Chapter 13: A "Vacation" in a Foreign Land
The crew members of Freikorp Oarai stared in awe at what they could see of the Tokyo skyline as they exited Tokyo International Airport. "So, where exactly are we going?" Joseph asked. Everyone was in their regular school uniforms.
"I was told there would be someone from the Department of Education with a bus to pick us up at this entrance. Then we'll go to the USS Constitution II," William explained while holding a manilla folder open with several documents within.
Ross and Joseph stood next to him on a sidewalk while their crews scattered on a small grass field behind them. "The USS Constitution II?" Ross asked.
"Yep, the headquarters of America's schoolship fleet and the first schoolship to enter service, at least it will be once it's completed," Willian explained.
"I see, I wonder what it's like," Ross said.
On the road in front of them, a bus approached from their right. "You won't need to wonder much longer," William replied as the bus stopped in front of them. The door opened and William stepped aboard. "Are you with the Department of Education?" he asked.
"Yep, you folks from Oarai?" the driver asked.
"That would be us," William answered. He turned around to lean out of the doorway. "Alright everyone, this is our bus!" he shouted. Everyone slowly got up from the grass and made their way onto the bus. William, Ross, and Joseph sat in the front while the rest of the crews sat together sporadically throughout the bus.
When everyone was seated, the bus doors closed and the bus slowly began driving forward. As it made its way out of Tokyo International Airport, the crews got a much better look at the Tokyo skyline as they drove along the sea. They also passed various port facilities where many maritime services were handled, from cargo transport to ship construction. The size of these ships; however, hardly compared to a massive, several miles long drydock extended out into the sea. This was the construction site of America's first schoolship, the USS Constitution II. It was similar in size to the Zuikaku, but the sight of its uncompleted steel skeleton that was exposed without the massive steel plates that would later cover it was surreal. As the bus approached the entrance to the drydock, the skeleton only grew larger, revealing that the uppermost decks, the control tower, and the actual community on the top deck were mostly complete. When the bus stopped, everyone filed out in silenced awe at the beast in front of them.
A lady wearing formal secretary attire approached William, who stood in front of everyone. "Welcome, I presume that you are the Oarai group correct?" she asked.
William bowed in greeting. "Yes, we're Oarai's transfer students," he answered curtly.
"Good, follow me, I'll be leading you onto the ship," she said. The group followed through the drydocks entrance building and into an elevator that would bypass the construction work below the decks. "I'm sure you are aware this will be more than a few small meetings. We've gathered every transfer student within the program so you will have a chance to meet with them as well," she explained.
After a couple of trips through the elevator, everybody was hundreds of feet in the air on the top deck of the USS Constitution II. From here, the secretary guided them to the main campus of the ship. The main building was a large brick building with snow-white marble pillars and overhang. To its left and right were similarly large, elegant brick buildings. In the center of the central courtyard, a beautiful marble fountain stood with a statue of one of America's Founding Fathers and foremost intellectual, Benjamin Franklin in its center.
"This is the Pormort Academy, the first academy of America's schoolship program. It is based on the first public school in the Thirteen Colonies, the Boston Latin School and takes many aspects of the current building's architecture, along with many other aspects of classic colonial architecture from New England," the secretary introduced, "the community that will inhabit the rest of the school ship will also be themed after colonial New England."
The secretary led them up the steps. "For today, you will be meeting with the other transfer students in the school's auditorium and meeting with various officials from the schoolship commission," she informed.
The secretary led them to the auditorium, where hundreds of American transfer students had gathered. "In half an hour one of the representatives of the schoolship commission will speak to everyone here. Until then you mingle with the other transfer students here," she directed, "After the representative speaks then you'll be free to tour the school as you wish, so long as you don't leave campus and don't cause trouble. You'll be called over the intercoms for meetings one by one." She handed each of them a packet containing a map, room numbers, and a schedule. "You'll be staying on board in the dorms," she informed before leaving the group.
The tankers looked at each other, wondering what they should do before William spoke up, "Well, I suppose we should just wait in the auditorium and talk with the other transfer students like she suggested." Everybody quietly agreed and followed William into the auditorium.
