October came and most of the tenth month was a deadlock. The IMAF and the Confederacy could not break through the JSF defense line in mid-Honshu. However the tank federals faced serious problems.
The summer air raids wrecked their logistics in the hinterland. The most painful losses were definitely the ammunition and parts factories which have been blown up by the IMAF planes.
In some of the plants in Tokyo and around the capital they could partly restart production but together with the untouched storages this could only slow down the depletion of ammunition. The troops on the battlefields were using much more shells than they could send them. The girls had to be cautious with their tanks too, because due to the lack of parts only a broken track or a malfunctioning turret could be fatal for a vehicle.
The JSF couldn't count on the international markets and companies either. Some of them stopped business with them for moral reasons and the others – even if they wanted to – weren't able to ship because the Senkan-Do teams of the IMAF were controlling merchant ships around the major seaports and turned back each vessel which was carrying cargo for the JSF.
Tsuji's and his directorate's only supply line from outside of Japan was aerial import to the airport of Tokyo. But this nave cord was way too thin to secure their supply.
The team commanders have already warned the girls to spare the shells.
Miho and her friends were still stuck at Hitachiota. Ever since the federal counteroffensive started, this town was the furthest point they could reach. Furthermore they had to defend it alone. Despite of this they were able to hold their ground so far. But it didn't change the fact that that side of the front was merely 25 kilometers away from the city of Oarai.
The team had to fight day and night. They were exhausted and weakened. In a break between two battles Miho reviewed the reserves.
Fuel? They'll really have to move their tanks as little as possible. Tracks and engines? They'll really have to be careful with them. If a tank becomes unable to move they'll have to leave it behind. Ammunition? It's running low. Painfully fast. Miho told the others to shoot only when they are sure about the hit.
But the most disturbing thing was that the enemy was still dangerously close to Oarai, their home. Close like the german army to Paris in 1914. Only this time it was far more possibly if not certain that the invaders will reach the relevant city.
Defeating the joint IMAF-confederate army would have been possible only with the first, all-decisive strikes. Now it was too late for that. And that the JSF can't win a protracted war was not even a question.
"Saori-san."
"Yes Miporin?"
"Send a message to the school please. Tell them: collect everything important and always be ready to leave Oarai."
"You think…"
"Yes I think Saori-san. Or rather: I'm pretty certain. Now tell them please."
"Yes… Yes, taichō." nodded Saori, while thinking about the unavoidable.
A quarter of an hour later the enemy started firing again.
"To your battle stations!" ordered Miho while entering Ankou Team's Panzer IV. "For how long can we hold out?"
Somewhere in northern Yamagata Prefecture
The northernmost forces were about to launch their hopefully final attack against Viking Marine. The Norwegian styled girls' school caused them many trouble in the past weeks. Its students constantly raided the lines of the Russians, Brits, Turks and the confederate boys' schools. They prevented Alexandr and the Hokkaido Battalion from joining Gustav's army group and forced them to move forces against them from the south.
After suffering multiple losses thanks to them, the foreigners and the japanese boys had enough. Alexandr's battalion, Mannerheim High School, Odin High School and Tsar Peter Boys High School were preparing for the strike, so did Colin and Ibrahim who were sent by Gustav against Viking together with Marina and Count High School.
The latter three commanders gathered together.
"Well Marina." said Colin. "We'd like to ask you and your team to sneak around and attack them from the east when we give signal. Can you do that?"
"Definitely Colin-san." nodded Marina, replying in english. "I'm expecting success. It's 31st October. Tonight the witches will unleash their true power."
"Alright. Then please go ahead. We will start it soon."
"Understood." bowed Marina and left.
"You know, I always want to return bows when I'm speaking with japs, but I'm still not used to it yet." said Colin.
"The same here. " replied Ibrahim. "I always do it with a phase delay as well."
"Well, different country, different customs."
"I've always been interested in Japan but I've never thought that I will come here like this."
"Neither I."
"Which one of us would have ever thought that?"
"Guess not a single soul."
"Likely. Hm. 31st October… Tomorrow will be All Saints' Day right? When you Christians visit the cemeteries and bring flowers to your dead ones." asked Ibrahim.
"Yes, it will. Why?"
"I'm asking it just out of curiosity."
"I see." said Colin and looked at his wristwatch. "Huh. Come on. Let's get to work."
"Good luck mate."
