Chapter XXVI: Godspeed! Lesson for Rosehip
Few Minutes Earlier...
Group One, after escaping "The Ardennes" quickly regroup. Erika, as the grup commander, realizing that after Miho's group breaking through the Ardennes, South Korean seems focusing their efforts to get them. It's quite rational, since there's a last flag tank in Miho's group, which have to put them in a high priority, and in consequences, left Erika's group unscathed.
"They're focusing their efforts on chasing Miho-san," said Orange Pekoe.
"Understandable, given the importance," said Erika.
"It is just as predicted by Miho-san. The question is, what shall we do next? Did Miho left you with some further instructions?"
"No, as we all know, the only instruction she gave all of us is to 'do our best', whatever that supposed to mean."
"We could go and help Miho."
"That surely an option, yes. However, I'm not sure that it's something I'd like to pursue."
"Then what do you suggest, Erika-san?"
Erika thought for a second.
"Most of their heavy hitter was concentrated in besieging Marie and Emi's groups behind the hill. I'd say we turn back and press them from behind, just as they did to us."
"And left Miho to fend for herself?"
"With Miho and Ooarai's fighting capabilities, it would be contra-productive to help them. We must hurry to aid Marie and Emi's instead, pin the besieger down, and hit our tally for more casualties in the South Korean side."
"But helping a doomed flag tanks, isn't that something..."
"Something that would be done by Miho. And I believe, that also something Miho would want me to pursue."
"I'm not sure how this going to play out."
"Me neither, but first we have to trust on Miho's judgement, which entrust the decision on our hands. If we help Miho now, South Korean would still have their heavy hitters after they finished our flag tanks, and it could make worse on our next step."
"So, we're going back it is. But to where? Left flank or right flank?"
"Which one do you prefer the most, Pekoe-san?"
"Left flank has all their Centurions, which is more of a match for our Tigers, but they put most of their big punch in right flank, so I'll took the right flank. Besides, we could easily disposed their medium tanks, no matter how big their punch is."
"Alright, right flank it is."
While Erika and Orange Pekoe discussing their strategy, Rosehip, which listening all the time, seems has different things in her mind. Her tank crews, Cranberry and Vanilla, notice that it seems she's currently mustering her courage to utter her thoughts.
"If there's something you want to said, you'd better say it now," said Cranberry.
"You think so, Cranberry?" asked Rosehip.
"You remember what Taichou told us, are you?"
"Yes, but I don't know if..."
"As long as you believe it, we would take you wherever you want to go," said Vanilla.
Rosehip stared deeply to her two comrades, before she grab a radio.
"Group Commander, requesting permission to speak," said Rosehip.
"Granted," said Erika.
"One of enemy's flag tank's whereabout is currently unknown, the Chaffee of Nam Bo-young. Request permission to conduct a hunter-killer operation on them."
"What are you doing, Rosehip? Are you trying to rush your way again?" asked Orange Pekoe.
"You have to follow what has been ordered, Rosehip," said Assam, "show your pride as St. Gloriana's member by following order."
"I know, but is it not Darjeeling-sama herself quoted that we are expected to do our duty? " said Rosehip, "I'm not sure the duty of being a hunter-killer is much more suitable to my tank."
"Don't argue with me under her name, Rosehip!" said Assam.
"But, Assam-sama..." said Rosehip.
"That's enough!" said Erika with loud voice.
Everyone fall silent.
"Permission granted, Rosehip, just do what you have to do," said Erika.
"Wha.. Yes, thank you very much, Grup Commander!" said Rosehip.
"Koume, go with her," said Erika.
"Group Commander?" asked Koume.
"Nam Bo-young has 5 Chaffees in her command, I don't want to risk sending Rosehip there by her own, just to increase the odd."
"Roger that," said Koume, "Rosehip-san, please lead the way."
"Oh okay," said Rosehip.
Rosehip's Crusader and Koume's Sherman then break formation to hunt Nam Bo-young's units.
"Are you sure it's correct to let them go?" asked Orange Pekoe.
"Why should I not?" asked Erika.
"It's only four of us now."
"I can live with that. Besides, we are Tigers, and what I'm about to do next is something that I don't think a Sherman and a Crusader could follow."
