We advance with strength, our cannons are our bows that are always strong, our shells are our arrows that fly true to our foe, our tanks are our steady steeds that never waver to any enemy, our minds are one, and our will like iron
"Leader?" A voice call softly over the net.
For we follow the Nishizumi style, for our goals our undeniable, for our team that is unwavering, for victory that is never far from our reach
"Leader?" The voice call once more with a little more vigor.
So go forth ladies of iron and fury, go forth and show the world your might and never take one step back
"Leader?!" The voice said once more, a little annoyed now.
Snapping herself from reciting the Nishizumi Pre-match words said before every match for over 50 years by every Kuromorimine team, Koume came back to the present aboard her Panther Ausf.G tank, a boon from commander Maho for all her hard work.
"Sorry, Kiragaya didn't mean to space out on you. What you got?" Koume ask while sitting inside her Panther tank commander seat. It was a major upgrade from her Panzer 3 she use to command last year, though she wasn't made a part of the starting lineup till the final, since there is an increase of tank usage in the final round to 20 tanks which require her to be call up to the battlefront.
"Nothing, you were mumbling openly over the net, just wanted to check on you," Kiragaya her platoon member said back.
"Oh, sorry again, was just getting my mind in order," Koume said.
"Ah, don't worry about that leader, even if we were just put together last night, we all believe in you," Kiragaya said happily.
"Thank you," Koume said back, feeling relief that she and her hastily put together platoon trusted her to lead.
It still didn't seem real to Koume that she was now a platoon leader with the confidence of not just her platoon, but also Commander Maho behind her as well.
Koume began to recall her time last year when she wasn't a prominent member of Kuromorimine, and at the time were Miho had been with the team as well.
In last year's 62nd National Tournament, she had been on the bench watching her friend Miho along with the rest of the team fight in the tournament. She never could get over watching Miho fight with the Tiger 1, though not in the way her family would want. The youngest Nishizumi fought with ambushes with her platoon, picking her moments to snipe, and if she knew she was outmatched she would fall back, again not something Kuromorimine, a team that always advance, didn't approve of. Because of this trait, by the final of the 62nd tournament, Maho put Miho as the flag tank and assign both Erika and Koume to guard her.
It was the first time the three fought together as a platoon, though they were in the rear of the match at the time. However as the match wore on, Miho had a gut feeling that Pravda was up to something, as their team continue to drive Pravda back since the start of the match with little opposition. Without orders, Miho move to a vantage point, with Erika complaining all the way, but turn out her gut feeling was right, as the trio spotted a Pravda flanking force working its way along a river to get at the rear of their team's formation without being spotted, so Miho order her platoon, not caring if she was the flag tank, to attack and drive off this flanking force.
The heavy downpour of that day allow them to cut off the flanking force that was struggling in the mud just as they were turning off from the road along the river onto the open ground, but were met by the three first-year girls who beat them back to the river, working in complete sync with one another.
It was then along this river that Koume took lead since she didn't want Miho to be in danger. That's when it happen, Koume had gotten too overconfident chasing, feeling the joy of wanting to prove she could be a great tank commander like Miho and didn't account for how close she had gotten to the edge of the road and fell off the steep muddy slope and into the river. Her hatch was close at the time, and in her panic, as water began to fill the tank with her crew wondering if they were going to die, she couldn't get it open.
She had thought that would be the end.
The end wouldn't come, as Miho had dove into the river after them, to open their hatch. Even with her own life in danger and abandoning the match, Miho only care for the lives of her team. She got the hatch open allowing them to escape, once they were ashore, Koume along with her entire crew hug Miho, who were glad they were alright.
Yet afterward was where things became dark, as Kuromorimine for the first time in 9 years wasn't a champion. The third years at the time had to vent their frustration for being the first to fail, the first target was Miho, but that only lasted a little bit since Shiho and Maho both made it evident that there would be consequences if they pursue any further.
With one path cut off, the third years went after Koume and her crew since they were the ones who had slip up, causing Miho to go save them. They must have thought Maho wouldn't intervene on the behalf of a first-year tank commander and her crew. Koume though frighten, took the bullies on by herself, saving her crew from whatever they were going to do. As the third years were about to bully Koume, Maho show up alone and told them if they could beat her in a fight, then they could continue their bullying. Her ferocious look alone made them back off, Nishizumi or not.
Koume who was grateful for her commander sticking up for her, while still feeling deep regret about what happened in the final match because she didn't pay attention, ran to Maho. She cried into her commander's chest begging her to forgive her, yet Maho didn't want her forgiveness. Maho was only glad she wasn't hurt and that if she or any of her crew were bullied, she could come to her for protection. Afterward, none of the third years bother with going after anyone else, while Koume resolve to honor both sisters for what they did for her.
Though it was heartbreaking for Miho to leave their school, Koume still blame herself and why she never reach out again to her, feeling she should have done something more to make her stay instead of just accepting it. Yet Miho was now in a happier place at Chi-Ha-Tan, fighting with her own style and taking a small team to new heights. As sad as Koume was to not be able to fight alongside her good friend, she was happier knowing she found her love for Sensha-do again, just like Koume had found hers now, fighting under beloved commander Maho.
"Hey Koume, I think I got something," Kiragaya said once more over the net.
"What you've got?" Koume ask with eagerness.
"I think your gut feeling prove right. I see movement coming down the road out of the woods to our front," Kirigaya said excitedly, desperate to get into a scrap, which was how the rest of Koume's platoon tank commanders and crews felt.
Now standing tall in the commanders cupola, Koume took in the sight of their current location. They had positioned themselves along a small hill's reverse slope that was filled with brush. Looking down to the beautiful rolling countryside, she took it in as this was about to be the sight of a skirmish with Bellwall.
Her Panther along with 3 Panzer 4 Ausf.F2's, arm with 75 mm KwK40 L43 cannon's, waited in a Hull-Down position with good spacing. Yet this platoon wasn't using the total plain tan paint scheme that Kuromorimine usually used on most of their tanks.
Koume who was inspired by Miho's new team saw the advantages of the Chi-Ha-Tans color scheme for camouflage, including the Tiger 1 that had the brown color, splash with yellow and green for excellent camo for their ambushes. With special permission from Maho some hours before the match, Koume along with some help from their large mechanic worker force had her Panther, along with her platoon's Panzer 4's recolored while keeping the tan as the base color to save time, but splashing green and black over it to help conceal them in this countryside setting.
