Warming!: This story has some strong language and graphic scenes throughout.
The Longest Week
Chapter 1: The start of the beginning
The day was a golden one, a warm breeze with not a cloud in sight. In one of the meeting rooms of the Japan Sensha-Dō Federation Headquarters, the air flowed freely throughout the space as the skybox above them flooded the room with beautiful rays of light. All the Commanders were seated about a long rectangular table, talking amongst themselves, about why this meeting was called and why the other schools were not invited.
"This could be the new rules on open-topped vehicles?" said Katyusha, questioning the table.
"Please be that, as I really want to whoop your ass with our Hellcats." Kay mocked.
"You wouldn't stand a chance against us Kay. When the cold rolls in, your crew would refuse to get in them, they would know they would stand no chance against Pravda."
"Katyusha you seem to be the person gullible enough to buy a lifetime supply of oxygen."
As Kay and Katyusha argued over who was better. Maho and Miho talked about the last fight against the University team, which started getting a bit heated.
"Look, I'm just saying that you couldn't have done this without our help especially at the end." Maho remarked forcefully. "It did help that at the start you played right into their hands, why didn't we start in the city?"
"Maho we won ok, please don't be mad at me."
"Sometimes you are a real stain to the Nishizumi name."
Darjeeling remained quiet, sipping on her tea.
There was a drum at the door the bronze handle curled downwards and there appeared was a familiar face, a tall and well-built man bald, with a thin pencil moustache, coffee brown eyes. He wore dark grey and black academic robes it was, Shichiro Kodama. With a large roll of what seemed to be a map under his arm.
All became quiet, they stood up and bowed to him.
"Thank you girls, you may be seated." They did.
"The Japan Sensha-Dō Federation board decided on scrapping the idea of bringing back the Winter Continuous Track Cup."
"What? why?" Kay asked.
"But instead have decided on a new format to draw in huge views from around the world, to show the great skill and prowess of the Japan Sensha-Dō Federation. A week-long battle, day." he paused. "…and night!"
"This is why you are all here, only the most prestigious schools have been selected. St Gloriana's Girls academy with commander Darjeeling. Saunders University High school with Kay as commander, Pravda Girls High school with Katyusha as commander, Ooarai Girl's Academy with Miho as commander and Kuromorimine Girls Academy with Maho as commander for the last time before leaving for university in Germany. Famous names known worldwide."
"You will be split into two teams..."
"…team one will consist of St Gloriana's Girls academy, Saunders University High school and Ooarai Girl's Academy. And team two will consist of Pravda Girls High school and Kuromorimine Girls Academy, this gives team two a numerical advantage but hear me out…the battle takes place on the smallest ever battlefield about, 30 square miles." He said rolling out the map which spanned the length of the table. "The aim of the match is for team two to take all objectives e.g. take this hill, take this gun position and press on until they reach team one's HQ. But all objectives must be taken and held for a certain time before they can move on. Team one's job is to hold out for as long as possible if the HQ of team one isn't taken Team one wins, and vice versa. Any questions?"
"Destroyed tanks? What happens to them?" Miho asked.
"Tanks cannot be reused so if you need more, use your own stocks or must borrow from your allies, crews of those tanks can return back to the HQ and given a chance to fight again. Unless, of course, you were the remainder and so ends in defeat, the opposition wins the match."
"This might be a long shot, but open-topped vehicles?" Kay questioned with a hint of optimism.
"Not this time." Shichiro Kodama said back.
"Damn."
"Ha, ha."
"Shut it Katyusha. Will see on the battlefield."
"Are we all in agreement?" Shichiro inquired, eyebrows arisen in anticipation.
All the girl's nodded eagerly.
"The match will begin in a months' time so decide your strategies and commanders, maps will be sent to all schools and more info will come regarding objectives soon enough. "
He rolled up the map and began walking out with a spring in his step and opening the door to leave but stopped. "Oh, and before I forget the winning team will receive three times the extra funding, for next years semester." He closed the door behind him.
