Chapter XXXXIV: Rise of The Commander
Ooarai Wilderness
Outskirt of Ooarai City
Shots were heard, echoing many times in the wood. Both companies enter the forest in not very much different time interval, giving each other no chance to prepare something fishy for their opponents. So the only way they for them to fight is by close-range battle.
Due to the nature of the fight, both Azusa and Noriko didn't tied their tanks in close formation like before. Instead, they disperse their tanks to freely meet the enemy. The only exception is Hippo Team's StuG III which being paired with Pelican Team's Panzer III, due to the nature of turretless StuG III. Despite, Hippo Team managed to white-flagged Snowcrab Team's Stuart, followed by their escort, Pelican Team, white-flagged Macaque Team's Panzer III. At other site, Grasshopper Team's Stuart managed to subdue Tanuki Team's Panzer III, before being white-flagged by a coming Anteater Team's Chi-Nu.
Meanwhile, Giraffe Team and Catfish Team tried to engage Duck Team's Type-89, but Duck Team is still too powerful for them. Able to fend of each of their attacks and fired back whenever got any chance. At the same time, in another spot, Rabbit Team's M3 Lee fighting Mallard Team's Char B1. The duel between two multiguns tanks proved to be very devastating with the most fire rate from any duel today.
"THUD!"
Another 37mm shell of Rabbit Team bounced off the thick armor of Char B1. Mizusaka, manning the 37mm, did very well on her job though not as perfect as Aya Oono. However, the thick armor of Char B1 made it difficult for them to white-flagged this robust opponent. They need Ayumi's 75mm sponson gun to finish it, but Pazomi managed to steer clear of that dangerous weapon. Worst of all, the high-speed 47mm gun of Char B1 is able to penetrate side armor of M3 Lee.
"Mallard Team doesn't allow us to fire on our main gun," said Ayumi.
"Can you try to outmaneuver them, Karina?" asked Azusa.
"Can't do," said Karina, "Gomoyo steers her tank perfectly, I can't even shake them loose."
"The only weakness is that there's only one girl in the turret, so Pazomi has to act as commander, gunner, as well as loader for the 47mm turret gun," said Yuuki, "if we could keep her occupied, she won't have time to do the best on all three."
"Right, Mizusaka-chan, keep firing at them," said Azusa, "no armor are invincible, we could possibly white-flagged them if we keep on firing."
"Could we target their side-vent?" asked Yuuki, "Chi-Ha-Tan's Ka-Mi white-flagged the Char B1 in that manner, right?"
"We can't," said Mizusaka, "Gomoyo-senpai has anticipated that, so she keep the vent in our blind side."
Suddenly, a news came as Catfish Team has now been white-flagged by Duck Team. Giraffe Team request permission to break the engagement and move away, which immediately granted by Azusa.
"Dammit, we're doomed if Isobe-senpai ganged with Pazomi to whip our ass," said Azusa.
"We have no other choice," said Ayumi, "we must white-flagged Mallard Team now."
"Azusa-taichou, give us an order!" said Karina.
Azusa silent for a while.
"What did you call me?" asked Azusa.
"Taichou..." said Karina, "aren't you our commander now?"
All the Rabbit Team are looking on Azusa. They then started to reach their hand and touch Azusa's shoulders.
"We believe in you, Taichou," said Ayumi.
"Order us to victory, please, Taichou," said Yuuki.
"Taichou-senpai, don't waver now," said Mizusaka.
"Yes, Taichou-senpai, we'll do our best," said Takanami.
Saki is oblivious as usual.
"So what order, Taichou?" asked Karina.
Azusa smiled.
"Karina, do you remember when Oryou-senpai did Napoli Turn?" asked Azusa.
"Eh!? You want to do it now!?" asked Karina.
"Yes, you can do that, are you?" said Azusa.
"Leave it to me!" said Karina.
"Ayumi, Takanami, prepare for the shot," said Azusa.
