{April/2/2026}

Seoul:South Korea.

A few kilometers behind the frontline.

0930 hours

"Ah, finally some down time." A woman exclaim as she plop down on a chair inside a large empty communal kitchen after a very long week, especially with a war going on just few kilometers away. Deciding to treat herself, the woman rose up from the chair and made her way on one of the kitchen cabinet to look for a snack.

After rummaging around for a while she finally settled for a cup noodle. She took the cup noddle out of the drawer and start to preparing it. She started by opening the cup, then she open the packet seasoning and put it inside the noddle. After that she grab a kettle filled with boiling water and pour it to the cup.

She then put the noddle aside and wait for it to cook itself. She then made her way to a fridge nearby and open it and grab a bottle of soju. She then sit back at her chair, pop the soju bottle open and take a sip. She immidietly felt the taste of alcohol filled her mouth and she enjoyed it, it help her calm down especially when she's becoming more restless this days.

The woman then grab her phone out of her pocket and decide to scroll social media while her noddle was still cooking. When she open the app, it wasn't filled with the content she was looking for, instead her feed was filled with news account posting international headlines.

"A Russian army general was shot dead by a ukrainian sniper in the outskirt of Marioupol." one article wrote.

"six Indonesian cargo ships trasporting troops and equipment was sunk by a Chinese submarine off the coast of Thailand. More than 5000 marines and sailors was killed in action." Another article said.

"Battle of Ho Chi Minh city fought by the Vietnamese resistance and the Chinese military still rages on. Casualty figures are estimated to past one million." Another post said.

"Another skirmish between Indian and Pakistani soldiers had occured in the Kasmir region amidst the growing tension between the two nation." Another one wrote

As the woman kept scrolling through her feed, she found nothing other than news about the war. She then exasperatedly put her phone on the kitchen counter and took a huge gulp from her soju bottle to calm herself. "Is there no other news than war these days." She muttered to herself.

She wasn't alone in that feeling. Millions of people was tired of the endless news about the war. So tired in fact that she and alot of people are starting to missed the days when the news was filled with stupid and uimportant stuff like celebrity and political scandals.

She then brought out of her thought when she remember that her noddle was supposed to be done by now. So she left her chair, grab the cup noddle and the plastic fork that came along with the packaging, stir the noddle a bit before returning to her chair.

Once she's sat down she took a sniff to smell the noddle and as always, instant noddle smells great. She took sometime to admire it before taking a bite when suddenly the kitchen door swung wide open, revealing a young man wearing a flight suit.

"Alisa! we need to get out there!" The young man yelled.

"Takashi? What goin- Oh not again." Alisa grumbled as she's familiar with the look of urgency on the man face.

"Come on Alisa, no time for complaint!" Takashi said as he throw a pilot helmet to Alisa.

Alisa put her noddle on the kitchen counter and swiftly catch the helmet. The without a word both of them left the kitchen in a hurry. Alisa was annoyed that her relaxing time was cut short by this emergency, but she didn't complain, well atleast not as much like when she's in highschool. Afterall, this is her duty.

Both Alisa and Takashi burst out of the building their in, revealing an airbase the housed dozens of helicopters. Alisa and Takashi then sprint down the airbase toward one specific helicopter, an AH-64 Apache infront of a large hangar where a few mechanics doing a final check up on it before it could take off.

The pair finally arrived at the helicopter. "How's she?" Takashi ask one of the mechanics, referring to the helicopter.

"She's lock and loaded Takashi, ready to raised hell." One of the mechanics said.

"Good." Takashi said. He put on his helmet then climb onto the backseat of the Apache's cockpit, which is the pilot seat while Alisa climb onto the gunner/observer seat infront of him with the help of the mechanics.

"Hey!" The mechanic knock at the cockpit window. "You two be carefull out there!"

"Don't worry Yuto, we will." Takashi gave a thumbs up to the mechanics. He then start the helicopter engine and second later the blade started spinning.

Takashi then tap on Alisa's shoulder to check on her as the blade spinning faster and faster. "Ready Alisa?" He ask her.

"Ready." Alisa respond.

Satisfied with her answer. Takashi brought his attention back to the control and gently pull the control upward. Soon the attack helicopter was airborne and he quickly fly close to four other attack helicopters to form up a formation and fly toward their destination.

On her gunner seat, Alisa is feeling a little salty that her little down time was distrupted by this mission, she didn't even bother to ask Takashi where they're sent in, as she know's where ever it is, they will blowing up north koreans, just like usual and Takashi also know that Alisa know this so he didn't elaborate in his explanation other than that they're needed.

Yet something from the peripheral vision caught her attention. There are eight more Apache's join on their formation from their right side, seemingly flying on the same destination as they are. And when she look more thouroughly, she notice that these Apache's are belong to the Republic of korean army.

She then heard more the buzzing of helicopter coming from her left. She glance at the source of the sound and saw three Kawasaki OH-1 belonging to the JGSDF also flying alongside them.

Now Alisa starting to feel something's odd with the situation she find herself in. Usually when an attack helicopter are flying to provide air cover they don't usually fly in a large group, often only flying in pair or five max.

Yet now there is a total of sixteen attack helicopter flying in the same direction, so something tell her that this mission was different.

"Hey Takashi, mind telling me where we're going?"

"The 40th and 41st Infantry regiment and the south korean 160th and 161st infantry regiment are advancing toward Changgyeonggung palace in order to recapture it from the north korean. The thing is there are a shit loads of north koreans there. They have armored support but they'll still be outnumbered and it was believed that the north korean reinforcement will arrive in fifteen minutes so they sent us to deal with them." Takashi explain.

"But why send sixteen helicopters for a palace? Isn't that a little overkill?"

