Chapter 29: Resilience
Work began quickly on the six tanks that could be repaired, but the repairs were difficult, especially with only a few people who could properly fix the electrical damage. The Rocketry Club quickly brought over what fuel pumps they had and began to extract the contaminated fuel from the fuel tanks. While they worked on that, a handful of spare optics were pulled from storage. Thankfully, accurate and range-focused guns like the 8.8cm Kwk 36 of the Type 100 and the 7.5cm Kwk 40 had spares. However, the supply ran short when it came to periscopes and vision blocks. All the drivers and radio operators would be blind if they kept their hatches closed. The easiest thing to fix was the paint, which only required paint thinner, which Oarai had enough of, especially after a few "temporary borrowings" from the ship's storage rooms. However, this left the steel armor bare and shiny. Those who were not involved in direct repairs were instead turned to Nixe II where William, Joseph, and Jody would give them a crash course on its operation.
"Alright everyone," William started, "most of you won't need to operate anything complex. You'll just be machine gunners and ammo carriers. I will be the main gunner of the tank while Joseph will be the driver. Those two are the most difficult elements, but we have previous experience with her. We'll need twelve machine gunners for the MG 08/15s, six to operate them, and six for ammunition. Then we'll need a single loader for the 57mm gun, but it's as simple as slamming the shell in the gun when you're told to. We have a radio and pigeon station in the back between the rear MGs and the central platform, so we'll need one for each. Joseph won't be able to handle the pigeons as the driver, so someone will fill in for him. And finally, we'll need a commander. Any questions?"
"Are MG 08/15s much different from our own machine guns?" Kennedy asked.
"Yes, you won't be using foot triggers here, you'll have an actual grip and trigger, but the principle is still the same. Aim at vision spots, preferably gun sights, and fire" William answered. Without any other questions, the improvised crew started putting together the team's roles. After several minutes of deliberation, rolls were put together and the crew settled. They all started filling into the A7V to acclimatize with the tank, but it got very cramped quickly, an unfortunate quality with World War I tanks.
By the time sufficient repairs were made to put together a somewhat capable team, the sun was starting to rise and drowsiness was starting to kick in. "Everyone, please listen for a moment!" Miho shouted, "the last of our repairs are completed, please get some rest on the ride to the battlefield, we need everyone to be as close to 100% as possible if we want to pull through!"
In a twisted turn of fate, the only reply everyone could manage was a very loud collective yawn. It was clear from the bags in everyone's eyes and the slug in their step that they were far from being combat-ready. This match turned from being somewhat in our favor to being a complete uphill battle… can we even hope to win with everyone so tired and with only half of our usual tanks? Miho thought drearily.
"E-everyone!" Azusa exclaimed, "we stayed up late and did what we could to fix our tanks! Let's not put that effort to waste and pull ourselves together for victory!"
"She's right, we're together for victory!" Miho encouraged.
"T-together for victory!" everyone sluggishly cheered.
000
"Koume, Carpaccio, Pepperoni, how are our final checks going? Is everything ready to crush Oarai?" the captain of Anzio's team, the green pig-tailed Duce Anchovy asked while standing on top of the P. 26/40's turret roof. Surrounding them was the mountainous countryside below them from their starting position at the Mount Fuji General Information Site and behind them, the imposing and incredible Mount Fuji itself.
"All our preparations are complete, Duce," Carpaccio answered from the ground.
"Perfetto! Then we must meet Nishizumi at the starting ceremony! Oh, but first, Pepperoni take a picture of me standing here in front of Mount Fuji!" Anchovy demanded.
Pepperoni already had a camera out. "Of course Duce!" she exclaimed. Anchovy smirked and struck a pose with her black overcoat flowing behind her in the wind and her baton pointing out to the horizon. The camera flashed and the majestic picture was taken.
"Now then Compagni! Let us take the AS42 to meet Oarai!" Anchovy commanded.
