"I hope she likes it" Anchovy thought as she stared in the small oven and watched how the food is.
"Is that her taste at all? Is it too spicy?" Doubts now spread in her mind. She hummed to herself bobbing nervously up and down with her foot.
"Chovy?" a blonde soldier brought Anchovy from the thoughts.
"Hmm?" She turned her head quickly to the soldier.
"It's just as we hoped" the soldier said proudly putting down a report before Anchovy.
Anchovy read the report carefully grinning more and more.
"Are the sources confident?" She asked without taking her eyes off the report.
"To 99.99%" the soldier replied.
"Excellent it is now that we" she looked at her wristwatch
"oh, crap she stopped again" Anchovy sighed and then looked questioningly at the blonde.
"It's exactly 9pm" said the blonde with a sly grin.
"That's 9 ½ hours until Fall Blau comes into effect and you can hear it on the first show" she said looking back into her oven.
"Anything special that I should say?" Asked the blonde leaning against a table.
"Just improvise do something to strengthen the troops heat up and of course keep emphasizing that we will be victorious with the Axis and their leader" Anchovy said casually looking at her food in the oven again.
"Propaganda" the blonde grinned "By the way Chovy the pizza smells wonderful I think SHE will love her and thank you for sure"
"Ehh?! What are you talking about Carpaccio!" Anchovy asked with a flushed face and avoided looking at Carpaccio.
"I'll go now I'll get everything ready for the first show have fun Anzai" Carpaccio grinned smugly as she waved goodbye to Anchovy and left the room.
"I should have her sent to the front so she learns some respect" Anchovy thought annoyed by Carpaccio.
"Pasta ban for you Carpaccio!" She called afterwards but remained unanswered.
Anchovy turned to her pizza and took it out of the oven and put it on a round wooden board then cut it into big shapes like pieces of cake. She admired her work everything looked perfect. She chuckled and picked up the plate and walked quickly to Mahos office.
Maho stood in front of a big map on a table and put up small tank figures and the enemy base according to the available information. She compared the documents and calculated the supplies and ammunition that is likely to be consumed. Now that everything was stored only at
a central location one had a better overview of the consumption and the current state of stocks. A gentle knock came from the door.
"Yes?" Maho said flatly and continued to study the map.
"I hope our offensive will give a clear warning" she went through all scenarios that could happen after the offensive.
"It's me Maho I made you something to eat." Anchovy came beaming and with a slight flush on her cheeks in the meeting room. Maho did not really notice Anchovy she nodded slightly and looked at the weather forecast again.
"Ehh are you okay?" Anchovy looked irritated at the map and then at Maho.
"Do you think it was right to send Erika and Miho into battle together?" Maho narrowed her eyes and tapped her index finger against her chin.
"What makes you doubt your decision?" Anchovy placed the pizza next to Maho on the map.
"Well you know Erika and Miho have not had a good relationship since Miho's change of schools Erika is still very eccentric and she would do anything to win Miho has no infantry experience and so much more that she needs to learn" Maho grabbed her head as if she was having a headache.
"Do you not see that the two behave like a couple?!" Anchovy thought but said nothing as she just listened.
"The worst thing that can happen is that the two works against each other and both are eliminated in the fight." Maho sighed.
"You have doubts about the victory?" Anchovy asked and ate a piece of pizza.
"Not at the victory but the cohesion of Erika and Miho and that can affect the troupe. Defeatism is the death of every army." Maho sighed again.
"Then set Emi or Koume on the task instead of Erika or Miho." Anchovy looked over Mahos shoulder and inhaled deeply the scent of Maho.
"There we have the problem" Maho sighed stronger, frustrated. "The troop would not follow Emi because of her wild nature and Koume ... she is too tender for a war of aggression. Erika and Koume would go but that would not bring good prestige. What would it look like if I put Miho on the bench? Morals would certainly go down the drain." Maho sighed again and grabbed a piece of pizza. Anchovy began to massage Mahos shoulders like she always did when Maho was too puzzled.
"Hey that tastes delicious! What's that?" Maho looked at Anchovy with a slight grin.
"This is a special hot pepper pizza that I myself made are not you feeling well?" Anchovy looked at Maho puzzled as she turned redder in the face and began to fan air in the face.
