AN: Sorry that I needed so long for this chapter. It was a busy month.
I hope you continue to enjoy the story ^^
Panzer Vor!
Erika's POV
Time flew by as the signal to move up and secure the frontline came in. The enemy front line had completely collapsed on a broad scale as the allies were completely uncoordinated in their attempts of stopping the attack of the Axis.
"If the communication breaks down, they are upset,"Erika thought as she saw some captured Allied soldier that were getting rounded up and moved away for transport to one of the POW camps.
"I hope Miho does not have to endure so much ..."Erika was worried about Miho not that she would be subjected to the opponent but what she would do about it.
"How are things looking are we moving on schedule?"Erika asked over the radio to the armored forward troops of the two Panzer IVs that were performing as scouts before the main force before they arrived. As Erika's Tiger II lead the main force of the heavy armor in the back
"We broke through faster than expected in almost two hours, we should have contact with the forefront troops,"said the tank commander from the armored scouts.
"Very good, carry on"Erika gave the command and took her binoculars and monitored the environment around her tank group as they continued to move forward.
With her mind she was back to the conversation of Maho and she cursed that she had not talked to her earlier about Miho. Maho confirmed that she wanted to remove Miho if this mission was successful and let her work with her where she had her under her eyes and direct command at all times.
Erika was hurt by the idea of being separated from Miho and not being able to fight with her anymore.
"My little Smurf ... I hope you have not done anything bad,"thought Erika, clutching her binoculars in her hands a bit harder.
It did not really take two hours for some Sherman tanks to be seen in the area ahead of them, most of them swelling a white column of smoke from the conning tower or either burned out wrecks with the turrets missing completely.
Erika was looking for any signs of the Wehrwolf troops, but it looked like there was no one around just the few buildings, destroyed positions and the ditches of the allies.
Erika became suspicious
"That could be an ambush ..."she thought and looked around again to spot enemy tanks.
"Drive slower,"Erika gave the order and waited for the confirmation.
"Movement ahead of us commander Itsumi-san!"Called her driver and Erika immediately looked through the binoculars to inspect the figures.
She saw two soldiers waving a flag on which the sign of Kuromorimine was painted. She had to grin. She raised a hand and waved to the two soldiers. From the defensive positions, the defenders promptly started to show themselves to greet the advancing army.
"Full throttle, that's them, and they are occupying the positions, set up camp here and start treating our wounded,"Erika gave the command and breathed a sigh in relief.
"Well done Miho,"she said to herself and could not resist a warm smile.
Erika was relieved she thought she would find a massacre or something even worse...
"Look at that!"She heard someone yell out in a scared shout.
A shot was fired nearby and a few seconds after that another Erika saw where the soldiers were pointing and looked through her binoculars at the event. She saw some of Miho's troops leading some prisoners to a field with their hands tied with a rope behind their backs and then forced them to start running. A short time later a rifle shot was heard again and a loud cheer sounded from the werewolf soldiers as the running prisoner collapsed to the ground.
Erika's hand trembled, she turned pale in the face she gritted her teeth and clenched her fists
"Miho what have you done!"She thought in her head
"Miho ..."
"GOD DAMMIT, MIHO!"she yelled with full force loud enough that some of the soldiers that heard her turned towards her and looked at her startled
Erika wasted no time she ordered some of her own troops to stop the Wehrwolves from continuing with their inhuman acts with the prisoners while Erika and the rest of the wounded made their way to the city.
"Where is the commander of this unit?"Erika yelled a soon as her tank stopped near a few Werewolf soldiers that were smoking something
The Wehrwolves stared at Erika unimpressed. One of them pointed in one direction and ignored Erika and the other simply shrugged his shoulders before turning back around.
Erika was furious.
"What a bunch of barbarians!"Erika thought as she stomped away.
She looked at every possible place where Miho could have been, but she did not find her right away.
"Are you too much of a coward to face me?" Erika thought wandering by the partly destroyed buildings some of them barely standing.
Eventually she found Miho just about to give orders to some of her troops. Erika stamped furiously and without regard to her surroundings directly towards Miho and pulled her by the shoulder so that Miho looked Erika right in the face.
"So, you're crazy after all Miho!"Hissed Erika, Miho reflexively slapped Erika's hand away from her shoulder and went into a defensive posture.
Astonished at the reaction, Erika withdrew her hand and took a step back, looking at Miho uncomprehendingly.
"What do you want Erika? Just insult me Again? criticize everything I do?!"Miho hissed back and went into an attack position.
Erika regained her composure and took a step towards Miho.
"What bizarre orders are you using?! Shooting of prisoners? This is not your style not like you ..."Erika said, shaking her head and hoping to be able to influence Miho somehow.
"I'm only executing orders given to me,"Miho said indifferently, giving Erika a sneer.
"No, do not do that! You behave like the ax in the woods, just destroying everything in its path without regards for what or who you destroy you are not worthy to be called a soldier ..."Erika pushed Miho and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Oh, but you are the perfect example? Your defeats against a weak enemy speak for themselves"Miho said sarcastically and turned around. Miho was sorry for what she had said, but it just went over her lips.
The sentence hit Erika very hard, she narrowed her eyes and began to breathe faster. Erika looked around and slowly more and more soldiers and army wolves came together to watch the argument between the two commanders.
Erika went back to Miho and grabbed her shoulder again.
"You little ...!"Erika growled and wanted to take Miho to account for the statement but Miho turned around jerkily and pushed Erika away so that Erika fell on her butt.
"Do not touch me, you pig!"Miho shouted and was supported by a cheer from some of her Wehrwolves.
Erika started yelling and jumped up running to Miho, shoving her against some soldiers who pushed Miho back into the now-formed battle arena.
Miho found her balance quickly and went into a fighting stance and reduced the distance to Erika even faster.
Erika rushed to Miho and clenched her fists, just before she was close enough to hit her Miho let herself fall kicking Erika's right foot so that Erika fell on her back.