Another thing Koume picked up from Miho, was the use of foliage from bushes and leaves to help cover their tanks. There were no rules in Sensha-do against using them, while also no rules to start putting them on tanks before matches, so while all the Commanders and Vice Commanders from each team came together, Koume order her platoons crew to cover their tanks up from whatever foliage they could find, that way they didn't need to do it during the match since they are always on the move.
This wasn't well looked upon by other members of the team, who saw it a bit cowardly to do such things to their tanks, yet Maho approve so no one made too much of a fuss, well Erika did, but Koume thought that was mostly because it felt like Miho was influencing the team still even with her gone.
Erika had made a small joke of calling Koume's platoon Bush-Mädchen, which meant Bush Girls in German, to which Koume just smirk and took that as their platoon's nickname, which earn some laughs at the 2nd in command, who fumed and stomp off.
Jeez, why doesn't she just come out and say she misses Miho too
The thought went through Koume's head, just as she brought out her binoculars to scan the road that ran through the woods some 500 meters away from her position. It was here she was guessing Bellwall was trying to flank their main force's position.
The sudden raucous of canon fire to the west told Koume her commander was recommencing the attack on the fortified position of Bellwall on a lightly wooded hill that overlook most of the battlefield, so driving them off it was paramount, or they would shell them from the heights all match. Worse they be able to see all of Kuromorimine's movements, so taking it was a must to secure this match.
Yet breaking their position had proven difficult as Bellwall had a platoon of 3 Jagdpanther's, along with 1 T-44, 1 Elefant tank destroyer, along with several Panzers 3's that were having a field day firing at their team from the elevated conceal position in the wooded hill.
Yet Koume who was held in reserve at the time felt something was off, that Bellwall would turtle up like they were. Koume watching the engagement counted the muzzle flashes that told her at least 10 tanks on the hill, yet left a wonder where the other 5 were.
At that moment, she had a flashback to Miho in the final of the 62nd tournament having that gut feeling that Pravda was flanking that prove to be right, and now Koume here felt that was what was happening here. With a bit of boldness, she suggested to Maho that she take her platoon to a point she thought Bellwall might try to counter attack them while using their perks they had held in reserve till now, to which Maho agree to the independent action, which seem to be paying off now.
Taking out her binoculars now, Koume scan the woods, which soon had an enemy tank column pouring out of it. The sight shock Koume as a 3 T-34-85's came rolling out of the woods, with 1 KV-2, and 1 Tiger 1. The heavy tank force soon follow the bend in the road coming out of the woods to the right, traveling adjacent to Koume's position over the open countryside.
"I thought Bellwall's T-44 was supposed to be their only soviet tank from the scouting report!" Kirigaya exclaim over the net.
"Did Pravda lend some tanks to them?" Nonaka, another tank commander of Koume's platoon accuse over the net.
"Those dirty reds, of course they did. They don't want to face our new and improved team in the final," Mihara, the last member of the platoon said over the net hotly.
"Whatever the case may be," Koume said cutting into their questions and accusations. "We got a job to do here."
"Yea we do leader, even better it looks like their operator tank is with them," Kirigaya said excitedly.
Koume now focus in on the Tiger 1, which was mark with a black flag, meaning it was the Bellwall's operator tank that was in charge of calling in perks. Making it a very valuable target and insight for Koume's platoon to deal with and also deal a heavy blow to Bellwall.
Taking a deep breath, Koume laid her orders to her team, "Alright platoon, I will take out the lead vehicle to stop their column, Kirigaya aim for the rear T-34/85, after I take out the lead tank. Once their trap, Mihara and Nonaka, your target is the KV-2, take out its treads, since it will take a long time for them to rotate to us, from there hold fire, as were going to mass fire on the Tiger 1 operator tank before they know where we are."
"Roger!" The platoon said in unison, this was said with excitement in their voices, as well as a deep respect for their Leader, who was proving more and more first on the practice fields, and now on an actual battlefield, that she was suited to command and proud to serve under her.
Now Koume switch over to her crew net first to her gunner, "alright Nagano, traverse left 10 o'clock, 500 meters, give me down 10 degrees, remember also our gun has awesome velocity, so the trajectory will be pretty flat even from this distance. Keep the reticle just in front of the T-34/85, so we can hit the middle part of its hull."
"Roger!" Nagano said excitedly.
"Miyano, load AP," Koume now talk to her loader.
"With pleasure commander," Miyano said, not using the formal military response, yet that was her carefree nature Koume like.
Still standing tall in commanders cupola, Koume's gun was now rotated to the left that was matched by the rest of the platoon as they kept their reticles on the unsuspecting tank column, Koume then call to Nagano. "Fire when ready."
There was a small moment of silence, then the gunner call her shot. "On the way!"
The 75 mm KwK42 cannon roar to life, sending a tracer shell soaring through the air, which had a higher muzzle velocity than its counterparts in the Panzer 4's 75mm guns. As Koume had said earlier, the awesome velocity on their gun meant it kept a straight trajectory right towards its target in the T-34/85, and with the deadly precision she knew Nagano had, Koume didn't worry about the result as the AP shell smack into the side of their foe's softer side armor, leaving it smoking in defeat with a white kill flag.
"Good hit! Nice shot Nagano!" Koume said excitedly.
"Better call out commander, always can rely on you," Nagano said back with enthusiasm that was matched by Koume's crew.
Following shortly after Koume, now Kirigaya's Panzer 4 Ausf.F2 fire at the rear T-34/85. Though its gun didn't match Koume's Panther's velocity, it still got the job done, especially with the side armor it was aiming at putting the rear tank out of commission as the white kill flag pop up on the enemy tank.
"Good shot Kirigaya!" Koume said, proud of her platoon member.
"Thanks, leader," Kiragaya said back happily.
Now the last two members for the platoon Panzer 4's fire in unison with each other. They as well were on target, though their objective was not to kill but immobilize the KV-2 terror. Their tracer rounds slam into the tank's treads in two places, sending wheels, shrapnel, and tracks everywhere, and immobilize the beast tank.
"Great shooting Mihara and Nonaka! Reload and wait for my mark to fire," Koume now order her platoon over the net.
"Roger!" Her platoon said back over the net.