"The south korean want their palace back as soon as possible. They even sent a full division to retake another palace further east and from what i heard they also sent fifty helicopter to retake it. Besides Changgyeonggung palace ground is big. like really big"

"Holy shit! They did all that for an old palace that no one lived in anymore!?" Alisa said in shock.

"Hey if were fighting in Japan and the palace were taking is the imperial palace, i'm sure the JSDF would also act like this." Takashi said.

"Yeah i know, but atleast we still have an emperor who live there. The koreans didn't even have a monarch, why they care so much about an old palace." She complained

Takashi now starting to get irritated by Alisa's answer. "Look Alisa, even if you don't like it, we have our orders. The sooner we done it the sooner we get back and rest. Got it?"

Seeing there's no way arguing out of this situation, Alisa finally relented. "Got it."

"Ok good." Takashi said.

They fly in silence for a few moment before Alisa ask one more question.

"Hey, what type of armor they have this time?" Alisa ask again.

Takashi shrug. "Chonma-ho, Pokpung-ho, some BMP's. You know the usual, if we're lucky maybe we'll encounter an M2020." Takashi said. "Just kept focus, it's business as usual, you'll keep shooting and i'll keep us from dying. Got it?"

Alisa nodded. "Got it."


The frontline

"Fox platoon this is Fox leader. We're exactly 150 meters away from palace ground, expect enemy contact at any moment!" Maho tell her platoon.

"Roger lieutenant!" They respond.

Satisfied with their answer, Maho kept her eyes on the periscope, keeping an eye on the road and surrounding building that was still standing for enemy combatants while keeping her hands on the RCWS control so she's ready to shoot the enemy once she see's them.

Yua also keeping her eyes on the gunner sight and her foot near the firing pedals ready to fire.

It's been two weeks since they taken Dongho bridge from the north koreans and since then they have made a significant progress by pushing the north koreans back a few kilometers, though they have to admit that the north korean resistance was stiffer than they anticipated as they assumed that they'll reach their objective, which is Changgyeonggung palace by the weekend.

But their advance was halted for a week due to logistical error, making the tanks and other armored vehicle low on fuel and ammo. And since the infantry couldn't advance without armored support as that will be suicide, they were force to stop their advance.

During that time, the north korean launch multiple counter attack against the Japanese, all of which was succesfully repelled but during those counter attacks the north koreans manage to destroy a two tanks and five more armored vehicle with a few dozens more soldiers dead or wounded.

But thankfully after logistical problem was sorted out, they can continue their advance. Also Erika and her crews are back. Aika, Erika's driver have recover faster than expected and now she's back in action. so far they didn't lose anymore tanks or armored vehicle, though they did lose a few dozen more soldiers in the advance.

Right now the tank collums was moving in a walking man pace, pushing aside or straight up running over abandoned cars that littered the street. Maho's tank was leading the formation in a semi circle V-formation with Erika and Kuome's tank on the left and right side of her tank and Ritaiko's tank on the back followed by a few Type 89 IFV's. The two othe tank platoon that advance alongside them in the capture of Dongho bridge is attach to the 41st Infantry regiment that will attack Changgyeonggung palace from the south while they attack from the east.

Behind the tank collum was the infanty's who followed the tank slowly as they used it as a cover. Some of the infantry also navigate their way through the rubbles of destroyed building as this part of Seoul have suffered a significant damage from the north korean bombardment in the early stage of the battle with most of the small building are leveled to the ground while the skyscraper are mostly intact but most of them have their glasses shattered.

"Be ready girls, after that right turn we'll be outside of the palace wall." Maho said to her crew.

"Don't worry Maho, were born ready. Right sis?" Akari said through the net from her driver seat.

"Hell yeah we are!" Yua respond, matching her sister energy. "I'll blast those north korean ass all the way back to Pyongyang!" She exclaim.

"Yeah sure you did. If that the case, care to explain why you always forgot to count how many shells are left?" Akari ask her sister.

Yua gave her sister an annoyed look, even though she couldn't see her since they're on a different compartment, so she just glared at the direction of the driver seat. "Will you stop metioning that, it only happend two times!"

"Two times to many. If you did that again we could die." Akari said jokingly.

"Hey, it wasn't entirely my fault. If you're in my posititon, you will forgot to count how many shell we have left as well. Probably more often!" Yua shot back.

"Really? do tell." Akari mocked

Yua smirked, knowing what she said will put her sister on her place. "Back when we're still in Pravda you always forgot to check if the fuel of our tank, which is your duty as a driver. After so many times our tank stop in the middle of a match because you forgot to check the fuel. I lost count how many time's Katyusha sent you to the gulags." Yua said.

"Hey will you stop bringing that up. That was a long time ago." Akari whined through the net.

"Not so nice getting teased, isn't it?" Yua mock her.

Yua could hear her sister groan from the driving compartment. "Will you shu-" Akari was cutt off by Maho.

"Girls focus!" Maho scold.

Her tone was enough to make the sisters winced. "Sorry lieutenant." After that they both shut up.

Maho was visibly irritated that her crew choose the worst time to tease each other. Though deep down, Maho was greatfull that both of them still have high spirit even after all they went through in the past couple of months.

The playfull bickering between her gunner and driver also made Maho somewhat envious at them as they are siblings fighting side by side. Unlike her and Miho who's fighting on two different front and seeing Yua and Akari banter just made her Missed Miho alot, especially when both of them haven't talk in months.

"I really need to call her after we retake Seoul." Maho said to herself.

But for now she put that thought aside, she have a job to do.

The tank collum then reach the intersection where they should make a right turn to reach the palace ground. But it was proven unnecessary as the building surrounding the intersection have completly collapsed, reaveling the palace wall behind it that also partially colapsed.