"Not bad Bitch! But you are no match to me,"she thought and jumped up immediately and she managed to give Miho a slap on the cheek. Miho gasped for a moment in pain.
But she did not let time pass. She grabbed Erika by the neck and sank her knee into Erika's stomach right after with full force.
Erika groaned and gasped for air. With her last strength she clenched her fist and struck on Miho's left eye. Miho cried out loud and staggered back a few steps now she could barely see anything through the eye. Panic and hate sprang up in Miho. Erika now dropped to the ground, holding herself upright on all fours, gasping for breath. Miho finally wanted to end this fight and the pain and the rage she was feeling now made her storm into Erika and kick Erika in the ribs with full force, but she was careful not to hit her with the Steel caps of her combat boots, but with the side of the boots.
Erika howled in pain and fell powerless to the side as she was unable to move. The cheering from the soldiers and the Wehrwolves was going to increase a lot more if Miho should continue some continued to cheer on Erika and some mostly the werewolves called for Miho to kill her.
Miho looked at Erika, who was curled up on the floor in pain and she felt guilty, but she did not want to go soft again either.
"Leave me alone Itsumi, otherwise it will be the last you will ever see..."Miho just walked away after that warning leaving Erika curled up on the ground.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"You look ... really shitty Erika-san ... I'm sorry to say that ..."said Koume when she saw Erika. Erika was leaning against a wall in the meeting room in the HQ not that she wanted to come across cool, but rather as an aid to support herself.
"What happened?"She asked, trying to look Erika in the eyes
"Not worth to talk about ..." Erika said and waved her hand. She did not want to talk about it or be considered a weakling because of it.
"Look at Miho, it looks even worse,"Erika thought and tried to see something positive, even if she did not feel much better with that thought
"Should I let Miho know?"Koume asked worriedly.
"..."
Erika was silent and looked to the side embarrassed.
"Hmmm"Koume noticed the Erika´s mood seemed to droop but she did not want that and now she felt even worse, so she changed the subject.
"Anyway, Maho has quoted us from the front to give some medals again, I think there is one for you jumping out as well, seeing as you and Miho retrieved valuable information"said Koume and forced herself to smile a bit.
Erika said nothing she was deeper than deep and she wanted this whole circus and Mahos shadow, this weird Anchovy, she just wanted to get the papers ready, walk Miho out of the way and, if time permits, go for a really long Sleep.
The door jumped open so that Koume was startled and Emi and Miho entered the room. Erika stared at them with her steel blue eyes and made no move to greet them.
"Hey Koume"greeted Miho and waved to her. Erika ignored her.
"Hey Miho,"Koume greeted waving back with a sweaty smile. She saw that Miho wore a black eye patch over her left eye with a silver cross on it and was wearing a new uniform.
Miho sat down in the far corner of the table and made a gesture to Emi that she should sit down right next to her.
Koume took turns looking from Miho at Erika and back. Erika stared blankly at the map, still keeping her face straight. Miho, on the other hand, joked with Emi and exchanged suggestions on how to make the Wehrwolves even more effective.
When Maho entered the room, everyone stood at attention immediately, except for Erika, who was still leaning against the wall. Maho was in such a hurry to congratulate Miho on the successful mission that she didn´t even notice Erika.
Erika didn´t care at that moment no matter whether she was noticed or not, her thoughts continued to revolve around Miho's health. "Or state of mind?" She thought and hobbled to a chair near her and sat down on it.
"Very well-done Miho I read your report about the battle and I am very excited about the positive result!"Maho praised her and looked now Miho in the face.
"What's that?!"Maho asked, staring at the black eye patch with the silver cross on it over Miho´s left eye and then at Miho's healthy eye.
Miho was about to answer when Maho turned away from Miho and searched the room for Erika.
Erika looked unimpressed at Maho and still did not make a move.
When Mahos eyes met Erika's, she saw that Erika looked like she was defeated in a Martial Arts tournament or as if she had been beaten up by a girl gang.
"Erika ... what ...?"Maho asked horrified and looked at Erika blankly
All eyes in the room turned towards Erika now.
Erika's gaze wandered to Miho staring back at Erika with a sardonic grin on her face.
Erika wanted to jump up and beat that smug grin right off her face.
Erika sighed and got to her feet.
"I apologize, but I ..."the looks everyone in the room had on their face had Erika realize that she was on lost posts.
"... I ... I'm going to the hospital ... I'm not feeling well,"she said and turned to the door and started hobbling towards it.
"You know you will not have a medal or command of the army if you leave now,"she heard Maho yell her voice sounding more than sour.
"This stupid piece of metal, you can award because of Miho and me doing this shit, you can shove it up her ass and the decision you've already met right with it"she thought and turned her head to Maho.
With a smug smile, she just said "alea iacta est" and disappeared out of the door.
Maho had no idea what just happened from the reports she had received Miho had did exactly what Maho wanted her to do so why had Erika said something like that?
Miho read over her new orders as she was on the way back to the front.
"The same strategy as last time ..."she mumbled to herself with a dubious tone
Emi who was sitting next to Miho did not understand what Miho had said.
"What did you say?" Emi asked with her full attention to Miho.
"Just that the plan for this attack is the exact same one as the last time"
"Yes, and further? It worked well why doubt it now?"Emi grinned and patted Miho on the shoulder.
"Besides, I have now the army under my command, I'll be with you so fast that a few Firefly´s cannot stop us,"Emi boasted and closed her eyes to enjoy the rays of the sun.
On the outside Miho smiled but, in her mind, she still doubted that it would be so easy this time around. However, she remained silent and closed her eyes to enjoy the sunshine.
In spite of everything, she found herself wondering again and again her thoughts returning to Erika and her words "alea iacta est".
"Am I going too far when I execute the orders given to me?"She mused, reflecting on the last few battles.
"I admit that the shooting of devoted soldiers is not very commendable, but when they are out of the battle for good they cannot fight the axis powers anymore, can they?"Miho tried to put together a justification for the things she had done over the last few battles.