"Good luck. Hey Ibrahim! Would you do me a little favor?"
"What would it be?"
"Would you ask Allah on my behalf to help us with this insanity?"
"Sure thing Colin. If you ask Jesus for the same thing on my behalf." smiled Ibrahim.
"Deal." smiled back Colin and went to his Churchill.
The offensive started with the artillery bombardment of the Hokkaido Battalion. Marina and Count High School started operations at midnight. They weakened Viking further with many small surprise attacks. Just as Marina the Strigoi predicted, their tactics brought them success that night. They caused disorder among the ranks of Viking Marine and even managed to take out a few heavier tanks, such as Neubaufahrzeugs, Somua S35s and Hotchkiss H35's.
When the first sunbeams appeared in the horizon the main forces began to move as well. They encountered the enemy first when they left the town of Shinjo behind. A group of Panzer I Ausf Bs started firing at them with their MG13 machineguns. Their little shells were glancing off the tanks of the assault force like cherry-stones.
Colin actually felt sorry for them when he gave order to shoot back and the JSF light tanks caught fire. A few hundred meters further they met more serious resistance in the shape of the remaining Somuas, Neubaufahrzeugs supported by Panzer IIs, Panzer IIIs and Chaffees.
Despite of this, merely an hour later Viking Marine lost even that small part of Yamagata Prefecture that they still had.
In mean time the Russian IAMF teams and the Hokkaido Battalion launched the attack from the north as well.
Both army groups sent their flanks forward and left their center behind, so slowly they formed a huge, dozens of kilometers wide circle around the enemy. The girls of Viking Marine tried multiple times to break out of it, but Count always prevented them from doing so.
Three days after the operation started everything was left for Viking was Mt. Yakeishi. They barricaded themselves there. Their commander, Ingrid looked around from the peak. They were surrounded. Completely surrounded. It was like the land around the mountain was covered with a carpet of steel. IMAF and confederate tanks were everywhere. Many of they didn't even try to take cover. Ingrid wasn't actually frightened until now, but seeing that their opponents were not afraid of them at all any more scared her.
"Borghild!" she called for her vice-commander.
"Yes min kommandant?"
"Any chance that other federal schools can reach and help us?"
As an answer Borghild slowly shook her head with a troubled look on her face. "Nei. The closest federal forces are 150 kilometers away from us. And be honest kommandant, do not deceive ourselves. Even if one or two teams could get here what could they do?"
"…"
"Kommandant! Envoys are coming!" said a student from Viking. A tanker from each of the six attacking groups was climbing up the mountain. Ingrid and Borghild went to meet them halfway. When they met, despite all the hostility both sides saluted each other.
"What can I do for you, ladies and gentleman?" asked Ingrid.
"Ingrid-san." Törni spoke up first. "Our Commanding General, Hasegawa Kiyoshi wants to end this just like us. This war is a huge burden for all of us, no matter which side we are fighting for. If you ask me, it's a tragedy that we had to turn against each other. Think it through please. You know you can't win. And we don't want to fight you if it's avoidable. I'm not demanding. I'm politely asking you to surrender to the provisional army of the Confederacy of Independent High Schools."
Ingrid remained silent but she was listening to him.
Törni continued. "Your school's home, Morioka is only an hour away from here by car. If you lay down your arms you can return there immediately and continue your interrupted old lives."
"What do you have to say?" turned Ingrid to a british girl.
"Basically we came here to tell what General Törni has told you before. He is right. The sooner the Japan Sensha-Do Federation gives up its pointless fight the sooner can everyone return home."
"Do we have time to think?"
"You can give an answer until 09:00 a.m."
"I understand. Is that all?"
"Yes it is."
"Alright. We'll share our decision with you tomorrow morning."
With this they saluted and everyone returned to his/her own tank.
"What do you say Borghild?" asked Ingrid.
"My pride tells me not to give up. On the other hand however…"
"I feel the same way. Half of my mind tells me that we will show weakness if we give up. That we can lure away enemy forces from our comrades if we keep fighting. But the other half tells me the facts. That we cannot last longer than one, maybe two days. What do you say Borghild-san?"
"I have my personal opinion kommandant. But I'll obey your decision as I always did."
"What do you think?"
"We could support our comrades if we keep doing this. We could serve the Federation's cause for a bit longer…"
"What cause Borghild-san?"
"I don't know it anymore kommandant."
