A decision made by Admiral William F. Halsey on October 24th 1944, then the Commander of the United States Navy's 3rd Fleet, is at the heart of this work. His choice that day was whether to head north, from the area of the invasion beaches off Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, to take advantage of a sighting of the Japanese Fleet's carrier force. It is his decision to take all of the battleships along that has undergone debate since that day. For also nearing the Leyte beaches were two powerful Japanese fleets, each centered around battleships. This book examines what would have happened if Halsey had decided to employ a plan that he had conceived for just the chance that the Japanese would come through. Halsey had designated several ships to become a blocking force and designated it "Task Force 34." Included in that force were four modern US battleships. This book ponders what would have actually happened if Task Force 34 had been left behind to guard San Bernardino Strait?