"Or is Erika, right?"
"What are you doing wearing that long face?"Emi asked puzzled "Is anything?"
"Oh, no, no, everything okay"Miho laughed sweatily and held up her hands defensively when she was torn from her thoughts
"I-I just thought of my new medal that I got,"she said, looking at her first-class Iron Cross hanging from her uniform on the left side of her breast pocket.
Erika packed her last things out of the command tent and looked around and went through the last few hours again in her head.
"I should have supported her ..."she thought and feelings of guilt spread throughout her.
Emi pounded into the command tent in her hand she held some things from herself in a small box "You're still here," she said casually and put her things on the desk.
Erika just snorted contemptuously and took her things and went to the entrance.
The door opened again and Miho stood in front of Erika.
Erika looked Miho in her eye and Miho looked alternately from Erika´s left to her right eye.
Erika sighed in frustration and mumbled, "Good… luck ..."
She lowered her head and pushed past Miho without waiting for further words, Miho looked after her and a guilty conscience overwhelmed her. She closed her eyes and turned to discuss the upcoming mission with Emi to distract herself from the feeling.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The operation was the same as the last one ... except that this time around more of the axis attack forces were destroyed and this time Miho was not as lucky that the wind blew in their direction of attack so the cloud of smoke no longer covered them so their attack on the enemy did not go unnoticed.
"Good luck, Miho,"Emi said over the radio and looked after the Wehrwolf group heading into enemy territory.
"We'll be with you in about 2 hours,"she added joyfully.
"Thank you! See you soon Emi,"Miho replied, thus ending the radio contact.
"Ok retreat for now"Emi gave the order and sat down satisfied on her commander's place.
"Although a few more failures but on the whole a complete success! I can already smell the medal award"she thought, grinning contentedly.
"Hmm strange"said Miho as she spotted the outpost of the allies she saw some tanks were standing around and a few trucks but she saw no soldiers anywhere.
"Parking only the tanks here? Or were they just left here because they are defect or something?"Miho thought and frowned at that.
"Miho, we have to go or else we cannot do it on Time!" Said a tank commander and pointed at her wristwatch.
"You're right! Make everything ready for a charge! Just as last time, just attack immediately there are not as many tanks as last time wait for my shot then you storm the base"Miho said and nodded to the other commanders and hurried back to her tiger.
Miho went into position with her Tiger again separately from the main unit only this time there was no hill, but by a dense cluster of trees and bushes that gave the tank concealment.
"Okay, take out the Sherman the furthest away from us first"Miho gave the order and looked through her binoculars as the turret started turning. It was difficult to look through with one eye but she somehow managed to do it.
"Fire"She shouted energetically and already the 8.8 cm cannon roared and hit the tank exactly at the tower. This also started to spit out a black column of smoke.
Miho waited for a reaction but nothing happened there was no alarm or wild screaming from frightened soldiers as a dead silence lay over this base.
"That's a good sign let's storm the base Miho!"Said her gunner euphorically
The difference between Miho's usual team and the Wehrwolves is that her team would rather make a reconnaissance mission or something similar, but these soldiers were out for victory, success and action and some of them for blood.
Reluctantly, the majority agreed with Miho´s gunner and thus gave the order to conquer the base was given.
Like a wild animal, the tiger broke out of the undergrowth and headed straight for the base. The resistance or the lack of it remained that came so funny to Miho that she immediately began to sweat, discomfort was spreading rather fast.
"Here's everything wrong ..."she thought as she drove through the entrance of the base.
When they united with the rest of the troops in the center, the Wehrwolves cheered on this easy victory.
"Miho look at this!" A soldier called and beckoned to Miho, who had just jumped out of her tank.
Miho ran to the soldier, who was white as chalk.
"What is there?"Miho asked, staring at the soldier.
"Look ..."she said pointing to a tank and she was shaking all over.
Miho looked at the tank and she blinked a few times but then her breath caught.
"IMMEDIATELY TAKE DEFENSIVE POSITIONS!"she screamed so hard that her voice cracked. She immediately took out her binoculars and scanned the area and she spotted quite a massive front of Allied tanks had gone to about 500 m, mostly disguised as bushes or buried in position outside the base she was now standing in.
"Miho, we have been encircled!"Shouted a female soldier, pointing to the southern exit of the base where they came from and now a massive number of Sherman's, Firefly´s and even some Pershing tanks went into position from there.
"Damn it…"Miho cursed and she looked at all front sections and everywhere the tanks were ready to go into position to fire on her troops.
"Miho ... t-t-t-t there ..."stuttered a female soldier near her and pointed to one of the tanks where someone got out and stood provocatively on the tower. Miho lifted the binoculars and gritted her teeth as she saw the person standing on the tank.
It was Kay personally and she did not look friendly as usual, she also looked through binoculars and it seemed she was looking for Miho until she finally looked at Miho. Kay's head nodded and then she took a hand of her binoculars and showed Miho a nasty gesture.
"Cover the tanks as much as you can or dig them in! Dig yourself in there is reinforcement on the way!"Miho shouted pushing some of her frozen soldiers to move before they got hit by enemy fire.
Miho turned back to the Sherman tank that stood in the base and read the few words that caused her throat to tighten.
"To the slutty commander of the murder unit; NUTS' "
Miho had fallen into a trap and her only hope was now Emi coming in with the main force and supporting her in the fight against Kay before her own unit was annihilated.
Miho barely made it back into her Tiger that moved into the ruins of a destroyed building before the Allies opened fire but not on Miho or her troops as they mostly aimed at the buildings showering the entire base with debris.
"CURSE YOU KAY"Miho yelled before grabbing her throat mic.
"Attention all armored units stay in cover and only fire if the enemy expose themselves. To all Infantry units use allied tanks or dugouts to lay ambushes if they think we will simply bow down and surrender they have another thing coming!"Miho yelled.