The room was large, large enough to have at least 1,000 seats. Like the secretary had said, most of the other transfer students had gathered in sporadic groups. William glanced around the massive room and recognized some of the school uniforms. There were girls from St. Gloriana closer to the front speaking with a group of students on the stage wearing a red skirt with a gray button-up blazer and a white shirt with a black tie. The most striking and unique aspect of their uniforms; however, was a dark blue kepi hat with embroidered silver crossed rifles on the front.
"Looks like we're the only group with boys here…" Joseph noted as he and Ross stepped forward to stand next to William.
"Yeah, but take a look at who's speaking with the girls from St. Gloriana," William said. Ross and Joseph's faces flashed with recognition.
"Well, I'll be-" Joseph started. He stopped talking when many of the girls around them started to stare at them. "Did we miss something? Why's everyone staring at us?"
An awkward, but tense silence followed. The girls from Saunders University High School and St. Gloriana noticed and stopped their conversations. The girls from Saunders stood out from the crowd themselves, having five Irish-American girls and five African-American girls. "Looks like some of our folks are lookin' to stir up some trouble," one of the Irish-American girls noted while brushing back her short ginger hair out of her freckled face.
"Let's give them something to really stare at," one of the African-American girls replied. She had black hair that reached her lower back that was braided into neat rows. She picked up a guitar that was next to a stool she was sitting on. "So, Irish or African-American?" she asked the other girl.
"We had our fun when we first got here, why don't you pick the song?" the ginger girl replied.
The girl with braided hair smirked. "How about we do Marching Through Georgia. You can never go wrong there."
The ginger girl smirked back. "Alright girls, let's put on a show," she said. The rest of the Saunders girls picked up instruments that were next to their own stools. Two of them grabbed a violin, two pulled out harmonicas, two had snare drums, and the last two had large basses. The girl with the braids picked up her banjo. "Alright, everyone! Why don't you stop staring at our fellow countrymen and take a listen to this!" she declared.
Their song began with a slow rattle of the snare drums, which was soon accompanied by a soft whine from the violins and a few chords of a guitar. The girls began to sing as everyone in the auditorium turned to them.
"Bring the good ol' bugle, boys, we'll sing another song. Sing it with a spirit that will start the world along. Sing it as we used to sing it 50,000 strong. While we were marching through Georgia," they opened, singly slowly but loud enough for everyone to hear.
The ginger-haired girl began the chorus, "Hurrah, hurrah we bring the jubilee. Hurrah, hurrah, the flag that makes you free. So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea. While we were marching through Georgia…" The music was slow and calm before they paused for a moment.
After the quick pause, the violins started playing faster, followed by the rest of the band. All at once, every girl began singing together, "How the people shouted when they heard the joyful sound! How the turkeys gobbled which our commissary found! How the sweet potatoes even started from the ground! While we were marching through Georgia!"
The two leaders continued singing while the other girls stopped to give them center stage. "Yes and there were Union men who wept with joyful tears when they saw the honored flag they had not seen for years! Hardly could they be restrained from breaking forth in cheers, while we were marching through Georgia!"
The rest of the girls jumped back into singing when the two leaders sang the chorus once more. Everyone had long since stopped staring at Freikorp Oarai and gave the Saunders girls their attention. "Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the jubilee! Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free! So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea! While we were marching through Georgia!"
Suddenly, the violins stepped forward and stood next to the lead singers as they furiously played their violins. "Yeah, get it sister!" the ginger girl shouted as the violins took center stage.
Eventually, their 15 seconds of fame ended and the lead singers began again, "'Sherman's dashing Yankee boys will never reach the coast!'" the ginger girl sang.
"So the saucy rebels said and 'twas a handsome boast!" the other girl sang.
"Had they not forgot, alas! to reckon with the Host!" the girls behind them followed.
"While we were marching through Georgia!" they all shouted.
"So we made a thoroughfare for freedom and her train! Sixty miles in latitude, three hundred to the main; Treason fled before us, for resistance was in vain! While we were marching through Georgia!" Everybody sang.
The final act of the song was upon them. The ginger girl began. "Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the jubilee! Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free! So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea! While we were marching through Georgia!"
The girl with braided hair repeated the chorus on her own after another solo from the violins. "Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the jubilee! Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free! So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea! While we were marching through Georgia!"
