Author Thought:

Hello valued readers, going to keep this once again short as a lot of reading to get to.

First and foremost again thank you for continue support by just simply reading this story up to this point. It's been a long journey, but were almost at the end of the tunnel.

Also, thank you the guest reviewer who left a very nice message recently. I'll admit I got a little choke up, as it makes me glad to have given something back to this world, as simple as just writing a story people enjoy. Its really humbling for me.

Now let's get to reading, thank you again for taking some time out of your day to read this.


The Chi-Ha-Tan M4A3E2 Jumbo lay defeated in the rubble fill street, its pavement still slick from the rainfall that was now down to a sprinkle. Smoke billow from the defeated tank still, a result of the point-blank firing by Oarai's StuG 3 and Type 5 Chi-Ri. Yet the Jumbo had done its damage by taking out the Porsche Tiger, the most heavily armor tank in their entire force, a huge blow, especially since they were fighting in a city.

Standing tall in her hatch, Riko Matsumoto, or better known by her spirit name Erwin, with her German Field Marshal's cap on, watch the Jumbo pass by her tank, as her StuG 3 roll on, heading back to the city center to hook back up with their flag tank. Ogin and her Type 5 Chi-Ri follow in behind closely.

"That Chi-Ha-Tan Jumbo crew were the real deal. I get why they are the Tigress Corps for a reason," Takako Suzuki, also known by her spirit name Caesar said, standing tall in the hatch across from her tank commander.

"They really were, I can see why they gave Saunders such a hard time. The word quit doesn't exist in their mind," Erwin said, now looking forward down the street flank closely to either side by apartments and shops.

"Like many great warriors and generals of the past, will have to make sure not to ease up for a second around them," Cesar reply back.

"We won't, especially knowing those Chi-He's I saw earlier, didn't make the attack as well with that Jumbo Sherman," Erwin said with a shake of the head, her worries not over as she had no idea where the last enemy tanks were.

"Strange, where could they have gone?" Caesar ask.

"I don't know, but we need to be wary. Chi-Ha-Tan like to ambush their foes when they can, their a unpredictable bunch when they need to be to throw their foes off," Erwin said.

Caesar let smirk cross her face. "Sounds like a reflection of ourselves."

"Yea," Erwin said with a nod. "Yet that makes fighting them all the better."

"Heck yea it does," Caesar said with excitement.

Nodding to her friend, now Erwin touch her throat microphone to open a net call to Midoriko Sono aboard her Char 1 Bis, located at another part of the city guarding a road to the city center.

"Sodoko, we've taken out the Sherman Jumbo, but the Type 1 Chi-He's are still operating in the city. Keep alert to their possible approach, your armor is too thick at the front for them to penetrate and both your 47mm and 75mm gun can knock them out at any angle," Erwin explain over the net.

"I told you earlier, it's Miss Sono to you!" Midoriko yelled over the net annoy at the annoying nickname that Mako had given her, and now was in constant use by the rest of Oarai's team.

That gave both Caesar and Erwin a chuckle as their tank rolled along, then once Erwin calm down she spoke back over the net. "Sorry bad habit of mine. Just remember what I said, me and Miss Ogin are coming back, I'm sure the enemy will attack the city center looking for our flag tank soon enough."

A small huff of annoyance came back over the net, then Midoriko spoke. "Fine, will keep alert and relay any sighting of the enemy."

"Good, over and out," Erwin said, as her StuG 3 roll along, then open one more net call to her student council team.

XxxxX

Back in the city center, where the large Senate House dominated most of the area. The flag tank of Oarai, in the Hetzer 38(t) was located inside the building itself. Having climbed the steps and then crash through the front doors, before spinning around to stay just near the edge, while concealing itself while watching the center itself, as ordered by Yukari after their forces had occupied the city in the quiet hours of the match.

Turtle team, as the tank was known as, had been idle in this position for what seemed like an eternity. Yet it was the flag tank, and its crew knew they would be kept out of the firing line as much as possible. Most likely never seeing any action, yet that was the plan made by their commander and they follow it to the letter.

Though inside the tank, the student council members were receiving some good news.

"Yea…alright…got it," Momo Kawashima said, touching her headphones to listen to the last of her teammate Erwin was relaying back what had been happening in the city so far.

Turning to look over her shoulder at her student council president, and longtime friend Anzu Kadotani, Momo spoke. "Miss Erwin reports that they've taken down the Sherman Jumbo of Chi-Ha-Tan, but we lost Leopon team in the process."

Leaning back in the seat, with one hand reaching into her bag of sweet dried potatoes for another bite, Anzu grin as she spoke. "Well looks like we've taken out the biggest threat to our team. Now Miss Akiyama just needs take the Tiger 1 that's marked as the flag tank for Chi-Ha-Tan and then it's on to the next round."

An embarrassed chuckle came from Yuzu sitting in the driver's seat. "Is it unfair that were making her and the rest of the team do all the work?"

"She's the commander, we're just following her orders," Momo said with a nonchalant tone.

Turning back to her friend seated behind her, Yuzu spoke again. "I know, but Yukari doesn't even know the burden she is carrying on her shoulders. It's a burden that we of the student council should be carrying as well."

Momo frowned at the statement, mostly because Yuzu was right. Unbeknownst to Yukari and the rest of the Oarai team, was their very academy was marked for a shutdown next year. Only the Student council knew, as well as the headmaster of their school. Anzu had made a deal with the head of MEXT Renta Tsuji to keep their school open by winning the National High School Sensha-do Tournament, since Renta made such a fuss that a Sensha-do team were a staple of the school carrier program, giving Anzu the idea to win the tournament, knowing there was no way they close down the national champions without backlash.

Which made the proposal by Anzu seem ludicrous, but Renta had agreed that he couldn't shut down the national champions. In turn, Anzu had notified the Oarai headmaster of this, who agree that he would keep quiet about the school shutdown, praying with all his might that his Sensha-do team would win and keep their academy open.

"Yea, I get that bu-," Momo try to argue.

"Look we got this far because of her. I believe in my junior to win this match, as you should too," Anzu said, trying to ease her friend's minds.

"Maybe we should tell her before the next match," Yuzu suggested.

Momo shook her head. "No, that be too much for her and she might lose focus. As much of a hard time I give her, I can respect her skill for command, not to mention her crew's excellent handling of the Panzer 4. Then add on the training she has us do that has brought a bunch of rookies like us to stand tall with veteran teams."

"Yep, she's the real deal. So let's just lean back and enjoy the quiet," Anzu said cheerily while beginning to munch on a sweet dried potato slice.

"Alright," Yuzu said with a smile then turn back to stare to the front of the tank.

"Oh Yuzu, forgot to ask. Are you and Ogin ever going to shack up?" Anzu tease.

"Yea, you have been hanging around her a lot lately now that I think about it," Momo said giving her friend in front of her a sidelong glance.

A deep crimson blush came over Yuzu's face. "No, we're just friends. She's been asking me to help her with her grades so she can graduate, that's all. She wants to go to the same college as me."

"Sure, sure, be honest with yourself alright," Anzu said, knowing her best friends heart.

"Were friends, that's it," Yuzu said in an embarrassed tone, trying to make herself as small as possible in the seat now.

Both Momo and Anzu just chuckle, just happy their friend could find some happiness of her own. Now they wanted to extend that happiness by keeping their school open for their juniors, so they can enjoy the school these three girls held close to their hearts. Placing their faith in a curly fluffy hair girl who was going to do the impossible in their minds.

XxxxX

"Dammit," Aozora, captain of the Chi-Ha-Tan air force yell in frustration, her anger echoing in the hanger that house their A6M Zero's as the light rainfall continue outside.

The reason for her frustration, as she had just witnessed on the T.V. broadcasting the match through the Sensha-do Battle Network, as their teams Sherman Jumbo, commanded by Tamada, get taken out by the StuG 3 and Type 5 Chi-Ri of Ooarai. In turn, making Aozora angry she was stuck watching from afar even though her plane wasn't taken out in the match, having to land due to the rainfall.

She had lost 2 planes from her squad, while also her squad had taken down 2 of Oarai's air force before the rainfall started and they had to return to their respective airfields for safety. Now she was just waiting in the hanger while she now pace around feeling uneasy. If the rain stop soon, she along with Kataoka and Nagase could get back into the air to help their team.

