For the current Japanese forces, they needed only two words above all else: time.
Judging by the distance from the military garrison to Naha, setting off at top speed meant it would only take about an hour to reach the outskirts of Naha.
Yet attacking Naha also demanded a certain amount of time, which likewise meant that the troops guarding the coastline had to buy the main force at least three more hours if there was any hope of securing victory in this operation.
This was already the sole hope for the Japanese forces on the Ryukyu Islands; even if the prospect of winning was exceedingly dim, they still had to fight with every last ounce of strength to do so.
Yet as far as Australasia was concerned, the troop movements of the Japanese army were utterly impossible to keep hidden.
Vast numbers of planes patrolled the skies above the Ryukyu Islands at all hours. Not to mention troop movements numbering in the tens of thousands, even the deployments of a mere thousand men would be seen with absolute clarity by the reconnaissance aircraft high above.
This was the advantage brought by securing air superiority. Especially across such a long and narrow archipelago, military movements could hardly be hidden from the eyes in the sky.
Upon learning that the Japanese forces intended to throw everything they had into an attack on Naha, the Australasian side made corresponding preparations as well.
The first priority was to reinforce the defensive positions around Naha with all their might. With at least an hour or more remaining before the Japanese forces could arrive, this was the golden window to repair and fortify the defensive lines.
Moreover, the planes in the air would continuously harass the Japanese troops, even seizing the chance to inflict heavy