Finally, everyone on the stage sang their last part. "Hurrah, hurrah we bring the jubilee! Hurrah! Hurrah! The flag that makes you free! So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea! While we were marching through Georgia! While we were marching through Georgia!"
"While we were marching through Georgia…" the lead singers slowly ended. Everyone played one last furious instrumental before they ended their song.
Everybody gave their applause loudly. "Thanks for listening folks!" the two lead singers shouted and then they sat their instruments down. The two singers jumped down from the stage. "How about that Diantha? Still not good enough for you?" the ginger girl asked.
"I've already told you, that type of music isn't my thing Patty," Diantha, a transfer with the St. Gloriana uniform, answered.
"Ah, you'll like it someday," Patty exclaimed and jokingly hit Diantha with her hat, "Hey, Jennifer, looks like you were right! Those Black Eagle folks made it!"
Her singing partner, Jennifer smirked. "And that means you owe me another Lincoln," she said.
Patty groaned and pulled out a five-dollar bill from her wallet while the two approached Freikorp Oarai. "You folks owe me five dollars for showin' up here you know!" she playfully accused.
"Well, you are a pleasant surprise to see," William said, stepping forward. "I didn't expect to see the 1st Armored Regiment of the Irish Brigade and the 1st Arkansas Armored Volunteers."
"Saunders always gets the best pick of the litter. That's what writin' the checks gets you," Patty replied.
"And the great plains are the best place to train tankers," Jennifer followed.
The girls of the 1st Armored Regiment of the Irish Brigade and the 1st Arkansas Armored Volunteers came from the state of Kansas, the furthest state from the West Coast to admit students into the transfer program, if only because Saunders University High School wanted some of the best tankers in the United States. "Let's talk more later. If I'm correct…" Patty said while looking at her watch, "our speaker shall be here in a few minutes. If you come across any trouble with any other transfer students, don't be afraid to let us know and we'll sort them out."
The two groups separated and Freikorp Oarai found a spot where everyone could sit together without getting in-between another group. As they settled in, the lights dimmed so that only the recently cleared stage was easily visible. A man in a suit stepped out with a podium and set it at the center. After he left the stage, a woman in a suit and pencil skirt stepped onto the stage and behind the podium. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am United States Representative Erin Sinclair from California and I am also a member of the American-Japanese Joint Schoolship Development Commission. First, I'd like to thank you for attending this quick weekend program so we can check in on everyone participating in the program as well as letting you meet with other transfer students to share your experiences…"
000
Miho sat on her cot at midnight with Natalie in her arms. She quietly fed the baby a bottle of formula. First a diaper change and then a midnight snack. I wonder what she'll need next? Miho thought to herself as she looked at the little girl in her arms. She couldn't bring herself to be annoyed at being woken up for the second time when Natalie looked so cute and innocent as she drank her formula. She smiled when Natalie took her bottle out of her mouth and held it in the air. "All done?" she asked while taking the bottle. Natalie cooed and leaned into Miho's chest. "Back to bed then…" Miho muttered. She gently laid Natalie back into her basket, which she snuggled into.
After one last look, Miho laid back down. She pulled her covers back over her body and snuggled into her pillow. Despite her comfortable bed, she couldn't fall back asleep. After changing positions a few times, she gave up and stared at her ceiling with only her thoughts for company. I wonder what I should do tomorrow… I've got all my homework done, she thought idly, I wonder how Ross is doing in Tokyo…
000
Ross sat outside his window at one of the dorms on the carrier. He gazed at the moon in his pajamas because he couldn't sleep either. His roommate, Tandy, sat on his own bed. "How do you think Miho and Natalie are doing?" Ross said idly.
"I'm sure they are doing just fine. My mom always said anyone could be a parent for a weekend, but not everyone can do it for 18 years," Tandy replied, shuffling a deck of cards. "You know, if you keep staring at that moon I'm gonna get the idea that you believe in the old local Love Moon superstition."
Ross raised his eyebrows. "Enlighten me, what does that entail exactly?" he asked.
"You know what all the girls said back home? 'If you can't sleep at night, it's because your soulmate is thinking about you while looking at the moon?" Tandy informed. He took out a few cards from his deck. "Here, let's see if that's true," he said while offering the cards to Ross face down.