"Calm down captain," Kataoka said, coming up to Aozora to stop her pacing by gripping her shoulders.

Being stopped now, Aozora turn her face to the side not able to look her friend in the eye, feeling dejected.

"Don't worry, will get back up soon. I'm feeling just as frustrated as you are, but we need to keep cool, no good if we go up there gripping the stick too tightly," Kataoka said in a soothing tone.

Nodding her head, thankful to her subordinate. "You're right, sorry I'm letting my emotions get the best of me. It's unprofessional of me to be getting so fluster about all this."

That made Kataoka smile. "No you're allowed to get this work up. I love being on the Akagi, where I have a second family to come home to. Will get the chance to once again bail our little tankery sisters out of a tough spot."

"Yea, that seems to be our role for them. Yet that's just the big sister's job, thanks Kataoka," Aozora said back with a warm smile.

"Thank me by buying me all the beer at the after-party once we win," Kataoka boasted loudly, making the rest of the squad match her want for all the beer they could drink courtesy of their captain.

That made Aozora give out a defeated smile, knowing there was no fighting her squad. Yet she was looking forward to the celebration, as it would be with the joy of winning this match. While continuing along this journey of doing the impossible with Miho and the rest of Chi-Ha-Tan team Aozora had grown attached to, and this proud pilot would make sure to give it her all to make it a reality.

XxxxX

The rainfall outside the tent, which earlier had been quite relentless, was now coming down lightly. Yet the mood in the tent was anything but light, as Maho, Koume, and Erika continue to watch the match play out on their satellite T.V., with the match now reaching its critical point they knew it was. As Miho was now dealing with the Ooarai team closing in on her in the woods as she ran and fought to keep the flag protected.

Federation drones were doing their best to keep up with the action, but the speed and ferocity of the chase had outrun them, leaving them waiting for the contestants to leave the woods for them to resume capturing the fight. For now, they were flying above the woods doing their best to keep up as the glimpse of the tanks fighting could be seen through the small breaks in the wood.

A big tell tell sign of the intensity of the duel was the constant flash of the cannon muzzle firing a shell. While also the light show of machine-gun tracers was also evident in the woods, only adding to the worries of the three girls for their former teammate, who was fighting with all she could to keep Chi-Ha-Tan's dreams alive.

"God damn it, why can't the Federation come up with a better camera system, so we can follow the match in the woods," Erika growled from her seat, with a blanket covering her legs to keep warm.

"I have to say I agree, but only because it's Miho in there. At least the camera caught that insane long shot she made on that M18 Hellcat," Koume commented, also with a blanket over her legs.

Erika let a devilish grin cross her face. "It's like she forgot the rule of Kuromorimine tankery clubs Modus operandum when it came to moving targets. Never shoot a moving target at over 1200 meters, but it's just like that trouble maker to break the rules."

"Yes, my sister does not play by any established doctrines or rules, it's solely what makes her effective, and why teams can't deal with her complexity," Maho said, the pride evident in her voice.

Koume turn a bit to smile at Maho. "That's true, she always plays by her own rules. Makes it weird, knowing she not a rebellious type."

"Only when it comes to Sensha-do. Outside of it, she is dutiful and obeys, though she is becoming more bold with this Chi-Ha-Tan team, which must be the reason she is more open now," Maho commented.

"Probably so, yet now she's going to have to come up with another crazy tactic to get out of this jam. She's putting too much stress on the Tiger 1's engine at this point, it's not made for this kind of fighting," Erika stressed openly.

All three girls knew this to be true. They themselves had been reminded of this against Anzio in a practice match before the tournament, where Duce and her tankettes force ran circles around them with their more maneuverable tanks, while Kuromorimine struggle adjusting to using to the heavier Panthers, Jagpanthers, Elefant, and other newer heavy tanks, meant to match Pravda's heavy tank force.

They lost three tanks to tracks snapping from to many turns and engines blowing from overstress. This wake-up call for the new Kuromorimine team, help Maho reform some of their strategies as well as bring back their Panzer 4's to help deal with faster tanks, now under the command of Koume who was doing well in the role as their flanker and scout platoon.

"I'm sure Miho knows that too, but she's heading for the river. She will have a hard time trying to find and then cross a bridge while under fire," Koume said, anxious about the scenario.

"Don't worry, Miho alone is not what makes this Chi-Ha-Tan team dangerous. Their teams fighting spirt is what puts them on a different level, as I'm sure they will show us again why the name Tigress Corps is theirs and theirs alone," Maho commented.

"They better, because they won't be worthy opponents for us in the final if they even slack a bit here," Erika said with a grin.

That made her other friends smile, as they focus back on the screen as the Federation drones now focus in on a part of the Chi-Ha-Tan team running from Ooarai's and the American tanker.

XxxxX

Through the light rain shower, the scream of an angry tracer shell flew at its foe, quickly finding its mark. The unfortunate target of this shot was none other than the Type 97 Shinhoto, who had been hit in the rear. The Chi-Ha-Tan tank was going to be doing no bouncing as the enemy shell cut through the armor, while the engine block was wreck, leaving billowing smoke drifting into the light rainfall, and the all-hated white kill flag popping up signaling she was out of the fight.

Fukuda, who had been riding along with her fellow first year's tank, now watch from the cupola of the Type 4 Ke-Nu as the Shinhoto roll lifelessly off the road never to rise and fight again in this match. Now the pint size first year's eyes turn to the foe who had taken her tankery sister out. Following no more than 50 meters from her and the remaining members of Nishi's Kampfgruppe, were Oarai's Type 89, M3 Lee, and lastly their American reinforcements in the M4 Sherman, chasing them hard.

The M4 Sherman, with the green base color with grey camo scheme around it, with a wolf's head baring its teeth in defiance, was the one who had taken out Ishido's tanks, while the accompanying Type 89 and M3 Lee kept up a constant barrage on them, not allowing then to stop to fire back. Now without their Shinhoto, they were in a bad spot, since the Type 97 Short Gun couldn't fire on the move since the force of the gun's recoil took away any chance of any accuracy.

Their 2 Type 3 Ho-Ni 3's were stationary guns that only pointed forward and would need to completely turn around to fire at their foe. Leaving only Fukuda's Type 4 Ke-Nu and Maita's Mk 4 Valentine as the only tanks that could traverse to the rear of their tank to fire at the foe, but the Mk 4 Valentine had to be kept out of the fight since it was the operator tank that could still call in what was left of their air force once the rain completely stopped.

Fukuda climb down into her tank, with her tanks gun pointed to the rear to keep firing at the foe. Even though she was the tank commander, she help with the loading for her gunner Hirai. Now down in her tank, she grab a shell, then shove it into the low velocity 57mm gun's breech.

"Loaded! Hirai keep firing, aim for Type 89, its thin armor can't hold up to even our gun," Fukuda order.

"Roger," Hirai reply, then push into the shoulder mount of her gun to stabilize it, while looking through her gunner's sight. She quickly pick got sights on the Type 89, setting the reticle on it, then call her shot as she pull the trigger. "On the way!"

The 57mm gun's barrel recoil with the firing, with its shells flying towards their foe. Even on the move, the shot was accurate due to the growth of Hirai as a gunner, but the Type 89 swerve to the right just as they fire, skirting along the side of the enemy tank.

"Damn!" Hirai said, while getting her sights set again on the tank.

"Hasegawa, start swerving left to right slightly," Fukuda call to her driver.

"Alright," Hasegawa said, though her breath was a little ragged, as she had to work her driving sticks to get their tank working left to right, not an easy ask for a driver, which also didn't help when she had been doing a lot of tight maneuvers all day.

Fukuda grimace hearing her drivers evident tiredness, but knew she had to keep pressing on to keep their team in the fight. It was just as the Type 4 Ke-Nu was now swerving to its right on the road that the M3 Lee unleased their 37mm and 75mm gun at her, which were on target, but miss only barely on the little Japanese tank as they splash in the ground, giving Fukuda and her crew a good shake inside their tank from the shockwave.

"That was too close," Hirai said, getting her bearings back, turning to Fukuda who was behind her in the loader's position. "We need to find a way to even up the odds."

"I know, I know," Fukuda said back, touching her chin in thought, knowing they needed to find a way to even up the fighting, but was drawing blanks.

