Author Thought:

Hello valued readers, back again with chapter to start off the battle for Ooarai and Chi-Ha-Tan.

First and foremost, thank all of you for sticking with me through this volume, which has been a longer buildup than the other two by a lot. Didn't intend for it to be that way, but just didn't want to skimp anything as I wrote this thing out.

Yet here we are finally!

Now first want to thank Neo-byzantium for OC idea in this first scene that they gave me

Thanks to DarthFii for some help with other ideas in my story coming up

Thanks to Hikari Nova for giving me some ideas as well that made it into this book

And thank you guest reviewers who were kind enough to lay out all the Japanese's tanks I never knew about and have added to this story thanks to your knowledge of them.

While thanks to all user and guest for also leaving reviews for this story that are much appreciated by me.

While a last thanks to everyone who keeps coming back to read my story I crafted, to be honest didn't think I get this far, but I've found such a passion for it I want to keep going and finish this series up. Though we still got a long way to go, but yet again know I appreciate all you reading constantly.

Alright last thing, this chapter is like a pregame for the battle, but don't worry I'm not leaving you waiting all week for the next chapter, I will upload tomorrow the first part of the battle. So today pregame tomorrow battle chapter.

So enjoy the read and have a awesome day. Till the next Author Thought.


An assistant women walk up next to a cameraman who was aiming toward the set, the woman touch her headset to listen to her producer who was going to alert her to start the countdown. The wait wasn't long as she receive the go-ahead from her producer to begin, the women wave her hands for quiet on the set from the other assistants and staff members, then turn her eyes to the large sports broadcast set, that had one large desk built with the words into its front with neon lighting in cursive saying: Sensha-do Battle Network.

Sitting behind this desk were two people, one male and one female. The male was a handsome older gentleman in his late 30's. He had a chiseled face with a light tan, a neat comb-over, a fresh clean shave, with large brown eyes. While wearing a gray business suit, he was the host of the Sensha-do Battle Network, by the name of Fumihiko Sakaguchi.

His counterpart was a special guest this day, by the name of Susan Marshall, who was quite younger than her host. Only pushing 20 years of age, American born as well. Was of Caucasian descent with long beautiful blonde hair that flow down past her shoulders, with bright blue eyes, dressed in an elegant blue sleeveless dress, and lastly knee-high boots.

Even though Susan was American, she had a good grasp of the Japanese language. That was in thanks to participating in Sensha-do, enjoying her high school life aboard the Saunders University High School carrier, The USS George Washington, which accepted American applicants to their school. Though for Susan that seem like a lifetime ago, but still had pleasant memories for her to reminisce on.

Suddenly the assistant women wave to get these two attention, signaling they were going live. She then held her hand out, holding five fingers, then four, then three, then two, then pointed at the host to let him know he's on.

"Hello Sensha-do enthusiast! This is your host Fumihiko Sakaguchi, bringing you live from our studio here in the beautiful capital city of Tokyo. Today we have the first match of the second round of the sixty-third national high school tournament coming up soon, as cinderella story Ooarai Girls Academy looks to continue their journey to the top, but looking to strike midnight on their story is none other than the unbeaten Tigress Corps of Chi-Ha-Tan Academy who look to keep showing us how sharp their fangs are in this tournament."

"This match has all the hype you can want to build around it, with our network already dubbing it the Match of the Round, as these two teams, that many didn't have on the cards to advance to the second round are now here ready to do battle. Yet before we get to analyzing this upcoming match, I like to introduce my beautiful guest and co-host today Susan Marshall, who attended Saunders University High School, fighting in the fifty-ninth, sixtieth, and sixty-first national tournament, while also commanding the school for the last two mention tournaments. Thank you for being here today Miss Marshall."

Susan gave the man a bright smile. "Please, just call me Susan. I'm honored to be here on the set with you Mister Fumihiko."

"Not as honor as I am, I mean were talking about the great Miss Susan who was the National rookie sensation in the fifty-ninth national tournament, then had her finest hour against Kuromorimine in the sixty-first national tournament against then rookie Maho Nishizumi," Fumihiko said with a praising tone.

A graceful chuckle follow the statement from Susan, then she spoke. "Please Mister Fumihiko, you're heaping too much acclaim on me."

"Dear viewers, Miss Susan is being too modest, but don't let it fool you when she had the nickname Tiger Killer, earn by her in her third year of high school, when she took on Kuromorimine in the Semifinal. Do tell the story," Fumihiko press on.

"Guess I can't rightly back down now, during my third year in the sixty-first national tournament, I was the commander of our tankery team as we mentioned earlier, using an M4 Sherman, my all-time favorite tank. It was my finest year, earning a mass amount of tank kills almost reaching and maybe breaking the national tank kill record of twenty-four," Susan said.

Fumihiko nodded excitedly at the retelling. "Yes, you almost broke the great Shiho Nishzumi's national tank kill record that no one has even come close to beating, in recent years, that even includes her daughters."

"Yes, but I owe my crew a lot for my success that year and through my high school career. If I had broken it, I would have had to give them immense credit. Now then back to the sixty-first national tournament, my team came up against Kuromorimine, they at the time weren't as advanced as they were now, but they still boasted Panzer 4's, their Tiger 1, and Panzer 3's."

Fumihiko spoke up now. "Yes, they had up to that point hadn't lost a single tank in any match, a testament to their effective doctrine that was eliminating teams with ease, with Miss Maho right at the front of this powerful team. Yet you single handily took out nine from their total twenty in a brilliant display of skill."

"Yes, though Kuromorimine had mostly eliminated my team up to that point with their awesome tankery style, which I just couldn't break with my entire M4 Sherman team. By the end of the battle, my command platoon got wipe, but I had vow to attack their rear to help my team stay in the fight, as my flag tank held on for dear life running from the foe," Susan reply.

"And stay in the fight you did. Even to this day it is watched by viewers as the master class in Sensha-do fighting, showing heart and endurance that none can contend with. You use almost all your ammunition, snipe, harass, brawl, and even ram your tank into their Tiger 1 under the command of Maho Nishizumi in a last ditch effort to save your flag tank," Fumihiko praise.

"It was a tough fight all right. Maho Nishizumi who even as a first-year then was fighting in a class above all of us. I can confidently say that even to this day, I have never had as of an intense duel like that with anyone else. In the end, she beat me, showing the Sensha-do world her skill that I couldn't outdo. Yet I was honored to have had the chance to go toe to toe with her on the field," Susan explain.

"Yes, a close run fight, in the end it was another victory for Kuromorimine and another step in their then winning streak. Yet all that is over now after the upset loss against Pravda this past year, yet were not here to keep bringing the past up, let us move forward now to the present. Miss Susan, what are your thoughts on today's matchup?" Fumihiko ask, turning his full attention to Susan.

"Well, today is a matchup I myself can't wait for. We have two teams that have had to go through the grueling qualifier attritional match just to get into the tournament that is a very draining type of match let me tell you, while also each having to take on teams that were favorites to at least make the semi-final this year. Add in that most pundits wrote them off before even a shot was even fired," Susan reply.

"Yes, I myself was one of these non-believers at the start, yet here we are with undoubtedly the most anticipated match of the second round, while both teams are being considered for a slot as to be part of the big four with Saunders defeat in the first round this year, no offense to your alma mater Miss Susan," Fumihiko added in.

Susan nodded at that. "I take no offense, when at the end of the day, these two teams might just be a top-four when the tournament is done. They have every right to the slot, as they showed their unbreakable spirit and determination up to this point, which must be recognized."

"Very true, so let's get your opinion on the team's participating in this match. Starting first with Oarai Girls Academy, what do you make of them?" Fumihiko ask.

"An underdog in every sense of the word. I mean we're speaking of a team that hasn't competed in Sensha-do in literally twenty years, then shows up this year with only five tanks and beats a worthy foe in West Kureouji Grona High School in the qualifier. With West Kureouji boasting a heavier armor force that should have just outmuscled them, yet they were given a show on how flexibility and unconventional tactics can win the day no matter how outnumbered you are," Susan explain of the first match.

"Then they beat Koala Forest High School with still fewer tanks then their foe, but their commander show her genius by dragging the Koala flanking attack away with a small force. While choosing the right moment to counterattack with their air force and beating their opponent. I have to say these Oarai teams tactics are odd at times and bold when they need to be, have won them the hearts of many fans in Japan and across the world, mine included," Susan explain of the second match.

Fumihiko shook his head in agreement with his co-host. "That is very true, while Miss Akiyama, a girl who know one knows anything about is all of the sudden turning heads in this year's tournament."

"An unusual commander to say the least with her abnormal tactics, but is one of my favorites to watch, as she fights with her tank in a whole new way most don't do," Susan said excitedly.

"Are you talking about the crazy maneuver against Koala where her Panzer 4 did a full one-eighty against a tank and fire while going in reverse?" The host ask.

"Definitely, something we have only seen Anizo's CV 33's do, now done by a larger tank was something you might only see in a video game. Yet here we are seeing it in real-time, makes you glad to be witnessing this new era of Sensha-do coming to be."

"That we can agree on, now let's flip the table and talk about the resurgence of Chi-Ha-Tan Academy's tankery club. A team you face in the first round in the sixtieth National tournament. Compare that team, to this one currently, what's the difference for you?" Fumihiko ask.

"Night and day Mister Fumihiko, when I face them we simply took a defensive position, then fire at their team that came blindly charging over the desert battlefield, as we Americans say, like shooting fish in a barrel. Yet when you look at this Chi-Ha-Tan tankery today, their fighting formula is completely different. Making use of their mobility, low profiles, and camouflage. Couple that with their dogged determination to win and you have arguably the most dangerous team in the tournament in my opinion. Makes even me doubt if my girls back then could have beaten this Chi-Ha-Tan tankery team of today," Susan summarize.

"With this change being something of a note because a Nishizumi is leading them now, wouldn't you say Miss Susan?" Fumihiko ask.

A nod from Susan follow the question. "That is something that would help a troubled team like this. Miho Nishizumi who transfer to this school from Kuromorimine, who in a short time, has remarkably revamped this Chi-Ha-Tan team into something to be fear. I mean you really have to applaud her, when this team since its founding just charge their foes recklessly and never change. Yet again in such a short time, she seems to have changed their very culture, with the nickname Tigress Corps being something they have earned with this hard work they put in."

"It's only fitting that they earn that name, considering they have a Tiger 1 at their disposal now," Fumihiko said.

"That does help as well, but let's not take away anything from the rest of their team, that have light armor Japanese tanks that had to take on better armor forces, and with better fire power. Yet we're able to first show us in the Maple match their effective ambushes and coordinated counterattacks, while in the Saunders match they show tenacity that kept fighting back even in their darkest hour," Susan stated.

"No ill will against them for beating your alma mater?" Fumihiko joke.

