Chapter IV: A Melting Pot of Many Ingredients
Sensha Town
Federation Carrier The Shinano
Miho mend her navy blue tie and put the berret with Federation logo in her head. It's not her regular tank jacket and for a moment, she hardly recognized the girl she saw in the mirror. This morning, there will be a general meeting on Japan U-18 National Team, and this meeting is very important, since it will talk about the future of this team on the coming future.
"Are you ready, Nishizumi-dono?" asked Yukari.
"You looked sharp in that uniform, Miho-san," said Hana.
"I think we all looks pretty in this outfit," said Saori.
"Yes, but why we have to do meeting on the morning?" asked Mako.
"Yes, shall we go?" said Miho.
All the Anglerfish Team coming down the stairs, to be greeted by Tiger Team which also wear their tank jacket. Outside, everybody has also ready, or at least preparing for the meeting this morning. Everyone greets Miho cheerfully, excited that now they're wearing the same uniform.
"Miho-san, you will be going now?" asked Koume.
"Yes, Koume-san,"
"Alright then, we'll see you there,"
"Don't be long,"
"Don't worry, we wont,"
Anglerfish Team then walking to the town hall. Some of girls, who have been ready, follow them. It's not a very long walk, since this is just a small town. Took only 15 minutes for them to arrived in central square and the town hall. The employees of the town hall greet them warmly as Miho and the girls entering the town hall to second floor. There's a separate door which lead to the sensha-do meeting room in second floor so that sensha-do team could go there without interrupting things in the town hall.
Pretty much 10 minutes later, everyone has arrived in the grand meeting room in the town hall, and all commanders sit around large round table with Miho as the chair person.
"Has everyone arrived?" asked Miho via speaker system of the room.
"Yes!"
Miho haul a deep breath.
"As we all know, yesterday, we've been assembled here as Japan U-18 National Sensha-do Team. Now, since we're going to have an exhibition match against China, we need to sort out few obvious problems before then.
First, Instructor Chouno has divided team into four: Heavy Tank Company, Medium Tank Company, Light Tank Company, and Tank Destroyer Company. Heavy Tank Company and Medium Tank Company each has 10 tanks, while Light Tank Company and Tank Destroyer Company each has 5 tanks. As we know, Heavy Tank Company will be using Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger, Medium Tank Company will be using M4A3E8 Sherman HVSS, Light Tank Company will be using Cruiser Mk. VI, Crusader III, and Tank Destroyer Company will be using SU-100. Some of you perhaps have familiar with the tanks mentioned above, but some of the rest haven't. So after all of you got assigned to the tanks, please make sure to familiarize yourself with it."
Rosehip raised her hand.
"Taichou, so we're going to be sorted out now?"
"Yes, Rosehip-san, and you all will be sorted not only based on class of tanks you used at the competition, but also because I believe your set of skills is adequate for it. However, before we start the sorting, I will first told you about each company leader and vice-leader."
Miho clears her throat.
"Heavy Tank Company will be led by Erika Itsumi of Kuromorimine. Emi Nakasuga of Bellwall and Orange Pekoe of St. Gloriana will act as vice-leaders. Medium Tank Company will be lead by me, Miho Nishizumi with Koume Akaboshi of Kuromorimine and Alisa of Saunders as vice-leaders. Tank Destroyer Company will be led by Erwin-san of Ooarai with Carpaccio of Anzio as vice-leader. Meanwhile, Light Tank Company will be led by Shizuka Tsuruki of Tatenashi..."
Shizuka stand in shock after hearing that.
"...with Noriko Isobe of Ooarai as vice-leader. Therefore..."
"Commander, permission to speak!" Shizuka raise her hand.
"Granted, please, Shizuka-san,"
"Me? Are you sure? Forgive me, but I mean, is this a joke?"
"Tone down your voice as you speak to our Commander, Tsuruki-san!" Erika reprimand her.
