Aboard the Charter, Bar
"So, the headmistress will be introducing the new commander." Azumi said, as she took a sip of whisky from her shot glass. The bar was not as full of people as usual. The start of the new school year is coming, and most were busying themselves with lesson preparations or organizing after spending time with family on land, but the Bermuda Trio were instead drinking (again) in one of the bar on the university carrier ship, the Charter. "Who'd you reckon it'd be? One of us or an heiress to some never-heard-of style school?"
Rumi downed her shot of whisky and answered. "Whoever it is, they better take good care of the team, or I'm sure she won't have a great time with any commander in the team." She randomly grabbed a bottle that was on the table and poured another shot for herself.
"Watch it! You're spilling my beer!" Megumi chastised Rumi as she put down the beer bottle. "Heard some of the freshman that are joining are some of the best from their schools."
"Yea. At least the Mystery commander of Keizoku is coming here as well. Hopefully she won't weird out the seniors and isolate herself." Rumi complained as she downs that shot of beer as well, before calling the bartender for some more of that.
Azumi takes another sip from her shot glass and thinks out loud. "The headmistress doesn't do anything stupid. She has her own reasons for recruiting a weirdo."
Aboard the Charter, Sensha-do grounds
Murmurs continued to fly as the entire crew of All-Stars assembled into formation, readying for the announcement.
The formation was similar to the high school Sensha-do team, with each tank crew forming a line. In the middle, four crews lacked their commander, three of which were currently standing on stage as the vice-commanders and battalion leaders, guiding the freshmen and making sure the formation was correct. The last one's commander was probably at another school and would not be present for a long time.
The currently unassigned freshmen were instructed to stay in the first few rows, using their student ID to outline a semblance of a formation. While the senior tank commanders were exchanging words about who their new overall commander would be.
"Hmm. It seems Mika is missing." Rumi observed and stated it out loud.
"We don't have time to find her. The announcement will have to start soon." Megumi said to Rumi, pre-empting her question.
As they recruits fall into line, Azumi, as the leader of the Bermuda Trio, took a microphone and started their announcement. "Welcome to All-Stars University's first Sensha-do meeting, all freshmen. And for all seniors, welcome back. Hope the spring break has been enjoyable for you all. I am Azumi, one of the three Vice-commanders for the Sensha-do team, substituting the currently absent and unannounced commander."
Murmurs spring up again, different tank crews spreading news of their own and exchanging information on who that might be with the adjacent crew.
"The Sensha-do team is separated into four different battalions: Azumi, Megumi, Rumi and the commander's battalion, commanded by the battalion's namesake. Each battalion, with the exception for the commander's battalion, is composed of 7 tanks and 1 scouting tank. The composition of the commander's battalion is based on the strategy adopted for each match."
"Our tank inventory currently include a variety of World War 2 tanks, such as M4 Shermans, Panthers and T-34s for exhibition matches, plenty of M24 Chaffees and M26 Pershings for competition matches, an American T28 Super Heavy tank and a Karl-Gerat mortar that are both reserved for special tactics."
"Oh, the headmistress has arrived. She will introduce our newest commander and start this year's training."
Chiyo was sporting her usual attire as a headmistress, consisting of a rose red dress, a black beret with the university's logo and her favourite black gloves. As she walked on stage, the entire Sensha-do team bowed to greet her, and Azumi handed over her microphone before falling back in line with the other two of the Bermuda Trio.
"Thank you, Azumi, for briefing the team on the command structure of the All-Stars Sensha-do team."
"Now onto the most important question: who is the new commander? As the adherent to the Shimada style, the loss of an heir to the style surely impacts the school heavily. That is why, I have pulled strings to have my elder and her crew come and help out the school."
Shock and outcry come from not just the battalions, but also from the Bermuda Trio. Azumi and Megumi looked each other in the eyes, not believing that the Shimada household has two heirs. Rumi, on the other hand, immediately pieced two and two together before managing to force the words out. "Mika… is not a Shimada… is she?"
Mika, Aki and Mikko then walks on stage. All three of them were wearing the Sensha-do team's battle dress, complete with boots and beret. As the three stopped, they saluted, then bowed.
The crowd went silent within a second, in awe that a freshmen, was now leading the team as the overall commander - and the fact that Chiyo Shimada's elder daughter, who had evaded the limelight practically since birth, became leader of the team, instead of staying out again.
Azumi and Megumi stopped their staring contest and fixated their vision on the new commander and crew, while Rumi was furious that all three of the weirdest in Keizoku are now all assembled in All-Stars, not to mention leading the Sensha-do team too.
After the bow, Mika took the mic from her mother and introduced herself and her crew. "I am Mika Shimada, elder daughter of Chiyo Shimada, sister to Alice and an heiress to the Shimada style. My crewmates here, Aki will be the gunner, and Mikko, driver, for the Centurion Mk I that my sister has also used. I look forward to working with all of you."
Aboard the Graf Zeppelin, Sensha-do grounds
"Erika. I need to have a word with you." Shiho called out Itsumi Erika, the newly appointed commander, from the assembling Sensha-do team.
