Authors Note: Please guys. Obviously, some parts of my story are inspired by the American civil war. However, let me clear something please. First of all, I'm not even American. I didn't want to say that Yankees are condemned monsters. I've met people from Alabama and I've met people from Pennsylvania in my life and I've found all of them very nice. The JSF and the Confederacy are not the metaphors of the north and the south. It's not my duty to decide what the south was really fighting for, but I'm certain about one thing: slavery is a moral evil in any society. If you'd like to write a review (what I appreciate very much) please write a civilized positive or negative one about THE STORY but not a political one filled with hate. Thank you people! Enjoy it!
"Signal Tsar Peter, Mannerheim and Odin! Clear away Maple and Oarai from Muroran and claim whole Hokkaido!" Kyousuke ordered before he went to discuss the situation with three of his generals, Juan, Hunyadi and Edward. It looked like the JSF wanted to crush their forces in Honshu to weak the other schools on the other islands and cut the connection between them. Pravda turned against Landsknecht and Stromboli. Viking, Bonple and Jatkosota returned with them. It was now riskier for the I. Honshu Battalion but as they had to only defend their territory it was harder for Pravda to make an ambush like they used to do.
"Then here is my plan boys." said Kyousuke. "The Hokkaido Battalion forces out these two from the island then Tsar Peter and Odin crosses the strait and attacks Pravda in the back. I want Kiyoshi-san and Augustus-san to hold firm until they arrive. Diamondback and Seinarukaze shall hold back Saunders and Kuromorimine from capturing the bridge. I know De Gaulle is in a pretty hard situation but it's crucial to hold Shizuoka at least for a bit, namely, because until they fight the Federation there Habsburg and Bannockburn will push little BC Freedom, Waffle Academy and Blue Division into the sea. During this Uluru will remove Koala Academy from Tottori but considering the enemy's number and type of tanks it wouldn't be a hard task. Szent István and Sherlock Holmes will cross the bridge and help the II. Honshu Battalion out. Do you understand?"
"Yes President!" The trio replied.
"Hunyadi, Edward, be aware! You'll be the first ones to engage with BC Freedom as they are directly on the other side of the bridge."
"If you accept a proposal President, I suggest we shall cross here using the western bridge. Then we can attack BC from the side. It would be also safer. Even if we attack them face to face putting the heavy tanks into the first line we'll stuck in the middle of the bridge if they manage to shoot out a few of them." Hunyadi said.
"Perfect." Kyousuke said. "Edward, command your artilleries to Sakaide. At the same time you star to cross the western bridge they'll start to shell BC's forces on the other shore. As I heard they are lined up near the pillar in Okoyama. They'll think we'll attack at the Shimotsuiseto Bridge."
"Yes sir."
"Good luck gentlemens! Dismissed!" The generals saluted the president and left the scene.
Muroran, Hokkaido
"Admiral Nishizumi! Enemy force sited on the horizon!" Shark Team reported as they were guarding at the edge of the town together with Duck Team and a few of Maple's tanks.
"How many of them?" Miho asked through the radio.
"It's the entire enemy land fleet!"
"Trout-san!"
"I've heard it Nishizumi-san! Everyone! Boost up your tanks and head to road E5!" Trout replied.
"Understood!"
"Nishizumi-taichō. Do you think we can push them back this time?" Saori asked confused.
"We'll not hand over the island without fight Saori-san." Miho replied after a few seconds of thinking. Of course they cannot win. And she was right. They've met the whole fury of the Hokkaido Battalion. They didn't really use any tactics, just overwhelmed them by force. The tanks of Duck Team and Rabbit Team got hit and had to be left behind just as much of Maple's tanks. They fought a desperate aftermath between the houses back in the town until the ferries of the JSF arrived into the port and could get them out of Hokkaido. They made a sigh of relief when the last ferry also left the port with the remaining tanks and all of the crews but they also felt sadness.
As Miho was sitting on top of her tank with smoked face the wind blowing her hair she looked at the girls of Maple who were silently sobbing on each other's shoulders. They left their hometown with the building of their school behind and who knows when they'll return.
"I don't want to war! I just want to go home and have fun around the school with you girls!" One of them said crying.
In mean time most of the boys of the Hokkaido Battalion were staring after them from the shore. The others were nearly dancing in joy.
