Chapter LI: Return of The Noble Sisters (Part 1)

Himeyuri Tank Battling Ground
Okinawa, Japan

"Petals?" asked Miho.
"Yes, Taichou," said Carpaccio, "We clearly heard something about 'petals' and 'blooming', as if they were talking about flowers. We thought that was some kind of code."
"Definitely a code," said Miho
"What should we do?" asked Carpaccio.
"Just do what you do now," said Miho, "and be careful, trying to spy on enemy lines is a tough job, don't let yourself be goaded by them."
"Goaded? I don't get it, are they trying to get us somewhere?"
"Mm-hmm, something like that. Anyhow, if it's intended by the enemy, then it must be not good for us."
"Understood."

Miho hauled a deep breath, which seemed like confirming for an impending doom. Saori turned off the radio to the main grid, isolating Anglerfish Team from the rest of the battlegroup for a while.

"Is there something you're not telling us?" asked Hana.
"Yes," said Miho, "something I fear."
"Go on, then, tell us, Nishizumi-dono," said Yukari.
"I've closed the line to the grid for a while," said Saori, "you can speak freely."
"Alright, actually..."

In another place...

Through some shifts in the battlefield, Orange Pekoe and Assam came in the position where they're close to Erika. Before this, the St. Gloriana duo has already white-flagged a DB-Panther and a Tiger of the Westfalen Regiment, while Erika knocked out a Schlesien's Tiger and almost killed another one, who narrowly managed to escape. There were no signs of another torii gate, either from Japanese or German accounts, and the sun had almost set. So far, compared to their wobbly initial engagement, Japan held quite well now against Germany, however in the overall situation, Germany still gained the upper-hand on the field.

"Report, please?" asked Miho.
"Pekoe here, we got two tanks, a DB-Panther and a Tiger, over," said Orange Pekoe.
"Erika here, I got one Tiger and missed another one," said Erika.
"Any torii gate sighted, over?" asked Miho.
"None so far," said Erika.

Saori marked the map with crosses, indicate that nothing is found in the grid.

"We have exhausted all in this quadrant," said Saori, "we would find another torii gate in the next quadrant up to the castle."
"Can we map the German movement?" asked Miho.
"Not while they're still on the move, Miporin," said Saori.
"It's almost dark, the torii would be difficult to spot under cover of darkness," said Miho.
"Taichou, reporting," said Ogin of Shark Team.
"Go ahead, Ogin-san," said Miho.
"Me and Sheshka here tried to engage a group of German tanks, but they seems to be actively avoiding us," said Ogin.
"Avoid you?" asked Miho.
"Doesn't make any sense, I thought they're trying to thin our numbers," said Ogin, "but it seems like they're conserving on something."
"Conserving?"
"Do they preparing another hand for us?"
"I believe so, Ogin-san, just be careful since..."

An abrupt stop can be heard in the entire channel of Japan tanks, as if Anglerfish Team's tank has to hit the emergency brake. The screeching noise put fear on Erika's ear.

"Miho, what's the matter?" asked Erika, "why did you stop, over?"

Miho doesn't respond.

"Damn it, Miho, answer me!" said Erika.
"She's here, Brunnhilde Knispel..."
"Eh?"

In front of Anglerfish Team's tank, a huge shadow can be seen lurking around with the golden light of sunset in the background. The Konigstiger, with its gun pointed on Anglerfish Team's tank stood there like a statue, but an impromptu white flag can be seen being waved by one of its personnel on top of the turret. Outside of her turret, Brunnhilde Knispel can be seen lifted her arms with the white side facing forward as a sign of parlay. Another tank, Maria Haber's Panzer IV can also be seen next to the Konigstiger.

"Miho, what is she doing?" said Erika, "I'll go to your position right away..."
"No, wait, I think she asked for parlay," said Miho.
"Wha... Parlay? What kind of madness this is?"
"I'll go see her."
"Miho, don't be stupid!"
"You know what to do..."
"Miho!"

Miho closed the line, and she raised her hand in reply of Brunnhilde Knispel. All the Anglerfish Team members came out from the inside, preparing their weapons. Mako and Hana prepared their Arisaka rifle, while Saori held her Nambu handgun. Meanwhile, Yukari, wielding a Type-100 submachine gun, jumped down from the tank to escort Miho. On the other side, Brunnhilde Knispel, can be seen holstering a Luger, Maria Haber bearing the white flag, and another girl with MP-40 submachine gun walked towards them.

"Alright, that's close enough," said Brunnhilde Knispel, when she and Miho are 3 meters apart.
"You request a parlay, Knispel-san?" said Miho.
"Yes, as a matter a fact. It's sunset already, and the battle will still be dragging on till night, Frau Nishizumi. What say you if we cease all hostilities for an hour, and take a much needed rest and eat? I believe all of our forces are tired and hungry, for the sake of our soldaten we should let them have their much needed break. A hungry soldat won't do any good to either of us."
"That's so thoughtful of you, Knispel-san."
"As a token of good faith, I'm ordering all my soldaten not to engage Japanese tanks in aggressive manner nor actively seeking for the Manito Tank during the ceasefire. What say you?"
"If you said so then Japan shall do the same as what Germany do."
"I'm glad we're on the same page about this, Frau Nishizumi, viel glück und auf wiedersehen."

Miho bowed as respect as Brunnhilde Knispel went back to her tank. It was a very intense parlay, that even Miho herself still shaking from it, but she bit the bullet till Brunnhilde Knispel and Maria Haber went out of her sight, then she sat on the ground beside the tank, shaking all over her body.

"Are you okay, Nishizumi-dono?" asked Yukari, sincerely concerned.
"I'm okay, it's just that..."

Miho didn't continue, but everyone understand what she felt right now.