Miho´s own troops and tanks started firing back at the massive Allied army as much as they could without risking themselves and only a few minutes later several Sherman Tanks were destroyed and even more soldiers of the allies had been killed.
But for some reason the Allies stopped firing at Miho and her troops at some point.
"Stay Alert anyone with a sniper rifle move into higher positions if anyone tries to approach shot them on sight"Miho ordered as she held her right hand over the eye patch with the silver cross.
"Maybe Erika was right after all but as long as she is safe that´s all that matters"Miho thought as she got out of her tank to assess the damage.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Enemy fire"Bellowed a female soldier and a few meters later a tank grenade hit the ground.
"Go on, storm the front!"Emi shouted over the radio and stared through the binoculars at the enemy defensive line.
When Emi called for the attack, they could barely cover half the way to Miho and her unit and were held in check by a massive rally of Allied tanks. The thrust of a huge momentum had come to an end and Emi was now facing wave upon wave of Allied tanks but the march on was still moving forward slowly.
Emi watched as a Wolverine destroyed a Panzer IV and the infantry who was sitting on the rear of the tank destroyer kept the tank crew at bay with heavy machine-gun fire.
"Dam it all where the hell did they all come from?!"Emi gritted her teeth and got a flushed head in rage.
"Retreat to our starting position!"She announced over the radio and earned incomprehension.
"Do what I command you, I'm your commander,"she snapped over the radio and cursed at the other soldiers.
They were not like the Wehrwolves who followed all of her orders no matter which one and that bothered her quite a lot.
"Command move back to defensive position and wait for more orders,"a voice hated and snappy for Emi said over the radio
"Shut up Itsumi, you're not the commander anymore, it's me!"Emi shouted into the radio.
"Already clear to me but I do not give back a won meter certainly not when comrades are trapped before us"said Erika cool over the air.
"Comrades"Emi spit out the word sarcastically."You only want to get your Miho the rest you do not care about!"Emi hissed on the radio.
"For information only, Miho wants nothing to do with you anymore, understand that,"Emi scoffed.
There was a break over the radio and Emi grinned as if she had hit a nerve with Erika.
"Personally, I disagree with what you and your wild 'dogs' are doing, but we are all comrades in this war and we all stick together."
Emi remained speechless.
"So, all units drop back a few hundred yards and build a defensive line and hold it!"Erika radioed, which was welcomed with approval.
When the line of defense was set up, Emi rushed to Erika to confront her.
"ITSUMI, what do you think about exposing me like that!"She barked in Erika's direction as she charged Erika
Erika looked at Emi unimpressed as she got off her tiger. It was a funny sight as Emi stood in front of Erika as Emi was at least one, if not two, heads smaller than Erika.
"I cannot see how a shameful command can end our downfall"
Erika narrowed her eyes "See that you have a plan ready to get Miho and the Wehrwolves out of there"
"I ... I'll see what I can do"said Emi thoughtfully.
"You do not even have a plan, if something can go wrong?"Erika raised her eyebrows and laughed briefly.
Emi blushed and turned around not to give herself this nakedness in front of Erika.
"Of course, I did that ..."Emi said defiantly but she knew it was a lie she had thought it was going to be as easy as the last time so she hadn´t planned for this situation.
"Great!"said Erika and clapped her hands together"Then let us strike the front and return our comrades from that trap"
"Sure ... only I have to ... talk to the HQ first,"said Emi, pulling the collar of her uniform higher as if it were a safeguard.
"Do that, I see if the defense stands"
"Yes ... yes do that ..."Emi knew that with such a message she could not spark into HQ without reprisals.
"Oh, and Emi?"Erika said it melodically.
"Y-yes?"
"If you haven´t noticed ... we have not been shot at since we went into defensive position ... they want to keep us away from the Wehrwolves ... so hurry up I do not know how long Miho will last"
Emi looked at Erika in bewilderment."Now that she says it,"she thought and immediately took her binoculars to check the front."Erika is right they are trying to delay us ..."
"I know that the Wehrwolves will hold out, for them there is only victory or death… that's my order", Emi explained quite casually
"Did you say that to Miho, too?"
"..."
"Idiot" Barked Erika and immediately ran to her tank and immediately grabbed the radio.
"Erika to HQ Erika to HQ we have an emergency!"Erika said excitedly, impatiently waiting for a response.
"Itsumi you have no authority anymore, so let's ignore you!"It came out of the radio and fell silent immediately.
"It's about Miho! Damn, listen to me!" She yelled into the radio but it stayed silent.
"Damn it!" she exclaimed out of frustration and clenched her fists.
"Miho no matter what we have a fight I come to you and get you out of there... somehow!" Erika swore, staring sourly, this inaction increased her anger.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Miho´s POV afternoon
For Miho and the rest of her troops the situation looked grim not only were the Allies causing some kind of interference to mess with their communication but thanks to the information Miho had captured during the raid on the radio outpost they could actually listen to the Allies radio communication.
Miho for her part was furious not at something but at herself for falling for such an obvious trap like this as she watched the Allies and their forces in the distance as they seemed to move around a bit from the top of her Tiger.
"What are they planning?"Miho mumbled to herself as a few shots were fired and a few Allied soldiers dropped to the ground.
Miho was startled by the shots and immediately rolled down from the turret to the engine deck to see what happened.
The answer was not long in coming. A barrage of rifle fire, He-shells and machinegun fire rained down on the position from all directions. The screaming of the wounded also began immediately.
"Return fire"Cried Miho trying to be louder than the battle noise that just started up again.
Miho took cover behind her Tigers turret and saw the soldiers throwing boxes in front of their tanks to take cover behind them.
"Miho what should we do?!"shouted a tank commander on the radio.
Miho thought for a moment and decided that she and everyone had to hold out until reinforcements arrived.
HKL Army afternoon
Erika was now all the time near Emi to first learn when the attack should start. But all that came was defense orders.
"I do not understand why the HQ hesitates?"Thought Erika and tapped nervously with her finger on the table in the command tent.