That caused Susan to chuckle a bit, then calm down to speak again. "Oh no, they more than earn that victory against my former school, especially when you add in the disgraceful behavior of my former school of humiliating them in the sixty-second national tournament."

"Ah, the controversial match that even till this day has left a smirch on Saunders tankery team. Luckily it seems your underclassmen Kay did what she could to help Saunders regain some of its honor in that match and for the future," Fumihiko said.

"Yes, Miss Kay has done a lot to regain the team's honor, all while having fun, though I'll tell you she was a lot more hyper as a first-year if you could believe that," Susan joked.

Fumihiko chuckle, then spoke. "Yes, she has been instrumental in Saunder's change. Though how about your former protégé in Linda Sickle, the commander that day when they lay down the humiliation on Chi-Ha-Tan."

"She made a mistake plain and simple. Something that never should have happen, yet happen because of arrogance. Hopefully, she learn something from her humbling from Pravda that will help her grow wherever she is," Susan said with a pleasant smile on her face.

"Certainly, now let's move on to some other news. As you know Chi-Ha-Tan was going to be disciplined, because of the last match due to holding out information about an injured teammate, which led to a punishment being handed down by the federation for this obvious disregard of the rules. Yet this punishment has been unveil this morning to the public, that Chi-Ha-Tan has one vice commander along with most of their other team members for this next match save five, were all suspended from this match today."

"A shocker for sure," Susan said.

"Indeed, which leaves Chi-Ha-Tan relying in this next match on their entire first-year tank commanders and crews against a now veteran force of Ooarai, who is cunning and deadly, what are your thoughts on this?" Fumihiko ask.

"Well from my own experience, being a first-year going into your first match is nerve-racking. Knowing that you want to put on a good performance for your school, your friends, your family, and your upperclassmen. It can make you push too much and do things that are more harmful than helpful to your team," Susan explain at first.

"Do you believe this will prove too much of a hurdle for Chi-Ha-Tan to overcome?" Fumihiko press.

Susan shook her head. "With Miho Nishizumi leading them, I know she will have a plan in place to give Oarai all they can handle, as she had shown us her coolness under pressure. You can also tell, she really has the confidence of her team to push through any obstacle, which is more than half the battle for veteran and rookie alike, to just believe."

"Well believe they will have to do, especially now with Oarai's team being supplemented with new tank and crews. As of this morning, there has been another shocking announcement of a reinforcement perk being used for Oarai, with their new teammates that will help them fill out a full fifteen being from America of all places," Fumihiko said.

"Yes, even I was surprised to hear of my country taking part in Sensha-do now," Susan said with a shocked look.

"Now there has been some outcry in years previously about the need for the Federation to help minor teams that can't fill out full numbers needed for battles. Yet this sudden reinforcement perk to some feel forced, while the reinforcements granted to them are not from Japan's own team, but a foreign country with no experience in Sensha-do, no offense again Miss Susan," Fumihiko said.

"No offense taken. It does make you wonder why the Federation didn't have a team knockout of the tournament be their reinforcements, maybe a team they beat like West Kureouji Grona or Koala Forrest. Yet there must be some reason for this sudden announcement that I believe will be revealed in its own time," Susan said.

Fumihiko nodded at this. "Well whatever may be the case, it's already taking this high-intensity match and adding more fire to it. Leaving everyone on the edge of their seats to get underway, but for now, will be taking a break, yet when we return will be going over the tanks that this American tankery team is bringing to the match and how effective they can be. Now a word from our sponsors."

XxxxX

The military train carrying the Chi-Ha-Tan Tankery team, as well as their tanks chug along the tracks heading for the staging area for the match between them and Oarai Girls Academy. Aboard the train, the Chi-Ha-Tan girls in the passenger cabs were in a flurry of excitement to finally get to their destination and unload their tanks. Most of these members were first-years who had never seen action save for Fukuda and her crew.

They had been put through the wringer by their commander in the week leading up to the match, to be in top fighting shape to take on this wily foe before them. Nishi walking along the row between the seats made sure to stop and talk with her juniors. The first years would boast about their courage or how they earn their veteran badges that would make her proud. Yet Nishi did her best to keep them grounded, as hard as that was with their unbridled excitement, but Nishi couldn't blame them, in fact, it fire her up to see them raring to get into the action.

"Maita," Nishi call to their only other second-year tank commander in the team, besides Nishi, Tamada, and Miho.

The girl was also walking up the rows to check on the first years, but upon hearing her name, came over to Nishi. "Yes, company commander?"

"How are the girls holding up?" Nishi ask.

Maita gave her a lopsided grin. Their excitement should tell you enough right?"

That made Nishi chuckle. "Your right, I thought all that bravado would drop the instance we got on the train, but if anything it's only rising up further."

"I hope the train conductor can forgive us for all the noise," Maita said back.

"I'm sure he will. How do you feel about being the operator tank for this match?" Nishi ask.

Maita rub the back of her head with nervousness. "I can understand why Kubota was chosen initially to be the operator tank. Trying to call in an artillery strike under duress is almost impossible, I just hope I don't waste our one strike."

A smile play across Nishi's face, as she patted her tankery sister's shoulder. "Miho didn't make that choice just because you're a second year. Kubota told Miho once if there was ever a time we needed a sub in operator, you be it."

Surprise crossed Maita's face. "Really? She said that about me? I mean I have a decent grasp of maps, thankfully she has been showing me how to read it better after practice in our dorms."

"She did, so take heart Maita that you can do this. Also know Miho, me, Tamada, and all of your little tankery sisters believe in you as well," Nishi said encouragingly.

"Thank you Nishi, I won't let you down. By the way, where's the commander?" Maita had to ask.

"Oh, she is going over the map with Tamada to make sure our fiery vice commander knows her objective," Nishi said, though she knew the two were also getting some alone time before the match.

Ah, young love, I hope I meet my special someone someday. Yet for now, I'll cheer on my treasure tankery sister's happiness.

Then Nishi walk down the row again, to check on her eager team. Ready herself to hear the cannons roar this day.

XxxxxX

"Say ah," Miho said happily, as she had a small bite-size sandwich on a toothpick in her hand from the bento box she had brought along, holding it to Tamada sitting next to her on the cushion seat in the private spacey compartment afforded to them on the train.

Tamada who had been looking over the map, lay across a fold-out table in their private compartment, now balk at the request with a blush coming on. "Miho, that's embarrassing."

"Why? I read an online article that said couples do these kinds of things," Miho said, now getting a blush over her face, thinking maybe she was overdoing things.

"Jeez, all it takes is you reading an article and now you're bolder than ever. Are you going to propose too?" Tamada shot back.

"Oh sorry Haru, I just wanted to make you happy," Miho said bashfully.

She's too cute, she's too cute, she's too cute, she's too cute, she's too cute, she's too cute, she's too cute

The thought ran over Tamada's mind rapidly, making her heart pound so hard she could hear it in her ears. Yet she compose herself now. Then look over at Miho for a moment seeing how earnest she was, their relationship was still so fresh and new, it only made sense that she want to do everything couples do. Whether it be tankery or being lovers, Tamada knew Miho would give it her all and Tamada was grateful for that.

"No, you're okay, sorry I got flustered. We may be veterans when it comes to tankery, but complete rookies at being lovers," Tamada joke.

"Yea, but I like it. This is something I never thought would happen to me, I guess I just want to hold this feeling of warmness whenever I think about it close to my heart," Miho confess with a warm smile.

"Never thought happened to you?" Tamada said with a questioning smile."Your super cute, I should be grateful no guy swept you off your feet."

"Heh, I don't think I ever had those thoughts about a boy ever to be honest. Though it doesn't help when you go to an all-girls school, the only boys I ever interacted with were at the local candy shop near our estate. Yet we were kids then, so I guess that doesn't count," Miho said.

"Sure doesn't, alright here feed me," Tamada said, then open her mouth.

Miho got giddy as she gently place the sandwich bite in Tamada's mouth, then watch her lover bite down. Tamada ate it quickly, while Miho wonder if she did a good job. Again she had had the luxury of maids always cooking for her, so learning to cook and make things like this was also something all new to her, but she put her best effort into it for her lover. Even if it was the easiest thing to make in a sandwich.

As Tamada finish eating the bite, she now open her eyes to give Miho a grin. "I knew it."

"Knew what?" Miho said, while cocking her head to the side.

"You are going to make a great dutiful wife," Tamada teased.

"Haru! Don't tease me! And you're also skipping so many steps!" Miho whined at her.

Tamada scooted close to Miho in the seat and wrap an arm around her. "Sorry, sorry, teasing you as your lover is even better."

"I thought you let off a little," Miho groan while looking the other way with a pouting look.

"Nope, it only gets worse from here," Tamada said, then gently cup Miho's chin to turn her face to her, as Tamada capture her lips in a gentle kiss.

Miho lean into it, then pull back from the kiss with a blush over her face. "Well if that comes with it, the teasing won't be so bad."

"You bet, here's some more reasons to deal with my teasing," Tamada said, then lean in again to nuzzle her face into Miho's gently, while laying a flurry of small soft playful kisses on the light brown hair girl's face.

This cause Miho to giggle at her lover turning her face to get away from Tamada, liking the playfulness that she always had with her. It made Miho feel more open with things with Tamada, and not get all serious about being lovers, and just enjoy the moments like this together.

Miho having enough, as she needed a breather from her laughter, shot a hand out to cover Tamada's mouth pushing it away so as not to attack her anymore, as Miho spoke. "Hahaha…haha...alright you had your fun, let me be."

Tamada smirk at the besiege girl, feeling satisfied with her work, as she then unwrap her arm from around Miho to focus on the map of the battlefield laid across the folded-out table in the compartment. "Have to say, this strategy of yours is something."

Now that professionalism was put to the forefront, Miho nodded at Tamada. "It's an unorthodox move for sure. It has its cons that might cost us the match if Oarai doesn't play to our tune."

"I don't think so, sure that Akiyama girl may have beaten some tough opponents, but she's got no idea of what she is up against in the Tigress Corps and our unmatched commander," Tamada boasted.

Miho, who usually was more down to earth, not wanting to beat her chest about her team's prowess, felt a need to match her vice commander's energy. "No, she doesn't. Even if it's our first-year tankery sisters going into the fray, I know they will fight hard enough to even give a Big Four team trouble."

Looking at Miho, Tamada felt complete pride in her. Miho had grown so much, had overcome her own issues. She was so scared and timid when she came to Chi-Ha-Tan, fearing Sensha-do because she couldn't measure up to her family's greatness. Yet here, she found her fighting spirit and help Tamada and the rest of her hard-headed bunch of girls realize their potential if they too did away with the past for the future.

