Chapter II: Gathering of Friends
Three Weeks Later
Japan Port of Nagasaki
All of the Ooarai sensha-do team are currently waiting in Nagasaki Port. The Zuikaku has made port of call here yesterday, and departed few hours ago, leaving the sensha-do senior team behind, except for Pazomi and Gomoyo, which have to stay in the Zuikaku to oversee the day-to-day activities of the now-grown sensha-do team. Both are also driver and gunner of Ooarai's Mallard Team's Char B1, made them able to perform both driving and gunnery training for the newbies.
"It looks like we're the first to come here, Nishizumi-dono," said Yukari.
"Mm-mm,"
"Instructor Chouno mentioned about Federation Carrier, but I can't see any in this port," said Saori.
"Could it be they overslept and missed their schedule?" said Mako.
"Or worst, we might have been too late and they've already left for China, ze yo," said Oryou.
"I don't think so, Instructor Chouno specifically mentioned to be on this port at this hour," said Hana.
"Maybe we should wait, I don't see anyone around but us," said Miho.
"It's okay as long as we're near the sea, the smell of it made us feel more vigorous," said Ogin while chewing her peppermint pipe.
Ooarai team then sit down on the dock of the empty port, when somebody arrived.
"I thought we would be the first to arrived here, seems Ooarai people got here earlier,"
Miho turns her head and see Nina and Alina, and rest of their crew.
"Nina-san,"
"Nishizumi-san, it's good to see you," Nina smiled.
"You will be joining the U-18 as well?"
"Yes, since Katyusha and Nonna is already going to Russia to their college,"
"What about Klara-san?"
"She's a Russian citizen," Nina giggled.
"Oh, I see..." Miho blushed.
"So, I guess we're the first to come here, right?" asked Nina.
"Yes, out of 30 crews, but I'm very glad that I have all of you from Pravda with me,"
"I'm glad too that Ooarai people here as well,"
"Not all, though, our former-Kaichou has been graduated, so it's only us who left, plus I believe some of our best players can no longer fight among us,"
"Still I'm grateful, especially knowing that Nishizumi-san would be our commander,"
"Oh, that is..." Miho suddenly went nervous.
Nina smiled.
"Look, it's Miho and the Pravda girls!"
That familiar voice made Miho and Nonna turned their head and see the girls of Saunders: Alisa, and Naomi with all their crews, waving their hand at them.
"Alisa-san..."
"How do you do, guys?" asked Alisa in a cheerful tone.
"You'll be joining us as well?" asked Miho.
"Oh, look who's talking, we're here to be under your command, don't you understand?" said Alisa.
"My co- command?" asked Miho dreadfully.
"Yes, you are THE commander, right?"
"Me? Commander?"
"Seems Miho The Great still shock, don't worry, you'll be a good commander, it's just like when we're fighting against University Team," said Alisa.
"Yes, not much different," Naomi said while blowing her bubble gum.
"Just the three of us?" asked Alisa.
"So far only Ooarai, Pravda, and Saunders has arrived here, I think that..."
Nina doesn't get to finished her sentences as another group entering the premises.
"You are already here?" a soft voice can be heard.
Stand before them are Orange Pekoe, now commander of St. Gloriana sensha-do team, along with Assam, Rosehip, Rukuriri, and Nilgiri plus all their crews.
"Pekoe-san," greet Miho.
"I think you've shown great example as this team commander, Miho-san," said Orange Pekoe.
"Uh, yes..." Miho knows, resistance is futile.
"We, St. Gloriana, will try not to embarrass you by providing the best of our abilities to assist in this team," said Orange Pekoe.
"And I'll show you the best of my speed, desu wa!" said Rosehip with her thumb up.
The more person came, the merrier the atmosphere became. Everyone are now chattering with their new comrades about the match to come. As expected, many of them aren't familiar about what does China team looks like. They hardly recognized any sensha-do activities outside Japan.
"It's crowded here, Hime," a soft sound attract Miho's attention immediately.
Three girls standing near the large group there, seemingly startled with what they saw.
"Aren't you, Centipede Team-san from Tatenashi High School?" asked Miho.
"Yes, and I know you, Miho Nishizumi," said Shizuka Tsuruki.