Koume stay low in the commanders cupola, doing her best not to be spotted, as she watch through her binoculars at the shattered Bellwall column now rotating to their direction, knowing which the general direction the shells came from, yet not the exact location of their enemy that had launched such a precise attack on them, that was just like Kuromorimine to do.
The Tiger 1 and last T-34/85 fire in panic at them, the shells landing well below their position, a result of the excellent camouflage scheme and foliage Koume platoons tanks had, which made her grin and thankful to Miho's idea. The KV 2 as Koume knew, was slowly swinging its 152mm Howitzer gun towards them, but it wouldn't have a chance to fire.
"Alright focus now fire on the Tiger 1, 11 o'clock, 500 meters, match my fire, aim for the turret ring," Koume order to her platoon over the net.
"Roger!" They yell back.
Slowly all 4 tanks swivel their guns till they all match the direction call out. The Tiger 1 and T-34/85 began to reverse back, hoping to get some cover in a depression in the ground behind them, while leaving their KV 2 to its demise, most likely its crew trying to sacrifice themselves for their team, yet Koume wasn't going to be baited into taking it down, she knew her objective.
"Fire!" Koume said.
4 guns roar together, with the feared deadly precision that was a trademark of Kuromorimine, their AP Shells found the retreating Tiger 1 hitting it in 4 vital places around the turret ring, since these girls understood their own tanks weakness from their study sessions and is one of their school's trademark tanks. With such precision, the Tiger 1 of Bellwall went up in smoking defeat with a white kill flag.
"Target destroy, good work girls," Koume said with a grin at her platoon's deadly work.
"Bush-Mädchen platoon proves our strength, can't wait to shove that in Erika's face!" Kirigaya said smugly, though she respected her 2nd in command, it was nice to show her up now and then.
"All thanks to Koume, I won't fight under anyone else but her from now on, that's a promise," Mihara said with praise for her commander.
Nonaka nodded in agreement. "Yea, we were barely put together before the match, and she got us fighting like Miho did last year!"
Koume blush at all the praise being heap on her. "Girls stop, it's making me embarrassed to heap all that on me."
The three other platoon members laugh at their commander's reaction, then Kiragaya spoke. "It's the truth Koume, even though we were put together just before the match as I said before, you took us girls who never thought we get to fight up to the standards of Kuromorimine and yet you turn us into a team in a few short hours."
"I knew all you had potential last year as first years with me, so it was an easy decision," Koume said with her heart beating fast with her love for her team and tankery growing.
"Whatever the case, you've proven you are a leader, will follow you anywhere," Nonaka said affectionately.
It was weird for Koume to hear the words she had the night before said to Maho. It fill her with a sense of self-pride that she had such trust place in her. Never in her life did she think she ever be made a platoon leader or gain such admiration.
She thought she might just fade into the background of the team, to be another faceless character overshadow by the might of their commander Maho and second in command Erika. Yet here she was now, with the backing of said commander, and having the loyalty of her teammates. Now instead of being fine with just the standard, something had awoken in her. A fire to rise high as she could at her school, fighting with a style like Miho's that care for her team with a competitive fury none could contend with.
I guess I found my tankery too Miho, thank you
With the pleasant thought running through her head, Koume turn her eyes to look up at the bright blue sky. She rose a hand to it, knowing she couldn't reach its height, but like her team's dreams, she would soar as high as she could to obtain them.
Now bringing her eyes back to the burning and smoking column of Bellwall's team, she touch her throat microphone to her platoon. "Don't disappoint commander Maho, and finish them off you ladies of Iron and fury."
"Go forth and show the world your might and never take one step back!" Her platoon shouted back as they rotated their guns to finish the job for their beloved platoon leader.
XxxxX
A pleasant grin came across Maho's face as Koume reported back to her of the destruction of the flanking Bellwall force, with a nice prize in the destruction of their Tiger 1 also acting as their operator tank. Which meant now their team was completely without their perks, while Maho's team still had their air force with them.
"Erika," Maho said after touching her throat microphone.
"Yes commander," Erika said back over the net, with her usual sharp response.
"How goes the resupply?" Maho ask over the net.
"With no delays, Jagdtiger, Elefant, and 2 Jagdpanthers are restock," Erika said back over the net.
"Good, you take command of them, bombard the hill again with everything. Your job is to cover Takamaru as her Panther company attacks up the hill, also call in our air support to attack in sync with our final thrust," Maho order over the net.
"Roger," Erika said confidently, as she was also the team's operator tank with the Tiger 2, which she took with joy since it meant Maho had faith in her map reading skills and she wouldn't let her down.
Feeling content, for now, Maho brought her binoculars back to the hill, it once had sparse trees all around it. Now most of them were knockdown from the initial artillery strike she had ordered on it, then from the mass bombardment from her team's heavy tank destroyers along with her Panthers. Of course, Bellwall fought back since they had some tanks that could fight with equal range with Kuromorimine's tanks.
Now with Koume's successful guarding of their flank and also destroying their operator tank in the Tiger 1, meant Bellwall couldn't call in their own air force or artillery, and even better they couldn't get a resupply. Judging from what she had seen so far, Maho believe their foe had to be running low on ammunition to fight back. All they needed to do was finish them off with their marching firepower.
A sudden cough came to Maho, making her cover her mouth.
One of her crew members call out to her from inside Maho's Tiger 1. "Commander are you alright?", the concern in their voice evident.
"I'm fine," Maho said as she compose herself, then open a net call to Koume. "Koume, please move to Point 0342, once we drive them off the hill they will most likely head for that crossroads to escape, cut them off and finish the match."
"Roger, won't let you down commander!" Koume said excitedly over the net.
"Never cross my mind," Maho said with a smile.
Soon Erika and her tank destroyer company came forward, acting as mobile artillery now, over the open plain looking up at the crater-filled hill. They fire as fast as their loaders could get the shells into the cannons, with the proficiency that was built into them from Maho, with even more vigor than last year as their respect for her had grown.
This year, Maho hadn't been her usual cold self to them when it came to training, where last year she spoke few words to any of them, always expecting them to just perform their duties. Yet all that change this year, she was more open with them, listening to them about concerns or different ways to approach tactics base on their tanks.
This newly rebuilt Kuromorimine wasn't like the ones in years past. It was built with an identity to look after one another, to fight together, and to win together. All of them were on board for this change, as all of them still felt internal shame for looking down on Miho who put the lives of people over a match, showing what was really important in the end.