Orange Pekoe watch cautiously as their remaining four Tigers change course and head back to the flank where South Korean's Jacksons, Comets, and some of the Cromwells congested themselves, held back by Marie's brilliant defensive maneuver. The only thing worried by Erika is that Marie and Emi has to hold their ground long enough until they arrived there, otherwise, all of this will be futile.
Meanwhile, Koume and Rosehip going by themselves. There's something about Rosehip that she insisted in taking this initiative, something that Koume knows more than what Rosehip said about "suitable mission".
"Rosehip-san," asked Koume.
"Huh?"
"Why do you insist in taking this mission, by the way, if I may know."
"I just want to proof myself, Koume-san."
"Proof yourself?"
Rosehip nod and her memories flown back the night before the match begin, at their Federation Carrier Shinano.
The Day Before The Match
Practice Field
Federation Tank Training Carrier
The Shinano
"Alright everyone, you've done great job today, so go back to your quarters and take a good rest, since tomorrow is the match day!" said Miho in top of her tank after Japan Team finished their training today.
"Otsukare sama deshita!" said everyone while bowing.
All the crews then prepare to conclude their training by taking back their tanks to the hangars for final checking before being prepared to be shipped to Honam. Miho and her crews are checking to make sure that everyone is heading home before she herself left the field.
"So, what do you want to eat for dinner, Miporin?" asked Saori.
"I can eat anything, especially if Saori is cooking," said Hana.
"I just want to go home and sleep," said Mako.
"Anything is fine by me," said Miho, "but don't make something difficult, since we need to have a good rest as well."
"Leave that to me!" said Saori.
"Hey, wait, Nishizumi-dono, isn't that Rosehip, closing on our tank?" said Yukari.
Miho looked to Rosehip, that drove her Crusader to approach her. It's very much unusual that Rosehip did this, so Miho thinks that Rosehip has something to say to her.
"What is it, Rosehip-san?" asked Miho, when their tanks is close enough.
Rosehip doesn't replied. But she quickly jumped out of her tank and bow in front of Miho, to Miho's confusion.
"Forgive me, Taichou, but would you mind to teach me?" said Rosehip while bowing.
"Teach you? But what should I teach you? You already one of the best tanker of St. Gloriana," said Miho.
"That's the problem, Taichou! I think that my style all this long is a disgrace for St. Gloriana!"
"Disgrace?"
"Darjeeling-sama once said, that be elegant at all time, that is the sensha-do of St. Gloriana. But I'm neither graceful or elegant, I'm just a reckless girl pursuing my lust for speed, which shamed all of my colleagues. I don't want to transfer those disgrace to Japan National Team, especially, I don't want to disappoint you."
Miho nods and stare Rosehip's pleading eyes carefuly.
"Why now?"
"South Korea will employ flawless formations and maneuvers, that we must meet with equally flawless. My reckless style won't aid anything in that, if not ruining it, creating hole that can be exploited by South Korean."
"Alright then, if that what you wish. Go to refresh and replenish yourself and wait for me in the Section 2A of Practice Field. I'll teach you."
"You do? Thank you very much, Taichou!"
Cheerfully, Rosehip jumps to her own tank before riding it to the replenishment station. Miho sighed very heavily.
"I'm sorry, everyone, I guess we will be home quite a bit late tonight," said Miho.
"It's okay, we can buy oyakodons or gyudons from Sunkus for dinner," said Saori, "they taste good too."
"And I can sleep on the flight," yawn Mako.
"Don't you always do that?" asked Hana.
"Right, I'll contact replenishment station to prepare fuel and training ammos for us," said Yukari, "though I don't think maintenance team would be happy with our decision."
"Oh, they won't for sure," said Miho.
Sun has set when Rosehip finally arrived at Section 2A of The Practice Field. This Section 2A contains a vast open area, build specifically to practice maneuver of large tank formations. Due to the nature of Honam Tank Battling Ground, Miho has been focusing her training in this particular Section, since she expected that the battle against South Korea would be fast-paced and dynamics.
"You're here, Rosehip," said Miho.
"Yes, Taichou, sorry I'm being late," said Rosehip.
"No, we just arrived here either. So, let's begin our lesson tonight, shall we?"
"What should I do, Taichou?"
"For a start, I'd like you to play tank-tag with me."
"Tank-tag?"