A sudden loud whistle rang out, getting both girls attention. It was the sound of them closing in to the staging area for their match. One step closer to the battle with Oarai who they both knew were going to give their all, but for Miho, Tamada, Nishi, Maita, Fukuda, Fukuhara, Ichioka, Miyata, and all the girls going to fight this day, they were going to give as much back, as they wanted to unite their tankery family once more, to make the push again to the top of the Sensha-do mountain as a whole team, not a fracture one.

"Looks like it's time to go commander, you ready?" Tamada said, rising to her feet, then holding out her hand to her lover and commander.

"I'm ready vice commander," Miho said confidently, taking her fiery lover's hand to help her up.

They both nodded to one another, then exited the room, ready to show the strength of the Tigress Style this day.

XxxxxX

The military transport train came to a rolling stop at the station at the staging area, with the gloomy overcast in the sky and a chill in the air. Built around the area was the usual vendor zone, with various tents pitched up. Some vendors were selling various goods, like tank figures, banners, and other souvenirs. Others were cooking up a feast for the spectators, with the smell of sizzling food inviting people to buy as their mouths water and their bellies growl. Ice cream and sweet stalls were being overwhelmed by children ready to feed their sweet tooth. While beer was also in circulation for adults, as there was nothing better than watching tanks firing on one another with a good drink in hand, also the beer was great for warming their bones on this unusually cold spring day.

Yet the sudden sight of the Chi-Ha-Tan Military transport train coming into view caused a surge of people to make their way over to see the vaunted Tigress Corps. This team that had recently pulled off the upset against Saunders was now in many of their minds as the possible dark horse to go all the way.

While also some of these people coming up to the train were unfurling their banners with the Chi-Ha-Tan symbol on them and started to wave them back and forth in a show of support. As some fans from Chiba Prefecture had made the journey to see their team in action. Others wore bandanas across their foreheads with their school's symbol on them, with specialize jerseys with the Chi-Ha-Tan camouflage scheme was being worn to show support as well.

The crowd was held back by Federation security personnel, who made sure not to let them get close, since the tankery girls would be needing to get their tanks off the train. Yet that didn't stop their cheering when the girls began to trickle out of the passenger cab, and voice their support for this high flying club.

"Good luck girls!"

"You can win!"

"Show Oarai the might of the Tigress Corps!"

"The Tiger 1 is so cool!"

"Look it's Commander Nishizumi! You're so awesome, go get em' commander!"

"It's Vice Commander Tamada! No one can match her warrior's spirit!"

"Vice Commander Nishi! She's so beautiful! And so deadly!"

"Let's hear it for our girls!"

"Tigress Corps! Tigress Corps! Tigress Corps! Tigress Corps! Tigress Corps! Tigress Corps!"

The voices of the casual and diehard fans all rang together. Making the Chi-Ha-Tan girls get even more fire up, if that were even possible at this point, as they move to board their tanks to start unloading them off the train.

"Can you believe this support Miss Tamada," Miyata, tank commander of Tozen Company said, practically bouncing in place, waving her hands to the crowd.

"Yea I can believe this, while I'm also believing it's time to stop gloating and get to your tank," Tamada smirked at her junior, as she pull on her ear to get her under control.

"Ow,ow,ow,ow!" Miyata said, grabbing at Tamada's hand that was tugging on her ear.

"Tamada, don't bully her," Miho said in a pleasant tone, coming up to her side with a weary smile at her vice commander's treatment of the first year.

"Fine, fine," Tamada said, then let go, as her poor junior rub her ear with a pout at her company commander.

"Well it is Tamada, she just can't help it sometimes," Nishi said with an agreeable tone coming up too, then turn to Miyata

"Please mount up."

Miyata perk up, then snap off a sharp salute. "Ma'am."

Tamada watch her underclassmen walk off. "If only she was that responsive to my orders."

"Hehe, maybe you just bully her too much for that," Miho teased.

"I think she just takes after Tamada a bit, you should have seen how much she gloated in her first year," Nishi teased as well.

That pique Miho's interest, turning to Nishi. "Oh, Tamada's never told me that before."

"And I never will. Nishi, please leave that embarrassing part out, I've got a reputation to keep," Tamada pleaded, making Miho giggle to see her so work up.

"And what reputation is that? Being a pest, that might suit you," A voice challenged Tamada.

Tamada tense as she knew that voice all too well by now, as she, Nishi, and Miho turn to the source. Walking down the platform to them was none other than Erika, with Koume in tow coming to meet them, wearing their Kuromorimine school uniforms. Miho look around, but didn't see Maho with them which was strange, while at the same time made her sad since she wanted to see her sister in person. It had been a little over a month since she seen her, and that was before the national drawing that seem like a lifetime ago to Miho.

"You here to pick a fight, because I'm more than ready," Tamada growled while taking a defensive stance at Erika.

Erika came up to them, with a hand on her hip. "If I did, you might not like the result."

"Why you," Tamada said, then look to step to her irritant.

"Hey Erika," Miho said in a joyful tone, coming up to the front to cool the situation.

A look of displeasure cross Erika's face, since she knew about Maho's condition, while Miho was still in the dark about it. Erika felt instant guilt that she had to keep this from her former sub commander. Since recently Erika had look at Miho in a better light, as someone who had grown stronger than she ever was at Kuromorimine. Sometimes Erika wonder if she hadn't let her jealousy of Miho over being the sub commander take over, that they might have come to be friends, and maybe Miho would have stayed with them, instead of leaving.

Erika's guilt was made even worse, because Maho had sent her and Koume to meet with Miho. While the Kuromorimine commander stay behind, because she wasn't ready to tell Miho about her condition. And there would be no way to hide the fact now from Miho in person with her condition getting worse, Maho had stayed behind so as not to upset her sister before this important match.

Erika changed to a friendlier look on her face, now speaking to Miho now. "Hey Miho, glad to see you."

At first, Miho said nothing back, making Erika turn to a more annoyed look. "What?"

Koume chuckle, then spoke. "She's not used to you being so friendly. Don't worry Miho you get used to it."

"Are you serious?!" Erika growled, turning to Koume.

Miho let out a nervous chuckle. "Yea, sorry about that. I guess I was a little surprised to see you smile genuinely. I have to say I like it a lot better."

Erika blush a bit. "Jeez, you make it sound like I have a constant scowl on my face."

"You're just noticing that, I honestly thought it was actually glued to your face," Tamada shot in with a smirk.

"You know what, I think it's time to show you why you shouldn't get on my bad side," Erika shot back, stepping to Tamada now.

Miho was about to make a move to block her path and make sure that the fighting was stop, but was surprised to see Nishi take the lead. Stepping into Erika's path, while offering her hand to the silver hair girl with a pleasant smile on her face.

"Were grateful for you coming to support us Miss Itsumi," Nishi said thankfully.

That stop Erika in place, then took the offered hand. "Don't look at it in that way. I'm here to scope out the competition since we're planning to meet you in the final."

"You must have a lot of confidence in our commander to make that statement," Nishi said back.

"Well there's always a chance to be disappointed," Erika said, with a smirk on her face.

Nishi tilted her head, giving Erika a smug look. "I think Miho might make you eat those words."

That made Erika chuckle. "Well, here I thought you were the humble little princess in this group."

"I may have led a sheltered life at home, but I have sharp fangs like the rest of my team. If we do meet in the finals, I'm more than ready to show you them," Nishi said with confidence.

That made Erika excited. "Well now, I think I can come to like you, tiger princess. Will see if your talk holds up when the day comes."

Grateful for Nishi cooling Erika down, Miho walk over to Koume who was excited to see her old friend. Both girls hug each other, then broke apart, while holding each other's hands.

"It's so good to see you Koume," Miho said happily.

"You too Miho," Koume said back equal in happiness to be with her old friend in person.

"I watch your battle with Bellwall and that ambush by your platoon was so awesome. I knew you make a good platoon leader one day," Miho praised.

Koume blush a bit with the admiration from her friend. "Well yea, but I was inspired by you. That's why I was so effective."

"By me?" Miho ask.

"Yea silly, didn't you notice the foliage and paint scheme on my platoon's tanks. Just like you do with your team, it made us ten times more effective," Koume said proudly.

"I did notice, but didn't think it was because of me. I more surprised that Maho was ok with it," Miho said.

Koume shook her head. "Your sister has changed a lot this year, I'm sure you've seen it. She is more open with us, allowing us to be more flexible on the battlefield. I know you've been inspiring her too."

"I don't know about that, I'm the younger sister after all," Miho said with a chuckle. "By the way, where is Maho?"

Now Koume grimace a bit, but quickly put on a smile for her friend. "Maho has been dealing with a lot, as you know. Some last-minute paperwork kept her in the office, though we try to help her out, but told us she wanted me and Erika to come in her place to watch your match."

For some reason, Miho didn't feel that was a genuine answer, mostly because of Koume's strained face earlier when she ask for her sister. Miho never thought Koume to be someone to keep things from her, she was always so honest about things around Miho, even personal stuff. Yet now she was hiding something and that something was to do with Maho.

Recently Maho had been less talkative with Miho. Only resorting to texting her about things or checking up on her. Miho had been wanting to talk to her on the phone about her relationship with Tamada and other things, but Maho would just say she was too busy to talk on the phone. Of course, Miho try to be understanding, but with Koume and Erika's reactions earlier, something was up, and it hurt to think they were keeping her out of it. Especially if it pertains to Maho, her beloved sister who help her get back on her feet.

Feeling resolute to find out what was wrong, Miho lean forward to talk to Koume in a quiet whisper. "Is something wrong with Maho? She rarely texts me and won't talk to me over the phone."

"It's because she is bus-," Koume try to say.

"Please Koume, I know Maho. She's been so open with me since she sent me to Chi-Ha-Tan. I don't understand why she is being so cold now," Miho pleaded with her friend.

Koume look Miho in the eye with a serious look as she spoke. "I'm sorry Miho. I'm not at liberty to say, Maho has her reasons I assure you. She plans to talk to you about something when the match ends, but right now she wants you to focus on your match, which is the truth."

"I…I…understand, what did she want to talk about?" Miho had to ask.

"Again, I'm not at liberty to say, but it has to do with reuniting you with Miss Shiho," Koume said.

"My mother?" Miho said in shock.

"Yes, but for now just focus on your match Miho, because I want to meet you on the battlefield," Koume said with a confident grin.

For the moment, Miho put away her growing worry over Maho. Especially now knowing her motives were to try and unite their family again. That was something Miho had thought about herself, but didn't have the confidence still to face her mother. Neither had shared a word since Miho left the estate, which made her wonder if she could even properly talk with her mother now, or would they be almost complete strangers to each other.

Yet Miho put those thoughts aside, as she had to win this match to untie her tankery family first, then she worry about her real family after this match.

"Koume, know I want to face you on the field too. You've proven to be the tank commander I always thought you be, now the real challenge will be proving my skills against yours," Miho said, smiling at her friend.