She wasn't given enough time to formulate a plan, as the sound of a cannon blast, with the screaming sound of the shell was heard. Yet it hadn't been at Fukuda's tank, with the shells from the enemy M4 Sherman and Type 89 finding a home on one of the Ho-Ni 3's under the command Kimura , hitting the engine block area like their sister tank in the Type 97 Shinhoto received earlier. There was no chance for the thin armor against the two shells that penetrated and overloaded the systems for a kill shot.

Climbing to stand tall in her commanders cupola, Fukuda witness in horror as another of their team's tanks was taken out. Smoke billow from the ravage engine block with the white kill flag popping up, with the tank rolling lifelessly off the side of the road, to be left behind, scorch and defeated.

"Kimura!" Ichioka, tank commander of the now last Type 3 Ho-Ni 3 yell to her fallen tankery sister.

"Don't be an easy target, start swerving left and right!" Maita aboard her Mk 4 Valentine order over the net.

Turning to look at the still pursing tanks, Fukuda spoke silently to herself. "I need to do something, anything to help my team out. Yet what can I do with my underpowered tank…."

Only you can determine the worth of your tank and only you can see its true potential

Fukuda suddenly remember the words Hosomi spoke to her in their first match together, in the qualifier against Maple High. The twin bun vice commander had made sure to remind her precious junior to always see the potential in her own tank, even when others would doubt or scoff at it, that even included Fukuda herself. Now the time was to see her tank's potential, and also the potential in herself.

Refocusing herself, Fukuda took in the sight of the Type 89 still coming on behind her tank. Looking at it intently, she remember something about this tank's action as well in its qualifier match against West Kureoji Grona High School, with its crew using an odd and effective tactic that most teams forgot about in the intensity of Sensha-do matches.

Leaning down a bit in her cupola, Fukuda call to her gunner. "Hirai, give me a smoke grenade!"

"Uh, wait we have those in here?" the gunner said back from inside the tank.

"Yea, their only designated to tanks without dedicated smoke shells, our tanks Type 97 57mm gun doesn't use them, check for a container near you. The federation officials should have packed some in here, I think," Fukuda said back.

After a few moments of searching around, Hirai call back to her tank commander. "Your right! Yet we only got one of them."

Fukuda nodded at that, then spoke. "Alright thanks, hand it up to me. Hasegawa, lower our speed a bit and be ready to put on the breaks. I know you're tired, please forgive me for pushing you so hard."

"Don't worry Fukuda…I'll…I'll give you everything I got…for the commander, for your team, and to bring everyone back so we can keep climbing to the top and do the impossible," Hasegawa said, her voice coming out ragged, but her willpower on full display as she work the clutch.

"That's right, let's give it all we got," Hirai said in support, while handing the smoke grenade up to her tank commander.

That made Fukuda smile, as she took the smoke grenade in hand. "Yes let's show them what makes the commanders Sensha-do style the best."

A net call from Maita came over the net. "Fukuda, bring your speed up, your falling behind."

"Miss Maita, I'm going to attack the enemy at our rear," Fukuda said, just as her tank swerve to miss a host of shells from the Oarai and American tanks looking to take her down.

"No! Stic-," Maita began to argue.

"Don't worry Miss Maita, I'll go with her," Ichioka added in, slowing up her Type 3 Ho-Ni 3.

"Dammit, would you listen to my orders!" Maita yell her frustration at her insubordinate underclassmen.

"Please forgive our rudeness, but we need the Operator tank to stay in the fight. It's been an honor to keep the Voltigeur platoon spirit alive in this fight," Fukuda said, with one last salute to her upperclassmen.

"No! We all fight together, no more sacrifices," Maita said, making her underclassmen balk at the ferocity in her voice.

Maita continue. "So, what's your plan, Fukuda?"

"I'm going to throw my smoke grenade to blind them and then close the distance them while their blind," Fukuda said back.

"Alright, that works. Do that, then you take out the Type 89. Once Fukuda has done her job and their fluster, Ishido and Fukuhara turn your tanks around and take them down, let's do it!" Maita said over the net.

"Roger!" her underclassmen said back.

Putting her finger through the pin in the grenade, Fukuda eye the ever closer enemy tanks, as her Type 4 Ke-Nu slow down. She could see their guns starting to swivel to her, eyeing what they believe to be an easy kill, not knowing the true motive of this brave first year. Feeling the moment was right, she pull the pin and then quickly threw the grenade at the M3 Lee to her left of her tank. The arc was perfect, as it hit the tank right onto the front plate, then bounce up and settle just underneath the 37mm gun, as the smoke from the grenade came out in a large volume.

The M3 Lee's crew seem to panic as the smoke blinded their commander and 37mm gunner, as the tank swerve left to right, in what Fukuda believed to be an attempt to dislodge the smoke grenade under the gun, but to no avail. Worse for the Oarai and their American ally, was the constant swerving was causing them to spread the smoke all over the road and blinding their M4 Sherman and Type 89 as they pull ahead of them.

"That's it! Now Fukuda!" Matai order.

The pint size first year nodded, and then relay orders down to her driver. "Hasegawa, put it in second, then veer left off the road."

"On it," the tired driver said, then work the clutch and sticks.

Quickly the Type 4 Ke-Nu reduce its speed while veering left off the road, now coming alongside the panic M3 Lee still cover in smoke. While Fukuda's gunner began to traverse the gun to their tanks right to fire at the enemy, as they could make out from the trailing smoke the Type 89's side armor also panic swerving, because its teammate was throwing smoke all over the road.

"Should we fire at the Type 89?" Hirai ask, with said tank in her sights.

"Yes, the M4 Sherman will be our next target," Fukuda order as her tank now was pulling along the Type 89 that was at the middle of the pursuit column, to distracted by the smoke to notice the threat to it now.

"Now!" Fukuda order to her gunner.

"On the way!" Hirai said, then watch her shell smack into the Type 89. Even with its low velocity gun, the Type 89 side armor prove no match for its sister Japanese tanks gun. The shell penetrated and overloaded the systems as a kill shot. With now Type 89 rolling lifelessly off the road, with a white kill flag popping up over the defeated tank.

"Nice shot!" Fukuda praise her gunner.

"Thanks, let's get the Sherman now," Hirai said, while having to slam a shell into the breach herself then spoke once more. "We're running low on shells."

They soon got into position right alongside the large America tank, then Fukuda relay orders. "Hasegawa, put it in third gear. Hirai fire when ready at their track."

Hasegawa work the clutch to get their tank's speed to stay steady alongside their foe. While Hirai again push her shoulder into the gun, doing all she could to stabilize it. The uneven ground off the road played havoc on her aiming as the reticle kept bouncing up and down, but then finally some reprieve came in the form of more level ground and call her shot.

"On the way!" Hirai said.

The 57mm low-velocity gun belch a shell out. With all of Hirai's will power, she had got the angle right. As the shell slam right into the middle of the Sherman track. Even with the guns less velocity, it had enough punching power at close range to destroy the middle wheels, which snap the track off as well.

Without its left track and going at the high speeds it was, the M4 Sherman could not help but slide out of control, which was helped along by the slick surface of the road. It was completely left behind as Fukuda's tank rolled forward, now coming onto the road. With the M3 Lee alone having a foe at their back as the last of the smoke grenade ran out.

Knowing they were in a bad spot, the M3 Lee tank pull off the road to the side. Maita, watching this now change up their strategy. "Fukuda, go help the commander. Those other American tanks are ganging up on her, will take the Sherman and M3 Lee."

Fukuda acknowledge the order. "Roger Maita, good luck."

Than the Type 4 Ke-Nu took off to go help their commander fighting for survival.

"Fukuhara, take the first shot. Hit the M3 Lee to shake their crew up, then Ishido get the kill shot," Maita order, while standing tall in her Mk 4 Valentines hatch.

"Roger," her underclassmen reply back, then got to work.

Fukuhara's Type 97 Short gun was the first to get a shot off. Getting stationary, she order her gunner to traverse to get her gun on the fleeing M3 Lee, then fire its huge high explosive shell at it. The result was not for a takedown, but to shake them up, since the pure explosive filler of the large shell on the 120mm submarine gun, would rock the tank hard vilonetly and give the crew a giant headache from the shockwave. The sudden impact of the shell caused the M3 Lee to abruptly stop as its crew was completely disorientated, which was made worst on the Oarai first years as Ichioka's Type 3 Ho-Ni 3 got its gun sights on them and fire its Type 3 75mm gun that cut through the M3 Lee's armor.

