Chapter XXV: Operation Tone Deaf (Part One)

Sector Y9

Honam Tank Battling Ground

Jeollanamdo, South Korea

Nishi and Carpaccio quietly crawling through the thick forest in the hill separating both entrance into the pocket of Sector Y9. Without making any suspicious movement, both girls are going to the vantage point and spotting the South Korean forces guarding both entrances.

"Taichou, come in," said Nishi.

"Loud and clear, Nishi-san, do you see them?" asked Miho.

"Yes, seems Korea divide their tanks equally on both entrances."

"Roger that, how's the deployment in each entrances?"

"North entrance: Centurions, followed by Chaffees, then Cromwells. South entrance: Comets, followed by Jacksons, then Cromwells."

"Understood, where is the positions of flag tank of Ahn Soo-jin?"

"In the south entrance, Taichou."

"Alright, come back, we'll commence with Operation Tone Deaf immediately."

"Roger that, over and out."

Miho point the spot in her map.

"What should we do now, Taichou?" asked Erika.

"It depends on what you want to do with your Group, Erika-san," said Miho.

"I think I'm going to go through the hill to break out of encirclement, like what Guderian did on Ardennes."

"That's good move. However, you must be careful, since I don't believe Ahn Soo-jin hasn't thought about this."

"Alright, Taichou."

Miho looked at the other commanders.

"How about the rest of us, Taichou?" asked Emi.

"Do what your Group Commander want you to do, do what you can do best, but keep an eye on each other position. Try to help each other when you can," said Miho.

"Request permission for doing my plan, Taichou," said Marie.

"Granted, please do your best," said Miho, "and all of you as well. South Korea has both powerful tanks and maneuver, so don't let your guard down."

"Understood!"

"And one more thing, put all your radio on very close range, so that we can only call someone who is positioned close to us."

"What?" asked Erika.

Not only Erika, even all commanders kinda surprised with Miho's order.

"I know it's weird, but please trust me on this." said Miho.

Grudgingly, all commanders do the order and going back to their position. However, before all commanders move to their groups position, Miho called Emi.

"Yes, Taichou?" asked Emi.

"Could you do me a favor, Emi-san?" said Miho.

"What can I do for you?"

"Please eliminate Ahn Hyun-jin."

"What?"

"Ahn Soo-jin always in the same position as Ahn Hyun-jin, so it's important for us to take Ahn Hyun-jin out, beside the fact that she's also commanded a flag tank."

"I'll do my best."

"I'm counting on you, Emi-san."

In another place, Erika, as selected commander of First Group preparing her group for a push that she called as "The Ardennes". Among other groups, First Group has the strongest line up, with four Tigers, one Sherman, and one Crusaders. So it's only reasonable that this group will be the one committing first push.

"I sometimes cannot understand with what Miho is thinking," said Erika.

"Her way of thinking is simple, but require deep understanding indeed," said Orange Pekoe.

"And for some reason, she always succeeded in pulling her plan. I just don't know why she insisted to break the team apart and let everyone do their own accord. Moreover, with only radio set on proximity range, that make any long range coordination difficult. It's something unheard of in Kuromorimine."

"Perhaps that's the reason why Miho-sama left Kuromorimine in the first place."

Erika smirked.

"Though, is it true that we could do anything we please for this stage?" asked Orange Pekoe.

"Yes, and it give us more headache. So instead of only worrying the enemies, we must worrying about our partners as well. Where are their position, and avoid crashing into them in the midst of chaos."

"We will try our best."

"Yes, if Miho want us to compete for the best, then let it be Kuromorimine and St. Gloriana showed their class upon others."

"Alright, what shall we do?"

"I'll tell you later, but for now, we have to make our breakthrough via The Ardennes. Tanks at the ready, Orange Pekoe-san."

"Aye, Commander."

Erika then led First Group to climb into the barrier hill. The hill is rather unique, since a tank can only climb from one side in the back. The very steep cliff in left and right side provide no access to safely ascend or descend, as well as not allowing a tank to have a clear shot on passages below them. Meanwhile, the quite steep front side offer an accelerated exit, but not a safe entry. Basic point is, the hill and the area behind it is a death trap.

"We're going for the breakthrough," said Erika, "this would quickly become a bottleneck, so anyone move after us, please be careful."