Ross rolled his eyes, took a card, and looked at it. "So, wise sage, enlighten me on what a queen of hearts means."
"Isn't it obvious? Your soulmate is a girl and the hearts mean she is thinking about you right now. Congratulations my friend, you aren't dying alone!" Tandy exclaimed with a laugh.
"Funny, funny…" Ross muttered before flinging the card back at Tandy, who caught it midair. "Okay, that was actually kind of impressive."
Tandy smirked and reshuffled the cards back into his deck. "Why thank you," he said, "If your soulmate is thinking about you and had a deck of cards, she would've drawn a joker."
"Haha, very funny," Ross said sarcastically and laid down in his bed, "I'm gonna at least try to fall asleep now. Goodnight."
"Well if you continue to struggle I could hit you over the head with a frying pan."
"You're lucky I don't have anything to throw at you…"
000
Normally, the morning sun would've been Miho's alarm clock over the weekends, since there were no classes or practice. This was not the case this morning, where a loud cry for attention would wake her up an hour before sunrise. Miho shot up from her bed and landed on her floor with a thud. "Ow…" she muttered before getting up and throwing her blanket off her shoulders. She picked up Natalie, whose crying softened when she was picked up. Miho shook her head to get the sleep out of her eyes. "Were just ready to get up?" she asked sweetly when Natalie had stopped crying.
Natalie babbled in response and tried to sit up in Miho's arms. She giggled and adjusted her so that Natalie was sitting on her arm and hugging her neck. "Well then, let's take a bath, and then we'll have breakfast. Is that okay?" Miho asked. Natalie babbled, which Miho took as an affirmative. She grabbed the baby shampoo Ross had stored in the basket and a fresh change of clothes for herself and Natalie. "Lavender-scented huh…" Miho noted. She took a quick sniff of the shampoo, "wow that smells good!" she exclaimed. Natalie shook her arms at the shampoo and tried grabbing it for herself. Miho let Natalie smell some of the shampoo as well, getting a cute squeal from her.
After that was done, Miho was dressed in a yellow dress with white sleeves and white-collar. Natalie wore a pair of baby jeans with a light green dress. Miho set aside the baby gate and entered the kitchen. "What to have for breakfast?" Miho wondered. "Would you like solid food or formula?" she asked after setting Natalie onto the counter next to a formula tin, two baby food jars, and a baby spoon. Natalie seemed to contemplate her options before babbling without a distinct answer. Miho giggled. "I guess it's up to me then," she said with a smile. "I've never fed a baby solid food, so why don't we try that?"
Miho opened one of the jars and the baby spoon. "Sweet potatoes, is that your favorite?" Miho cooed. She scooped some of the orange paste from the jar and gave it to Natalie, who ate it with a smile. Miho's heart warmed as she watched Natalie eat from the baby spoon. "Wow, you must really like it!" she exclaimed when she pulled the spoon away, which had been licked completely clean. After a few more spoonfuls, Natalie was full and expressed herself by denying another spoon of sweet potato paste. Miho set the spoon in the sink and put the lid back on the baby food. She picked Natalie up off the counter and tried to make herself her own breakfast, a simple bowl of cereal, something that was quite the task with a baby in her left arm.
Eventually, she managed to situate herself at her table with Natalie in her lap, a bowl of cereal in front of her, and an episode of Boko on the TV. She glanced down to see Natalie completely enthralled in the show. She giggled and continued eating her breakfast.
000
William walked through the fancy hallways of Pormort Academy. Occasionally he could hear a student getting called to a meeting over the public announcement system, but he paid it no mind. He paused for a moment to glance at a room plate that read, Room 33. He quietly stepped into the room which was dimmed once he closed the door behind him. He kept the lights off, only letting the windows cast a faint light, so he wouldn't attract attention. He waited in silence for a few minutes before another person slipped into the room wearing a suit and tie. "You are William Valentine, correct?" he asked.
"Yes," William curtly answered.
The young Japanese man nodded. "Here are the documents you requested," he answered while handing a folder to William.
"Thank you, you may leave."
