Chapter XVIII: Fortress of Solitude
"The Hill"
Tunguska Tank Battling Ground
Siberia, Russia
"Taichou, this is Noriko, we're ready at our position," said Noriko.
"Have you all memorize the layout of The Hill?" asked Miho.
"Yes, we did," said Noriko.
"Preparing defenses as you call," said Koume.
"Please watch the surrounding and anticipate where they will come. Don't let them through even for once," said Miho, "if they attack from one side, units near the attack point must be ready to back up,"
"Understood!" said all commanders.
Unlike in the forest, The Hill has quite a light in its streets, though most of the building haven't. This could let Japan Team to navigate the road without having to turn on their tank's light. But this also made The Hill to be a shining beacon in the heart of dark forest. As what Klara saw in her binoculars.
"They're building defense there," said Yelena Vukova, "shouldn't we suppose to attack them?"
"Ha! You Moskvich always rush things up. Don't you know that our Komandyr is currently practicing the virtue of Peterburgenka of clever and careful placement," said Natalia Zhirinovsky.
This led to light bickering between this two girls. Klara however, doesn't really pay attention to the little dissent since they do this on almost any moment. She raise her hand up to silence them only after a BT-7, with lights off, come near. It's Katya who made perimeter check.
"How's thing?" asked Klara.
"As you predicted, Komandyr. Japan guard every entrance to The Hill quite tight. Even with our current forces, I don't think we could just broke through them, not without many casualties," said Katya.
"Can't expect any less from Miho Nishizumi, she knows that she has to hold fast there to win," said Klara.
"Japan flag has already raised, meaning the countdown timers is now on. What should we do?" asked Katya.
"Of course we attack them head on! Russian never fear on slamming on enemy's line!" said Yelena.
"Don't you Moskvich heared just now? And risking multiple casualties? No, we have to proceed cautiously, and creeping to weaken their defense before attacking," said Natalya.
"And let Japan win on time decision? I guess that's not something that you Peterburgenka had in your mind, are you?" said Yelena.
"Enough!" said Klara.
Both Yelena and Natalya silence at once.
"Yelena, how many time you need for frontal attack to conquer the Hill?" asked Klara.
"About 20 minutes, with this kind of guard," said Yelena.
"Alright then, let's wait," said Klara.
"Excuse me? Wait as if we stand down?" asked Yelena.
"Yes, we stand down for now. Prepare everything, lay out camp, make campfire and eat something warm," said Klara, "for we will wait,"
"Excuse me, Komandyr, but I don't get it. We wait for what?" asked Natalya.
"For everything to come in place," said Klara.
"This is insane!" said Yelena.
"And that's an order," said Klara, "you understand?"
"Yes, understood, Komandyr," said Yelena and Natalya reluctantly.
Orders then passed on to the entire Russian Team, and they quickly built an instant encampment to warm theirselves up. Campfire light then showed up, breaking darkness in some spot in the forest. As Russian Team prepared to stand down, Katya approaching Klara.
"Komandyr, you know I will do any order from you, but is this really necessary?" asked Katya.
"Of course. In this times and weathers, I don't think Miho Nishizumi would want to take risk sending some of her units to hunt us down. She would choose to stay there in the safety of The Hill especially when we're about to strike them," said Klara.
"But isn't that means giving Japan an advantage over us?"
"Yes, on one point. However, that also means that all of Japan tanks are now sit in one place, not scattered throughout perimeters. Which would force us to break our formation just to engage them."
"I don't really follow."
"Trust me, Miho Nishizumi could seems like an awkward, innocent frail young girl. But given an opportunity, she could turn the tide of battle as easy as snapping her fingers. Against her, we have no choice but to not leave any room for error."
Klara smiled.
"Speaking of which, could you take some of your tanks to made campfires in some other points as well?"
"Understood, Komandyr."
"It's battle of patience, Katya. Solitude of Russian forest is something that others can't comprehend. I want Japan to suffer that, so they couldn't see when our cannons blazing."
"да."
Just as Katya about to turns her back to do her orders, Klara stop her. She gave her a small envelopes.
"What is this, Komandyr?"
"Open this tonight, only after Yelena Vukova and Natalya Zhirinovsky finally resolved their differences in the time of dire and grim situation."
"Tonight? Would that be happened?"
"We'll see. But I sincerely hoped that you don't need to open that."
Klara smiled and cue Katya to quickly done her job, in which Katya complied with a lot of question marks still hanging on her head. Soon, more campfires emerges from the perimeter of the dark forest for everyone in The Hill to see.
"They're camping, and a lot of campfires," said Mako.
"Could you see where their main forces, Mako-san?" asked Miho.
"I can't, the snowing and foliages are blocking my vision. There are only shadows beyond fire light," said Mako.
