{March/20/2026}

(Seoul:South Korea)

Maho was walking through the mall that her unit was stationed at. She was heading for a meeting room located in the ground floor of the mall where it use to host meeting among the mall staff and security personel of how to run the mall, schedule change, security detail, ect. But now that meeting room will be use by the JSDF officers for their next mission in Seoul.

Maho thought of what the meeting was about and what kind of mission they will do next. She keep pondering about it but she reminded herself that she'll find out sooner than later, but she couldn't help but feeling curious about the mission.

Maho was excited at the prospect of returning to the frontline and fight the north korean again as she have spend the last three weeks stuck on a field hospital, and she wanted avenge the Japanese that have lost their live during the north korean missiles strike of the Japanese mainland.

But at the same time, she was nervous and her chest was filled with dread as she was thinking of when she almost die from that sniper bullet that struck her cheek because of her own carelessness. Before she was sent to the frontline, she and her teammate believe that they all could win this war without losing each other, after all from what they heard the north korean army was very malnourished, so defeating them would be a piece of cake. but they were proven wrong when Maho was wounded.

After a few minutes of walking, maho finally reach the door that lead to the meeting room. She took a deep breath before she enter the room. The room meeting room was consist of an LED projector hanging from the celling and a map of Seoul in the middle, the rest of the room was filled with fold up chairs with most of them occupied by JSDF officers who were their to attend the meeting, they were from different units, some from infantry units while some from armored units.

Maho look around the room, trying to find an empty seat, then she found one and it was located next to chairs that was occupied by two familiar faces. it was first lieutenant Hiro Katsumoto and Kenta Mori, her fellow tanker and platoon leader. Hiro was tall, he had black eyes and a brown hair while Kenta was average in height, he had a brown eyes and hair.

Maho then made her way toward them and sit in th chair next to them. "So, you guys have any idea what our next mission will be?" Hiro ask his comrades.

Kenta shrugged. "As long as we get to kill north korean then i don't care what type of mission we get." he remarked.

Maho didn't respond and keep a straight face but internally, she felt a cold shiver running through her spine when Kenta talking about killing so cassualy, it's not because she was afraid of Kenta, but more of herself. When her platoon was given the task to push back the north korean, she and her crew kill a fair share of north korean soldiers, Maho herself was responsible for wiping out an entire squad of north korean with her top mounted .50 cal heavy machine gun. At the time she didn't really think much about it as at the time she was busy fighting and trying hard not to get killed.

But when she was force to stay in the field hospital for three weeks, she began to recall the face of the enemies she killed. She was expecting herself to be remorseful but she didn't, after all, this are the same people who launch dozens of missiles on her homeland and killed hundereds, why should she fell remorse for them.

But when she think about it more and more, she began to realize that she enjoy killing them. This thought scared her as she was afraid that she was some sort of sociopath that couldn't feel empathy. She brought this up with one of the medic who's checking on her, the medic just shrugged and said that it was the nature of war and she shouldn't worried to much about it.

Suddenly the meeting room door swung open and walk in Colonel Isamu Musashi, the commanding officer of the 40th infantry regiment, the unit her platoon have been attach to. The man had a tall stature, have a black eyes and brown hair with some of them began to turn gray.

"ATTENTION ON DECK!" yelled out one of the soldier.

Soon the entire room stand up in a position of attention.

"At ease soldiers!" at this, everyone start to sit down.

Col. Musashi then stood next to map of Seoul in the center of the room. "Now all of you already know that i'm going to brief you on your next mission so i'm just gonna be straight to the point." He cleared his throat before continuing. "Currently, the South korean and american army have launch operation Mercury, the goal of this operation is to encircle the north korean inside of Seoul from two side in hope of end this battle as quickly as possible. The south korean will come from the west while the American from the east."

"Now we won't participating in this operation, rather we were given the task that just as important as operation Mercury. High command have order a mass crossing of the Han river and our unit were given the task of crossing the Dongho bridge."

"The plan is simple, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th company would cross the bridge with the 1st and 2nd tank platoon providing armor support. 5th and 6th company alongside the 3rd tank platoon would be the last to cross the bridge. While they unit cross the bridge, i want the 3rd tank platoon to standby on the river alongside a unit from the south korean army and provide cover fire for the advancing unit"

"After everyone cross, we would be advancing toward the Okjung middle school were a unit of south korean have been trap since last month and have manage to repel the north korean assault on the school. we would relieve them by destroying any north korean units that had encircle them. that is all, any question!" he boomed out.

