Chapter XX: The Ring of Steel (Part Two)


Few Days Earlier


Sensha Town

The Shinano

Sea of Okhotsk, Russia

Miho silent in her chair. She seems very surprised to hear what has Shizuka suggest her. After their debrief from Yekaterinburg, Shizuka requested to speak only on company commanders and vice-comanders about something.

"From my analysis on site, I believe this is the right strategy," said Shizuka.

"Cutting of snake's head?" asked Erika.

"When we think of it, it's very much reasonable," said Orange Pekoe, "and it's not like we've never think about this before,"

"You mean 'Anti-Ooarai Strategy' we discussed about in Leclerc Tank Cafe?" asked Alisa.

"What is 'Anti-Ooarai Strategy'?" asked Miho.

"Oh, that's something we, sensha-do powerhouse, devised on the aftermath of Ooarai's victory on 63rd Sensha-do Tournament," said Orange Pekoe.

"You do that?" asked Miho very much surprised.

"At that time, Darjeeling-sama suggested that the only way to defeat Ooarai is by taking down their commander first, which is you, Nishizumi-taichou," said Orange Pekoe.

"What?" Miho can't say even a word.

"It's the same as we did when Bellwall facing Ooarai on Commemorative Cup consolation match," said Emi, "there's no way we could defeat Ooarai as long as you are still around, Miho. At least not without great casualties."

"Yes, and from what I analyzed, Klara is the only one keeping Yelena Vukova and Natalya Zhirinovsky from not killing on each other," said Shizuka, "if we could take Klara out early in the game..."

"Then we could force Russian team to be in chaos after her demise, with Yelena Vukova and Natalya Zhirinovsky would likely to fight about who shall replace her as commander," said Erika, "sounded like a solid plan to me."

Everyone silent for a while.

"It doesn't seems right to me," said Miho.

"All fair in love and war," said Alisa, "American also did that when they decided to kill Admiral Yamamoto in the mid of Pacific War. I don't think it's illegal to target on opponent's commander first,"

"There's a catch though in that strategy," said Emi, "we failed on targeting Miho back then, simply because Miho, on her own, is a very hard target to get. Not to mention that the entire Ooarai seems unite to protect her at all cost."

"Well, that is the same problem we had," said Shizuka, "since I don't think Russian would missed that point as well. Without Klara instructing to do so, there's chance Russian would like to protect their commander at all cost, but only as long as she still live."

"As long as she still lives," said Erika.

"And with Russian tanks so powerful, reaching Klara would be very difficult," said Miho, "as far as I'm concern, our Crusaders is the only tanks fast enough to break any Russian encirclement and locate Klara in the middle of Russian forces. To take her out, however, is another story,"

"Crusader III's QF 6-pounder gun are powerful enough to pierce T-44's side or rear armor at 100 meters range; but they won't stand a chance against heavy Russian tank like IS-3, moreover an IS-4," said Orange Pekoe.

"Not to mention that to do that, we have only one shot," said Erika, "if we failed on that one shot, Russian would protect their commander like crazy."

"Then we must not fail," said Miho.

All looking at Miho.

"Despite the sinister nature of this plan, I do believe that this is a good plan, if not our only chance, to beat Russia, should we failed to take The Hill," said Miho, "and if we should go with this plan, then we must execute it flawlessly, even if it should take our own lives. However, I would not endorse any execution of this plan unless we have exhausted every other options for victory."

"So it's a reserve plan?" asked Erika.

"Yes," said Miho, "but don't tell anyone outside this room about this plan. I don't want them to be overly eager and ended up killing themselves in the process."

"Understood."

"Dismissed, then, and please go to your company to double check our preparation on the upcoming match," said Miho.

Everyone then leaving the room. But as Shizuka about to go out, Miho called her.

"I trust your judgment on this matter, Shizuka-san. It's just that given the situation, the execution of this plan would be very dangerous," said Miho, "at least one must be eliminated and take Klara down with her, and I don't want to take that option yet."

"You do realize that getting out of battle without any casualty is impossible, don't you?"

"I know, but I don't want anyone to be eliminated, just because I destined them to."

"Kinda strange to hear it from you, Taichou."

"Eh?"

"You know, you have a sinister trait that shared by any other great commanders in history. You could coerce someone under your wing to do something to their utmost efforts, even if that means to sacrifice their lives in the process."

"I..."