"Thank you Miho, your strength is what has helped me push past my limits. Yet I plan to surpass you," Koume joke.

"Try if you can," Miho said in a sweet voice, but had the sound of saying challenge accepted.

Suddenly an arm wrapped around Miho. She turn to see Erika had come up to her side, which surprise Miho since Erika was never one to be touchy at all. In fact, the most contact she had ever had with Erika last year, was when she constantly fuss over her uniform, Erika always complaining it was out of place.

"What, I don't get a shot at beating you too, Miho?" Erika said with a smug grin on her face.

"Oh, I would be honored to duel with you," Miho said back, happy to see Erika changing to a friendlier girl than she remember.

"Honor? Come on you got a better comeback than that. You are a tigress, after all, show some spine and rip into me," Erika scolded, but her face said she was being playful.

"Eh, I'm not one for trash talk," Miho said with a nervous chuckle.

"Yea Erika, don't try to change her. It's so refreshing to have someone this cute, be this deadly," Koume added in.

"How am I cute and deadly?!" Miho said in a shocked voice.

"Cute maybe, deadly is whole another thing," Erika said with a smile and shake of the head at her fluster former teammate.

"You're bullying me," Miho whined.

"Guess things don't change with you," Erika said with a chuckle.

"Nope, but that's what I like best about Miho," Koume said.

Standing away from the Kuromorimine reunion, Tamada and Nishi watch on. They made no move to interrupt the girls, letting Miho enjoy being around her old teammates. Both of them knew her time at Kuromorimine last year hadn't been a pleasant one, even if they made the finals. While Miho over her time at Chi-Ha-Tan had been finding less and less positives to say about her former team, but right now they were joking and talking like old friends, just like they should be.

Nishi was the most adamant about trying to get Miho to look at her former school in a better light, it was the main reason she design Miho's tankery uniform to almost match her former academies school uniform. And seeing how she interacted confidently with her old teammates, Miho might just find some positive things to say of Kuromorimine someday.

Wrapping an arm around Tamada, Nishi spoke. "Nice to see her be open with them now."

"I can do without that silver hair harpy," Tamada groan out.

That made Nishi chuckle. "Learn to play nice Tamada, since one day you're going to have to deal with Miho's sister. Being on good terms with Miss Itsumi would help that along"

Tamada grimace a bit. "I hope she approves of me."

"Don't worry, she will. Just don't get flustered if she gives you that scowl, she will be just testing you is all, she did say Miho is her precious little sister," Nishi encourage.

"I hope so, but let's get focused on our match. We have to go to the team greeting," Tamada said.

Nishi nodded. "Yes let's go, I'm boiling for a fight."

XxxxxX

Why am I such a coward?

This thought passed through the mind of Shiho Nishizumi, as she sat in a press box alone. Hidemichi had been meaning to join her, but his secretary had called that morning to say he wasn't feeling well enough to make the trip from the school carrier. Now Shiho would have to sit alone for this match and watch her daughter take on her husband's bastard daughter, who was being influenced by Konomi Nishizumi who was looking to bring Shiho and her daughters down.

Shiho still hadn't told Hidemichi about any of this, fearing he might tell Miho. In turn, Shiho hadn't found the courage to tell Miho herself. It boggle her mind why she couldn't find it in her to tell her. Miho had the right to know about her half-sister she be facing today, as Shiho had to recognize her skill as a commander.

Maybe I'm just scared to see what she thinks of me after I tell her about Panzer Kettō and maybe the possibility of her turning her back on me for good

Maho had made Shiho promise not to tell Miho about it some time ago. Shiho had honored the promise, but had plans to eventually tell Miho since at the time she was an heiress to the family and would need to know to understand their family's legacy. Yet as Miho struggle to uphold the Nishizumi style, Shiho began to wonder if Miho was just not cut out for Sensha-do, putting her into a bind over the years contemplating if she should find a more forceful means to make her take to their families style. That never happen, as Shiho could never use such brutal methods, like her mother had use on her.

Maybe I am the one who is too soft

Anytime Shiho even thought about using her mother's methods to mold Miho, her heart would squeeze in pain, like something within herself was fighting back against it. Like her former self when she use to smile and play with her daughters was telling her that isn't the way. Yet the other part of herself was screaming that things needed to change, that Miho had to accept their family's style at all cost in the end.

In the end, Shiho had just allowed her to leave and hope Maho could carry the burden alone. Though lately, Maho had been colder to her than usual, anytime she tried to talk to her daughter, Maho would kindly say she is busy. It was plain to Shiho that Maho was still upset about the argument over Miho that day before the national drawing, afterword's there would be smaller ones that was doing no favors to their relationship. Till it got to the point that Shiho just let Maho proceed on her own, with none of Shiho's interference, trusting her to perform as she expected of her.

However, things couldn't stay the way they were, Shiho knew this. She would have to talk to Miho sometime soon, about everything. It might not turn into a happy reunion, but things needed to be said to Miho that would only help her understand the need for the family's honor to be upheld. Even if Miho was at a different school, she could still honor the family, just in her own way.

There was no denying how her actions were gaining popularity with the nation. Shiho during various visits to youth academies around Japan, would always get asked about her daughter Miho. The question would pertain to how she fights, how she maneuvers, or how the girls could be like her. In the eyes of the future stars of Sensha-do, Shiho could see how much they admire Miho. Any parent would be immensely proud of their child for having such admiration of others and at the same time wanting to be like them.

Yet Miho follow her own style, not the Nishizumi, not her family's. That own style of hers was what these young girls wanted to follow, wanted to use, and wanted to learn from. It made it hard for Shiho to explain it to them, making it worse that they wanted to fight with that style instead of the Nishizumi style, adding to Shiho's silent worry that Miho was beginning to overshadow her own family with her successes on the battlefields.

"Things can't stay the way they are," Shiho said to herself.

A sudden knock to the door to the press box got Shiho's attention, then spoke. "Come in."

Coming through the door was none other than Chiyo Shimada, wearing her usual 19th-century design business dress, though this one was blue in color with black lacing and black buttons, and black boots that were hidden mostly behind her long skirt.

As always she was looking radiant this day, coming through the door to stand next to Shiho. "Hello Shiporin, may I sit with you?"

Shiho eyed her rival with scrutiny, then spoke. "Certainly, please be seated."

"Thank you," Chiyo said with a wide smile, then took her seat next to Shiho.

Nothing was said at first between the two powerful ladies, silence being their company for the moment. Shiho really didn't even know where to start, especially when Chiyo was the one helping her cousin oppose her. She had never thought Chiyo would resort to that kind of tactic to beat her, thinking she be more honorable than that. Yet maybe that sort of thing was changing right along with this new era of Sensha-do.

"Where is my cousin?" Shiho finally spoke to break the silence.

"Oh, she is giving her girls a final pep talk. Worry not, she will be coming to join you soon, then I will take my leave," Chiyo said.

That made Shiho raise an eyebrow at her rival. "You're not staying?"

"Oh heavens no, I wouldn't want to interrupt you two's family time now," Chiyo said with a sly smile.

"I can't believe you use her to get at me, guess honor is in short supply for your house," Shiho shot back.

That made Chiyo chuckle at her rival, then spoke."Those words puncture my heart like a high-velocity cannon. Yet don't think you're being a bit naive my dear Shiporin."

"Please explain what I'm being naive about," Shiho said with quiet venom in her voice.

"The old way is dying, Sensha-do is coming into a new era, an era that doesn't fight with that so called honor you pride yourself about. Victory is obtained by whatever means you need to do it, whether you dominate your way to the top, struggle with every step, or fight dirty to get there, a win is a win," Chiyo explain.

"If that is your view, then it is hypocritical to chastise me and my style then. Victory is all that matters for my family, yet you call my style heartless, when it is exactly how your making out this new era will be fought with," Shiho challenge.

That made Chiyo nod, then spoke. "Well, you aren't wrong my dear Shiporin. Yet at the end of the day, this is a sport or have you forgotten that. You seem to care so much for a victory that people being sacrificed is ok for it, am I wrong?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Shiho said with a strain voice.

Chiyo suddenly straighten her back up some, then spoke in a voice trying to mimic Shiho. "You cannot achieve grand victory, without sacrifice."

That sent a shock through Shiho. Those were the exact words she had said to Miho after the 62nd final at their estate. She was chastising her for making at the time what Shiho perceived was a foolish decision of saving Koume and then leaving their flag tank expose to Pravda. That meeting was supposed to be private, the only one who could have heard it were the maids….

"Are you spying on me?" Shiho accuse.

"All is fair in love and war," Chiyo said with a sly grin.

"Damn you," Shiho shot back.

Chiyo wave her hand to calm her rival down. "Calm down, it was only once and I promise I won't do it again. Here let me cheer you up with something. It seems like your passionate speech at the meeting had some desirable effect."

"What speech?" Shiho question.

Again Chiyo use her voice to mimic Shiho as she spoke. "Mister Tsuji, there is no such thing as luck in Sensha-do, there is only skill."

Shiho did remember her little outburst on the MEXT chairmen, though it was in an effort to protect her former pupil Ami Chono who was arguing against Oarai's shutdown.

"So is Oarai being kept open then?" Shiho ask.

"Not entirely from what my sources tell me. It seems their carrier shutdown is being put on hold, but only because I've put forward a solution on the table that is being look over eagerly," Chiyo said.

"And what is this proposal of yours?" Shiho ask.

Chiyo touch her cheek, blushing a bit with a shrewd grin on her face at her rival. "My, my, you want me to kiss and tell Shiporin."

That made Shiho grunt in annoyance as Chiyo tease her. "Fine it's none of my business anyway."

"Don't worry, when the time comes I'll make sure to tell you all about it. Now I have to ask, do you think your daughter can win today?" Chiyo said, now staring at the screen in front of them displaying both Oarai and Chi-Ha-Tan getting their tanks to the starting positions, while their commanders and vice commanders began to drive in their respective troop transport to the designated meeting spot to hear the rules and offer respect for the game.

"Is that even a question?" Shiho said hotly.

"I only wanted to gauge how you felt about her. She left your home with you seeming not to care at all for her. If we had still been friends, you could have sent her to me to live with," Chiyo said.

That made Shiho's blood boil. "You think I hand her over to you, just so you could manipulate her against me?"

"True, though I don't think I have to manipulate her at all, to be honest," Chiyo said in a casual tone.

"What do you mean?" Shiho question.

"Funny thing, but her style seems to somehow look like the Shimada style if I'm being honest," Chiyo again said in a casual tone.

"What nonsense, this style is Miho's and hers alone," Shiho fought back.

Chiyo just shrug at her friend. "Maybe and maybe not. Yet you must see that there is some truth to my statement. If you want to completely disown her, I'm more than happy to take her into my house."

