Chapter XXIV: Grand Symphony

Sensha Town

The Shinano

Sea of Okhotsk, Japan

A Day Before Departure

All Japan Team assembled in the town hall of Sensha Town for final briefing with Ami Chouno before the later went to South Korea on technical meeting. While everyone already practiced the best they could and gained so much improvement from the last game, some anxiety rises in the air since Miho hasn't yet divulge the specific strategy to deal with South Korean team. With almost 24 hours before they depart to South Korea, everyone expected that today is the day where Miho going to tell them what to do in the upcoming match.

"Alright, Everyone. Before we started our final briefing today, I would like to convey message from Sato-san of Maintenance and Engineering Section," said Ami Chouno, "and she said, especially to the Crusader team, to 'please stop abusing your tanks'. Whatever that supposed to mean."

"I don't think pushing their capabilities to their limits can be considered as 'abusing'," said Rosehip.

"Yes, I also told them that," said Ami Chouno, "okay, first thing first, has Assam and Alisa analyze the condition of Honam TBG?"

"Yes, from what I see on the maps and aerial photos, Honam TBG is a vast areas with relatively minimal landscape features. We could expect plains and mild size hills and foliages, but not as complex as the one in Tunguska. Basically, this terrain is ideal for mobile warfare and fast tanks," said Assam.

"As Assam here said, this is so much suitable for strategy developed by South Korean. From our analysis on their match against North Korea, we can see that North Korea are knows their terrain well, and knows the best way to utilize it. However, the sheer power and flawless maneuver play by South Korea could get them off guard and broken apart in their own turf. To be honest, I don't see any weakness in South Korean maneuver. It's as perfect as it can be. Never seen that kind of perfection anywhere in Japan."

"To me personally, it's like watching a perfect symphony on the battling ground."

Miho suddenly startled hearing what Assam said.

"What about the match before versus North Korea?" asked Erika.

"We recorded two friendly matches from South Korea, in which they both won, against Canada, they only lost 1 tank on the match, and against Thailand, they lost 5 tanks," said Alisa.

"How can they lost more tanks against Thailand? As far as I know, Thailand is just a small power in sensha-do, are they?" asked Erika.

"I also heard that Thailand mainly use Japan tanks of Type-97 Chi-Ha Shinhoto, Type-95 Ha-Go, and Type-89 I-Go. Could that be cue for us to change to our pride Japan-made tanks instead?" said Kinuyo Nishi.

"No valid basis on that logic, Nishi-san," said Erika.

"We'd recon that it's because they're fighting in Thailand and with the time too close to the first match, they don't pull their true strength to conserve energy for the actual match," said Alisa.

"Sounds plausible," said Marie.

"Now, it come to how are we going to deal with this menace," said Assam.

"Miho!" called Erika.

Miho startled hearing someone calling her name. Everyone now fixed their eyes on her.

"What should we do in the match against South Korea?" asked Erika.

"Ah, yes..."

"I personally recommend that we use double envelopment tactics to break their maneuver and trapped their main forces. We only need to destroy their flag tanks anyway, so if we can single out their..." said Alisa.

"I don't think that would work," said Miho.

Alisa seems amused to hear Miho.

"North Korea use double envelopment by utilizing their home base advantage to no avail. When they got their terrain advantage, then it would be disastrous if we try to pull the same strategy on them. Ahn Soo-jin is not a stupid person, and she has an extensive knowledge on strategy. Fighting with double envelopment would be something she anticipate," said Miho.

"Then what you suggest?" asked Erika.

"I say, we take them on their own games," said Miho.

Everyone surprised by what Miho said.

"Do you hear what you just said?" asked Shizuka, "I thought you implicate that South Korea now have advantage over their own terrain, and now you said that..."

"I know this is weird, but I need all of you to trust me. Alisa told us that they're playing like a symphony, so let's all enjoyed the overture," said Miho.

"Enjoy the overture? How?" asked Erika.

"By not dying," said Miho.

Everyone looking at Miho in serious stare. Despite the simplicity of the instruction, nobody dare to doubt that it would be very hard to practice.

"Alright, then what should we do about our flag tanks?" asked Erika.

"Oh, about that, I will appoint myself, Emi-san, and Marie-san, as our flag tanks. Everything else will be arranged accordingly," said Miho.

