Sisterly Bonds

Ami Chono stood atop the commanders hatch of her tank. Her raven coloured hair was hidden within a combat helmet and all but her her shoulders up , was hidden within the tanks turret.

"Driver," she called out, "Adjust course to 85 degrees, three-quarter speed."

"Yes Commander!" came the feminine reply. The aged tank clattered as it turned, its diesel engine roaring. The following Type-61's copied the action, keeping up. Ami-Chan was not in her usual tank. Until recently, she had commanded a Type-90 MBT. That was soon replaced by a brand-new Type-10. On this occasion, however, her mount was a Type-74 Battle Tank. State-of-the-Art when it was first produced, it was now vastly second line, but still in limited service with the JGSDF.

"Shinhoto Chi-Ha Number 17, storm the forest. Escorts, keep that tank in your sight, we don't have many of them." Far away, a lone Type 2597 Shinhoto Chi-Ha medium tank rallied its escorting Chi-Ha's and Te-Ke's, attacking the false targets inside the forest.

"Chi-To 5, report."

"We have sighted targets and have taken aim. Requesting permission to fire?" Ami nodded subconsciously.

"Engage targets at will."

"Commander," the driver said over the internal radio, "We are too close to the ravine. Shall I bring us further from the bank?"

"Negative. Remember Kawachi-San, if this was an actual match, we would be trying to surprise the enemy. The lower parts closer to the ravine are enough to hide our Type-74's and -61's."

"Right," Kawachi acknowledged, "Maintaining course and position."

As the Type-74 drew ever closer to the side of the ravine, small fragments of the bank crumbled away, tumbling down the bank and splashing into the water below. The ravine, wasn't a real ravine: it was artificial. Built to simulate the conditions that the Team would come up against during the nearing World Championships. The Type-74 force was not the only group close to the gash in the earth. Another group of smaller pre-war tanks were supporting the post-war MBT's. They were lead by a tiny Type-94 Tankette. Not the strongest, but reasonably fast as a scout tank.

"Type-94 01 to Lead Tank, we are closing on targets."

"Stand by 01," Ami responded, "Wait until my tank has passed your aim, then begin firi-." The transmission was cut off by a loud *BANG!*

"Lead say again..." The Tankette's commander did not know that Ami's Type-74 had been hit by a false round fired from one of the fire-capable targets. The round had somehow managed to knock out the tanks radio. "Lead? Lead please repeat last statement. Oh hell, driver all stop! All vehicles halt and begin firing at targets!"

The group of Japanese light tanks came to a stop and aimed their turrets at the targets across the ravine. They instantly began emptying their stocks of ammunition, successfully taking out the numerous fire-capable and non-fire aluminium targets. But the Lead Group was in the way when the order to fire was given. Fortunately, the numerous 37mm rounds that hit the Type-61's and the solitary Type-74 simply bounced off. But as the Tankette's commander realised her error, the fatal bullet had been fired. Another Type-94 had already shot half a clip of 6.5mm machine ammo. One round jammed inside the Type-74's tracks. All it took was one.

"This is Lead 2! Hold your fire!" The next tank in line ordered. The chatter of machine-guns and the booming of small-calibre cannons held abruptly. But it didn't stop the bullet in the tracks from forcing two track plates apart just enough to shear the pin holding them together.

It sounded like the crack of a rifle. The instant the pin broke, the tanks' engine began pulling the track from underneath its road-wheels and coiling it up inside the mudguard. With a drive wheel spinning uselessly there was nothing to stop the rapidly moving MBT from swerving right, careering straight into the ravine. Ami-Chan instinctively ducked inside her vehicles turret, closing the hatch behind her.

All eyes stopped and watched in horror as the Command Tank began rolling viciously down the steep sides of the ravine. The gun barrel was snapped off by a boulder, the other tracks broke off and various pieces of metal and equipment came loose from their stowage boxes and went flying. An almighty cascade of water signified that the Type-74 had landed, albeit upside-down. The arena speaker system crackled into life,

"All vehicles, cease training. I repeat, all vehicles are to cease training immediately and assist in rescue of Lead panzer." came the terrible announcement.

As all the other tanks closed in on the ravine and two JGSDF armoured recovery vehicles were released from their hangers, the Tankette's commander was stuck to her seat.

"I don't believe it," she choked, "There's no way Chono-San could have survived that!

Perhaps this isn't the best intro ever, but oh well. Hopefully it will hook someone.