"Yea got her!" Ichioka said excitedly over the net.

"Nice jo-," Maita try to say, but was cut off as a tracer shell from the down the road smacked into the Type 3 Ho-Ni 3, penetrating its armor and overloading the sensors as a kill shot.

The dreaded M4 Sherman, sitting sideways on the road some 70 meters away, had traversed its gun to fire. Taking out the most threatening enemy tank, leaving the other two who had to find a way to puncture her armor.

Hosomi is watching me, I have to show I'm carrying the Voltigeur spirit with me as well, just like Fukuda

"Come on Fukuhara, let's not disappoint our date with destiny," Maita said, order her tank forward.

"Right behind you!" Fukuhara said, traversing her gun to give her upperclassmen a fighting chance.

XxxxX

"Fire!" Fukushu order.

"On the way!" Nicole said as she step on the firing pedal.

The M4A3E8 Sherman's 76mm gun fire, its tracer shell lighting up the woods that they were currently fighting in. Its shell flying at the fleeing Tiger 1 of Chi-Ha-Tan they were chasing, looking to take it down for good. Yet again, Fukushu's half-sister prove to be impressively perceptive, as the Tiger 1 swerve left in time just as tracer shell flew at them. Instead of a tank to take down, the shell found a tree to smash up and then got lost into the distance of the dark woods.

"Damn! I had her," Nicole said in annoy tone from her gunners chair, having witness her shell missing the Tiger 1 in her reticle.

Standing tall in her commanders cupola, Fukushu was equally annoy, as she watch Miho's Tiger 1 now swerve further to the left, avoiding running into trees, then hard break all of sudden to just miss a shell from Yukari's Panzer 4 that was keeping pace with it to the far right. With its shell finding no tank as well, and only trees to harm instead.

"How does she do that? It's unreal, like she knows when we're going to fire," Fukushu said in a baffle, yet equally irritated tone.

Fukushu at this point was irate with herself. She and Ellie had cornered the Tiger 1 earlier, using their smokescreen created from their shells to close the distance. Yet even with this tactic, allowing them to get close, and Fukushu's half-sister kept thwarting their attempts to put her down and win this match. It was the first taste for Fukushu to see a Nishizumi in action, though if she were honest, the way Miho fought was nothing like what Konomi always said their Sensha-do style call for.

Even in the matches before, from what Fukushu had studied on her half-sister's fighting style, was nothing like what she was doing now. Before it had been Miho sniping at her foes, something Fukushu was going to take advantage by getting close up in a brawl, hoping it would unsettle Miho into a mistake and allow Fukushu to make the winning shot.

For as much time on the practice field, as Fukushu had spent perfecting this close fight strategy, Miho had now alter her fighting style to an up-close one now. Surprising Fukushu who couldn't believe how efficiently the Tiger 1 of Chi-Ha-Tan maneuver for such a heavy tank. Even getting angle to Fukushu when she had the perfect ambush spot before they enter the woods, bouncing her shell away, while using their smoke discharges to blind her.

Then Fukushu had try to fight up close, while keeping pace with her half-sisters tank. Yet again was baffle as Miho's Tiger 1 fought her step for step, then use her as a shield as the two tanks kept so close to one another, that they were trading paint as they scrape alongside each other. What really irk Fukushu about the whole engagement was when the Tiger 1 ram her Sherman away, something she has never seen in a Sensha-do. Leaving her befuddle as she watch the Tiger 1 make it into the woods.

Honor? Who the hell cares about that? I'll let you in on a little secret my little wolf pup, Sensha-do is a sport all about the survival of the fittest. It's ruthless and brutal, when the cannons start roaring all that so call sportsmanship is thrown out the window

The words of Linda Sickle, Fukushu's tormentor and instructor rang true now. It was all about the survival of the fittest out here. Fukushu needed to be brutal and ruthless if she wanted to win, and more importantly, regain the honor of Konomi her surrogate mother who she love with all her heart. Though, one other thing nag at Fukushu, something she needed to yell into Miho's face to make her know why this bastard girl has her own hatred for the family.

"Nicole, traverse left, wait for my call. Alice AP, Holly put it in fifth gear do your best with avoiding the trees in this wood, Rebecca keep spray them with your bow gun," Fukushu order over the net.

"Roger!" Her crew confirm back to her, then got to their task.

Standing tall in her commanders cupola, leaning forward with her elbows resting on the brim of her cupola on either side, Fukushu watch her turret turn left, then she spoke into the wired communicator to her gunner. "On, fire!"

Just as Nicole was calling her shot, while stepping on the firing pedal, the Tiger 1 again anticipated the shot, veering right just in time. Only a split second later the 76mm gun on the M4A3E8 let loose its shell, but found nothing to smash up, but some unfortunate trees that were in its path. As the tracer shell flew into the distance of the wood, lost to its darkness.

"Goddammit, would you stay still!" Nicole yell in frustration.

Fukushu was just a peeve, but remember Linda's training to remain calm and channel her anger into focusing herself, as the bastard Nishizumi spoke over the net. "Don't mind Nicole. We got a lot of shells still since we been out of the fight for most of the match, fire as many time as you need."

"Got it," Nicole said, glad for the encouraging words from her tank commander.

Suddenly a net call from Yukari came over to Fukushu speaking in Japanese. "Miss Fukushu, we're nearing the end of these woods. We can't let the Tiger 1 across the bridge."

Bringing her wire communicator up to her mouth, Fukushu spoke back. "I got it, we should hold our main guns in reserve till we're out of the woods. Once the flag tank is on the open ground, we can stop and fire at her, these woods are giving her all the advantages for dodging our guns."

"Good plan, is Miss Ellie in position to assist," Yukari ask over the net.

"She's flanking wide left, her M36B2 should come out of the woods at the same time we do," Fukushu said back over the net.

"Good, let's finish this fight and go home," Yukari said happily.

Home

The words stuck in Fukushu's mind. When they won this match, they would stay with Oarai for the rest of the tournament. The Zuikaku school carrier would become their home for the time being, and even with the few days of spending time aboard it, for Fukushu and her teammates, it had become a second home they cherish away from their own academy back in California.

Yukari and her team were odd, yet friendly bunch. They were inviting and open with the Wolverton girls, even if only Fukushu could speak Japanese, both sides try to learn each other's native tongue, having fun as each side bumble most of their words. Yet both sides were determine to learn as much as they could from each other, no matter how hard it got.

Training had been more loose and fun, compare to the strict training under Linda in the weeks leading up to the match. Making Fukushu wonder if this was how a Sensha-do team should train, with a competitive nature of course, but also look after one another, help each other become better. The individual never progress within the Oarai team, it was everyone who did it.

If I want to see if this training method is as effective as Linda's we need to win this match, so I have to focus

Fukushu thought, getting her mind to focus on the here and now, as she switch her wired communicator to her crew net. "Nicole, hold our main gun in reverse, hit the Tiger 1 with the coaxial machine gun, Rebecca keep it up with the bow gun."

"Roger!" They both said.

Angry red machine gun tracers now lit up the woods, as both gunners let loose their 1919 Browning machine guns at the swerving Tiger 1. Their rounds pinging and sparking off the back of the tank, adding to the misery of its crew who were in a fight for survival. Yukari's Panzer 4 to the far right of the Tiger 1, also doing its best to avoid oncoming trees, also let loose its coaxial machine gun from its turret facing to the side of its tank at the foe, adding green tracers to the light show.

Watching the tracer show from her cupola, Fukushu smiled at the thought that her goal was so close at hand, as she spoke silently to herself. "I'm going to win, I'm going to make him proud of me, I'm going to make him love Sensha-do. Shiho took it away from him, but I'll make him see what makes this sport great once more."

Her secret wish, the one she held onto since the day she left home, the one that even Konomi didn't know about, was about to come true.

To show she was the daughter, that he could be proud of.

XxxxX

Miho dip lower into her cupola as both M4A3E8 Sherman and Panzer 4 laid machine gun tracers into her Tiger 1. It was nerve wracking, as the constant pinging was waning on her mind. Making the timing of her dodging becoming harder, as she didn't know when they fire their main guns at her, with both of thier guns facing towards the most vulnerable points on her tank, being the side and rear.

"Nomi, fire at the Panzer 4!" Miho order, needing some breathing room.