Koume only smiled and lightly shook her head. So dramatic, but it is a nice change of pace, she thought, I'm glad Erika came up with this idea otherwise I think Kuromormine would've burnt me out, although I'm sure that's far from why she suggested it…
The four commanders boarded the AS42, which had its armament removed, with Carpaccio as the driver. Anchovy didn't even sit down next to her, instead, she stood up on the seat and planted one of her feet on the top of the windshield frame. As they drove along the winding road that led up to the information center, they got a stellar view of the terrain below them. Perfect, this terrain is perfectly suited for our light, yet powerful tanks! Anchovy ecstatically thought, be careful 'Great Nishizumi!' Anzio now has real strength!
They sped down the mountain into the center mock village that the Japanese Sensha-do Federation set up for the match. In the center of the village, Ami Chono and the rest of the officials waited for both teams to arrive to begin the opening ceremony. The AS42 screeched to a stop at the center and Anchovy leaped off the windshield and landed on the pavement in front of them. "Greetings victims!" she declared.
Ami chuckled at Anchovy's boisterous attitude. "It's good that you have energy Captain Anchovy, but I'm afraid Oarai hasn't arrived yet," she informed.
Anchovy blinked and looked around before blushing. "I-I knew that! I was just practicing for when they do arrive!" she deflected.
"Very well," Ami replied with a smile, "let's hope they arrive soon. We don't have all day after all."
"It's not like Miho to be late," Koume muttered as she got out of the AS42.
"Well they still have some time," Carpaccio assured.
On cue, the M6 tractor pulled up to the meeting site with Miho in the passenger seat and William driving. Momo wasn't far behind in the rear seat. They climbed out somewhat clumsily from the cab and walked over to the group sluggishly. Something that was not unnoticed by Anchovy. "This is the famed Nishizumi Style? She hardly looks like she could command a slug, much less a tank," she commented.
Miho rubbed her eyes and tried to straighten up. "M-my apologies, we had some last-minute maintenance that got out of hand," she said.
"Not exactly conducive for a good night's sleep," William commented.
"Hm, whatever, whether if it's against a sluggish Nishizumi or an energetic Nishizumi or a sluggish Shimada or an energetic Shimada, we won't lose. I mean, we'll win!" Anchovy declared.
"Y-yes, let's have a good match," Miho replied, offering her hand.
"Very well, let's have a good match," Anchovy said as she shook Miho's hand.
Ami smiled as both sides lined up together. "Alright, all participants bow!" she requested.
"Let's have a good match!" everyone shouted as they bowed.
"Alright, everyone! Please return to your starting positions and be ready to begin the match," Ami directed.
000
At the main spectator area, Nishi joined Saunders and St. Gloriana's students who faced Oarai before to watch the match. "Thank you very much for offering to let us watch the match with you," she said with a bow to Kay and Darjeeling as her commanders knelt down on outdoor mats next to their spectator spots.
"Not at all Miss Nishi," Darjeeling replied with a smile, "it's a pleasure to have you."
"I agree, the more the merrier!" Kay cheered.
Nishi smiled and stood up from her bow. "Still, thank you very much," she said.
A little ways away from the group, Erika and Maho were scrutinizing the scoreboard with confusion. "Oarai only brought eight tanks? None of their artillery and none of their heavy tanks?" Erika wondered, "maybe their tanks gave out from improper maintenance like their Elefant."
I can't fathom why Miho wouldn't bring everything they have unless they really are as incompetent in maintenance as Mother and Erika think… maybe things aren't as well as it seems, Maho thought stoically.
"No artillery, no heavy weapons, even Anzio will have no problem against them, especially if Koume did her job," Erika sneered.
Back at their camp, Kay turned to Darjeeling. "What do you think is going on Darjeeling? Oarai didn't even bring the T22E1! I know my girls wouldn't want to sit out the fight," she said.