"Yes, Headmistress?" Erika replied with caution. You would never want to be called out by the headmistress for anything, even if it was acknowledgement of your work. She ran through a list of potential problems she might be called out for, as to prepare for the most likely, incoming, disapproval for some detail she missed.
"It is about the Sensha-do team."
"Eh?" Erika showed a puzzled look. She was certainly not expecting being called out for problems relating to the Sensha-do team. Kuromorimine's adherence to the Nishizumi style ever since the establishment should have already ironed out any problems that arises. "What is the problem, Headmistress?"
Shiho gestures for a girl to come up. The girl was already wearing the Kuromorimine Sensha-do jacket and cap, with her equally blonde hair organised into a neat ponytail, following the school rules for hairstyles. She looked oddly familiar…
"This is Alice Shimada. She will be studying here for the next two years, and practice Sensha-do alongside the team."
The name did sound familiar. "Shimada… Is she from the Shimada family of Sensha-do?"
"Yes. And for this reason, a new Kampfgruppen will be set up to accommodate her. A platoon of Panzer IV Ausf. H will be under her command. "
"Yes, ma'am. But…" Erika responds but hesitates to finish her sentence. "Nevermind."
"What is it, Erika?" Shiho presses on the issue.
"It's… With all due respect, headmistress… Why is Kuromorimine accommodating for your rival's heir?" Erika struggles to finish her sentence. She was not sure if she will be punished due to insubordination, but allowing a rival to operate here might undermine the Nishizumi style and Kuromorimine's position in Sensha-do. "It would be just easier to force her to follow the Nishizumi Style. Why bother?"
"Very observant, Erika." Shiho responds without reprimanding Erika's question, and continues. "I understand your concern. As a Second year, her possible influence that can interfere with the style would be questionable. This is also a perfect timing to experiment with other ways to practice Sensha-do, lest we stagnate."
"I see. What will Lady Shimada name her Kampfgruppen?" Erika does not further pursue the topic, instead, focusing on integrating Alice with the rest of the Sensha-do team.
"Kampfgruppen Shimada." Alice responds, also with a stoic face, much like Shiho. The Nishizumi style's disregard of emotions can be followed as a bridge to close the difference between the two style and close the gap for acceptance. "I can provide Recon-in-force with the group for your main force."
Before Shiho turns away to prepare for the commencement ceremony for the Sensha-do team, she offers a final remark. "Erika, I know you are keen to follow my way, but you must not force Alice to as well. She still needs to uphold the Shimada style."
"Yes, headmistress." Erika responds, holding up a hand to indicating her thinking. "Come with me for the next match planning. We'll see what you can do for the victory."
"Thank you. I hope we get along cooperating."
"Same." Erika replies out of courtesy; had she met Alice in a informal situation, she'd belittle the Shimada style immediately. If she was to cooperate with Alice nicely, she has to keep her own fury under check as not to undermine her authority.
Alice knows that Kuromorimine is adherent to the Nishizumi style. The only way for her will be to contribute to the Sensha-do team's grand strategy, independent from the main force. If she is forced to comply to the Nishizumi style, it is sure that both matriarchs will not be happy of the result.
Aboard the Zuikaku, School Homeroom
"Nishizumi-dono!" A far too excited Yukari runs into Miho's homeroom, yelling her name. "Have you heard the news?"
"Specifically what news, Yukari?" Miho responds calmly. Hana and Saori, talking to Miho before being interrupted by Yukari, greets her with a wave. Mako is just, being Mako. "There's a lot of hot news with the new school year starting, you know."
"Oh right. Remember Shima… Mika-dono?" Yukari changes her mind before finishing her sentence.
"From Keizoku? Yes I do. She came to help us with the battle against to All-Stars."
"You know how I insist on calling her Shimada-dono?" She says excitedly.
"Yes?"
"She is actually the elder of the Shimada family! She's even now leading the All-Stars!"
"Oh that." Miho was still calm, with no shock or stun showing. Hana and Saori showed a bit of shock at how Yukari's claims were actually true. "I knew all along."
"EHHHHH?!" Yukari screamed out loud at Miho's calm demeanor, despite the shocking news. Her scream caught the attention of several other students, who just threw a damming glare at her outburst.
"Yukari… Tone it down… I need more sleep…" Mako complains from her seat, without even moving her head from her pillow.
"The Shimada family visited one time before sister when to Kuromorimine's high school division. Lady Shimada brought along Mika and Alice, but we didn't really talk to each other. Mother and Lady Shimada were… having a few arguments that day."
"Sister probably forgot about her. But I didn't. I recognized her as soon as she came. I was told by mother not to recognise her out loud in case I saw her. So I didn't. She left very soon, before the match ended. I didn't even get to talk to her for a bit."
"Oh."
Miho was not shocked at the news and calmly returned to her conversation with Hana and Saori, both of which just brushed off the news, disregarding how shocking it is for the Sensha-do world.
Another week.
Thanks for reading.
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Time: 10:19 PM, 31/5/2019
