Chapter 2
From the commanders' cupola, Miho glanced around at her new surroundings. Upon gaining access to the main deck, she and her crewmates found themselves surrounded by tall buildings. Many of them were far taller than some she'd seen on any school-ship, even her own mother's. Some stood as tall as five stories, and dwarfed her Panzer IV.
Further into the city, things seemed to clear out more. There was a large park with an artificial lake that seemed quite popular, as well as what looked like a small amusement park. People on the streets waved cheerfully as they drove past, and children laughed and ran along the slow-moving procession. Hana, who sat in the open hatch on the turret's left side, smiled and waved politely, while Yukari waved back enthusiastically from the other side of the turret. Saori, too, waved from her own hatch, while Mako concentrated on driving. Behind them, the other tank crews were doing much of the same. It was a fine welcome, they would all agree later.
The route they were led down took them past the school proper. The buildings here were no larger than two stories, and we spread out over a large area. Students of all ages roamed about between the classes. There didn't seem to be any formal uniform need; boys and girls roamed the campus in whatever they felt like wearing. A few stopped in their goings to regard the new arrivals, and were met with friendly smiles and waves from the Ōarai girls, and seemed only too happy to return them.
At last, they were led into an open courtyard covered in blacktop. At the back of it was a series of hangars with their doors ajar. Miho could only assume that this was meant for them and ordered everyone to fall into line before them, pulling up abreast of each other in front of an open door.
Miho was about to disembark her tank when the roar of an engine and clacking of tracks on hard surface brought her attention up. From the left side of the courtyard, three small tanks appeared, charging straight at them. Yukari identified them all for everyone.
"An M5A1 Stuart, a Panzer II Luchs, and an M3 Light tank," she said as the group looked on. "And they're not alone!" Behind the three light tanks came several more of varying size. Lead by a Porsche Tiger, a line of seven more tanks rolled toward the new arrivals, and Yukari gleefully called them out. "They have a Porsche Tiger! And an M26 Pershing is behind it! And that's a French made ELC AMX! I never thought I'd see one of those!" The AMX was followed by two Comets and a T-34-2. A German Löwe brought up the rear of the column. "I didn't think any of those had ever been made!"
"They have a diverse mix, just like we do," Saori said, pulling herself up to sit on the PzIV's hull. "I wonder what the crews are like."
"Anzu said everyone's friendly," Hana replied. "Everyone we've seen so far has smiled and waved to us. It stands to reason the Sensha-Do crews would be too."
The light tanks reached them at that point, and all three pulled up next to each other, turrets turned away. In unison, they all fired a single round, then reversed and turned to rejoin the column. The Porsche Tiger's own turret traversed to the left before firing a round as the light tanks rejoined them, falling into line behind the Löwe. The line of tanks turned and pulled to a stop before the Ōarai tanks. Engines were shut off and hatches opened, and the crews climbed out.
"They're… Co-ed?" Miho was speechless as the first person to emerge was a boy about her age. He wore olive drab overalls and a pair of goggles over his eyes that he pulled off and hung around his neck. The look was completed with a pair of combat boots and an easy grin as he regarded the girls. Behind him, a girl maybe a year younger dressed similarly sat behind him on the hull of the Porsche Tiger. She said something to the girls who now stood around their tanks, who looked back at her confused.
"She said," Ami translated, "'Welcome to the Pacific Blue,' and 'We look forward to seeing you on the field.'"
Recognition crossed the girls faces, and they all turned to face their new classmates and bowed respectfully. "Thank you very much." When they straightened, Miho was surprised to see the commander of the Tiger P standing right before her, hand outstretched. It took her a full second to realize he wanted to greet her, and she took his hand tentatively. His grip, though not crushing, was certainly strong, radiating confidence.
"Do you speak English," he asked in slightly broken Japanese.
"A… a little," she replied in halting English, broken only by her nervousness and not her lack of knowledge in the language. "We had to take classes in it. It's one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, after all."
The American grinned. "Yeah, it is," he replied, switching to English. "Also one of the most difficult to learn, I hear. I'm Captain Robert Downes, commander of the Porshe Tiger."
"M… Miho Nishizumi," Miho replied, then quickly introduced her crew.
"Nice to meet you all. We'll get formally introduced a little later, but for now I'll introduce my crew. I see the rest of our teams are doing the same." Miho glanced around to see that it was true. The Americans were beginning to mingle with the Japanese, and had even begun to laugh with each other at times.
"This," Robert went on, getting back to his own crew, "is Cecily Cambell, my gunner." The red-haired girl hopped down from where she had been seated on the hull, smiling at the girls. "Our loader, sergeant Geoff Ramsey." Geoff waved from his hatch on the turret. "Our driver and Cecily's sister, Corporal Katarina Cambell." Katarina nodded politely to the group, but otherwise seemed indifferent. "And finally, our radio op, Specialist Jim Fawkes." Jim nodded politely. "You'll meet the rest of the team tomorrow at orientation, but for now, welcome to the Pacific Blue Tank Corps."
"Wait," Yukari said suddenly. "We're being merged with you?"
"Didn't your instructor tell you?"
"Well," Hana said thoughtfully. "She's probably been busy preparing…"
"Alright, girls! Gather round." The loud voice of the person in question rang out over the courtyard, and the former Ōarai team ran to comply. "Now listen. I know I didn't tell you yet, but from now on, you'll be instructed by the American instructor. I have to return to duty in the military. Now, now, no whining. We all knew this was only a temporary assignment. I would have ended up leaving anyway. I want you all to listen to Colonel Weld. He's easily as experienced as me, and even saw action in the Iraq conflict in the Nineties. So pay attention. I'm also sorry to announce that you are no longer part of the Japanese circuit. It would be too difficult for the ship to make it to every battle for both you and their team, so you're being merged. I knew you'd all want to keep doing Sensha-Do, and this was the best I could arrange." She looked at each of them as she spoke, and seeing the sadness in their eyes nearly broke her heart as she continued.
"I want you all to know that I'm very proud to have been your instructor. You may be inexperienced still, but you all showed the entire country that you wouldn't go down without a fight. Keep that attitude. The American teams you face will be just as tough as the ones you've fought so far, but I have faith in you. No matter what happens, I'll be rooting for you, and so will Ōarai. If you make it to the International Championship next year, expect to see me there, cheering you on no matter who you face. It has been an honor." Ami snapped a salute to the girls, who bowed respectfully in thanks. She then turned on her heel and walked away without looking back, partly because she wanted to show her faith in them, but mostly because she didn't want them to see the tears in her own eyes.