Maho raised her hand. "Colonel, how strong is the enemies defence on the bridge?" She ask her superior.

Maho question made the colonel scratch his head. "Ah, i almost forgot about that, thank you for reminding me lieutenant." He then cleared his throat. "According to intel, the north side of the Seongsu bridge was defended by three Company of north korean, so that's atleast 450 enemy combatants waiting for us in the other side of the bridge. there are also supported by BMP 1's atleast six Pokpung-ho 216 Main battle tanks, though i'm sure your Type 10 is more than enough to deal with these threat. Okay any other question?!"

Nobody raise their hand.

"good, you are all dismised, prepare yourself and inform your men about this, we move out 0500 hours!"

"SIR YES SIR!" and with that, the colonel leave the room and soon Mao and the of the officer follow suit to inform their men about this new mission.

{March/21/2026}

0450 hours

Maho and her crew was was checking up their tank before their mission to cross the Dongho bridge.

Currently Maho was inside of the commader hatch, the tanks system for any malfunction. "Okay, periscope are good." she then turn to a monitor and turn it on. "cameras are clean, sensors seem to be working and hardkill system are ready." she muttered to herself. She then put on her tanker helmet and use it's internal radio to call her driver. "Akari, how's thing on your end?" she ask her driver.

"All good here Maho, fuel tanks are full and she's ready to roll." Akari reply through the enternal radio.

Suddenly the gunner hatch swung open, Maho turn her head to see Yua hop inside and sat on the gunner chair. "Yua, how is the gun?" She ask her gunner.

Yua gestured her to wait for a moment as she put her eyes on the gunner sight and place her hand on the crank that move the gun up and down to see if it was functioning the way it should. "Gunner sight are clear, hand crank are smooth and both the main cannon and coaxial machine gun are fully loaded." She inform her commander.

Maho nodded at her in aproval. "Good, let's just hope this time we won't have burn most of our ammo." Maho said to her crew.

The Type 10 main battle tank have alot of good thing like it's light weight compare to most other MBT like the Leopard 2 or the M1 Abrams but still have the same stopping power as the two and it's usage of autoloader made loading the main gun much faster then using a human loader. But the Type 10 have one problem and that is even thought the tank could carry the total of 36 120mm shell, the auto loader could only stored the total of 14 shell in total while the other 8 were stored in the turrent outside of the autoloader while the rest were stored in the hull. meaning if the tank shot all 14 round, the tank crew would have to reload the auto loader manualy, something they can't do in the middle of combat.

This problem were already expirienced by Maho and her crew. During their mission to push back the north korean back to the Han, Maho and her crew use all of their ammo either on enemies tanks/combat vehicle or enemy infantry. when the autoloader run out of shell, Maho and her crew find themself at the end of a Chonma-ho 115mm gun. luckily for them, before the north korean tank manage to fire at them, Erika came to the rescue and destroy the North korean tank before it could destroy Maho's tank.

The memory made Yua grimace. "yeah, here's hoping." She muttered.

There were a brief silence inside the tank, Maho check her watch to see that it's only 2 minutes from 0500 hours so they would be moving out in a few moments. Maho then decide to call her fellow commanders to know their status. "first platoon this is fox leader, status report!"

"Fox 2 ready." reply Erika through the radio.

"Fox 3 ready." answer Kuome.

"Fox 4 ready." said Ritaiko.

Maho nodded in aproval at her friends and as if que after Maho and her fellow tankers finalize their check up, the men and women of the 40th infantry regiment start to arrive and some of them start to mount the tanks as a ride to their destination, something they had done previously.

Maho check her watch again and see that is already 0500 hours, it's time for them to move. Maho took another deep breath before giving the order throuh the radio. "PANZER VOR!"

As soon as she give the order, the Four tanks under her command start to move forward and Maho being the platoon leader was at the very front of the convoy.

The convoy were consist of twelve Type 10 tanks from 1st, 2nd and 3rd platoon with a few Type 73 APC's and two Type 89 IFV's somewhere in the middle carrying infantry and those who didn't board the APC/IFV sat on top of the tanks.

The convoy move in a relatively high speed for a tank convoy making those who's unlucky enough to seat on top of the tanks hold on for dear life so they won't fall over, but they need to reach the bridge as fast as possible and cross it so they didn't lost the momentum.

For the entire ride Maho was silent and she had a cold, stern, emotionless look on her face, something that already become her trademark since her time as a senshado athlete. It help her stay calm during in the middle of combat.

