A Pacific War
1
0700 September 1st 1945.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Osaka.
Japan's combined fleet was alongside in Osaka. Yamamoto noticed the activity more than anything else. The entire port facility was awash with workers and crew alike all working towards the same goal. Preparing the Imperial Japanese Navy for confrontation.
Most of the capital ships were fully repaired and were embarking food and provisions. One fleet had all of its ships running up their engines and preparing to sail on the tide.
A large Submarine fleet had been detected crossing the Celebes Sea and it would need to be dealt with.
Grand Admiral Nagano and Carrier Group C would sail south to Palawan which would be their new base of operations. They would be tasked with hunting the Submarines down and either sinking them or forcing them to leave the area.
The rest of the fleet was due to sail in early September and front line reports would be crucial to prevent any type of disaster befalling the operations currently planned. One such potential disaster had been encountered in the Yap Trench.
Spruance and his modern Battleships had found Triye's Submarine fleet which was preventing American forces retaking the island if Yap. Triye would evade Spruance as soon as he could and would do so without suffering any significant damage. The enemy fleet appeared to be heading south and away from the Marianas.
The withdraw of the Submarines allowed the American troops to try and march towards Yap. Tactical bombers, now stationed in the Marianas, took off to try and halt this advance but would target the garrison of Ulithi instead.
A second fleet of Submarines based in Palau would arrive on September 3rd to halt the American progress once more. Yap was not going to fall into enemy hands if Yamamoto could prevent it.
1300 September 4th 1945.
North China Army Headquarters. Lanzhou, China.
Higashikuni's North China Army was almost totally deployed with just the extreme western forces still moving in China.
Mj. General Kim captured Hotan province on September 4th to reclaim all territory that had been held by Japan. He would be redeployed to his forward defensive position of Kashgar, to the north west, where he would arrive in two weeks.
2200 September 4th 1945.
The Skies Above Palau.
Japanese Interceptor squadrons were well rested and prepared for almost any incursion by enemy aircraft. Their bases had been fully repaired after Yap had been taken and they intended to keep it that way.
A full British Strategic bomber wing, once something to be feared, was no longer much of a threat. Minister Jun's tactics worked well as eight Interceptor squadrons decimated the bombers during a three hour dogfight. The Interceptors did not escape unscathed but their casualties were minimal for this type of encounter.
0000 September 7th 1945.
Diplomatic Offices. Tokyo, Japan.
Mamoru had not seen the Soviet Ambassador for a few days and decided to ask him over for tea to dicuss further trade deals. Mamoru wished to gauge the Ambassadors reactions in an attempt to ascertain if any type of aggressive action was planned by the Soviet Union.
"Good morning Ambassador." Mamoru greeted the Soviet Ambassador.
"Minister Mamoru. I trust you are well?" the Ambassador asked politely.
"I am well thank you. I have another trade proposal for your Country if you would be so kind as to pass it along."
"Of course Minister Mamoru." the Ambassador replied.
"We have more supplies that we would trade for energy. I am sure this will be agreeable to your Foreign Ministry."
"I am sure it will." Malik replied as he settled into his chair to play the diplomatic game with his opponent.
0600 September 7th 1945.
BB Division 1 Flagship. IJN Yamashiro, Osaka.
All of the Submarine fleets were now available to Yamamoto and he sent some of them on missions to uncover the current defenses of various islands.
Eniwetok island was found to have a significant garrison and would be impossible to capture for the time being.
The large enemy Submarine fleet had been reported in the Bangka Strait by Japanese merchant ships that had lost some ships to the fleet. Carrier Group C sailed from Palawan to attempt to find them.
By September 9th the remaining fleets in Osaka were ready to sail. Yamamoto had reconfigured them a little to provide all three Battlefleets with the ability to attack any hostile fleet.
The Light Carrier IJN Chiyoda had moved from BB Division 1 to BB Division 3. Both BB Divisions 1 and 2 possessed two Battleships and a Battlecruiser with BB Division 3 having both Yamato class Battleships.