Judging by the size of the rubble, Maho determined that it was passable for their tanks. So she ordered the collums to getting over the rubbles instead of taking the right turn on the intersection so when they made contact with the north korean, the thickess part of their armor will be facing them.

As they made their way through the rubbles, they could here the sound of cannon and machine gun fire coming from the palace ground, and it's getting louder and louder as they got closer, every soldiers feel the tension mounting and feeling restless, waiting for enemy contact. They knew right now the north korean are currently are engaging a firefight against their comrades in the 41st infantry who's approaching from the south while they're approaching from the east and they also know that two regiments of south korean troops will launch an assault on the palace from the west. They suppose to launch their assault simultaneously but due to delay cause by the rubbles and abandoned cars littering the street, their plan of assault was somewhat ruined.

Soon they made it past through the rubbles and enter the palace ground by running over what was left of the palace wall. Changgyeonggung palace have a very large area, the main palace itself only made a small percentage the palace ground, the rest are made up of mostly forrested area.

As soon as they made it inside the palace ground, they could see hundreds of north korean soldiers taking cover behind the trees, foxholes, trenches and sandbags and a few Chonma-ho's dug in on a hull down position being stretch on a horizontal line, firing their weapon at the 41st infantry that's advancing from the south.

Maho took a deep breath before saying one word to her platoon. "FIRE!" As soon as that word was heard, the four tank open up the battle by firing their cannon at the north korean Chonma-ho's and machine gun position.

Three Chonma-ho's tank and one machine gun position was blown up in an instant with one of the Chonma-ho having it's turrent fly out of the hull. Soon the four Japanese infantry form up a line alongside the Type 10 and starting to open fire at the north korean.

The north korean soldiers who's been focusing on keeping the Japanese force who's coming from the south at bay is now taken of guard by the sudden apperence of another force attacking them from the east. But as soon as their tanks started to exploding around them, the north korean defenders started to redirecting some of their aim towards the 40th infantry. But in doing so, some of them need to leave their cover, and some of those who left their cover was immidietly cut down by the Japanese with rifles and machine guns.

"Advance!" Maho ordered her platoon. Soon the four tanks and the infantry behind them advance slowly while avoiding to hit any of the trees. The tank commanders are using their remote control weapon system to fire upon the north koreans. While Maho was busy with killing the north korean with her remote control machine gun, Yua was trying her best to aim at a north korean Chonma-ho that was turning it's turrent toward them, but because the Type 10 turrent can turn faster than the Chonma-ho, Yua have the north korean tank on her crosshair first. Because her commander was busy dealing with the infantry, Yua didn't wait for her order and fire at the north korean tank "On the way!".

The Chonma-ho went up in flames as soon as it's armor was hit by the HEAT round coming from the Type-10. Yua didn't have time to celebrate her small victory as she could see a few more Chonma-ho tank from the distance turning their turrent toward them. So Yua fire another round at one of them, effectively destroying it. Not wanting to lose to their comrades, the three other tank gunners in the platoon also started to fired their cannon at the north korean tanks and every single one of them hit their target and manage to destroy it. Yua was thankfull that modern tank have a lock on system that made gunners job like her easier. She could not imagine what it would be like to fight this war with a T-34/85 like the one she operate during her time in Pravda, probably she would be dead with a tank like that.

On the driving compartment, Akari was trying her best to avoid hitting any of the trees. Even the Type 10 is capable of running over most of the trees here, it would make the tank slower and would be a huge inconvinience. So she was very carefull to where she was driving. From her periscope she could see there's a wounded north korean soldier right infront of the tank and it appears he was trying his best to get out of the tank way. Akari knew killing a wounded enemy is a war crime, but she's in a middle of a firefight and if she try to avoid the soldier, she might accidentally hurting her own soldiers that use her tank as a cover. So she just keep going closer and closer to the wounded north korean, until she could faintly hear the sound of a bone being crushed under the tank threads.

If this is her a few years ago, she would be horrified by her own action, but by now she already doing it so many time she grew numb to it so she just kept going, not thinking about the soldiers she just crushed to death. Instead her mind was filled with envious thought as she saw through her periscope the more nimble Type 89 IFV driving around the trees in a much faster speed then the tanks while firing their 35mm autocannon at anything that moves. If her tank could move that fast she would be very happy.

Right now the 41st infantry that was originally halted their advance due to heavy fire given by the north korean are now starting to continue their advance while being escorted by the 2nd and 3rd tank platoon. The north korean are slowly being pushed back by the Japanese, some try fleeing back toward the secondary defensive position while some still try to hold their ground. But when the situation seem couldn't get worse for the north korean, it did.

From the west a regiment of south korean soldiers have launch their assault from the west and they're beeing escorted by a platoon of K2 Black panther and a few K21 IFV's who all began to engage the north korean. Sensing that they're getting overrun, the north korean officers give the order to retreat to the secondary defensive position.

"They're running, don't let them regroup!" Maho yelled to the radio for her platoon to hear.

The platoon didn't need to be told twice, every single tank on Maho's platoon fire their machine gun at the fleeing north korean soldiers with most of them getting cut down by either a 7.62mm or a 12.7mm machine gun, while the north korean tanks are getting destryoyed one by one by the other Japanese and south korean tanks as they're trying to retreat.

Now both the Japanese and south korean tanks are slowly and steadily advancing, forming a long horizontal line with the infantry following behind as they advanced toward the north korean defence position while firing everything they have, cannon, machine gun, assault rifle, rockets, you name it. and soon they began to cross the trench the north korean had dug as cover. The remaining north korean troops are now thrown into a full blown panic and began to desperately trying to run but to no avail as they're getting cut down by machine gun fire.

