High above the Tasman Sea is a lone Kingfisher. It was one of many Kingfishers searching the Tasman Sea for the Abyssal fleet. The plane was reaching the end of its endurance and soon would have to return. Thirty minutes later the pilot radioed in and started to head back.
"My last Kingfisher just reported in. Nothing to report."
There was a frustrated sigh. "They have to out here somewhere."
"Of that, we know. The last report from Tuna confirms that but she lost sight of them by then. We have to spot them ourselves."
"I'd figure we'd found them by now."
"We have a lot of ocean to cover but Tuna's report does give us a general area."
Behind the two cruisers, Indiana launched her third and final Kingfisher.
"We'll find them," she called out. "I know we will."
Near Norfolk island, a pair of Dauntlesses fly in formation. The island was abandoned at the start of the war so it has been spared the wrath of the Abyssals. The crews scan both the sky and the water for contacts. The lead Dauntless spots something on the surface. It signals to the wingman and they head towards it. Soon, they identify it as an Abyssal cruiser that bears a striking resemblance to a Myoko-class cruiser. They double-check to make sure and yes it is an Abyssal, and it's not alone.
Surrounding it are multiple destroyers and cruisers and in the middle of the formation are three battleships. They send a message to Lexington and parallel the Abyssals' course.
"Continue the search for the carriers."
"All flagships this is Lexington. The Abyssal fleet has been sighted ten nautical miles North-West of Norfolk island. Speed: 22 knots. Heading: 0-9-0."
"Increase speed all ahead flank. Change course to 1-2-0."
"Carolina?"
"The Abyssals are trying to sneak around us."
"Son of a bitch," Indiana cursed. "Can we cut them off?"
"We're about to find out."
"This is Tennessee, I've ordered our cruisers and most of our destroyers to form up with the Tenth Fleet. Don't wait for us but try and save some targets for us. Out."
The taskforces turned to the indicated headings given by their flagships and increased their speed. Black smoke thickened from their funnels as their speed increased.
"I've sent a message to Commander Hayes of the situation. Hopefully, there are submarines in the area."
The roar of engines fills the sky as warplanes pass over them. Dauntlesses, Avengers, Wildcats, Sea Hurricanes and Swordfish roar overhead. It will take eighteen hours for the majority of the fleet to reposition. It will take the first strike craft a little over an hour to reach the Abyssal fleet.
"Ma'am. Radar just picked up a contact. Bearing: 2-7-8."
Glorious nodded and ordered two of her CAP fighters to investigate. She had a good idea of what that contact was. Soon, the Hurricanes sighted an Abyssal scout aircraft. The lead Hurricane dove on the Abyssal and shot it down.
"It was an Abyssal scout."
"Did it spot us?"
"No. They know we're in the vicinity though. Lexington, Wasp one of my fighters just shot down an Abyssal scout. We need to reposition."
"Understood."
"Copy that Glorious."
Eighty minutes have passed since the strike was launched and they are still following the last known heading of the Abyssal fleet.
A radio transmission from the scout Dauntlesses comes through. "Enemy carriers sighted."
This left the carriers with a decision: They could split their strike force and hit both the battlefleet and the carriers or they could concentrate all of their strike against one.
They decided to split their strike. Lexington's and Saratoga's strike would head for the carriers while Glorious and Wasp hit the battleships. Ten minutes after the force split the enemy fleet was spotted.
The Devastators and Swordfish dived to the ocean's surface while the Dauntlesses and Wildcats held their altitude.
The Wildcats spotted multiple fighters inbound and they weren't friendly.
"Eyes up boys. We got Abbies inbound."
The Wildcats dove on the Abyssals breaking up their formation although a few held their course. The SBDs went head-on with them. Machine gun and cannon rounds raced toward the fighters and dive bombers. Three SBDs fell from formation with only one Abyssal falling. They roared over the formation allowing the tail gunners to open fire. They dived away heading for the Devastators and Swordfish when the Sea Hurricanes pounced. Their 7.7 mm MGs gnawed away at the Abyssals smoking two of them.
The last two engaged the Swordfish but their rounds passed through its thin frame doing little damage. The gunners fired short bursts to avoid hitting the four Hurricanes chasing the two Abyssals. One of the Abyssals was shot down leaving only one and it was smoking. The Tail guns of the Devastators opened fire scoring hits and setting the Abyssal on fire. It hit the ocean and cartwheeled throwing pieces of debris into the air. The Hurricanes broke off and entered a climb.
"Six more Abyssals heading right for us!"
The Hurricanes leveled out, banked right, and entered a shallow dive. They fired hitting two of the fighters but only did minimal damage. The TBDs opened fire with their lone MG. No Abyssals were shot down while four TBDs slammed into the ocean. They roared over and attacked the Swordfish sending three crashing into the ocean.
Two Wildcats dived from above and shredded one Abyssal! The leading Wildcat pulled up while his wingman tried to draw a bead on a second Abyssal. The pilot fired a half-second burst and broke off. The Abyssals pulled a 180 and headed back for the bombers. The Hurricanes attacked again shooting down one and heavily damaging a second.
The tail gunners on the Swordfish opened fire as they drew closer. The damaged Abyssal was hit multiple times and slammed into the ocean! One Swordfish had its fuselage ripped apart and it slowly lost altitude. Its landing gear hit the ocean sending it flipping end over end.
One Abyssal was hit multiple times and entered a climb before rolling over and slamming into the ocean! The last two broke off as flack clouds appeared around both formations. The Wildcats and Hurricanes broke away and started to climb.