A graphic slideshow displaying each tank and its crew flashed on the screen. Oarai's slideshow finished with a display of the A7V and a long, long list of crew members, further perplexing Kay and everyone else. "Why're they in an A7V? Heck, why are they even bothering with it?" Kay asked.
"Such a strange addition, and to be crewed by members of much superior tanks… I must question Miho after this on why such a thing occurred," Darjeeling added.
000
Oarai's tanks were lined up at their starting position just out of Mount Fuji Children's World. "Alright everyone, we know the plan, we're going to stick to it with a few modifications. Leopard Team, Duck Team, you are our recon elements. You know what to do. Nixe Team, try to stay out of contact and instead bombard the enemy with your machine guns and cannon from afar instead of trying to directly confront the enemy. Hippo, Rabbit, and Anglerfish Team will be the main bulk of our killing force while Pheasant Team will be the main group's vanguard tank. Turtle Team, you are the flag tank so stay behind the killing force, but we may need you to engage in combat if necessary. I know you're all tired, but we need your best if we want to win!" Miho encouraged.
"Yes ma'am!" everybody replied.
The anti-aircraft guns of the JSF fired. "Match begin!" Ami declared over everyone's radio.
"Panzer vor!" Miho ordered. The tanks came to life and surged forward. The Type 100 and PT-1A sped ahead of everyone else and broke away from the group.
"Okay Noriko, be wary of those L3s. Those heavy MGs will tear you to shreds," Ross warned as the Type 100 bounced over their gravel pathway.
"Got it, we'll just have to outspeed them!" Noriko replied.
Ross chuckled and stood out of his cupola and looked up at Mount Fuji. "I hate that we've started down here instead of higher up on the slopes," he said to himself before looking down at a map he held in his hands. "We'll just have to do our best." He put his map away and scanned his surroundings. It took a lot of time, but eventually, he and Duck Team were close to the center of the map on the left and right flanks of the central village. "This is Leopard Team reporting in, I have no sight of the enemy just yet, but I'm expecting contact shortly," he reported.
"This is Duck Team, we've stopped in an area of concealment and have found five L3/38 tankettes and two Semoventes!" Noriko reported, "they seem to have taken a defensive position northwest of the village!"
"Huh? Can you confirm that those are 38s? Anzio should only have four of them," Miho replied, "The 38s should only have one machine gun, while a 33 has two."
Noriko squinted through her binoculars and scrutinized the tankettes' position ahead of them on a small hill while they were hidden in the forest brush. "Can confirm, those are 38s," she informed.
"This is Leopard Team reporting in, we're in a similar situation. We've discovered another two Semoventes, six 38s, and a Panzer IV Ausf. G," Ross reported.
"Hold on that doesn't add up," Hana pointed out, "that would put them at 16 tanks total without even showing the Sahariano, the Panzer IIIs, Turan II, AB 43, and the P. 26/40."
Miho narrowed her eyes as their convoy moved forward towards the center of the map. "Both recon teams, fire on their positions, but retreat if you receive significant retaliation," she ordered.
Jody smiled with glee at those words. "Alright Alex, load AP, Jody, put a hole in that Panzer IV whenever you feel like it," Ross ordered.
The breach clicked shut just as Jody finished zeroing in the Panzer IV. "Firing!" she shouted. The Kwk 36 roared and fired a 88mm shell at the Panzer IV. The shell hit its target and exploded, sending bits and pieces of cardboard flying everywhere in a cloud of smoke. The shockwave shook the rest of the "tanks" nearby and they fell over, revealing that they were all fake.
"That explains it. Miho, all those tanks were fake," Ross reported.
The PT-1A's 45mm gun fired and shot a shell into an L3/38 which exploded into another shower of cardboard and knocked down the rest of the fake tanks near Duck Team's position. "We can confirm that the enemy here was fake as well," Noriko reported.
"Fake tanks? That's pretty clever actually," Yukari praised, "not convincing enough though."
