Chapter 6 - The fire burns within
11th March, JSF Matchgrounds, Public viewing area time 12:12
The scene at the match day was electric. Every time Ooarai had faced St. Gloraina they had seemed to never beat them. Now, with Darjeeling out of the squad and Miho Nishazumi possibly being the greatest tank commander in the whole of the JSF, maybe even the whole of Asia, many Ooarai fans were seeing this as Ooarai's time for that long-craved win they had been waiting for.
Sarah and Darjeeling made their way into the stands, with Sarah swinging herself along on her crutches. As the match was on a school day she was wearing her standard St. Gloriana school uniform, but with a few additions. Since she was supporting the team, she had her famous tanker's beret on her head. She was also wearing one of her senha-do boots on her right leg, although this was more because it was a chilly day and the boot was much warmer than her school shoe. A thick sock covered her toes on her injured leg. Darjeeling, by contrast, was not in school uniform but had opted for a very smart navy blue ensemble of matching skirt and jacket which had a semi-military style to it. Sarah couldn't work out if Darjeeling was copying her or not, but Darjeeling's suit came with a beret in the same navy blue, which was currently perched elegantly on Darjeeling's head with its neatly braided hair.
Sarah had a satchel with a shoulder strap slung about her, which usually contained her school books but on this occasion was stuffed full of snacks for her and Darjeeling to eat during the match. Matches could be long, and it was always an excuse to eat snacks and junk food. Even Darjeeling was carrying a portion of one of her favourites - chips! Admittedly, they did have to stop several times for Sarah to hold the precious chips while Darjeeling dealt with hordes of admiring sensha-do fans who all seemed to want autographs or selfies.
"I do think that girl had a really pretty red bow," Sarah said to Darjeeling, after they had successfully escaped a particularly large group of fans.
"Yes but saying she will destroy me in the future rather put me off of her," Darjeeling said breezily.
"She was joking, hopefully!" Sarah smiled, as she looked back at the girl with her big red ribbon in her hair and pink double-breasted coat, with a slightly taller blonde girl with matching red and black checked skirt. She had been the one who had looked rather embarrassed at what her friend had said.
"I think I know who she was," Darjeeling added.
"Who?"
"They take part in another sort of Sensha-do. It's called Tankathlon. If I'm not mistaken. You could learn a lot from it, my little teacup. It's very fast paced and different. If all goes well in the competition maybe in the future you could ask Orange Pekoe to possibly have a small contingent of tanks and have a go yourself."
"I'll look into it," Sarah added back as they made their way up to their seats in the grandstand.
The duo eased themselves into their seats. There was a vacact one in front of Sarah and she gratefully propped her casted leg up on the back of it.
From behind came the familiar sound of a light stringed instrument being plucked. Sarah turned her head to see that just behind them was one of her idols. From learning about all the commanders this one was up there as one of the best but also the one she imagined she could emulate the most.
"Miss Mika, you've returned from your travels," Darjeeling greeted the girl with a smile, passing her a small bag of sweets. The shut-eyed Mika slowly opened the palm of her free hand, took the sweets and placed them in her pocket.
"The wind blows in good favour for you Darjeeling with this gift."
"Have you heard of this saying: 'Great things are done by a series of small things brought together'?"
Mika opened her eyes and nodded slightly. "The wind blows in the direction of an artist whose brushes paint the bare canvas of many famous artworks." She closed her eyes and strummed a calming melody on her kantele.
"Vincent van Gough," Darjeeling said back, taking some chips, dipping them in ketchup and placing them into her mouth. She deposited the rest of the bag in Sarah's lap and looked across to Sarah. "Are you going to say hello?" she asked, with Sarah still looking at Mika in awe, watching her fingers strum the tensioned wires.
"Oh um, Miss Mika, it is an amazing pleasure to meet you."
"The wind blows strong in your favour too Miss English, but it seems your heading into the darkest of storms, from which you have left, and will be returning again."
"That doesn't sound good," Sarah said with a very reserved chuckle.
Mika stopped playing her kantele then brought her eyes onto Sarah. "The wind works in strange ways, but the wind can only guide; it doesn't have to take you to your destination. The wind has been unfavourable recently with all those poor people a few months ago and with you so far with your brother."
"Hopefully Miss Darjeeling is giving me the guidance I need to end up at the correct destination," Sarah answered.
"Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment," Darjeeling said. "Mika who will you be supporting in this match?"
