Task Force 34 was more than a paper concept for the entire battle. Halsey formed it in the early morning after the crisis had developed, but by then the decisive interception window had passed. The force was dissolved after Center Force withdrew, so it never delivered the surface action for which it had been designed. The counterfactual turns on activating Lee's battle line hours earlier, using a force the fleet could organize.
Notable Point · 59:01-59:44
Task Force 34 briefly existed after the opportunity passed
Halsey eventually formed Task Force 34 after the crisis had developed, then dissolved it when the Japanese had already withdrawn.