"I'm sorry, but I think there are still more people in here who has more experience in formal sensha-do than me,"
"I don't mind to have you as my company leader," said Noriko.
"But, Isobe-san, I..."
"Don't you trust the judgement of our Commander, Tsuruki-san?" asked Erika.
"I don't mean to say that..."
"Or perhaps you don't believe in yourself that you are worthy of that position?"
Shizuka stood in silence, then Miho raise her hand to calm the situation.
"It's okay. As I said before, I put you into your position because I think you have the adequate skills for that. I have a faith that you would do well in your assigned position," said Miho.
"Permission to add something, Taichou." said Erika.
"Please,"
"I've known Miho-san quite long time, be with her during our times in middle-school and high-school in Kuromorimine. What I learned from those times are that Miho-san has a unique ability to asses someone's skill and put them in the right position, even when that oneself didn't see that way. I put my trust on her then, I put my trust on her now," said Erika.
"So if Taichou told you that you fit for the position, then I know for sure that you're fit for that position," said Noriko.
Shizuka nod slowly.
"I put my trust on you, Shizuka," said Miho.
"I'll do my best to fulfill it, then, Taichou," said Shizuka.
"Alright, if there are no more question, I'd like to move on to the assignation of all teams in their respectives company. We'll start from Heavy Tank Company. The members are: Erika Itsumi of Kuromorimine, Emi Nakasuga of Bellwall, Orange Pekoe with Nilgiri of St. Gloriana, Ogin-san of Ooarai, Seshka-san of Kuromorimine, Naomi-san of Saunders, Nina-san of Pravda, Fondue-san of Maginot, Marie-san; Andou-san; Yoshida-san of BC Freedom, and Assam-san with Rukuriri of St. Gloriana."
"So that means, we from BC Freedom would be in one tank?" asked Andou.
"Yes, that's right," said Miho.
"I don't mind about that," said Marie while eating her cake.
"I'm a commander, now?" asked Assam, "not sharing tank with Orange Pekoe?"
"Yes, that's right. Is there any other question?" asked Miho.
Everyone nods.
"The Medium Tank Company members would be: myself, Miho Nishizumi of Ooarai, Alisa of Saunders, Koume Akaboshi from Kuromorimine, Mika-san; Aki-san; Mikko-san of Jatkosota, Eclair of Maginot, and Youko Minami of Bellwall. Meanwhile, Nishi-san and Fukuda-san will be in the same tank, and Tamada-san and Hosomi-san will be in the other same tank."
"Not bad arrangements," said Tamada.
"I'll be supporting Nishi-dono, de arimasu!" said Fukuda.
"Taichou, how about us?" asked Azusa.
"Speaking of which, I have to make some adjustment regarding to Rabbit Team, Duck Team and Anteater Team. Since there's only two persons of Anteater Team, so Aya Oono of Rabbit Team and Taekou Kondo of Duck Team will be joining the Anteater Team. The rest of Rabbit Team will be assigned in the same tank of Medium Tank Company."
"Alright, then!" said Aya Oono.
"Is there any question?" asked Miho.
Everyone nods.
"Light Tank Company will be consisted of Shizuka Tsuruki of Tatenashi, Noriko Isobe of Ooarai, Rosehip-san of St. Gloriana, Pepperoni of Anzio also Kanako and Tsurugiko Kashiwaba of Bellwall. And for Tank Destroyer Company, there will be Erwin-san of Ooarai, Carpaccio of Anzio, Chifuyu Doi of Bellwall, Neko Yamamori of Bellwall, and Nina of Pravda."
"Ready at your service, Supremo!" said Carpaccio and Pepperoni.
"Each commander will be given number of tanks and shall assigned each of their teams to each tanks. Since we're expected to arrive in China by the end of this week, we would started the training by this noon, focusing today for accustomization to each tank."
"Understood!" everyone replied in unison.
"Well then, Panzer vor!" said Miho.