"The wind can blow in either direction. It sides with one at one moment then sides with the other the next. The red of St Gloriana and the blue of Ooarai, a match based on the spectrum."
11th March JSF Matchgrounds, Battleground, 2 miles away from the Hamlet, time 13:12
The Infantry tanks under command of Orange Pekoe broke off from the Chindits. St. Gloriana's line up was very much like any other battle in Darjeeling's time. Orange Pekoe commanded the Churchill Mk VII and the other three tanks were Matildas, which were currently all headed towards the hamlet.
"So how much confidence do you have in Miss English Breakfast?" Rukuriri asked as her tank rocked and rolled at the spearhead of a defensive triangle, with the Churchill trundling along in the middle.
"I have confidence. Why do you ask, Rukuriri?" Orange Pekoe questioned, looking forward towards Rukuriri.
"Well, if she's wrong we are sitting ducks. Heading for the hamlet is a very risky move for us," Rukuriri answered.
"You know the plan Rukuriri…" Orange Pekoe stopped speaking and squinted. She could have sworn she saw a bush move in the distance. She drew up her binoculars and scanned that spot. "Eyes up! Tank heading 045. Looks to be the Type 89. Remember the plan, heavy section. Keep your eyes open but ignore the scout. Do not fire unless fired upon," she instructed.
11th March JSF Matchgrounds, Battleground, Sunk ground near the Hamlet, time 13:33
The light rumble of tank tracks slowly began to build. The predators watched their prey bumble into the trap.
"Flag is Panzer IV! It is surrounded on all sides by defenders. One, two … seven other units. Their whole team is heading to the hamlet," Green Gunpowder communicated her findings into the Cromwell's microphone. She began rattling off the familiar Ooarai team tanks and their rough position, and details of their very relaxed and loose formation. Green Gunpowder looked to her left the whole egare Chindit force, Rosehip being the nearest tank to her. Green Gunpowder watched as, Rosehip began to plot Ooarai's movement on a map laid out on top of the Crusaders turret.
"Tanks are half a click from your ambush position Commander Pekoe."
"Understood. You have permission to begin Operation Mad Jack 2, when you deem it fit."
"Yes Miss Pekoe we won't let you down!" Rosehip said ecstatically as if the ants had reached her pants. She watched with bated breath as the Panzer IV perfectly lined up in front of Rosehips hidden Crusader. She raised the flare gun. The red ball of light flew hundreds of meters into the air. The Ooarai convoy stopped immediately. "I have you in my sights now Miho!" Rosehip exclaimed.
The second, third and fourth flares shot into the blue sky and, like a deadly rainbow, came back to earth. As they did so, the Ooarai tanks scurried into a defencive formation around the Panzer IV with all barrels facing towards the flares.
"Chindits, attack!" Rosehip yelled. The Crusaders and Cromwell rose to the lip of the small rise that had been screening them, firing at the Panzer IV. As the smoke cleared a white flag was waving. It was, however, not the Panzer IV. All the shells had hit the Chi-Nu.
"Pull back!" was Rosehip's shocked call and expression to match. The tanks backed up with enemy fire falling heavily around the Chindits.
"They made the Chi-Nu look like the Panzer IV! God fucking dammit!" Rosehip said punching her thigh as she sat. "Five minutes. That's all we have to hold on for Orange Pekoe will have them flanked."
The Chindits rolled forwards and backwards, keeping them hull down as they exchanged fire with all the Ooarai tanks. Instantly Cranberry's and Vanilla's Crusader tanks were knocked out.
"Panzer IV spotted!" Green Gunpowder screamed over the radio as she stood as high as she could on the top of Cromwell's turret, ignoring the whizzing shells flying past her unfazed face. "At the back near the Lee. Cover me I'll move to intercept."
Rosehip's tank fired, knocking out the Type 89, then immediately moved back to hide itself. "Ye...wait I'm the commanding student of the Chindits! I give you the orders and this is a change of the backup plan!" Rosehip said back rather aghast at Green Gunpowder's assertiveness.
"Do you agree with me or not?!" Green Gunpowder responded back, her tone confirming her confidence in her execution of this new plan of attack.
"No, we are not attacking! We will stay harassing them. Hold for my orders!" Rosehip answered.
"Fine!" Gunpowder slid back into the frantic cromwell fighting compartment. The empty brass cases were still smoking, the smell of burnt cordite filling the air. She looked down to her crew. "Do you trust me, crew? To follow me to the end of the world and back again? Through thick and thin? Through glorious victory and crushing defeat?" she asked them, looking at every crew member in turn. A slow moment passed.
