Eugen and Napoléon were standing together on a square near the Yaizu fish center in the city of Yaizu with the forces of Habsburg Boys High School and De Gaulle Boys High School behind them. The two generals were discussing their tactics. They didn't have an easy time.
After the JSF forced them out of Shizuoka in the autumn of last year they took positions between Fukuroi and Makinohara. For weeks and months the front moved back and forth without the Federation getting closer to Nagoya or the Confederacy of Independent High Schools retaking territories. But it changed when Kyousuke ordered a general offensive against the JSF. The French and Austrian styled schools unleashed their full power a pushed St. Gloriana, Chi-Ha-Tan and Anzio back to the Ōi River. After that it took them more than a month to make their way through the houses and nearby hills of Fujieda and Shimada and the Seto River to Yaizu. There they were standing now with the girls' schools on the other bank of the Asahina River. They were facing a huge task: to reconquer Shizuoka, the home city of De Gaulle. Its loss had a huge impact on the students of the French school. It was painful them, that city was their bastion and symbol. Now they wanted to turn the tide.
However it was clear that it will be a tough one. First they had to cross the Asahina and the federals had plenty of time to build up fortifications between Yaizu and Shizuoka. It was less than four kilometers between the suburbs of the two cities but that four kilometers of soil was full of barricades, barriers, trenches and small firing positions made of concrete in the valleys and on the hills.
"Général!" a voice called for Napoléon.
"What is it Francois?" asked De Gaulle's commander.
"The scouts came back. The enemy has evacuated the remaining parts of the city on the other side of the river and retreated back to the hills. Their first stations are small forts on the hill of the Katanokami Castle. The roads in the valleys and the serpentines are barricaded and also guarded by tanks." the boy named Francois reported.
"How are their troops distributed?"
"The hilltops are mostly occupied by Chi-Ha-Tan. From above even their smaller guns could be dangerous if they hit the top armor of our tanks. The heavy tanks of St. Gloriana and the Semoventes of Anzio are on the roads."
"What about their CV.33s and Crusaders?"
"They are their mobile forces. The light tanks are patrolling the areas between their fortifications."
"Did the boys find any weak points?"
"Maybe. Looks like the federals do not pay too much attention to the seashore. They saw only light tanks there and they rolled away after a few minutes."
"I see. Merci beacoup Francois." nodded Napoléon.
"Anytime mon general." saluted Francois and left.
"What do you think will be the best?" asked Eugen.
"We have to clear the hilltops with artillery fire. Once their positions are weakened there we send up the light tanks and some mediums. The roads are another question. I think it would be better if we take the lead. Our Somuas and ARLs can sidescrape well while most of your german tanks are better from a distance. You can support us from behind."
"And what about the shore?"
"Ah yes. If it is really slightly guarded it can be a great place to break through. We should send there one or two platoons of medium tanks along with a few lights. What do you think?"
"Sounds good to me Kamerad." replied Eugen.
"Could you tell it to the boys s'il vous plait?"
"Yes mein Freund." nodded Eugen and went to expound the plan to the others.
Darjeeling's POV
Darjeeling was sitting on top of her Churchill with a cup of tea in her hands. However contrary to her customs she wasn't drinking it. She just watched it. She felt no power inside her to raise the cup and take a sip. She was tired. Too tired and jaded to do so. She was still that calm, prim girl she used to be but her thoughts constantly tortured her. In the beginning she was like any other commander of the JSF. She wanted to save the unity of the Federation and stop the rebellion of the boys' schools. Just like General Thomas Gage went to fight the revolutionaries of the thirteen North American colonies 250 years ago. But as the time went on she became less and less enthusiastic. Will they lose like the named general and the British army at Bunker Hill?