"Understood, good luck to you all," said Miho.

"Erste Gruppe! Marsch!"

By that command, all the tanks from First Group rushing toward the front exit of the hill, with all the Tigers protecting Koume's Sherman and Rosehip's Crusader in the middle of the formation. The earth rumbling as the heavy tanks make their breakthrough, with Ahn Soo-jin observe their very movement.

"Hyun-joo-ssi, do you see any flag tank among them?" asked Ahn Soo-jin.

"Negative, Daejangnim, I don't see any," said Baek Hyun-joo, the vice-commander for Cromwell company.

"Is it just a decoy?" asked Nam Bo-young.

"I've heard that Miho Nishizumi aren't hesitate to take any unorthodox measure, even if it means endangering their best unit to achieve victory," said Ahn Soo-jin.

"Yes, but isn't holding all three flag tanks in one place is rather risky moves?" asked Baek Hyun-joo.

"Not to mention that decoy or not, the company that just left could provide a bigger threat in later time," said Nam Bo-young.

"It's okay, if Japan kept all their flag tanks in one place, than all we need to do is break into that place and eliminate them all," said Ahn Hyun-jin, "that way, those escapees would be less of a value."

"As much as I hate to admit it, your sister is correct, Daejangnim," said Nam Bo-young, "the sooner we take care of their flag tanks, the faster we achieve our victory."

"Alright, Min-ah-ssi, Hyun-jin-ssi, I want you to..." said Ahn Soo-jin.

"Daejangnim! Another batch of breakthrough!" said Baek Hyun-joo.

As Baek Hyun-joo said that, Japan once again put their breaking attempt, this time it's the Second Group of Ooarai's tanks with Miho's Sherman in the middle of formation.

"Be advised! We got a confirmation of one flag tank! I repeat, we got confirmation of one flag tank," said Baek Hyun-joo, "it's a Sherman!"

Ahn Soo-jin startled, but then she smiled. At last, the only one she after, Miho Nishizumi is getting out of their confinement.

"Order, Daejangnim?" said Baek Hyun-joo.

"I'll take this one, I need you, Seo-yeon, and Na-eun to stay on guard and watch for another breaking attempt of flag tanks," said Ahn Soo-jin.

"Understood, Daejangnim!" said Baek Hyun-joo.

"Park Twins, please support both Hyun-joo's and Hyun-jin's detachments. Don't let the enemy taking advantage on our advance move," said Ahn Soo-jin.

"Understood, Yoon-a and Mi-sook shall support Hyun-joo's detachment," said Park So-hee.

"The rest follow us to support Hyun-jin-nim!" said Park So-hyun.

"Daejangnim, should I do free move?" asked Nam Bo-young, "with the majority portion of their most powerful tanks at large, we need to take a cautionary measure."

"Don't worry, we could cover your spot, Bo-young-ssi," said Sung Min-ah.

"Granted then, do your best," said Ahn Soo-jin, "we shall end this once and for all!"

Miho looked backward as she noticed a large parts of Cromwells' company started to chase them, with their flag tank among them.

"Ahn Soo-jin chase us with some of their Cromwells," said Miho.

"Roger that, we'll be starting to flank their position," said Erika.

"Be advised, their Chaffees also detaching as well," said Miho.

"Does their Chaffees join forces with their Cromwells?" asked Orange Pekoe.

"Seems not," said Miho.

"Now that's interesting," said Erika.

"Would they be putting their flag tank to safety, or they just trying to outflank us again?" asked Orange Pekoe.

"No idea, but I bet on a bit of both," said Erika.

"Erika-san, First Group shall be totally on your command now," said Miho, "please do your best."

"Understood, Taichou!" said Erika.

"Fourth Group, Third Group, will you be okay?" asked Miho.

"Don't worry, we'll be okay," said Marie, "we've talked about this earlier, are we?"

"Yes, but..." said Miho.

"You know that this is the only way, Taichou," said Marie, "it has to go this way."

Miho sighed.

"Wish us luck," said Marie.

"Good luck, then," said Miho, "the radio signal is weaken, Miho out."

The radio communication stopped. Marie sighed while eating her chunk of cake. Her tank rocking as some shells grazing past it. Andou and Oshida looked to Marie with a very intense stare.

