Chapter XI: The Last Supper
Erika is on the top of her tanks turret while everyone working hard to quickly fix the broken tracks. Meanwhile, Koume Akaboshi also in her turret watching for anything suspicious. There's something bothers Erika about few greeneries patches in the river plain, but Erika can't find anything, so she's started looking at them very close.
"Koume, if you see something in those greeneries, don't wait for my command, just shoot," said Erika.
"Understood. But so far I can see nothing," said Koume.
"That's what troubles me also. But I suspect something is lurking in those greenery patches. Which patch, I can't tell for sure."
"Those patches are in different corners, if we just shoot randomly and miss, they would surely fire back on us."
"That's another thing troubles me."
Erika again trying to look on her binoculars with very carefully. She examined each patches thoroughly, until, when her eyes meet a patch, she sees something similar to cannon muzzle.
"2 o'clock! I see a cannon!"
Koume, caught a bit surprise, quickly turn her cannon on Erika's point. Once there, she immediately shot her cannon, but in the same time, the hidden Hellcat also fire back on Erika's tank.
"Incoming fire!"
Erika and everybody outside the tank jumped to safety right before the shell hit the already immobile Tiger and white-flagged it. Koume's shell also white-flagged the Hellcat, but everyone stunned with what just happened.
"Everybody, cease firing! The match is postponed! Both flag tank got white-flagged!" the judges ordered from both radio and aerial loudspeaker.
"What?" said Erika.
"Both flag tank? What is this?" asked Koume.
"It seems Miho and Shizuka also managed to kill their flag tank, and both of our flag tank killed at the same time."
"So what will happen next?"
"I don't know, things like this never happened before. At least not that I know of."
Judges plane landed in the airfield, and two judges stepped out, met with the head judge. Both Ami Chouno and Liu Yiren were summoned by the judge to witness the judges examination and deliberation. Meanwhile, everyone in the field is waiting in uncertainty. It only took 5 minutes, but the wait seems last forever. Ms. Catherine Woods as head-judge rise up to the announcement stand.
"We hereby has examine carefully on each recording, be it by judges own plane or by drones. The result is, Chinese flag tank got white-flagged at exactly 16:15:48. Meanwhile, Japanese flag tank got white-flagged at exactly 16:15:44. So according to the result, we hereby declare Chinese team as the winner by 0.04 seconds."
Everyone in the audience cheers, but those in the field seems very much oblivious, even for the Chinese team.
"If this is a victory, why does it feels so bitter?" said Liang'er.
An Hour Later
All wrecked tanks, Japanese or Chinese has been taken into the yard. Mechanical teams on both side tries to assess the damages and repair needed before tag them to be sorted. Miho and Erika stand in the field to oversee the things done, still trying to recover from the great match, when Shizuka and Koume arrived.
"Itsumi-dono, this is my fault. Have I done my task carefuly, we would have won," said Shizuka while bowing.
"Hei, don't be so apologetic. Me myself perhaps wouldn't have thought that as well. The tracks has been heavily damaged, nobody would expect they could rig it quickly." said Shizuka.
"And I failed to protect you, Erika-san," said Koume.
"We both don't see that coming, Koume," said Erika with faint smile.
"Well, this match is our first international match. Despite all our shortcomings, everyone did great. We will evaluate things for the next match," said Miho.
"Alright," said Shizuka, Koume, and Erika.
Liang'er coming at them alone, with the smile in her face. She then offers her hand to Miho.
"That was a very nice match, Nishizumi-san. How do you say it in Japanese? Is it 'otsukare sama deshita'?" said Liang'er.
"Yes, you're right. And I also congratulate you for the victory," said Miho while shaking Liang'er's hand.
"What? That 0.04 seconds? Rather than victory, I'd like to call that as my shell is flying faster than yours," Liang'er giggling, "if we use Annihilation Battle, you'll be the one who won for decimating all of my tanks,"
"But all-in-all you're still the victor of today's match,"
"And all-in-all, you're a worthy enemy, Nishizumi-san. Though I kinda curious, how do you manage to break free from my Bagua trap? Everyone would eventually break free, but not with casualties as few as yours."
"Oh, that thanks to Shizuka-san over there," said Miho while pointing to Shizuka.
"Ah, the Crusader Girl. I should've known it,"
Shizuka bowed to Liang'er, and as she did that, Liang'er saw a glimpse of something that she recognized as a geomancy compass. She smiled cheerfully.
"No wonder, you knew geomancy well, Shizuka-san," said Liang'er.
"No, I still have many things to learn," said Shizuka.
"Of course you are, but for now..."
Liang'er take off her dragon-figured jade and give it to Shizuka.
"Please take it, as a token of my gratitude for the exhilarating battle. It's been a long time since I had that kind of battle, especially with the one who understand geomancy,"
Shizuka hesitated, but Miho smiled, hinted her to take it. So Shizuka then take the jade figure.
"Thank you very much, I will surely treasure it," said Shizuka.
"You must," Liang'er's giggling, "and Nishizumi-san, I hope you and your girls would be here a little bit longer tonight,"
"Oh? We don't really have an immediate plan tonight," said Miho.
"Good, for we have prepared a banquet to entertain our guest," said Liang'er, "please, stick around and wait for it,"
Miho sees a different side of Liang'er now. What once a ferocious commander on the battlefield now transformed into a bubbly, cute, and cheerful girl. But, as what any sensha-doin knows, there's no point in extending hostilities beyond the match. Yesterday's enemy is today's friend, or in this case, afternoon's enemies is evening's friend.