"Got it!" Nomi said from her gunner's seat, using the handwheel traverse to get on target at the Panzer 4 to the right side of their tank, then felt the moment was right as she pull the trigger. "On the way!"

All the fury of the 88mm gun loose its shell at its fellow German tank, but the tracers from the Panzer 4 had play havoc on Nomi since they were splashing into her gunner sight, slightly blinding her. Her aim was slightly off, as the 88mm gun's shell clip the side of the Panzer 4's side turret skirt, ripping it away from the side over the gunners hatch. Another near shot that had taken a piece of armor skirt, but fail to produce the take down the Tiger 1 crew needed.

"Damn!" Nomi growl in her seat, then step on the secondary pedal to throw some machine gun tracers from their turrets own coaxial machine gun.

Nomi's twin Nene immediately got to work to get another shell from her loaders chair, her face letting droplets of sweat fall onto the floor below her. Again her speed loading was taking its toll on her, even with the physical training she had been putting herself through, she was still overexerting herself. However, she was determine to give her crew all she had, but as she pick another AP shell from the rack, she notice something.

Then Nene call up to her commander. "Miho, we're running low on shells!"

"How many do we have left?" Miho ask, leaning down into the tank to take in the face of her loader.

"We have seven AP shells left, and two High explosive," Nene reply.

That made Miho grimace. Sensha-do rules layout that teams were not allow to carry full complement of shells into match, at most half or one third the usual load they had depending on the tanks role, heavier tanks like the Tiger 1 were given less loads, due to their guns having the heavier punching power. Keeping things fair with medium and light tanks allow to carry half their prescribe load, due to lower velocity guns.

This was for the safety of the participants so they could space the shells out around the tank more, instead of mass loading them into one spot, in case something went wrong. Making the need to manage ammo a must in Sensha-do, though luckily they had resupply already, with Miho having her own small resupply base.

Which was the reason she was retreating back west, to get over the bridge and back to the large barn outside a village she had use to store some ammo from the earlier resupply in the matches quiet hours. This engagement so far, had eaten up a lot of ammo so far, but Miho was still in this fight.

"Alright, Load High Explosive this time," Miho order.

That made Nene along with the rest of the crew balk, since High Explosive ammo was next to useless against most tanks armors since it was made to explode on the surface, not penetrate tanks armor. Which was the reason most teams carry very little or none of it into matches, as all it did was take up space in the tank.

However Nene trusted Miho had a plan, so she got to her task, picking up the High Explosive shell, then slam it into the breach. "Loaded!"

"Commander, a high explosive isn't going to do much, at most give our foe a headache," Nomi had to question, leaning back from the gunner optics to look over her shoulder at Miho.

A nod from Miho follow the statement, as she spoke. "I know, but I've got an idea. Were out of smoke discharges and we need to blind one of them to give us a chance over the bridge."

"Alright, sorry to question you," Nomi said, a slight blush of embarrassment coming across her face.

Miho just smile as she spoke. "It's alright Nomi, I value all of your input. We fight in this tank together, always remember that."

"Yes mom," Nomi said with an excited face, motivated double to win by her commander's words. Then bury her self-back in the gunners sight.

Peeking back over the brim of her cupola, as the tracers from both enemy tanks continue to hammer her Tiger 1, Miho turn to look at the front of her tank, to see the edge of the woods coming up shortly. With her photographic memory coming into play now from study the map, Miho remember from the edge of the woods there were no more than 100 meters to the river. Though she was unsure of where the position of the wooden bridge was from her position, so she have to scan quickly to find it.

That only happen if her initial plan to buy time would work.

Finally, they reach to the edge of the woods, bursting from the shadow of the woods, and onto the flat open grassy, and muddy plain. In the distance the rushing river flowing northward could be seen, it had risen somewhat due to the early heavy downpour. Now the rain had slow down to a sprinkle, to which Miho was grateful for since her hair and uniform were soak.

As the Tiger 1 exited the woods, the Panzer 4 kept pace with her to the right, its coaxial gun now silent, most likely being reloaded for another go. While the M4A3E8 Sherman was coming through the woods behind them, with its bow gun and coaxial gun were also silent, but Miho could sense that their main gun was ready to fire at them and she needed to act before that happen.

I wonder what Maho will think of this maneuver I'm about to do

Letting the thought past through her mind, Miho touch her throat microphone to lay down her orders. "Nomi depress the gun all the way down, keep it to the side of our tank, then fire when I say so."

"Roger," Nomi said, working the elevation handwheel.

Seeing the gun depress down, Miho lay orders down to her driver. "Moteki, hit the brakes while turning the wheel right."

"You want to drift our Tiger 1?…I don't know how much more I can love being in this crew, alright hold on ladies, I'm putting my admission in for Formula 1 driving," Moteki said, leaning forward in the seat about to go into action.

"Uh, I think that's the wrooooo-!" Nene said, but was cut off as the Tiger 1 suddenly shifted.

Pressing hard on the brake, Moteki pull the wheel to the right, making the Tiger 1 drift while pivoting the tank right. It was dangerous thing to do, especially with such a heavy tank, which might snap the tracks being under such stress, but was rectify because Miho was counting on the earlier rainfall. It causing the natural grass and mud to become slippery which would take some friction off when they made this move.

Miho's idea proved to be right, as her Tiger 1 pivoted to the right, sliding over the wet ground with ease. While its main gun that had been facing over the right side of the tank was drifting, now was coming around to bear down on the M4A3E8 Sherman that was coming out of the woods. Watching her gun's angle coming around, Miho saw the right time to strike.

"Now Nomi!" Miho order.

"On the way!" Nomi call her shot.

The fury of the 88mm gun roar with its shell, yet with its depress angle, its High Explosive slanted down quickly. It smash right in front of the M4A3E8 Sherman, with it exploding the minute the shell hit the ground. The resulting explosion sent up a huge swath of earth at their foe, covering its front side in mud and grass.

I hope that work

Miho thought, wondering if maybe she was reaching too far with her unorthodox tactics.

XxxxX

"Ah, what the hell," Fukushu said in disgust, as she had just seen the shell fire from the Tiger 1, at first she was shock, seeing it suddenly drift, while pivoting its tanks gun at her and fire. She thought it was over, thinking it was an AP shell, instead it was a HE, that exploded in front of her tank.

It sent mud onto her tank from the resulting explosion. Making Fukushu grimace, as she was quickly cover in mud, making her rapidly try to wipe it from her face. As she finally got the mud out of her eyes, she saw the Tiger 1 now roll forward out of its drift across Fukushu's front, heading right along the river, with Yukari's Panzer 4 chasing her now from behind.

Feeling anger boil through Fukushu at her half-sister's devious act of getting mud all over her, made the bastard Nishizumi call down to her crew. "Nicole traverse right, hit the Tiger 1 in the back before she gets to the bridge."

There was some silence from the gunner, then she spoke back. "I can't aim, theirs is mud all over the scope."

"What!?" Fukushu said in surprise.

"I also can't see from my drivers position either, theirs mud all over my periscope," Holly said from her drivers position.

Was that her plan, she fire a high explosive into the ground to cover our vision ports with mud…that's insane!

As the thought ran through Fukushu's head, Ellie's M36B2 came rolling out of the woods some way to the left, quickly turning its tank to the right. It came in front of the Fukushu's tank, with Ellie standing tall in her modified hatch, her long blonde hair flowing down from her 1938 US Tankers helmet was drench. Yet the tall girl was in high spirits to avenge Morena who had been taken down earlier.

"You alright?" Ellie ask with concern.

"I'm good, let's go, we have to help our commander take down the Tiger 1," Fukushu said.

With a nod in response, Ellie handed down orders to her tank to roll forward to join the pursuit.

"Fukushu, we have to wipe the mud off our scopes," Nicole said from her gunner's seat.

She was right, but Fukushu knew there was no time for that, as she talk over the crew net. "That will take too long, we got to catch up to the chase. Trust my call-outs, and will win. I know it's asking a lot, but I know we can do this after all the training we've done."

There was some silence from the crew, but it didn't last long as Nicole spoke up. "You're a brat still in my books. Yet your our brat of a tank commander who I follow, you got my trust."

"Jeez, you know how to ruin a mood," Fukushu shot back, but with a smile on her face.

"Alright Fukushu, you got my driving," Holly said.

"You have my bow gun," Rebecca said.