Because of this shame, they did away with the old ideals and took hold of Maho's new one. They were still only ever thinking of victory when it came to Sensha-do, but now they would do it together, with their commander who had their undying loyalty and love, and they make sure to show the world this new Kuromorimine would win that way, together.
As this newly rebuilt Kuromorimine blasted the hill apart with accurate devastating fire, Takamaru and her Panther company began their advance over the open plain, keeping their guns silent as they wanted to get at the base of the hill to target the enemy team as they slowly advance up it.
The remaining Bellwall team defending the hill fire at the oncoming force, but their nerves were shot now. With the destruction of their flanking force along with their commander Emi Nakasuga, meant they were leaderless and without their perks. Ammo was low as their spirits and was now facing the full might of Kuromorimine, which was made even worse when the sounds of plane engines could be heard.
Maho, on the ground level, look behind her with a smirk, to see 5 A6M Zero's, painted all in tan with their schools iron cross emblem on their wings, flew just over her in a V formation.
Wish we could have gotten some Stuka's, their sirens alone during bomb runs would scare teams into submission
The pleasant thought passed through Maho's head, as she watch her air force in complete synch with one another, as well as in formation since they didn't need to worry about enemy planes breaking them up, let loose their 20mm High Explosive Cannons on the hill. With most of the trees knocked over, they had clear lines of sight at their foe who were subjected to these accurate rounds, making them think that even Kuromorimine's air force follow the Nishizumi style.
As the planes now flew over the hill, they drop their bombs as well, adding to the demise of Bellwall. With their enemy's guns suppress for the moment, Takamaru's Panthers reach the bottom of the hill and began their ascent up to the top, while firing AP Shells at their foe. They quickly found their targets on Bellwall's 3 Jagdpanthers knocking them out of their misery.
"Erika, focus fire on the Bellwall Elefant, 400 meters bearing 1 o'clock, knock it out before it targets Takamaru's company," Maho order as she watch the battle through her binoculars.
"Roger Commander," Erika reply, then relay the call-out directions to her company.
Soon they focus fire as directed on the Elefant on the hill with mass fire that knocks it out with a white kill flag coming up. Just as soon as the Elefant was knock out, Kuromorimine's air fighter support flew over once more, letting loose another round of guns on the hill, finding their mark on the rest of the Bellwall tanks.
Suddenly a net call from Takamaru came to Maho, "Commander, I spotted their flag tank, a Panzer 3, making a break for it back over the hill to the other side."
"Good spotting Takamaru, leave them to Koume to mop up," Maho said back over the net.
"Roger, I also got some Bellwall Panzer 3's here that have their tracks blown off and their turrets seem to be broken and can't rotate at us, Should I finish them off?" Takamaru ask over the net.
"No," Maho said with no hesitation. "Move in and make use of the surrender plea net, don't humiliate a worthy opponent."
"Roger commander will get it done," Takamaru said happily, glad her commander wasn't emotionless anymore like last year, where she would have ordered their destruction without a second thought.
Back on the ground level, Maho knew the match was over and Kuromorimine had shown they were back and more deadly than ever. They also weren't the same team as usual who would put down an opponent with no mercy like before, as they now follow a new Nishizumi style, one of Maho's own choosing now.
Bam!
The match-ending gun sounded as Koume put down the Bellwall's flag tank and secured victory for Kuromorimine.
XxxxxX
"Ahh! How could those idiots blow it?!" Katyusha yell in frustration while sitting on top of Klara's shoulders.
She along with her Vice commanders Nonna and Klara had watched the entire match between Kuromorimine and Bellwall. Even though they weren't in the same bracket, meaning they only face Kuromorimine in the final, that didn't stop Katyusha from coming to see a possible upset over the team she beat in the final last year.
While also having a bit of a hand in the possible upset.
"otdat' im dolzh-," Klara began to say.
"No Russian! You know the great Katyusha only wants words she can understand," Katyusha said angrily, even though her Russian was getting better, she never stay awake long enough during Nonna's lessons to fully grasp the language.
"Sorry Miss Katyusha," Klara said, her Russian accent thick mixed in with her Japanese. "I was saying you must give Bellwall credit, if their flanking force hadn't been ambush, they might have succeeded."
"Commander Emi Nakasuga has potential for the future, she, unfortunately, met a good opponent and much improve one at that," Nonna said, as brought a Syrniki, a Russian pastry for her treasure commander to eat.
The Pravda commander rejoices at the sight of the treat and ate some, then spoke with her mouth cover in crumbs. "To think the great Katyusha put some faith into that girl, thinking she could help bring Kuromorimine even lower."
"Yes, if she had won Kuromorimine would have to go through a qualifier round next year, which wouldn't do well for recruiting new members to their team," Klara said with a grin, acknowledging the grand plan Katyusha had.
"Yes, I had a plan to bring those damn snobs down some more before I graduated," Katyusha said, even though she herself look down upon certain teams in Sensha-do, her hatred for Kuromorimine knew no bounds.
She wasn't alone in her hatred for the school that had dominated for years, leaving only broken and batter teams in their wake. They fought with no mercy, small or large, you get a beat down from them with their vastly superior tanks. Even Saunders and St. Gloriana had trouble matching them punch for punch, which left Pravda as the only ones that could match their firepower.
Yet it wasn't till Katyusha had taken over last year at the commander's position and with the help from Nonna, the two molded the team with discipline and competitiveness that drove their team to the top of the Sensha-do mountain, and for the first time in 10 years Pravda was a champion and they look to stay there.
Nonna smiled at her lovable commander, while she wipe some crumbs off her face as she spoke. "As always, Katyusha's brilliance isn't just during a match, she uses her smarts to beat teams even when she is not in combat."
"Yes, her enemies are her friends at the same time," Klara said with affection for her commander on her shoulders.
"All is fair in love and war," Katyusha said, quoting what Darjeeling said to her during one of their tea parties together.
Katyusha had looked to defeat Kuromorimine, by using Bellwall. She had met with their commander Emi, with a proposal to lend them some tanks, of course, Emi wasn't sure of the reason for the help. Yet Katyusha play on Emi's dislike for Kuromorimine's merciless style of tankery while also making a grand gesture of making an alliance for the future that would benefit both teams.