"Oh oh" tears came in the eyes of Maho. "WATER Anzai WATER" Maho began to wheeze as sweat appeared on her forehead. Anchovy saw that there was a water bottle on the other side of the table she immediately ran to the other end of the table to get the water bottle. She brought the bottle to Maho at astonishing speed. Maho put the bottle on and drank half the bottle empty.
"S-sorry I did not know that Y-You react to spicy food like this" Anchovy said looking sad and embarrassed to the ground.
"Not bad you could have said that it's spicy" Maho spoke as she breathed a little faster now. She went to Anchovy and put her arms around her. Anchovy looked awestruck in Mahos eyes.
"Thank you very much for taking the trouble" Maho kissed Anchovy on the forehead. Anchovy blushed immediately as she was about to cling to Maho as she released the embrace and immediately started studying the map again.
"Is everything ready for the first broadcast?" Maho asked in concentration
"Aye Carpaccio is getting ready as we speak" Anchovy replied slightly disappointed looking Maho in the face.
"Good" Maho looked at the clock "Then I'll pull myself back we'll meet again here an hour before Fall Blau comes into effect" Maho said heading for her bedroom.
"Yeah" Anchovy saluted
"Sleep well Maho" she said and began to clear the pizza.
"You too Anzai" Maho replied grinning as she left the room
"She calls me ANZAI ahhh I'm happy" Anchovy smiled her happiness all over her face.
"Just a second time" Her heart beat faster with joy.
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As Maho said most met in the meeting room which looked more like a map room every 5 minutes Anchovy asked for reports on the enemy movements, weather activities and operational readiness of the attacking force. A tension spread in the room. It was not the fight itself but the unknown thing that worried everyone. Would the commanders of the attacking force get away safely? Would we suffer heavy losses? Would the Allies intervene? Would Katyusha fight back during the action? Questions about questions where there was no clear answer.
"Another 20 minutes Ms. High Commander " stated a radio operator from Bellwall. Maho nodded and looked thoughtfully at Anchovy.
"What are you thinking of?" Anchovy asked blinking excitedly.
"If we cannot postpone the operation by a few days" There were too many doubts in Mahos mind that so much could go wrong. Anchovy went to Maho and whispered to her
"If we pinch now we will not only lose face as an axis power but also morale would drop drastically we have to do that no matter what comes"
"And if we do fail then we fail together" added Anchovy taking Mahos hands in hers and looking at Maho passionately. Maho widened her eyes and blushed immediately
"I…I don´t know what to say. Anzai..." Maho firmly squeezed Anchovy's hands and smiled slightly.
"Thanks" she said giving Anchovy a quick kiss on the forehead.
"Still 5 minutes to Operation Fall Blau Ms. High Commander"
Anchovy and Maho immediately parted as if they had burned each other. It began to sound a fanfare from the radio. Maho thought the song familiar she tapped her lip with her index finger and listened intently.
"Comrades and enemies of the Axis yesterday afternoon cowardly forces attacked our ally and comrade First Lieutenant Miho Nishizumi and made a sign of violent actions against the Axis Alliance the cowardly gang abruptly fled as our superior troops led by First Lieutenant Erika Itsumi the Confederate resolutely came to the rescue. Our Commander-in-Chief did not hesitate long and immediately developed an answer to this Enemy act and developed with all the allies of the Axis the plan Fall Blau." Carpaccio voice came calmly and clearly through the radio. Anchovy looked excitedly at Maho to see the reaction but until now she listened intently.
"In the spirit of the Axis we fight resolutely and, in this spirit, I call to you comrades of the axis: gathered together the last force it quivers the heart it heaves up the chest the fists clench the blood boils the Hatred and anger at such cowardly action drives us. We have to win! The enemies must succumb! We stand together comrade to comrade! We want to avenge this cowardly act and all those who have brought us during the attack from our ranks your spirit leads us so that we can do what their lives were given for. We know we must be ready to die like all of them and be happy to give our lives so we can win with Commander-in-Chief Maho Nishizumi." Carpaccio's voice grew louder and more menacing.
Maho raised an eyebrow and nodded as if she had to agree. Anchovy was amused by Mahos reaction.