"I'm Rin Matsukaze, the driver for Shizuka-hime," said Rin Matsukaze.
"And I'm Haruka Endou, I'm currently in training to become loader of the tank for Centipede Team," said Haruka Endou.
"I never thought that you would come, but I'm so glad for it," said Miho.
"An invitation to serve under a legendary sensha-do commander? Who would've turned that offer down?" said Shizuka.
"Oh please, I'm not that great," said Miho.
"Your reputation precede you, Nishizumi-dono," said Shizuka, "whether you admit it or not,"
Miho stunned for a moment.
"If I knew the people would be this much, I would've brought more," said Shizuka.
"More?"
"Tea, I think we can have some sort of tea ceremony in here, to acquaint ourselves with the other,"
"I guess that would be fine,"
"I'll set up the tea then, Hime," Rin said.
Rin and Haruka then pass a whole lot bunch of tea to everyone else there. Meanwhile, more girls come and join the large groups. Chi-Ha-Tan Academy arrived with Kinuyo Nishi, Haru Tamada, Hosomi, and Fukuda. Later, Maginot Girls Academy arrived with Eclair, and Fondue. Jatkosota Girls High School come with Mika, Aki and Mikko. BC Freedom come with Marie, Andou and Oshida. The crowds keep getting bigger in the sense that Haruka doubt there will be enough tea for everyone.
"Are we late?" asked a girl with sharp voice.
"Erika?"
Erika Itsumi and Koume Akaboshi just arrived with rest of their crew from Kuromorimine, much to Miho's surprise.
"Miho-san, nice to see you again," greet Koume.
"You too, Koume-san, but just two of you here?" asked Miho.
"If you look on our crew, we brought the best," Erika winked.
Everyone from Kuromorimine waves at Miho, who waves them back awkwardly. Those are not their usual crews, but veterans who has fought both as Kuromorimine or as Schwarzwald Kampfgruppe. The only exception is a young girl whom Erika introduced to her as Seshka.
"You see, after we change our rigid tactics, we realize that there are huge gap between the veterans and newbies, so to adapt your rag-tag tactics, we cannot brought just any crew," Erika explained.
"Adapt my rag-tag tactics? What do you..."
"You are THE KOMMANDANT of this army, aren't you?"
"Kom... Kommandant..." Miho once again got panic attack.
"Don't make me regret my decision to choose you as the Kommandant,"
"We from Kuromorimine agreed that you are the best commander, Miho-san," said Koume, "and I believe Chouno-sama has asked the same thing to other schools and they consentually agreed,"
"Even I agreed," said Shizuka who has arrived there.
"So, the princess of tankathlon join our army?" said Erika.
"Itsumi-dono, long time no see," Shizuka smirks.
"I guess it's better to fight with you than against you, Tsuruki-chan,"
Erika reach her hand, which immediately shaken by Shizuka. Miho smiled, and in this kind of moment she really felt that the old saying "Yesterday's enemy is today's friend" is true.
"So, who else are we waiting for? Will Jajka come as well?" asked Erika.
"I will be very surprised if she would even considers to participate, you know how she felt about normal sensha-do," said Shizuka.
"Well said,"
"How about your friends from sensha-do?"
"About that..."
They stop talking as another group coming. This time they're a whole lot noisier than anybody came before. Their clothes are also much casual, more to delinquent style. Miho watched them carefully before her smile blossoms.
"Emi-chan!" greets Miho.
"Miho-chan, we meet again," said Emi Nakasuga.
Miho rush and hug Emi, who awkwardly hug her back. Being old friend since their elementary school year, finally able to fight alongside Emi is a wonder for Miho. With Emi Nakasuga, came other Bellwall Academy's player as well: Youko Minami, Chifuyu Doi, Neko Yamamori and the twin Tsurigiko and Kanako Kashiwaba.
"This group is too neat, it's very boring," sighed Chifuyu Doi.
"I hope your battle style not this boring, Nishizumi-san," Neko Yamamori added.
"Yes! I'll try my best!" said Miho.
"Come on, enough pestering her and let's all have tea together; you're lucky since these are what left of our tea," said Shizuka.
"Is this all? Where's the carrier?" asked Emi.
"I don't know, we got here first and can't see any," said Miho.