"And you got my loading, let's go win this thing," Alice said from her loaders chair.

"Yes, let's show them that a pack wins together, roll out hard right," Fukushu order, with her tank moving off to the right, and into the endgame in her mind.

XxxxX

Turning back over her shoulder Miho could see the brown color Panzer 4 chasing her still slightly off to the right, with Yukari standing tall in her cupola. Miho could see their 75mm KwK 40 gun traversing to line up on the Tiger 1's rear, knowing their gun could puncture it and overload the systems as a kill shot. Yet Miho wasn't going to make it easy for them, not when she was so close to her objective.

"Moteki, start swerving left for a bit, and then hard right swerve," Miho order to her driver.

"Roger!" Moteki confirm, pulling the wheel slightly left, making the tank pull in that direction, then pull right.

The action prove its effectiveness, as the Panzer 4 who had been traversing with them to the left, fire just as they pull right and out of the shells flight path. Again the Tiger 1 just dodge an enemy shell, but the crew weren't given long to celebrate as 2 more AP shells came flying from further back just missing their tanks as they continue to swerve right.

Still looking at toward the rear of her tank, Miho could make out the M4A3E8 and M36B2 catching up to the pursuit. Their shots had been close, only just missing giving Miho a grimace to see that they were getting closer to hitting her with every salvo. Making her more anxious to get some breathing room from them, as fighting up close like this wasn't doing her Tiger 1 any favors, worse she could almost feel like their engine was going to blow from the amount of overstress she was putting on it.

Not to mention the amount of fuel they had to be burning through going over rough terrain and the tight maneuvers she was placing on her heavy tank. Miho knew she was playing a dangerous game putting her tank through all this, but she had no choice. Once they were over the bridge while destroying it will give her a chance, but there was still work to be done.

"Moteki, how's our fuel doing?" Miho ask over the crew net.

"Were below half on the tank, but that could drop significantly if we keep doing all this running and drifting," Moteki reply over the net.

"Got it, we just have to get to the bridge. Keep doing our manuv-," Miho was cut off as an enemy shell splashed along the left side of the Tiger 1.

It was an explosive shell, and a large one at that. The sudden shockwave from the blast made Miho's ears ring badly, while making the Tiger 1 shake hard enough to force Moteki to lose her grip on the steering. Quickly the Tiger 1 spun out of control over the slippery surface, coming to a stop with its side armor to the oncoming foe.

Shaking her head to get rid of the ringing, Miho in her cupola, just barely hanging on to the brim, look to the side at the Panzer 4 coming up to their side armor quickly. Looking past the German tank, Miho saw the M36B2, and knew that it was the one to fire the High Explosive shell. Its large shell having significantly more explosive filler in it, which was why the shockwave was so devastating.

Impressive they use their High Explosive shell's shockwave to throw my tank off course, guess I'm not the only one getting inventive here

As the thought past through Miho's mind, she turn to see Yukari's Panzer 4 coming on quickly. With its impressive 75mm gun baring down on her side armor. There was no way the gun could miss, with its velocity going to cut through the big sister German tank like it was nothing. For a moment Miho accepted her fate, even as Nomi not waiting for orders, began to traverse the gun to fire at the oncoming enemy. However, that took time, too much time to react as the Panzer 4 looked ready to fire and end this match.

"Commander!" A voice screamed over the net.

This was follow up by an AP Shell coming from the woods Miho had been using to run from the foe earlier. The shell was aimed at the Panzer 4, smacking into the side armor skirt on the right side, taking a piece off the middle part of the armor, but didn't have the velocity to puncture the tank. Turning to look at the forest, Miho took in the familiar sight that made her smile in relief.

As again the Type 4 Ke-Nu came to her rescue, just like in the last match. Fukuda's tank came out of the woods, firing shell after shell at the Panzer 4, missing or smacking into its armor. Again its low velocity 57mm didn't have the punching power, but that didn't faze this stalwart crew who kept firing at the foe in their patent annoying fire. Which seem to have the desire effect as Yukari's Panzer 4 still try to fire at the Tiger 1, but the constant battering of shells on it by Fukuda's tank dip the accuracy of their gunner Hana.

The shell from the Panzer 4 fire, yet was way off the mark, screaming wide of the Tiger 1 and into the distance. As Fukuda order her tank forward to keep firing at the Panzer 4, going so far as to place her tank in between the Tiger 1 and the oncoming enemy tanks.

"Fukuda, good job!" Miho said in relief over the net, then notice she was alone. "Where's everyone else?"

"Sorry commander," Fukuda reply back over the net. "Maita order me to help you, while she and the rest of the group fought off the rest of the Ooarai force chasing us. We lost everyone else."

That made Miho frown to know they lost a large portion of their forces. Though luckily Maita was alright, since she was the operator tank with their air force still able to come back into the fight, once the conditions became more favorable for flight, though she was still fighting the enemy at the moment.

"Thanks for the save," Miho reply, focusing herself.

"Happy to return the favor commander," Fukuda reply back.

"Alright follow me, were going over the wooden bridge just a little ways from here," Miho order.

Silence follow the order, then Fukuda replied in a solemn tone. "Dorry commander, but I have to respectfully disobey that order."

That baffle Miho, who quickly reply to her junior. "Fukuda, what are you talking about?"

Coming up to stand tall in her commanders cupola, Fukuda turn around with a salute as she spoke. "I've used all my shells, I've got nothing left. I'll hold the enemy here by whatever means I can do it."

"Wait, Fukuda we-," Miho try to argue.

"It's been my greatest honor to have given you a chance to fight back and keep our dream alive," Fukuda said, then without waiting for a reply, the pint-size first year ordered her driver to roll forward at the foe.

Watching with a horrified expression. Miho look on hopelessly as Fukuda charged at her foe, the Panzer 4 swung its gun to take her out, but missed as the Type 4 Ke-Nu swerved out of the way in time. Then ram its tank right into the front of the Panzer 4, grinding its treads into the ground as it was pushing into the larger tank. It obviously wasn't going to be able to push the Panzer 4 due to its heavier weight, but also said tank couldn't depress its gun down to the foe at its front.

Feeling the need to help her junior even if she wanted to sacrifice herself, Miho began to lay orders down to the crew. "Moteki bring our tank front to the Panzer 4, Nene load AP, Nomi hit the Panzer 4 while it's distracted."

"Roger!" her crew said, as they jump into action.

They just as much wanted to help their fellow first year out, as yet again Fukuda had saved them again, just like in the last match. Making them need to repay her, as Moteki got the Tiger 1 turn around to get their armor front, while Nene quickly loaded one of their few remaining shells in, with Nomi traversing the gun to the 12 o'clock of the tank.

Getting her sights adjusted, Nomi had to carefully aim to hit the Panzer 4 without endangering her fellow teammate, then felt the moment was right as was about to pull the trigger.

Yet she wasn't given the chance to fire.

As 2 AP shells came flying at their Tiger 1 from the M36B2 and M4A3E8 that fired at them. Their shots were on target, with the 76mm shell smacking into under side of the gun mantlet. While the 90mm shell skirted the right side of the Tiger 1's mantlet, most likely going for a cheek shot on the mantlet, but had just overestimated its aim. The sudden shock of shaking stopped Nomi from trying to aim, as she and the rest of the crew were jerked around.

Miho came to her senses quickly, seeing the two American tanks coming on fast, while quickly laying down orders to her crew. "Nomi traverse right, and hit the M36B2."

There was some silence on the net, then Nomi reply back in a fearful tone. "Commander, I think our turret ring got hit hard. The power traverse isn't responding, I have to use the handwheel and I don't think I'll make it in time."

A shock went through Miho, as she watch the oncoming tanks now stop, lining their guns up once more on her. No amount of angling at this point would stop the 90mm gun from cracking their Tiger 1's armor, coupled with the 76mm gun most likely getting its gun lineup on a vital spot. The end was in sight once more, Fukuda was doing her best to keep the Panzer 4's attention, but she could do no more to help her commander.

Yet hope was cared for, by a tank commander who was looking to prove herself as well this day.

As an AP shell sent at the side of the M36B2 from the rushing river slapped into the side of the American tank destroyer. It didn't have the penetration power, but still did enough to give the crew of the tank a hard shake, and follow this up with a shell quickly slamming into the side of the tank again.