"You know this game, do you?"
"Yes, the tank, represented as Oni, must try hitting their opponent and got scores. So we have to try to aim true while dodging agilely. In two tank tag game, the Oni can only fire once, and if they miss, they failed to get the score, thus their opponents can become a new Oni, and have chance to take score. Players other than Oni cannot shot, and can only dodge until they become Oni again."
"That's right. Maintenance Team has told me that due to the preparation for tomorrow, we won't be allowed to use regular shells, so they equipped our tanks with rubber-shell instead. Despite, this shell would perfectly mimic the characteristic of regular shell, only with weaker punch."
"Got it. But what that have to do with fixing my style?"
"You'll see. For the first roll, I'll be the target and you'll be Oni. Count to 10 then try to tag my tank. Erwin-san in the surveillance tower will keep tally of our score."
"Got it."
"However, as this is a special training, I'm adding some twists on the game."
Miho clapped her hands, and from behind, Duck Team's Crusader roll in, and take place beside Miho's tank.
"Thank you for joining, Isobe-san, I'm sorry to disturb your rest time," said Miho.
"Nah, it's okay. It's not like we have another activities anyway. Beside, this is a great way to heat up before match," said Noriko.
"I'm sorry, but what did Duck-san doing here?" asked Rosehip.
"Right, Duck Team will serve as, what we called as 'diversion'. Their tank will roam the field as we play tank-tag. The rule is, neither of our tank is allowed to hit Duck Team's tank. Duck Team also will not take any communication nor order from any of us," said Miho, "and for the final twist..."
Miho raised her right arms, and suddenly, all lamps were turned off. Not long after, Miho's Sherman turn on the lights, and Miho also signal Rosehip to turn on hers. In the darkness of night, only the two tanks visible.
"Only our tank allowed to turn on the light, Duck Team's would roam in darkness, so we have to be careful not to accidentally hit them by any means. Any hit on Duck Team's tank by any means would be counted as minus point. Do you understand, Rosehip?"
"Yes, Taichou!"
"If you are ready, please start counting to 10."
"Alright! 10, 9..."
Both Miho's and Duck Team's tanks are rolling in the darkness while Rosehip is counting. While initially Rosehip can still recognized her target's silhouette, soon Miho's tank can only visible as a ball of light, while Duck Team's tank whereabout is unknown, only the sound of roaring engines and clacking tracks echoing in the field.
"You do realize that their tank is faster, more agile, and have more muzzle velocity than our tank, right, Nishizumi-dono?" asked Yukari.
"Uh-hm," Miho nod, "but a tank can only as powerful as her crew inside."
"So what do you sought from this teaching?" asked Hana.
"Rosehip has, in many ways, a lot of skills to thrive as a good tanker. I want to help discover her true potential," said Miho.
"Didn't Rosehip said that she want you to help her fixed her recklessness?" asked Saori.
"That too, but I want her to learn something more important, something that we all have acknowledged," said Miho.
Miho silent for a moment, and all everyone can hear is just rustling sound of tanks. It's quite unusual that Miho led the tank from inside her turret instead of her regular head-up posture.
"She must have finished her counting," said Miho, "Mako-san, could you recognized your surrounding in this darkness well?"
"Yes, I can," said Mako.
"Good," said Miho, "and Hana-san, don't take your eyes off her light ball, please."
"Done it, I won't let her off my sight," said Hana.
"Alright, I want everyone please follow closely on my order," said Miho.
"Got it!" said everyone.
Rosehip quickly rush her way to Miho's light ball. Tank tag is one of her favorite spare-time activity, so she kinda wonder why Miho want her to play this game with her.
"I'm targeting her tank, Commander!" said Vanilla, her gunner.
"Good, Crusader's 6-pounder have a greater muzzle velocity than their M1 gun. Make sure to fire at them once we're lining up," said Rosehip.
"Lined up!"
"Fire!"
Vanilla quickly fire her gun. A 57mm shell darting past the darkness. However, as if Miho has guessed it before, the Sherman quickly turn thus made the shell overshot.
"Missed!" said Erwin via radio to both player.
"Hana-san!" said Miho while tapping on Hana's shoulder.
"Got it!" said Hana.