"Hai!" said both Ayumi and Takanami.
Takanami quickly grabbed the 75mm shell, and shoved it into the chamber of the gun. Yuuki watched Azusa in concerned.
"You do realized that this tank is taller than Hippo Team's StuG III, right?" asked Yuuki.
"I know," said Azusa, "that's why..."
Karina quickly put pedal on the metal, and the faster M3 going way ahead the slower Char B1. This is actually a dangerous play, since in this position, Char B1 could fire on M3 using both its 47mm and 75mm howitzer. And when M3 reach targeting range, Pazomi smiled.
"They attempted to suicide, seems," said Pazomi, "Dogumi, Sanmari, prepare to shoot!"
"Ah, yes!" said both Dogumi and Sanmari, which manning the 75mm howitzer.
Since the battle between M3 and Char B1 happened in close range, means from the start of the fight, Dogumi and Sanmari didn't have chance to use their 75mm howitzer. So, this sudden order made them a little bit overwhelmed. Pazomi quickly took a 47mm shell, but as she's shoving it the gun, the M3 did something unthinkable. With full gung-ho, Karina do "Napoli Turn" maneuver, drifting the tank backward and turn to face the opposite direction, and by this, put M3's 75mm gun directly pointing toward the Char B1.
As mentioned by Yuuki earlier, M3 is a tall tank, and performing this maneuver could easily toppled the tank. So Azusa has told all the girls to move to one side of the tank to act as counterbalance. Some of their 75mm shells also has been moved to one side for the same purpose. Everyone buckled up as the tank drifted violently on dusty soil. For some second, Pazomi stunned to see this...
"Ayumi, now!" said Azusa.
Ayumi pulled the trigger and the high-powered 75mm shells flown out of the barrel straight into the frontal glacis of Mallard Team's Char B1. The shot was perfectly placed so that it hit the glacis, ricocheted into shot trap below the turret, sending massive forces into the tank.
Everyone in the M3 cheers happily after white-flagged a strong opponent. But seconds later, Azusa's face turn pale once more. She quickly opened the hatch and get out of the cupola, and not far from them, it's Duck Team's Type 89 with Noriko on her turret.
"Reverse! Reverse!"
Karina quickly hit the floor, and the M3 run backwards, with both of the main gun pointed on the pursuing Type 89. A 57mm shell flown very close to M3, almost scrapping the Rabbit Team's emblem. An exchange of shells then occured, but none found it's target, due to the impeccable skills of both vice-commander.
"Yuuki-san, call any available help," said Azusa.
"Roger that," said Yuuki, "Giraffe Tank is nearby and coming for aid, and we also have Anteater Team in G15, coming."
"Wait, Anteater Team is in G15?"
"Yes, they're on the hunt against Hippo Team and Pelican Team, but has them loose."
"Tell them to stop and go to H13 instead."
"H13? But nothing was there."
"Just do it."
"Okay, Taichou!"
The command of Azusa is also confusing for Nekonya. However, she did it anyway. Abandoning their previous mission of hunting Hippo Team or aiding Rabbit Team, Anteater Team's Chi-Nu quickly gone to the intended quadrant, expecting nothing there, till suddenly...
Nekonya startled. Once she arrived there, what she saw is Anglerfish Team's Panzer IV in standby position. So startled, that she failed to react at the moment, giving Mako time to drive the tank out.
"I- I got the Fox, what shall I do, nyaa~" asked Nekonya.
"Get her! Abandon all else, just get the Fox!" said Azusa.
Right at the moment, the Giraffe Team's Panzer III which helped Rabbit Team's M3 Lee fell prey to Duck Team's Type-89, after being cleverly outmaneuvered. Right at this moment, Azusa's company only consisted of Rabbit Team and Anteater Team alone, while Noriko's company have Duck Team, Hippo Team, and Pelican Team on their side.
"Isobe-senpai, can I asked you a favor?" asked Azusa.