The conflict has started in September last year. In a quick Blitzkrieg like attack they managed to occupy Shizuoka and their moral was on the wing. But after that they've stuck and couldn't capture Nagoya. They were forced into a positional warfare. The leadership told them that the war will end in a few weeks. And now here they were. The spring was on the doorstep and they were still on the fields. In the north Landsknecht, Stromboli, Tsar Peter and Odin forced Oarai, Pravda, Maple and Viking away from Niigata and Nagaoka and they were pushing them more and more south. In the past month St. Gloriana, Maginot, Chi-Ha-Tan and Anzio lost the cities of Yaizu, Shimada and Fujieda. The question was whether they can hold the occupied Shizuoka or not? She really hoped that Kuromorimine and Saunders will be able to conquer Hiroshima and reach the island of Shikoku. If it happens so and they get Matsuyama maybe the war ends before the two schools of the II. Honshu battalion of the Confederacy defeats them.
Madness. This whole thing was a complete madness. Honestly Darjeeling wasn't fighting now for the unity of the JSF but to protect Yokohama, the home city of her and her school.
"Darjeeling-san!" It was Éclair, Maginot's commander.
"Yes Éclair-san?"
"The sentries say that the rebels are still inside the city. What do you suggest to do?"
"Do you have any idea?"
"Well, if some of our bigger tanks climb the hills the suburbs would be in their firing range. We could send some salvos to them."
"I don't know Éclair-san." frowned Darjeeling. I don't think we should do something like that if we don't even see them. We would have to destroy too many buildings. I don't want any unnecessary destruction."
"So you say we should wait for them to attack?"
"If you don't mind."
"That's okay with me…" sighed Éclair and walked back to her Somua.
"Darjeeling-sama." It was now Pekoe putting her head out of the Churchill's turret. "Can we hold this position?"
"Nothing is certain in this life Pekoe. If we give our best maybe." replied Darjeeling.
"When do you think the battle will start?"
"As for my data, the most likely scenario is dawn, when they used to attack." sounded Assam's voice from the inside of the tank.
"You know Assam-san, sometimes the most unlikely scenario is the true one." said Darjeeling quietly.
Napoléon's POV
It was now evening and the Moon appeared in the sky. Napoléon and Eugen positioned the Lorraine 39L AM's, the Grilles and G.W. Panthers behind houses on small plough fields so the federals will not notice the preparations.
The generals were talking about when they should launch the attack.
"My boys are ready. We can begin it early in the morning." said Eugen.
"Usually I would agree with you mon amie. However…"
"However what?"
"The enemy expects that as well. I'd prefer to attack at noon." said Napoléon. Eugen looked around and realized something.
"I see. If we do so the Sun will not shine in our eyes! And if we fight in the afternoon it will blind the enemy!"
"That's right Eugen-san. Not to mention that the waiting will might wrack their nerves."
"Then let's make sure that our boys will get enough sleep."
Darjeeling's POV
Darjeeling walked between the tanks of St. Gloriana. Half of the girls were already sleeping the others stayed up to invigilate. For the young commander it was perhaps the longest night of her life. Time was painful as she counted the minutes. When will the boys' schools attack? At 04:00 a.m.? At 06:00 a.m.? At sunrise? Maybe the next day?
"Darjeeling-san!" Assam climbed out of the tank with a troubled face and a paper in her hand. "It came from the HQ right now." she said and gave the decoded message to Darjeeling. The commander read it, closed her eyes and sighed. A large confederate force drove Kuromorimine and Saunders away from Hiroshima. They couldn't count on them now. "There is something else." said Assam and gave another piece of paper to Darjeeling.
"What? They want us to leave this place?" she asked surprised.
"The enemy leadership called back Bannockburn Boys High School from Hiroshima to Nakatsugawa to secure their hometown. They want us to block their way to the south."
Darjeeling agreed that there was rationality in this plan. If they leave that mountainous area unprotected Bannockburn could attack the coastal Shizuoka or Yokohama from the inland. However if they leave the power of this army group will be much smaller.
"Well. I guess this is a typical situation when there is no good choice." said Darjeeling quietly. "When do they want us to go?"
"Right now." replied Assam.
"Alright. Wake up the girls. We leave as soon as everyone is ready."
"Copy that." nodded Assam and walked away.
Just twenty minutes later all the tanks of St. Gloriana stood together in Indian file on the road with roaring engines and lights on.