The room was silent as schemes filled the heads of all the commanders.
Darjeeling put down her tea. "Well then, every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."
Nearly a month passed and more information had come to hand. HQ's were where stocks of tanks, supplies and barracks would be and was a strict no-fire zone, not even practice shooting was allowed. If you decided to camp out of the HQ it was at your own risk. For team one they had two HQ's, one was the actual HQ, the other about a mile or two south of them was the Objective HQ. The same rule applied here to about being at your own risk for camping.
The map was a European themed map with hedgerows, valleys, hills, a town, river and even an airfield. The objectives where set team two had to capture 3 points any objective could be taken in any order, but had to be taken before capturing the HQ. However, once an objective was captured and held after its allocated time team one could not retake the objective once captured. The objectives were:
The airfield and to be held for 12 hours.
A town which had to be held for 24 hours.
And finally a church on a hill which had a commanding view of the battlefield which was the closer to team two's HQ than team one's as the crow flies, however the only road lead from the hill north and there was no bridge to cross opposite the hill for team two, so had to use the bridges in the east or west, hill had to be held for 6 hours.
Last was the objective HQ which had to be taken and held for only 1 hour.
Team one decided it was best to have a defensive minded person in charge. So, Darjeeling was chosen with Miho and Kay as vice's, they would command their schools on the tactical level, whilst Darjeeling was in charge of the operational level. Saunders forces would take the church known as "Winston" as code. Ooarai would take the town as they love an urban battle, known as "Belfast" And St Gloriana would hold the airfield known as "Spitfire." The HQ objective being known as "Rorke's Drift."
The plan was to hold and play for a game of attrition and use the objectives as bate with kill zones around them or in the objectives. As there were thick hedgerows leading towards objective spitfire ambushes would be set up, a bridge crossing the river which was 1 mile south of objective Belfast also would be a kill zone.
D-Day-1 time (18:00)
Assam walks in with Sarah into Darjeeling's manor house office; Darjeeling was sipping on her tea looking out of the window with Orange Pekoe making a new hot brew of tea.
"The Intelligence is very interesting Darjeeling." Assam said.
"How so."
Sarah placed the document on Darjeeling's desk.
"It seems they are not talking." Assam said.
"They didn't even meet up for a strategy meeting, not even a phone call." Sarah added.
Darjeeling continued looking out of the window.
"You know what that means."
"Maho and Katyusha can't trust each other. Or they are trying to deceive our intelligence." Sarah queried.
"Yes, it is safer for them not to speak as we would find out but I think your first point is not too far off, they decided that there was no need, both teams would go it alone, using their own initiative." Darjeeling turned in her chair facing both Assam and Sarah. "This is bad news for us, as they will be even more vicious, to do one better than the other. Like two children trying to get the most attention of their mother, they will do anything, and everything to win this."
The door knocked, Rosehip and Rukuriri entered they bowed.
"All vehicles, supplies and crews have now safely arrived at the battlefield Darjeeling." Rukuriri spoke.
"Everything even the special?" Came Darjeeling's response.
"Yes, even that I've never seen the warehouse so empty before. Only tanks that can't be fixed in time are left." Said Rosehip.
"Good that means we have spares for tanks, if you can get the mechanics to box up all the broken tanks, so we can use them for spare parts for working tanks, as they will be no use to anyone here."
"Will do Darjeeling." Rukuriri said with a bow, "Rosehip if you can help assist me that would be great."
"Yes on the way." Rosehip bowed to Darjeeling, they both left the room.
"Once they are done with that, we will leave." Darjeeling sipped her tea and slowly turned her chair and looked out of the window "The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination."
D-Day-1 time (20:00)
In a black tinted car, driving along at a leisurely pace down a main road, the street lamps blurring into one continuous streak.
"Erika we have everything correct."
"Yes maps, pens, clothes, compass, binoculars and toiletries."
"Good, Erika as you know this will be my last battle before I depart." She turned her head and faced Erika, her brown strong and commanding eyes focused on Erika's face. "I want to win this; we need to prove the dominance of the Nishizumi style once again."