Though this time she's not the only one with this look as most of the other tankers and soldiers who had seen combat before share the same look as her. Some of these men/women have expirience the true horrors of war as they saw their comrades being torn apart by machine gun or having their limbs blown to pieces from mortar fire. Even though it was completly understandable why they would act this way, the cold look the veteran soldiers gave release a strange vibe from them that made the replacement soldiers nervous.

Finally after fifteen minutes of driving, they almost there as the Han river start to come into view and the telltale sound of exploding mortars and gunfire start to grew louder and louder by the minutes.

And finally they reach the river bank, there they saw a few formation of barricade and sandbags armed with heavy machine gun and mortars that was occupied by south korean soldiers who were shelling the north korean position on the opposite site with an endless barage of mortar fire.

The slow and loud rumbling of the tank collum made the south korean soldiers who were guarding the bridge turn their head to see the Japanese tank collums driving closer to their position. One of the south korean soldier who appear to be the commanding officer of this outpost order some of his men to remove the roadblock so the Japanese tanks could pass through and cross the bridge.

As they pass through the barricade, Maho saw from her periscope that some of the south korean soldiers who weren't pre-occupited from operating the mortars salute them and wishing them goodluck but most of them just give them a cold stare, secretly hiding their resentment toward the Japanese.

Most of the Japanese didn't understand why the south koreans would resent them. Sure in the past the two country relationship wasn't great, especially in the 1910 to 1945 when Korean was under Japanese occupation but now they are close ally so why they resent them.

But Maho understand full well why that's the case. Their country was being invaded so they were eager to push the invaders out of their homeland. Instead the task was given to a foreign army instead of them, so it make sense why they would feel like that.

Maho didn't blame them though as if Japan was the one that was invaded and the mission of driving of the invaders off were given to some foreigners, especially if it was a former enemy she to would be furious.

When they reach the bridge, Maho order Akari and the rest of her platoon to slow down so the infantry could dismount safely. After all the infantry dismount, Maho order her platoon to move again, this time at a slower speed so the infantry could catch up and use the tank as cover from incoming gunfire.

The bridge had two lanes, seperated by a railway track in the middle. each lanes was wide enough for two tanks driving side by side. They drove with 1st platoon at the very front followed by a Type 89 IFV and two Type 73 APC and the infantry follow them on foot

Maho look at the bridge infront of her through the periscope, the Dongho bridge was long, spanning over 1,1 Km, but the bridge was very flat that she could she the north korean defence on the other side being shelled by the south korean mortars.

"Kuome, Ritaiko, keep your eyes open for any tanks that's hiding on the river bank! and Erika, watch those skyscrapper! someone could be hiding there with an RPG." Maho said through the radio.

"Roger that." was their response.

They continue their advance for couple more minutes and all the while they could see in the distence beside them multiple silhouette of rubber boat crossing the river and the sound of gunfire going of around them, yet none of them are directed at them, atleast not for now.

If this is a normal crossing then they would reach the other side of the river less than five minutes, however they were driving in a walking man pace so it would take them atleast fifteen minutes to reach the other side.

The slow pace of the crossing and the fact that the north korean haven't fire a shot at the made the Japanese nervous, even though they knew the north korean are probably ducking for cover from the mortars fire, but the fact that they haven't fire back yet still made them nervous.

Maho decide if the north korean won't shoot them, then they should shoot them first. She zoom in on her periscope and saw barbed wire barricade and sandbags right behing it, she noted that on of the sandbags was armed with a KPV heavy machine gun but saw no one operate it, probably ducking for cover now. She decide it was her first target.

"Yua, target those MG nest, range 600 meters, fire when ready!"

"Roger that." Yua answer. she then had her eyes on the gunner sight and aim at the MG nest, she took her breath and call her shot. "On the way!" she push the firing button and a HEAT shell comes flying out of the barrel at a high speed and hit the Machine gun, blowing it into pieces.

"Target destroyed." Yua said while grinning.

"good job Yua." Maho then tune her radio to contact her platoon. "first platoon, this is fox leader, open fire at the enemy position!"

As soon as she gave the order, her fellow tanker start to fire their 120mm gun at the north korean. Soon the north korean barricade was blown wide open for the Japanese to went through.

"Pick up the pace!" Maho ordered.

The tanks collums increase their speed but not to fast so the infantry could still catch up. As the tanks of the 1st platoon keep advancing while firing at the same time. When they were only 300 meters from the north korean defence, the Japanese soldiers could here a loud whistling sound come through the air and second later explode near Maho's tank.