"What is it?" asked Noriko.
"If I defeat you in this duel, please surrender your command over your remaining company to me."
Noriko startled. This request not only put shock on her, but across the battlefield as well. But everyone is silent, waiting on how this would occur.
"None of us have enough units to contain Taichou should we survive this duel. So please, surrender your command if I won, and will surrender my command if you won."
"That's a lot to bet, Sawa-san," said Noriko, "but let's do it."
Both tanks then starting to engage on each other. Both are the vice-commanders of Ooarai, and both also have considerable skills of their own. While they fight, Hippo Team commander, Edwin, assume command and chase Anglerfish Team instead.
"That Sawa girl is smart," said Edwin.
"How do you say so, ze yo~" said Oryou.
"She knows that her forces are now not strong enough, so she ordered Anteater Team to look for Taichou's tank," said Edwin, "and by that, she unleashed another beast to the battlefield."
"How is that making different?" asked Saemonza.
"It took the attention out of destroying her forces," said Caesar, "by unleashing Taichou, now Duck Team has more thing to consider, and she also know that if both sides working alone, none have enough strength to contain Taichou, and if they worked together there will be confusion among who's in charge."
"Hence the battle royale commenced, ze yo~" said Oryou, "to contest the command of the entire units."
"For somehow, this battle has many meanings," said Saemonza.
"A rites of passage," said Caesar.
"That's it!" said all of them.
Back to the battle royale site, Duck Team aggressively engaging to Rabbit Team, maintaining angle and distance so that M3's 37mm turret can't get them. Unlike fighting against Mallard Team's Char B1, now they have to face Shinobu Kawanishi in the helm of Type 89, one of the best tank driver in Ooarai. Despite the best effort from Karina Sakaguchi, the driving duel against Duck Team unravel the stability issue of Rabbit Team's M3. However, Karina did her best to hold the tank. Another problem is due to Duck Team's Type 89 gun is shoulder-traversed, it's easier to fire it on the move. While the case is same on the M3's 37mm, the operator, Mizusaka, is still less-experienced, haven't able to master shooting while moving like Akebi Sasaki in Duck Team.
On other place, Anglerfish Team's Panzer IV is being chased by Anteater Team's Chi-Nu, Hippo Team's StuG III, and Pelican Team's Panzer III. Following the agreement between Azusa and Noriko, Hippo Team and Anteater Team agreed on ceasefire, since they would be on the same team no matter who the victor is, and started to chase Anglerfish Team instead. However, as feared by both Noriko and Azusa, catching Anglerfish Team is not an easy task at all! Anglerfish really proved why they are the best team in Ooarai to current date. The only thing they can do is to make sure that the Panzer IV didn't stray anywhere.
"Three tanks chase Anglerfish Team on 2-7-0 to area J15," said Yuuki.
Azusa traced that movement on her map. Right now, her mind was divided into avoiding chases and tracking Anglerfish. She has to do something quick, since this would put her team strained shall the skirmish continued.
"Wait, this means Taichou moved in diagonal linear pattern, right?" asked Azusa.
"Sound's right, you have something in your mind?" asked Yuuki.
"Tell Nekota-senpai to chase her into area H28 by whatever means necessary," said Azusa, "and we're in G20 right?"
"Yes, Taichou," said Karina.
"Good, go to area J19 now."
"What? Why?" asked Karina.
"Just do it. Bring us and Isobe-senpai there."
Karina didn't ask further question and go to designated area, while Mizusaka firing some round to keep Duck Team on check. Azusa kept on tracking the movement of both group, which as time goes by, are getting closer in converging pattern. She timed the second carefully with her stopwatch.
"Karina, when I give you cue, hit the brake hard!" said Azusa, "I mean, really hard!"
"What!?" asked Karina.
"Three, two, one... Now!" said Azusa.