Hana quickly fire her gun, that straightly went to the unsuspecting Crusader. Unable to evade in time, Rosehip's Crusader got hit by Hana's shell in a blink of an eye. The precision of Hana's shot, even in the darkness, startled Rosehip and her crews. An easy one score for Miho and her Anglerfish Team.
"What is that? How did she made that shot?" asked Vanilla.
"As if she has targeted us even before we even shot," said Cranberry, the driver.
"That is scary indeed," said Rosehip.
"So this is the true power of Anglerfish Team? The best tank team of Ooarai?" asked Vanilla.
"How can we fight such power?" asked Cranberry.
"Hey! Our tank is best suited for this game, and this is just first score they got. We'll get them back in no time, so gather your forte, desu wa!" said Rosehip while loading her shell, "Vanilla, prepare the next shot, be very careful this time!"
"Right!" said Vanilla.
"Cranberry, stick to them as close as you can, I want them cannot shake us off!" said Rosehip.
"Alright!" said Cranberry.
"We'll show them the true power of St. Gloriana's best speedster!" said Rosehip.
"Aren't you supposed to think more strategically instead of going by your heart content?" asked Cranberry.
"Ah yes, that's right. So we're going to approach and shoot them strategically, then, follow them close... Aaaaah!"
Everyone shouted as they felt their tank crashing on something. It's Duck Team's Crusader, which has been told to roam around like crazy.
"Rosehip, minus one for score!" said Erwin.
Yes, any hit to Duck Team's tank, by any means, would be considered as minus one. This include bumping, crashing, or shooting accidentally. With the tank moving around in the darkness, there is no way to map their position, and this add some more difficulties to Rosehip.
As the game played on, Rosehip quickly sunk in the bottom. Anglerfish Team constantly gain points each time they serve as Oni. In the contrary, Rosehip can only gain missed shot, or worse, minus score for hitting Duck Team's tank. About half an hour into the game, the score is 10 for Miho, and -6 for Rosehip. Each time Rosehip tried to be more strategic, Miho always beat her like hell, and this pretty much break Rosehip fortitude. At this point, Rosehip just decided to stop chasing, which noticed by Miho.
"Let's continue this game, Rosehip-san, your turn as Oni now," said Miho.
"Taichou, I think I can't continue this game anymore," said Rosehip.
"What's the matter? I thought you like this game as your spare-time activity?"
"You're just to tough to beat, Taichou. In this rate, I won't even get close to your standard."
"You think so? It's odd then."
"Odd?"
"I remember the first time I met you. You chase our tank relentlessly, even after crashing to Klara's tank. Also, in Hokkaido, it's your spirit to rush into enemy's formation that amazed me, despite you know that enemy is stronger than you. I think those are what defined Rosehip to me."
"But that also made me unworthy to be St. Gloriana's team."
"If that so, then why Darjeeling-san kept you in the team for so long?"
"What?"
"I believe that beyond the reckless nature of your, Darjeeling-san sees something special from you, something she didn't get from other members of St. Gloriana."
Rosehip looked at Miho.
"You're strong, Rosehip, perhaps more than you know. So now please show me that strength and fortitude, shall we?"
"Al...Alright."
"I tell you what, how about if we raise the ante? If you could hit my tank in this turn, I'll take it as victory in your side. Would you be able to do it?"
"This turn? But you see that I..."
"You are a proud Crusader's commander of St. Gloriana, are you not? You know your tank more than anyone in here. That is all you need to win, and that is all you need to rely. Now, let's begin."
Miho then stepped back down into her turret, and move away, though still around the eyesight of Rosehip.
"That's unusual, isn't it?" said Vanilla.
"Unusual? How?" asked Rosehip.
"Taichou rarely battled inside her tank, she always use head-up approach, despite the danger."
"What?"
Yes, Vanilla is right, Miho almost never led her tank inside the safety of her own turret. But, what is it to Rosehip? And Rosehip can't helped to wonder about what Miho said about she knows Crusader more than anyone else. Could it be?
Rosehip plunged down, and started to close her eyes. At first, she can only hear the rumbling sound of her own tank engine, but after sometime, she heard something else. Yes, she heard a faint sound of another Crusader roaming around them, and another engine that she's not so familiar. A Sherman? Is it Miho's? Given more time, and more concentration, she sweared she could faintly guess where are they. This is it! Is this things that Miho wants Rosehip to learn?
