Chapter XXXI: The Mile High Girls Club

Few Hours Earlier

Xibei San Ma Tanks Battling Ground

Qinghai, People's Republic of China

Liang'er climbed out of her now wrecked Gongchen Tank. Despite the cuts, bruises, and cinders cover her, she just shook it off with her fan and elegantly standing beside her tank. Around her tank are numerous wrecked and white-flagged Chinese tanks, with fire and smoke covering the now wasted ground.

Earth then trembling as numerous M4A3E2(76) "Jumbo" and M26E1 "Super Pershing" rolling into the killing field. The battle here was so devastating that despite the Semi-Annihilation Battle system applied, United States still be able to decimate all the remaining Chinese tank in a very short burst of time. A Pershing then moved closed to the wrecked Gongchen Tank, with another Pershing watch its tail. After the tank stop, a girl with an olive-drab trench coat and blonde-bob hair coming out of the tank and greet Liang'er. This is the Field Commander of the United States Sensha-do Team, Caitlyn Abigail Lee.

"Ms. Zhu, that was a great battle ye got there," said Caitlyn Lee, "ye put a helluva great fight there."

"And your might is very monumental, Commander Lee," said Liang'er, "and for that, I bow to you."

"Oh please, we just have things worked in our favor. Ye master this land very well and brought us trouble in the beginning."

"Perhaps, but you really creates havoc at the last half of battle. As far as I know, I only once facing that kind of opponent before. And like you, she's also powerful and special."

"I guess ye're talking about Miho Nishizumi, am I right?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Well, we'll see about that on the next match."

"Never count your eggs before they hatched, Commander Lee. However, I agreed to you there's more than likely Japan will go to semifinal, and you will have to fight her. I just want to say that if you do fight her, never underestimate her despite what you see."

"Well, anyone passed into semifinal must be special, Ms. Zhu. And I don't intend to treat them lightly, whoever that is."

"Very good then. By the way, I would like to invite you on our customary after battle feast. However, I assume you must go back early."

"I'm afraid ye right, M'am. Next match will be done in our soil, and we have to go back to America as fast as we could. I appreciate ye'r offer though. I wish next time I'll be able to have that feast of ye'r."

"I understand, but if what I heard is true, then that 'next time' won't be in the near future."

"I'm afraid ye right again. But if God's willing, then we will meet again, for I don't know when."

Caitlyn Lee then salute Zhu Liang'er before they both smiled.

Present Time

Incheon International Airport

Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

The motorcade escorting Japanese team made it to Incheon Airport just before midnight. It was a tiring feast for the team, despite the delicious (and prolific) meals, Hansik style, and cheerful entertainment. Ahn Soo-jin even whispered to Miho that she'd prefer to entertain the teams in a much less formal but intimate party. However, since this is a diplomatic necessity, with President of South Korea receiving Prime Minister of Japan, so nobody have any right to complain. Beside, both leaders seems enjoyed the game so much that they don't stop talking about it during feast.

As Japanese team being escorted deep into a private part of runway, they're amused that the airplane, set by RSKF for them is actually a B-777-300ER named "Moogoonghwa". RSKF has two of these planes, the Moogoonghwa and the Maelhwa, for transporting their sensha-do team to the match venue around the world. Since before this they don't have any Federation Carrier like The Shinano, they need large plane for a possibility of long and tiring flight to conserve the energy of the personnels. This surely different from Japan, which comfortable with their B-737s due to they have a Federation Carrier.

"Wow, South Korea have a nice plane," said Yukari Akiyama.

"Well, it's necessary for them due to long flight they have to endure," said Ami Chouno.

"Why don't we use that kind of plane, Instructor Chouno?"

"That's because we have carrier, so we don't have to fly that long. That is also the reason why RKSF want to have joint-venture on our carrier. Win-win situation, really."

The amazement continues by the time they enter the cabin. Unlike JSF's B-737s' full coach seat arrangement, the Moogoonghwa (and also her sister Maelhwa), have full business seat arrangement which offers much more comfort. The front section of the plane is 30 business-suite seats, designated for the commanders, while the rest of the crews are in regular business seats in mid and back section of the plane. These regular seats can also be reclined so the passengers could sleep there. Between commanders and crews seats, there are conference table, designated if the team would like to have a strategy meeting mid-flight. There are also galleys, pantries, and a mini bar to refresh during the long flight, all attended, with more options for lavatories.

"Wow! This is so lavish compared to ours!" said Yukari.

"True, so get acquainted with this, Girls," said Ami Chouno.