The Bellwall commander after some convincing from her teammates accepted the tanks Pravda lent them, though the Pravda School principal Anzai made a fuss over it, however, Katyusha silence the spineless man with a threat, knowing he had no power over her, and owe her much for the teams rise to the championship level.
Yet for all that subterfuge, Bellwall had made a muck of it with the new Russian tanks and were now knocked out of the tournament while not making Kuromorimine sweat in the least. Katyusha would have to just accept it as she had her own match to prepare for.
"Well nothing to be done about it now, come on let's head home," Katyusha said, as a yawn came to her.
Nonna smile. "Would you like a lullaby?"
"The Great Katyusha doesn't need special treatment!" the little blonde yell.
"It is because you're so special, you deserve such pampering, my dear Miss Katyusha," Klara said as she stood up now, with her commander on her shoulders.
A blush came to Katyusha now after the words. "Fi…fi…fine, but I want you both to sing for me."
Both vice commanders spoke at the same time. "As you command Miss Katyusha."
After the lullaby was done, Klara lower a sleeping Katyusha into the back seat of their transport truck, with a personal sleep carriage for their commander. Then the vice commander got into the driver's seat along with Nonna and drove away from the battlefield.
"It seems Kuromorimine is quite strong this year," Klara said as she drove.
"They definitely seem stronger, a good humbling can do that," Nonna said, watching the passing land through her window.
Klara just smirk at the statement. "That may be true, but they will be no match for us in the final."
"We can't look that far my dear Klara," Nonna said, now looking at her friend. "We have another Nishizumi to deal with in our own bracket."
"Ah, my apologies, I forgot about her. Though she leads that Chi-Ha-Tan team now, even if she does make it to the semi-final. Their armor force can't match ours," Klara said.
Nonna shook her head. "It doesn't matter how heavy your tanks are or how many tanks you can field. For even the smallest of us can shine bright, we should know."
Both girls look back to their small commander, laying on her side sleeping peacefully. Yet even if she look small enough to be confused with a grade-schooler, she had ideals higher than the Ural Mountains and wisdom deeper than Lake Baikal. She had taken Pravda and done what no other school had done in a near-decade, unseat Kuromorimine from their throne and they both look to keep Katyusha there before she graduated.
"Your right Comrade Nonna, it's that level-headed thinking I see is why Katyusha holds you so close," Klara said affectionately.
"She holds you close now as well, make sure to remember that Comrade Klara," Nonna said, giving her friend a small smile.
The two vice commanders drove the rest the way back to their school carrier in silence, with their minds as one for the love they had for their commander, ready to show the Sensha-do world that Pravda was here to stay, and no one would take the crown from the head of their mini commander, no matter who steps into their path, even if it would be a tigress or oddball team.
XxxxxX
The large tow truck drove by with a batter and scorch Tiger 1 of Bellwall on its bed, and for all its terrible looking state, it also hadn't been able to take down one tank. Unlike in the qualifier match where its crew personally took down 5 tanks itself in the match against Blue Division. Yet this match against a top-four team had seen it get pulverized with no way to fight back.
I thought my plan was solid
The thought passed through the mind of the commander of Bellwall, twin-tail red-headed Emi Nakasuga, as she watch alone as her Tiger 1 roll by. It would be sent to be repaired and then sit on the school carrier till the tournament was over and practice matches could resume as were the rules for teams. She alone was watching it passed by, as she order her crew to give her some space to brood alone.
Even though her team had pulled a tough opponent like Kuromorimine in the first round, Emi had been confident she could win. What even drove her more, was the fact she had a chance to beat Maho Nishizumi, the very girl she remember as kids as being a merciless tank commander who destroyed her enemies, even if they show any compassion.
Emi remembers as she was beginning to learn about tanks in grade school with Miho and some other friends, she witness her sister fight in a junior high tournament against Maho's team. The eldest Nishizumi sister quickly took hold of the match, yet when Emi's sister flag tank was trying to help a tank from Maho's team that was slipping off a cliff, Maho's tank shot her in the back ending the match.
It was shocking for Emi, who instantly hated Maho, though she did learn later on that was just what their families Sensha-do style call for, however, there was still no need to do such a thing when the match was in hand, even after Emi left for Germany, she always carry that small hate with her till today.
Yet Emi was surprised when some of her teammates after the match told her Kuromorimine didn't fire on some of their disabled tanks but ask them to surrender honorably. This was definitely not the same Kuromorimine of old, but still as efficient as ever, which only made Emi angrier that she lost to them.
"Miss Nakasuga?" A voice call out to her.
Emi turn around to see none other than Maho Nishizumi standing there, she was alone. Instantly there was a defensiveness to Emi seeing the eldest Nishizumi sister, as she could still see the merciless act of destroying her sister's tank in that junior high tournament in her mind, also their teams had already shaken hands after the game, so why she was here now was a mystery to Emi.
"Miss Nishizumi, are you here to gloat or something?" Emi said in a hard voice.
Maho didn't waver though. "No, I wanted to talk."
"You…just wanted to talk?" Emi ask surprised by the statement.
"Yes, please accept my apologies," Maho said, then bow to Emi.
Emi became confused at the sudden bow, coupled with an apology. "What are you apologizing for?"
After raising herself up, Maho spoke. "There was that junior high tournament I fought against your sister. I took her out when she was helping my teammates, I heard she stop doing tankery after that."
"Yea," Emi said, as her hands squeeze hard at her side. "She was never really cut out for it anyway."
"Either way, I apologize for that. I've been doing some self-reflecting these past several months and realize I wrong some people because I blindly follow my family's Sensha-do style," Maho said.
A scoff came from Emi. "And what, you trying to make a change all of a sudden? I may have let my anger over that mostly go, but I have no respect for you and that style. It's emotionless and heartless, it's no wonder Miho ran to a new school to get away from it."
Then Maho did something that shock Emi to her core, as she smile at her. Emi had never seen Maho smile ever, maybe at Miho in private, but never when Emi saw her now or as kids.
"You be surprised to hear, I was the one to convince her to leave and go to Chi-Ha-Tan," Maho said, her smile still plastered on her face.
"Why?" Emi ask.
"As you say, she wasn't happy doing tankery under our family's style, especially after last year. I sent her to Chi-Ha-Tan in the hope she pick it up again, with her own style. Now she has found her tankery," Maho said happily.
"You've changed," Emi said, though she wasn't sure how to feel about that.