"And even if the enemy rages so fiercely and he brings the devil himself and as they wind themselves like a snake spewing venom and drooling we are not deterred by anything! The storm breaks the day dawns where our glorious troops win. Thousands of hearts who want to conquer or die then prepare for a storm appeal! "
Maho raised her eyes to her staring in disbelief at the radio. She immediately turned her gaze to Anchovy who looked at her with a cheerful look. Anchovy just nodded.
"Then the day of victory waving again a glorious troop rebuilds itself it sounds again awesome songs and the name of the axis is free again! Around that hold together! It is time to avenge to break the power that has led us in this hardship! Heaven decides whether victory or death!"
Everyone standing in the room looked to Maho and saluted and in the choir they all called again and again "victory or death!"
Maho looked into each face and put on a dirty smile and returned the salute
"Victory or death!" She agreed.
"Anzai give the order for Fall Blue" Maho said looking at the map again.
"Already happening they need to be in the middle of the fights" Anchovy said looking at Maho.
"When did you?" Maho started but quickly realized that the term "Fall Blue" was used in the announcement.
"Not bad Anzai!" Maho said proudly and put her hand on Anchovy's shoulder.
"How warm her hands are" Anchovy thought and immediately turned red in the face. Her heart was racing at the touch. Maho looked at the map and slid into her chair.
"Give any message you get from the task force" Maho ordered looking at the clock and looking down at her second hand.
"Yes madam" said the radio operator and began to communicate with the front. Anzai smiled and sat down next to Maho
"Now it's time to wait should I make something to eat for us? Or some coffee?" she asked.
Maho put her hand on Anchovy's instinctively without losing sight of the clock.
"Coffee please" she said and grinned softly.
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Maho sat at the map table tapping her fingers nervously on the table looking at the clock and the radio again and again.
"Everything went well? Are too many favored? Did the plan fail? Why don´t they call?" Thoughts plagued her mind putting her in a lousy mood.
Everyone in the room felt the bad mood emanating from Maho and nobody wanted to attract attention so that Maho could reduce their frustration on them. They all knew the story of what Maho had done to Erika because she had failed. Anchovy sat next to Maho and studied the map her gaze kept wandering to Maho.
"They'll be reporting it's just an hour or so ago Maho" Anchovy said reassuringly as Maho gave a slight grunt.
"There are at least 20 km and the preparations and" Anchovy stopped immediately when the tapping of Maho fingers stopped Mahos gaze wandered to Anchovy who looked more like he had just been ripped out of a dream.
"I know" Maho said somewhat irritably and started tapping nervously on the table again.
"Combat action has begun!" Cried the radio operator and wrote down some details.
Anchovy jumped up and hurried to the radio operator and took the written report with her and went to the map and marked on the map the process.
"Seems that they have encountered little resistance" said Anchovy.
"Weird" Maho said reading the details.
"Do you mean that they expected us and left behind only a small force?" Maho asked in a trance as she looked at the map and the inscribed one from Anchovy.
"Fall Blau is almost done Mrs. High Commander" said the radio operator.
Maho looked at the clock 20 minutes have passed since the beginning of the fighting.
"It was really a blitzkrieg it was right to use Miho and Erika for it" she thought and stumbled over the word almost from the radio operator.
"Why almost?" Maho asked in surprise.
"The leader was not in the camp for first Lieutenant Itsumi" the radio operator explained modestly.
"And where else should she be?" Mahos voice became more nervous.
"According to information given to Lieutenant Itsumi by the French prisoners she is with the allies" the radio operator said getting nervous about not communicating bad or half-good news. Maho looked at Anchovy who only nodded in agreement.
"Now we have the mess" Maho began to ponder.
"We should prepare the troops for a tough fight" Anchovy said approaching Maho.
"Yes, we should" Maho pondered on possible strategies. To go on defensive would split the troops completely because the Bellwall soldiers are combat whisperers.
"I have an idea to increase the morale" Anchovy interjected.
"We should downplay this information and overshadow it with a medal ceremony to strengthen the will to fight and morale. What do you think of that?" Anchovy asked excitedly.
Maho smiled a little. "Where do you always take these ideas Anzai?" Maho stood up and put a hand on Anchovy's shoulder. Anchovy blushed immediately.