Miho scrutinized her map and drew some light lines around their current position. "I think Anzio plans to make us think they were planning for a central assault while actually trying to encircle us while we were dealing with their fake tanks. Ross, I want you to make a sharp turn west and cut off their western force. Noriko, you are to do the same, but to their eastern flank," she instructed.
"Yes ma'am!" Noriko and Ross replied. Their tanks took their respective sharp turns and started to move away from the village.
Now what to do with our main force… I think they are likely going to keep some reserves behind the encirclement and it's likely their flag tank is among them… what to do… Miho wondered to herself. "Nixe Team, I want you to release a pigeon to survey the battlefield. Perhaps we'll catch their main force," Miho ordered.
August, the newly appointed pigeon commander unlocked Kleintaube's cage. "Alright Kleintaube, go find us some tanks!" he ordered while opening Nixe II's right-side rear hatch. He carefully tossed the bird into the air. Kleintaube spread his wings and soared into the sky above the battlefield. August returned to his post and monitored the camera from a laptop. The view over the battlefield was incredible, but movement to the left caught August's eye. Using the computer, he zoomed in the camera to the left of the map where he caught the Sahariano and four L3/38s zooming around the village. "Anglerfish Team, this is Pigeon Team, I'm looking at four 38s and a Sahariano not far from Ross' current position moving south at a high speed. Nothing from the east just yet; however, I suspect the eastern force is slower and thus harder to spot," he reported as he scanned the rest of the map.
"Are any of those tanks the flag tank?" Miho asked.
"Negative," August replied.
"Alright, Ross, you'll be intercepting one Sahariano and four L3/38s to your east. That's your current mission, you are free to engage. Noriko, it is likely that you will face another slower force with harder-hitting tanks," Miho instructed. Let's take a defensive tactic. If Leopard and Duck Team can occupy the flanking forces then we'll have enough time to entrench in the village. "Anglerfish Team to main force, we're going to take up a defensive position in the village while our flanks are monitored. I know one tank is unlikely to wipe out their encirclement forces, but I'm confident that they will delay them long enough for us to entrench successfully."
The central group began moving toward the village. The first tank to enter was Pheasant Team, who wearily began scanning the main street. Fukuda stood outside her cupola and consistently looked around for any potential ambush. "I think the village is safe, Miho," she reported.
"Good, all forces move in and assume defensive positions," Miho instructed, "those who can spare a crew member to go up to a second floor or even climb onto a roof if it's safe to survey the area," she instructed as the Panzer IV stopped in the village center. The village was laid out in a circle on the hilltop with two pathways leading up to it, one from the south and one from the north. "I would like Hippo, Rabbit, and Pheasant Team to take positions on the northern pathway while Anglerfish Team guards the southern path. Turtle Team, guard the center of the village and conceal yourself from the outside. Nixe Team I'd like you to keep track of our western and eastern flanks while supporting Turtle Team," Miho ordered.
Everyone took their positions. Anglerfish Team angled itself so it was poking around a small farmhouse while facing the pathway. Rabbit and Hippo Team had to expose themselves a little more with their fixed guns, but Hippo Team managed to slip into an alleyway facing the northern pathway while Rabbit Team angled itself behind another building while poking out its front enough to fire. "Everyone, keep your eyes peeled and be ready to fire," Miho warned.
000
The Type 100 sped away from its previous position near the village and further eastwards. Ross stood tall in his cupola, continuously eying his surroundings for any sign of the enemy. The forest started giving way to fields and there was a bit of a dip into a trench. "Hold at the edge of the forest and try to conceal the tank Tandy," Ross ordered.
"Alright," Tandy replied. The tank sped to a stop and started reversing back into the foliage.
"That should be good enough," Ross said. The tank stopped with just a bit of the gun sticking out. Ross stared through his binoculars and waited while watching over the fields. "They should be speeding past here," he whispered to himself.