"I guess I have, I follow my family's Sensha-do style, yet I follow it with my own variation," Maho said.
"Is that why you didn't put down my disable teammates?" Emi ask, watching the elder Nishizumi sister's face, looking for any hint of a lie.
"Yes, we won't be merciless to our enemies. This isn't war, this is a sport. Were all part of this Sensha-do family and must look after one another, I'm just glad my sister made me remember that before I let my school further distance ourselves," Maho said.
"Well you got a long way to go, but at least you're starting somewhere. Though I really wanted to beat you, I was for sure my flanking movement was going to work," Emi said, grimacing at the memory of the effective ambush she ran into.
Maho came up to Emi and surprise her once again, as she put her hand on her shoulder, "your strategy was sound. I can see why many pundits had great respect for you as a commander. I was just lucky to have a teammate who had a gut feeling."
"Are you saying I was beaten by a gut feeling?" Emi said with an embarrassed smile.
"It's the same one my sister had last year in the final when Pravda try to flank us. Guess she has that effect of inspiring others," Maho said proudly.
"She really does, hopefully, I can face her next year. Well I got to get back to my team before they come looking for me," Emi said, then offer her hand to Maho.
Maho took the offered hand. "You are going to be an even better commander next year Miss Nakasuga, but I think you will have your work cut out with Miho though."
Emi smirk. "Don't worry, I may have missed out on beating one Nishizumi. I won't let the next opportunity pass me up. Take care Miss Nishizumi."
Maho watch the Bellwall commander walk away. Maho knew she couldn't completely close the scars of the past with some kind words, if it were that easy everyone would do it. Yet she felt better that she had shown Emi the respect she deserve, as well as her team. Maho only hope when she left Kuromorimine, they were left better than they were in the past.
Another sudden cough came to Maho, this time much worse than before. She cover her mouth till it was over, then she look down at her hand and was horrified by what she saw. Upon her hand, was a small bit of blood and she knew what it meant, leaving a pull on her heart, which threaten to cause tears to come out.
I can't let this beat me because if Miho is to continue to live away from our Sensha-do family happily, I have to endure. This must be my own family's sins coming back to haunt me that I must endure now, for all the girls my mother broke, all the families who live in disgrace now, and now I have to endure my family's sins…I have to endure…I have to endure….
"Commander?" a voice call to Maho.
She quickly rub the blood on her hand on her red skirt to hide it, then turn around to take in the sight of Koume. "Yes Koume, need something?"
"Oh, Erika sent me to find you. The team is loaded up and ready for home," Koume said, while trying to hide her concern.
"Thank you, let's go home," Maho said, then walk past her subordinate.
As she walk by, Koume feeling boldness that prodded her actions now, reach out and grabbed the hand Maho had coughed into, which surprise the elder Nishizumi sister by her subordinate's sudden touching. Looking down, Koume can still see the bloodstain on her commander's hand that had been smeared now.
"Commander, what is this?" Koume ask in a gentle tone.
"It's nothing Koume, a bloody lip I got from the bat-."
"Please don't lie commander," Koume said, tears threatening to come out.
Maho sigh in frustration that she hadn't been able to keep this from her. "Koume promise me you won't say anything."
"What!? How can you ask that of me? You're sick and need medical help," the platoon commander said in an aghast state.
"I can't do that."
Koume press on. "You need to do that, isn't our new style calling us to think of our team first. You're going against that now by doing this, victory isn't our soul obsession."
To the utter astonishment of Koume, Maho chuckle a bit. "I forget you're becoming more open now, you would have never been this aggressive before."
"That's because I care for you. Weren't you the one to stick up for me against the bullies? Weren't you the one to place their confidence in me as a platoon commander? You and your sister both look out for me, so I need to do that for you now!" Koume said frantically.
Maho shook her head. "Koume, my need to keep pushing isn't because I want to act tough. If word gets out, I will be sidelined for sure, but that isn't what concerns me, because I trust my team to win even if I am not leading."
Koume said nothing but nodded for Maho to keep talking.
"If I step down, I can no longer be the heiress of the family, at least in my mom's eyes. That will mean she will drag Miho back to the Nishizumi style and make her miserable once more," Maho said, feeling deep sadness she had to speak of her mother like she was a villainous and not the once loving mother she looked up too.
"Miss Shiho wouldn't do that," Koume shot back.
Suddenly the memories of Maho's family's dark past that she had learned about over the years came to her. The Panzer Kettō, in which her mother had destroyed many challengers to the family name, leaving nothing but broken girls in her wake. Maho had pleaded to her mom not to tell Miho about it since Maho knew it would break Miho's heart to know their mom did such terrible things and might hurt their relationship that had already been going south, when their mother became colder after their father left.
"You…you…you don't know her as I do, please Koume, I just need to push through this tournament. Afterword's I will get the treatment I swear, please trust me as a friend," Maho said in a pleading tone.
It was weird honestly for Koume to see Maho, who the year prior never look anything but severe and unbreakable, yet now standing before her was a girl who look vulnerable, like she was made of glass ready to break with the slightest push. It was because of this state of her commander, Koume relented against her better judgment.
"Alright fine, but the minute I feel it might be getting out of control, I'm stepping in to save you, as your sister did for me," Koume said, with a resolute look in her eye.
Maho smile at Koume, grateful for the girl's understanding. "You have the voice of a commander in you. Know I will follow that voice if this gets out of control."
"Yes commander, now let's go home," Koume said, reaching out to grab Maho's hand.
"Yes, let's go home," Maho said happily, ready to get back to her beloved team, hoping she could endure for the future.
I must endure for Miho's sake or she might lose everything she has gain, as the older sister I won't ever let her love for tankery be taken again, never...never….never….For I am a Nishizumi
XxxxxX
Aboard the school carrier Invincible, the home of Koala High school, the day for school had come and gone, most of their students were already starting up the barbeques, a tradition that the students cook their own dinners every night out in the open instead of the cafeteria, to which they enjoy immensely. It was like having a get together every day, which made the girls of the school quite close with one another. Though tonight was special, as a celebration was going on for the girls of Koala High Sensha-do team.
Yet for all the enjoyment the girls were having, there was one girl missing from the barbeque party. That girl was in the school's tank garage, which houses Koala High's entire tank force of Matilda Mk 2's, M3 Grant's, M3 Stuart's, and the rare AC1 Sentinel's. However all this girl cared about was working on her AC1 Sentinel, making sure all the parts were in working order for the next opponent it would be facing in the 63rd National Tournament.