"They're camping?" asked Hana, "how convenient, should we do that as well?"
Miho paused for a second.
"This is a game of waiting. We don't know when will they attack us, so if you wish to eat something or warm yourselves, do that. But please keep your vigilance."
"Alright, I'll pass to the team," said Saori.
Saori quickly radioed every one to ease up, but still maintaining vigilance for incoming Russian attack. Meanwhile, Miho felt a deep solitude grabs her by heart, in this place and this weather, when suddenly, a flask of hot cocoa pointed at her.
"Please drink hot cocoa, Nishizumi-dono," said Yukari, "you also need to maintain your strength,"
"Thank you so much, Yukari-san," said Miho.
Yukari pours the hot cocoa to a glass and give it to Miho.
"There's something eerie about this place, Yukari-san," said Miho while sipping her cocoa, "some loneliness that hard to understand. It's like you're in the middle of nowhere with no one beside you."
"Well, we're in the middle of nowhere, alright. But we have each other's company, Nishizumi-dono," said Yukari.
Miho smiled. That's not what Miho meant, but she's happy with Yukari's confide to her. The morale is high right now, so she doesn't feels right to break it by uttering her worries.
"Thank you, Yukari-san," said Miho.
Snow are falling even harder, and everyone just remain vigilant. The anticipation of impending Russian attack made them unable to enjoy the rest, the meals, or the warmth. Each and everyone of them looking at the lights on the forest, gripped by the question of when will the attack came, and where would they came from. Most likely, if the attack came, they would focus to break on a single point to maximize their strength and firepowers. Where to break in the vast perimeter, that's the question that haunted them.
Miho looked at the clock in the flag tower, and it's almost 1 hour passed since they raise their flag. They now only need to be here for another hour, but each second passed also made them a second closer to the dreaded Russian offensive, which still not yet to be known.
"Will the Russian attack?" asked Erika.
"They will, and they must if they want to win," said Shizuka, "the fact that they hold for almost an hour in the running made me fear on what kind of offense they would brought to us when the time come,"
"Klara is not a fool person. She had something in mind and knows how to execute it," said Assam.
"Yes, and left us in this very dire tension of anticipation," said Orange Pekoe.
But the restlessness are not only on Team Japan. In the forest, all Team Russia's members are eagerly anticipating what move they should made. Yelena and Natalya has pledge to make a move countless time during this one hour, albeit with different -if not extreme- approach between them, but Klara hasn't give any go. This time, they come back for another pledge with Katya.
"Komandyr, for how much longer we have to wait? The girls are restless," said Yelena, "we would like to smash the enemy right away!"
"No, we have to creep to bleed the enemy! And I need ample time to do that!" said Natalya.
"Peterburgenkas are so not practical, always taking longer route," said Yelena.
"Which would save our forces, unlike you lack-self-preserving Moskvich," said Natalya.
"That's enough!" said Klara.
Both Natalya and Yelena immediately stopped their fight.
"Just listen up to appreciate the snow. After all, it's General Winter that helps us, Russian, fought our enemies. So please try to appreciate it," said Klara.
Everyone just looking on each other, not quite understand.
"And to all of your requests, now it's the time," said Klara, "prepare your forces to strike,"
"We're going to strike? Frontal assault you mean?" asked Yelena.
"Yes, but only after my cue," said Klara.
"Ha! Take that, Peterburgenkas! Even Komandyr agreed on the virtue of us, Moskvich!" said Yelena, and Natalya can only bite the bullet.
"I said, ONLY after my cue," said Klara, "Katya, have everything prepared?"
"Yes, Komandyr, everything has set," said Katya.
Klara took out her radio and speak to someone.
"Nikita, are you ready in your position?" asked Klara.
"Since forever," said Nikita, "are we going to fire now, Komandyr?"
"Yes, please proceed."
"Alright!"
Far, above a large overhanging cliff, 4 SU-152s positioned themselves for firing. Their leader, Nikita, smiled excitedly. Their targets, The Hill, are now light up, showing Japan's tanks inside, though obscured by snow.
"Remember! Target those Tigers first! They won't stand a chance against our forces without their heavy tanks," said Nikita.
"Understood!"
"Ready! Take aim!" said Nikita, "fire!"
All of the SU-152s then open fire to The Hill. Down there, Miho suddenly stunned frightenedly after hearing an eerie familiar sounds. A whistling sound of heavy caliber shells flying, lurking in the sound of raging snow.
"Incoming!"
"BLAAAAMMM!"
One, two, three, four explosions suddenly shattered everyone at The Hill. Then shells after shells raining down Team Japan in every corner of The Hill. Soon, radio was fulled by distress signals of everyone there.
"Erika's tank has been white-flagged!" shout Emi.
"Assam's tank as well!" shout Orange Pekoe.
