The rain patter on the roof of the Tiger grew louder and quicker as it's engine roared going through the newly wet surface. I could hear the radio chatter of the other tanks to escort the flag tank my sister was in. Everything we had worked for ended up on this ONE MATCH.

"Give me an update on everyone's locations and status." I ask my radio operator. I could tell the rain was effecting the outreach of the messages.

"From what I can gather commander is that the Recon squad has not encountered the enemy yet and are heading to point B.124. The Flank Squad has not reached their objective due to the tracks on the Jagdtiger breaking from the wet terrain." She respond almost as soon as she received the locations. I could tell she would be wise to keep around.

"What of the Flag Tank and it's escorts?" My curiosity and concern for my sister grew as I could not be the one defending her.

"Have yet to reach the woods due to mountainous terrain. Formation consisting a Panzer III at point then the Flag Tank Tiger, 1 Panzer IV and 1 Elephant following behind." The Radio Operator spoke with formality.

"Still any sighting on any Pravda Tanks?" I ask while looking down at the map moving my marks of the locations of my subordinates.

"Negative Commander Nishizu-" She froze and I could see the fear in her eyes. No matter how much training and hardship mother put me and my sister through...No one could have been ready to hear what was on that radio channel.

"Patch me through!" I barked to the girl as the panic began eating away at me. Maybe it was the pressure of my first true test as commander of Kuromorimine.

"But C-Commander!" she began stumbling so I knew something was up.

"I said NOW!" That was it. I snapped. All the thing weighing down on me and I finally snap. She plugged the headset into the radio transmitter. Almost snatching it I grab the headphones and place one side up to my right ear. Panic had taken full control of me at this point.

"Miho! What the hell is going on!" I shout into the neck mic I had on waiting for a response. Nothing but static.

"This is the Panzer IV of the Flag Tank Escort! We have been ambushed by an IS-2, KV-2, and Multiple T-34-85's! The Lead Tank has been hit and is drowning in the lake. Sub Commander Nishizumi left her tank to help but the Flag Tank is defenseless! We are trying to get around in front!" I felt my body go numb. My heart began to beat faster and faster. I could feel heat in my body but the numbness made it all an ice cold dread.

-*BANG*-

I could hear the sound of tank fire over the headset. I pull it away from my ear and begin to reach for the commander hatch of my Tiger and turn to my driver.

"PANZER HALT!" I shout as I open the hatch to see the mountain and the smoke column rising over it's peak.

"What the hell happ-!" My transmission was quickly cut off by the Sensha-do Officials

"Kuromorimine Flag Tank Disabled. Pravda High School Wins!" My face goes white as I drop both the headphones and map board I was holding. My shaking hands grab my hat and clinch in my fist as I fall back and rest against the hatch opening. I had been entirely fooled and led my sister and my team right into the bait. For the first time since I was a little girl I could feel the urge to break down into tears. I look up to see one of the camera drones facing me to get my reaction. The words of my mother playing in my head immediately, "A Nishizumi shows no emotion at the loss of a battle." Fearing what mother would say I slowly go back into the Tiger and shut the hatch. I'm immediately greeted with shocked faces of my crew.

"We lost..." My driver was the first to speak and before I could let another speak I jump in immediately.

"Move to the Flag Tanks Location Immediately." The urge of tears grew stronger.

"Commander the match is ov-" The Gunner began to question the order I gave. My emotions got the best of me.

"I DON'T CARE! I SAID NOW DAMMIT!" I shout at them and they quickly get the Tiger moving in the direction.

When we arrive I open the hatch before the tank stops moving. I am met by the small commander of Pravda and her two sub commanders. They see my concern for my classmates and they take me to where they all sat with blankets and towels. I look over the edge and see my sister just standing at the water looking at her reflection and completely drenched in water. I let my crew aid the ones from the Panzer III and run down the side of the mountain to get to my sister. As I got closer I could feel the anger, fear, and sadness creep in.

"Miho!" I shout to get her attention and I can see her tense up.

I jerk awake and am grasping for air. Disoriented I look around and see I'm in my room and find that it is daytime and my dog is awake and standing at the door. Looking back I see a sweat mark from the night before. I look back to my dog and slide out of bed. A smile comes to my face when I see his excitement.

"Let's go on a walk. I could use it." I smile and crouch down and put his collar and leash on. Opening the door I walk out and when I pass mother's office I stick my head in and see her working on her papers.

"Good Morning Mother. I came to let you know I am taking my dog for a walk and probably stopping by the coffee store after to meet with Erika to discuss the upcoming season. Would you like me to grab you something from there?" I could see the stress written all over her face. Running one of the best schools in the entire country for Sensha-do and Academics takes up so much of her time.

"If you would like to just get me a regular coffee and beagle." She spoke barely looking up from her work. I bow and take my leave.

The Fall was drawing near as I could feel the temperature change from what a hot night it had been the night before. As I walk my dog down the small street to the coffee house a bunch of people stop me to tell me hello. I smile the best of my ability and wave as I don't want to get into a big conversation and keep Erika waiting. After a decently long walk I reach the Coffee House with a warm greeting being a regular there. I take my seat and wait for Erika as my dog lays down at my feet clearly enjoying the cooler day.