"Ah, crikey girl, you're a real bewdy. No matter how many times I look you over," Bluey said to herself, letting her blue eyes gloss over her hands working her wrench around another bolt to make sure it was tightened.
She wasn't wearing her usual slouch hat and letting her short blonde hair free, which was a staple of the school's tankery uniform and was also part of their school uniform. It was off to the side, so as not to get in the way as she worked her AC1 Sentinel with a fine comb, even though the mechanics had told her several times it was fully repaired, yet Bluey had a bit of OCD when it came to her tank that she nickname Firestar, no matter what they said, she wanted to look it over with a fine eye again.
This was also to help keep her mind busy, as this tank needed to be ready for the next match in all phases as it was going up against Chi-Ha-Tan Academy, and that fearsome Tigress Corps of theirs. It still boggle her mind to think how much they improve in such a short time. Even as a little girl growing up, and going to watch tankery matches in person with her father who love the sport as much as she did, Chi-Ha-Tan had always been a team that launch suicidal frontal charges at foe's only to get blown away.
She ask her father why don't they change as a little girl then, to which he just grumble that they were following a dead ideal in the mythical glorious frontal charge, though he told her it was once that this very tactic made them a top 4 team decades ago, but as anything in history, times change. The change came with better tanks for other schools and better tactics, to which Chi-Ha-Tan remain in the thinking of the past and the past now made them fools for not changing.
Blueys father's opinion of the team, was to be taken withher as she grew up, that she never wanted to be with a team that stuck to an old ideal, that led them to constant defeat. It was probably why she had such a like for Koala Forrest High School, whose team tactics never seem to stick to one doctrine, but seem to like a multitude of tactics, and once she join, her skill as a tank commander was evident, as she fought in multiple ways that match her schools Sensha-do culture and tactics.
She was a humble 1st year then, just wanting to help her team in any way possible, always cleaning things up, getting drinks for everyone, and asking for another go whenever she failed on the practice field. It was this humble hardworking young girl who was to make a splash in the 62nd tournament, against BC Freedom Academy in the 1st round. This rookie tank commander personally took down 3 Somua S35 by herself after her platoon was wipe early in the battle, and then her finest moment came in the destruction of the BC Freedom's FT-17 Flag tank and won the match for her team who celebrated the rookie Bluey all night for her success.
They would advance to the next round but were face with the might of Saint Gloriana who broke Koala with their coordinated volley fire while making use of terrain for defense, all following their team's tactical doctrine to great effect. Yet Koala had made a name for themselves in that 62nd tournament with Bluey at the head of the pack, which was the reason she was promoted to Vice Commander. It was because of this rash of success that led her ego to inflate to the point of disgust.
Wiping the sweat off her face, Bluey look down to the offending bolt that was now tightly screwed, then spoke once more to herself. "I became a real drongo after that, didn't I girl?"
In the short time after the tournament, Bluey lost her humble attitude and became smug to the point she now wonder how her teammates look up to her anymore, if anything some of them took to her smug nature that only made things worse. It was made evident when she taunted that Tamada girl and her Chi-Ha-Tan teammates during that practice match that now seem like ages ago, yet that was only a little over a month since that happen.
She still remember her horror when she found out that the mass fire on the one tank had been their commander, Kinuyo Nishi, resulting in her getting a concussion. After learning that, Bluey's friend and fellow Vice Commander Wallaby, stop talking to her, as she was absolutely aghast at her and her team's discourtesy, thinking they were no better than Saunders who had humiliated Chi-Ha-Tan the year prior.
The sudden loss of her fellow close friend, which was also followed by her Koala teammate's own self-reflection made Bluey close herself off. She spent time looking at her mirror, wondering who she had become. She saw nothing but a disgusting girl who disgrace the very nature of what Sensha-do was about, so she resolve to become better and return to the hardworking humble girl she once was.
"Hey Bluey, you in here?!" A voice from the tank garages entrance call to her.
Bluey turn around to see Wallaby standing there in their school uniform, with a Koala bear in her arms, that was the teams commander since its founding a decade ago, affectionately known by the name of OZ and commanded every Koala team since then.
"Yeah, I'm here Wallaby, working on Firestar here," Bluey call back to her friend.
Wallaby walk over till she was standing near Bluey's AC1 Sentinel looking up at her friend, then spoke. "You know the mechanics have already look it over thoroughly."
"Those sheila's forgot to tighten a bolt over here, making me have to put some hard yakka into my girl here," Bluey said hotly.
"I don't get why you keep using assuie slang, your starting to influence some of the other girls," Wallaby said with a amuse smirk.
"Well we're based on Australia, aren't we? Plus its practice for when I go to college there," Bluey said, going back to look over her tank.
"Bluey, come on, let's go back to the party, the Prawns are ready, and we're not complete without you," Wallaby said.
A scoff came from the vice commander. "Sorry, I can't find it in me to party….not when we lost."
Win or lose, Koala High always had a barbeque after the match as a team, if they lost they celebrate with just as much enthusiasm as if they won since at the end of the day they had fun together as a team, and they make sure to honor that commitment to fun no matter what.
"Yea, we lost, but we gave Oarai all we had," Wallaby said sadly.
Bluely closed her eyes to take a deep breath, then open them once more as she turn around to look down at Wallaby as she spoke. "Yea, gave them all we could give, yet they gave us more than we could handle. That's why I'm in here working on Firestar since they took my AC1 Sentinel as the capture reward."
"Thiers no better tank for them to have than the AC1 Sentinel, it will be like were fighting with them still in the tournament. Have to say I don't think I ever felt that alive before fighting another team," Wallaby said, now thinking back on the match with the oddball team.
"They're like us, they don't have any set-in tactic like other schools. When they fight, they're an unpredictable bunch," Bluey said.
"I think that's why we got along with them so well after the match," Wallaby said with a smirk.
Bluey now climb down from her tank, then came up to Wallaby, as she gave an affectionate scratch under the chin of Oz in Wallaby's arms as she spoke. "That commander of there is really something, you know? Should have seen her fangasm over requesting the AC1 Sentinel as the capture reward, thought she was going to pass out on the spot."