"RPG!" Kuome yelled.

"Did anyone see the shooter!?" Maho ask frantically.

"I see it. They're on a white building, tenth floor, second window." said Erika.

"Take 'em out!"

Erika's Type 10 aim it's gun toward the building and fire a heat round, blowing the window into smithereens, effectively silencing the RPG. But as soon as that one RPG was disabled, dozens more RPG operator open fire on the convoy from the surrounding skyscrapper.

Most of them miss or destroyed by the Type 10 hardkill protection system, but some manage two manage to hit Maho and Kuome tank respectively, but luckily it didn't penetrate it's armor and only ricochet harmlessly.

The Japanese tanks from the 2nd platoon who was directly behind the 1st platoon and the 3rd platoon in the river bank soon return fire with their main cannon and coaxial machine gun. The APC and the infantry soon began to open fire at the building, all the while the first platoon continue to open fire on the north korean barricade with their coaxial machine gun.

When they were only two hundred meters from the barricade, the south korean mortar barrage began to die down to avoid hitting their allies. As soon as the mortar barrage die down, the north korean began to left their cover and open fire with assault rifle and machine gun at the Japanese.

The Japanese infantry who earlier have expose themself to fire at the north korean found themself scrambling for cover behind the advancing tanks and several unlucky soldiers was cut down by enemy fire in the process.

All Maho could hear at that point was hundreds of bullets hitting her tank and bounce harmlessly thanks to it's armor, but the constant rattling noise didn't make it pleasant for anyone inside the tanks. All the while Maho was wondering where is the north korean tank and why they hasn't fire at them yet. This made Maho nervous because even though a Type 10 is capable tank, it's armor was thin compare to conventional Main Battle Tank. This was done so the tank could be as light as possible and can be easily traverse through Japan moutainous terrain. Because the armor was thin, it was an easy prey for enemy tank.

The JSDF knew this and to compensate for the lack of armor, some tank was upgraded with ERA armour and hardkill protection system so it won't be so easily destroyed. But even with and add on armor to increase it's thickness, the Type 10 could still be destroyed by an RPG if it's rocket manage to bypass the ERA and it's hardkill system. That's the fact that made Maho nervous that a north korean tank might be hiding somewhere, waiting the perfect time to fire. And she didn't have to wait long for that.

Through her periscope, Maho could see a something big coming from the north korean line, it was a Pokpung-ho 216 tank. As soon as the north korean tank made it's presence known, aim it's cannon toward the leading Japanese tank.

"Enemy tank, 400 meter, take it out!"

"On the way!" Yua push the fire button and a HEAT round came out of the Type 10 barrel and pentrating the hull and igniting the ammo storage causing the turrent to be blown off from it's hull.

"Target detroyed." Yua exclaim. But as soon as she said that, another explosion was heard a second later, the Type 89 IFV behind them exploded, killing it's crew and several infantry nearby.

"Enemy tank on the right bridge exit!" Erika warned.

Sure enough, Maho could see a Pokpung-ho 216 there with it's gun still smoking. "Koume, take it out!" Koume did as Maho told her, she give her gunner her target and the gunner open fire at the tank, taking it out of action. But after she take it out, cannon fire was heard on the oppsite side of the river, both shell miss it's target and instead hitting the bridge pillar.

Maho saw two more Pokpung-ho 216 sitting on the river bank with their gun aimed at the collums. Maho was about to order her subordinate to fire back when she heard Kenta voice coming from the radio. "Don't worry Nishizumi, We got this!" Maho could see through her monitor rear camera that two tank from the 2nd platoon turn their turrents a few degrees to the right and open fire.

The two north korean tanks went up in flames after being struck by two HEAT round. Maho let out a sigh of relief that two more tanks have been disable, so if what col. Musashi telling them was accurate, then there is only four more tanks to be dealt with. But Maho soon realize that they were an easy target if they continue at this speed and none of the tank have been taken out yet because of the north korean gunner have a bad aim.

Deciding that they couldn't stay here any longer, Maho tune in her radio. "We need to reach the barricade as soon as possible, were sitting ducks here. Erika, you with me, we'll breech those barricade! Kuome, Ritaiko cover us!"

"Roger!"

"Yua switch to coax! and Akari full speed!" Maho told her gunner.

"You got it boss." both of them gleefuly reply at the same time.