As the last north korean soldier fall, the sound of gun fire started to dwindles, but not for long as the combine forces of Japanese and south koreans began to advance up the hill more quickly this time as the north korean are on a full retreat back to their second defensive position.

From the north korean side, things aren't gone as plan as the combine Japanese and south korean force have broken through their first line of defense, which is far from ideal as they're estimated that they could've hold them of for a few hours before they need to withdraw to the second line of defense, which is right outside Changgyeonggung palace itself.

The north korean are now hastily taking cover in their newly built fortification. Machine guns and recoilless rifles were hidden behind sandbags and palace windows while their tanks and other armored vehicles are scattered throughout the palace complex. Their crews are improvised as much as they can so their tank get a maximum cover so the enemy will have a hard time hitting them. But at the same time, the north korean tankers are finding it hard to find a suitable cover for their tanks so right now there literary more than three dozen tanks and armoured vehicle scattered in the open throughout the palace ground.

The north korean tankers all have a mix feeling. The newer ones are confident that their numerical superiority and bigger guns are able to hold the enemy off and they just dismissed the earlier are just a setback and some are trying their best to hide their fear. While the more experience tankers are more wary of the enemy as they learned not to underestimate them. But all of them shared the feeling of restlessness of waiting the enemy to get in range.

One of the Pokpung-ho tank that was position the in the front of the formation began to see the Japanese and south korean tanks emerging on the treeline. The tank commander soon alerted his fellow tank commanders to get ready. He told his loader to load a HESH round and after that he ordered his gunner to take aim.

Soon his and the other tank are aiming their gun at the advancing tank. The Pokpung-ho commander was ready to give the order to fire. Before he was able to say the words, his tank exploded and was engulf in flames. Soon the other tanks followed suit.

The other tankers were confused because the enemy tanks haven't fired their guns. So what cause their tanks to explode? They didn't need to wait long for an answer as they heard the sound of metal blades chopping in the air. They look up and to their absolute horror, they saw what killed their comrades. It was an Apache helicopter.


"KABOOM!" Alisa gleefully yelled as multiple north korean tanks exploded after it was hit by salvo of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.

"Nice shot!" Takashi compliment, but he immidietly divert his attention elsewhere. "Multiple foot soldiers in the open, Take 'em out!" Takashi said as he broke formation and fly the Apache above the palace yard.

"Affirmative!" Alisa then open fire with the Apache 30mm chain gun, annihilating every unfortunate soul that ended on the receiving end of the gun. Alisa continue strafing and finish it by firing two Hydra 70 rocket at the palace windows, when the rocket hit, it made a huge hole in the building while killing the north korean behind it as well.

As Alisa finished her strafing run, her radio started buzzing. "Watch your fire hunter 0-3! we're not here to take the palace, not destroy it!" A fellow Apache gunner scold her through the radio.

"You said it like you never did it!" Alisa shot back at him annoyed.

"Hey, i only did it by accident, and it was an office building! not a cultural site!" The other gunner said defensively.

Now Alisa was irritated. "Will you shu-"

"Both of you shut the hell up or i'll make you both clean an entire hangar with a goddamn toothbrush when we get back!" the angry voice of their leader was heard, effectively shutting them both. The other pilots and gunners didn't blame him though, an argument in the middle of combat is not ideal and truth be told, they're kinda annoyed that Alisa and her fellow gunner decide to argue in the worse possible time.

"This is hunter 0-5 reporting to all units. I have visuals on the north korean reinforcement closing in from the north, over!" One of the pilot warned.

Takashi acknowlage this and started to reply. "Copy that 0-5, we're moving in to intercept." He then fly his Apache facing the north side of the palace where it he and Alisa could see the north korean reinforcement has arrive, even though their view is somewhat block by the trees that cover the majority of the northern courtyard. Now the north korean are in the process of dismounting their vehicle and entering the palace.

Unfortunately for them, the Japanese and south korean have no plan of letting them in. Soon Takashi and five other pilots position their Apache's towards the advacing north koreans. They didn't need to give order to their gunner, they already knew what they need to do. They open fire with their 30mm autocannon, unleashing hundereds of high explosive rounds at the north koreans below them, killing the foot soldiers and destroying their vehicle.

Takashi then fly his apache above the north korean convoy while Alisa kept strafing the north korean with her 30mm autocannon. "Rockets out!" She yelled out as she fires two rockets as they flew above a Tank. They destroy one vehicle after another with such ease because the north korean convoy are stretch in a straight line and in such close proximity to each other, making them an easy target to airstrike, like now.

After annahilating an entire collum, Takashi and Alisa's Apache are now a few hundred meters away from the palace and now they are flying in between tall skyscrapper. "Turning around for another pass!" He said to Alisa. Takashi then flew his helicopter around one of the skyscrapper and fly back toward the palace where they again came across a few platoon of north korean that was no doubt part of the reinforcement that trying to reach the palace. "Firing!" Alisa start to fire her gun again, there's no way she's going to let them in.

Takashi is looking down at the explosion below that was caused by the 30mm autocannon hitting it's mark, killing dozens of soldiers at a time. as he's seeing this he would be lying if he didn't feel bad for them as most of them are probably just conscript without any choice if they wanted to be a soldier or not. As he brought his attention back to what's in front of him, he immidietly pull back the control stick and stopping the attack helicopter middair as he almost collided with another helicopter.

As soon as that happend he heard his headset start to crackle and the sound of the Apache's pilot he almost hit was heard. "Watch where you're going dumbass!" His voice sounded more annoyed than angry. As Takashi open his mouth to apolagize, He was stop when his headset crackle again.

