Chapter XXXII: "Climbing Mount Niitaka"
Federation Carrier, The Shinano
Somewhere on Northern Pacific
The RKSF's B-777-300ER, The Moogoonghwa, finally landed on The Shinano safely. Kang Si-kyung and the stewardesses made sure to wake everyone and made them put safety belt before landing. The last approach was done by South Korean pilots under supervision from Japanese flight officers.
A little bit jet-lagged, everyone disembarked from the plane, including Ami Chouno, which an attendant quickly run to her and whispered something to her, that made Ami Chouno seems very concerned.
"What's wrong, Instructor Chouno?" asked Miho.
"Well, not something good," said Ami Chouno, "there would be a huge storm coming at us, so everyone must get ready to the shelter immediately."
"To our lodge?"
"No, shelter, inside the deck. No unauthorized personnel allowed on the top of the deck right now. Everyone and all assets in the Sensha Town has already been evacuated earlier."
"Is it that bad?"
"The ship is too big to sink, that's for sure, but very dangerous for everyone to be in the deck unsheltered and exposed to the storm. It's only for precaution, we don't want to take a chance."
"How long should we go there?"
"A couple of days, at the very least."
"What? That means we cannot practice sensha-do, then?"
"Unfortunately, yes. Now, move quickly!
The prospect of having to go to the shelter during storm isn't what someone expected to have after long flight. The shelter itself is very much like an large open barrack, which some has been compartmentalized for meeting or lounging. There are also a large open sento-style bathrooms and showers. Each deck has some of this kind of shelter, so that everyone can be contained for safety during emergency situation. Though everyone understand the situation, prospect of unable to practice sensha-do for the next couple of days is still put them uneased. However, for now, they need to rest very badly.
Couple of Days Later
Emergency Shelter 02
Federation Carrier The Shinano
Azusa Sawa coming out of sento after refresh herself in a hot bath. Everyone has been confined in this shelter for about two days. Despite many amenities and also schooling still take place, this put them in very intense boredom, since they're not allowed to train sensha-do inside the deck. And since they can't see what is like outside due to lockdown, they can't realy sure whether the storm is still raging or not.
Walking past girls that tried hard to swat the boredom away, she gone to the lounge, with other Rabbit Team members, including Aya Oono, which temporarily has been transfered to Anteater Team. There's also Yukari Akiyama and Saori Takebe there.
"Come on in, you're too late, we already started the movie," said Karina Sakaguchi,
"It's okay, what are you watching?" asked Azusa.
"Well, since we're going to face Meriken, I think 'Patton' is better," said Karina.
"That film is not historically accurate, though," said Yukari, "they even use a much modern tank instead of original one."
"Yes, that's right," said Saori, "they use M41, M46, M47 and M48, instead of original M4 like the one we use."
"Wow, Senpai, I don't know that you know so much about tanks!" said Ayumi Yamagoe.
"Takebe-dono has an extensive knowledge about tanks now," said Yukari, "she usually in charge of recognizing tanks when me and Nishizumi-dono get our hand full."
"I'm still learning, you know," said Saori, "so that I don't falling behind all of you."
Everyone is laughing.
"So, while doing my research, I found something interesting about sensha-do in America, do you want to hear?" said Saori.
"Yes!" said Azusa.
"Tell us, Senpai!" said Karina.
"Don't leave anything, please," said Ayumi.
"What is it about them?" said Yuuki Utsugi.
"Are they good?" said Aya Oono.
Saki Maruyama is absent-mindedly watch TV screen.
"Whooaa! Slow down, will you," said Saori, "come on, sit down in circle."
Saori starting her teaching mode.
"Maybe you don't know about this, but we owe America for the name sensha-do to be used officially," said Saori.
"What?" everyone startled.
"Yes, Takebe-dono is correct," said Yukari.