"As if I ever let you touch my daughter and sully her with your houses Sensha-do Style," Shiho said fiercely.

"It was just an offer my dear Shiporin, think on it. You're still in the prime of your life, not too late to try and have another heiress. It would be nice for my little one to have a rival growing up," Chiyo said, then touch her flat stomach affectionately.

Shiho watch Chiyo's hand rub her stomach, then look at her eyes in shock as she spoke. "You're pregnant?"

"Yes, found out a month ago. My husband was so happy, though he argues it will be a boy for sure. Yet I know better, it will be another girl who will also carry the Shimada name on. So I say again Shiporin, do think of your future of your family here, your cousin is challenging you, I'm challenging you, and all you have now is Maho to carry the burden into the future. Maybe it's time to think about letting something go for a brighter future that you can mold better," Chiyo stated, hoping Shiho might take the bait.

Shiho thought things over for a moment, as much as she hated to think Chiyo had a point. If she were honest, had the whole thing with Tsueno's cheating and raising his bastard daughter behind her back hadn't happened, that made him absent from their marriage for years, Shiho might have had more daughters.

She and Tsueno just couldn't keep their hands off each other before Maho when they fell in love, then after she was born they were right back at it with Miho being brought along shortly after. Again if the cheating hadn't happened, they might have conceived many daughters and maybe boys too. Shiho even wanted to have more children, especially when her mother past and things look brighter for their family without the true Nishizumi style coming to the forefront.

Yet all she had now was Miho and Maho. With the former gone from their family and the latter seeming to put distance between her and Shiho now too. Shiho never thought about remarrying at this point in her life, but Chiyo had a point that maybe she needed to think of the future of her family and the need for another heiress to it. Maybe one that would take hold of her teachings better than her daughters did, and bring respect to the name Nishizumi.

Am I really considering this?

The thought burn into Shiho's mind, making her question if she was sane at this point in her life. Yet with everything going on, she might just need to make such an audacious move to bring her family name back up. She would only have one more chance at it before she was too old, but she would have to think it over intensely before she made an impulsive decision.

However, she never let Chiyo know she was mulling it over now. "Your talk is cheap. This Nishizumi style will go on with Maho and will continue to surpass your style."

For Chiyo's part, she could read Shiho like a book and knew she had planted the seed of doubt in her and was proud to see that it was working in her favor.

A sudden knock to the door grab both women's attention, then the door open with Konomi walking in with her tight fitting black business suit on that hug her supple body. Her brown hair tie up in a ponytail, while her brown eyes took in the sight of her financial backer and also her cousin making her smile.

"Miss Shimada and dear cousin, a pleasure to see you," Konomi said in a pleasing tone and bow to them.

"Ah, Konomi you're finally here. Now please excuse me, I was just keeping Shiporin company for now," Chiyo said then rose from her seat to leave the press box, but stop to look back to her rival one last time. "Do think on what we talk about Shiho."

Then she left, while Konomi came over to take the open seat next to Shiho, then once seated turn her head to look her cousin over. "And what did you and her talk about?"

"None of your business Konomi," Shiho said, keeping her eyes on the screen.

"Eh, and here I thought you be bit nicer. Especially knowing how much you hate this sport," Konomi tease.

"You're working to bring me down, I don't hold it against you for wanting that. Yet if that is the case, then will never be on a friendly level, while I hated the sport because of how I was raised in it, but I respect it for its tradition for the family," Shiho stated.

"Well at least you're honest about things. Yet your downfall begins now, Fukushu along with this Oarai team are going to win today," Konomi said confidently.

I'm going to make you so proud, and become the best tank commander in Japan!

Those were the words of a little six year old Miho said to Shiho in the sunflower field when her and Maho had ambush her. That smiling face that was so full of life then, wanting to be in Sensha-do with such energy that Shiho never had as a child. Wanting to make her so proud of her when all was said and done, and Shiho at the time believing she would with no doubt in her mind.

Feeling resolute Shiho spoke up. "Obviously you don't know the resolve of your niece's cousin."

"Really now," Konomi said in a questioning tone.

"Yes, you just brought a bunch of wolves who can only hunt in packs. Yet a Tigress alone can take down prey even larger than itself, no matter how scar, beaten, or bloodied it gets. She will keep fighting to the very end, so I wonder how your girls will contend with that kind of ferocity," Shiho said resolutely while looking her cousin in the eye.

"Well now, let's see if that confidence of yours holds up, especially when my pack closes in for the kill," Konomi shot back.

Then both women turn to look at the screen, watching as the opposing commanders and vice commanders finally getting to the meeting, ready to hear the rules and offer respect for the game.

XxxxxX

The clouds were still overcast, giving off a still gloomy feeling to the matchday for all those in attendance. Already raincoats were handed out to those in the stands in case of a shower that was predicted to happen in this match. Luckily many were given hot tea or cocoa to keep warm on this unusually cold spring day. While some adults were warming their bellies and bodies with alcohol, but all were fired up for this intense matchup between two minor teams that were making shockwaves in the Sensha-do world.

Miho who was sitting aboard the Type 1 Ho-Ha troop transport, warm her hands by breathing into them. She caught sight of her own breath that surprise her, as it seem the day was getting colder as time wore on. Yet again, she had plan for this ahead, with most of the girls having put on dark yellow leggings to keep their legs warm and match their skirts. While Miho and her crew had put on black ones to match their skirts.

"Have to say, commander, again your foresight is paying off. The leggings are keeping the girls warm and their spirits high, I honestly didn't think today would get this cold," Nishi said, sitting across from Miho.

"Yea, it's an unusually cold day for spring. Not to mention that it might rain too," Tamada said, sitting close to Miho to keep warm.

"Mother nature has no schedule," Miho joked, causing her friends to chuckle, then spoke again. "Nishi come sit by me to keep warm."

"Oh, I couldn't intru-," Nishi started to say.

"Don't be like that Nishi. I and Miho are lovers, but that doesn't mean you need to give us distance now. Were all tankery sisters still, so come over here and keep warm," Tamada said without batting an eyelash at her statement.

Miho blushed at how causally Tamada was about announcing their lover's status, but put it to the back of her mind as she focus back on Nishi. "Tamada is right, even though she doesn't know when to be tactful."

Tamada just shrug at the accusation.

"Yet know we don't want to alienate any of you, were still a tankery family that looks after one another. So please come over here and get warm," Miho said with a smile.

Nishi balk a little, but just smile back, feeling a little embarrassed that she needed her friends to remind her that just because they were dating, didn't mean they couldn't still be close like before or that they needed space. They still value her just like always, which made Nishi grateful for them.

"Sorry commander, your right. You both are dear to me, so pardon the intrusion," Nishi said, then got up to take a seat near Miho.

The Chi-Ha-Tan commander, then wrap an arm around Nishi to bring her close and enjoy her warmth. "Your warm Nishi."

"You too commander," Nishi said back joyfully, then lean into Miho.

"Glad Hosomi isn't here," Tamada said, as she cuddle closer to Miho on her other side.

"Why?" Nishi said with a lopsided smile.

"You know that jokester, she probably tease me with the whole 'don't get jealous now' thing just to get under my skin, if she saw us this way," Tamada said hotly, then smile at the thought of her missing tankery sister.

"That would be Hosomi," Miho agree, thinking about her suspended twin bun vice commander, missing her presence that always made her smile.

Nishi chuckle, then spoke in a solemn tone. "I miss her, and I miss Ikeda, Hamada, Nishihara, Nagura, Tada, Haruno, and all the girls who can't be here today to fight with us. Even if we still see each other outside of the tankery building at school, it feels like were missing apart of ourselves because they're not here fighting alongside us this day."

Tamada smile at her fellow vice commander, then reach over to place a hand on top of hers. "I know how you feel Nishi."

Miho sitting next to Nishi, as well reach a hand to place on top of Tamada's that cover Nishi's. "I do too. Will win today, I promise you. Because I want my tankery family whole once more, because I want to tell them all how much I love them."

"Thank you Tamada and Miho. I want the same, because I never love being in Sensha-do more than now before. I love you girls," Nishi said happily, as she place her other hand on top of her tankery sisters.

"We love you too, now let's go win this thing," Tamada said confidently.

Soon the Type 1 Ho-Ha pull to a stop at the meeting area. Nishi climb out first, then turn around to offer Miho a hand down, to which Miho was thankful for since the back of the halftrack was a bit high up for her. While Tamada just jump down and made a show of it, but Nishi and Miho happily shook their heads at her which cause Tamada to complain to them that they just don't get showmanship. Both Nishi and Miho now knew that Miyata did get her gloating from Tamada unfortunately.

The trio then press forward to meet the Oarai commander and vice commanders, who had already arrive and were standing by waiting for them. Miho instantly pick out Yukari who look beyond excited to see her, having to have two of her subordinates hold her back from coming to greet them. Tamada became her usual defensive self, her mind could still see the fluffy hair girl on top of Miho which cause her jealousy to rise up tenfold.

Miho quietly calm her down, then turn to see one of the Oarai vice commanders standing off to the side. She was wearing a gray tanker jacket with a schools logo of a wolf baring its fangs in defiance on the shoulders, along with the dark green shorts, gray long socks, and lastly dark green high boots.

The mysterious tankery member was obviously the foreign reinforcement, but Miho couldn't get a good look at her even as she close the distance. That was because she was wearing a 1938 US tankers helmet that had a dark green color job, with a stripe camo of the grey to go over the base color, with a grey wolf paw color in on the helmets flaps. The girl also had tanker googles, but for some reason had them on her eyes blocking Miho from getting a good look at her face.

The foreign tankery member, even with their tanker googles on, Miho could feel she was staring right at her. Her cross arms seem to say she was antsy to get into action, to which Miho took note of, as she hope her strategy she had come up with would play on this antsiness she believe this American team would have.

The two sides met first, with a female head referee and her assistant referees standing off to the side wearing the Federation referee uniform with a German base feldgendarmerie gorget around their necks that read: Federation Referee.

The head referee look to both sides, then began to lay the rules out to the team.

"Welcome ladies of Oarai Girls Academy and Chi-Ha-Tan Academy, to the second round of the sixty-third National tournament. You've fought hard to be here today, so don't let up now with eyes of the world watching you. Now first and foremost, a warning is in place for possible rain shower happening during the battle. While the match as you know will not be cancel in anyway because of the rain, the use of planes will be halted for the safety of the women of the 54th Wing Division of both teams. So if that happens, only artillery will be in use for the match."