"Acquainted? What do you mean?"

"Well, since the signing of joint-venture, there's big chance we won't have our carrier to go close enough to the venue's port, so we're going to have this kind of plane as well."

"Really?"

"Yes, it's being prepared as we speak. There's big chance we would have our own B-777-300ER by the time we finished our match in the United States. We decided to go with B-777-300ER the same as our Korean co-host to simplify the maintenance and spare-parts. Some experts has been sent to study the layout of this plane to be applied in our own, and for this flight as well, two Japanese cockpit crews also joined to instruct Korean pilots on flying and landing on our carrier."

"Wow, that's cool!"

"Not only that, as we speak, The Shinano are also being commanded and captained by South Korean crew under Rear-admiral Jo Min-kyung, under the supervision of Rear-admiral Ryoko Arimura. South Korean bridge-crews will be on our carrier and operating the carrier for another three months ahead to get acquainted with our carrier's operation."

"So, our 737 would be scrapped?"

"Well, not that radical. Just say that we will use those plane on different roles."

Ami Chouno winked.

Everyone is amazed, however they quickly fall asleep as soon as the planes took off, utilizing the better resting options of this plane. Lights on the cabins are dimmed so that all the girls can get sleep after long and tiring day.

A couple of hours later, Erika wake up on her suite. It was a more relaxing sleep, but she need something to freshen her up, so she goes to pantry, where a Korean attendance politely give her a soda. She also informs Erika that they're still in midflight and will be arrived on The Shinano by ETA 2 more hours. Erika thanks her before going to the conference table for lounging.

It turns out, she is not the only one there. Shizuka Tsuruki, Marie, Azusa Sawa, Alisa, and Assam also share the same thought with her.

"Taichou is still sleeping?" asked Shizuka.

Erika nods.

"These Koreans has so much luxury," said Marie, "it almost made me envy them."

"Instructor Chouno said that our own planes, just like this, will be ready soon," said Alisa, "so no need to envy to them."

"By the way, Erika, I heard what happened after the match between you and Miho," said Shizuka, "you sure give her hell."

"Can't helped it," said Erika, "I'm on my boiling point at that time, she throw away a very good opportunity to finally eliminate Ahn Soo-jin."

"I don't think that what you're saying earlier can be called as a good opportunity," said Assam, "Miho could get her either way, it just that her way of choosing was more risky, given the circumstances. She fight as if she's not a flag tank."

"But, doesn't Ahn Soo-jin is flag tank as well?" asked Azusa.

"The way I see it, Ahn Soo-jin has no option, and her only way to win this was if she could defeat Miho," said Assam, "but Miho has more options, a safer one would be waiting for us there."

"Doesn't that the same? In the end, Taichou-senpai has to endure Ahn Soo-jin's attack till we arrive, right?" asked Azusa.

"Well, yes, but that's safer compared to if she's engaging Ahn Soo-jin by herself," said Alisa.

Shizuka chuckled.

"Something you want to say, Shizuka?" asked Erika, sipping her soda.

"Well, yes, actually," said Shizuka, "tell me, Assam, and Alisa, why do you think that there's such thing called 'safety' in the mid of a raging battlefield?"

Everyone startled to hear that.

"Any move after all, is risky, right?" said Shizuka, "let's say, she choose any of the 'safest' way, Ahn Soo-jin shoot Miho dead-on, BOOOM! We lost."

"So what are you saying?" asked Alisa.

"The problem is not about whether Miho's decision is safe or not," said Shizuka, "but why she goes with that, despite any 'safer' option, as you pointed out earlier."

"So why is that?" asked Erika with sharp tone.

Shizuka pauses. She pours her rice juice in the shot, before drink it in elegant style.

"You won't be able to understand what is she thinking if you only judge her by that spur of a moment," said Shizuka, "the decision itself is, after all, the accumulation of things that happened from the start."

"I'm a little bit confused here," said Alisa, "what start? I never had any impression that she gave us something to hold on in the start."

"That's right, I kinda feel that after Operation Tone Deaf was rolled, Miho just stop giving us any instruction," said Assam, "moreover, she didn't provide any specific brief in the start."

"Well, specific, no," said Marie, "but brief, yes."

"What's your point?" asked Assam.

"Maybe our little kouhai could answer that for us," said Marie, "tell me, Kouhai, what do you think about Operation Tone Deaf?"

"What? Me?" asked Azusa.

"Yes, you. Ooaraian knows Miho quite well also her style of battling," said Marie while munching on her cake, "she might know something better, am I right?"