"Should we inform to all the squad about the result of the parlay?" asked Saori.
"Yes, Saori-san," said Miho.
"So, this is it? We can't attack the German nor seeking the torii gate till an hour?" asked Hana.
"Yes, we can't attack them, but Brunnhilde Knispel didn't specify that we can't move during the ceasefire period," said Miho, "tell everyone to refresh themselves the way they can, make a campfire, but eat in the cloak of darkness, be vigilance to the movement of the Germans, and prepare to join with battlegroups adjacent to each."
"So we're not just sit and eat, but also preparing for the next move as well?" said Hana.
"In a way, yes, Hana-san, they're not giving us time to breath out of generosity. The way Brunnhilde Knispel said it implicates that the Germans need time to prepare something," said Miho.
"What you said earlier?" asked Yukari.
"Big possibility, but without knowing the German position, I can't be sure," said Miho, "there's always a possibility that Brigitta Kersch said that on purpose to mislead us; and even with us knowing all of their position, 'that' is still very difficult to notice, until it was too late and we're already inside the trap."

Miho hauled a very deep breath, while everyone looking at her, can't help feeling concerned.

"Yukari-san, you brought your provisions, right?" asked Miho.
"Oh, yes, Nishizumi-dono," said Yukari.
"Could you make them for us, please? The clock is ticking."
"Right away, Nishizumi-dono!"

As the darkness gently covered the Himeyuri TBG, like mother nature tucking her daughter to bed, bonfire spots can be seen emerging everywhere, like bright orange stars in dark wooden sky. The jungle went silent save for rumbling engine sounds, and the concerts of natural voices occurs. Following the instruction of Miho, Japan made their own bonfire, but put their tanks in the total darkness, leaving the fire as a ploy.

"Your meal, Kommandant," said Bauer, the gunner of Erika's tank.
"Danke," said the meal still with serious stance.

Erika then take some bite from the MRE.

"This damn parlay..." said Erika.
"You think that Taichou shouldn't have to accept the ceasefire offer, Kommandant?" asked Bauer.
"This parlay surely benefited the Germans. Allowed them to set for some strategies, shift some squads to counter our guerrilla strategy. We held on quite well after the initial attack, right?"
"Yes, so why Taichou accept that if that means we give up keeping our momentum against the Germans?"
"Because we also need time to catch a break. German put us into constant pressure ever since they broke our defense. Morale is low, energy and spirit is down. This ceasefire also important for us to regain our strength, since the night will be long, and I doubt the Germans would fighting with the same intensity during the night."
"Ah yes, they're scary, and how Brunnhilde Knispel able to concoct such strategies made me afraid."

Erika hauled her breath.

"Bauer, do you know what I really fear about Brunnhilde Knispel?"
"Eh?"
"What I fear most is, how she could precisely locate our Taichou. Surely you don't think that they met in 'coincidence', do you?"

Bauer nods.

"If she could do that, imagine how she could implement that to her own strategy."
"Oh, so that is why..."

Bauer paused suddenly.

"That is why what?"
"Ah nothing, it's just..."
"Come on, just say it."
"That is why Taichou assigned you as the one assuming command."
"You confirmed what I feared..."
"Is she somewhat foresee things that is coming?"
"Maybe, but I won't let that happened, not under my watch. Come on, when all has finished, we roll again."
"But one hour time is still long..."
"Taichou would want us to move before that time. So come on and hurry up!"

As if it has been planned before, Japan tanks retreated and start moving before the one hour time passed, leaving behind their dying bonfires to act as decoy. They move as silent as possible, as well as vigilant over the possibility that German tanks are not far from them.

Nobody turned their light, relying solely on the moonlight to find the way, though it's not very effective in this thick dense forest which engulfed in darkness. Aside from being careful over German tanks, they also looking for any torii gates around.

"Erika-san, come in," said Orange Pekoe.
"What's up, Pekoe-san?" asked Erika.
"I think there's a possibility that your spot is close to ours, should we join forces?"
"Who's with you?"
"Just Assam. How about you?"
"Nobody, I'm on my own here. Alright, I'm moving to your position."
"Be careful, I think we are... Oh?"
"What? What's wrong?"
"I thought I saw a torii gate here."
"Okay, I'll go there."
"Be careful."

Erika quickly changed course to the direction shown by Orange Pekoe. She doesn't currently need a new tank right now, but as shown by Carpaccio earlier, the location of the torii gate is suitable for an ambush point. If they could take down a tank or two, especially the heavies, then things would be easier for Japan's endeavor.

Suddenly, Erika heard something rumbling not far from her position, stalking, rolling under the shadow of darkness, following her movement to conceal their figure. Silently, Erika gave order to her crews to slowly moving to cut the path of the stalker. She doesn't mind with one on one duel. After all, she's one of Japan's best tank ace.

"Break now!"

Erika's tank made a sudden movement to cut the path of her stalker while turning on the bright light to blind them.

"BLAAAM!"

Erika fires her shot, but the shadowy figure evade the shot agilely, while retreating back to the darkness.

"Get them!"

A chase in the dark happened, and as they exchange some fire while skillfully dodged on each other, Erika realized that whoever she's facing right now is not an ordinary panzerfahrerin. She has considerable skills, maybe matching her own, but so far, she only played defensively by dodging her shot while once in a while shooting back. Despite, pretty soon they're running out of space to play cat and mouse.

Erika startled. The striking emblem of black eagle with white crescent and cross on its chest over yellow background and the banner of crossing oak leaves glaring on her sight. There's only one tank wore those insignias: the rittmeister of Schlesien Regiment, Amelia Steiner, the most senior officer from the "Four Horsewomen of Apocalypse" from German Frauenschaften.

"Frau Erika," said Amelia Steiner in threatening manner, "we met at last."