Doing as her commander told her, Akari hit the gas pedal and soon their tank darted across the bridge toward the barricade with Erika tank follow from behind. The two tanks hit the barricade in full speed effectively destroying it and every north korean defending it runaway try to avoid being crushed to death.

After they breech the barricade, both tanks open fire with their coaxial machine gun at any north korean soldiers they saw. Maho and Erika use their remote control .50 cal machine gun to kill any north korean that try to flank them.

A number of north korean soldiers hiding in nearby building aim at the two tanks with their RPG, but before they could fire, they were cut down by coaxial machine gun fire from the other tanks.

The Japanese infantry follow the tanks and charged forward the north korean position with rifle in hand and bayonet fixed. They fire their rifle at every north korean that the tanks miss, killing dozens of them.

Eventually, all of them manage to cross the river part of the bridge and now the bridge is standing above a highway. beneath them was hundreds of north korean soldiers supported by multiple BMP-1 and two Pokpung-ho 216 tank.

The Japanese soldiers took a firing position on the bridge safety railing and open fire with assault rifle and machine gun at the enemies below. Some of the Japanese soldiers who held the role of granadiers showered the north korean with rifle grenades, killing many of them. They also fire their Panzerfaust 3 rocket launcher at the north korean tanks and IFV's, the vehicle that were hit is blown into pieces as the rocket easily penetrate it's thin top armor.

As the firefight drag on, the north korean number beneath the bridge started to dwindle as the were killed by the hails of gunfires given by the Japanese soldiers who have the high ground. as their number continue to dwindle, dozens of Japanese soldiers start to tied ropes on the bridge safety railing and using it to repel down the bridge into the highway below to fight the north korean head on.

By this point, the 3rd tank platoon, alongside Easy and Fox company have cross the bridge and now they're joining their comrades at raining down hails of bullets at the north korean.

Back with Maho, she and her platoon still have their sight infront of them, just in case any north korean reinforcement showed up while the infantry was busy with the one under the bridge. They didn't have to wait long, as three Chonma-ho tank, followed by four dozens infantry rushing toward their position to aid their comrades.

"Open fire!" Maho yelled through the radio.

The four tanks then open fire with their main gun directed at the approaching north korean tank. as soon as they fired, two of the Chonma-ho exploded, killing any infantry who's unlucky enough to stand near them. However one of the Chonma-ho was still operatinal as not a single tank from Maho's platoon aim their gun at it, thinking the other member must have been the one who fire at it.

The commander of this Chonma-ho who earlier thought he was gonna die immidietly order his gunner to fire at the Japanese tank infront of them. Soon the Chonma-ho 115mm cannon roar to life and exited through it's barrel was a HEAT round flying at a high speed.

Inside her tank, Erika watch in horror as the Chonma -ho gun pointed at her tank. second later, the gun roar to life and she felt her tank shook violently. This is it, she was going to die. She closed her eyes and waited for the inevetable explosion of the ammo rack that will blown the turrent of the hull that will most definetly kill her.

Yet, the large explosion she was expecting never came, isntead she only heard a cannon fire and a large explosion in the distance. Erika open her eyes to see that she was fine, she take a look inside her tank and saw that everything seem okay, she glance at her gunner, Sara. she seem to be alright, albeit in a dazed. Erika then look through her periscope and saw that the Chonma-ho tank that was aiming for her ealier is now in flame.

The HEAT shell from that Chonma-ho only hit the Type 10 treads and fail to destroy it. The Chonma-ho commander cursed at his gunner before being blown into smithereens by Maho. The rest of the 1st platoon open fire at the north korean infantry with their coaxial machine gun, leaving no survivor.

Seeing they were outnumbered, their armored support destroyed and their reinforcement annihilated. The north korean soldiers fighting in the highway knew it was hopeless to continue fighting. So one by one, the north korean drop their rifle and put their hands in the air, hoping that the Japanese would spare them.

When the north korean drop their rifles, a Japanese officer saw it and immidietly order his men to ceased fire, the order was repeated by the other officers. Soon the Japanese stop firing and those who were down in the highway immidietly detain the north korea, waited for them to be transported back into a POW camp.

When Erika heard that the north korean had surrendered, she breath a sigh of relief. "Hey Sara, you okay?" she ask her gunner.

The tank gunner glance at her commander. "Yeah i'm fine sarge, just a little dizzy, but i'll live." she answer.

Erika was glad that her gunner was fine, she wanted to ask her driver next but stop herself when she hear her radio crackled and voice was heard. "Good job soldiers. the bridge is now ours." said who have been watching the whole engagement from the south korean outpost.