"Well, the truth is I don't really understand what Taichou meant, since her instructions was so clear, but also very vague," said Azusa, "I have to use my own understanding on how to translate those instructions."

"Then, what's your understanding told you to do, then?" asked Shizuka.

"That our goal is to tied any tank of Ahn Soo-jin," said Azusa, "the more tanks we can tied up, the more Ahn Soo-jin can't make use of those."

"That's my understanding as well," said Marie.

"So that's why you defend your position so fiercely?" asked Assam, "despite the impending doom?"

"More or less," said Marie.

"Wait, then why my understanding is different?" asked Erika.

"Oh? So what's yours?" asked Shizuka.

"That my role is to hammer down any South Korean tanks, especially those with strategic roles," said Erika.

Shizuka sip her rice juice.

"I'd say that none of you are wrong," said Shizuka.

"How is that possible?" asked Erika.

"That's what Miho wants in the first place, right?" said Shizuka.

"To have different understanding on her seemingly universal instruction?" asked Assam, "to do our best, and help each other out?"

"I don't get it," said Alisa.

"Miho once said before, right, that South Korean style of battle is like a symphony. A song that is perfectly rehearsed and flawlessly executed," said Marie, "she didn't choose the name 'Tone Deaf' out of nowhere, you know."

"Song? Tone Deaf? You mean..." said Alisa.

"Any good song would be ruined as hell if being sung by a tone-deaf person," said Shizuka, "it's like that annoying tone-deaf friend ruining your favorite song during a karaoke. In the same way, we ruined South Korean's symphony, made them unable to perform the song with well."

"Could you detailed that to me?" asked Erika, "I'm still in vague here."

Shizuka hauled her breath.

"Look, I'm not trying to advocate for her," said Shizuka, "I'm just trying to explore her thought as best as I could, okay?"

"Well then, please start exploring," said Erika, "starting by why do you think she doesn't give us any direction for the match."

"Coordinated individual-actions..." said Alisa.

"What?" asked Assam.

"Miho wanted us to not act as a grand unison, but instead, perform individual actions that slowly eating away South Korean tactical advantage," said Alisa, "just like this Kouhai said, if we all think in the same page, then we would all know that any tank kept occupied by our actions are tank that cannot be utilized by Ahn Soo-jin. Therefore, she won't be able to perform her grand symphony to the fullest."

"Yes, Marie and Kouhai-chan think the same, and did same," said Shizuka, "while you, Erika, think the same, but do it differently. And that is because..."

"Miho made me think that way," said Erika.

"What?" asked Assam.

Shizuka lifted up her shot of rice juice.

"What Miho did from the beginning is exactly the same as what Ahn Soo-jin tried to pull on us," said Shizuka, "she just did it more subtle, with less directions, and instead relying on how we're going to do what our best is, and hopefully, it all tangled up into an 'coordinated of un-coordinations', if I may say myself."

"But if you're pointing it out that way, then you mean..." said Assam.

"Yes, maybe Miho do knows exactly what she's doing," said Shizuka, "and also, maybe, this match, from the beginning to the end, has always run according to Miho's scheme."

Everyone stay silent.

"But if you said so, then why Miho accepted Ahn Soo-jin's challenge, and thus threading a more risky path?" asked Assam.

"That's because the President and Prime Minister are there, watching this match."

To everyone surprised, Miho is already woke up, and standing near the entrance to the room. Everyone standing to greet her, despite the bed face she's pulling. As Miho sit down, Shizuka pass her a shot of rice juice, which then Miho bowed to thank her.

"Japan and South Korea are two nations tangled in turbulent past," said Miho, "now both our nations are threading new way on a much friendlier future. With both of our head of states watching the match, I don't think it's appropriate for me to turn down Ahn Soo-jin's challenge and pick a safer alternatives."

"So, you walked on the path of chivalry, huh?" said Erika, "despite there's a big chance you could lost and cost you the match?"

"Let's just say that I'm pretty much confident in the ability of my team against one South Korean best aces," said Miho, "but as you said to me earlier, it's also a very stupid move."

"Well, the ends justify the means, I guess," said Erika, "I'm glad that everything went well."

"Yes, so do I," said Miho smiling.

"How can everything be ended up the otherwise?" said Shizuka, "you've made sure of that, are you?"

Miho put on her clueless expression.

"The specific instruction you gave to Emi Nakasuga," said Shizuka, "the only specific instruction you give to any of us, that is to eliminate Ahn Hyun-jin, am I right?"