"Damn! They target our Tigers first!" said Shizuka.
"All Tigers, move to any cover you can find! Have anyone see any sign of their movement?" asked Miho.
"Negative! They haven't move out of the woods," said Koume.
"Another Tigers got hit!" said Emi.
"Who?" asked Miho.
"Seshka, she got hit," said Emi.
"Move to cover, quickly!" said Miho.
Rain of shells creates chaos on Japan side. The shelling also knock out some lights in there, creates growing dark spots on The Hill. Couple of tanks got knocked out as well, but Miho can't figure out which one. Right now, she can only hope the shelling stops so that she could figure out what to do next.
"From where do they bombard us?" said Miho.
"I think I know where the shelling come from, Oryou told me that there's overhang ledge near here, seems enough for their SU-152s perched and shell us to smithereens!" said Erwin.
"Can you shoot on that?"
"Negative, to far for our gun, and against gravity. I can try, but can't promise anything."
"Then take shelter and watch where they will come from!"
"Okay!"
Meanwhile, in the forest...
"Perfect strategy, Komandyr, they're in disarray now," said Natalya.
"When will we attack?" asked Yelena.
"Right now, start advancing all your tanks, and Nikita will screen your advance till last mile," said Klara.
"Understood!" said Yelena dan Natalya.
"Katya, take your BT-7s to make noise in some fireplaces to confuse them on where would we attack!" said Klara.
"Yes, Komandyr!" said Katya.
Back in The Hill...
"I see movement, Taichou!" said Azusa, "in northwestern corner!"
"I see it too, on southeastern corner!" said Alisa.
"No, they're on the north!" said Koume.
"Damn! Are they going to attack from multiple directions?" said Erwin.
"No, it's just a ploy. Though they're strong, they're in serious disadvantages if they try to divide their forces. One of them are real, so pay attention to anything that would give a way. Should we need to retreat, we musn't let ourselves come to their main forces," said Miho.
"Okay, I'll try to look," said Koume.
Another hail of shells made everyone hunkering down for cover. Radio are very busy, and nobody knows who doesn't survive the shelling. Koume, once again, pop out of her hatch and look on her binoculars. Not take a long time before she saw things she fear of.
"Taichou! I see large shadow, they're coming from the north!" said Koume.
"Alright, all available tanks please give support to the north, and who can't go there prepare to leave The Hill, only after they come in," said Miho.
"Roger, I'm already in the north side to support," said Carpaccio.
"Shark Team as well," said Ogin.
Carpaccio's SU-100 and Shark Team's Tiger are now stationed near Koume's Sherman. Some of other tanks also on the way there to support.
"They're coming in fast, just three of us won't be enough to hold them," said Koume.
"More will come, please hold..." said Miho.
KYAAA!
Transmission interrupted by another bombardment, and this time, the Russian's SU-152s place their shot between Koume's line and those who tried to help. Naomi's Tiger got white-flagged by the bombardment, dettered the rest of the pack to go any further. Meanwhile, Klara lead her forces approaching The Hill.
The three tanks open fire, and Carpaccio managed to white-flagged an IS-3, but Klara orders her girls to not slowing down. The bombardments are raging behind Koume's line, and Russian tanks now start open fire.
"Taichou, they're closing on us!" said Koume.
"Hold on, we'll support you..."
"No time! You have to leave now! We'll make our stand here to buy you some time!"
"But..."
"Hurry up! Leave, NOW!"
Miho stunned for a second, but then she orders all tanks to retreat on any available exit they can. If she forced her forces to support Koume, then the casualties would be much more severe. Koume watched as the rest of the team retreats.
"Comrades, let's buy time for our friends. Are you with me?" asked Koume.
"Always!" said Carpaccio.
"Aye! Let's jump on board and cut them to pieces!" said Ogin.
The three tanks open fires under the combined shooting of Russian tanks and SU-152s' bombardment. Shark Team put another IS-3 white-flagged, while Koume immobilize a T-44, but the Russian advance are unstoppable, and three of them sacrifice themselves by the heavy Russian fire.
Miho watched them from safe distance as Russian tanks pour over The Hill and place into their position. A lot of Japanese tanks, mainly Tigers, fall victims to the dauntless Russian attacks. Klara is there, with her IS-4, leading Team Russia to their glory.
"Katya, put out every lamp here, don't let any light give us way," said Klara.
"Roger that!" said Katya.
All the BT-7's commanders then took out PPS-43s from their tanks and begin strolling through The Hill to shoot any light or lamps they find. All Japan Team in the forest saw what before a shining island among the darkness now engulf and become one with the darkness surround it. The last thing they saw before the light completely out is Japan flag slowly come down while Russia flag slowly raising. Table has now turn...
"What now?" asked Emi.
"Now we must try, to break their ring of steel," said Miho.