"All units, forward march!" commanded Darjeeling and the column begun to move. As they were rolling away Darjeeling looked around. The students of Chi-Ha-Tan, Anzio and Maginot were just standing and looking after them in dead silence with worried looks on their faces. Like their eyes were saying: "Don't go! Come back please! We'll not be able to handle this alone!"
As for Darjeeling she'd prefer to stay as well. She didn't like the idea of leaving her friends here at the mercy of the enemy. But she couldn't do anything. She got an order. If she denies it will make her a traitor, right?
Anchovy, whose P40 stood behind a barricade looked as the british tanks disappear and their lights slowly fade away. She was nervous. She knew that they had little chance to repel the offensive. She fought Landsknecht and Stromboli before and she knew exactly what it's like to fight with a superior foe. "Someone give me a slice of pizza per favore. I didn't have one for a long time now." She never thought before that climbing into her tank will be an unpleasant thing someday. But she had far too much of it by now. Instead of the turret she wanted to be at home in Toyota with her parents and younger brother, and then go to school again with her friends. But she was here, between hills trying to stop a rebellious sport association. But… to be honest she didn't really care anymore. Where is the greatness and glory they've been told?
Next morning
Nothing. It was now 09:00 a.m. and nothing happened so far. It was very hard for the girls to sit calmly inside their tanks. They've been in position since 05:00 a.m. and their nerves started to give up. Will the boys attack at all? They must be planning something; the girls didn't see anything special since a while. It was like calm before the storm.
Éclair was observing Yaizu with her binoculars but she couldn't see any confederate tanks. Why are they still hiding behind the buildings? She looked at her wristwatch. 09:15 a.m. Damn it! What the hell are they waiting for?
Napoléon's POV
The boys had a copious breakfast in the morning. They knew they'll need their power. Now they were all inside their vehicles like their opponents. And they were ready.
Marcel, the commander of the Lorraine platoon counted down the minutes. 11:45 a.m. 11:50 a.m. 11:55 a.m. 11:59:55 a.m. Five, four, three, two, one. 12:00.
"Trier!" he gave the order.
"Feuer frei!" Franz, the commander of Habsburg's Grilles and G.W. Panthers commanded as well.
The SPGs opened fire from behind the houses. They were focusing their fire on three hilltops where federal positions stood. Within seconds the shells impacted and smoke covered the hilltops. In mean time a few guns were shooting into the valleys to hit the enemy on the hillsides. The bombardment lasted for about half an hour before it stopped.
Napoléon took his binoculars while standing in the turret of his ARL 44. He saw no movement on the other side.
"All units marchez!" he commanded.
"Geradeaus Marsch!" said Eugen into his throat microphone.
The tanks of De Gaulle and Habsburg moved forward. They crossed the bridges over the Asahina River and left the suburbs of Yaizu behind. Medium and light tanks started to climb the hills while the French heavy and medium tanks entered the valleys followed by the german ones.
The first Somua reached the top of one of the three hills… only to find nobody there. There were just the smoking ruins of the bunker.
"Quoi?" frowned the tanks commander. In the next moment the Somua got hit and became disabled. The shot came from the next hill. It was one of the Semoventes of Anzio. It turned out that the same happened on the other two hills. The bunkers there were not manned either. As soon as the confederate tanks reached the hilltops they were attacked from other hills. Many of them got taken out of action.
"Scheiße!" snarled Eugen when he noticed it. "They've fooled us! Those who are already on the hills! Take cover and return fire!" he ordered. The duel between the peaks has begun. In mean time the leading ARLs and Somuas encountered the enemy as well. They were the vehicles of Maginot behind a bend. It was quite an odd sight. French tanks shooting at French tanks. Soon the Panthers and Panzer IVs have arrived as well. The ARL V39s, the Stugs and Hetzers supported their comrades from behind together with the Tigers.