"All unit this is Hunter leader. Our men have enter the palace building and currently clearing it out from any straglers. Now focus your effort on clearing the surrounding area, made sure we didn't get any surprise!"

"Yes sir!" He and the other pilots answer. After that he began to fly away from the palace ground to the outskirt of the palace to look for any straglers.


"Seiya, Haru covering fire!" Taizou yelled for his men.

"You got it boss!" Seiya said to his squad leader as he aim his M249 SAW at the north korean machine gun position in the palace entrance and fire it in a short burst alongside his squadmate, Haru.

The north korean machine gunner duck behind his cover to avoid getting hit by the Japanese bullets. As he's taking cover, Nishi and Tamada left their own cover to rush his position while trying to dodge friendly fire.

Once they're close enough, both Nishi and Tamada fire their rifle at the machine gunner slightly expose head. Now that the machine gun are down, Nishi and Tamada run up the stairs toward the palace door and kill every north korean soldiers there.

They then reach the door and was confronted with a hallway. They both stop before aiming their rifles at both sides of the hallway, Nishi got the right side while Tamada handle the left. But they only see dead bodies of north korean soldiers lying on either side of the hallway, probably already killed by the tanks coaxial machine gun from earlier.

Determined that the hallway is secured, Nishi and Tamada lower their rifles. Soon they heard sounds of footsteps accending the stairs, it was their platoon and leading them was their platoon leader and he was followed by Taizou and the rest of their platoon.

The platoon leader took a brief glance at his platoon to confirm that they're gathered at the palace entrance, and most of them are. So without any further delay he adressed to the squad leaders under his command. "Hiroto! get your squads to clear the western hallway! Makoto, Botan, Maro! clear the inner courtyard! Taizou you get the east!."

"Roger!" The squad leaders answer in unison.

Taizou then gesture to his squad to follow him. He then lead his squad to the east side hallway where his squad was order to capture. They all move with their rifles raised with some having their bayonet fixed at the end of their rifle and are walking in a steady pace through the palace hallway, they didn't encounter much resistence since the north korean have retreated when they capture the palace entrance.

Then they reach the end of the hallway where they meet left turn that led them to the eastern hallway. When they reach the left turn, Taizou held up his hand to stop his squad. He then slowly peak his head around the corner to scout out the eastern hallway.

From his limited view, he could see there's atleast twenty north korean soldiers in the hallway, but none of them are pointing there gun at his squad, instead all of them are firing their rifles at the inner courtyard where Makoto, Boran and Maro squads were. None of them are bother looking at his direction as they're to focus with the other Japanese soldiers in the courtyard.

Taizou then retrack his head and look at his squad. "Grenade?" he inquired to his squad.

Nishi, Hosomi and Seiya step forward, grabing their grenades out of its pouches, the rest of the squad didn't took out their grenades as they already use them earlier. Taizou gestured to the three of them to throw their granades into the hallway to quickly kill the north korean there.

Taizou then step aside to let his subordinates do their job. Nishi, Hosomi and Seiya then pull their grenade safety pin and for a brief second left their cover, exposing themself to the north korean. They throw their grenades at their intended target and quickly ran back for their cover.

Once they made it back to the safety of their cover, they could here the muffled sound of the north korean soldiers panicking in the middle of gunfire as they realize there's a grenade at their feet. Seconds later an series of explosion was heard, followed by the sound of north korean soldiers wailling in pain.

"GO!"

Hearing this, his squad immidetly jump into action. They left their cover in an orderly manner so they didn't accidently shoot at their own comrades. They began firing their rifle at the north korean who still in shock after the grenade blast, they have little time to react and was immidetly killed by the squad.

Taizou and his squad sweep through the first hallway with relative ease, they manage to shot dead every north korean soldiers in the first hallway without them firing back and now they're on their way to the next hallway. From where they're standing they could see a small intersection that connect the next hallway to the other. As they continue to walk to the second hallway, they could see the north korean soldiers guarding that section have became aware of their presence and now are aiming their rifle towards them.

"Cover!" Taizou yelled out.

They all take cover behind the cover use by the north korean earlier. It was rather uncomfortable as they literary crouching next to a dead body, but not something they didn't use to. Some of Tamada try to peak her head to return fire but she immidietly duck down again as the north korean machine gunners are firing in full automatic, making it imposible for them to return fire without getting shot.

But firing in full automatic is the north korean biggest flaw as firing in full automatic made the gun run out of ammo faster and making the gun innacurate. So Taizou and his squad just wait for the north korean to ran out of ammo.

They didn't have to wait long, only seconds after the north korean soldiers began firing, they stop. Taizou and his squad stand up from their cover and return fire with better pressicion and accuracy, killing five of them while the rest take cover.

Seiya, the squad machine gunner set up his M249 on top of his cover and fire in a short burst, ensuring the north korean stay down so his squad could advance slowly.

But one girl has a different idea.

"BANZAI!"

"Wait, Tamada hold up!" Taizou yelled at the girl.

But he was ignored. Tamada already left his cover and now are charging in full speed toward the north korean soldiers with bayonet fixed at the end of her rifle. She set her target at one of the machine gunner, she jump over his cover and land on top of him, before the north korean could react, she stab him in the neck.

She then remove her bayonet out of the man neck and lunge at another soldier infront of her, stabbing him in the chest. The soldiers next to her aim his gun at her and ready to pull the trigger when Tamada kick his gun out of his hand at hit him with her rifle butt stock, knocking him out.

The rest of the north korean soldiers are in a state of shock that this crazy woman just chrage at them with a bayonet with total disregard for her own safety. But soon they came out of their trance and ready to kill this mad woman. But it was to late, her squadmate had arrive and kill the rest of the north korean there.