"I think the idea is very good it gives us some time to figure out which enemy we should turn our attention to next" she said softly to Anchovy stroking Anchovy's cheek with her thumbs. Anchovy's heart was racing with joy as she looked into Mahos dark brown eyes she wanted to grab Maho and kiss her or even enjoy herself but she was aware that they were not alone and it was not the time to do it. Their fire of love burned brightly.
"We're going to the front tomorrow to award the medals send Koume to secure the route there understood Anzai?" Maho said in a gentle tone dropping from Anchovy.
"Yes Maho" Anchovy said more with a far too high voice. Maho turned and smiled awkwardly then disappeared from the room.
"Am I just so hot or is it so hot here?" Was Anchovy's last thought as she dropped down onto the chair.
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It was a depressed mood in the outpost of the assault army which in a way was a high above the win against the French but that was marred by a gruesome low. An icy silence broke out among the soldiers of the Ooarai and the Kuromorimine armies just a half-hearted 'hello' or that of saluting was the only connection between the two parties. The morale was on the decline and voices were loud that the alliance was about to break neither the commander of the troop nor the co-commander had been seen since the victory only selected people met the two. None of the soldiers understood what had happened. Miho was in her tent and made the report for her sister. She had been sitting in front of it for hours because she could not think straight. Her thoughts kept wandering to the scene where Erika attacked the soldier and herself. She also caught herself wondering how Erika was doing. She missed her but she was also scared. Miho sighed loudly.
"What's going on?" Erwin asked coming straight into the tent. She was aware of the situation but also because Yukari had told her about it in the last few hours before Yukari became Mihos 'bodyguard'.
"Nothing important just cannot move forward with the report for some reason" Miho said and forced a smile.
"Yeah right that's bullshit and you know it" Erwin thought and sat next to Miho and looked at all the failed reports. She took a crumpled sheet and read it. 'Field report of First Lieutenant Nishisumi' Erwin had to pull herself together to avoid grinning or laughing. She took a deep breath.
"You miss her right?" Erwin said placing her hand on Mihos.
"I do not know." Miho started but looked away. She was interrupted by Erwin immediately.
"I'm not blind Miho you had...I'm sorry wrong word you have a relationship" Erwin grabbed Miho's hand and held her tight.
"And hiding now and not confronting them is not the solution either Miho" Erwin said softly squeezing her hand.
Miho began to sob she squeezed Erwin's hand tighter her gaze wandering down to the floor.
"Trust has left me ... do you understand? A kind of emptiness stays behind... "
Miho sobbed more and more tears began to run down her face
"My yearning for security is now suppressed by fears as a cold rain beats back memories of those days..."
Now she burst into tears. Erwin hugged Miho gently and patted her head.
"Is good Miho just let it out" said Erwin in a calm tone. Actually, Erwin was overwhelmed with the situation because the Miho who had rescued her school, which had always struggled and struggled out of every tough situation, was suddenly devastated and howled bitterly at Erwin's shoulder.
"Poor Miho unfortunately that's how it is in love" thought Erwin. She had seen that with other schoolmates or in manga or in movies.
"Come on Miho you have to get out of here everybody is worried" Erwin tried to change the subject. Miho was not in the mood to go out in the fresh air. Erwin saw the conflict going on in Mihos head.
"Give yourself a jolt I even have this nonalcoholic beer from Kuromorimine. And this is the best opportunity to have a drink" Erwin pulled Miho up so she had to get up. Miho gave up maybe she needs some change right now she dried her eyes with the hem of her field blouse and nodded silently a little smile graced her face but her eyes said exactly the opposite.
"Very nice I hope everything works out" thought Erwin and went with Miho into the open.
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Contemporaneous
"Where is Erika?"
"No idea Mrs. First Lieutenant we have not seen her for some time now"
"Keep your eyes open"
"Where can she be? I do not look like that at all." Koume was surprised how she found the armed forces as outsiders realized that there was conflict and low morale between the soldiers. She had already been in Erikas tent but it looked like it was unused she was at the food counter she already wanted to go to Miho but then she remembered where Erika was most of the time when she was feeling sick.