"Do you not have anything to do?" Emi asked annoyed and looked derogatory at Erika from the side.
"No, everything is already done and stupid I can sit around here, too," answered Erika sarcastically.
Emi grumbled gruffly and turned back to her pile of papers she had to bless. She would like to throw out Erika but she would not know any reason now and for no reason it would be fatal, because the moral would sink significantly. Sure, she was now the leader of the army but she knew that she was only tolerated and all Kuromorimine and Ooarai soldiers would rather follow Erika´s commands than Emi.
"Is Miho okay?" Erika thought as she stared at a picture on the desk of Emi.
A soldier came running into the tent with a bright red head and completely out of breath.
"Commander a heavy firefight has started at Lieutenants Nishizumis position!" She said, frantically handing Emi the radio message from the observation post.
Erika immediately jumped up and Emi scanned the report.
"Do we have any options to make radio contact?" Emi asked, turning her gaze to the soldier.
"Not really, we're constantly having trouble in doing so..." she said sheepishly, looking away.
"If we're lucky maybe a 5 min connection," she added as she saw the faces of Emi and Erika.
"Connect to the HQ we need permission to push forward" Emi said and saw that Erika nodded her approval.
"And then immediately after we have the answer from the HQ a connection to Miho!" She commanded the soldier who was about to leave the tent at a run.
"I hope Maho recognizes the situation now" thought Erika and went to the get some fresh air.
"Why are they attacking the Wehrwolves and not us?" She thought as she felt the afternoon sun on her face.
Miho POV in the evening
Silence was now over the occupied post since now 5 minutes there was no shoot fired from either side. After a shootout of about 30 minutes, Miho felt like she was in a cemetery. No one said anything not even a murmur was to hear. It was so quiet that Miho thought she and her tank crew would be the last left alive.
"C-Can I have a list of the wounded and the fallen?" Miho asked over the radio, thus breaking the silence.
"If it has to be" it came over the radio channel in response a few seconds later.
Miho knew that she now had to stand straight for this situation not only with the enemy, but also with her own soldiers. A wrong decision and it would be over for all of them.
"Why is Kay hesitating? She could have just overrun us at this point..." Miho looked at the enemies and noticed that they had come a little closer to the attack.
"Miho, we have radio contact with the HKL," said her radio operator
Relieved, Miho took the radio and could not hide the joy.
"Emi glad you could give us a call where the hell are you we have a tremendous amount of enemy forces around us ..." Miho had to catch her breath and Emi took advantage of the break to start speaking immediately.
"Miho Wait! There are complications ..." Emi's voice sounded embarrassed.
"What do you mean?" Miho hissed, she thought she had interrogated herself.
"We cannot muster any powers to join you ..."
"...When are you going to be ready?" Miho asked tonelessly
"... At the earliest in three to four days ..." Emi said and her voice sounded embarrassed.
"Seriously?" Miho slowly got a very bad feeling, almost a panic attack, how was she supposed to convey such a message to her group.
"I'm sorry Miho my hands are tied ..." Emi explained
"Alright ..." said Miho in a husky voice, fighting her tears.
"Then we have to endure ..." said Miho and laughed once briefly and a single tear ran down her cheek.
"Miho believe me, I honestly have everything ..." and the connection was promptly interrupted only static noise was heard after that.
Miho carefully set the radio aside and stared straight ahead. She was terrified when it knocked on her cupola and when she looked out of her hatch and saw a soldier holding a list in her hand.
"What-What is that?" Miho asked in a pleading voice, trying convulsively to control herself.
"Your list of the fallen during this operation"
Miho had totally forgotten about the bad news but this sentence hurt and Miho took the list with a trembling hand and looked at the soldier.
"Thank you," she said sheepishly and started reading the list
"20% are incapacitated and a tank must be repaired," she thought after she read through the note.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
HKL Army at night
It is now night, but there was a heavy mood in the camp.
Erika was like a ragging bear when she heard the news that it was impossible to attack now and they had to wait for reinforcements to be withdrawn from the other front and transported over here.
"3-4 days ... they are crazy", Erika thought and fought angrily with a fist against a wooden box.
"I have to do something otherwise Miho is lost" and Erika went through all the options.
"If only we had an air force that would drop some bombs on those allied pigs..." Erika sighed.
When a group of soldiers came near Erika they immediately made a big turn. They knew when Erika thought hard and was better not disturbed...
"That's it!" Erika's face had a happy expression and she slammed her fist into the palm of her hand.
Erika immediately ran to Emi's tent and roused her from sleep.
"Emi, I have a solution!"
"Huh?" A sleepy Emi winked Erika at her look said that she was not at recording capacity but that did not bother Erika.
"You have to direct an attack," said Erika and threw Emi´s uniform on her bed that she had in the command tent.
"We should wait ..." Emi yawned and glanced at the clock
"I give a shit on that, I'll take it on my cap, if you feel better and now move your ass out of bed we have something to do!" Erika screeched she was tired of arguing.
"What do you want to do? Actually, I have the command here and I ..." Emi looked at Erika and saw a look in Erika's face ready to kill her without a moment of hesitation.
"Uh, ok, what's your plan ..." Emi said defeated.
"We give Miho the chance to break out as in the Battle of Stalingrad"
Emi thought about it and had to laugh at that
"History is not your strongest subject is it? Stalingrad also the outbreak was a flop!" Emi said, refusing to laugh at Erika's ignorance of the story.
"Do you think I'm an idiot? But there is no other option!" Erika shouted, crossing her arms and staring at Emi sourly.
"And how do you want to inform Miho that she should mobilize for that? Radio is meaningless right now with the allies jamming our radios"
"I have someone here who can solve the problem" Erika said and had a devious grin on her face.
Miho POV dawn
Miho was awake the whole night because of the bad news and secondly, the Allies have started firefights again and again every few hours to keep the soldiers awake, so that they would become careless with exhaustion or even collapse with fatigue, that's what Miho was thinking they were trying to do at least.