"Understood, Maho I won't fail you."
"We will work with Pravda, they will be the hammer but we will be the ones wielding it."
The car slowed. They opened the doors, with the Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 waiting for their presence.
D-Day time (08:45) match will begin in 3 hours and 15 minutes
Before all members could enter the battlefield, all phones and other electrical equipment was to be taken away by the JSF. Which made one person very angry. "But why do I have to give my phone in? I might have a future husband contact me. Do you hate love? Even with that silver wedding ring on?" Saori whinnied to one of the marshals. In a large mess area where all of team one was eating breakfast.
"You have till 9 am to hand them in or you do not participate it's up to you." He calmly responded back.
"You're lucky that my team needs me." She stomped her feet and walked away, over to Miho, Hana, Yukari and Mako seating eating bowls of rice and miso soup with orange juice.
"Any luck on the phone situation?" asked Hana.
"No!" she sat and crossed her arms.
"I'm guessing they don't want us to cheat which is fair." Miho said back trying to calm Saori down.
"But what if it's an emergency and he wants to ask me out on a date?"
"I think this mysterious man can wait seven days." Mumbled Mako.
"What did you say Mako?"
"You'll be live on TV for seven day's, you will get thousands of people wanting your number." Mako said back.
"That is so true Mako!"
Sarah looked at her phone, she was so happy to see that her dad and James would be here in person to watch the whole thing. Beth even sent her a message. 'Good luck, for tomorrow/today depending on when you read this. Everyone in Boston is backing you, you'll be live on the TV here you'll do amazing!'
She sat with the Chindits eating some toast and apple juice. She was shaking a little when lifting the glass with the liquid on top rippling to her mouth. Rosehip sat next to her.
"Your nervous, there is no need to be." As she put her arm around her shoulder.
"I don't want to mess it all up for you, or the other's this is my first proper battle and it's a massive one."
"If this was the real English Breakfast, I know she would be ready to take on the world no matter the odds and, anyway look over there." She pointed to Miho and her crew a couple of tables behind them. "We have her! The only battle she has lost is against St. Gloriana's so technically she can't lose as we are on her team. Meaning we can't lose." She said with a smile.
Sarah felt a little relived with this, Rosehip stuck out a hand. "Come with me." Sarah grasped her hand and Rosehip ran over towards Miho pulling over Sarah.
"I can't go over there Rosehip. She is very busy as it is." Trying to reason with her but Rosehip would not listen.
"I'm very sorry to bother you Miss Nishizumi." Bowing to the seated Miho. "But I wish to introduce you to my vice commander, English Breakfast." Sarah made eye contact with Miho and bowed to her as her beret slipped off.
Miho picked up her Beret from the floor. "That's a lovely hat you have here English Breakfast." She said in a cheerful way.
"Thank you, it's my lucky mascot. Miho it's a great pleasure to meet you in person and fight alongside you. You have been a great and complex person to study for tactics." She eagerly stuck out a hand for a handshake Miho grasped her hand and shook back.
"Do you mind if I put it on?" Miho asked pointing to the Beret.
"Yes, of course, be my guest." She placed it on her head. Saori began taking pictures.
"It looks really cool, is it a traditional tanker Beret?" Yukari asked Sarah.
"I think so, but obviously not the golden badge." Sarah smiled back. "That was gifted to me, long story short."
"I remember you." Yukari said straching her chin. "You caught me spying before the exhibition match just before the University match."
"Ah yes, Miss Vandeleur. Didn't Michael Caine play him in a bridge too far?" Sarah smiled to Yukari as they both giggled.
"Next time I'll think of a better name." Yukari stated back.
Sarah bit her lip then grind at her. "Maybe Frost or Horrocks."
Miho passed back the beret. Sarah then put it on with its traditional slant. "That does really suit you." Miho added.
"Thank you." Sarah responded with a bow, this time the beret stayed on.
"I would love to speak to you in the future, English Breakfast."