"As team commander, my allegiance is to my teammates first of all. I must do what is good for THEM."
"Then I think I know what your decision is."
"Tomorrow morning we will do what the IMAF says."
"So you choose them?"
"Törni-san was right." said Ingrid. "I've never really liked fighting with them. But I don't want to lose our pride to them either."
"I see. I… go and tell the girls."
"Tusen takk (thank you)."
When morning came Ingrid herself went to meet Colin and Ibrahim. Surrendering to the IMAF was Viking Marine's last stand against the Confederacy. Capitulating to the Japanese boys' schools would have meant total defeat and submission. Capitulating to the foreigners however only meant that they are no longer able to continue the fight.
"I'm glad you chose to stop this." said Colin.
"Deep in my soul I feel the same way Colin-san." replied Ingrid standing in attention with her hands behind her back. "Even if I actually didn't do it with pleasure."
"I can understand that. And you really don't have to call me like this. I'm not Japanese."
"Maybe. But for me it's natural."
"Then I don't have any complaints."
"And now? What now?"
"Leave all your ammunition behind. You can return home to Morioka without shells but with your tanks under the surveillance of our forces. I'm sorry but you can't use your vehicles again before the end of the war."
"That's alright." nodded Ingrid. "I think it will be better for me to stay outside of my Neubeufahrzeug anyway."
"You know, even if I haven't met many Japanese in my life, I've always adored your respect toward others." said Colin.
"Thank you for thinking about us like that." bowed Ingrid slightly. "Huh… Do you know what your first thing to do will be when this is over?"
"Well, to start a jar of beer will be nice. And yours?"
"I do not have big wishes Colin-san. I just want to be a simple Sensha-Do team commander again, not a general. "
"I promise you that it will happen sooner than you'd think."
"I really hope that. And that I'll never have to leave my home again because of such a conflict. Not too long ago I thought that I can leave the battlefield behind once and for all but… as you can see I'm here again."
"I also promise that you'll never have to experience anything like this ever again, nor your friends and the future students of the JSF schools."
"Thank you very much."
"Now please, unload your tanks then follow the lead of our assigned officers."
"Yes Colin-san." said Ingrid and bowed again. "Ibrahim-san."
"Hoşça kal (goodbye)." said Ibrahim and returned the gesture.
Ingrid nodded once again to both of them then left.
"At least this chapter is over." said Colin, letting out a sigh.
"I wonder how many left." said Ibrahim.
"It's up to our opponents. If they are wise and surrender their war less, if they are not wise more."
"I'd personally prefer the first option."
"The same here. But now it's not a time of dreaming. Now we have to go and break through that damn defense line in Fukushima Prefecture."
"For my part we can leave right now."
"Oh my, how glad our general friend will be when he hears about this victory."
Gustav's POV
"Honestly guys, if there were any medal in Sensha-Do I would give one to each of you." said Gustav, shaking hands warmly with Colin and Ibrahim.
"Don't mention. It was nothing." smiled Colin.
"I don't think it was nothing."
"It wasn't." said Ibrahim. "They gave use some hard time during the past days but… what matters is that we ceased combat up there."
"I'm grateful guys, thank you very much." repeated Gustav.
"But it's not over yet." said Colin.
"It's not. But it's the beginning of the end."
"What will we do now?"
"All the other fronts are only a few kilometers away from the Greater Tokyo Area. We are the only ones who are still far from it. Our task now is to solve this problem."
"You can count on us."
"I know I can. We'll begin the offensive in 48 hours. Until then try to have a bit of rest, okay."
"Yes sir." saluted Colin.
"Thank you Gustav." said Ibrahim.
They walked away and Gustav was left alone. He was thinking. "We landed three months ago. And Tokyo is still waiting for us to conquer. Will I really be at home for Christmas?"
Even if he knew that it wouldn't be his fault, he didn't want to break his promise. It would be the first Holy Night without his family. He knew that he would miss them, but it was a more unpleasant thought that his family will miss HIM. His mother, his father. And Greta! "What are you doing now little sister? I hope you're alright." Ever since Gustav's sister was born they had a strong, unbreakable relationship. It was very strange for him that she wasn't around. "Just wait for me. Soon we will eat sausages together again!"
With this thought he went back to his Königstiger. Something was in the air. Something that none could explain. A feeling. Nobody has mentioned it, but almost everyone knew that the end was drawing near.