Panzer und uni
Chapter 1: new life, new school, new teams.
Miho Nishizumi let her mind wonder. Her thoughts moving back to the past 2 years, easily the best time of her life. She had met and eventually married the love of her life, a British boy called Nicholas white, and brother to one of her friends and fiercest rivals Darjeeling from St. Gloriana academy. She had competed in the National Sensha-dō tournament and won it in both years, making her high school and home champions for 3 years on the run.
But that was her old life.
In the 2 years since meeting and marrying Nicholas, she had graduated from Ōarai Girls academy and took a gap year with her husband, travelling the world and coming to watch the Sensha-dō tournaments in Japan. Now, she was sitting in her Husband's classic sports car heading for their university.
The Ibaraki University was a well known university in Japan with a good academic reputation, and a renowned Sensha-dō team. The university circuit for Sensha-dō was quite different from the high school circuit. The teams were larger and the latest that a tank could be fielded from was 1975 instead of 1955 in the High school circuit, also the number of panzers a team could field from that era was limited much like the nationals, 10 tanks for the first round 20 in the second round, 30 in the semi finals and 40 in the finals, also a total of 5 warplanes was allowed in each round from 1939-45.
Miho looked up from her musings over to her husband in the driver's seat of the classic sports car. They had both physically grown over the last 2 years and were closer than ever before. They had both applied for and were accepted for places at Ibaraki University, as had a few of their friends. Sadly, while Hana had also been accepted for the same teacher training course as Miho and Mako had been accepted onto the same mechanical engineering course as Nicholas, Yukarai and Saori hadn't been accepted and were going to university elsewhere, with Yukarai going to the JGSDF officer training collage and Saori going to another university to study journalism.
As the sports car drew closer to the port, their destination came within sight. The Ibaraki university carrier ship. The ship itself was roughly the same size as Ōarai. 8.5 kilometres long, 1 kilometre wide and about 800 meters high. It was home to about 35,000 students, crew, and other citizens. The couple drove onto the carrier ship, happily showing all the necessary paperwork, making their way to their new home.
When the couple had married, Miho had sold her apartment and moved in with Nicholas, and in turn, when they graduated from Ōarai, the couple had sold their house and used the money to buy a similar house on the university campus. The sports car manoeuvred through the streets of Ibaraki, the built in sat-nav guiding them to their new home. The house was a 2 bedroom detached house with a kitchen, living room, dining room and work room on the ground floor and a guest room and a Master bedroom with unsuite bathroom and a balcony that overlooked the garden at the back. Outside the house also had a garage and underneath had a room similar to the basement Nicholas had at Ōarai. The couple at last found their house and parked the car in the drive. Exploring their new house.
"It's beautiful." Said Miho. As they were moving through the house, Nicholas discovered a folder on the dining room table. Nicholas sifted through it, it was a welcome package to the university with map of the ship, timetable for both Miho and Nicholas as well as elective choices and a list of teachers and students in the various classes that the couple were taking.
"It says we have an induction choice in..." Nicholas took a brief moment to look at his watch "2 hours. Seeing as we have some time to kill, want to go and test the bed?" Miho put on a mischievous grin at the suggestion.
"I like the way you think dear." Said Miho. The 2 retreated upstairs, about to consummate their new lives as students.
Ibaraki university Sensha-dō field
Miho, Mako, Hana and Nicholas walked onto the Sensha-dō field. Having spent the last few hours getting registered for their courses, and it was now time for them to pick their electives. Having found that there were no flying courses available; Nicholas had opted to take Sensha-dō along with his wife, hoping to be in the same crew. The Sensha-dō facilities were, unsurprisingly, bigger than those at Ōarai. Surrounding the large field were 3 large hangers with 10 bay doors each. As they were standing surveying the large area, a young woman, dressed in a skirt, pair of boots, and a jacket with pockets. She was about 5'10, slim, ginger hair tied back into a pony tail, had blue eyes and a kind look on her face.
"Hi," she said, "are you 2 here for sign ups?"
"Sure are." Said Nicholas, "I'm Nicholas, this is my wife, Miho Nishizumi and that's Mako Reize and Hana Isuzu." The girl smiled,
"I'm Megan Sato, commander of C team. Follow me I'll take you to where the new recruits are gathering." She motioned for them to follow and they started walking toward one of the hangers, a giant C painted onto the wall.
"Nishizumi, you wouldn't happen to have come from Ōarai would you?" asked Sato.
"Yeah, I was the team commander in the panzer IV, Mako was my driver and Hana was my gunner."