It was the Type 3 Ka-Chi, doing its best to navigate the rushing water across from the engagment, while firing at the American tanks to get their attention. Which prove to work as the M36B2 rotated its gun to take the menace in the river out. In turn, giving Miho a chance to fight back.

"I've got your back commander," Chiyoko Uenishi, tank commander of the Type 3 Ka-Chi said over the net.

"I thought you were helping Miya out," Miho said back over the net, knowing she had order her to support the Type 5 Na-To.

"Sorry, Miya told me to help you out, while she held out against the Black Prince," Chiyoko said, though her tone sounded defeated like she knew the result of the battle already.

Thank you Miss Miya, I know your crew gave it your all to give me this chance, I won't waste it

Miho thought, then relayed orders to her amphibious tank commander. "Miss Uenishi, keep hitting them from the river."

"Roger!" Chiyoko said excitedly as she continue to have her gunner hit the enemy tank destroyer.

Watching from her cupola, Miho saw the Panzer 4 now reverse back, but Fukuda order her Type 4 Ke-Nu forward to keep up with the reversing. The pint size first year and her fellow crew members were doing what they could, but they had overreach now. As the M4A3E8 rotated its turret to line up on the small Japanese tank harassing Oarai's commander, as it had the angle on its 76mm gun to it, then fire.

The high velocity gun's shell came roaring out. Hitting the Type 4 Ke-Nu with so much force, it sent the tank onto its side in front of the Panzer 4 who stopped. Smoke billow heavily into the sprinkling sky, as the white kill flag pop up on the Chi-Ha-Tan tank. In the last match these first years had played heroes that rescue their commander from peril, but this time the result play out differently. They had done all they could, but had to paid the price for fighting back with no shells.

"No…" Miho whisper out, seeing the destruction of her junior as the Panzer 4 rolled around to come again at the Tiger 1.

"Miho what should we do?" Nomi ask.

Knowing she had to keep pressing forward now, Miho refocus herself. "Pivot the tank around and full speed to the bridge."

Then Miho open a net call to the Type 3 Ka-Chi tank commander. "Miss Uenishi, keep firing from the river. I'm making for the bridge, but don't overextend yourself."

"Roger that," Chiyoko said, but her mind was already made up to give her commander the fighting chance, just like Fukuda had done.

Moteki quickly rotated the tank around, then put it into highest gear to get their tank moving once more. As Yukari's Panzer 4 came forward, she was met by an AP shell from the from the Type 3 Ka-Chi, who had made landfall now as a way to be more accurate on solid ground, and was able to fire at the expose track that wasn't cover by a side armor skirt, a result from the earlier duel with the Tiger 1 tearing it off.

Quickly the Panzer 4 spun out of control without its left track. Turning its tank all the way to face towards the river. Though this gave Yukari the perfect chance to fire back now, having Hana line up on the Type 3 Ka-Chi, and with the deadly efficiency she was known for, fire their gun, taking out the amphibious tank that was buying time for their Chi-Ha-Tan commander. The Panzer 4's shell puncture the hollow pontoon flotation section at the front of the Type 3 Ka-Chi, which overloaded the system as a kill shot.

Watching with a grimace, Miho saw the white kill flag pop up on her fellow teammate's tank. Another loss to add to ever rising casualty list for Chi-Ha-Tan. Yet the brave first year had also given Miho a chance, with the Panzer 4's left track out, now was out of the pursuit. Leaving the M36B2 and M4A3E8 coming on to follow the Tiger 1.

With the bridge now coming into sight, no more than 200 meters away. It was a balsa design of a wooden bridge, meant to be able to take on the weight of tanks, due to its many support pillars over the rushing water.

Miho again ask for swerving from her driver. As the remaining American tanks fire on her, trying to finally put this scrappy foe down. Again being thwarted by its persistence to survive all they were throwing at it, making their crew's minds become exhausted by the prolonged fight.

Miho was reaching her end as well, but knew they had to not waste their comrades sacrifices up to this point, as she touch her throat microphone. "Nomi, traverse the gun left, hit the bridge, aim for the support pillars."

"Ooo…ok," Nomi said in a perplexed tone, but began to spin the handwheel traverse to the left, getting the wooden bridge in sight. Then fire an AP shell at it, the solid shell taking out one of the middle pillars.

"Good, keep hitting them," Miho said over the crew net.

Now seeing what Miho was trying to do, made Nomi grin once again at another crazy plan her commander had. Nomi let loose 3 more shells, while they kept dodging the enemy shells flying at them from behind. 3 more support pillars were taken out in quick succession, even with all the swerving.

As they quickly reach the bridge, Miho's Tiger 1 made a sharp left up the ramp onto the bridge. Even over the roaring of enemy cannons Miho could hear the heavy creaking of the wood bending under the weight of her tank. The Balsa Wooden bridge was again designed to be able to take the weight of her tank, but having taken out several support pillars had weakened its integrity badly.

Just as Miho wanted.

"Keep pressing over the bridge, Watabe, use the machine and fire to tear up the side supports on our right, Nomi use the coaxial machine gun to tear up the side support on the left as we cross," Miho order now.

"Are you trying to bring the bridge down!?" Nene said frightfully, as she was scared of their tank falling into the rushing water below, if it completely collapse before they were over it.

"Are you really asking that, you know mom likes doing the craziness stuff," Moteki said with a shake of the head, while keeping steady hands on the wheel.

"Scared to get a little wet, you big baby," Nomi teased.

"Sca…Scardey…ca…ca…cat," Watabe added to fun.

"Ok, let it go on record here that I'm the only sane one in this crew," Nene gripe to her crewmates.

Miho chuckle a little as their tank's machine guns continue to do their work. Turning around in her cupola, the sight M4A3E8 coming up across the bridge made her gasp. As the added weight of even the slightly lighter tank, seem to be the final straw for the bridge, as without its support pillars near the middle of it, gave way under the pressure.

"Fukushu stop!" Miho shouted, but it was too late as to her horror her half-sister's tank began to fall.

XxxxX

Fukushu lurch a bit in her cupola, as the middle part of the bridge her M4A3E8 had been crossing to follow her half-sisters Tiger 1, began to crumble under the weight of her tank. The sudden sound of wood snapping and cracking under her tanks weight was evident, making the poor girl's heart stop as she knew there was nothing but rushing water beneath them. Making her have to act quickly to save her crew.

"Everyone out of the tank!" Fukushu order, as she quickly got out of her cupola, to kneel down on top of it while holding onto the brim, wanting to make sure her crew got off before her.

Both hatches over the bow gunner area and driver area pop open quickly, as Rebecca and Holly scramble out their respective areas, then jump off the tank. The loaders hatch open up, with Alice quickly making her way out of the tank, though she stop seeing Fukushu waiting for a moment, but her tank commander order her off. Leaving the last crew member, Nicole, coming out of the commander's cupola since it was closer to her gunner's chair.

"Would you hurry up?!" Fukushu screamed at her crimson hair gunner.

Just coming out of the commander's cupola, Nicole turn to growl at her friend. "I'm going as fast as I can!"

Before Fukushu could respond, the integrity of the bridge finally snap under the weight of the tank. It crumble down, wood splintering, supports snapping, and the M4A3E8 going down with it all. Yet the young Nishizumi wasn't going to let her gunner go down. Even if they had started out as enemies in training, constantly at each other's throat. When they had finally got along, Fukushu never had a closer friend in the entire academy. She would protect that friend at all cost.

Not waiting anymore on her friend, Fukushu grab Nicole's tankery jacket forcefully. Luckily she had gained some strength in Linda's fitness regime, as she hoisted the gunner out of the tank, with a yelp from said gunner, who was surprised by the sudden lifting.

"Go!" Fukushu yell in her face.

Not bothering with arguing, Nicole jump down the tank first. With Fukushu just about to climb down with her. Yet a sudden dip from the collapsing bridge caused Fukushu to lose her footing on top of the tank's slippery rain soak hull. The feeling of being weightless shocked her, then the sudden hard impact of her head snapping against the top of her turret turned the lights out, while her tanker's helmet adsorb some of the impact, but was not enough to keep the girl conscious.

As the middle of the bridge finally collapse downward, taking the M4A3E8 Sherman down. Along with it a young girl down into rushing water, and to her demise.