"ATTENTION ALL TANK CREWS PLEASE HAND IN YOU ELECTRICAL DEVICES IN NOW!" A loudspeaker said echoing around the hall. Marshals walked around with clear tubs with the logo of each school.
"PLEASE PLACE THEM IN A BAG WITH YOUR NAME WRITTEN ON AND PUT THEM IN THE CORRESPONDING SCHOOL! ANY CREW MEMBERS CAUGHT OUTSIDE THIS BUILDING WITH A DEVICE WILL BE BANNED FROM THE MATCH!"
Sarah quickly sent a message on her phone to James and her dad. "Starting now will do my best"
She found a clear plastic bag turned her phone off, placing her phone inside and wrote her name, on the bag with a permanent marker, she then placed it into the St. Gloriana tub which was filling up quickly; even Assam's laptop was not immune to this which was in there as well. Once this was done Darjeeling got onto the loudspeaker with a microphone in her hand and stood on a table. "Good Morning Ladies, I hope you are all well this morning and I wish to speak to all troop commanders and vice commanders, but before the rest of you go I wish to say I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory. Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking." The mess hall emptied leaving about 20 students; the map was laid out with the corners being held down by bowls and glasses.
"I know this is going to sound repetitive but I wish for this first part of the battle to work like clockwork. The Chindits as they are the fastest tanks, they will take and hold Winston, until relieved by Kay and Naomi's company, Alisa's company is in reserve. Ooarai company will take Belfast, but push on and hold an overlook position on "Arnhem" Bridge also setting up a defensive fall-back line at Belfast. Rukuriri troop will push with my company to Spitfire and hold static defences in the hedgerows, with Chindits covering the western flank. Kay, Miho and the rest of you good luck."
D-Day time (10:30) match will begin in 1 hours and 30 minutes
"Are we in agreement Katyusha for our plan of attack?" Maho asked. The dark room they were in was small, it had no chairs only a table, all the windows were blocked out the only source of light was a single old tungsten light above them, Katyusha was sitting on Nona's shoulders looking down at the map on the table.
"The great Katyusha agrees. We will secure your flanks, taking the town and airfield with ease, as you take the objective on the hill."
"You better not let us down Katyusha."
"I could ask the same of you Maho. As you've become accustomed to failure, like the in the 62nd and 63rd tournament's, just remember who saved you in this battle." Katyusha added with an evil smile on her face.
"Don't you say that to commander Nishizumi! Kuromorimine never fails." Erika yelled back, walking out of the shadows in the corner of the room.
Katyusha Laughed and crossed her arms, then looked down onto Erika. "Do you know what nemesis means? A righteous infliction of retribution manifested by an appropriate agent, personified in this case by a horrible asshole, me." Every word oozed with malice.
Erika scowled at Katyusha her eyes filled with fire.
"Erika quite!" Maho barked at her, not facing Erika looking dead straight at Katyusha's authoritative face. "You speak when you are spoken too!"
"Yes Maho." Backing down as she walked back into the shadows.
"Then prove me wrong Maho take that hill by the 3rd day of battle if not well, we know what that means."
Maho stared at the grimacing face of Katyusha.
"What plans do you have in regards to your sister?" Katyusha questioned.
Maho walked around the table over to Katyusha, she cupped her hand over her mouth, Katyusha lent over covering Nona's ears and whispered something into Katyusha ear. Maho turned to leave the room and Erika followed, "I can't believe that, of all people. You would do something like that." Katyusha replied to Maho her grin enlarging brandishing her sharp teeth.
"It's the only way." Not facing Katyusha in a calculated tone, as Erika opened the door with the sun's light expanding into the room.
"The great Katyusha will agree to that."
Maho and Erika exited closing the door behind them of the small wooden outhouse.
"What a bitch." Erika said through her gritted teeth.
"Don't let her provocations get to you, that's how she sees weakness." Maho responded.
"Understood, I will learn from my mistake."
"And yes she is."