Tamada went over to the soldiers she knock out earlier and finish him off by stab him on the chest with her bayonet. As she retrack her bayonet from the dead soldier, she notice that her squad leader giving her a glare. "What?" She ask him.

Taizou just sigh at her question. "Tamada, i thought we agree that was stupid and you will never do it again."

"But i did good didn't i?" Tamada said with a slight smugness.

This just made Taizou groan. "Well save this discussion for later, we still have a job to do." Taizou said before joining the rest of the squad.

Tamada just shrug off his words and rejoin her friend who's taking cover behind a window at the end off the hallway overlooking the small woods behind the palace. She took position on one of the windows and perch her rifle on the window for better stability and start to scan the treeline for enemy.

She could see the muzzle flash of the north korean rifles firing back at her position, but she didn't feel or hear any of those bullets land near her. Maybe it's because the north korean are in panic or they're just incompetent, either way right now they have a really lousy shot.

Tamada began to return fire at the north korean, firing in a semi-automatic pattern like how she was trained in basic training. Right next to her was Nishi, she to was firing her Type 89 rifle at the north korean.

As she scanned the treeline for enemy soldiers, she notice six north korean soldiers are huddled together inside a foxhole near the treeline. Seeing this gave Nishi an idea. She duck down behind the window and take out the bullets inside her rifle and rechamber it with a blank round. She then attach a Type 06 grenade at the end of her rifle and aim it at those guys at the foxhole.

She pull the trigger and the rifle grenade fly at a high speed and blow up right inside the foxhole, killing all of it's occupant in an instant. Nishi let out a triumphant smile when she notice another foxhole not far from the one she just destroyed.

She went to attach another grenade when suddenly the foxhole blew up sky high, and was followed by more explosion around it. Confuse, Nishi look up to see that it was the result of a south korean Apache helicopter shooting it's hydra rocket. Soon the other Apache's followed and strafe the north korean into oblivion.

Seconds later Nishi and the rest of her squad could see that the Japanese Type-10's and the south korean K-2's have flank the palace and now are killing those who try to run away.

It was obvious, the palace was theirs.

Nishi, Tamada, Hosomi, Taizou and the rest of the platoon rise up from their cover and soon step out of the palace. "Capture any stragglers you see and bring them to the palace to be locked up!" Nishi could hear her platoon leader give order to take prisoner, said order was repeated several times by the other platoon leader and their men obeying them.

While this is going on Nishi eyes met with Tamada and Hosomi and she smile at both of them, which was return by them. it's been a stressfull month, they really need some rest.


The rest of the north korean soldiers that survive the combine South korean-Japanese assault is now being taken prisoners and was brought inside the palace to be guarded before they'll be transported behind the frontline to be taken to a POW camp.

Right now, the Japanese and south korean soldiers are resting after the exhausting battle. Some soldiers are eating their ration to refill their energy, some use this downtime to take a nap and some are using this time to start a coversation with their counterpart from the other nation. Japanese and south korean soldiers could be seen fraternizing with each other, exchanging stories about the battle from their point of view, though they all talk in a snails pace because of the language barrier, except those who speak english, most of them is awkwardly speaking in their native language while describing what their talking about with a hand gesture so their counterpart could understand what they're saying.

But not all can rest. The medics are busy treating the wounded, which are many, mostly from the north korean. Even though they're the enemy, they are not going to let them die for no reason especially when the battle is over. Some soldiers also volunteer to gather their comrades body in one place so it will be easier for them to be transported back to friendly lines.

Maho and her crew utilise this down time to take check up on their tank. Right now Akari is checking the Type-10 thread for any damage, Yua is inside the turrent, reloading the Type-10 autoloader by moving the shells from the hull to the autoloader in the back of the turrent, not really a pleasant task, especially when you have to move a 16kg shells in a cramp space multiple times.

"Umm Maho, shouldn't we be resting by now? it's been a long day." Yua complain to Maho from her gunner seat.

Maho is on the top of the turrent, replenishing the M2 Browning machine gun with a new ammo belt. "It's barely noon Yua, we could rest after we made sure Kitsune is ready to fight." Maho said to her as she close the M2 top cover. "and why rest now? We almost done anyway."

"Ugh, fine." Yua grumbled. She then continue to load the autoloader, but this time, when she move a shell, she made sure to made the loudest groaning noise possible to emphasize how tired she was. Maho, who's on her commander seat checking all the tank electronics notice this, but she ignore it. Then Yua load another round to the autoloader, this time she groan louder then before, which get a little reaction from Maho, the she load another one and groan louder. This time Maho sigh and turn to look at her gunner. "You know what? why don't you just go out there and help your sister while i load the rest of the shells."

Hearing this, Yua immidietly wipe the tired look from her face and replace it with a cheerfull one. "With pleasure lieutenant." She left her seat through the hatch to help her sister.

Maho sigh once again before she left her seat and enter the gunner hatch where she would load the rest of the shell. But when she's seated on the gunner seat, she could see that Yua almost filled out the autoloader and only need to load to more rounds to completly filled it out, make her earlier stunt seems pointless.

"What a cry baby." Maho muttered to herself as she finished load the final shell into the autoloader. After that she jump out of her hatch to check on her crew. Once she's outside, she saw Yua and Akari smoking cigarette at the tank hull.

"Yua, i thought i order you to help your sister." Maho said to them.

"i'm already done Maho, there's no damage on the threads nor the exterior other than a few scratch paint. There's no need for her to help me." Akari told her.

"Okay then." Maho said to Akari, then she turn her attention to Yua. "So you didn't do the thing i told you to do huh." Maho said with accusatory tone.

"What no, i reload the autoloader remember?" Yua defended herself.

"Yeah, and i'm the one who finish it." Maho stated.