"What do we do now sir?" Maho ask.

"For now just sit tight and wait for reinforcement. Infantry will clear the nearby building in the area from any hostile activity." He ordered.

Maho grunt in understanding. "Understood Colonel. Fox leader out." Maho then tune in her radio to her platoon. "Well you heard the man girls, take the time to rest but keep your eyes open!" She order her platoon. Maho then remember something. "Erika, you okay?" She ask with worry.

Erika tune in her radio to answer. "yeah, me and Sara are fine, though i haven't check on Aika." she told Maho. Erika then tune use the internal radio to check on her driver. "Hey Aika, are you okay?" She ask, expecting her to answer, but was met with silence. Erika then start to feel worry for her driver, she thought her radio was broken but scratch that idea because she was using it earlier.

"Hey Aika, answer me dammit!?" She ask more loudly this time, but still no answer. "god dammit." she cursed to herself. "Sara help me check on Aika!" Erika then open her hatch and exit the tank follow by Sara. Both of them hop down from their tank and move toward the driver hatch, there they could see that the tank threads have been blown into smitheerens with three of it's roadwheel completly blown of.

Erika grimace at the scene but she put it aside as she had more important matters. She and Sara climb on top of the driver hatch. "Help me open it!" she told Sara. Both of them struggle for a few second before manage to open the driver hatch. There they could see Aika sitting on the driver chair unconscious.

"Hey Aika wake up!" Erika try lightly slap her cheek but to no avail. This made Erika panic inside but she calm herself remembering that panic won't help in this situation. "Sara keep an eye on her!" Sara nodded.

Erika then move to the top of the tank and look at the Japanese soldiers behind them. "MEDIC!" she yelled as hard as she could. Not long after, two soldiers with a redcross armband came rushing toward her. When they arrive, Erika gestured toward the unconscious driver.

The two medic immidietly got to work, they gently ask Sara to step away so they could do a check up on her. One of the medic check for any pulse while the other one took of Aika helmet to check her head for any injuries.

"How is she?" Erika ask with worry.

One of the medic look at her. "she's okay, though she suffer a concusion from that blast you had earlier." the medic inform her.

"How long 'till she recovered?" ask Maho, by this time the other tanker have left their tanks to see what happend.

The medic to a few more second to check on Aika before answering. "From my examination, her concusion wasn't that bad, she'll wake up in a few minutes, though she need to spend a week on the aid station to recover before she could return to combat." He informed them.

The news made everyone there grimace that another comrade of theirs are wounded, and everyone felt a sense of deja vu as Aika was wounded very similarly to Maho a few weeks earlier.

"Does that mean we will be out of action to?" Erika ask while gesturing to herself and Sara.

The medic look at them. "Considering that you guys are crewmate, yeah most likely both of you must wait for her to recover first. But even if your friend here wasn't wounded, i doubt you guys will see any action soon with that." He gestured to the Type 10 destroyed treads.

Erika and Sara just let out a defeated sigh knowing that it will take days to repair it. But they cave in knowing that won't go into action without Aika by their side, even if their tank wasn't damage.

With a heavy heart, Erika and Sara knew they will be out of action until their tank are fixed and their driver recovered.

Maho who had been listening to their conversation went to Erika and touch her shoulder in a comforting way. "Don't worry Erika, she'll be fine and beside you guys will be back in a week." Maho said with a comforting smile

A smile grace Erika face as she was glad for her commanding officer words. "Thanks Maho." Erika said with graditude. Erika give Maho a salute which Maho return before she and Sara took of to accompany their driver back to the aid station.

After her conversation with her suberdinate/friend was done, Maho began to walk back to her tank to wait further order. By this time most of the north korean POW have been transported back into friendly line to be taken into custody and now most of the Japanese infantry have move on for their next objective of flushing out any north korean soldiers hiding in the nearby building.

Maho walked pass dozens of soldiers who were headed for their objective as she was trying to get back to her tank. After almost bumping into the passing soldiers multiple times, she finally reach her tank. But as she climb up her tank, she was stop by a voice calling out to her.

"Nishizumi-san?"

Maho turn around to see a female soldier was the one who's been calling her name. The soldier had a black hair tied into a bun and an equally black eyes, she also a little it taller than Maho. Maho could swear she seen this girl before, there is something about her that is so familiar but she couldn't place it. Then it hit her. "You're Nishi right?"