"So, there's no such thing called as 'World Sensha-do Federation' before World War II finished," said Saori, "at first, sensha-do was regulated per nation, so each major nation has the name of their own for sensha-do. By the time the idea of founding an international governing body for sensha-do come out at about 1950's, there's a heated discussion about what name shall be used for this new body. Each nation insist of bringing their own name, especially British; with their Tankery, and German; with their Panzerfahren. That is before America, which previously abstained, decided to support Japanese name of Sensha-do. This was quickly followed by other would be member nations, including Canada and Australia, which is British Commonwealth. The claim went unchallenged, since, back then, Soviet Union and People's Republic of China haven't joining the Federation till late 1970's. And the rest is history."
"So that's why even South Korean use the name sensha-do?" said Azusa.
"Yes, you're right," said Saori.
"Following the international consensus, many nations in the world adopt the name 'sensha-do', only some of European countries, Russia, and China still use their own name for their national federation," aded Yukari.
"How about sensha-do in America themselves?" asked Azusa, "are there as famous as here?"
"Well, from what I heard, professional competitions for sensha-do was started in America," said Yukari, "and they also begin the industrial and business aspects of sensha-do. But, I haven't seen that in person. What I heard is since America got their hands on many types of tanks after World War II, that like kickstart the sensha-do hype in American soil, only in the first 5 years after the war. Their industries are able to replicate numerous kind of tanks from many different countries for sensha-do purposes. Even the tanks used by Japanese sensha-doin before 1970s are entirely made in and imported from America, before we decide to produce those tanks ourselves..."
Everyone nods, as if they're trying to note it down.
"Does their sensha-do team powerful?" asked Karina.
"Well, they're one of the powerhouse alright," said Saori.
"No, we mean, we kinda worried that China lost because of us," said Yuuki, "we've destroyed their TBG in Nomonhan quite bad, so I guess China can't have battle against America there..."
"Don't worry, Nomonhan isn't their primary venue for official match," said Yukari, "the only reason why they use Nomonhan to fight is because their primary venue, Qinghai, is off-limit. They wanted to use their best venue for official competition match."
"Oh, glad to know then," said Aya.
Their conversation stopped when they see Miho stop by.
"Azusa, please come with me," said Miho.
"What's the matter, Senpai?" asked Azusa.
"Instructor Chouno would like to speak to all tanks commanders," said Miho.
"Do we need to come along?" asked Saori.
"Oh, no need, only commanders who must attend," said Miho.
"Alright!" said Azusa.
As Azusa followed Miho, the other tank commanders also coming along to the designated room, where Ami Chouno has waited for them there. There seems something important needs to be conferred, as she's dead serious.
"Has everyone arrived yet?" asked Ami Chouno.
"Yes," said Miho, "so, what's this all about?"
"Alright, the first I want to say is that Shinano weather station has predicted that the storm is substantially thining, so we're expecting a clear weather on the next few hours ahead," said Ami Chouno, "An aside from the weather announcement, I also got some direction by WSF headquarters about our next match, against the United States of America."
"Is there something very urgent?" asked Erika.
"Yes, a whole lot," said Ami Chouno, "first, the match is a Capture The Flag Tank Battle, and is going to take place is in Ulysses Simpson Grant Tank Battling Ground in Four Corners. In case if you don't know already, it's near the intersecting borders of four states: Utah, Colorado, Nevada, and Arizona. However, since the USA Senshado informed that ports in California is currently being used by US Pacific Fleets to host their armada, we're going to be retained in their base in Honolulu, Hawaii, which is thousands of miles away!"
"What?" Erika startled, "is this their strategy to wear us down?"
"Maybe, we don't know, but they have right to do that," said Ami Chouno, "therefore, back in Seoul, I have secured the arrangement for us to use the Moogoonghwa at least until the end of the match. It's not about the distance, but so we can better conserve our energy for the match."
"Yes, that's a good choice," said Orange Pekoe.
"Okay, next, WSF has decided that from this stage of competition forward, all match will be lead by 5 judges instead of the usual three," said Ami Chouno, "and our team of judges would be from Australia, headed by Ms. Catherine Woods."