Yua open her mouth to retort but was cutoff by her sister. "Don't be to surprise lieutenant, she always fine excuse to skip maintenance work back in Pravda."

This made Yua glare at her sister. "Did not!"

"Did to!"

Did not!"

"Did to!"

Did not!"

"Did t-"

"Alright girls that's enough!" Maho said with authority, silencing both of them.

"By Kami, will both of you stop bickering. Both of you sound like a four year old." Maho said in frustration.

Both Yua and Akari was silent for a while, then both of them started giggling, much to Maho's confusion. "What's so damn funny?"

Between the two of them, Akari was the first one to stop giggling. "Come on Maho, don't act like you don't argue with your sister over petty things to." She playfully acusse.

"What, of course not, why would we do that." Maho said

This made Yua scoff. "Well if you said that than you're lying. Because it is the law of nature that siblings suppose to argue over petty things." Yua said in a matter of factly tone.

"Yeah maybe that's the case for you to, but me and Miho would never do such things." Maho said with her arms cross.

"Really?" Akari ask.

"Yup." Maho confirm.

"Well did you guys ever fight over a TV remote?" Akari ask smugly.

This question caught Maho off guard. "Well yes, but not often."

"Then what about a doll when you both still a kids?" Yua ask.

"That's a long time ago." Maho said.

"Then what about a favorite blanket?" Akari ask.

"Well there's one tim-" Maho said before she was cutoff mid sentence.

"What about your favorite food?"

"And ice cream flavor?"

"And your parents attention?"

"And-"

"Okay guys you win, you win." Maho said while putting her hands up.

The twins grin at each other and share a high five. Maho then join them sitting on the tank hull right next to Yua.

"Smoke Lieutenant?" Yua said as she offer her cigarette pack to Maho.

Maho shook her head. "You know i don't smoke Yua."

"thought you might change your mind." Yua remark as she put her cigarette pack away in her breast pocket. "Hey speaking of your sister, have you talk to her recently?"

"No, even if i have the time to call her, i can't. Remember that we're forbidden to call our families because the high command fear the enemy might listening on our conversation and use it as intel." Maho remind her.

"Yeah we know, but as long as you didn't give any important information in a phone call, i think we'll be fine." Akari said dismissively. "And beside, it's north korea we're talking about here. If the last few month had demonstrate how incompatent their intellegence sector are, than i don't what is."

Maho sigh. "Maybe you're right, but the problem is, Miho is sent to fight the Chinese, which we can all agree on is more competent in every way, including intelegence. Here maybe if our C.O found out i was calling my sister maybe she'll turn a bling eye, but if Miho got caught she'll be in trouble for sure."

"She'll be fine Maho. I'm sure Miho is smart enough not to spill any information." Yua reassure her.

"And plus Miho is also smart enough to get her way out of problem. I mean under her command Oarai manage to become national champion two years in a row so she'll easily get her way out of problem with her superior." Akari added.

Yua nodded, agreeing with her sister. "Plus you didn't want to miss the chance of speaking to her one last time before she'll be sent to the frontline right?"

Maho was silent for a while, she contemplated of what Yua and Akari was telling her. She did miss her sister and really wanted to call her to check up on her. But she haven't being able to do that because she's always beusy fighting and when they're not under fire, she's also busy checking up on those under her command and writting paperworks. But now she has the chance to do that so why not take it?

"Yeah you both right, i guess, thanks for the encouragement guys." Maho said to her crew with a smile.

"It's our pleasure lieutenant." Yua and Akari said simultaniously.

With that, Maho stand up from the tank hull and jump into her command seat and close the hatch for privacy. She then grab her phone from her brest pocket and turn it on, it took a few second to do since she turn the power off before the assault. While she wait for her phone to turn on, she turn made sure the radio is still on so she still could react if an emergency happend but turn the volume down so her conversation with her sister wouldn't be disturb.

She glance down at her phone that already turn on and open her contact list and click on the one that read my beloved sister.

She then put the phone on her ear and wait for Miho to pick up.


(Rama IX military base: Thailand)

1030 hours

"Check!" Miho said triumphantly

"Again? Really?" said Riko A.K.A Erwin in disbelieve.

"Did you give up Riko?" Said Miho

"Abseloutly not, just give me a minute and i'll have you in a checkmate." Riko said to Miho.

"How? you only have a rook and three pawns." Said Saori who's been watching the two play for a while.

One of Riko's friend, Takako A.K.A Caesar said laugh at Saori's statement. "Underestemating Erwin in a chess game is a big mistake Saori, believe me i know. Because she once win a match even though what was left of her force is two pawns and the king." Caesar boast.

"Uh, how did that happend?" Saori said doubtfully.

"Well it thanks to her amazing skill in chess of course." Caesar said. "And well it did help a little the fact that Oryou fell asleep right before she win."

"So she cheat?" Saori inquire.

"What no, she didn-"

"Both of you be quiet, i'm trying to focus here!" Erwin said as she pick up her rook and move it to protect the king.

Miho respond by move her own rook to take out Erwin's rook. "Check, again." Miho said dryly.

Erwin internally began to panic as her last good piece was taken out. Seeing no other option than to keep playing, she chose the second option. "I give up."

"Why? it's just a check, not a checkmate." Miho said to her, a little disapointed.

Erwin sigh. "At this point i'm just delaying the inevatable."

"Well okay then, want to play again?" Miho ask.

"Nah, i'm done. Caesar, do you want to play?" Erwin said to her friend.

Caesar shrug. "Okay." She then switch seat with Erwin and she and Miho began to rearrange the chessboard.

While they did this, suddenly a weird ringtone was heard on the barracks, from the song use for the ringtone, everyone could tell it was Miho's phone because of it's iconic Boko song she use as her ringtone.