"Cranberry, Vanilla, I want to do something, but I need you both to trust me completely," said Rosehip, "can you do that?"
"Yes," said both Vanilla and Cranberry.
"Cranberry, I want you to follow my instruction closely, don't stray from my direction, will you?" said Rosehip.
"Right, Commander, I'll do the best I can," said Cranberry.
"Vanilla, only shoot when I told you so. Taichou has a very keen sense of surrounding, so we can't shoot them from afar. Our best chance is to dart close to them and shoot them point-blank," said Rosehip.
"How about the other Crusader?" asked Cranberry.
"Don't worry about them, I'll guide you," said Rosehip, "but for now, let's turn our lights off."
"What? But that means we're going blind?" asked Cranberry.
"And I can't shoot blindly!" said Vanilla.
Rosehip tap their shoulder, and they felt a sudden relief. There is a different aura emanating from Rosehip.
"Just believe in me, okay?" said Rosehip with a deep voice.
"Yes, M'am," said Cranberry and Vanilla.
"We're going to pull this one together," said Rosehip, "now turn off the light."
Cranberry carefully switch off the tank light. Now, the only light ball in the field is only from Miho's tank. Shrouded with darkness, Rosehip tried to focus more in the surrounding. She then heard a rumbling sound of Crusader getting closer.
"Go straight!" said Rosehip.
"But, don't you hear the sound of other tank moving?" asked Cranberry.
"Trust me! Now move, but don't stray off course, since we're going to be dangerously close to their tank."
"How do you know?"
"Trust me, I know a Crusader like a back of my hand."
Despite the doubt, Cranberry choose to trust on Rosehip's judgment. She move her tank as Rosehip steer her to her course. Rumbling of the tank are heard pretty close to them, though Cranberry cannot decided where does the position, and even Rosehip, even with her steel resolved, still have a hint of doubt.
"We're straying from the target!" said Vanilla.
"It's okay, keep on this way, and prepare to fire as I said so," said Rosehip, "and Cranberry, prepare for a hard break,"
"Got it!" said Cranberry.
"They're moving away! Seems they know we're coming!" said Vanilla.
"Of course, they know that two Crusaders is coming at their way, now we have only a very small window of opportunity to pull this maneuver, and we must not fail! On my mark, Cranberry!" said Rosehip.
"Ready!" said Cranberry.
"Get set! Dash!"
Upon hearing the cue, Cranberry quickly floored the pedal and dashed towards the Sherman. The overflowing energy of Meteor engine accelerate the tank in a rapid sequence, almost as fast as a lightning striking. In this distance, and with this speed, there's no way, even one of the best driver like Mako Reizei could dodge cleanly. Suddenly, the silhouette of a Sherman appears very close and very big, and everything became like a slow-motion for Rosehip.
"Fire!"
Vanilla pulls the trigger to the gigantic figure of Sherman. And last thing they all remember is just the sound of explosion from QF 6-pounder firing, followed by huge bump. Then everything went dark.
Rosehip barely awake as she felt somebody is lifting her out of her tank. The lights on the field has been turned back on, and Rosehip could hear somebody calling her name.
"Rosehip-san, are you alright?" it's Miho asking.
"Taichou..."
"It's okay, just lie down, take it easy."
"What... What's happening?"
"You won." Miho smiled.
A little bit dazzled, Rosehip turn her head and see her tank is flipping sideways near Miho's Sherman.
"Taichou, what's just happened?"
"Well, you're coming at us on lightning speed, and since you're firing very close, you score a point. However, your Crusader went tumbling after an unavoidable crash on our Sherman. How do you feel, by the way?"
"I'm fine, looks like, but how about..."
"Both Cranberry-san and Vanilla-san is also alright."
Yukari come and bring a glass of water to Miho, which drink it to Rosehip.
"Taichou..."
"Hm?"
"I think I can see now what are you trying to gain with this training. You want me to believe on my own strong point, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"And also, you want me to be more sensitive on my surrounding, finding out where's my comrades, and move along together with them."
"Without compromising your best ability if I may add."
"I see..."
"You're one of the best tanker in our team, Rosehip-san, and I don't want anyone makes you think otherwise. Darjeeling trust you, therefore I do too. You only need to be encouraged a little bit."