Just as he predicted, a large dust cloud came into view. "Do you see them, Jody?" Ross asked.
"Hmm, looks like it, but those tanks are tiny. It'll be a hard shot," Jody replied.
Ross bit his lip. "Alright, Alex, load AP. Jody, fire on the Sahariano whenever you're ready," he ordered.
Alex loaded a Panzergranate 39 shell into the gun with a loud clang. The breech clicked shut while Jody focused on aiming the gun. The crew waited for a tense few moments before she pulled the trigger. The cannon fired with a loud bang and the recoil shook the tank as the shell flew out of the barrel. The group of enemy tanks was shaken when the shell soared through the air and crashed next to the Sahariano, but the tanks were undamaged.
"Oh? How'd they know we were out here?" Pepperoni asked rhetorically from her post in the Sahariano, "oh well I guess it doesn't matter, L3/38s close in and spray the ambusher!"
The convoy veered to its right and the L3/38s sped forward while firing their heavy machine guns. The bullets sprayed through the air and started crashing into the Type 100 and batting away its impromptu camouflage. Ross grit his teeth while his tank was peppered with bullets, but his tank's thick frontal armor held strong. "Return fire with our own MGs!" Ross ordered. He glanced at a weapon chart detailing the weapon performance of Anzio's guns that he had taped to the wall next to him, "don't worry, if we keep our frontal armor facing them, they'll never penetrate us!"
The L3/38s closed in as the MG34s of the Type 100 came to life, firing on the tankettes with a rapid-fire fury. "Aim for their treads!" Ross ordered. Chloe and Jody compensated their fire to focus on the L3/38's treads, but the treads didn't break. "How's your sight, Jody?" Ross asked.
"Still not good, their large bullets are hard to aim through!" she replied.
"Alex, load HE and don't stop until I tell you to, Jody fire in their general direction. That might disrupt them enough to get a shot and if you hit them with an HE shell then it won't matter where you hit them!"
The 8.8cm Kwk 36's breech clicked shut again after Alex finished loading a Sprenggranate L/45 high explosive shell. The gun fired and sent the HE towards the L3/38s. The shell exploded with a large fireball and caused the tankettes to scatter away from it. "Now, take them out!" Ross ordered. The gun fired again after a quick reload from Alex, but the explosion failed to knock out the tankettes but did manage to scatter them again. Out of the corner of his eye, Ross saw the Sahariano begin circling around to his side far behind the L3/38s. "The Sahariano's trying to circle around to our side armor!" he exclaimed fearfully. Shoot, if we try to escape, we'll only expose our armor more to the Sahariano… unless! "Tandy, drive us straight at the L3s! Jody, turn the gun to bombard the Sahariano! Ignore the L3s, they cannot penetrate us!" he ordered.
"Right at them!?" Tandy asked.
"Just do it!" Ross demanded. In response, the engine roared and the tank sped out of the forest in a cloud of dust and shredded greenery.
Pepperoni's eyes widened in surprise as the Type 100 surged towards the charging tankettes. "What are they trying to do?!" she shouted, "keep trying to get to their side armor and close in! We'll need to get in close to take it out!"
The Sahariano rushed to circle around the Type 100 as Leopard Team charged towards the L3/38s. The turret and its 88mm gun swung around to aim at the Sahariano, causing Pepperoni to gulp nervously. The coaxial MG34 started spraying the turret while the main gun fired HE rounds at it to spray up dust and obscure its vision. Meanwhile, the L3/38s veered out of the way of the agile medium tank so they didn't get completely flattened by the beast. "Now, circle around to get that Sahariano!" Ross ordered.
"Alright!" Tandy replied and yanked back the left steering level. The tank swung around to face the Sahariano and the back of the L3/38s.
"Retreat!" Pepperoni demanded to her driver. The Saharino started speeding away from the Type 100 right down the path the Type 100 was driving along before they ambushed the group of tanks.