The young man nodded silently and left. William opened the folder and examined the first paper. Now, who wants America to shut down its tankery teams? he thought. As he read through the papers, he glanced up every so often to make sure he wasn't noticed by any passerby. Most of the initial documents were just financial transactions with sensitive information blacked out, leaving only the names of the participants and how much money was transferred illegally to politicians who had voted to disband various states' tankery programs. Exxon Mobil, Chevron, United States Steel… Why would steel and oil companies want to shut down tankery? Wouldn't that be one of their biggest markets? He thought with confusion. He flipped through the last few documents which gave him various bits of information regarding the backdoor dealings until he reached the last one. A bill of sale for five tanks.
Five tanks from Schwarzadler High School bought by Kuromorimine Girls' Academy. One Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. M, two Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf. B, and two Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. B. The vulture of Kuromorimine feeds on our corpse, William thought darkly. He snapped the folders shut. Truly an international conspiracy…
He put the folder in his bag and pulled out his phone. He called the first person on his contacts list, his father, Palmer Valentine. "Father," William greeted once the phone connected.
"William," Palmer replied, "Do make this call quick, I have another meeting to attend."
"As do I. I've come across some documents implicating several companies and officials of some rather interesting donations in exchange for state legislators voting against and suppressing public tankery programs in America," he informed.
"I believe I told you to stop meddling with the Valentine Lobby. Our business with the government is none of your concern son, not until you graduate," Palmer replied irately.
"It's my business when they are shutting down tankery programs," William countered, "That's all my collaboration with our lobby is for, lobbying for tankery and our education system."
He heard an audible sigh from the other side of the phone call. "Very well. I suppose I can explain to you the current situation, as much as I oppose you getting involved," Palmer said. "My company has struck a deal with the Department of Education, the American Tankery League, and various state-level departments to be the exclusive suppliers of fuel and equipment to public tankery programs," he revealed, "we are running on a very risky deficit in exchange for this deal because the bidding for the contract was competitive. It's likely the companies that lost are now retaliating and are trying to get as many state governments to disband tankery programs to reduce any chance of a return on investment for my company."
William grit his teeth. "So you couldn't tolerate some competition?" he asked rhetorically.
"The competition was the contract. We put in most resources for the lowest price. That's just how the market works," Palmer answered.
"And how much money did you throw at politicians to get to sign that contract?" William asked.
"That is none of your concern," Palmer answered.
"I believe it is because it's my team that got shut down for that contract!" William nearly shouted, "you shouldn't have gone straight to the federal government and the American Tankery League for all those supplying rights. That's an unjust monopoly!"
"We have violated no antitrust laws or regulatory laws with the agreement. If a few states decide they don't want to pursue tankery anymore then they have that right," Palmer countered.
"By that logic, they should've had the right to choose their supplier," William replied.
"But then they could've pursued a less sustainable option. After all, the tanks built by the Valentine Recycling and Manufacturing Company are built with recycled steel and fueled by natural gas from landfills. Is that not the best option for our nation's tankery?"
William frowned and narrowed his eyes. "Those tanks will only be sent back to the scrapheap or sent overseas. For five of my school's former tanks, they'll get the privilege of being both once we win the nationals," he said bitterly. "And before I go, our agreement was that I would stop meddling with the VL if you promised to not meddle in the American Tankery League's affairs. If we want to go by contract law, then our agreement is void." He terminated the call with a scowl. "Corruption in the name of a good cause is ultimately still corruption…" he said to himself angrily, "Kuromormine has made this tournament personal."
000
With only a few interruptions for lunch, snacks, and diaper changes, Miho and Natalie spent most of the morning and afternoon watching Boko on the TV. As the evening approached, Miho felt a little stir crazy. "Do you wanna go for a little walk, Natalie?" she asked.
Natalie looked up and cutely babbled. "Okay, let's go," Miho answered and stood up with Natalie in her arms. She turned Natalie around and Natalie grabbed onto her dress. After grabbing her keycard, Miho and Natalie stepped outside onto the open-air apartment floor. Miho made sure to lock her door with her keycard before heading down to the ground floor. She started walking through the floor when someone lazing around at one of the community lounge areas called out to her. "Hey girl with the baby!" she called out, "You like her mom or something?"