"Yes, you can trust me to trust you," Honeybush responded, her heart won over by Green Gunpowder.
"Me too!" Peppermint added. Gunpowder looked over to the most influential crew member; Sarah's strongest friend, Jasmine Pearl.
"Please Jasmine Pearl. We have this, I have every faith in every crew member here, and personally I couldn't have asked to have a better crew. But I need you to agree, Jasmine," Green Gunpowder begged, putting her hand on Jasmine's shoulder.
"I will," she said with a nod. The previous battles had shown how good a commander Green Gunpowder was, and if she asked for something daring it was worth the risk.
"Okay ladies, we will hit the flank of the Panzer IV. We will get that flag tank! Nothing can stop us!" she commanded, brimming her crew's morale to overflowing proportions.
The Cromwell turned right, staying hidden from the prying Ooarai gunners' eyes, as it lurched forward and the engine revved.
"Gunpowder! Get back here!" Rosehip yelled. "I'll make sure…" Green Gunpowder switched off the radio. She was wanted no more distractions from her task at hand.
"Peppermint over the lip now. Full speed," she roared.
"Yes Ma'am!" came the reply as the Cromwell turned and launched itself over the lip and headed directly towards the Panzer IV.
The 75mm fired on the move hitting the side of the turret of the M3 Lee, taking it out. Moving out from the carcass came the Panzer IV with its barrel pointed right at the Cromwell bearing down on it, now only about 200 yards away and closing fast.
Rosehip gritted her teeth, as she snatched at her microphone. "Move up, no prisoners!" she furiously yelled down to her driver. Rosehip's gunner looked towards her just to check if she was okay. She made eye contact with her gunner. "You heard my orders," she said. The tank moved out from the relative safety of it's hull down position. "Char…" The tank was slammed by a shell to the turret knocking out the Crusader.
The Infantry tanks were nearly in range as they advanced to the side of the Ooarai formation through an open field. Miho, having seen this, moved some of her stronger units up to cover that flank. The Tiger (P) fired its 88mm, hitting a Matilda with inevitable result.
Distracted by the new threat of the infantry tanks, Miho took her eyes off the Cromwell as it prepared to strike. "As we practiced!" Gunpowder yelled over the howls of the engine and the rattling of the tank; her head out of the turret with her eyes only focused on her target. "Ballet!" she yelled. As she spoke, the Panzer's barrel blazed with the projectile launched straight at the hull of the Cromwell.
Peppermint yanked the left bar back as far as it could go and slammed her foot on the accelerator. The Cromwell made a beautiful pirouette, the shell scratching the front plate of the armour but harmlessly ricocheted off into the distance. Now it was the turn of the Cromwell, the hull returned to its original heading with the barrel aiming dead ahead.
"FIRE!" Gunpowder bellowed. Jasmine's gun sight was full with nothing but the brown frontal armour of the Panzer IV. She pushed her foot down on the pedal.
BANG… THUD...
The sound of panting and of dripping sweat hitting the bottom of the tank became the loudest noise in the Cromwell. Green Gunpowder looked ahead of her, a rather thin smile grew into her lips, as she looked at the blue flag waving in conjunction with the white onto 50 yards away.
"Ladies, all in a day's work us. If I was in charge, all three of you would be receiving ten times the tea ration plus executive privileges," she joked on the microphone to her crew.
She looked up to see Miho opening her hatch, her brown hair moving slowly in the wind. "That was rather impressive, Miss... ah... I've never met you before?"
"Green Gunpowder. Miss Nishazumi and I'm honoured. It would have been a great spectacle seeing you fight my cousin a few years back."
"Who was she?" Miho asked as she leaned back on the cupola.
"Lady Earl Grey," Green Gunpowder replied.
"Oh ... I see how you get your sty..." Miho's voice was cut off by a zip followed by a crash. Green Gunpowder covered her hand over her eyes as an instinctive response. She immediately placed her hand down to see the source of the noise and black impact spot on the side of the turret, with Miho's upper body slumped on the turret roof. Red marks gradually appeared on her face with black spots appearing on her upper body of her Sensha-duo uniform.
"GET MEDICS HERE NOW! WHO FIRED THAT FUCKING SHOT!?" Green Gunpowder yelled as she jumped out of her tank and scrambled onto Miho's to help her in any way possible. She climbed up onto the roof of the turret. "MIHO! MIHO!"