"Miss Nishizumi. Would you like the usual today?" the waitressed asked me with a smile. She had been my waitress ever since I started coming here with my sister.

"huh? ah yes!" I stumbled to get out as she smiled and walked behind the counter to begin making it.

While waiting for Erika to show up as I was earlier than expect for our meeting, my mind began to result back to a few months ago.

I understand where mother is coming from but... why... sure it was an important thing to her but all this over a match... am I really doing the right thing sending her to that school on her own...

The girl brings me my coffee and beagle and I look down to my dog and realize I left home without feeding him.

"ah are you hungry?... sigh I'm sorry I forgot about you... My mind hasn't been in the best shape recently." I split my beagle in half and give him half and scratch behind his ear. I soon feel the pain on my fingernail as I realize I had been biting on the side of it from being in thought so much that it starts to slightly bleed. I sigh and take the napkins at the table and apply slight pressure to cause it to stop before Erika arrives.

The bell over the door soon rings as I look up to Erika had arrived with her folder and sat in the sit opposite of mine.

"Good Morning Erika." I greet first with a genuine smile to see my only friend.

"Good Morning Co-Maho." She corrects herself remembering that outside of school we are friends and not Commander and Sub Commander.

"What information do you have for the upcoming Tournaments?" I ask her inquisitively. She opens her folder and pulls out some document and begins to go over them.

"The Maus is fully repaired and ready for the national tournament after last years incident against St Gloriana's. The Jagdtiger is in need of new Sprockets for the old ones have become stressed and worn down. The Tigers ammunition arrived this past Friday. News from the other schools, St Gloriana's Commander Darjeeling bought 2 new Mk VI Crusaiders. Saunders Commander Kay has acquired 1 new Sherman Firefly. Pravda Commander Katyusha has acquired 1 new KV-2 as well as 2 new T34-85s and the biggest news is there is a new school joining the league this year."

My eyes widen at the last part since they haven't added a new school in a few years only lost schools.

"What is the name of the new school?" My curiosity is officially peaked at this point.

"Some small school named Ooarai Girls Academy. From intel they used to have a Sensha-do program a long time ago but got rid of most of the good tanks. The one's they kept seem to be German and American style."

I get a little worried because I remember my sister transferred to Ooarai for the specific reason as they didn't have Sensha-do... I hope she is alright.

"Anyway they probably won't make it far. If anything Jatkasota could easily take them all out with one tank. Erika's reply held a cold blade as if she had a grudge against the small schools. I decided to may it no attention. A bunch of the other info just became a blur after that until a sound broke me from the trance I was in.

The little bell above the door rang as a ragged man walked in. You could smell the stench of Alcohol from our table. I saw the shine in his pocket and the adrenalin in his eyes and I knew immediately what was about to happen.

"Erika..." I softly say trying to get my friends attention.

"Hm?" her innocent response I knew wouldn't last if I told her and I didn't need her to freak out.

"I need you to trust me as your commander and when I move I need you right behind me. No fear like I taught do you understand?" My response was cold as my stare cut through the man like knife in butter. When he looked over at me he immediately looked back to where he was going. Erika turned to him with a confused expression and back to me.

"Okay?" I could tell she was wondering what was about to happen.

"Just trust me Erika." I reassure her and she nods. The man reaches his destination and it begins.

He draws an American M-1911 handgun and begins requesting for the money. Everything around me turns to white noise as I study him. The tactics my mother trained me in for Sensha-do begin to kick in.

there is a 60 to 40 percent that the weapon he has is loaded. hands are shakings 3 centimeters per second. Loose grip on the gun so when fired it will jam. all the factors give me a 7.87 seconds opportunity to either get out or take him out at the right moment. Judging by the body I can take him out. fires in 3...2...1... now.

-*BANG*-

The gun immediately jams and I blitz to his position and from behind I wrap my arms under his arm holding the gun and around his neck sweeping the feet back taking him to the ground where he begins to struggle. Erika runs over and kicks his gun away as I keep him pinned down not letting him up. Finally the Police arrive and cuff him taking him to their car. One officer came back in and began to question me.

"So what happened here?" He asked almost confused.

"It's simple. he tried to rob the place, I took him down. What else." I reply with my stone face and walk back to pick up the food and drinks for my mother and the leash for my dog. Me and Erika then leave the building and walk back to my house. I stop in to give my mother her food.

"Apologies mother for the wait. A drunk attacked the coffee shop while we were in there." I reply hoping she would show some concern for her daughters safety.

"Anyone hurt?" her expression showed some emotion if any.

"None. I took him down with ease and pinned him till the authorities came. His gun jammed upon the first fire." I said while setting the food down.

"You did well Maho. You make the Nishizumi Name Proud." I could almost scowl at that remark she always gives. The remarks that made Miho leave and that haunt me every night and day. I walk back and meet Erika and we head to my room on the other end of the home. Before entering I turn to Erika.

"Thanks for hanging with me this Morning. The info will be passed to my mother soon. Go get some rest Erika. We have a long road ahead of us." I smile as she nods and I shut the door. Leaning down to take the leash off of my dog I let out a sigh.

"Hopefully soon everything will be back to sense of normal again." I begin to pet my dog on the head.

"Thanks for being there for me as Emotional Support today...Whitman."

Thanks for Reading Chapter 1!

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