Miho stopped and turned to see a girl with long stylish looking blonde hair and a black sweatshirt and torn jeans on. Her face burned bright red at the call out and she started stuttering, "O-oh, me? N-n-no I'm j-just babysitting."
The girl laughed. "Well, I could've been fooled. The way she's clinging to you is just precious," she teased.
Miho blushed more and turned away. "N-no, just b-babysitting," she answered.
"Well, when you see her dad next, tell him I have business with him and his boys. Some very important business 'kay?" she asked with a cheer that didn't sit right with Miho.
"H-her dad? Ross? Okay, I guess I can do that," Miho answered, "w-would you like me to give him your name and number?"
"Nah, just tell him a girl with the name Sayuri wants to speak with him and his boys. Tell him we'll meet him out behind this apartment building when they return from their little 'business' trip," Sayuri requested.
"Behind the building? W-why back there? How did you know they were gone?" Miho asked, her suspicion only growing alongside her anxiety.
Sayuri stood up and jumped over the couch between her and Miho. "Don't question it," she ordered, "just pass the word along." She glared intently at Miho, who stepped back. Natalie turned away and hid her face in Miho's shoulder.
"A-alright I can do that…" Miho muttered, "I-if you don't mind, I'll be going now."
Sayuri smiled with fake sweetness. "'Kay, thank you!" she exclaimed.
Miho rushed out of the apartment building and down the street. "It's okay Natalie, she's gone now, see?" Miho comforted. She rubbed Natalie's back reassuringly, causing the baby to look up. In front of them was the edge of the top deck. Beyond that was the sun just beginning to reach towards the horizon and the sparkling water below it. The sight immediately calmed both of the girls down as they gazed across the ocean. Why does that girl want to see Ross and his friends… what was up with her? Miho thought worryingly.
Her thoughts were broken when Natalie giggled and reached out to the sun as if she were going to grab it. She tried closing her hand over and over again to grab the sun but failed in each attempt. Miho giggled. "You can't grab the sun Natalie, it's too far away," she explained.
Natalie mewled and retracted her hand. Instead of the sun, she grabbed Miho's hair next, which she was able to succeed at doing. "Ow, careful sweetie!" Miho exclaimed. She stopped herself and blushed. Why'd I call her sweetie? Only Ross calls her that… Miho thought to herself. She shook her head, causing only more pain when Natalie refused to let go. Oh well, slip of the tongue I guess, she thought. She giggled and gently removed her hair from Natalie's grip. Natalie giggled back and wrapped her arms around Miho's neck. The two watched the sunset for a while until it started to get dark.
Natalie yawned loudly and stretched out her arms. "I guess that's our signal to head back," Miho said. Natalie seemed to agree and closed her eyes to rest while she grabbed onto Miho's dress. Miho gently stood up and took her back to her apartment without anyone interrupting her. She quietly opened her door and reentered the apartment. Unfortunately, she had to wake Natalie back up to change her into her pajamas, a pink onesie with rabbit ears. That's so cute, Miho thought while picking it up from her table's stack of Natalie's clothes. She gently changed Natalie out of her clothes and into her onesie. With great care, Miho set Natalie into her basket. When she stood back up she felt odd. I feel like I'm forgetting something… she thought. Without thinking she knelt back down next to Natalie's basket and kissed her on her forehead. "Sweet dreams," she whispered before standing back up.
Suddenly her face went red again and she scrambled into her bed. What am I doing?! That was weird! Like I was acting like her… she stopped her train of thought and planted her face into her pillow. I think I'm just tired…
000
Man oh man am I on a roll this month. Five chapters in one month? That's over one-third of Tank Aces' current chapter count! I hope this chapter was a good read. I thought seeing Miho and Natalie interact was cute, but we've also got some more insight into how America is handling its schoolship program. Also, we got a bit of a clue into how the Saunders vs. Oarai match will be. Already Patty and Jennifer have proven to be rowdy on the stage, but can that transfer onto the battlefield? We'll just have to wait and see! For another chapter or so though, because…
Up Next on Girls und Panzer: Tank Aces!
Chapter 14: Special Agent Yukari and Taubekommandant Joseph!
Edit: Credit to jaimerey7000 for the suggestion that Kuromormine buy some of Schwarzadler's former tanks.