"Switch back to AP and fire whenever you get a shot, but be careful not to waste ammo," Ross ordered.
"L3s, harass the Type 100 from behind to get it off us!" Pepperoni ordered in a panic. The L3s spun around to follow the Type 100. The Sahariano was now being chased by the Type 100, which was being chased by a swarm of L3/38s.
000
Noriko looked around from her commander's hatch for any possible signs of the enemy. There didn't seem to be any activity to report, but it seemed like the faster tanks were dedicated to the western flank while the slower tanks were dedicated to the east. At least we can outspeed them if we can't take them out, Noriko thought.
"See anything commander?" Akebi asked.
"Nothing… they must be taking their-" she stopped speaking when an armored car sped down the road in front of their current position behind a large boulder. "Armored car, dead ahead!" she exclaimed, "punch it Shinobu!"
"On it!" Shinobu replied and slammed her steering levers forward. The PT-1A screamed to life and began speeding after the AB 43, leaving a cloud of dust behind it. The Christie suspension was put to good use as the wheels bounced along the rough terrain until the tank reached the road. Now onto a somewhat smooth surface, the real speed of the PT-1A could be unleashed. The fast tank lived up to its name and closed in rapidly on the AB 43.
"Alright Akebi, try to keep the gun steady and send them a fierce spike!" Noriko ordered.
In response, the 45mm gun fired and just missed the armored car ahead of them. The shell went wide and exploded in the ditch ahead of them. Noriko quickly loaded another round into the gun and Akebi aimed again. The turret of the AB 43 turned around slowly and fired a 47mm shell back at Duck Team, but it missed as well. "Is that all you've got?!" Noriko taunted.
Suddenly, the AB 43's tires stopped and the armored car screeched to a halt before Duck Team could react. Duck Team crashed into the back of the armored car and started pushing against it. The tank had enough momentum to push the car forwards at the expense of its tires, which started smoking from the friction. "What in the world are they doing?!" Noriko shouted in confusion, "fire into their turret!"
Akebi fired a 45mm round directly into the back of the AB 43's turret, which exploded and popped out its white flag. "What in the world were they thinking?" Noriko asked.
Suddenly the rear of the PT-1A exploded and its own flag popped out. "What?!" Noriko shouted and poked her head out of the turret. In the distance, a Panzer IV Ausf. G's 75mm gun was aimed directly at the tank's exposed rear with smoke coming from its barrel.
Koume smiled in the commander's cupola of the Panzer IV. "Good job," she said to her gunner.
Noriko sighed as Taeko radioed the bad news to Miho. "Captain, we've been knocked out, but we took the AB 43 down with us. Sorry," Taeko said.
Miho winced in her own Panzer IV's cupola. That's not good. We're already outnumbered, but at least one of their fast units is out. "What took you out?" she asked.
"Looks like a Panzer IV got us from a distance," Noriko answered dejectedly.
"Thank you, stay safe on the trip back," Miho replied. She sighed and resumed her watch on the southern end of the village before she radioed to Ross. "Ross, what is your current situation?" she asked.
Ross was holding onto his cupola for dear life as the Type 100 chased the Sahariano over the bumpy gravel road. "We're currently engaged in a chase with the Sahariano and have four L3/38s on our tail," he reported.
"Understood," Miho responded. She looked down at the map in her lap and started working on a new action plan. Ross has a significant portion of the enemy's fast units moving south of our village while an unidentified heavy force is moving in from the east, likely heading for our southern entrance… let's counter the fast force quickly with an ambush from us and free up Leopard Team while eliminating their fast units. "Leopard Team, here's what we're going to do. I want you to try and lead the enemy toward the southern end of the village so we can ambush the Sahariano and eliminate the L3s. Then we can regroup and prepare for an attack by their heavier forces moving in from the east."
"I like it! The sooner we take out these L3s the better!" Ross exclaimed. "You heard her guys, let's get to work!"