"It's not actually bad, since you could make your soldiers to do something not because they were told to do so, but because they realize that their struggle, or their lives, is important to achieve the victory. You made them realize that they are the elements of the victory, not just some tools to achieve it. They trust you to bring them victory, not just merely giving their lives on your behalf. So don't feel any regret, since we trust you on this, I know I do."

"Thank you, Shizuka-san,"

"By the way, you said that 'at least one must be eliminated and take Klara down with her'. What do you mean by that? Don't say that you have..."

"Yes, Shizuka-san, I'm afraid I have."


Few Moments Before End of Part One


Forest Around The Hill

Tunguska Tank Battling Ground

Siberia, Russia

Shizuka gather her Crusaders company after learning the fact about Anteater Team survived and coincidentally locate the position of Klara, commander of Russian team.

"Comrades, I have to ask you a difficult favor," said Shizuka.

"Do tell us, we're ready," said Noriko.

"When the bombardment stop, we must rush ourselves to break into The Hill," said Shizuka.

"So we're going to spearhead the charge, desu wa?" asked Rosehip.

"No, just breaking there. Your job is to wreak havoc there the best as you could, while I will..." said Shizuka.

"Locate Klara, isn't it?" said Noriko.

Shizuka nod, to the restless of everyone else.

"I thought Orange Pekoe has told us that our gun won't be strong enough to pierce her tank?" asked Noriko.

"Yes, it is, they won't be strong enough," said Shizuka.

"Then it's a suicide mission for you," said Pepperoni.

"Nobody said that I'm going to still be alive after all," said Shizuka, "but if this mission succeeded, then there's only one tank should die."

"And steal all the glory," said Pepperoni.

"It's victory we're looking at, Pepperoni-san, not just some personal glory," said Shizuka, "beside, I need you to do other thing."

"Draw the attention of their BT-7s, eh?" asked Rosehip, "they're the only one could stand between you and locating Klara."

"And eliminate them in the process, if you can," said Shizuka, "Klara is very close to their squadron leader, Katya, and that could jeopardize our main endeavor."

"Killing two birds with one stone?" said Kanako Kashiwaba.

"Rather like eating two course of meal in one meal time," said Tsurigiko Kashiwaba.

"Leave the BT-7s on us," said Pepperoni.

"However, since one of our team is stranded in enemy territory, I would also want to pulled out something," said Noriko, "if it succeeded, then it would paved our path for our next counter-attack."

"What kind of 'something' are we talking about?" asked Shizuka.

"You remember what we did on The Cauldron? Pretty much the same," said Noriko.

"Alone? Are you sure?" asked Shizuka.

"Well, we're pretty much alone back then. Beside, the rest has been tasked to deal with their BT-7s squadron, and I don't want to reduce their number any further, considering that the squadron alone has already posses terrible danger on us," said Noriko.

"And stretch our number too thin," said Pepperoni.

"Not something we can't do, desu wa," said Rosehip.

"Alright, I hand it to you, just be careful, and we'll be succeed or die trying," said Shizuka.

Miho rolled her tanks near the forest, together with other tanks preparing to bombard The Hill, which is now engulfed in total darkness.

"Hippo Team, how do you see The Hill now?" asked Miho.

"The snowing has thinned out alright, but still dark. Though we could see the dark spot of their building vaguely," said Erwin.

"How does Saemonza-san's long-range sniping ability?" asked Miho.

"I'm not as good as Hana-san from your Anglerfish Team, but I can manage to put up a good shot," said Saemonza.

"Good, because I'll put all the burdens of the world in your one shot. It has to be perfect, or all will be lost in vain," said Miho.

"Taichou, aren't you exaggerating things?" asked Saemonza.

"I think she's serious, ze yo," said Oryou.

"Then I'll do the best of my ability for this one shot," said Saemonza, "what's the target,"

"You'll see," said Miho, "just be prepared to shoot by the time the target's available."

"Is it what we've been talking earlier?" asked Erwin.

"Yes, it's time," said Miho.

"Consider it done!" said Erwin excitedly.

"Thank you very much," said Miho.

Miho stopped as she sees Crusaders company are coming closer on her tank. Shizuka is sitting on her hatch.

"Are you ready?" asked Miho.

"Ready as ever," said Shizuka.

"I'll try to make distraction for your breakthrough."

"And I'll find Klara for you. Has everything ready?"

"All set."

Shizuka then pull something out, it's a flask with the same size as 57mm shell head.