"What are you planning now?" asked Andou.

"What we must do," said Marie.

"So we must die?" asked Oshida.

"Everyone has to do their parts in a war, and dying is just one of them," said Marie, "beside, the road to victory paved with bone of the brave men dying to achieve it."

"Then what? So we just wait for our fate?" asked Andou.

"Of course not," said Marie, "a single French tank once could stand by its own and taking out almost an entire German panzer company by sitting, so why can't we?"

"Oui, I'll make sure each of our shell worth discharged," said Oshida.

"And keep throwing smoke grenades," said Marie, "this is very important."

They stopped talking for a while, as South Korean firing them mercilessly. Third Group, Fourth Group, and Fifth Group, the only ones left behind the hill fired back immediately while at the same time throwing smoke grenades to obscure their position. This suppress South Korean strike for a while. Marie goes up to the hatch and skillfully coordinate all tanks to move back and forth, to dodge the shells, though under the thick cloud of smoke, this position is the most dangerous, as a stray shell could ripped her upper-torso apart.

"Fifth Group, decide quickly, if you wish to go, then go now. You'll be stuck with us if you don't go," said Marie, "and I can't coordinate that such amount of tanks, especially with various types."

"We'll go when the time comes, Marie-sama," said Shizuka, "but for now we'll try to reinforce your position."

"Negative, action denied," said Marie, "go now! Third Group and Fourth Group shall stay here, but you will be needed by Taichou for an open field battle."

Shizuka frowned.

"Go now, I'll stay behind," said Naomi, "my Tiger can't go as fast as you guys, so I'll stay here."

"To all Third Group, if you're going to go, then go now with Fifth Group, otherwise, stay here till the end," said Emi.

"Negative, this is static defensive battle, our domain, the Tank Destroyers," said Chifuyu Doi.

"Though you might want to get Youko out first, her Sherman is no use here," said Neko Yamamori.

"Roger that. Youko, you go with Fifth Group, follow Commander Shizuka's order," said Emi.

"How about you, Nakasuga-san?" asked Youko Minami.

"I'll be alright, Miho has entrusted me with a single task and I'm intended to keep it," said Emi.

"Roger that, Nakasuga-san," said Youko Minami.

Youko then position her tank under Fifth Group, preparing to breakthrough, while South Korean continue to rain them on shells. Meanwhile, Shizuka Tsuruki, together with Pepperoni, are in the front, led the escape of other light and medium tanks via the same route. Alisa and Mika has been named as next chain of commands should something goes ill. The entire tanks charge their engine for the dash. Two waves has safely passed, but somehow, Shizuka doesn't think that the third is the charm.

"Go!"

By that command, all tanks starting to dash through The Ardennes, led by Shizuka and Pepperoni's Crusaders. However, after both Crusaders jump out of The Ardennes, South Korean sentries, led by Baek Hyun-joo, fire at the tanks, eliminating Shizuka and Pepperoni's Crusaders at once, and so does Mika's tank which follows closely.

"Keep firing, don't let any of the Japanese tank to escape!" said Baek Hyun-joo.

The next barrage white-flagged Nishi and Eclair's Shermans respectfuly, but when things seems hopeless, First Group, led by Erika open fire on the South Korean sentries, pinning them down and let the other tanks to escape safely. First Group deliver very heavy blows that Baek Hyun-joo forced to led her forces to retreat, while keep returning any fire.

"Hyun-jin-nim, their Tigers are approaching. Unless you finished those trapped tanks fast, we'll be pinned down," said Baek Hyun-joo.

"Arasseo, I'll deal with that." said Ahn Hyun-jin.

Ahn Hyun-jin then signals her gunner to step aside, and then she took the gunner position herself. Before commanding her own tank, Ahn Hyun-jin used to be a gunner in her sister's tank, and she can be said as one of the best tank gunners in Korean Peninsula. She carefully aims through viewfinder of her 17-pounder gun, while signaling the loader to prepare for rapid loading. Normally, she will only target the flag tank, however, she also need to reduce the number of defending tank, to allow the Centurions moving forward, and supporting their detachments. To get a better aim, she instruct her driver to move the tank forward a little bit.

BLAM! BLAM!

