Chapter XXVIII: Operation Tone-Deaf (The Finale)
Honam Tank Battling Ground
Jeollanamdo, South Korea
Ahn Soo-jin led her Cromwells' Company, or what left from them, to chase Miho's Ooarai Group. The news about clogging of her rest of forces quite make her uneasy. There's something that she knows doesn't right, but she doesn't know what is it.
"Yu-ra-ya, how long have we been chasing Miho Nishizumi?" asked Ahn Soo-jin.
"I'm not sure, but quite a while, why?" replied Lee Yu-ra.
"And she doesn't at once fire back?"
"Not as far as I know, is there something wrong?"
"Something doesn't seems right, we shouldn't have chased them this long. What is she planning anyway?"
"You want to change order?"
"Not yet, connect me to Bo-young."
"Got it."
Lee Yu-ra then connect Ahn Soo-jin to Nam Bo-young.
"Bo-young-ssi, please report, how are you there? Do you have eyes on enemy?" asked Ahn Soo-jin.
"Not yet, Daejangnim," said Nam Bo-young.
"Keep your eyes peeled, I have a bad feeling about this."
"Don't worry, we can take care of ourselves, just focus on chasing Miho Nishizumi. Remember, they only have one flag tank left, so eliminate it, and victory is ours. You should..."
Suddenly, a frantic shout was heard in the background, followed by Nam Bo-young cursing.
"What? What happened?" asked Ahn Soo-jin.
"We got companies!" said Nam Bo-young.
"What!?"
"Only one tank seems, but it's a Crusader."
"I will..."
"Don't! We can handle this one tank, but you have to take out Miho Nishizumi as fast as you can, do it! Ah, shit! A second tank is coming!"
The communication stopped in a cliffhanger manner. Now Ahn Soo-jin lies in doubt. Is it right what Nam Bo-young said that this is just two tanks and she could handle that? Well, she should be, after all, it's 5 vs 2. However, Nam Bo-young is correct on one thing. She has to finish Miho Nishizumi quickly before things got even crazier.
Meanwhile, not too long ago, at the Sector H79, Rosehip and Koume Akaboshi creeping slowly on the peak of the slope. While Honam TBG is vast enough, Rosehip could assume where does Nam Bo-young would take her Company away, and that must be nowhere near Ahn Soo-jin or Ahn Hyun-jin as her fellow flag tanks. Ahn Soo-jin and Ahn Hyun-jin whereabout is known, therefore, Rosehip move to area which quite far from both location.
Rosehip took out her binocular.
"How is it?" whispered Koume.
"Well, as I thought, they linger here with their engine running," said Rosehip, "Nam Bo-young is up there, with her radio, I guess she's monitoring the movement of her fellow comrades."
Rosehip turns her binocular to Koume.
"She seems so serious, stern-looking, kinda frightening from this distance," said Koume.
"Yes, we must put that in our consideration, desu wa," said Rosehip.
"Not to mention they have 5 tanks vs 2 tanks of ours."
"Now that is potentially problematic."
"Your tank is faster than theirs, have a smaller caliber gun, yes, but with high muzzle velocity. Mine have a larger gun, definitely able to knock them out, but not as fast, and maybe not as agile as well. So that means, only you can have chance to get close to Nam Bo-young's tank and eliminate them. I'll be a decoy to lure her wingwomen."
"I don't know, no matter how exciting that sounds, I don't really like it. Would be useless if Nam Bo-young chase you with all her forces, then you'll ended up caught in the middle of crossfire."
"So what do you suggest?"
"I'm not sure, Nam Bo-young seems like a cool-headed tactician, not kind that suit my fighting style, actually. I wonder what will Taichou do in this situation?"
"I don't know. I know her yes, but I'm not her."
"Yeah, you're right. I guess, that's not what Taichou wanted from me either."
"So what does Taichou wanted from you?"
"I don't know, perhaps be my best, be spontaneous, or..."
Koume smiled as Rosehip realize something.
"Say, Koume-san, have you ever played tank-tag with two Onis?"
"Won't be my first option, but are you sure?"
"Absolutely! Let's do this, desu wa!"