"However, if the rain lets up and conditions warrant for planes to return they will be allowed to. If the rain starts during a bombing run or dogfight, the planes will be made to go back to base. Again if conditions warrant their return, they will be allow to. You can give orders again for them to provide air cover to another location, so in essence you might get two air supports in one match, since we will rearm planes that have to leave the area when the Air Control calls for a return because of rain. Resupply is only done by planes ladies, so if it does rain, it will be unavailable to you till conditions allow us to bring them back. That means you must watch your ammunition during that time as you might not get resupply at all during the whole match."

"Now again, this is a flag battle ladies. Taking out the flag tank will win the match for your team in the end, while Operator tanks if destroy by the enemy will nullify all perks available to your teams. Do your best to protect both of them in this match. A reminder about the alarm systems in your tanks, which will sound off for planes and artillery. Be sure to close hatches for both, as we are entrusting you to mind your safety in this match. Are there any questions?"

"No ma'am!" Both sides said in unison.

"Good, please bow," the head referee said.

"Thank you for the game!" Both sides yell in unison, while bowing to one another.

After both sides rose again, Miho saw Yukari coming over to talk with her, while also coming up with a twin tail girl, and another girl with short brown hair. Miho took in the sight of their tankery uniforms, which were dark blue long sleeve tankery jackets, white skirts, and lastly black boots. While also noting they weren't wearing any leggings like them, making Miho wonder if they weren't bother by the cold at all.

"If she tries anything funny, she gets the Chi-Ha-Tan special from me," Tamada growl as her eyes watch Yukari with evident jealously.

Nishi rub her forehead in irritation. "Please don't, besides it was an accident that she was on top of the commander."

"Please don't bring that up," Miho said wearily.

"Bring what up?" Yukari ask, as she came up now to the trio.

Miho blush. "Nothing, nothing. It's good to see you, Miss Akiyama."

A short bow from Yukari follow the greeting, then the Oarai commander rose to speak. "It's good to see you as well, Miss Nishizumi. Allow me to introduce my fellow friends and vice commanders in Miss Kadotani and Miss Sawa."

Miho, along with Tamada and Nishi bow back to girls.

"A pleasure to meet you," Miho said, when she rose back up.

The twin tail girl spoke up now. "My, my, get to meet my commander's idol. She has nothing but good things to say about you. Sorry, she went and broke into your school, I did order her not to do that."

"Please Miss Kadotani, don't make it sound so bad. I just wanted to see the new tanks," Yukari complain to her student council president.

"I say it was pretty bad," Tamada said in annoyance.

"Tamada," Nishi scolded.

Miho let out a nervous chuckle, then spoke. "It's alright, and there are no rules against spying on other teams, as long as you cause no harm to the enemy tanks or tankery members."

"Hm, you seem quite informed. That does explain some things," Anzu said, with this sly look that seem to be judging Miho.

"What do you mean?" Miho had to ask.

"Oh, nothing," Anzu said back, while waving one of her hands.

Yukari pressed on, not minding her student president's inquiry. "This here is our first-year vice commander Miss Sawa."

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Nishizumi. I, like my commander greatly admire your skills," Azusa said with a cheerful voice.

Miho smile at the girl. "As I admire yours. That chase you gave for Koala's flag tank was really something."

"Oh," Azusa said in surprise of the praise. "Thank you, it was really nothing. Just doing everything I could to help my team win in the end."

"It was something, like I told Miss Akiyama, its impressive for all of your team to have never done tankery before, yet in a short time learn quickly and now fight on equal terms with veteran teams with fewer tanks as well. Most importantly you're having fun all the while, take pride in that," Miho again praise.

Azusa was a little shocked by the praise. Yukari had told her and the rest of the team of Miho's immense respect for them when she return from her infiltration mission. Yet hearing it personally from the very girl was something different. For some reason, a strange pull now began to fill Azusa to Miho, like the two were meant to fight alongside the other and not be enemies. Azusa couldn't put her finger on this feeling, but put it on the back burner for now.

"Thank you for your kind words, know I greatly respect you and your team," Azusa said with a pleasant smile.

"We of Chi-Ha-Tan feel the same. We have great respect for your team's skill and fortitude. Yet know we want to win today, so will give you all you can handle," Nishi said politely, while airing her competiveness to her foes.

"Well now," Anzu said with a cheeky smile. "Know were going to meet that expectation you got for us, since we don't want to lose either."

"Too bad you need foreigners to help you try and beat us," Tamada said hotly.

"Tamada," Miho scolded, not liking her hostile tone at all.

"It's not like we ask for them. The Federation gave them to us, plus we been understrength for tanks this whole time. It's nice to meet the enemy with equal tanks," Yukari said, though part of her could understand the frustration of the braided hair girl.

That was because her Oarai team, along with the rest of the nation had learned of the Chi-Ha-Tan's punishment details this morning. That most of their veteran tankers had been taken out of the match, leaving them to use only first-years to take on Oarai. There were mixed opinions among the Oarai girls about it, some saying it was unfair, especially with new tanks to their roster, others said it was the right punishment because Chi-Ha-Tan withheld information about an injured teammate.

"Well if that's the case, then your other vice commander could show some respect by coming to greet us," Tamada said, still peeve about the show of disrespect by the foreign tanker.

The reason for the feeling of disrespect was that the foreign tanker had not come to greet the Ch-Ha-Tan commanders as Oarai had done. Instead, she was still off to the side with her arms crossed, tanker googles over her eyes, and helmet on. It was as if she was waiting for something to happen, but for what Miho and her teammates didn't know.

Though Yukari knew as she spoke up. "Oh sorry, she has her reasons I assure you. Which reminds me, can I borrow you for a second Miss Nishizumi?"

"What for?" Tamada ask suspiciously.

"Nothing weird I assure you," Yukari said with a nervous chuckle, as she could practically see the accusations in the Tamada's eyes.

Miho turn to Tamada, then touch her arm gently to make her look at her. "Tamada, it's ok. I'll be fine, Miss Akiyama means us no harm."

Cool down by her lover's touch, Tamada relented, though begrudgingly. "Fine, but if I see you doing anything weird, you'll be answering to me."

"Ye…ye…ye…yea you got it," Yukari said a bit frighten.

Yukari then ask Miho to follow her. The two made their way to the American tanker still standing off to the side. While Tamada and Nishi stay with the other Oarai girls. With every step, Miho felt more and more anxious for some reason, her mind began to pound like it was telling her something was wrong.

The two soon were standing in front of the American tanker, still standing still like a statue and didn't bother to say anything to the two girls. Her eyes, even behind her tanker goggles seem to be lock onto Miho the entire time.

Yukari decided to speak up to break the silence. "Well, I will leave you two to talk then."

"Thank you, Miss Akiyama," the American tanker said in perfect Japanese, surprising Miho who didn't think the tanker be fluent in their language.

The Oarai commander nodded, then step away to give the girls the room they needed. Yukari just hope that whatever ill will Fukushu had towards Miho would be squash before the match. Yet unfortunately and also unknown to the fluffy hair girl, was she was only playing to the tune of someone else.

Miho still standing in front of the tanker, now decided to speak. "It's nice to meet you. My name i-."

"Miho Nishizumi, sister of Maho Nishizumi, and daughter of Shiho Nishizumi," the American tanker said, her voice low and threatening.

"Oh, you seem to know my family well," Miho said, the anxious feeling from earlier towards the girl only rising up now.

"Yes I know you, I know your family, I know what've you done, and I'm here to right the wrongs," the American tanker said again.

That made Miho balk. "What do you mean?"

"Don't act stupid," the American tankers hostility rising.

"I don't understand," Miho said flummox.

The American tanker just shook her head, then decided to reveal herself. Slowly she push the tanker goggles up off her eyes to rest against the top of her helmet. Then she remove the helmet entirely, with the sight shocking Miho beyond words. There standing in front of her, seem to be her reflection, yet small differences were there.

The girl was of obvious Japanese and American descent, with dark brown yellowish hair that reach down past her shoulders, and large greyish eyes. If not for the two distinct differences in feature, Miho could say they could have been twins, which was disturbing to her.

Sister? No, I believe this one would have been maybe a cousin, I met her when our school made a trip to America last year, she kind of looks like you now that I think about it

Those were the words of Vancouver, leader of Maple's tankery team that had told Miho before the match in the qualifiers. The mystery it left with her then, was now becoming reality in front of her. As this girl did look like her, while it seem she had been spending time in America learning to fight in Sensha-do.

"Well do you understand now," the girl said again, while she eye Miho with a venomous look.

"You look like me, but your eye's…they look like…" Miho try to speak.

"Like our damn father's right? I hate them," the girl spoke again.

"Our Father? Your….Fukushu right?" Miho said, remembering Vancouver also telling her the name, while also remembering what the name meant: Vengeance.

That made Fukushu return a sly smile at Miho, then the grey eye girl spoke. "Well good, you remember the name of the girl who is going to put you in the dirt today. I'll make sure your appalling mother see's it too, just to remind her that justice is going to be serve this day."

"Wait," Miho said, still confuse by everything, "I don't understand, were family right? Why do you se-."

"Don't ever couple the word family with us. Your mother destroy our family for the sake of prestige, she hurt my mother and left her to suffer without batting an eyelash," Fukushu shot back.

"My mother may be cold, but she never harm anyone," Miho fought back, surprising herself over how defensive she was getting over someone talking ill of her mother.

"Guess you would defend that monster, you're probably hiding what you really are under all that sweetness. You Nishzumi's of Japan are as my mother say you are, liars, I'm glad I didn't run to your family first, or I might have been made into a monster as well," Fukushu said, feeling lighter as she could finally tell off a Nishizumi.

"You're not even explaining what my mother did, how can I not defend her? She isn't a monster as you say, you don't know her at all," Miho again said surprising herself how much she wanted to defend her mom, her own voice becoming hard.

"Maybe you don't know her at all, maybe you're just being ignorant of what your family really is. Do you even understand what she did to become the head of the family? No, you're just playing dumb with me aren't you?" Fukushu said, with an accusing look at Miho, a bit baffle that she be trying to feign ignorance.

"I'm not playing at anything, your just making accusations without any merit. Please, let's talk, were fami-," Miho try to reason.

"I told you not to call us family! I hate you! I hate your sister! I hate your mother! She cause all this pain and suffering and your acting like its nothing! How can stand there and act dumb!" Fukushu scream at Miho.

The sudden yelling caught Nishi and Tamada's attention, who instantly jog over to Miho and Fukushu. Their need to protect their commander at the front of their minds. Both of them soon put themselves between Miho and the American tanker who was yelling at their commander.

"We got a problem here?" Tamada snarl at the girl.

"No, I got an obstacle in my way that needs moving. You and your team stand no chance against Wolverton and Oarai," Fukushu said with confidence.

"Have you no respect," Nishi accused.

"Not for you, since you follow my sister's Sensha-do style," Fukushu said nonchalantly.

"Sister?" Tamada question.

"Sister?" Miho also question.