"Be careful," said Miho.

"Yes, make use of my demise the best as you can," said Shizuka.

"I will."

Shizuka then go down into the tank as Miho orders bombardment to start. She also instruct Alisa with the remaining of Sherman to go back and forth from the Russian defense, as if trying to breakthrough. As Japan harass their bombardment, Russia replied by heavy barrage on any tank silhouette they see. Shizuka looked at her pocket watch, trying to time her advance perfectly.

"Rin, are you ready?" asked Shizuka.

"Yes," said Rin.

"Brought us to Klara's position," said Shizuka.

"That is indeed a suicide move," said Haruka.

"Then let's not make it futile," said Shizuka, "alright, on my count of three. One, two..."

Shizuka's Crusader then blazing as fast as she can, followed by other Crusaders. All of their light were turned on, made them obvious target for Russian defense. However, the speed and maneuverability of Crusaders allowed them to dodge all the barrage and darting into The Hill.

"Crusaders, spread out! Don't stop even to fire on an enemy! Duck Team, in your position!" said Shizuka.

"Roger that!" said Noriko.

Duck Team's Crusader suddenly turned off her lights and make a turn towards dark alley before engulfed in darkness. Some Russian tanks are trying to shoot them, but all of them doesn't meet their target. Meanwhile, Rin spurred her Crusader to go around some alley while trying to go to Klara's position.

"BT-7s, in our back!" said Haruka.

"We've got more following," said Pepperoni.

"Could you cover me?" asked Shizuka.

"Roger that," said Pepperoni.

Pepperoni then intersect her Crusader to stand between Shizuka's Crusader and her pursuer. BT-7s trying to shoot their target, but in this high-speed, it's so hard to pinpoint anything. Shizuka's Crusader then turn, breaking formation with Pepperoni. This happened so fast that Katya's too late to anticipate, so she have to turn on the next corner to try to pursuit Shizuka. But by that time, Shizuka is already one block in front of her.

"How much further?" asked Shizuka.

"One block away!" said Rin.

Shizuka then open the hatch, and saw a huge silhouette of IS-4 standing in front of her way. She quickly push Rin's shoulder with her feet, order her to stop the tank. The Crusader then abruptly stopped, only few feet away from the IS-4. Klara is there, on the hatch, and their eyes meet.

There's a moment of silence before both commander slid down into their turret, and start firing. Shizuka knows that her gun has already loaded with flask, filled with luminous paint she carries, and Haruka used a specially made propellant to fire the makeshift round. Both tank fires almost at the same time, and in this range, none of them missed. All of the person in Crusader can only feel huge hit and their tank flying in the air, rolling, tumbling, before being smashed to the ground very hard.

Miho stopped the bombardment immediately. And the flash that lighting up the sky is now gone. Caesar, from her position, look closely on The Hill which now pitch black once again. However, something is drawing her attention.

"Monza! Do you see that light spot?" asked Caesar.

"Yes, got the coordinate. Oryou, positioned our gun!" said Saemonza.

"Positioned ready, ze yo," said Oryou.

"The weight of the world now rest in your shoulder, so make it count," said Erwin.

Saemonza then place her eyes on the gun sight. In this pitch black condition, the dimmed light looks like a shiny bright beacon in her eyes. She take a beads, hold her breath, and gently squeeze the trigger.

"BOOM!"

SU-100's 100mm shell flying from Hippo Team's gun, straight into her sole target down there. Klara was too late to realize this and quickly down the hatch to cover, just in time when the shell fall onto her tank and creates huge explosion. Despite the thick armor of IS-4 in front and sides, its top armor is quite thin, and this weak spot, that being stroke by Hippo Team's shell, instantly white-flagged the tank.

"Komandyr's tank got white-flagged!" shouted one of Russian tanker.

For a moment, radios are busy. The news of Klara's demise reach into Miho's ear, which not surprised at what has happened. She sighed for a moment before reaching into her radio.

"Nishi-san, you're taking charge on our next offensive moves," said Miho.

"M'am, yes, m'am!" said Kinuyo Nishi.

"Alisa, Rabbit Team, help to support her the best as you can!" said Miho.

"Alright!" said Alisa and Azusa.

"Mika-san, you're taking charge on our defensive position," said Miho, "Eclair and BC Freedom will help you on that."

"Okay," said Mika while playing her kantelle.

"Be ready, all, it's time to strike back!" said Miho.