D-Day time (12:00) match begins
The smoke shell was fired adding a small artificial cloud into the slightly clouded sky.
The Chindits at the front of the HQ, exited speeding off like sprinters out of the blocks. Rosehips head was out of the turret leading the way with her crusader throwing up anything the tracks came in contact with. They drove past the Rorke's Drift a couple of miles down the main road, not stopping and continued to Winston. Sarah had her head out of her Cromwell binoculars around her neck at the ready, she had her mic in her hand her as the Cromwell kept up with the Crusaders but remained at the back of the line of 4 crusaders. "How's everyone doing?"
"All good English we're holding on for dear life but you take the rough with the smooth with being in the Chindits, quite Literally." Came the call back from Peppermint.
"I second that motion." Jasmine added.
"I'm loving every second, I don't know why you two are complaining." Honeybush remarked in unbridled joy. "Do you remember I said the Crusader was a racehorse, well then this is an Aston Martin, it's another level! Thank you English, for picking this tank!"
"I know you would like it my little speed demon." Sarah chuckled as the tank was thrown around as everyone held on.
"Winston in sight range 3 miles stay on the roads it's longer but faster." Rosehip said over the radio, with the square church bell tower dominating the landscape.
D-Day time (12:48)
"Blitz force here we are approaching the river." Came the call over the radio. Maho looked at her map seating in Tiger 212.
"Good wad the river and processed to the objective."
"Understood."
Blitz Force buttoned up their tanks to wad across the river, they charged at full speed the water getting up the sides of the turrets, all tanks had snorkels attached they continued and reached the other side of the bank.
"Blitz force we are across no casualties, proceeding to the objective."
D-Day time (13:11)
Rosehips crusader steamed up the hill with no trouble they reached the peak of the hill, the sun shining through the church bell tower, the tank drove up to the southern part of the hill to scout, her binoculars to hand, the tank peered over the lip. "Contact! Enemy 1 clicks out." Rosehip shouted urgently, she raised her binoculars. "5 Panzer III's looks to be the 50mm variety and 10 Panzer II's" The rest of the Chindits joined her. "All tanks fire on priority target the Panzer III's."
"Understood." Was the callback.
"Jasmine aim for the Panzer III's"
"Loaded."
"Hold."
"Fire." Came the call from Rosehip.
"Fire." Sarah called out.
The hill erupted with shells coming down the hill.
"Blitz Force here, we are under heavy fire from the objective. It looks to be Crusaders."
"Continue your advance, you know your mission commander." Maho spoke calmly as her tank rocked and rolled. "You are free to use your initiative."
"Understood. Tanks 6-10 flank to the east, Tanks 11-15 to the west, 2-5 continue with me to the objective."
"The Panzer II's are splitting east and west, Panzer III's continuing dead ahead," Rosehip spoke over the radio. "Green and Vanilla cover our flanks don't let the Panzer II's get on our rears that 20mm cannon would wreck the rear of our tanks." Two crusaders pulled back and set up an ambush for the flanking panzer II's
The crusader's 6 pounder shells screaming as they landed into the dirt of the rushing Panzer III's, Jasmine fired the 75mm shell hit one of the Panzer III's knocking it out, now the retaliatory bombardment was served back to them shells landing short hitting into the hill or flying over the church nearly taking out one of the filming drones. The closer they came, added more and more apprehension for Sarah. They reached the base of the hill and slowly climbed up, with the Panzer II's still circling around the base of the hill.
"Once we take out one more Panzer III I think it's time for us to play to our strengths." Rosehip said.
"Are you sure Rosehip." Sarah said a little apprehensive.
"Only a small splash and dash."
"Ok, understood." Sarah responded back nervously.
The Panzer III's where now half way up. Rosehip's crusader, crosshairs lined up with a Panzer III the 6 pounder easily knocked it out.
"Ok tanks with me pull back, English go to the left, Cranberry to the right." Rosehip then commanded, Sarah had never heard her this assertive before. "On my signal."
"Blitz Force here, tanks are retreating from the top hill the encirclement is almost complete."