"Do you think they are still laughing at us?" Törni asked with a grin on his face.
"I doubt it." Ivan replied smiling with crossed arms.
"General!" A boy stepped to Törni with a portable radio. "From the HQ." Törni took the handset.
"Yes?" He listened to the message then he gave it back to the boy. "Prepare your guys mate. You and Torvald are going to Aomori."
"Aomori?" Ivan asked. "And what about Pravda?"
"They headed to Niigata. You'll have to help Landsknecht and Stromboli out."
"Man. They really should have gave us just a bit of time to enjoy victory." Then he looked back at the abandoned building of Maple Academy on which the blue confederate banner with the black shield and yellow stars already flew. "But thinking about it… As they say: hit the iron as long as it is hot. I go to tell the guys."
Tsar Peter and Odin slipped out at midnight on boats. Both of them left half of their artilleries behind as well as a few tank destroyers in case of a sudden federal attack on Hokkaido. They heard that Viking High School was called back from Niigata to guard Aomori instead of Pravda and Maple and Oarai were stationed behind them in the second line so they had time to refuel and rearm.
The boys crossed the strait in moonlight and arrived at the eastern ness from Aomori at dawn. The beach was sandy and over the shoreline there were trees and agricultural lands.
"Let's roll everyone!" Ivan ordered and the Russian and Norwegian tanks disappeared in the darkness of the woods.
Shizuoka
The situation of De Gaulle became more and more desperate. They had to pull back into the city itself from the combined forces of Chi-Ha-Tan, St, Gloriana, Maginot Girls Academy and Anzio which was ordered to move from Niigata Prefecture to this front. When they've lost the ground east from the city, Napoléon ordered the Lorrains to leave to the west towards Nagoya and Habsburg. They couldn't use them between the buildings and it was crucial to save the artillery.
It was advantageous for De Gaulle that this was their home city and local knowledge stood on their side but still they had to give up street after street, especially when the Federation tried to encircle them. They had to retreat to the western bank of the Daiya River.
In mean time
Just as they expected it didn't last too long before Bannockburn and half of Habsburg's team pushed Waffle and Blue Division back to the seashore and BC Freedom fled behind the Yoshii River. Not long ago the british SPG's started to bombard them from Shikoku, then from nowhere Sherlock Holmes and Szent István appeared from the west and started to play their guns on them. Especially those damn 105 millimeters guns of Szent István's Zrínyis gave them headache. The Hungarian assault guns found great hiding spots and started thinning BC's tanks.
On the other hand Waffle and Blue Division retreated back until Kumano. When there was nothing more behind them just the Pacific Ocean the tanks and tds of Bannockburn and Habsburg didn't even try to approach anymore, they just let the Hummels and Bishops to give them a heavy rain of iron. Wallace was watching through his binoculars from his Caernarvon as the shells sent the sand flying. Then he saw that the remaining Panzer Is IIs IIIs M4 Shermans and AMC-35s lowered their guns.
"Cease fire! They've surrendered!" He shouted and climbed out of his tank. "Come with me Bruce!" He said to his vice-commander. "You too Eugen!"
As the two generals and two vice-commanders were walking down to the shore the girls started to leave their tanks one by one with a defeated and also scared look on their faces. The two commanders, Valeria and Chloé stepped forward towards the boys who stopped a few meters before them.
"Valeria-san, Chloé-san! I call you to surrender to the II. Honshu Battalion of the provisional army of the Confederacy of Independent High Schools." Wallace said after saluting.
"Under what criterions?" Valeria asked. Unlike their comrades' look her and Chloé's were still defiant even if sad.
"There are no criterions. Hand all of your tanks over us and leave the field. If you're doing so, all of you may return home and continue your lives and studies."
"So, we'll live under occupation?" Chloé asked.
"No." Eugen replied. "If you lay your weapons down the war is over for you. We'll go and fight somewhere else. So? What do you say?"
"Bowing before the overwhelming numerical superiority, but reserving our opinion that secession and war is wrong…" Valeria started.
"Yes?" Wallace said with an asking look.
"Blue Division High School and Waffle Academy are ready to cease the fight."
"Very well. Then, you may leave now in this exact second." Eugen said and stepped aside. The girls slowly started to walk away with defeat in their souls, looking back sadly at their loved tanks. When the last one of them disappeared Eugen ordered his soldiers.