"Why should she in a bad mood?" Was her first thought
Erika sat in her Tiger and leaned against the wall of the turret wall and stared straight ahead. She heard footsteps echoing from the outer shell as she paced the tiger and slowly looked up at the hatch and as a precautionary measure released her pistol.
"Erika it's me please do not shoot" came Koumes voice from above and then her head looked into it.
"What are you doing here?" Erika looked surprised up into Koumes face.
"First looking for you" she joked more than a nod from Erika did not get her.
"What's going on here Erika? Here everything goes haywire. Alone I found you here everyone is already in the search for you an unqualified troop" Koume climbed into the tank and sat down in front of Erika.
"Let her celebrate the victory..." Erika said tonelessly and closed her eyes.
"Please repeat that again" Koume said blinking a few times in surprise.
Erika remained silent and turned her head away.
"There's definitely something in the bush here" Koume thought
"What's up Erika?" She asked grabbing Erika's hand
"You can tell me everything" she pressed Erika's hand
"We are still friends and I want to help you"
"I messed up" came Erikas answer but almost inaudible her face slowly turned red.
"Do you mean to capture that with the leader? Oh, come on..."
Erika shook her head and Koume interrupted her consoling words
"With Miho" Erika said sadly and began to tremble with her lower lip.
Koume blinked a few times before hugging Erika and trying to comfort her. She knew that Erika had always raved about Miho anyway if she was alone with her. Her joy when she realized that they could now fight together.
"What happened?" Koume asked softly patting Erika's head.
"I-I-I hurt her..." Erika sobbed so much that she stuttered.
Koume knew that Erika could be very ambitious and could go over dead bodies. Which of course would not be bad in normal combat but with allies and just with Miho who is a gentle soul anyway that was out of place.
"Since I know how you Erika you do not need to give me any details" said Koume and tried to improve the mood.
"Did she say she does not want to see you?" Koume asked
Erika shook her head slightly.
"I understand then..." Koume said thoughtfully looking pensively at Erika.
"But as hard as it is you cannot put your head in the sand we have to win a war and you are the commander-in-chief of the attacking force." Koume knew that she was talking Erika into her conscience.
"Besides what is the Supreme Commander to say when she finds you in such a desolate state?"
Erika bit her lower lip.
"What do you mean?" She narrowed her eyes and stared at Koume.
"I ... must not tell you too much but she will come here tomorrow and want to see you and Miho. I just got hired to secure the route for it" Koume grinned and started to climb out of the tank.
When Koume jumped from the tank she heard a rustling inside the tank and not a second later Erika was out of the tank and started screaming as usual.
"Point one done" thought Koume and chuckled a little when she saw Erika yelling at some dumbfounded soldiers that they should clean up immediately.
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"What do you want here Itsumi-san?" Yukari growled glaring at Erika.
"Talking to Miho that's important" Erika growled back crossing her arms in front of her.
"I do not think she wants to see you! What is it all about?" Yukari approached menacingly
"That is none of your business! That's just for the commander-in-chief." Erika did the same.
The spectacle had won some spectators and a whisper went around the ranks. When Erwin met with Miho Miho wanted to intervene but Erwin held her tight.
"Wait ok I'll do it I'll be right back" said Erwin approaching the duelists.
"Well what's new?" Erwin said casually putting an arm around Yukari and pulling her away from Erika.
"Princess Brutal wants to see Miho and I will not let it happen" Yukari said keeping her eyes on Erika.
Erwin saw Erika clench her fists at this sentence and grit her teeth.
"Well do not provoke a fight ok?" Erwin tried to defuse the situation.
"Ha there listen to your leader" said Erika sharply grinning maliciously.
"And you do not have to!" Erwin said sharply.
She came closer to Erika and whispered: "Mihos watching so pull yourself together!"
Erika opened her eyes and looked around her heart beat faster now. When she saw Miho and saw the worried look all frustration and anger abruptly vanished as she wanted to run immediately to her but her legs stopped like rooted to the spot.
"Miho..." she whispered softly to herself.
She smiled shyly raised her hand and waved towards her timidly. Yukari saw the gesture of Erika and looked in the direction in which Erika looked and saw now also Miho looked worried. Erika saw that Miho was struggling with her emotions inside then Miho raised her hand and waved back with a slight smile.