"Well... I don't think this can be called 'a little bit'." Rosehip looking at the tumbling Crusader. "Do you think maintenance crew will mad at us for this, Taichou?"
"Fore sure. Everything has price, and I just want one of my best tanker ready for tomorrow. Ready and confident, and enjoy her time in sensha-do."
Rosehip smiled.
"Thank you, Taichou."
"But are you sure you okay? Should I send you to infirmary and have you rest for the match tomorrow?"
"What? Are you kidding me? No way! I'll be back on my top speed again tomorrow, desu wa!"
"Good, since you will be one of my most important pieces tomorrow."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll see..."
Miho don't said any word any further as recovery vehicle finally arrived to recover the Crusader. Shiori Matsushita, in the recovery vehicle, doesn't seems to please with this, while Miho and Rosehip only smirk as if they're innocent.
Present Time
"Very much expected from Miho," said Koume, "but, what important piece is she talking about?"
"No idea, she doesn't said anything else to me after that."
"Or to all of us. I heard that aside from general briefing, Taichou didn't break any details of her plan to any of the Group Commander or Team Commander."
"He just told us to do our best, keep an eye on each other position, and try to help each other. I guess..."
"What?"
"Is this the way we can help?"
"What do your heart said, Rosehip-san?"
"I just know that this is something I must do."
"Then maybe that's what you and I should do, since I know that this is also something I must do."
"Alright, Koume-san, let's hunt some Chaffees, desu wa!"
"Jawohl!"
Both Rosehip and Koume spurred their tank to hunt Nam Bo-young's group. Meanwhile, in "Ardennes", in the cliff overlooking one of the entrance to Marie's defilade, Emi Nakasuga closed her eyes as she heard the rumbling sound of South Korean artillery barrage on the defending Japanese forces below.
"Bakashiwaba, are you ready?" said Emi.
"We are born ready, Nakasuga," said Tsurigiko Kashiwaba.
"However, we just wonder if this is necessary," asked Kanako Kashiwaba.
It turns out that Kashiwabas' Crusader is currently acted as pedestal to lift the back side of Emi Nakasuga's Tiger so that it's cannon able to be depressed low enough to reach the tanks below that otherwise unreachable. The Kashiwabas are getting restless, as their Crusader clanking and shrieking, under the stress of Tiger's weight.
"Patient, Bakashiwaba, we only need one shot, then you could be free," said Emi.
"If we're not crushed to our doom before that..." said Kanako Kashiwaba.
Emi hauled her breath. The position of near vertical made them very difficult to sit, moreover to Nagisa, which has to steady her gun to shoot.
"You got the target?" asked Emi.
"I got it, but in this crowd, I fear it won't be a clean shot," said Nagisa, "I wish we can pick any target we like, then it would be fine."
"No, our target is one and only. If we failed to get them, then all is lost."
"I kinda hope she would break a little bit, to give me a clean shot, not obscured by any other Comets down there."
"Patient, we need to wait a little more."
"What will happened on a 'little more'?"
"I don't know, I just hope something is going to happen."
Not long after Emi said that, suddenly Nagisa notice the flag, commandeered by Ahn Hyun-jin slightly move forward ahead of the pack. Not very far, but enough to make Nagisa's aim unobscured by other Comets below. This is the time where Ahn Hyun-jin took over gunner position to quickly clear Japan's tanks in her sight, since Baek Hyun-joo said that Erika's detachment is coming from behind them.
While Nagisa put her aim on Ahn Hyun-jin's tank, Ahn Hyun-jin casually took out Japan tanks, one after another. This frustrated Emi, however, she can do nothing, since she expect perfection from Nagisa's shot.
"Any minute now, Nagisa!" said Emi.
"Got it!" said Nagisa.
Nagisa then pull the trigger, right after South Korean tank finally cease their firing against Japan tank. A carefully placed shot directly slammed on Ahn Hyun-jin's tank, white-flagged it at once. Ahn Hyun-jin is now officially the first blood from the Korean side in this match.
"Good job," said Emi.
"Now what?"
Emi fall silent. As for now, she doesn't know what else she must do. Her sole mission has been accomplished, and now she placed her hope on whatever it is Miho's plan that even Miho herself didn't reveal.