A shell was fired, and in a rapid succession followed by another, and Ahn Hyun-jin took down two SU-100 commanded by Chifuyu Doi and Neko Yamamori, which defending Marie's flag tank. This shocked Marie, which then ordered for more smoke to be discharged, however, Ahn Hyun-jin, with her sharp eye to able to recognized silhoutte beyond some thin spot of the smoke, fire another round and white-flagged Gallette's tank which stand near Marie's.

"That tank has a sharpshooter for their gunner, I have to take it out," said Naomi.

"Hold on, no use, your view is equally obscured by the smoke. You won't be able to got her before she got you first," said Marie.

"What do you want me to do, then?"

"Simple, do you have a handkerchief?"

"Really? Now?"

"There's no better time than this time."

"But we lost so many, and would lost so many more."

"I know, but we should put trust on Taichou that she would bring us victory in the end. She, after all, has survived from many many ugly ordeal."

Naomi sighed and blow her bubble gum. The smoke finally get so thick that it obscured everyone's sight. Ahn Hyun-jin stop for a moment. No use firing on this thick smoke, would only waste of shells.

"Tell the Park Twins to creep forward," said Ahn Hyun-jin, "we'll slaughter them and both their flag tanks when the smoke thins out, on my count."

"Our forces is still intact, and they've lost 8 tanks. If we finish them here, they would lost at least 12 tanks with two of them are flag tanks," said Baek Hyun-joo, "is it not better if we rush them now?"

"Yes, but we will suffer casualties should we not careful in approaching. Their tanks here consist of Tigers and SU-100, and they pack a heavy punch. Only our Centurions are strong enough to absorb their frontal blow, so I'd rather not get carried away on this."

"Understood."

Wind is blowing softly, and Ahn Hyun-jin with her loader prepared for another round of shooting. As the smoke goes thin, she saw two silhouette of Tigers with what seemed to be flags in top of their turret. This must be the two flag tanks Japan has, and this should be target of priority. She then slowly rotate her turret to the intended target, despite the smoke. The steadiness, subtleness, and firm way she handle the gun made her a very decent opponent for Hana Suzuki, known to be the best gunner in Ooarai, if not Japan.

"Fire!"

The gun roaring, and the air inside the turret felt as if it's been sucked out by force through the barrel for a second, as the tank rocking very hard by the recoil. A second after firing, the loader quickly open the chamber to release the spent-case, and put inside a new shell in an amazing speed, though still not as fast as Yukari Akiyama's record. Even with smoke obscuring her views, she could still see a glimpse silhouette of white flag raising from her target.

"Ready!" said the loader.

Ahn Hyun-jin has already moved to second target, the second flag tank, and quickly squeeze the trigger for another blaring shot. Without further ado, the second target got white-flagged as well, with her sigh of relief.

"Alright! We've destroyed their flag tanks! All tanks fire at the remaining!" said Ahn Hyun-jin.

Smoke is very much thin out, and clearer silhouettes of their targets can be seen by any of South Korean gunner. Rain of fire quickly return, and without flag tanks to coordinate the movements, white flags popped out one after another, even with smoke not yet cleared all.

"Job well done, Hyun-jin-nim," said Baek Hyun-joo.

Ahn Hyun-jin doesn't replied. She keeps staring on two flag tanks that she's been taken out by herself. Some voice within her heart tells her that something is off. By the time smoke almost gone, she's shocked to see that one of the "flag tank", a Tiger tank commanded by Naomi, is actually a tank with handkerchief tied in a fishing pole to resemble a flag. In the dense of smoke, there's no way Ahn Hyun-jin could know that it's not flag tank.

"Trap?"

While recuperating from her shock, suddenly an 88mm shell hit her tank from top behind, send everyone inside tumbling around the interior of the tank. It happened so fast that everyone stunned for few seconds before chaos break out.

"Ahn Hyun-jin-nim tank has been white-flagged! I repeat, Ahn Hyun-jin-nim tank has been white-flagged!" reported Baek Hyun-joo, with no less shocked herself.

A midst the confusion in South Korean radio communication, Ahn Soo-jin dropped onto her seat with empty stare. Yes, Japan suffer a way more casualties than South Korea since the match began, however, the only South Korean casualties is unbearable to Ahn Soo-jin. And for a moment, no word coming out of her.