The sound of light grunting answered back. Green Gunpowder, now in a panic, placed her hands under Miho's armpits and lifted her out of the cupola, resting Miho's whole body on the top of the turret. As she turned her over, she saw that Miho's face was awash with blood.
"You're going to be fine Miho, I promise," Green Gunpowder said, taking off her jacket and using it to form a makeshift pillow for Miho.
Jasmine climbed out of the Cromwell.
"Medics on their way in three minutes! what happened!?"
Green Gunpowder didn't answer but turned her attention back to Miho, who had started wiping blood out of her eyes and mouth. "Make sure the girls inside are okay," she said rather slowly and compassionately to Green Gunpowder, who nodded at the request.
"Jasmine, check on Miho's crew," she instructed.
"They are only first years; I don't want them to see me like this," Miho added, sounding rather hushed.
Jasmine rushed over to the front of the hull of the Panzer IV and knocked on the hatch of the driver.
"Are you okay in there?" she asked.
13th March, Kuromorimine head office, Time 14:56
It was a normal day for the ashen-haired commander of Kuromornine. Piles of emails that seemed to never constantly end on the computers screen. Fan mail and other such things via letters were neatly placed on the large caged bin with writing on a small white paper label stating 'Thank then bin.' Another saying 'Recycling' which had overtaken the other bin by quite some margin.
Erika really didn't like the admin side of things; she would rather be free to command her tanks in the practice grounds all day and night over this. Especially that her arm had become full of aches and pains, from writing for what seemed like most of the day. Sometimes she wondered about how different things would have been if she'd just ducked fast all those months ago before being invited with Maho to command for the very last time for Kuromorimine in that horrific one week battle.
A light knock at the door of her large and impressive office drew her eyes away from the blankness of the white pages. "Come in!" she called to the door.
The handle moved down and a very eager Koume made her way in, with folders clutched around her chest making sure gravity would not prevail against them.
"Good afternoon Kommandant. The information about the St Gloriana girls you asked for," she said as she walked across the room to Erika's desk.
"Good good," she said as she offered her hand to Koume to take one of the folders.
Koume made good time and passed the first folder over to Erika. "Orange Pekoe's..." she passed another one, as Erika moved some of the papers of her desk, most floating to the ground. "Rukuriri... Rosehip's... and this English Breakfast's." All four folders were now in a perfect line parallel to Erika. "I'm still a little confused the need for recon and stuff right now. We still need to fight other schools before them,"
Erika gave Koume a fearsome look. "These girls beat Ooarai. Fair and simple on the battlefield. If they can do that then what will they do to us? I want to beat these girls," she answered.
Koume nodded. "So, um Rukuriri is their new spy master and head of their intelligence section. It seems they are lacking at the moment as our spies are still not discovered yet. Under Assam this could never happen."
Erika nodded. "Orange Pekoe and Rosehip I know of but..." she murmured as she opened Sarah's folder and looked at a quickly snapped photograph with Sarah on her crutches hobbling to one of the matches with Darjeeling by her side, which was held in the top left hand corner with a paperclip. "...why is she important? This face though does look familiar?" she added trying her best to remember if they had ever met.
"So she's Darjeeling's girlfriend. But most likely her plaything. She's was the commander of the Cromwell and vice-commander of the Chindits but as you can see she is 'unable' to participate in matches at the moment. She has been taken over by a hot shot from St Gloriana's B team. We are still digging up information on the green-haired girl," Koume replied.
"It says here she's the joint vice-commander," Erika noted.
"Yes, most likely because of Darjeeling. She hasn't been known to show much skill in her previous battles. Some are of the opinion that she's a rookie and way out of her depth," Koume said ominously.
The Spring League Tournament: Round 2 results
Kuromorimine Girls' Academy 5-v-0 Anzio Girls' High School
Saunders University High School 5-v-2 BC Freedom High School
Ooarai Girls Academy 2-v-5 St. Gloriana Girls' College
Pravda Girls' High School 5-v-0 Chi-Ha-Tan Academy
The Spring League Tournament: League table after Round 2
1st St. Gloriana Girls' College - 10
2nd Kuromorimine Girls' Academy - 8
Joint 3rd Ooarai Girls' Academy - 7
Joint 3rd Pravda Girls' High School - 7
Joint 3rd Saunders University High School - 7
4th BC Freedom High School - 5
5th Anzio Girls' High School - 2
6th Chi-Ha-Tan Academy - 0