"Thank you, Miho! I hope you forgive me" thought Erika and broke off the eye contact and turned to Erwin.
"In this case I make an exception." Erika was calm again and looked at Erwin with her blue eyes. Erwin realized that the grief has diminished in them but it was still there but a new feeling was as well: hope.
"Tell Miho that the Supreme Commander will appear tomorrow and wants to see Miho and me." Erika looked at Yukari for a moment. "Take 10 or 15 people from you and set them up as greetings. Koume will tell you more about that later"
"Yes Ms. first lieutenant" said Erwin standing in front of Erika and saluting.
Erika turned to look at Miho again and gave her a soft smile and disappeared.
"Silly chick" Yukari said and shook his head.
Erwin pinched Yukari in the cheek
"So my little watchdog now you will be unemployed again and even if you cannot stand Itsumi that is no reason to neglect the Soldier manners" she let go of the cheek and gave her a little peck on the Location.
"Come on let's go to Miho" Erwin said pushing Yukari in the direction.
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The next morning everyone stood as requested in front of the tent as the vanguard came. A blonde soldier talked all the time into some sort of recorder followed by two assistants.
"Unprecedentedly our troops are lined up after tough fighting and ready to receive the great Nishizumi." She approached some of Bellwalls soldiers and interrogated her after the battle.
From two different directions Erika and Miho arrived at the square and stood in front of their troops. Both cast a glance to each other.
"Miho?" Erika started but Miho did not respond she just stared ahead in silence.
"Miho, I want to talk to you" Erika said more energetically.
"Not now!" Miho said sharply not looking at Erika.
"Let it be for the moment" Miho thought uneasy.
"Please" Erika started but was interrupted by the approaching Carpaccio that went straight to Miho.
"What can I do to make myself heard?!" thought Erika
"Dear listeners just now both commanders have appeared on the reception desk." Carpaccio said excitedly.
"First lieutenant Miho Nishizumi tell us about the battle you have won" Carpaccio wanted to know and held a microphone in front of Miho's face.
"Well uhm we rolled over your opponent with an old tactic yes" Miho said uncertainly. She was not prepared for an interview.
"Very nice very nice old one always defends itself" said Carpaccio and laughed happily.
"Is it true first lieutenant Erika Itsumi that the leader of the French has escaped?" She asked Erika abruptly and also held the microphone in her face.
"Unfortunately, yes but that will not diminish the victory and if we face the Allies then it does not matter if they have 3, 4 or 5 leaders the axis will win and subdue any enemy they face" said Erika energetically and sparked euphoria in every listener.
"So bold are our troops on the frontline we wish you all the best for the future battles that will come" said Carpaccio silencing the microphone.
"Not a bad speech Itsumi-san" said Carpaccio and walked over to her vehicle.
Erika kept looking at Miho she really wanted to talk to her but when she was about to start a wave of cheering soldiers arrived and Erika realized that the Commander-in-Chief was there. Immediately all stood firm as Maho got out of the armored car. Carpaccio immediately went to Maho and got going with her broadcast. Maho stepped in front of the delegation and congratulated the attacking army for their victory.
"And so, it is my honor to honor First Lieutenants Nishizumi and Itsumi with the EK2" Maho said proudly giving Anchovy the signal that came with a pouch.
Maho went to her little sister and squeezed her hand
"You've done very well Miho" she said and smiled.
"Thank you Onee-Chan" she whispered softly
"But we all did our part"
Maho nodded in agreement and hugged Miho once and handed her the order then she went to Erika.
"Well done I knew you would be safe" Maho said handing the medal to Erika.
"Thanks Commander" The words stuck in her mouth. But her thoughts were on how she could talk to Miho or even reconcile with her. Maho grinned briefly she knew Erika when she was nervous.
"Then I'll try something extreme here" Erika swallowed hard at the thought then took a deep breath.
"I…I" she began but was interrupted by Maho
"I know you are touched and so on I know your nervousness you do not need to say anything" Maho patted Erika's shoulder and just wanted to leave when Erika found her voice again she turned to Miho and grabbed her hand. Erika closed her eyes and then it burst out of her
"MAHO, I'M IN LOVE WITH MIHO!"
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