"Understood commander." Maho had a little smile on her face "This will show Katyusha." She thought.
"Now!" Sarah's and Cranberry engines roared as the tanks galloped down the hill and swung into the sides of the Panzer III's with the turrets facing forwards at the top of the hill, while still remaining in their inverted V formation, Jasmine fired at point-blank range taking one out and moved her sights to the next one, Cranberry also took out her tank ahead of her. The last Panzer turned its turret to Sarah's Cromwell, her heart began to beat harder and faster, Rosehip Crusader charged straight down the hill directly down the throat of the last Panzer III, taking it out with one swift blow from the 6 pounder.
"Now back to the top Ladies the battle has only just begun." Rosehip said excitedly.
They regrouped; returning to the top of the hill with the Panzer II's now charging the northern, eastern and western parts of the hill simultaneously. Moving their tanks to intercept, Sarah's tank moved to the northern part all alone against three Panzer II's. Jasmine fired the 75mm, one of the panzers was taken out.
"Good hit Jasmine." Sarah said staying buttoned up in the tank.
"Unfortunately that wasn't me."
Sarah opened the hatch, down the main road towards Winston came a convoy of Sherman's with a firefly stopping on the side of the road, picking off the remaining Panzers.
"Sometimes if a jobs worth doing do it yourself. Is that something Darjeeling would say right Rosehip?" Kay spoke over the radio. The Sherman's moved up mopping up the last remaining Panzers, the Chindits fell back as Kay's hordes of Sherman's advanced up the hill to set up an encampment.
"Blitz force, our tank force have been destroyed by overwhelming tank support, it looks as if Saunders are now on the objective now."
Maho rubbed her forehead. "Gather all your crews and return back to HQ and find some new heavier tanks."
"Understood, Miss Nishizumi."
Maho's large tank force slowly rumbled to the eastern bridge, as long queues begin to build up due to the sheer volume of tanks.
D-Day time (18:46)
A tank drove out scouting in no man's land, the sun setting with the warm glow fading into the cold darkness of night over the horizon, the sky fading into a dark blue. The commander had her head out of the hatch, binoculars in hand. "Tank stop here" she called. The tank slowed and stopped, the silhouette of the tank was hard to miss on the backdrop of the dust sky. She looked through her binoculars; an orange globe came straight towards the side of the tank. Before she could warn her crew, the shell impacted the side with an omnipotent thud, the as the flag raised. Instantaneously an almighty explosion lifted the turret clear off the tank, throwing the commander cleanly out of the turret leaving her 5 metres away, with the turret landing about 2 meters from the now burning wreck, with fire dancing around now decapitated tank.
The commander landed on her back, she tilted her head over to the side to see her tank, seeing the flames and destruction she tried pushing herself up to get to her crew to see if anyone was alive, but couldn't move, the pain from her legs was immeasurable. She ran her hands down onto her legs; she felt a soft mushy substance below her knee with liquid drooling out, a jagged object on both legs sticking out. She moved her hands further down there was a sudden drop-off, her shins were gone. Her eyes became heavy and her body felt extremely cold as she cried for help. "Help me please someone please help! Mum! Dad! Please help." Her voice slowly turned into a whimper, as she as her life slowly seeped away into nothingness, her eyes closed and the darkness wrapped around her.
A/N: If you haven't read my first 'Alexander the great' I would give a quick read to get a bit of backstory as this is a continuation of that story.
If you want a map to understand what the battlefield looks like, I've made a basic one, if you go to flickr and search username - Montysmypython it's there.
So a week long battle everyone whats to time, the Chindit's holds the hill, and a tank has been obliterated who, how, what and why?
Hopefully, you have enjoyed the first chapter this is a new direction for this story arch, and I have some good ideas that I'm looking forward to putting into words. So, in contrast to 'Alexander the great'. 'The longest week' will have longer chapters but less frequent uploads maybe one or two chapters a month.
If you want to give me some feedback please leave a review its always appreciated.