"Cool, I watched the finals when you killed the Maus, very creative. You may end up doing something similar here."
"Why?" asked Miho, she was slightly worried, since Nicholas had started flying with Ōarai she had come to rely on him for laying down fire on heavy tanks like Maus.
"In the University circuit, we end up against heavier tanks, and our aircraft are severely limited because the commander prefers more traditional Sensha-dō ,we have to get creative in C team, less so for the other teams."
"How come?" asked Nicholas
"The way the team is organized is that the new comers get put into C team and a few into B team. A team is the best on the team, they chose them after you've been with the team for at least a year and they use virtually nothing but heavy tanks. B team is mostly mediums and C is mainly light tanks." Explained Megan. They walked into the C team garage, inside were a collection of panzers that would certainly send Yukari into a Panzer high. Inside was a pair of Bat.-Châtillon25t's, 3 E-25's, 2 AMX 13 75's, a Leopard 1 and a pair of ELC AMX's. There was also a group of recruits gathered by a stand on which. Megan led the girls over to the group and said,
"Commander Isla will be making a speech later to the new comers. Then you'll be assigned to crews and we'll go out on a manoeuvre. See you on the panzer line." Megan then turned and headed off into the distance. Soon a short girl, about 5'4 walked into the hanger and climbed onto the stage and shouted.
"Right! Listen up maggots!" Everyone looked at her she continued, "I am Commander Sato! You will address me as commander or Ma'am! You have made the choice to join the Sensha-dō team. For those of you who have been in Sensha-dō teams in high school it will be nothing like them! This team is run with Military precision and I will not have it jeopardized by a bunch of newbie's, CLEAR?!"
"Clear commander." Shouted everyone back.
"Good, Sis, read out the team lists." Said the commander, turning and leaving the new recruits. Megan the moved up to the stage with a piece of paper. She said,
"Right, the following people will be in crews together. Miho Nishizumi, Nicholas Nishizumi, Mako Reize and Chihiro Yusa." Miho looked up, the last name was one of her first friends in elementary school. She had been their gunner in their Panzer IV. She snapped her head round and stood by her was a grown up version of her old elementary school friend.
"Long time no see Miho." Said Chihiro with a smile. Miho smiled and said,
"Good to see you too Chihiro. These are my friends from Ōarai, Mako, Hana and this is my husband Nicholas." Chihiro looked at Nicholas surprised, as if questioning her friend. Nicholas simply held up his and Miho's hands which had their wedding rings on. Chihiro looked surprised but before she could say anything, Megan then said,
"Right, you four are in the Leopard 1." Miho, Nicholas, Mako and Chihiro started walking over to the Leopard 1. The large grey German cold war panzer loomed over them. It's long 105mm gun jutting out from the front. Miho then did what she did best and took command of the crew.
"Right, everyone mount up and get familiar with your positions. Mako, your driving, Chihiro your gunner and Nicholas is loader, I'll be commander. Any questions?"
"Yeah," said Nicholas, "If we have to paint this thing, can we not do it in pink like Rabbit team did to their lee?" Miho and Mako laughed at their husband/ friends despair while Chihiro just looked baffled.
"Ok Nicholas, if we do get to paint it, you can pick the paint scheme." Said Miho, "Now, everyone into your positions." They all nodded and started climbing into the Leopard. The inside of the turret was quite cramped, most of the space taken up by the breech for the 105mm cannon. Nicholas started reading a loaders manual he found in the turret while Chihiro worked out the turret traverse. Mako, being Mako, had finished reading the drivers manual in under 5 minutes and was ready to start it up. Miho tuned the radio and pulled herself out of the commanders Cupola and looked around. She saw various other crews mounting their panzers and making ready. Megan who was in the Bat-Chat 25t parked next to Miho's turned and said,
"All set Nishizumi?" Miho nodded in response,
"Yes I think so."
"Well we all pull out of the garage and watch as A and B teams head out to the practice area then we follow them." Said Megan, she then keyed her headset and ordered, "All panzers, advance through the doors and hold position." Suddenly the hanger shuddered as 10 German and French tanks roared into life. Moving through the doors slowly and holding position just as they emerged into the light of day. Soon Teams A and B started to drive out in a long single file line. Miho counted the panzers as they advanced past her.
"2 E-75's 3 chieftains, 2 T110E4's, 3 Waffentrager E-100's. " Nicholas took over, watching from his loaders hatch.
"2 Centurion MK9's, 5 M60A3's and 3 Jagtpanthers. This is going to be tough."