"3-4 days ... how can we do it?" She mused every free minute about it but there were also thoughts about supplies and ammunition as they should divide all this.
Miho sighed she felt the dissatisfaction of the troupe by always being looked at with a nasty expression on her face.
She went around in the morning to see if the soldiers have enough ammunition or are supplied and also the injured were supplied with what they needed.
She let go of her tour, which she made every two hours when she broke into a tumult and smashed into a small group of wehrwolves.
She could hear a few fragments of words "Allied Pig" or "Die Allied scum" Miho hurried to the pile and pushed herself between the pack and the Allied soldiers who lay crookedly on the ground and held his arms defensively over his head.
Miho stared at this body and felt nothing but disgust at this uniform she knelt on the soldier and her hands slowly wrapped around the soldier's neck.
"It was a mistake to come here ... Soldier," she said coolly and began to choke the soldier.
With cheers and cheers Miho was animated to eliminate the soldiers ... to kill properly. The soldier gasped for air his helmet covered his face so that Miho continued to choke the Unknown Soldier.
"I want to see how she whines," said one of the Wehrwolf and took off the helmet.
Miho was immediately startled and let go of the soldiers. She grew paler and paler.
The Wehrwolves groaned and insulted Miho as a coward and pushed her against her shoulder
Miho went down from the soldier who immediately started to cough.
"Ne-Next time ... yo-you say ... just hello... Nishizumi-dono" under the cough, Yukari tried to lighten the situation with humor.
"Yu-Yukari, how are you coming from what are?" Miho exclaimed and then realized that she had almost killed one of her closest friends. Shame came up in her and she disgusted herself.
"Miho, you have to listen to me!" Yukari said rubbing her neck.
"Erika has a plan to get you out of here you have to mobilize everything and ..." she paused and rummaged around in her bag and took a compass in her hand "Send everything towardsthe Southern position and you must not stop even if you Meet the other soldiers," Yukari said, her face grave, taking turns looking from Miho to each of the Wehrwolves.
"Wait. You're from our people?!" one of Wehrwolves asked in disbelief.
Yukari looked puzzled to the shepherd and thought only "Clever Girl ..."
"You mean an outbreak?" Miho asked as she helped Yukari to her feet.
"Just like in Stalingrad ... that's how Erika thought"
"Stalingrad… Seriously?" Miho said and her right eye twitched
"I know but I trust Erika that she knows what she's doing," Yukari said, trying to calm Miho down.
Miho remained silent and thought of Erika ... after everything she had said to her and after everything she had done...
"When should it start?" Miho asked uncertainly.
"Tonight, as soon as it gets dark," Yukari replied, taking off the Allied uniform and tucking it into her backpack.
"Yu-Yukari ..." Miho looked away and it was regretful that she had treated her friend like that.
"…I…"
"Alright Nishizumi-dono everything is ok" said Yukari and grinned at Miho as she put on her normal uniform.
"Really?" Miho asked sheepishly and looked embarrassed Yukari in the face.
"Never look back as you move forward," Yukari said, patting Miho on the shoulder.
"Let's get ready," Yukari said, grabbing Miho's hand and pulling her away.
"Just I still have a question..." Miho said and braced herself against Yukaris pulling.
"Yes?"
"Why is SHE doing this?" Miho asked sheepishly, looking away uncertainly.
Yukari chuckled and turned to put both hands on Miho's shoulders. Miho looked into Yukaris face with her eye and she blushed a bit as she saw the strangulation on Yukaris neck.
"Because she loves you, Miho," Yukari said loud enough that only Miho could hear it and put on a happy smile.
Miho blushed sharply and a guilty conscience came up in her and her eyes filled with tears and she began to sob
"I do not deserve her!" Thought Miho and she shook her head until she hugged Yukari to comfort her. That was the last straw that had Miho start crying and buried her face in Yukari's shoulder.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Erika POV in the evening + 0 minutes
Erika sat on her tiger II nibbling on her fingernails, which she always did when she was unsure and nervous.
"I hope it works," she thought and looked at her wristwatch.
"Another 5 minutes until Emi attacks" A pain hit her as she realized that she had bitten her finger but she ignored the pain because her thoughts went to Yukari if she had managed to reach Miho.
"It'll show if she made it!" Erika decided to focus on the here and now to devote her attention to the upcoming battle.
She climbed up into the turret and stood in her dome, holding her radio ready. Now she was listening in the area where Emi was supposed to attack but until now there was no sound.
"She will not pinch?" Erika became impatient and she began to look around nervously. Everyone was ready for the attack, all standing by to give the trapped comrades a chance to escape. It was still so quiet you could hear a needle drop.
Erika looked at her watch and saw that Emi was 2 minutes late.
"Damn it!" Yelled Erika in her thoughts and stared into the darkness.
Five minutes later Erika was about to strike when cannon noises started up in the distance. Erika knew it was the tigers 88mm from her own experience.
Erika pressed her watch and the stopwatch began to run "Only 8 minutes left before the attack", Erika thought and remained silent while listening to the sound of fighting in the distance.
Cauldron in the evening
Miho and Yukari were refilling the Tiger Tank with the last ammo for the MG and the few shells they still had for the main gun.
"Yukari" Miho's voice sounded nervous and depressed at the same time
"Yes?"
"Do you think we can do it?"
"No idea, but we have to try it," Yukari said quietly, smiling at Miho.
Yukari saw that this was not successful and thought for a moment.
"Think of Boko!" She said energetically and clenched her fist
"No matter how hard he is beaten he always gets up and keeps fighting!" She now yanked her arm wildly into the air with her fist raised high.
Miho had to laugh so much that some tears came to her eyes
"You're right, Yukari!" She said, hugging Yukari. Yukari blushed at the embrace and was speechless. Miho needed friends who gave her courage.
"Mi-Miho we should get ready every moment the attack starts" said Yukari as she looked at Miho's watch while hugging her.