Hearing this made Nishi smiled brightly. "yup, nice to meet you again Nishizumi-san, it's been a while. How are you?" Nishi said.

Maho return the smile. "Good, it's nice meeting you as well. So you're part of the 40th infantry?" Nishi nodded. "if that the case, how come we never see each other until now?"

"oh it's because i just arrive here last week and i spend most of time in the barracks." Nishi answered.

"Which company?" Maho ask.

"6th company" she answered.

This made Maho smirk. "you guys missed the battle." she remarked.

"I know, and i hope i can see combat as soon as possible!" Nishi exclaimed in excitement. Fox company was ordered to stay on the south side of the bridge on standby and the entire time, Nishi along side the men and women of fox and easy company just sit there watching the battle from the distance.

Maho hummed in acknolegment. "what about the other Chi-ha-tan girls? were their here to?"

Nishi nodded. "yeah, Tamada and Hosomi was in the same squad as i am. Nagura, Ikeda and Kubota are also in the same company, although they were in different platoon. The other are also join the JSDF but mostly are reserved personel back in Japan." Nishi informed her.

"were you drafted?"

Nishi shake her head. "No i sign up as soon as Japan enter the war."

Maho smiled hearing Nishi's answer. "Yeah me too, well atleast that what i was planning. "Maho let out a sigh. "I was drafted before i could sign up." she told her.

"well atleast your will to fight for your country is genuine. There is a few people in bootcamp that join just for glory and adventure." Nishi said in displeasure. "Thankfuly most of them either disqulified or only put in reserved instead of the frontline."

Maho was about to respond when she was interupted.

"Oi Nishi, you're coming or not!?"

His tone made Nishi wince. "That's my squad leader and by the looks of it he wasn't in the mood right now. Oh well it's been nice talking with you Lieutenant, i better be back with my squad before i got chewed out any further." Nishi said before saluting Maho and rush back to her squad before Maho could respond.

"Good luck!" Maho yelled out. By the looks of it, Nishi commanding officer wasn't please with her slowing down the squad. Maho just shaked her head and went back to her tank.

"What took you so long?" Tamada ask her friend as they were walkin with their squad toward their objective.

Nishi who's almost left behind by her squad because of her cacthing up with Maho could only sheepishly scratch her head. "Sorry, got hold up back there."

"And what excatly is holding you back?" ask Nishi's squad leader, .

His hard tone made Nishi wince. "Um, i was catching up with an old friend." She told him.

Taizou glance at Maho. "Oh yeah, lieutenant Nishizumi and you used to be an overall senshado commander of your respective school." Taizou recalled.

Nishi nodded. "Yeah, it's been a while since i've seen her or her sister."

Taizou sigh at this. "Nishi, i understand why you wanted to talk to her, but you can catch up with her in later date. Right now we have a job to do!" Taizou told her.

"Right, i'm sorry sir. I promise you this will never happend again." Nishi then stop walking and bowed at her Sargent.

This only made Taizou sigh again. "And Nishi, one more thing." Hearing this Nishi immidietly rise and met her commanding officer face. "Please stop saluting or bowing at a superior officers while we're in the field. Your making us an easy target for snipers!" Taizou told her exhasperaredly.

"Right, sorry." Nishi apolegize sheepishly.

Taizou shook his head in amusement at how many time Nishi had say sorry to him in a short amount of time. "Alright guys, let's pick up the pace! The north korean won't kill themself!"

"ROGER!" his squad respond.

Soon they pick up the pace and headed for the building they were supposed to cleared up. it was a multi stories apartment building on the left side of the bridge, one of many building use by the north korean to fire RPG at the tank collums. The building was filled with a few holes cause by the Japanese tanks.

They entered the building lobby and inside, Japanese soldiers al ready clearing the lobby of any north korean activity. Taizou approach one of the officers in charge and he was given the order to clear the 10th floor, as it was on of he floor use by the north korean to fire RPG and sniper rounds at the Japanese.

After given the order, Taizou ralied his squad at the base of the emergency stairwell and start to accend the stair. They have their rifle pointed forwards as they accend the stair slowly and carefuly. Even though every single floor below the 10th floor already cleared by the other squad, Taizou didn't want to take any chance and order his squad to ready their rifle just incase any north korean decide to jump them

Before they know it, they already reach the 10th floor and Taizou was standing infront of the door that would lead them to the 10th floor, ready to open it. Taizou glance back at his squad.

"Ready?" he whispered.