The lead Devastator was rocked when a burst of flack appeared far too close. The flack wasn't nearly as heavy as he thought it would be. It was then he noticed the light show the Abyssal fleet was creating. Most of the tracers and flack bursts were aimed upward. He looked up and saw the Dauntlesses start their dive.
There was a streak of fire as one was hit followed by another and then another. A fourth and then a fifth were hit before they dropped their bombs. Multiple explosions rocked the battleship as some of the bombs hit. The pilot brought his focus back as AA fire intensified. A bomber behind him was hit and burst into flames. A second bomber next to him had its wing blown off. His bomber shuttered and shook as multiple 40 and 25 mm shells hit. The engine was set ablaze followed by the right-wing. He pulled back on the stick but nothing happened and the plane was ripped apart as it hit the ocean.
Another Devastator pulled up and banked left to avoid the debris and water gazer. A flank burst nailed the Devastator's wing tearing said wing off. It hit the water and cartwheeled tearing pieces off as it went.
The lead Devastators dropped their torpedoes. They pulled up over their target losing two more TBDs in the process. The second group dropped their torpedoes five seconds later. Three torpedoes found their mark and exploded.
The Swordfish picked a separate battleship and dropped their torpedoes. Two of their torpedoes hit and detonated. With their attacks complete, the Devastators and Swordfish started leaving the combat area.
"Bandits! Six o'clock! High!"
The Swordfish pilot looked and saw two Abyssals diving on them.
"This is going to be interesting."
His tail gunner opened up but at the speed they were closing he didn't score any hits. Rounds ripped through the lightly armored bomber and the Abyssals roared overhead. One of them was trailing smoke and it slammed itself into a Swordfish tearing apart the bomber's tail. The second Abyssal shot down a Swordfish and tried to ram a second. The pilot banked left at the last second and the Abyssal slammed into the ocean kicking up a spray of water. Flack fire followed them all the way out but failed to shoot down any more bombers.
"I have sighted the enemy carriers. Count three flat tops."
"Understood. Torpedo bombers beginning their decent."
"Devastators twelve Wildcats will be your escort."
"Roger that. Thanks for the escort."
"Enemy fighters! Twelve o'clock! High!"
"More bandits inbound. Three o'clock. High."
"Wildcats moving to intercept."
Most of the Wildcats escorting the bombers broke away. Eight went for the Abyssals coming in at their high twelve while another eight went for the other flight. 50 cal met the diving Abyssal shooting down two. Three Abyssals rammed into the formation taking three SBDs with them!
"Fucking hell! They just crashed into us!"
Four Wildcats dove after the three remaining Abyssals. They shot all three down and pulled up into a climb. The pilots saw five Abyssals shoot past the formation and turn in. They lined up and fired. Three SBDs fell before they broke off. They came back in but this time the four Wildcats were in position. They jumped the Abyssals shooting down two and damaging a third. It dived away and two Wildcats followed.
"Second group inbound! Looks like two flights of ten and four respectfully!"
"Understood moving to intercept."
"Loosen formation. We need room to maneuver if they try and ram us."
They duly followed their flight lead's orders.
The Wildcats engaged the Abyssals breaking their formation and forcing them to break off their attack. With the way clear the bombers continued toward their target unharassed. That didn't last for long as dozens of flack clouds soon appeared around the formation! One bomber had its tail cut off causing it to enter a flat spin.
"This flack is heavy."
"Looks like the Abyssals have their own dedicated anti-aircraft cruisers!"
Another bomber was hit sending it toward the ocean. "What'd they do copy the Atlanta!?"
"Cut the chatter! We're almost there!"
A third bomber was hit causing its fuselage to burst into flames. It fell from the sky as a streak of fire and black smoke. Their mid-range AA guns opened up and as they started their dive the close-range AA guns opened up. They had split into two attack groups and headed for their respective targets.
A shell exploded right in front of an SBD rocking the plane violently. The plane plunged through the smoke and the pilot saw his target. Bullets whizzed by his canopy and he saw one of his wingmen get hit. The engine exploded into flames and the plane pulled up a little before the wings were ripped off. He dipped his left-wing to avoid one of the wings and then rolled his plane to avoid the fiery wreckage.
"Son of a bitch! Are you trying to throw me out!?"
"No! You might want to hang on though!"
"Oh I'm hanging!"
The leading SBDs dropped their bombs. The carrier turned hard causing the bombs to miss. He banked right to keep the carrier in his gun sight. His plane shuttered as 25 mm shells hit. The carrier grew larger and larger until it filled his gun sight. He hit the bomb release and pulled up hard! His plane nearly scraped the ocean's surface.
"Direct hit!"
He banked left to see the results for himself. Right in the middle of the flight deck was a large plume of black smoke. He watched more SBDs plunge on the wounded carrier. A second bomb hit toward the aft of the carrier. Four seconds later, a third bomb hit towards the foe end of the carrier. He spared a quick glance at another carrier and saw black smoke rising from it.
His plane was rocked by a flack burst and the shrapnel shattered his canopy!
"I think we've over-stayed our welcome!"
"Agreed! Let's get out of here!"
He opened the throttle and stayed as low as possible. He was so low that his plane kicked up water as it roared away. The flack fire stopped and he pulled the plane into a climb.
"What's the score?"
"Two enemy carriers hit and burning!"
"Alright! Let's get back to Lexington."