"Yes" Miho let go of Yukari and nodded confidently she had regained her courage.
As Yukari got into the tiger, she heard Miho singing the Boko song for herself as she climbed up on the engine deck
"Come on, come on, come on, you can this ..." repeated Miho again and again as she prepared to give the attack order.
Erika POV in the evening +10 minutes
"To all units Panzer Vor!" Erika shouted into her radio and signaled the advance on the enemy lines.
An astounding number of engines came to life and immediately they lead to attack.
Erika looked intently into the night and saw that the Allies had their headlights on their tanks on.
"Easy prey ..." Erika thought even though she could barely distinguish the tanks from her own. She had given orders to drive without lights.
Already, the first shots howled and turned some vehicles of the allies into burning candles that drove some of the darkness of the night away.
The defense did not wait long to wake up for Grenades flew towards the tanks and detonated into the ground or bounced off the strong armor of the heavy tanks as they continued to move forward.
"Miho I'm coming!" Erika thought and crunched her teeth.
Miho POV in the evening at the same time
"Let's go break out here shoot at everything that shoots at you!" Miho ordered with a scowl clear on her face.
"Panzer Vor!" Miho shouted over the radio and signaled to attack.
All tanks turned in the same direction and drove off immediately followed by the trucks loaded with all the remaining soldiers. Only the remaining supplies were left behind, which would not even be enough to equip one soldier.
Unlike Erika, Miho had her army drive with their lights on, which was watched by the Allies and immediately accompanied by a barrage. The grenades struck close to the tanks and barely missed the trucks.
"Drive in a zigzag course! Focus on what's in front of you!" Miho tried to reassure the others.
Again, grenades and mg fire were fired in the direction of Miho and her troops.
Miho dared to get out of the hatch to see how the others were doing and had to find that a truck and one tank were hit so hard that they were unable to move however they didn´t abandon the tank instead the soldiers from the truck entrenched themselves around the tank and started firing at the allies it was clear that they would not go down without a fight.
"That gives us some time," Miho thought with a bad feeling in her stomach.
"Miho get back inside you could get hit," she heard Yukari calling to her.
Miho was happy that a friend was with her and ducked down into the turret.
Erika POV +20 minutes
"What is up are we on schedule?" She joked over the radio to the other commanders.
"We have serious resistance on the left flank Itsumi-san!" it promptly came over the radio. Erika snorted and hit the inside wall of the tiger.
"Then hold the position and keep the enemies busy until we are done!" Erika gave the order.
"Firefly 200 meters ahead of us!" her gunner shouted who recognized the tank because there were many burning wrecks of allied tanks that now illuminated the battlefield.
The Firefly fired immediately and hit a Panzer III and destroyed it immediately.
"Aim at that bastard it´s taking out too many of our tanks!" Erika yelled to her gunner. When she straightened up again, a hand's breadth away, a rifles bullet barely hissed past her head. She ducked down quickly and tried to find the protectors but in confusion she could not spy. But she had to watch as a Jagdpanzer IV was shot and incapacitated.
"Damn that was close!" She hissed and focused again on their surroundings.
Miho POV +25 minutes
Miho saw how more and more tanks failed to keep up and many Wehrwolves were lagging behind as well.
"That's awful so many losses!" Said Miho and began to sob.
"Miho concentrate! It's like it's an eruption from a volcano, unfortunately, there are always victims," Yukari said excitedly, putting a hand on Miho's knee to calm her down.
"Y-yes," Miho said, taking a deep breath.
She felt like a beaten pack of wolves fleeing from the hunters, each time having to believe in one of her companions.
"How much longer is it Yukari?" Miho asked, trying to stay strong.
"ca. 5 minutes then we should encounter Erika's unit ..." Yukari said as she looked at her watch. She was startled as a loud screech screamed in the tiger's interior. A grenade struck the tower, causing the deafening noise as it bounced off
Miho looked and leaned out of the hatch and looked to her pursuers. She saw in the light of the muzzle flash of the tanks a person standing in their dome and the light so much in this face that Miho saw the anger and hatred in them.
Now she realized what she had done, if even such a gentle mind as Kay hung on her neck with such devotion and such a strong will to hold her accountable for what she had done.
"If I was not here than the rest would still be able to fight and only I would be eliminated"
Miho dropped into her seat and looked at the crew as she was about to get up and jump out of the turret and surrender to Kay and endure all that they would do to her.
"We're here!" The driver shouted happily and was suddenly pale in the face
"PERSHING!" she screamed and a shot from the 90mm cannon thundered.
Erika POV +30 minutes
Erika's force was held in check, but she kept on advancing, leaving her a little behind schedule. Her Special-purpose Tiger shot one Sherman after the other.
"Beware a group of Wolverines from the east!" Came over the radio
Erika ignored it she only wanted to reach Miho to get her out of the encirclement.
"Only a few more meters," she thought and became more and more nervous so that gathered on her forehead beads of sweat she realized that in her neck sweat also accumulated so she quickly tied a braid and put her neck free so she was no longer sweating.
Erika's Tiger drove up a small hill and faced up to hard resistance, but there were only two tanks ahead of her right now, fighting against each other right now.
"MIHO" She shouted as she realized that it was Miho's Tiger Tank that was taking on an American Pershing or more or less dodged its fire. She also saw that in the distance a large number of enemies started to gather on a hill.
"Get away from the cannon!" Yelled Erika and hurried to the gunner's place.
"Load the AP grenade we just have one try!" She said and her voice cracked with excitement.
She was aiming for the Pershing fortunately he was sitting still so he revealed his rear armor.
Erika exhaled and squeezed the trigger as she looked through the scope as the 88mm armor piercing shell entered the armor and rendered the Pershing useless. She immediately climbed back into her command post and leaned out through the open hatch.
"Lights on" She ordered, and at once the headlights of every tank illuminated the area in front of them.
The tiger and two trucks stormed into Erika's direction with a badly beaten panzer IV following them.