000
Anchovy stood on the roof of her P. 26/40 holding a hand radio. She had a Semovente, a Panzer III Ausf. N, and the Turan II guarding her. Her plan was working flawlessly. Pepperoni and Koume are still on track to encircle Oarai's forces while all we have to do is wait! My strategy is impeccabile! I guess it can't help to check in on them though, she thought confidently. "Pepperoni, how is the western encirclement going?" she asked.
"Sorry, but we're a little occupata right now!" Pepperoni replied.
"What's going on?" Anchovy asked.
"Well, we're currently being chased by the Typo 100," she answered.
Anchovy raised an eyebrow. "That's not right… they should be occupied with the finti carri armati. You did set them up right?"
"Yeah, every last one!" Pepperoni replied, wincing as a shell scraped her turret.
"You put them all out?! You idiota! Some of them were backups!" Anchovy shouted angrily.
"Oh yeah, you planned backups. You're such a smartie!" Pepperoni replied.
"No, you're just an idiota!" Anchovy shouted into her radio, "just keep them occupied for now. We're skipping ahead of Operation Macaroni! All tanks in the Forza Centrale, begin the push to the town!"
The tanks around Anchovy fired up their engines and began descending the side of Mount Fuji. "I told her a thousand times to only put out a few of them at a time, not every single one of them!" Anchovy ranted.
000
Come on little Sahariano, that's it, run into our little trap, Ross thought smugly as the chase started to near the southern village. Above them on the hilltop, Anglerfish Team was completely hidden behind a house to avoid alerting Pepperoni. Just a little further… he thought. Suddenly the Sahariano veered right onto the pathway leading up to the village. "Miho, it's all yours!" Ross shouted.
Anglerfish Team surged forward onto the pathway. Pepperoni's eyes widened in fear as the 7.5cm Kwk 40 gun was aimed right at her frontal armor. Without hesitation, the Panzer IV fired its cannon and the shell crashed into the Sahariano with a powerful explosion. "Spin around and start taking out those L3s!" Ross ordered. The Type 100's right track came to a halt, causing the tank to slide around and face the tankettes. "Fire!" Ross ordered.
The lead tankette didn't stand a chance as the 8.8cm Panzergranate 39 impacted its front armor plate. Its white flag immediately popped out. Anglerfish Team's turret rotated slightly while Yukari slammed another round into the gun. "Ready to fire!" she shouted. In response, the cannon fired and another L3 was knocked out. The last two L3s screeched to a halt and tried to retreat while firing their heavy MGs. In their panic; however, they reversed into each other and their steel armor plates scrapped against each other loudly.
"Knock them out with HE!" Ross ordered. Alex loaded a Sprenggranate L/45 shell into the gun and Jody fired it as soon as possible. The shell landed between the two tankettes and exploded, sending both of them to their sides completely knocked out. Ross whistled at the smoldering tankettes. "That's what I call an ambush!" he exclaimed.
"Nice shooting Jody!" Hana complimented over the radio.
"As always!" Jody replied cockily.
Ross shook his head, but couldn't find it in himself to take a jab at her. "So, Miho, do we dig in and prepare for the heavy guns?" Ross asked.
"Actually… I've got a different idea for you," Miho revealed.
Ross smirked. "Your ideas have been working so far, Signorina Capitano."
000
Hey everyone, I'm back. It's been a while, but that's because I've been focused on college finals and moving out, so I haven't had much time or energy to write. Oh well, I'll try to keep up the uploads. We've hit two important milestones recently. Tank Aces has 50 favorites! Thank you all so much for your support and for the follows and reviews, they mean a lot. This chapter also pushes Tank Aces to 200,000 words which is just insane. But we've still got a ways to go, and a lot more coming up. Will Miho and Oarai beat Anzio? Find out next time!
Next Time on Girls und Panzer: Tank Aces
Chapter 30: New Combat Ideals