Fukushu let off a smug look. "Oh forgot to mention that. Though we are half-sisters thankfully. Don't want to be completely related to this atrocious family."

"How can you say that of your own family?" Nishi said with a look of disbelief.

"You two have nothing to do with this, but by all means defend her. Defend a family that threw my own mother out onto the street because of some ancient duel, which made her suffer while no one care about what happen to her, that includes your mother dear sister," Fukushu said.

"My mom wouldn't do something like that," Miho again try to defend her mother.

"Heh, like a broken record. Doesn't matter if you want to keep playing dumb, once your knocked out of this tournament, me and Oarai are going to win this whole thing. The name Nishizumi will be looked at with respect, instead of fear. I and my mother will make it so when we take it from you, so be prepared," Fukushu said once more, then walk off without a word.

"What the hell was her problem?" Tamada ask aghast.

Nishi turn around to hug Miho, who was shaking, as the vice commander spoke in a gentle tone. "Are you alright, commander?"

"I don't know why she hates me. I don't know why she hates our family, my mother may be cold, but she never hurt anyone like that," Miho said in a quiet voice, but a seed of doubt was placed in her mind.

Tamada now came up, joining in on the hug to comfort her lover as she spoke. "Don't believe her Miho. I know she is your family, but it's obvious she is saying things to get in your head. Will sort this out afterwords, yet for now we need you here, can you do that for me?"

Miho nodded. "Yes, I can do that. Thank you girls for being here for me."

"Will always have your back, commander. Now let's get back to our team," Nishi said in a happy voice, then both her and Tamada gently guided Miho back to the Ho-Ha 1 to drive back to their team. As the battle with Ooarai had just gotten more intense, and a cannon hadn't even been fire.

Yukari watch the Chi-Ha-Tan commander board their troop transport to leave. She then turn to look at Fukushu walking up to her now, feeling some regret that the reunion she thought was going to be a happier one, with Fukushu seeing how Miho was nothing like she thought she was, instead of turning into a berating session for Fukushu to rip into Miho.

"What was that?" Yukari couldn't help but ask hotly.

Fukushu look her in eye with no hesitation. "That was me letting my half-sister know my true feelings."

"Half-sister? I thought you were cousins," Azusa ask, standing next to Yukari and had witness the small scuffle.

"Look, I mean no offense when I say this is a personal matter," Fukushu said back.

Yukari balked at that. "But she is still your family. How can you be so cold?"

"Miss Akiyama, I respect your leadership. I respect your team like no other after the short time we spent together. Yet I will say this, this battle for me is more than about advancing to the next round, it's for me to end the terror of the Japan Nishizumi family. When this match is over, I will tell you why I will never see her as family," Fukushu explain.

Again the Oarai commander was befuddle by the hostility, but with the match only moments away from starting, she had no choice but accept this. She had no choice in the matter anyway, she needed the Wolverton girls on her side, and she really didn't want to cause infighting within her team. Yukari could feel the pressure building in her mind, that this match will have its own set of challenges not just from the enemy, but from her allies as well.

Yet she wanted to win, she wanted her team to advance to the top of the Sensha-do mountain. Swallowing her doubt down, Yukari would press forward to fight Chi-Ha-Tan with all she had, with hope that this won't worsen her relations with Miho in the end.

That would be too much for Yukari to handle.

XxxxxX

"Would you calm down?" Kubota said, a bit annoy by her companions left leg bouncing nonstop since they sat down in the bleachers.

At the moment, the suspended Chi-Ha-Tan tank commanders and their crews were sitting in bleachers along with the rest of the student body attending today's match. They were lucky to be afforded their own seats beside the regular students, while also getting some raincoats for the possible rain that might happen.

"How can I be calm? I'm going to be watching my little tankery sister's take on this Oarai team, that now has American reinforcements," Nishihara, leader of Iron Kraken platoon said hotly back to her teammate with her arms crossed and leg still bouncing.

Nishihara wasn't the only one feeling anxious at the moment. Everyone was, some trying to hide it under their confidence in Miho. Others openly showing it on their faces. All of them wanted to fight this day, sitting in the stands wasn't something they were accustomed to. Yet they had to push these maelstrom of emotions down, as this day there were going to witness their little tankery sister's fight for their academy and the right to be in the semifinal. All they could do was believe in them, and believe they would do.

The suspended members knew better than anyone about their first year's abilities. They had trained side by side with them when they join the club that year, at first they had try to teach them the old ways, of the warrior code they had learned from their upperclassmen the previous year, and what had been a staple of the culture of the tankery club since its founding.

A code obsolete and outdated by their more modern tankery standards. Yet they never change it and when the times change, so did the once thought unbeatable warriors code. A decade of defeats, a decade of humiliation, a decade of regression, and worse a decade of mockery at their expense. Worse, they never wanted to change, never wanted to improve. They wanted to show the world that the warrior's code could thrive even in this modern age of tankery.

Yet that hadn't been the case, a darkness hung over the club till that faithful day against Saunders that left their club on the brink of destruction, and was just about finalized after the shocking loss in the practice match with Koala. It had cost them their then commander Nishi from competing in the qualifier match because of her concussion. That destruction never proceeded because of one young girl who never laugh at them, never spoke down to them, and never gave up on them. Even in their darkest hour.

Miho Nishizumi.

Now she had their undying loyalty, their hearts committed to seeing her style rise to the top, and would never again fall into despair with her around. They would believe in her to whatever end, win or lose, they had her back and she had theirs.

Kubota let out a sigh, then spoke. "I understand your frustration, I really do. Yet we need to stay positive for them, I believe in Miho no matter the odds. They could have brought the whole world of tankers into this fight, and I still believe she come out on top."

"Don't jinx us, that might actually be our next match when they beat Oarai," Hosomi said with smirk, in the seat behind her two friends.

"Eh, you don't think that sort of thing would happen? I love a tough fight, but that might be more than even Miho could handle," Nagura said next to Hosomi.

"Psh, why not take on the whole world. Seems the federation is looking to end our dreams anyway, let them send all the tankery teams against Chi-Ha-Tan, will show them the Tigress Style is best," Hamada sitting by Nagura declare openly.

Ikeda, who was sitting on the other side of Hosomi, now spoke. "Heh, yea why not take on the whole world when we're done. Yet let's first win the tournament before that, were already making a bunch of first this year."

"First to get a tank kill in a decade," Nagura said with smirk.

"First to fight in a qualifier and win," Ikeda added.

"First to advance to the second round in a decade," Hosomi said as well.

Now they wanted the next first. Breaking the near 15-year absence of Chi-Ha-Tan academy from the semi-final. That sort of pressure was on their first years to make happen, but Ikeda, Hosomi, Nishihara, Kubota, Hamada, and the rest of the suspended members had been looking after their underclassmen as best they could. Even if they weren't allowed into the tankery building, didn't mean they could talk during school.

If anything, their closeness as a tankery family had only multiplied tenfold because they look after each other off the field as well. Visiting each other's dorm rooms, studying late into the night over tanks and tactics. Eating lunch together in groups, while using huge maps to show them how to employ their maneuvers, sniping, and ambush strategy that was a staple of the club under Miho's command.

Again, even if they were suspended, they would do all they could to make sure Miho didn't take on all the pressure on her shoulders alone.

"Well girls, let's make sure to cheer loud and proud this entire match," Hosomi said in a confident tone.

"Don't need to tell me twice," Kubota said, turning around to give Hosomi a thumbs up.

"You got my voice," Nishihara said, giving thumbs out as well.

"Let's carry Miho on our shoulders when it's over," Nagura said excitedly.

"Let's do one better and bring a horse for her to ride," Hamada said clasping her hands in delight of her idea.

"Well she is brave enough to ride in a skirt, so why not?" Hosomi said with sly smirk.

"That's our tigress for you," Kubota added in.

The group chuckle again, as they waited for the starting gun to be sounded off, and the match to continue this dream for a team no one thought get this far, continue on.

XxxxxX

"Miho are you alright?" Tamada ask, as she help her down from the Type 1 Ho-Ha. Nishi had pushed on to let the two talk alone, as she got the team ready.

"If I said yes, would you believe me?" Miho said with a weary smile.

Tamada chuckle, then spoke. "No, no I wouldn't believe you. That whole thing with your half-sister is pretty tough to wrap your head around."

"I'm more trouble that my mother never said anything. She has to know what is going on, but left me in the dark about it. Maybe she doesn't know, and I'm just accusing her, I just don't know," Miho said sadly.

Tamada didn't know how to respond to that. She knew that Miho and her mother had their issues to sort out, yet this whole American Nishizumi was something that should have been at least talked about if her mother knew anything about it. It anger Tamada to think that Miho's mother would simply gloss over all this, especially when Miho was the one dealing with this whole situation now.

At least Tamada now had an inkling of what the Nishizumi family was. There was obviously some darker period that surrounded the family history. It also seem Miho knew nothing about it, while this American Nishizumi believe Miho was playing innocent. The situation couldn't be more complex than Tamada could believe, worse it was all happening before the match and stressing her lover more than she needed to right now.

All her life Miho has had to deal with the pressure to uphold her family's expectations while losing her love for tankery along the way. I can't let this go on any longer, I won't let people keep trying to take things from her now or ever again.

The thought ran through Tamada's mind, as she grab Miho by the shoulders to make her look at her as she spoke. "Miho, don't let what that girl said affect you. Whatever happen with your family is not your fault. What matters right now is to show her she is wrong about you."

"Wrong about me?" Miho ask with a sidelong glance.

"Yes, show her the Miho that grab my heart," Tamada said with a wide smile.

"Haru, don't say such bold things right now. We have a match about to start," Miho said, blushing hard now at her lover's statement.

Tamada just chuckle, then spoke. "I mean that in the form of Sensha-do. You grab my heart and the rest of the girls here, to follow your tankery style. If that girl hates our style that looks after our tankery family in the end, then she's in the wrong."

"Your right, but still…there is a little anger in me," Miho said, her voice quiet, hating to let anger seep into her mind.

"Why?" Tamada said, still holding Miho by the shoulders.

"Because she is my father's child, its plain as day for me. It makes sense why he left now, he left to raise her, while my mother turn back to the true Nishizumi style. All the pain that follow, all the smiles that left our home, and my happy family life gone. I don't like this feeling in my chest, it's like I'm blaming her and I know it isn't right," Miho said, as if to emphasize the point she brought both her hand up to her chest, while squeezing her tankery jacket hard.

"Good," Tamada said.

"Why good?" Miho said, perplexed by her lover's word.

"You don't like the idea of blaming her, because that's who you are. You care for everyone, and even if she hates you, that sister of yours you want to like you, huh?" Tamada said with a warm smile on her face.

"Yes, I want her to like me. I want us to be family," Miho said in a whisper.