The staffs quickly cleared the yards and unroll gigantic red carpets there. Long low dining tables with matching red tablecloths arranged on top of the carpets, with cushions for each girl to sit. Some of the Chinese Team members has changed their tank uniform into a colorful traditional dresses and playing traditional Chinese musical instruments.
Japanese Team girls are at awe watching how the once empty, dull yard now turns into a beautiful outdoor dining place with vibrant color and ornaments, all showcasing Chinese cultures. Some chaperons show the girls, Japan Team or any Chinese more senior members, where to sit, and after they all sit in their place, food of lavish Chinese banquet were taken out in such quantity that even the girls from Anzio feels jealous yet mesmerized. The officers sit on a small stage, overlooking their girls. Warm rice juice passed around to add the pizzazz of the already festive banquet with music, songs and foods.
"For you, Nishizumi-san, wish you a good luck for your endeavor ahead," said Liang'er while pouring rice juice to Miho's cup.
"Ah, yes, and wish you a good luck as well," said Miho.
Everyone raise their cup and cheering.
"So, how's international match to you? I understand this is your first time, eh?" said Liang'er.
"Well, exhilarating, yes, but somehow it feels different with the one we have in Japan," said Miho.
"I see. But I hear that Japanese tankequan is more purist, so I guess it's understandable that international match could caught you in surprised."
"You've been to international match before, Liang'er-san?"
"Not much, just about 2 times before."
"What is international match looks like?"
"You want to know if the other nations fight the way we do?"
Miho nods.
"Well, I can tell you one thing. When you're battling in the name of your nation, then you will bring out strength that you never knew you had. It's a whole new ball game from domestic tournament, Nishizumi-san, and you should expect your opponents to fight you ten-folds of their original strength."
"Oh, I see..."
"International match is different, simply because the lax in the rules would probably surprised you. I know a little about how tankequan played in Japan, and I know that tankequan tournament in Japan could only means that victory shall be decided by strength of your tanks, skills and strategies of the commander, or both."
"Is it different in International?"
"Mostly the same, however, here we can add few more factors, and one of them, the most important one, are surprise factor. It's when you surprised your enemy by using an unusual tank, mutant tank, tanks that are different from a standard-built tank. Let's say, like your Crusader, those are using Meteor engine, right?"
"So you mean that..."
"Yes, that too is a strategy to win. That's how brutal International Match is. Although, judging from how you fight this afternoon, I think you're going to be alright,"
Liang'er then rise and raise her glass of rice juice. Everyone then silence.
"I would like to propose a toast. For us, China Team, and our worthy friends of Japan Team. May we all have good luck in the tournament to come and meet again in an exhilarating battle as we strengthened our everlasting friendship across the nations. Salute!"
"Hear hear!" crowd cheers.
Everyone drink their rice juice and continue the party. Now there's no boundary between Chinese and Japanese team. All are drinking, feasting and mingling on each other in a warm friendly manner, even with the Five Tiger Generals.
"Nishizumi-san, will you meet your mother anytime soon?" asked Liang'er.
"I'm afraid not, but why?" said Miho.
"Oh.. If you happen to meet her, please send my best regards for them, from the daughter of Zhu Nianfeng,"
"You know my mother?"
"Well, it's a long story, but let's just say that I owe something to her. I'll tell you next time when we have a chance to see each other again."
"Alright, then. I promise you to send them."
Few hours later, the party is over, and as fast as it was setted up, Chinese staff cleared the area so fast that it's now a dull yard again, showing no evidence that some times before, there's a great feast here. It's time for Japan Team to go back to their carrier. The cargo planes carrying their tanks has already took off. Everyone now walk hesitantly to board their plane, with their new Chinese friends warmly send them off.
Before Miho board to plane, however, Ami Chouno showed up and grab her. She also took Miho's officers away from the rest of the packs, left them wondering what's going on.
"I thought we're going back to The Carrier, Instructor Chouno?" asked Miho.
"We will, but there's other thing we should do, and you all must come with me," said Ami Chouno.
"What thing? Come with you to where?" asked Erika.
"You'll see," said Ami Chouno.
Ami Chouno then took them to the Federation's Learjet 35 awaiting in another apron. The plane is smaller, but with more lavish interiors than their standard B-737. Everyone then sat on each seat and put their safety belt on before Ami Chouno signal the pilot to take off immediately, even before the B-737 took off.
"So, where would we go?" asked Erika.
"To Shanghai," said Ami Chouno.
"And what will we do in Shanghai?" asked Shizuka.
"Tomorrow will be a drawing for International Tournament, so we have to go there," said Ami Chouno.
"What? Drawing? Aren't we still far?" said Miho.
"From the tournament opening, yes. But the drawing has to be done tomorrow so that any participants would have time to travel to their battle site," said Ami Chouno.
"I wonder who shall be our next opponent," said Shizuka.
"I'm not sure. Whoever they are, if they fight like Chinese Team today, we'll be screwed," said Erika.
"Who shall participate?" asked Miho.
"Let's see, we have 16 participant nations: us, China, United States, Germany, South Korea, North Korea, France, Great Britain, Australia, Sweden, Czech Republic, Canada, Italy, Hungary, Russia, dan Finland," said Ami Chouno.
"Great! I would want us to fight against Finland!" said Erwin.
"Wow, that would be a very long journey if we have to fight on Finnish turf," said Ami Chouno.
Everyone's laughing and the plane went straight to the starry night.