All eleven member of his squad gave him a firm nod.

With a deep breath, Taizou open the door and it lead the into a coridor with atleast a few dozens apartment door in both side. The coridor was empty, but Taizou knew that a north korean soldiers could very well hide inside one of this apartment room.

"Seiya, Tsuneo, Ren, you guys clear the first six door on the left! Nishi, Tamada, Hosomi, you three clear the first six on the right! Minato, Kakashi. You take the next six door on the right! Haru, Tsuki, You guys are with me! and Asahi, standby here for any wounded" Taizou ordered.

"Roger" His squad answer in unison. Soon they move to their individiual target.

Nishi, Tamada and Hosomi stand infront of the first room they were about to cleared. Nishi glance at both of his friends. Both of them with rifles in hand nod at Nishi, telling her they were ready.

Nishi try to open the door, but the door was lock, so she brougth up her feet and kick open the door. when the door swung open, Nishi raise her rifle as she enter the room followed by her friends.

The open door reveal what appear to be the kitchen and next to it was appear to be the main room of the apartment. it had two small sofa, a couch and a coffee table facing a TV and beyond that was the balcony.

The three of them start to sweep the floor carefuly, they check everything for any north korean soldiers, they check the balcony, they check underneath the coffee table, they even check the kitchen cabinet if there is any weapon hidden there but there were not.

After determining everything is clear, the three of them gatter in the middle of the main room, they could see there is three more door, two leading to the bedroom while other to the bathroom. Nishi made a hand signal, telling her friend to split up clear each room.

Each of them take position in front of their respective door. Hosomi who was near the bathroom door, take initiative to open it. She open the bathroom door slowly, when the door was fully open, she could see that it was empty. she check the sink and the shower and find nothing.

"Bathroom clear!" she shouted.

Tamada also readied herself to clear one of the bedroom. But she, being the more impulsive out of the three, decide to instead holster her Type 89 rifle, grab a shotgun from her back and use it to blast the door open without checking if it was lock or not.

Much to her dissapointment, she didn't find any north korean behind that door and after further examination, it was clear that nobody was hiding in that room. "Room clear!" she huff out in frustraition as she was itching to put her shotgun to good use by blasting north korean in the face.

Nishi for her part was sweeping every corner of the last bedroom and so far found nothing. Then she decided to check under the bed to see if there is anything she could found down there. And when she duck down to check, she froze as she found a Type 85 sniper rifle, a Chinese copy of the Russian SVD Dragunov that was used by China and north korea.

The finding of this rifle indicate that there is infact a north korean hiding here. She then averted her gaze toward one place she hasn't check, the closet. Slowly she began walk toward the closet with her heart beating so fast she thought it will jump out of her throat.

Nishi use her right hand to hold her rifle while she slowly move her left hand to open the closet. When she pull the closet door open slowly when suddenly the door swung open with such force that made Nishi fall down and drop her rifle.

Before she could comprehand what happend, a north korean soldiers was suddenly on top of her and he was arm with a knife a lunge at Nishi neck.

Thinking fast, Nishi instinctively grab onto her attacker arm and hold it in place so the knife won't plunge into her chest. The two of them struggle for sometime, but overtime Nishi began gain the upper hand over her opponents as she began to push the knife further from her neck.

Sensing that he was about to lose the fight, the north korean soldiers spat at Nishi face, making her groan in disgust and lose focus on the fight. The north korean pull hand from Nishi hand and ready to strike again when suddenly.

BOOM

The north korean soldiers drop dead into the floor. Nishi open her eyes to see that her face was soaked in blood and next to her was her attacker who was missing half of his face.

Recovering from her shock, Nishi could see Tamada standing in the door way with her shotgun aimed at the now dead north korean. Tamada immidietly kneel down next to her, followed by Hosomi who just arrived at the room after hearing the gunshot to check on her friend.

"Nishi, you're okay?!" Tamada ask in worry as she help Nishi get up.

"i-i'm fine." She said in a low whisper as Tamada and Hosomi help her stand up.

Tamada and Hosomi wasn't that convince since Nishi just have what essentially a near death experience, but didn't question her further since they have more jobs to do.

After checking that Nishi is in fact unharmed and are able to continue, the three women left the room to continue their job of clearing this building from hostiles activity.

Yet for this three women, the reality of their situation start to sink in as they know they could lose each other at any moment. Which is a scary thought for them since they've been friends since high school.

But they will face those scary thought by do there best to protect and support each other to face the difficult time that was to come.