Not so long after, Rosehip spurred her Crusader in high speed, charging the South Korean Chaffees led by Nam Bo-young, just when Nam Bo-young got radioed by Ahn Soo-jin. This of course surprised Nam Bo-young, but she quickly get in her turret and commanded her Company to move out, clearing from Rosehip's charging path. Rosehip then turn, trying to shadow the movement of the Chaffees.
"We can handle this one tank, but you have to take out Miho Nishizumi as fast as you can, do it!" said Nam Bo-young.
Suddenly, from the other side, Nam Bo-young see Sherman of Koume Akaboshi coming up.
"Ah, shit! A second tank is coming!"
Koume fires her gun, and the Chaffees narrowly escaped. This force Nam Bo-young to end her transmission with Ahn Soo-jin abruptly.
"Sorry, Rosehip, I missed!" said Koume.
"Don't mind! Let's round them up like a fish!" said Rosehip.
"Okay!"
In two Oni tanks mode of tank-tag, the usual, if not the only tactic, is that one Oni act to round up the target while the other Oni act as hitter to tag the rounded-up. This tactic is way better compared to if the two Onis act in individual manner. The problem is, in tank-tag, the targets are not allowed to shoot back to the Onis, but not in the real match. If Koume or Rosehip are not careful, the Chaffees could turn the tide and swallow them whole, since they're larger in number, plus all free to use their guns to the Onis.
Koume then fires another shot, followed by Rosehip, both are targeting Nam Bo-young's tank. However, as if she's proofing herself to be worthy of being a flag tank, Nam Bo-young maneuver her tank smoothly to avoid both shells, despite the timing differences between both shells.
"They're trying to get me directly," said Nam Bo-young.
"Do they really that amateur?" asked Kim Ye-na, the vice-commander.
"I've heard about a reckless Crusader commander of Japan from St. Gloriana, that they called as 'Speed Demon'. I believe this is her."
"Order, Sojangnim."
"Try to get back and surround them, I'll act as a bait."
"Arasseumnida, Sojangnim. Be careful!"
Led by Kim Ye-na, the other four Chaffees start to move in loose formation, while still trying to overshadow their commander from Rosehip and Koume's attack.
"They're breaking their formation," said Koume.
"Yes, now this is getting interesting, desu wa!" said Rosehip.
While still allowing for Koume and Rosehip to take some aim on Nam Bo-young, the escort Chaffees, led by Kim Ye-na are now starting to fire back on Koume and Rosehip. Through a brillian and smooth position change, suddenly both Rosehip and Koume found themselves surrounded by Chaffees.
"Rosehip!" said Koume.
"I know, don't worry about them, and keep your eyes on the flag tank!" said Rosehip.
Two Chaffees now moving to shadow Koume's tank, while two other trying to keep up with Rosehip's. At the same time, both Rosehip and Koume are still can't get their shells on Nam Bo-young. First, it's because of Nam Bo-young's brilliant skill to evade any incoming shells, and now other Chaffees are trying to distract their focus on the target. Not only distract, but they're out for the kill as well.
Nam Bo-young placed her tank very conveniently that she could keep both Rosehip and Koume in check. Now she just have to wait for Kim Ye-na's squad to pin them down and destroy them in the process. Koume fires again, and Nam Bo-young once again evade the shot. It's quite obvious that Nam Bo-young have at least the same perceptiveness on incoming shell like Miho.
"Right, goes slow. Left, shake right..." Rosehip murmured.
Kim Ye-na, with her tank clinging on Koume's tank, start firing on Koume, while closing the range. In few times, she would be close enough to fire on Koume without Koume barely able to evade. It's obvious that since Crusader is nimble, they're focusing to eliminate the less agile Sherman first.
"Rosehip! What should we do?" asked Koume.
Rosehip didn't answer. Clearly, she has made some error on judgment regarding to Nam Bo-young and her Company's agility. The top speedster of Japan, now has meet her match!
In another place, Ahn Soo-jin decided that she's done playing cat-and-mouse with Miho. Few moments ago, her side is winning, but right now, for somehow, Japan able to carefuly brake apart their formation like slicing sashimi. There's only one solution for this, she has to eliminate Miho as fast as she can, preferably, while she still have two flag tanks in her side.
