Meanwhile in the second fleet, Combined fleet flagship, Battleship Yamato.
Admiral Yamamoto is playing shogi with his aide Major Watanabe in his cabin when a communication staff knocks the cabin door before entering the cabin with a message paper in his hand.
*Knock Knock*
"Sir, there's a radio message for you"
"Message for me? In this silent communication blocking? From who?"
"The sender claims themselves as JS 144 Kurama, Sir"
"Japan ship? Let me see the message"
The staff handed the message to Admiral Yamamoto. Like Nagumo who frowned when reading the message, Admiral Yamamoto also frowns his brow after reading this message. Major Watanabe can't hold his curiosity after seeing Admiral Yamamoto expression
"Sir, is there something wrong with the message?"
"Watanabe, our mission this time is a surprise attack on the American base in Midway, and thus if successful, will giving pressure to Hawaii where American Pacific fleet located. How much chance we have for this mission to succeed?"
"Sir, we're already planning this mission thoroughly and carefully. At least we have a 80-90% chance to succeed"
"Hmm…what if this supposed to surprised attack no longer becomes surprised attack?"
"You know that well, sir. If this mission no longer becomes a surprising attack, our chance to succeed only about 20-30%"
"Do you think the American can break our code and already prepared for our attack?"
"That's impossible sir, our code is regularly changed and using the latest cipher machines that our technology department created"
"Then you should read this"
Admiral Yamamoto handed the message paper to Watanabe. After reading the message, Watanabe's face turns into pale and gloomy.
"Sir, this is not true right? If our code is really broken by American, this mission is doomed to fail because they already know our movement. This is no longer a surprise attack"
"I'm afraid so Watanabe, but we soldier can't act under uncertain information like this. We need something more solid to justify our action"
"What do you mean Sir?"
"In that message, didn't they said if we did not catch up with Nagumo, they surely face devastating defeat? Nagumo brings four aircraft carriers in his fleet, at least there are sixty planes in each aircraft carrier, it sums more than two hundred planes there. That's not a small number, right. If they defeated that's mean our enemy has more than we have. Let's send they reply for confirmation, tell them, we need more solid information like how many aircraft carriers that enemy have, what are their strike power consists of. If they can give accurate information, this information worthy to change the entire plan of operation MI"
"Sir, isn't that mean we open communication with them?"
"Yes, just send the message. If they really know about U.S fleet in the Midway island, they will tell us"
"Okay sir"
Watanabe left the cabin to send the message to JS-144 Kurama as Admiral Yamamoto ordered.
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Back to JS-144 Kurama
"Captain, there's message reply from Imperial Japan Navy. The sender is Admiral Yamamoto"
"Oh, as expected from a broad-minded general. If there's a reply it should be from him first. Let me see the message"
Captain Ichiro takes the message and reads the content. After finish reading, he nodded his head.
"Give them reply like this, U.S Fleet consists of three aircraft carriers, Yorktown, Hornet and Enterprise, escorted with seven heavy cruisers, one light cruisers, fifteen destroyers, sixteen submarines and around 233 aircraft on board with 127 aircraft on land base"
"Aye, Captain"
The radio crew immediately sends the reply as his captain ordered.
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"Admiral, there's a reply from that unknown ship"
"Oh? That was fast…let me see the reply"
The radio staff gives the paper with message reply to Admiral Yamamoto who read the reply carefully.
Admiral Yamamoto frowned after reading the reply from Kurama while handed the paper to Watanabe
"You read it, Watanabe, and tell me your opinion"
Watanabe receives the paper and reads the content.
"Admiral! This obviously lies!"
"Why do you think so, Watanabe?"
"They say Yorktown aircraft carrier is there. Did we make heavy damage on Yorktown on the battle of Coral sea before? It's impossible she can operate this soon after receiving such damaged"
"Hmm…you have a point in there. For us who also suffer the same damage on aircraft carrier Shokaku, having her join this Operation MI is impossible, but our opponent is America, a country who proud of their manufacturing abilities"
"Yes, but able to repair such damages only in days still feel impossible"
"There's only one way to make sure for it, Watanabe"
"What is it, Admiral?"
"Meet them directly, at their place"
"What? Admiral, that's dangerous! Do you really want to go to their place? We don't know whether this mysterious ship is friend or foe. They could be American who pretends to be our ship"
"Yes, that also possible. But you know what, Watanabe? If they agree to meet and give their coordinate location, they will also face danger being attacked by U.S Force? That will also work to show their sincerity"
"That's gambling, admiral!"
"You know I'm a gambler, right? I still have some deposit on some casinos in Monaco and I planned to live as a gambler on my retirement. By the way, some casinos in Monaco even banned me from entering there, hahaha"
"Admiral! You can't be serious about this! You're about to gambling your life with this uncertain ship. And most important, we still on a mission right now!"
"Hahaha…don't worry Watanabe, Japan Navy will not just crumble without me. Besides, it's a rare chance to able to gamble with your life on stake, right? I want to bet this mysterious ship will bring benefit for us rather than make them as enemy. Just give them reply, say I want to set a meeting"
Watanabe suddenly feel dizzy when hearing the leader of combined fleet of Japan navy will use his life as betting stake, but he can't do nothing and only can send the reply to Kurama as Yamamoto ordered to him