There were three roads/serpentines the sides were fighting for. This battle was very static from the beginning. The heavy tanks tried to sidescrape to bounce of the enemy shells but many of them got hit on the tracks on both sides. During this the medium and light tanks rolled up and down trying to find good firing positions. The artilleries couldn't do too much now. The federals had good shelters and the boys were also too close to them. The battle raged whole afternoon then the armies fought through the sundown. As the hours passed away the boys managed to force Chi-Ha-Tan and Anzio down from the hills. However they couldn't advance further down in the valleys and hillsides.
During the night the gunfire dwindled and at some point it stopped entirely only to start again early in the morning. In the middle of the morning Eugen thought that he had enough behind and ordered his driver and the other Tigers to advance.
"Do you think it's a good idea?" asked Napoléon when he noticed it. "Tigers are not the best from close quarters."
"We have to risk it if we want to get further." replied Eugen and he divided his heavy tanks between the valleys. He took the middle. He got around the corner and faced a group of tanks from Maginot and Anzio. They immediately fired at him but all the shells bounced of the Tigers armor. Eugen's gunner turned the turret and the 88 millimeters gun roared. The shell pierced through a Somua which was the closest tank to the Tiger. The federals constantly fired at him but it was in vain. They were finished off by the german heavy tank one by one.
"This area is clear." reported Eugen. "What about you guys?"
"They are retreating." said a boy from Habsburg from the left flank.
"Same here." came the message from the right flank.
"I love you guys!" laughed Napoléon. "Let's move on!"
The days passed. One after another. Napoléon never imagined before that someday it will take him two weeks to move forward four kilometers. That was the distance between the suburbs of Yaizu and Shizuoka. Two weeks passed and they were still only at half way. It was slow but they couldn't risk the Tigers all the time.
"I think it's about time to explore the seashore." said Napoléon one night.
"Agree. I hope that area is still unprotected. Should we send scouts first?" asked Eugen.
"Non. That would be too time-consuming. We send all our light tanks and third of the medium tanks there. If we do so we can surprise them from their side."
"As you think."
Under cover of darkness the named tanks of the two schools gathered together.
"If you meet a large enemy force turn back. If you can defeat them stay and fight, but make sure that they do not alert the others!" said Napoléon to them.
"Affirmative!"
"Jawohl!"
The AMXs, Panzer IIIs and Panzer IVs went on their way. Soon they reached the ocean. They turned to the north and followed the shoreline. They were ready to fire in any second. But nobody stood in their way.
It was already morning when they turned back to the mainland. They advanced in the woods. From the distance they could hear the gunfire. Just before they reached the top of the hill which was near the federal force a couple of crusaders appeared before them.
"Feu!" The confederate tanks unleashed their salvos. Two of the Crusaders of St. Gloriana immediately got hit. It looked like they were too surprised to return fire at the moment. By the time Rosehip realized what is happening she was left all alone. She quickly turned back and rushed down to the main force.
"Come on boys, let's go! Now or never!" The AMXs and Panzers rolled over the peak. Down there they could see the Matildas, the Churchill, the Semoventes, the ARLs and Somuas. They opened fire from above. That caused panic in the ranks of the JSF. Taking advantage of this the confederate main force begun to move forward and their tanks fired from close. The JSF had no choice but retreat. This bombardment was too much.
"Great job guys! For that I'll pay a glass of Provencal wine for each of you!"
It took further four days to completely clear the valleys and hills but soon the boys saw the first houses of Shizuoka.
"We are home general." said Louis, De Gaulle's vice-commander.
"Not yet Louis." replied Napoléon. "First we have to hunt them out from our home."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"I wanted to ask the same." replied the general of the French styled school and they rolled on. In mean time the federals took positions on the streets of Shizuoka and it was obvious that they'll not give back the city easily. It had high chances that the II. Honshu battalion will have to fight from street to street. Bu they didn't care. The boys of De Gaulle wanted to plant their flag again on the building of their beloved school and the boys of Habsburg wanted to help them by all means. The past battle wasn't the harshest one.
Hey folks! I hope you enjoyed it. Personally, I think it wasn't the most exciting chapter ever but I tried my best. I can promise that the next one will be better. Further, I hope I wrote the French lines correctly, I do not speak the language. :) Have a nice day!/Bonne journée!