Miho left her seat to grab her phone from her foot locker where she kept it. When she saw the caller ID, her eyes widen in excitement.

It's Maho.

Miho move away to the other side of the barrack for privacy and without wasting any more time she pick up the phone and a very familiar voice soon grace her ear.

"Miho?" Maho said from the other side.

"Maho? You finally called!" Miho said, couldn't contain her excitement.

"Yeah sorry about that, i've been pretty busy over here." Maho said with a hint of regret in her voice for not calling her sooner.

"It's okay Maho, i know it would be difficult for you to make from where you are now." Miho said in understanding.

"Yeah but i should've called sooner when i have the chance." Maho said. still regretting that she didn't call her sister sooner. "But enough about that, how are you doing?"

"I'm good sis, everything seem fine so far, though we still didn't know when were gonna be sent to the frontline. The others are starting to get restless."

"I know that feeling Miho, but trust me you need to enjoy the time you have before you sent to the frontline, if not then-" Maho voice trailed of from there.

"Maho, are you alright?" Miho sak in concern.

There were silence for a while before Maho answer. "Yeah i'm fine. It's just." She could hear Maho sigh from the other side. "The last few months has been really stressfull." Maho

told her.

"Oh, sorry you have to endured that." Miho said, even though she didn't excatly know what her sister had been through, she know she'll expirience it soon enough.

"No need to apoligize Miho, it's not your fault."

A soft sigh left Miho's lips. "Yeah your right, i've been to hard on myself. So how's your crew?" Miho ask, trying to change the subject to lighten the mood.

Maho let out a soft chuckle. "Yua and Akari are definetly a unique bunch. They always argue over petty things when they got the chance. Though when the time comes, they are a competent tanker, if they didn't try to kill each other."

Miho giggle at how Maho describe her crew. "Well i hope i could meet them someday. How's the others though?"

"Everyone else is okay. Thank Kami our platoon haven't lose a single tanker, though Erika's driver was knock out a few weeks ago." Maho informed her.

"What?! Is she okay?" Miho ask in concern.

"She's fine, she got a minor concussion and spend a weak in field hospital."

"..."

"Is there's someone else that was wounded?" Miho ask after a while.

On her side of the phone, Maho was silent, debating if she should tell her sister when she almost get killed by a sniper and spend three weeks on field hospital. She decide not to tell her so Miho won't worry about her.

"No, Aika was the only one unlucky enough to get wounded." Maho said

"Oh okay, that's good to hear." Miho said greatfully before asking another question. "Maho, can you tell me more about Yua and Akira?"

"Of course Miho." Maho answer with a smile.

Both of them then spent the next few minutes talking to each other, catching up on each other's life and saying how much they miss each other. They talked about everything that's on their mind like, how's life in the army had affected them, about their tank, about their frineds and many more.

As their conversation reach the forty minutes mark, Miho felt a hand on her shoulder, she turn around to see that it was Saori. She told her sister that she'll be back in a while before putting her on hold and turn her full attention to Saori.

"Umm sorry for interupting your reunioun Miporin, but just showed up outside the barrack and told us to pack our things." Saori inform her.

Miho raised an eyebrow. "What. Why?"

Saori let out a sigh. "It's time."

Miho gasp. "You mean-"

"yeah, Lt. kanagawa said we'll be sent to the frontline."

Miho let out a heavy sigh. She's enjoying her conversation with her sister but the order had come now, so she had no choice but to obey. "Wait for me outside, i need to say goodbye to Maho."

"Alright Miho." Saori said before turning back and join the other who's packing up their bag.

Miho grab her phone and turn off the hold button. "Maho, i have to go." She said in a heavy heart.

"What, where are you going?" Maho ask.

"The frontline."

Maho let out a gasp, she's been dreading this for a while. Now her sister will expirience the same thing she's been through in the last couple of months. "Now? right now?"

"Yes, just got the order a minute ago." Miho said with a sigh.

"Well, i wish you goodluck then. Be carefull Miho, i'll pray we'll see each other again."

"Thanks Maho, you don't need to be worry, i'll be carefull. And Maho." She paused.

"Yes?"

"I love you."

"I love you to sis. goodluck out there. See you soon." Maho choke out.

"Yeah see you soon." Miho said before hanging up the phone.

Miho let out another heavy sigh, she then walk over to her bed and grab her rucksack bag and pack her belonging into bag. After she's done, she put the rucksack on her bag and walk outside the barrack where her friend waited for her.

On her way there, she stop for a moment to reach something inside her uniform brest pocket. It was a picture of her and Maho covered in mud when they were seven years old back at Kumamoto. She stared at that picture for a while, letting a single drop of tears drop into it. "I love you Maho." She then put the picture back into her brest pocket and steeled herself for the difficult time that was to come.


Some trivia of each countries army standard issue rifle that will be fueture in this story.

Japan: Howa type 89(slowly replace by the type 20)

South korea: Daewoo K2/K2C1

North Korea: Type 58/68/88 (North korean copy of AK-47, AKM and AK-74 respectively)

China: QBZ-95

U.S.A: M4 carbine

Ausralia: F88(Australian license copy of the steyr AUG)

New Zealand: LMT MARS-L

Indonesia: SS2

Malaysia: Steyr AUG and M4 carbine

Singapore: SAR-21(Will be replace by BR-18)

Brunei: M16a1/a2/a4

The Philippines: M16a1/a2/a4 (Slowly replace by M4A1)

Thailand: HK33 (Being replace by IWI Tavor)

Cambodia: Type-56/AK47

Laos: Type-56/AK47

Myanmar: G3

Vietnam:STV-215/380