Everyone nods.
"Also, a non-disclosure option shall be enacted," said Ami Chouno, "meaning, if a nation is objected to disclose their starting line-up tank, then WSF will not divulge the starting line-up for both team. Both side shall have their tanks covered up till they finally meet during the game."
"Well, now that's strategic," said Shizuka.
"Very much," said Emi Nakasuga.
Everyone nods.
"And, the last but not least for this stage forward, WSF would apply UCD rules," said Ami Chouno, "or Unrestricted Crew Deployment."
"What?!" Miho startled.
"I guess Miho knows what that means," said Ami Chouno, "so please explained to all of us."
Everyone is looking on Miho.
"Unrestricted Crew Deployment, or UCD is a rule that eliminate the restriction of where a crew would be deployed during the battle," said Miho, "meaning, a crew won't be tied to their tank anymore, and exchange between one or all crew members or even tanks is allowed."
"Wait, so, let's take example, my crew and Anglerfish Crew could swap our tank during a match?" asked Erika.
"Yes, and not only that," said Miho, "I can even lend you Hana to be your gunner if I saw fit, for example."
"So, let's say that if your tank got white-flagged, then you can..." said Shizuka.
"Yes, I can move my crew to other tank," said Miho, "and let the other crews take my fall in my tank."
"Wew..." said Shizuka, "now that's really a game changer, isn't it?"
"With the match not being a flag tank battle, it annul our previous strategy of cutting the snake head," said Miho, "since if we eliminate their leader, they could simply transfer their commander and/or her crews in another tank, and avoid elimination, just like that."
"That complicate things a little bit, eh?" said Alisa.
Ami Chouno clear her throat.
"You can discuss about that later," said Ami Chouno, "listen up, I know you've got two winning against difficult foes, but I don't want you to underestimate the strength of the United States sensha-do team. They managed to gain a landslide victory against China in Qinghai, and that is not a simple feat, especially considering that it was a semi-annihilation match."
"What does that suppose to mean, Instructor Chouno?" asked Azusa.
"Well, Semi-Annihilation Match dictated that a team would gain victory if their own tank is in ratio 2:1 against their opponents, meaning that you only need to kill your enemy's by that ratio to win," said Miho, "and from what I heard, American defeat Chinese by total annihilation, and that can only means one thing..."
"The Meriken destroyed the Chinese tanks all in the same time," said Shizuka, "that's not even a battle, but an execution. I wonder what made Zhu Liang'er unable to at least deny that fate."
"Qinghai is not a battling ground as small as Nomonhan, and there are a lot of Chinese foes succumbed there, and I mean A WHOLE LOT," said Ami Chouno, "so I guess now you can measure the sheer power of American team that we will face next. If we're not careful, we could end up the same way as Chinese, or maybe worse."
Miho stand up.
"I guess, this would be like 'Climbing Mount Niitaka', am I right?" said Miho.
Whether or not it's an intended pun by Miho, nobody seems put thought about it. When Japanese Empire still reigned in Pacific, Mount Niitaka, which now known as Mount Yushan, in Taiwan, then Japanese territory, are the highest peak in the entire Japanese imperium. Climbing the mountain, at that time, is a difficult endeavor, and though a team of Japanese climber able to do it in 1900, all-in-all, it's still considered as almost impossible. Coincidentally, this phrase also being used by Imperial Japanese High Command on 2 December 1941 to alert the Japanese fleet en-route to Hawaii, The Kido Butai, to commence with Operation Z, the infamous raid attack on Pearl Harbor.
"Everyone! Hear this out!"
The shouting attract the attentions of any girls in the shelter, including the commanders which is now still in the meet. Miho rushed out to see that two or Ooarai's radio operators, Taekou Kondo and Flint, with Bellwal's Kita, Hirono, and Kunihiro, able to tinker an old radio into operational. And from that radio, a melody of hula song can be heard, a Hawaiian dance song. Miho hauled her breath to hear that.
"Ladies, welcome to America," said Miho.