As they reached almost the same height, Miho emerged from her tiger and looked at Erika with an indescribable expression of gratitude, sorrow, and regret.
Miho's mouth just formed a "thank you" which Erika could recognize easily. Erika wiped her eyes to hide the tears of joy and gave a thumbs-up to Miho as an answer.
"Ok reverse gear and back to the HKL" she ordered over the radio, keeping an eye on the front.
When a Sherman tank with one person came into sight, Erika immediately screamed into her radio to fire at it.
"HE grenade load quickly and aim at the tracks"
After a very short time, the cannon of the Tiger II thundered once and destroyed the Sherman´s tracks, which also came to an immediate stop turning its side towards them.
Erika saw the rest of the tanks of the allies slow down to protect the immobile one and finally stopped to ask if their leader was up.
Erika used this opportunity to get back to the HKL with the remaining Wehrwolves.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Arrived at the HKL immediately all Wehrwolves got out of the transporters and the Tiger
When Miho and Yukari got out there was only a derogatory look from the Wehrwolves. Many just walked away from the two. Some were too exhausted. The drivers collapsed immediately and breathed in and out.
"Nishizumi!?" Cried a Werewolf contemptuously
Miho turned and looked at the soldier.
"Y-Yes?" She asked irritated that she was no longer addressed with the assumptions.
"Want to have a list of the fallen and wounded?" She hissed, raising her clenched fist.
Yukari stood between Miho and the soldier.
"Leave her alone!" Yukari said and went into a fight basic position.
The soldier spit contemptuously at Miho's feet and turned away.
"You are never a true Wehrwolf you are weak and nothing, Nishizumi," she yelled at Miho and disappeared with the remaining Wehrwolves.
Miho looked sadly down at the floor, fumbling at her uniform and trembling.
"Do not let that persuade you Nishizumi-dono, they are just like that" Yukari tried to support Miho but it did not help that deep doubt was taking root in Miho´s mind.
Great cheers erupted as the attacking army arrived and some stormed towards the tanks.
The losses were limited even with Emi's attack, leaving more of the weakly armored vehicles lying and less than a handful of soldiers were eliminated.
Miho looked up as she saw that Erika was about to get out of her tiger and the cheering was even louder. Erika grinned and shook hands and waved to the soldier. Especially Ooarai soldiers cheered for Erika the loudest for leading the Axis into a successful rescue mission and bringing their leader back.
Erika gave some commands that Miho and Yukari could not hear, because all the noise of the cheering soldier's words went down, but the tiger started and drove back to the front without Erika.
Miho it was clear that the defense must withstand, especially now that Kay had demonstrated so. But she could not face Erika. What she had done to her...
Miho turned quickly and was about to leave when she was held by her hand. She saw a questioning looking Yukari.
"Where do you want to go?" Yukari asked irritated and raised an eyebrow
"I ... I want to be alone ..." Miho said with a voice that contained a spark of panic.
"Don´t you want to tell Erika something?"
"No ..." she started shaking and sobbing
"But you will and if I force you to!" Said Yukari and she was ready now. She was determined to bring Miho to talk to Erika with or without violence
"Let me go Yukari! I-I can't-" she cried and pleaded with Yukari, trying to free himself from Yukari's grip, which was futile.
Yukari dragged Miho after her and stomped in the direction where Erika slowly moved towards the two.
Erika walked slowly up to her and had a questioning look on her face as she saw the procedure of Miho and Yukari. She felt uncomfortable and she did not want to face Miho. But as if by magic, her legs drove her on, slower but moving on.
As Yukari came close to Erika, she lunged so that she had Miho in front of her, pushing Miho in the direction of Erika.
Miho was frightened by Yukari's lunge and stumbled over her own legs and fell into Erika's arms. Erika caught Miho graceful and stared in surprise at Miho who was now in her arms.
Miho gasped, not wanting to be with Erika. She was too ashamed and felt that the situation was embarrassing for both of them.
She looked up and looked into the steel-blue eyes she had fallen into. She felt her mouth dry and her heart to start racing.
"Er-Erika ..." Miho exclaimed with a powerless voice and she blushed immediately.
"Is everything okay with you?" Erika asked softly and looked Miho from head to toe and was relieved that she remained intact.
"..."
Miho was missing the words. She was so mean to Erika and she was responsible that Erika was no longer allowed to command the army and that she will probably have more problems now because of her. Embarrassed, Miho stared hard at the floor.
Erika interpreted the silence as part of the argument she nodded slightly and patted Miho on the shoulder.
"Nice that you are doing well on the outside ..." she said and even a blind man could hear the sadness in her voice. She turned and walked slowly away from Miho
Miho wanted to scream that Erika should wait but she hesitated a bit. She barely noticed that she was running after Erika. Her vision was clouded with tears in her eyes. When she caught up with Erika, she threw herself against her with full force and embraced her with all her strength. Erika and Miho many went down with full force to the ground. When Erika wanted to turn around, Miho pinned her down and hugged her even more
"Eririn! I'm sorry for everything I've done! Please forgive me!" Cried Miho and began to cry bitterly and buried her face in Erika's shoulder.
Erika was completely overwhelmed with the situation, so much so that she found no words and Miho staring wide-eyed.
"Thank you, but I was such a mean bitch to you, always there for me Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Miho pressed on to Erika and kissed Erika's hand
Erika grabbed herself and returned the hug and blushed. She pressed herself with all her strength to Miho and the tears welled up in her eyes. Her heart leaped and her pulse raced up and down like an epinephrine"
"For you always ... my little Smurf" Erika said softly and put her lips on Miho's and closed her eyes. Miho returned the kiss like that they remained a great moment which was greeted by most soldiers with a cheer and some of them clapping as the sun started to rise on the horizon.
Panzer halt!
AN: So, a little longer the chapter ^^
the time at the breakout is only intended to describe the history since the start of the operation
I hope you liked it.
Criticism and suggestions are welcome ^^
Until the next chapter
DarkAges85