But as they speak, the liaison officers of Japan Sensha-do Federation, arrived in the area. These are familiar faces among them, since they're the judges of National Tournament: Hibiki Inatomi, Remi Takashima, and Kanon Sasagawa.
"Has everyone here already?" asked Kanon.
"Umm, I think so," replied Miho.
"Well, then, please everybody follow us to the ship," said Kanon.
Reluctantly, everyone get up and follow the liaisons to other part of the dock. At first, they thought going to see any Carrier there, but turns out it just a regular transport boat, the same class as Sunflower Sapporo ferry that Ooarai once used, but with JSF Flag on it. The liaisons ordered everyone to board the ship, since it would be departing soon. Everyone is full of questions, but aboard it anyway.
"Alright, has everyone all aboard?" asked Kanon.
"Waiiitttt!"
Everyone looked at the dock where the last of their group: Pepperoni and Carpaccio of Anzio High School, running around trying to catch the ship. They hastily climbed aboard the ship and succumb into the deck floor out of breath.
"I think everyone has all aboard now, Ma'am," said Miho.
"Alright then, off we go," said Kanon.
The ship is then soon departing the port, with everyone still anxious and full of anticipation. While at first everyone still getting along, chattering and getting acquainted, after first hour passed by uneventfully, all can't help but wonder. Where will they go? Will they go to China by this ship, and not some carrier?
Miho stand by the railing near the bow, isolating herself from her friends that were in the midship deck. The sea is, we can say, a little bit misty, though some ray of twilight sun still managed to break away. Like the rest, she doesn't know where this ship would take them, however, she fear the most of what will happen after that. Being a Field Commander of Japan Sensha-do National Team is not something to be taken lightly.
"Just when will this ship arrived?" suddenly Shizuka Tsuruki arrived in her side.
"Look, it's more than an hour and what we see is still wide open sea," said Shizuka.
"I know, I kinda wonder about it too," said Miho.
"That's not the only thing you wondered, eh?"
Miho slowly nod.
"It's hard not to think about everything when you're in a position to think about everything," said Miho.
"Yes, but everyone trust this position in you, even me,"
"And I thank you for that, you're one of the best tanker I ever know,"
"Yeah, about that..."
"Is there any problem?"
Shizuka smirks and nod.
"Miho-san, can I ask you something?" asked Shizuka.
"Uh, sure,"
"What do you think about me? Centipede Team doesn't compete in regular sensha-do, so I don't feel like I belonged here, if not Kikuyo-sama begged me persistently, I don't think I would be here,"
"Well, Kikuyo has good eye on incredible talent that is,"
"No, I mean what do you think? Will it be problems if I join the team?"
Miho smiled cheerfully.
"You know, sensha-do or tankathlon, when you eliminate all the differences in rules, both share the same core: the bonding between someone and her teammates, and also human and the tanks. So you see, tankathlon, or sensha-do, as long as your heart is in your tank and in your comrades, and you have fun doing that, that is enough for me, for that is all I ask for my team," added Miho.
Shizuka stood in silence. But she got the point of what Miho said, and relieved somehow.
"Whatever lies ahead in our path, I have faith that you'll be able to lead us into the light," said Shizuka.
"I cannot do that without your help," said Miho.
Both girls smiled, then they throw their eyes back to the empty sea.
"Now, to your earlier question, where will this ship carry us?" said Miho.
"Just don't tell me that we are going to China with this ship," said Shizuka.
"I probably wouldn't say that an hour ago, but now..."
Miho silent suddenly. A shadow emerged from the horizon, unclear due to the mist, but the silhouette resembles a ship.
"Is that..." said Miho.
All girls then rushed to the observation deck after seeing the shadowy figure, and got delighted. Finally, they will arrived to Federation Carrier, The Shinano. However, as ship getting closer, so does the shadow, and suddenly they realize that whatever stood before them is way much bigger than any other School Carrier they ever know, even much bigger than Graf Zeppelin of Kuromorimine. Soon, the light gone darker due to the Carrier blocking the sunlight up to miles away, and what once a pleasant surprise now has grown into a frightening behemoth.
"Jesus!" said Kay.
"What kind of devil is that!?" Ogin shouted in fear.
"It's The Shinano! Largest Carrier in Japan!" said Yukari.