Miho didn't answered, just sipping her rice juice.

"You drive your enemy beyond the limit of sanity, no wonder," said Shizuka, "I heard that Ahn Soo-jin shocked for sometimes, which give us time as South Korean crippled in their command structure."

Miho put her glass on the table in gracefully clumsy manner.

"We can't move so far as long as Ahn Soo-jin is still in command," said Miho, "I did what I have to do, what I think is necessary."

"But, why you have us to figure out ourselves how to execute Operation Tone-Deaf?" asked Assam, "why don't we talk about this first before match?"

"Because I trust all of you," said Miho, "I trust all of you to do the right thing, and you all did. Beside, Ahn Soo-jin have to be convinced that our actions are completely random, otherwise she would devise some counter-plan, and that would be disastrous."

"Can she knows about that?" asked Alisa.

"South Korean has a flawlessly rehearsed maneuver, so I think they would've known if our lack of coordination is actually intentional," said Miho, "they're prone on this kind of warfare, but when they do found out, they could comeback and beat the hell of us."

"Just like they did to Thailand?" asked Shizuka.

"Yes, exactly like that," said Miho, "Ahn Soo-jin got troubled by Thailand's lack of coordination, but as soon as she able to see this through, she crushed them back by sheer power of their tanks. It helps that she think of me so high, as it helped us to enact Operation Tone Deaf."

They silent for a while as a Korean stewardess knocking on the wall of the room.

"Jamkkanmanyo, I just wanted to know, does any of you need something?" asked the stewardess, Kang Si-kyung.

"Actually, I kinda hungry," said Miho cheerfully.

"Since we fly almost with no prior preparation, we only have ramyeon here, is that okay to you?" asked Kang Si-kyung.

"Yes, ramyeon is fine, thank you very much!" said Miho.

"Alright then, please wait a moment," said Kang Si-kyung.

Miho pat on her belly, indicating that she's hungry. At this time, she no longer a serious Miho, but back to a bubbly stupid girl self.

"One thing I need to asked, Taichou," said Assam, "a lot of our tanks got eliminated in the match, is that also intentional?"

"Well, I never really want any of our tank got eliminated by any means," said Miho, "but in the battle, we can't really avoid that, are we?"

Miho winked, and the way she fold her hands on the table gives a clear sign for: "No more question, please."

"Well, I guess I have to apologize, then," said Erika while pouring her soda to Miho's empty shot.

"No, there's nothing you need to apologize for, Erika," said Miho, "you're just doing what you think is the best for our team, and I need that, for I need an anchor to stop me from overdoing some crazy things."

"Anchor?"

"Yes," Miho smiled but without explaining any further.

They're conversation was interrupted for a while when Kang Si-kyung and two other stewardess brought them some cup ramyeon. Which Miho accept cheerfully.

"So, America, The United States, Meriken," said Shizuka, "what will be waiting for us?"

"I don't know," said Miho while slurping on her ramyeon, "but it's not yet a day passed since we beat South Korea."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," said Shizuka slurping her ramyeon.

U-18 WORLD SENSHA-DO CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND II

FIXTURES AND RESULTS

A: Germany vs Great Britain

(Capture The Flag Battle - El Alamein Tank Battling Ground - Egypt)

Judges: Jana Simicova, Mikhaela Celustkova, Aneta Svitkova (Czech Republic)

B: France vs Italy

(King of The Hill Battle - Ferdinand Foch Tank Battling Ground - Somme)

Judges: Zhang Qiao, Yu Rong'er, Wei Ruolan (China)

C: Japan vs Republic of Korea

(Multi Flag Tank Battle - Honam Tank Battling Ground - Jeollanamdo)

Judges: Helga Voz, Carla Steinmann, Angela Wagner (Germany)

D: United States vs People's Republic of China

(Semi-Annihilation Battle - Xibei San Ma Tank Battling Ground - Qinghai)

Judges: Kristin Blomqvist, Anna Andersson, Hanna Larsson (Sweden)

Note: The country written in bold is the winner

U-18 WORLD SENSHA-DO CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND III

A: Germany vs France

(Multi Flag Tank Battle)

Judges: Kang Ji-eun, Lee Min-ji, Baek Su-yeon, Im Hyo-yeon, Han Ji-woo (South Korea)

B: United States of America vs Japan

(Capture The Flag Battle)

Judges: Catherine Woods, Alice Sheffield, Chloe MacMoran, Tania Lim, Martha Vieri (Australia)

Note: The country written in bold will act as host