosion originated on Sand island but was so powerful that it not only sunk Sand island but Eastern island as well. The only thing that was left was the coral ring.

"North Carolina, we're at Midway Atoll. There's nothing left. The explosion sunk both islands. Over."

"Understood. Search North-West of the atoll for as long as possible. Over."

"Roger. Out."

The Kingfishers would search North-West, West, and South-West of Midway Atoll but wouldn't find the Abyssals. During this time Taskforce Thirty would receive word from Rear Admiral Smith.

"Raid on Johnson Atoll was successful. All installations were destroyed and three Abyssal destroyers sunk. Taskforce Fifteen suffered no casualties."

"I knew Lexington and Saratoga would be fine."

"Taskforce Thirty I have new orders for you. Position your force two-hundred and fifty nautical miles West of Hawaii. Taskforce Fifteen will be located twenty-five nautical miles to your North. Out."

"What do you think that was about?"

"Don't know. We'll find out soon I'm sure."

By the third of September, Taskforce Thirty had reached the position they were ordered to.

"Carolina, is your force in position? Over."

"Yes sir. Over."

"Lexington, is your force in position? Over."

"Yes sir. Over."

"Excellent. It's time I fill you in. High Command has decided to rebuild the naval and airbases on O'ahu. The pictures given by Northampton have only hardened that resolve. A convoy is en route and will arrive by September Ninth. It carries all the supplies necessary to begin the construction of the bases. Your objective is to intercept any Abyssal forces that pose a threat to the construction."

"A line of submarines will be positioned from Midway Atoll to Johnson Atoll and halfway to Kiribati. They will serve as early warning and engage and report any Abyssals they spot. Both of your taskforces will be receiving reinforcements. They are currently escorting the convoy and will arrive on the ninth. Carolina, Northampton, Gridley, Craven, McCall, and Maury will rejoin your Battlegroup."

"Lexington, Battle Squadron eight is going to reinforce your forces. Out."

"Not much of a reinforcement is it?"

"For us, no."

"Who is the flagship for Battle Squadron eight?"

"Tennessee."

"Have you talked to her?"

"Only briefly."

"So, what in the hell are we going to do for six days? Sit here and twiddle our thumbs?"

"You can if you want to."

"Uh, I don't suppose we have a connection out here?"

"Nope."

"We're in the middle of the Pacific and you think we'll have internet?"

"I mean, we're not that far from Hawaii."

"It has been abandoned for the past five months."

"Okay. Maybe I was being a bit too hopeful."

"Can we sleep?"

"I mean, I wouldn't recommend it but you're welcome to try."

"Considering the response my crew is giving me, nope. Not going to try it."

A minute passed by in silence. "This is going to suck isn't it?"

"Yep."

For the next six days, the two Taskforces did basically anything and everything to keep themselves busy. They told stories, played games, talked about the different theaters they'd been deployed to, had rather heated arguments over things that didn't really matter, and on the day the convoy was due to arrive, had a massive splash fight in which no one was spared. One of the more interesting conversation topics was about the various Kanmusu of different nationalities they had met and interacted with. There were more, invented ways of passing time at that's all that will be said on the matter.

"So, when exactly is the convoy due to arrive?"

"Eighteen forty-two hours. So three hours and ten minutes from now."

Atlanta groaned, "We need to do something to pass the time."

"Like what? I think all of us have run out of ideas."

Indiana snapped her fingers. "That's it!"

"What's it?"

She turned to Carolina, "Why don't you tell me about the ongoing competition between ours and Lexington's Taskforces."

"Hmm. Well, Wasp can tell it better than I can."

Wasp was shocked. She raised her hands and rapidly shook her head. "No no no no no no! You tell it Carolina! Or better yet how about we don't tell it at all!?"

Carolina sighed, "Wasp..."

Her face was rapidly turning red. "It's- it's embarrassing."

Carolina crossed her arms under her bust. "The whole Taskforce knows about it. How is it still embarrassing?"

Wasp didn't answer. Instead, she looked away and tried to hide her bright red blush. Indiana looked between them totally confused.

"Uh, if you don't want to tell me that's fine."

Neither Wasp nor Carolina spoke up. Finally, Wasp sighed, "I'll tell you just, not now."

"Alright. How about when we get back to base?"

Wasp looked up. Her face was still a deep shade of red. "That's fine."

"Well, that's a bummer. Now how are we going to pass the time?"

"Oh, I an idea."

"I don't like that look sis. Sis?"

"ATTACK!"

"AH! Hey! HAhaha! STOP! Hahaha!"

"Revenge is sweet!"

"Stop it! Hahahaha! Stop tickling me! Help! Helm!"

"I'll save you Jarvis! Blue! Stop this at once!"

"Wait wait! AH!"

Laughter broke out amongst the force as they watched the tickling war. Unknown to Jarvis and Helm two destroyers were sneaking up on them.

"Sneak attack!"

"We've got your back Blue!"

Jarvis and Helm jumped back. "Reid! Lamson! How dare you betray us!"

"Sorry Jarvis. We couldn't allow our friend to be double-teamed."

"It's nothing personal."

Jarvis and Helm looked at each other and nodded. "You shall regret betraying us! CHARGE!"

With that, they met in a fight for the ages! Almost everyone in their Taskforce preceded to lose it as they fought to tickle each other.

"Someone record this! Quickly!"

"Right! I'm on it!"

"Hey! No photographers!"

"Aha!"

"Hahaha! Stop it!"

"That'll teach you to- AH!"

Lamson attempted to tackle Jarvis but she didn't move an inch. This did allow Blue to escape her grasp. Jarvis freed herself from Lamson and jumped back.

"Alright. That's enough." Wasp stepped in. "You can continue your war back at the base."

Jarvis and Helm glared at Reid, Lamson, and Blue while they returned it. After five seconds, they started laughing.

"That was a good warm-up!"

"Warm-up!? I guess giving it your all wouldn't have made much of a difference!"

"Why you... COME HERE!"

Lamson launched herself at Helm! "AHHhahahaha! HELP!"

Before everything could escalate, Atlanta stepped in.

"Cool your heels! You continue this little war back at the base! Clear!?"

"Crystal," they all shouted.

"Good."

They all reformed back to their positions. It was a fairly peaceful two hours and forty minutes as they waited for the convoy to arrive. When it was sighted they all felt a sense of relief for maybe, this boring sortie was nearing its end.