Karina hit the break real hard that the tank almost turning upside down. Startled by Rabbit Team's maneuver, Duck Team's tank went overshoot, and Noriko quickly told Shinobu to turn back. However, unknown to her...
"BRAAAAK!"
A heavier tank suddenly hit Duck Team's Type 89 which stopped so suddenly following the abrupt stop of Rabbit Team. It's Anglerfish Team's Panzer IV. Azusa has made the path between both group to cross on each other, and by this, putting Duck Team in the path of Anglerfish Team. As the gigantic forces hit the lighter tank, Duck Team's Type 89 got white-flagged almost on instance.
"Fire!"
Ayumi and Mizusaka quickly fired both their guns into Anglerfish Team's Panzer IV, which got bogged by the disabled Type 89, white-flagged it in instance. After the smoke thinned out, the result is clear... Rabbit Team has won the match.
A Couple of Hours Later...
All the Ooarai tanks has now been hauled back to school-carrier Zuikaku. Everyone congratulates on each other in this match, no lose or win, just senshadoin that having fun after the match. Miho was also glad, since the kouhais performed more than satisfactory in real battle situation. This ease her burden a little bit. And of now, they are all has steamed out of Ooarai port.
As the sun started to set, Miho received a call on her phone. US's number, so this must be from Caitlyn Lee. From everyone she asked for help in finding out the code sent by her sister, Caitlyn Lee is the only one hasn't reply.
"Lee-sama, what's wrong?" asked Miho.
"Well, I might have something for ye about the code," said Caitlyn Lee, "good news or bad news first?"
"Tell me the bad news first."
"Alright, I've tried to pull some strings about this, and I finally found the intended file only to have it Level A classified."
"Level A Classified?"
"Meaning you have to have high rank to access that information. And check this out, I quote, 'this particular file has been made as classified by the request from The Federal Republic of Germany', and since it's Level A, then it would be made availabe for public the next 10 years."
"But how is that even possible?"
"I have no idea, so, the good news is, I tried to check what happened in the mentioned date. And I found some small articles in English-speaking German newspaper. But first, I'd like to ask ye, does Shiho Nishizumi related to you?"
"Yes, she's my mother."
"Oh, figured..."
"What's wrong?"
"I'll read it to ye, 'A shocking result from the friendly match at Schwarzwald Panzerschlachtfeld in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, when the guest team, Kuromorimine Girls' Academy from Japan, lead by their substitute captain, Shiho Nishizumi, has defeated the German Panzerfahren powerhouse, Baden-Württemberg Mädchenhochschule, in flag tank battle. Kuromorimine, which never won on their previous matches during their warming-up season's tour de Germany, against the odd, snatched a surprising victory, despite being haunted by several major technical issues. The devastated captain of Baden-Württemberg Mädchenhochschule, Magda Knispel, has to be brought to hospital after fainted following the unexpected defeat. No comment has yet to be made either from Baden-Württemberg Mädchenhochschule faculties, or their panzerfahren official.'"
"Magda Knispel?"
"Yes."
"Isn't she..."
"The mother of Brunnhilde Knispel, yes. She's, at that time, a top ace of German senshado, or as what they insistedly called, panzerfahren. And Shiho Nishizumi, at that time, is just a rookie captain, not even the first team captain of Kuromorimine."
"So, how is this event going on?"
"I have no more information about that, Ms. Nishizumi. That was all I can conclude."
"Thank you very much, Lee-sama, much appreciated."
"Good luck, Ms. Nishizumi."
Miho hang the phone and thinking. This is perhaps the reason why the name "Knispel" is somewhat familiar to them. Her mother must've ever mentioned about it during her childhood. Whatever that is, must be some kind of memory even her mother wanted to forget. But for this match, she has to dig it again, and there's only one way to do that.
"Hana-san," said Miho to Hana, "can we change course of the carrier?"
"Certainly," said Hana, "where do you want to go?"
"To Kumamoto," said Miho, "to Nishizumi Estate. There are things I have to do there."