"Hmm, what an interesting choice, if I may say," said Erika.

"Indeed," said Shizuka.

"So, it's final, then? I'll brought this data to the technical meeting," said Ami Chouno.

"Yes, Instructor Chouno," said Miho.

"Alright then, time for me to go. By the way, Kodama-sama just message me. He said that for this match, our Prime Minister and President of South Korea will be attending, so we're expected to give the best performance and not being embarrassing," said Ami Chouno, "seems the government consider this match is very crucial for the bilateral relationship of both nations, so no pressure."

Match Day

Honam Tank Battling Ground

Jeollanam-do, South Korea

Japan tanks moving in unison on a Panzerkiel formation as they roam Honam TBG in Jeollanam-do, South Korea. After the starting sign, Japan don't waste time to rush and seek their opponents. A B-25 Mitchell, judges planes, sometimes fly pass over their head. Today's judges are from Germany with Helga Voz as head judge, assisted by Carla Steinmann and Angela Wagner. From Ami Chouno, Miho also found out that the flag tanks of South Korea will be held by Ahn Soo-jin, Ahn Hyun-jin, and Nam Bo-young in their respective tanks. Now it's the matter of what to do when their two forces met.

Not far from Japan's tank-cade, an M-24 Chaffee, acted as scout, quietly observing the movement of Japan Team. The commander of that tank is Nam Bo-young, also commander of South Korean Light Tank Company, and one of the vice Field Commander of Ahn Soo-jin.

"Daejangnim, Japan has move into central area on Sector A15. Seems they employed Panzerkiel formation," said Nam Bo-young.

"Panzerkiel formation? Hmm, I expected more than that from Miho Nishizumi," said Ahn Soo-jin.

"Maybe she's just not as great as you expected," said Nam Bo-young.

"Or maybe she's just testing the water," said Ahn Soo-jin, "alright, Bo-young-a, let's give them a proper welcome."

"Yes, Daejangnim!"

Ahn Soo-jin then signaled her troops to prepare the line. 5 Comets and 5 Cromwells formed right wing, while 5 Jacksons and 5 Cromwells formed left wing. In the center, are Centurions. Ahn Soo-jin position her tanks in the right wing, so that both flag tanks are now in both wings. Together, the Korean formation moving out to meet Japan Team, with Nam Bo-young's Chaffees in shadowing position.

"Japan formation, dead ahead," said Nam Bo-young.

"Min-ah, prepare your Company to shoot," said Ahn Soo-jin.

"Understood, Daejangnim!" said Sung Min-ah.

"Hyun-jin-a, when Japan stop to fire at Min-ah's Company, ready to envelop them at once," said Ahn Soo-jin.

"Yes, Eonn... I mean, Daejangnim," said Ahn Hyun-jin.

South Korean Centurions then stopped and stood their ground. By the cue of Sung Min-ah, all the Centurions open fire on Japanese tanks.

"They're firing on us. We fire back?" asked Erika.

"Negative, charge on full speed," said Miho.

"What?"

"They only have 5 Centurions standing in our way. If we pushed through, they won't be able to hold our advance. I'm sure Ahn Soo-jin is preparing a double envelopment against us."

"Alright then. All tanks, full speed ahead! Pierce through those Centurions!"

All Japanese tanks change into close line formation like a giant spear, with Tigers forming spearhead, and all of them moved in a high and unison speed.

"Daejangnim! They're not stopping!" said Min-ah.

"Damn! Miho Nishizumi doesn't buy us!" said Ahn Soo-jin, "Min-ah, don't stand your ground, move away from their advance or you'll risk being overran!"

"Arasseo, Daejangnim!"

"So-hee-ya, So-hyun-a, you join your forces with Min-ah after this to chase the Japan formation."

"Yes, Daejangnim!" said Park So-hee and Park So-hyun.

"Hyun-jin-a, you come with me and try to envelop them."

"Alright, Daejangnim."

"Then I will push them to your net, Daejangnim," said Nam Bo-young.

"Granted!"

Korean Team quickly changed their formation and move to envelope Japanese column. A small squadron of Chaffees, led by Nam Bo-young, moving hot from the opposite side to drive the larger Japanese column into Korean main flanking forces.

"They're firing hot from the right," said Erika.