Wallaby giggle at the memory of the curly hair Ooarai commander Yukari Akiyama. "That sheila is something else alright, can't believe she snuck into our school too."
"I can't believe I didn't catch her when she ran, that sheila has got some real escape ability," Bluey said with a shake of the head.
"You think it's because of the escape ability, that she is such an odd and effective tank commander?" Wallaby said.
"Are you talking about that insane maneuver their Panzer 4 did?"
Wallaby nodded.
"I don't want to talk about that, since she did it to me," Bluey said with an embarrassed chuckle.
The memory of the Oarai's Panzer 4 chasing after their flag tank still stuck with Bluey. After dealing with the Type 89, A43 Black Prince, and Hetzer who ambush Bluey's company, the Koala vice commander had to help her distress flag tank that was being chased by the Panzer 4 and M3 Lee, while the rest of Oarai's forces and Koala's forces tangle with one another in close and confuse combat.
Bluey caught up with the Panzer 4 in another desert town, that held her and her last 2 M3 Stuarts at bay, while the M3 Lee chase the Koala's M3 Grant flag tank. With again playing a game of cat and mouse, the Panzer 4 took out Bluey's friend Dingo and Emu with great driving and firing on the move, not something that was done by an average crew, which told Bluey that she was dealing with something of an elite crew. Yet she wasn't deterred, and look forward to the duel when the two tanks met in the square of the desert town.
It was an old fashion 1 on 1 duel, that saw them trade shell after shell at one another. They circle around the square like two lions fighting for the right to be king of the pride. There was no holding back, no hesitation, it was 2 tank commanders at their finest, and it was 2 crews who match their commander's resolve to win. However, someone had to lose, as in sports their always had to be a winner and loser.
That loser would be Bluey who had finally workaround to the rear of the Panzer 4 and was chasing it hard around the square, knowing all her gunner had to do was land a good hit to the rear engine block and it would be over, but just as Bluey was calling for her gunner to fire, the Panzer 4, with Yukari standing tall in the commanders cupola, did something Bluey thought impossible for a tank to do.
With unmatched precision that Bluey had to give the Panzer 4 driver immense credit for, Yukari's tank did a 180 turn on the move to get their tank facing them, while next reversing backward, it was something like Anzio's famous Neapolitan maneuver they did with their CV 33's, yet those smaller tankettes weight made it easier to do such a thing, yet seeing a Panzer 4 do it with such smoothness was a shock for Bluey and her crew.
That shock was to be their undoing, as Bluey's gunner fire in haste and miss wide, while Yukari's ace gunner Hana place her shot perfectly into the AC1 Sentinel, causing the white kill flag to come up and left the smoking defeated tank to help their comrade M3 Lee chase down Koala M3 Grant flag tank, which they finally corner it after using an artillery strike they had held in reserve to destroy some buildings that topple down to block any escape path and then finish it off, ending the match, as well as Koala's dream of a rematch with Chi-Ha-Tan Academy.
"I was really looking forward to a match against that Tigress Commander of Chi-Ha-Tan too, since she literally brought that team back up in such a short time and hopefully get a chance to take down that Tiger 1 she commands," Bluey said with a look of disappointment of not getting the rematch.
"Yea, to think they beat a top 4 team after years of never doing anything," Wallaby said happily.
"That's why that Miho girl is something else too, can see why Tamada is so protective over her, damn I wanted to fight her again too and show her the respect she and her team deserve and earned," Bluey said.
Wallaby gave off a smug look. "You jealous or something? Got a thing for that braided girl?"
"Ah, I am not! And no I do not!" Bluey said in panic.
After getting a good chuckle out of teasing her friend, Wallaby spoke once more. "Well why we're here, Commander Oz wanted a word with you," she then held the Koala bear close to Bluey.
Bluey lean close to hear her commander speak in the silent language that few girls understood of their Koala commander, after nodding a few times, Bluey suddenly became fluster. "What! You're retiring!"
Oz seem to nod his head to answer her.
"Who's going to command next year?" Bluey ask frantically.
Wallaby with Oz in her arm gave her a knowing look.
"You can't be serious?" Bluely said once again.
"Fair dinkum Bluey, you were a great tank commander when you first arrive, but your sudden rise came with some arrogance in the end," Wallaby said.
The sudden reminder of her disgraceful behavior made Bluey wince as she spoke. "I kno-."
"Yet you realize this and remember the humble girl you once were. Everyone here, including me, looks up to you for leadership. You are the heart of this team and Oz feels like this is the time to hand the baton to us girls to lead Koala Forrest High School to new heights, and we will do that with you at the commander's position Bluey," Wallaby said happily.
"But what about Oz, what we going to do with the little guy?" A concerned look came over Bluey's face.
"He's going to live here of course, till the end of his days in peace. Theirs's enough forest on the ship for him to climb and he needs a rest after the long years of service he's provided for our school," Wallaby explain.
"I don't know what to say," Bluey said, her mind completely blank, as she took all this information in.
"Well I do know some girls who know what to say, so come on," Wallaby said.
Soon the trio were outside the garage and headed for the dinner party being held by the girls of Koala High School. There were bonfires lit up around the tables, as barbeque grills ran hot with sizzling food, that reminded Bluey's stomach how hungry she was. Yet as soon as she came into sight of the dinner party, all the girls of Koala High began to cheer.
"Hey it's Commander Bluey!"
"Congrats on the promotion!"
"Commander Oz made a speech already about it!"
"We know you'll give it a burl!"
"Oi! Commander we put some yakka into these prawns, come have a bite!"
"You little ripper!"
"With you in command, the other teams will be up a creek!"
"Let's hear it for the new commander!"
"Bluey! Bluey! Bluey! Bluey! Bluey! Bluey! Bluey! Bluey!"
Bluey herself began to tear up, which wasn't like her since she wasn't someone who got too emotional over things, she didn't even cry when her team lost against Oarai. Yet here she was, staring at her team who now follow her lead, something as a little girl she always wanted to do, become a commander of a Sensha-do team. And now that dream had come true for her, and she make sure to never disgrace the sport she love or any team ever again, for her Sensha-do style would follow that principle to the end.
"I love my team," Bluey said softly, that only Wallaby heard.
Wallaby turn to smile at her friend with great fondness. "We love you too commander, now bog in and let's have some tucker."
Bluey giggle at her friend's aussie phrase use, but smile at her. "Yes lets."