"Bring them home boys." He pointed at the captured enemy vehicles. "Just hurry up! We have a job to do!"
"Edward! What's up with BC?" Wallace took the radio and asked Edward.
"They've escaped." Edward replied with a bit sour voice. "We took out a few ARLs and Somuas but they could break through our line and flee towards Tottori."
"Hmmm. Maybe King Edward wasn't the best war chief in history?"
"Oh, shut up scot!"
"Shut up you limey! Put your tea and muffin away and deal with them somehow! May William Wallace be an example for you!"
"By the way Tottori." Eugen said. "I wonder what the situation with Koala Forest High School is."
"The Uluru guys are skillful. I'm sure they can handle it."
Tottori
Uluru has arrived to Tottori from Hiroshima about the time of this conversation. The battle started west from the city between the hills and it was pretty balanced. Both Uluru and Koala had the same tanks, Matildas, MK I. Sentinels and MK III. Thunderbolts. Except that Uluru had three Caernarvons in their ranks. Despite the numerical superiority the boys could only hold the enemy under pressure this time but not defeat or drive them away. When the sun rose, its beams shined down on a stationary war with immobile fronts near Tottori. But at least Kelly could prevent Koala from going to help another federal school.
As we can see the smaller attacks of the JSF didn't bring too much success. However the two big offensives with the goal to conquer Matsuyama were much bigger danger for the boys.
"Retreat!" Napoléon ordered his soldiers at Shizuoka. It was too much for them now; their home city had to be evacuated. They paid the price quickly for Muroran and Okoyama.
"We're giving up so easily mon general?" his gunner asked while still firing in the suburb of Shizuoka.
"Don't say this Jean, all of you fought bravely. But we must save us now, so we can have our revenge on them! It won't take long."
"I really hope so commander."
"Everyone! Head to Nagoya! We are joining Habsburg there!"
Tokyo, JSF HQ
The phone rang and an instructor took it.
"Message from the front for Maginot's chairwoman."
"Yes Éclair-san?" She listened then a grin grew on her face. "Merci beacoup." "The federal flag in flying high over Shizuoka ladies. Matsuyama is one step closer."
"You see?" Shiho said. "When Kuromorimine and Saunders cross from Kyushu it will and in no time!"
"IF they can cross." said Ami who came to see her old teacher.
"Do you have doubts Chonou-san?"
"Sensei, it would be a pity to deny that the boys in the Confederacy are just as skillful as our girls. Furthermore it's them who want to defend their schools while you want to capture them."
"What are you saying? THEY fired first at Nakajima Island!"
"Of course they fired because they've felt threatened."
"I had no idea my old student… Maybe it would be better for you to leave now."
Ami stood up and bowed sadly. "As you think Sensei." Then she walked out of the room.
"Where are your troop Nishizumi-san?" Tsuji asked sitting at the large table.
"They shall reach the lines of Diamondback High School short after sunrise. So soon."
"Great. What is the news from the other fronts?"
"They've stuck director." Anzio's instructor said. "Landsknecht and Stromboli are defending their territory successfully and Koala couldn't drive Uluru Academy back."
"What about Aomori?"
"We know nothing certain as they are very far away from here. We only know that Tsar Peter and Odin landed on the shore and they are close to our forces but Viking, Maple and Oarai still have the city."
"Continue the attack in Honshu and beat them into pulps." Tsuji said seriously. "I want them to pay for this shame on Waffle Academy and Blue Division High School!"
"They'll all pay you can be sure about this." Shiho said calmly.
Kyushu
Diamondback moved forward to Miyakawa while Seinarukaze lined up between Nogata and Nakama in order to keep Kuromorimine and Saunders away from Kitakyushu and the bridge connecting Kyushu with Honshu.
"Everyone! It's crucial to break through their first line! If we get through Diamondback it will be far easier!" Maho said to her troops. "Do not underestimate the enemy! Even if you are sitting in heavy tanks, beware of those Fireflies!" Yes, the four Sherman Fireflies of Diamondback worried even her a bit.
"We also have a cute Firefly Maho!" Kay radioed cheerfully. "Don't be afraid!"
"Being afraid is different from being circumspect. Vorwärts!"
Neither the girls of Kuromorimine nor Oarai nor the others knew that much more of their time will be spent with battling the boys than they expected.