"I know, but it's just their Chaffees detachment, seems they're just trying to drive us away," said Miho, "change course, straight to the Chaffees."

"Jawohl!"

Per Miho's order, Japan column change course and pursue the Chaffee's position. This maneuver led to Nam Bo-young order her detachment to move away, and open an escape route for Japan.

"Damn, this Miho Nishizumi is good," said Ahn Soo-jin, "Bo-young-a, don't wander again, join with the others, and we'll make a two-prong attack."

"Understood!"

Korean change their formation again. This time 5 Cromwells and 5 Comets, along with both Ahn Soo-jin and Ahn Hyun-jin, forming a left prong, while 5 Cromwells and 5 Jacksons forming a right prong. Chaffees and Centurions combined their columns, creating a single column to pursue Japan forces. Utilizing their superior speed, left prong and right prong moving to pincer Japan large column.

"Shizuka-san, Erwin-san, led your forces ahead and detached from the main force," said Miho.

"You mean leaving you?" asked Shizuka.

"For now," said Miho, "which prong do you think is the weakest?"

"If we think about it strategically, left prong has both flag tanks, but from the composition, I'd prefer to go for right prong."

"Then right prong it is, try to encircle it. Do you understand?"

"I see, alright, Taichou."

Shizuka and Erwin led their column to quickly gone encircle South Korean right prong, utilizing their speed. This move, however, quickly noticed by Ahn Soo-jin. So instead proceeding with their pincer movement, Ahn Soo-jin orders the right prong to straight ahead and disperse before regrouping, preventing Japan to effectively surround the right prong. In few rounds, Miho and Ahn Soo-jin constantly trying to maneuver and counter-maneuver their opponent, but none of it works due to the sharpness of each commander.

"That Japan Team give me quite a frustration, Daejangnim," said Nam Bo-young.

"I know, I shouldn't have to underestimate Miho Nishizumi," said Ahn Soo-jin, "but they're the most fun we faced up till now."

"Any ideas how to beat them? This match is dragging us."

"They're trying to pull Von Schlieffen's Plan on us," said Ahn Soo-jin, "series of flanking and flanking used by German Empire when they're trying to beat France on World War I. However, they won't be able to outflank us any longer."

"What do you mean?"

"Because I'm leading them to Sector Y9."

"What? Sector Y9? But that is..."

"Yes, that's the extreme west of Honam TBG. Once they got there, they won't have any room to escape."

"Ah, I understand."

"Sector Y9 is a pocket, with thick hill in its mouth, dividing the entrance only on two ways. After they're entering the pocket, we'll seal both entrance, trapped them inside."

"But, what if they..."

"You don't trust me?"

"I'm sorry, Daejangnim."

"Don't worry, we'll get them this time."

South Korean Team keep chasing Japanese Team to enter Sector Y9, which Miho herself doesn't seem to have any other way to evade this. Instead, it looks like as if Miho deliberately lead her forces to Sector Y9.

"Taichou, is this okay? If we enter that place, doesn't it..." asked Koume.

"It's okay, we have no other choice for now. But I need them to stop chasing us for a while," said Miho.

"By entering a dead-end?" asked Erika.

"Ahn Soo-jin won't be so careless to chase us there. She would've stationed her forces outside both entrances of the pocket," said Miho.

"And getting us surrounded," said Erika.

"It's okay for now," said Miho, "beside, the overture is over now, time to get serious."

Erika quite startled. Miho once said that Japan shall enjoy the overture of South Korean's Grand Symphony. When Miho finally said that the overture is over, could she have prepared some final strategy?

"Everyone, listen to me. Once we enter Sector Y9, I want everyone to join the new formation as follows. First group: St. Gloriana and Kuromorimine, Second Grup: Ooarai, Third Group: Bellwall, Fourth Group: Pravda-BC Freedom-Jatkosota-Maginot, Fifth Group: Saunders, Centipede, Anzio and Chi-Ha-Tan," said Miho.

"Wait, but that..." Erika suddenly realized something.

"Everyone, it's time to prepare for Operation Tone-Deaf!"

And Japan tanks enters Sector Y9 to safety, while South Korean split their formation and guard both entrances. Crowds cheering and gasp, full of anticipation of what to come. In VIP rooms, Ami Chouno stands with an eerie smile.

"So, that's your plan all this time, Miho?" said Ami Chouno.