"But we have the advantage in speed and manoeuvrability, plus we have a secret weapon." Said Mako. Miho looked down at Mako curious.
"What is it?" asked Miho. Nicholas smiled, seeing where this was going.
"You." Said Nicholas. Miho blushed. Team 3 and its panzers joined the line of panzer's heading for the training area.
The Panzers returned from their training session, for C team, it was getting crew's used to their panzers. Miho and the others had proved that their skills from Ōarai had successfully transferred to their new Leopard 1. From the gunnery on the range, it was clear that the team needed improvement. But Miho still took a bit of pride that her crew's gunnery, manoeuvring, and reloading times were faster and better than those of the A team commander with her E-75. Her Leopard 1 pulled into its parking space in the hanger. As it powered down, Miho climbed out, stretching off as she had done since first starting Sensha-dō in Elementary school. Megan walked up to her with a smile on her face.
"Very nice Nishizumi." She said. "I've been ordered to choose a 2ic from the new recruits and you're the best choice. Congratulations, sub commander." Megan offered a hand. Miho hesitated for a moment, she then took it and shook it, sealing her position as vice commander of C team.
"Thank you." Said Miho, "I'll do my best."
"Well you and the Ōarai girls are the practically only ones with and Sensha-dō experience and from the way some of these teams are looking, I think I'm going to need your experience to get this team ready for the international circuit."
"International circuit?" queried Miho. Megan smiled and explained,
"The University circuit of Sensha-dō is internationally based, seeing as each country has a limited number of University school ships; it was decided to make the University Sensha-dō circuit international to make a full tournament."
"Who are the current champions in the University circuit?" asked Miho,
"The Berlin National Military Uni." Said Megan, "Their a university ran by the German armed forces with a compulsory Sensha-dō program for all those enrolled in their Panzer classes . Their team is almost entirely comprised of Leopard 1's and German heavy tanks, including Jagdtigers."
"Great, Kuromorimine all over again." Said Miho.
"I know." Said Megan, "If we had aircraft it would be easier but we don't have any god aircraft or anyone to fly them."
"Actually you do." Said Nicholas, he stepped forward up to Megan and said, "I'm an experienced Kreigsfliger pilot and am willing to start up a flight team. I just need some volunteers, the rules, funding and some aircraft"
"Well I'll get the university rules printed off for you. The university used to have a Kreigsfliger squadron so I'll show you the old hangers. You'll have to ask for funding and for volunteers on your own though." Said Megan. "You'll also need to get permission from the commander."
"Get permission from me to do what?" asked Commander Sato as she walked up to the group.
"Nicholas says he can get the old Kreigsfliger aircraft back up and running for us to use in this year's tournament."
"What makes you think you can organise a team?" asked Sato sceptically. Nicholas eye's narrowed and said,
"During my time at the Chuck Jaeger international school, I became the first 2nd year to become squadron commander of the school Kreigsfliger squadron winning the championship that year and coming 2nd the next. I became Ōarai's fighter pilot 2 years later and on a side note, attained the rank of colour sergeant in the Royal marine cadets back in the UK, so yes I can lead and know my stuff." Sato thought for a moment, considering what he had said.
"Alright." She said, "You have 2 weeks to gather a team and get them tournament ready. Get an instructor and funding and get the plane's tournament ready. Megan, show him the old squadron hanger." Sato turned and left the group as Megan lead Nicholas and Miho toward the old Kreigsfliger hanger.
The Universities old Kreigsfliger squadron was based on the city carrier's airfield, this was a good thing, it meant that they had the use of a proper tarmac runway rather than a field. The airfield was similar in size to Ōarai's so it was also quiet. Great for raising a fledgling squadron. The squadron's old facilities consisted of a very large aircraft hanger and a flight line outside with 5 spaces for aircraft.
"Not bad, we can work with this." Said Nicholas. "Are there any aircraft inside?"
"Don't know." Said Megan "I've never been inside." The group moved toward the hanger and found the side entrance. They forced the old rusty doors open and moved inside the dark hanger. The air wrecked of old oil, moisture and rust. Nicholas moved around and found the light switch. The lights flickered on and revealed the hangers occupants.
"Well we've got aircraft." Said Nicholas, he moved along the hanger, surveying the hanger's 3 occupants Identifying them as he passed them. "A Hawker hurricane MK 2C. A Nakajima KI-43 'Oscar'. And a Curtis P-40 'Warhawk'. "Nicholas stopped facing the 3 single engine fighters, nodding with a smile, "Add my Mosquito, we might just pull this off."