By waving her hand, Ahn Soo-jin signals the Cromwells to start open their formation in order to shrink Japan's wiggle room. This movement is carefully observed by Azusa Sawa of Rabbit Team.
"Taichou, they're breaking formation, I think they're trying to do pincer attack," said Azusa.
"Understood, this is it, this is the time. Rabbit Team, Shark Team, Hippo Team, Duck Team, Anteater Team, let's do our best and avoid being clamped by their formation," said Miho, "we're fighting now, Ooarai style."
"Roger that!"
A close formation of Group Two, or Ooarai Group tanks suddenly burst open. Duck Team goes with Anteater Team to the left, Shark Team and Rabbit Team to the right, while Hippo Team and Anglerfish Team goes straight. This movement mesmerized Ahn Soo-jin, that she order her rank to split and chase each of Ooarai's tank, with she and two other Cromwell chase Miho's tank.
"Fool! Don't break the formation!" Ahn Jae-joon shouted from his seat, which obviously won't be heard by the girls on the field.
"Don't get too anxious, Ahn-san," said Ami Chouno, "sit down and enjoy the show."
"That Nishizumi girl, what did you taught her?"
"I didn't, she's doing what she think best, that's all."
"Our plan is flawless."
"Well, not according to her. And she just seeing it through."
Ahn Jae-joon restlessly back to his seat, fidgeting. Ami Chouno offer him a warm tea to calm him down, which he reluctantly accepted.
Meanwhile, down there, Rabbit Team and Shark Team are being chased by 4 Cromwells. They put a very aggressive chase, firing their shells on both tanks. What in mind of those Cromwell commanders are to wrap their chase as quickly as possible before re-joining Ahn Soo-jin.
"Don't worry, Rabbits, we'll protect you from their shells," said Ogin.
"Yes, thank you Ogin-senpai, but is it realy alright?" asked Azusa.
"No worry, in this rate, they won't be able to penetrate our tank's armor. This is Tiger after all."
"I hope we could fight back."
"Yes, but that's not the point. The point is to buy some time for Taichou."
"Right, let's hope that... Aw crap!"
Rabbit's Sherman stopped abruptly, followed by Shark's Tiger. In front of them is some cliff which is so steep that made them impossible for tank to climb. The 4 Cromwells have cornered them well.
"What should we do, Ogin-senpai?" asked Azusa.
"Quick! Take cover behind us!" said Ogin.
Rabbit Team quickly take cover behind Shark Team, only pointing their cannon on the 4 Cromwells that have surrounded them.
"Don't worry, Rabbits, just stay behind us. With this terrain, they won't be able to outflank you," said Ogin.
"How about you, Senpai?" asked Azusa, "aren't you exposed for their fire, then?"
"We can withstand their storm, but we won't surrender our beloved Rabbit to them without fight. Now fire!"
Both Rabbit and Shark Team start opening fire to the besieging Cromwells, which goes back and forth to evade before firing back. Some shells hitting or grazing on the Shark Team's Tiger, which acted as a live shield for Rabbit Team's tank. Despite Tiger's heavy armor, it's unclear how many time they could withstand the storm of Cromwells' fire before crumbling down.
Meanwhile, some concerning news has also alerted Japan Team. In the base of The Ardennes, everyone watched in horror as WSF's recovery vehicle started to move the congestion, thus freeing the remaining South Korean tanks trapped there. These newly liberated detachment commanded by Park So-hee and Park So-hyun, as the highest rank available there, but since their gun has broke down due to the crash with Sung Min-ah's tank, Im Mi-sook of the remaining Jackson would lead the charge.
"Daejangnim, we have been freed and would heading down to your position, over," said Park So-hee.
"Ne, come here quickly, we need every able tank we got," said Ahn Soo-jin.
"Ne, Daejangnim. Arasseumnida."
The remaining of South Korean tanks consist of two Jacksons, two Cromwell, one Comet, and two Centurions. Not much, but will beef up Ahn Soo-jin's detachment against Ooarai Team and possible Erika's detachments. If this happened, then South Korean would have turned the table once more. Will this be the end of Miho's Operation Tone-Deaf?