"Then let's prove she is wrong about you in this match. Show her why your style is all your own and why we follow it," Tamada said.

The words coming from Tamada, ease Miho's heavy heart. It seem that Tamada just always had the right words for her when she needed it. Miho was eternally thankful for Tamada, ever since the two had become friends they had helped each other grow. A relationship that had its rocky start after the first try at changing the Chi-Ha-Tan of old, to which Tamada fought back.

Yet over time, Tamada saw she was in the wrong. That she had bashed someone who was only helping, thinking of a better way for them to finally be winners. From that horrid day after the practice match with Koala, Tamada vow not to stay as she was. She wanted to grow, become stronger, and learn in tankery. Miho had been the one to help her and the rest of club up. They had all been hanging off a cliff, with needing one final slip for their club to fall apart.

Miho didn't let that happen, on her own, she lifted them up to their own feet. Tamada was grateful for that, and from now on help her lover up whenever she was down, just like Miho had done for them in their darkest hour.

"Thank you Tamada," Miho began. "I truly treasure you and your words."

"Just me and only me, commander?" Tamada couldn't help but tease.

"Haru," Miho said in a playful pout.

That made Tamada's smile grow wider, then she spoke. "Come on commander, your team is waiting for you."

"Right Vice commander," Miho said happily.

The two walk towards their teams tanks, which were lined up neatly with the Tiger 1 in its usual position in the middle of the line. They had brought along their best tanks for this match against Oarai which boast a mixed force of light, medium, and heavy tanks.

Nishi's Daredevil Company boasted the impressive Type 4 Chi-To, 2 Type 97 Shinhoto's, 1 Type 97 Short Gun, and the Operator tank in the MK 4 Valentine.

Tamada's Tozen Company had the feared M4A3E2 Jumbo (76mm), 3 Type 1 Chi-He's, and 1 Type Ke-Nu.

Miho's Ghost Company had the deadly Tiger 1, 2 Type 3 Ho-Ni 3's, 1 Type 3 Ka-Chi, and 1 Type 5 Na-To.

Though with the Kampfgruppe formation strategy she had in place, Miho might assign units to different companies to get the objectives she needed to accomplish to win the day. It was a bit of trouble to get right in practice, as sometime the girls had to learn to work in pairs or in 10 tank units. Yet they work hard to get it down, which made Miho excited to use it in future matches. Though she needed to get it working in this match first before anything, so they could win, and there could be another match for their club.

As Miho and Tamada approached, something was odd. That oddity was that usually at this moment the tank commanders and their crews would be at their tanks and at the ready. However, that wasn't the case right now, as all of the Chi-Ha-Tan members were standing in a semi-circle around the Tiger 1.

Upon seeing their commander and vice commander coming up now, the semi-circle of the team broke apart making a small path to the Tiger 1. Miho was still perplexed as to what was going on, yet she turn to see Tamada give her encouraging nod to go forward, so she did.

Walking slowly down the small path in this human forest of her team, Miho felt some of the members reach out to touch her shoulder gently, follow by small word of encouragement from her teammates as she made her way to the Tiger 1.

"Were with you commander."

"Today is ours."

"I won't let you down, commander."

"The Tigress Style will win for sure."

"The impossible is always possible with you commander."

"I'm honored to fight by your side."

"Let's shock the world."

The words of encouragement from her first years kept coming her way, as Miho walk down this path. Tank commander, gunner, loader, bow gunner/radio operator, and driver. Every one of them said something to let their commander know they were committed to win this day. For she had tirelessly trained them for this day, and they did not want to let all her hard work go to waste. That couldn't happen this day.

Miho did her best to call out to those who voice their commitment, remembering their name and who they were as a person. It was a product of great photographic memory from Miho, while her calling out to crew members who might never have talk to her only briefly, only endear this young girl to the first year tankery members.

As she reach the end of the human path, the Tiger 1, mark as the flag tank was waiting for her. Her crew of Moteki, Nene, Nomi, and Watabe awaited her on top of their tank. Wearing their personal tankery uniforms like Miho, the grey long sleeve jacket with black collar with the Chi-Ha-Tan school logo on the left lapel. Black skirt as well, with matching black shin high boots that completed the uniform. While also wearing the black leggings to keep warm as well.

While the rest of the team wore the usual brown uniform made up of a long tunic, high boots, and with some wearing a tanker helmet. The tunic is worn with a dark yellow skirt, as well as dark yellow leggings to keep warm and match their uniforms.

Nishi awaited in front of Miho's tank for her, then spoke as her commander came up. "Everything is set, commander."

"Thank you, Nishi, let's get everyone mounted up," Miho said, excited to get the match under way.

"Hold up commander, the first years, though they aren't showing it, are a little nervous," Tamada said coming up to Miho's side.

"Really? They seem to be pretty collected to me," Miho said back.

"They are nervous commander," Nishi said with a smile, then spoke again. "It would do some good to hear some words from you before the match."

Miho blush a little from embarrassment. "I'm not a speech maker. That's more of Hosomi's thing, I get to fluster trying to do that sort of thing."

A chuckle from Nishi follow her commander's response, then spoke. "It's hard to believe that when you're so confident in the tank commanders room."

"Guess some things about our sweet commander don't change, right vice commander?" Tamada joke.

"Nope, though she is the only commander I've seen be able to drill as hard as she does, while still being so sweet about it," Nishi tease.

"Eh! You two, please stop messing with me," Miho whine cutely to her two vice commanders.

"Will stop, if you say some words to the team," Tamada challenge with her sly smirk, knowing her and Nishi had gotten their way.

"Fine," Miho said wearily knowing there was no point to fight back.

"That's good," Tamada said, then as usual and without permission. She lifted Miho up by the waist, causing the Chi-Ha-Tan commander to yelp in surprise. The first years watching on made comments at how bold their fiery vice commander was and maybe the rumors of them finally shacking up were true.

Tamada lifted Miho up to her first year crew, who took hold of Miho who complain about being handled like a child. It made chuckles ring out from everyone, who just couldn't help but love to see the commander get tease, as she always had great reactions. Once Miho's crew had a good handle on her they help her to stand on the Tiger 1's front end. Miho then turn around to take in the entire team looking at her intently wanting to hear her words this day.

What do I say, I'm not a speech maker. It just isn't me, but they need to hear me, they just need to hear it from my heart and it will come out naturally

The thought ran through Miho's mind, then she took a deep breath and then spoke to her team.

"I remember when I was first year, and how nervous I was in my first match. Yet that nervousness was a product of my family's expectations for me to live up to, or else I thought I be a failure in their eyes if I couldn't perform. It's what first took my love for tankery away, yet I've found it here, found it at this academy that I've come to love so much."

Miho felt something stir in her, like she herself was airing all of her fears out, and nothing felt better after all the years of penting it up. There was no more timidness, fear, or self-deprecation in her. She wanted to stand tall as she continue to speak with her heart.

"When you fight with me, there is no expectation, all I want you to do is fight with all you have and I will be proud of you. Win or lose, we stay together and we don't abandon anyone. Yet I know in my heart, I've come to like winning, to see your happy faces when it's all said and done. You've all brought my love for tankery back, now I want to hold it close this day and show the world how their no better team than us."

The first year's eyes beam with passion and resolve, looking at Miho who spoke with great confidence to them.

"Miss Nanami, I saw you shoot a plywood target dead center at well over six hundred meters, will you match it today?!" Miho call out to the gunner aboard the Type 5 Na-To.

The gunner seem surprise Miho knew her name, then roar back to her commander. "Yes, commander! I will show off my gunnery skills to the world."

"Trying to top me, eh? Look forward to matching your skills," Nomi said with a smirk, ready to match her fellow first years resolve.

"Miss Sakiko, I've seen you drive the Type 1 Chi-He through the obstacle course in record time with no equal, will shock the world with your sharp driving this day?!" Miho call to another member in the team.

Again surprise took over another random crew member who was surprise her commander remember her, then she too roar back."I'll show you I'm a match for Miss Moteki, probably be even better!"

"Hey! Don't pick fights with your fellow first-year driver, because I always get even!" Moteki said with smirk, feeling the fire rise in her own heart.

That cause some chuckles to rise from the team.

"Miss Ishido, I remember from a dinner party at my apartment, to which you wonder if you ever make a good tank commander. This day will you prove to the Sensha-do world of the awesome tank commander I know you are?!" Miho call to another Chi-Ha-Tan member.

The tank commander touch her hand to her own chest, her eyes burning with a fierceness for her commander. "I will match it today! I will show you all the strength you have given me!"

Miho nodded at that, then said the final words in her heart for her team to hold close to them.

"Tigress Corps, my tankery sisters of iron and fury, I rather fight beside you than any team in the top four! Let us not let anyone forget how fierce we are, for we are tigresses!"

"YEA!" her team roar back.

Then Miho pointed to the battlefield awaiting them. "Do you know what is out there!? On this field of battle! Immortality take it's yours!"

"YEAAAAA!" her team roared even louder back, many raising their arms and jumping up and down for their commander.

Looking down Miho saw Tamada and Nishi with arms wrapped around one another cheering just as loud as the rest of the team with their fist in the air.

Then Nishi turn around to her cheering team. "Three cheers for the commander!"

"Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!" They yell loudly.

"Alright mount up ladies!" Tamada said now.

The team quickly scramble for their tanks as Miho watch on with approval. She then turn to see her first-year crew members all looking at her with pride. They were just as dedicated to giving their commander all they had, to show how fierce they were for all the world to see, and to giving Oarai and these American tankers the Tiger 1's fury this day.

"Ready girls?" Miho ask with a gentle smile.

"Ready!" They roar back.

"To your fighting positions please," Miho said.

They saluted back, then move off to get into their positions. Moteki and Watabe each climb down their own hatches respectively. While Nene and Nomi move towards the hatch over the loaders area, though this time there was no usual play fighting to go down first. As this time Nene let her twin sister go down first, then follow by herself, as they wanted to get to it now.

Miho climb up her tank, then settle herself into commanders cupola while standing tall. She watch the rest of the team mount up as well. Soon all there was to do was wait for the starting gun to sound off. The thought her half-sister fighting her this day made Miho still antsy, but she had to show Fukushu that she was wrong about her mother, wrong about everything, and just hopefully they could be family in the end. Maybe that might help Miho work her way back to her own mother and help their relationship rekindle.

Bam!

The starting gun was sounded.

Unbeknownst to both Miho and Yukari, separated to both ends of the battlefield. They each touch their throat microphones to say the words that send their team into the fray.

In another life, at another time, these two young girls would have been friends. They would have help and inspire each other while finding their love for tankery together. Though, that isn't this life, that isn't this time, for now they were on opposite sides of the field.

Yet each would give the other all they had, to win this day, and show the other the might of their team.

Each girl again took one more deep breath, then said the words together. "Panzer Vor!"