XxxxX

Ellie aboard her M36B2 who had stayed back from the collapsing bridge, having tried earlier to call Fukushu back from going over it, as she had understood what the Tiger 1 was doing earlier. Firing at the bridge's supports to weaken its integrity, so when they cross it fall under their tanks weight. Yet Fukushu hadn't heeded her blonde friend's warning as now her M4A3E8 Sherman was falling into the water.

It was only watching the bridge collapse now, was when Ellie spotted a body falling with the tank. It horrify her, as she watch the body splash into the water. She couldn't tell who it was, but she instantly try to get out of her tank to dive into the water. However, she was stopped as her loader grab her before she could exit the tank.

"Ellie, you can't, the river's current is too much even for you," Sophia, the loader for the M36B2 said, holding onto her tank commander.

"Let me go! That's one of our girls in there, it could be Fukushu!" Ellie yell back with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, girls help me out," Sophia said, regretting her own words, but had to look after her tank commander.

The other crew members work their way up the tank, to help restrain their tank commander. Who fought against them, as her tears came down in a torrent, which was matched by the crew members who just as much wanted to dive in. Yet not at the cost of more girls that might be hurt in the attempt, hating themselves all the more for having to think this way.

XxxxX

"Fukushu!" Konomi yell in desperation, shooting up from her chair in the press box. Having just witnessed on the screen of the M4A3E8 Sherman falling into the water from the bridge. With it, her adoptive daughter who had just snapped her head on the back of the tank, and fell lifelessly into the water.

Shiho sitting from her seat, didn't rise up. Yet something grip her heart for the bastard daughter of her husband falling into the water. It was a reminder for her of what had happened to Koume and her crew's Panzer 3 in last year's final. Shiho remember how indifferent she felt about that at the time, if anything she had been more focus and angry about Miho leaving her tank leaderless against the enemy.

Did I really only care about victory? What if Koume died? What the hell is wrong with me?

The thoughts clouded Shiho's mind. She had been so blind by restoring her family name, and continuing the dominance that Kuromorimine had enjoy all these years. A sudden feeling of illness gripped Shiho's stomach, making her feel like she was going to throw up at any moment. The truth of how far she had distanced herself from reality, from what was important in her life, what she should have fought so hard to keep together, instead of breaking apart.

Standing to her feet, she resolve to try and be better, to let go of the past.

With a trembling hand, Shiho reach out to touch her cousin's shoulder.

Yet the past was too much to let go of.

Feeling the hand on her shoulder, Konomi turn to look at her cousin with a bewildered look. To see the great Shiho Nishizumi, trying to show compassion. What should have been a comforting gesture to the Konomi, only made her angrier, seeing the very women who humiliated her, try to suddenly show she cared. There had been a time before, when she was on the streets, walking in the cold. That Konomi hope maybe Shiho, the very cousin she held in such high respect would come save her.

Yet again, those were the thoughts of a naive girl she had been. In the end, no one but Konomi's brother had looked after her, while Shiho went on to win nothing but glory and prestige from her time in tankery. Now that said women was trying to have a change of heart now, which Konomi was going to have none of.

Shrugging the hand off, Konomi turn to Shiho. "Don't ever touch me ever again."

"I was jus-," Shiho try to say.

"You were just soothing your bruised ego, knowing how much of a disgusting person you are. Don't act as if you care, actually, you probably wanted this," Konomi accuse.

Shiho gave her cousin a hard look. "I don't want the child to die."

"Don't lie to yourself, don't forget I know who you really are. You sacrifice anyone to get what you want," Konomi growled, no longer able to keep herself in check.

"I thought I told you to mind your tongue around me," Shiho growl back, losing her composure now.

"That's not going to happen, cousin, so you best find a way to deal with it," Konomi shot back, no longer caring to keep appearances now.

"Yo-," Shiho began to argue, but something on the wall-mounted T.V. caught her eye.

She turn to see the drones that were broadcasting the game, catch sight of Miho, her daughter jumping out of her tank. Konomi turn to look at the screen now, seeing her niece as well jumping out of her tank, both women's anger put on hold for now. As they both were in awe as if they knew what Miho was going to do. Whatever differences they had with one another, could be set aside for the very girl who wanted nothing more than to bring her family together once more.

XxxxX

Back on the field, Miho was just climbing out of her tank that she order to stop before they cross over it completely. Climbing down the backside of it, the only goal in her mind was to make for the M4A3E8 Sherman that fell into the water. She had just seen its crew climb out, with Fukushu being the last to try and get off. Yet had slipped and snap her head on the back of the tank, then her body fell into the water lifelessly. In turn shocking Miho, who suddenly had flashbacks to that fateful day last year.

To the day she almost lost her good friend Koume, now it was happening again. Yet this time it was someone who hated her, who wanted nothing to do with her, and wanted to beat her in this match for what Shiho had done to her mother some time ago. For only a moment before, Miho hesitated, to which made her feel sick that she even had such a feeling. Which prompted her to now leave her tank, caring again little for the match once again like last year, and only think of helping a person in need.

Just as she had jumped off the back of the tank and onto what was left of the bridge just able to keep her balance on the wet surface, Nene open her hatch over her loaders area, then spoke while watching her commander take off. "Miho it's dangerous!"

"I know, but I can't let her drown!" Miho said, not stopping as she ran down the bridge to the collapse middle of it.

Whatever else her concern loader said that was matched by the rest of her crew climbing out of their tank to add their voices to Nene's, Miho ignore it. Needing to not waste any more time, as she ran as fast as she could. As she near the collapsed middle of the bridge, she could see Fukushu's crew all fighting with one another. They were shouting in English, so Miho couldn't understand what they were saying, but could guess that some were trying to hold back one of their crew with crimson hair from jumping into the rushing water.

Miho didn't bother trying to talk with them, but Fukushu's crew stop arguing as they saw the Chi-Ha-Tan commander come running up. Then to their surprise watch her jump off the broken bridge and into a dive. Miho kept her arms together as she dive into the water, her form that would make any Olympic diver nod their head in approval to her form.

She hit the cold water quickly, then Miho kick her legs and use her arms to get back to the surface. As she pop her head up, catching her breath, she was suddenly pulled along by the strong current northward up the river. She did her best to keep steady along the rolling waters, as she quickly scan for her half-sister, which was hard as rushing water bobbled her up and down, making her lose a sense of direction quickly.

Luckily the Sherman tank had sunk to the bottom of the deep river, so she didn't hit it on the dive in.

Not deterred by rushing water, Miho began to paddle her way with the current, desperately looking from left to right. Quickly she could feel her stamina being sapped from the excruciating amount of stress being put on it, having already been in a long duel before tiring her out. Yet she push to the back of her mind, as she continue to search for Fukushu.

Then finally the sight of her half-sister came into view, though it made Miho's heart clinch, as she saw her simply floating face down in the rushing water. Which only fuel Miho to press forward, pumping her arms and kicking her legs as fast as they could, feeling them burn from the pressure being put on them, yet Miho push this to the back of her mind as she push further along the river.

Through all the constant rushing water, Miho push to reach her half-sister. Finally, she got to the lifeless body, grabbing hold of it tightly. Now the fight to get to the bank of the river, which seem like an eternity away for Miho who was being shoved around in the fast pace water, while holding Fukushu to her body. Leaving her with only one arm to paddle with, that was doing little good to get her out of the middle of the river current that was dragging her further and further from the bridge she had dived from.

Water got into Miho's mouth causing her choke a little, gasping for air in gulps as her stamina was reaching its end. Her right arm felt like it was starting to cramp up on her, while her left held onto her half-sister. Her legs at this point felt like jello, but her mind was razor focus. Allowing her to ignore this pain with the adrenaline flowing through her, giving her a moment to push through all the pain.

With one last gasp, Miho try a different technique in the water, something she had seen Navy Seals use in America for water rescue. Keeping her left arm around Fukushu's chest, she perform a cross-chest carry, letting her half-sister's body remain above water with one arm around her, while Miho under the water began to use her right arm to pull against the current sideways to the western bank, while keeping her hip against Fukushu's back for leverage and keep her half-sister's head above water.

Now it was gut-check time, as Miho had to one arm stroke several times with her head below water, then bring it above water to get some air, then repeat the process. Every time she came up, the sight of the bank was getting closer for her, which only motivated Miho more to push to get her half-sister to safety. Again and again, stroke after stroke in the water, never letting the words quit into her mind, only needing to save her family member prodding her on, and forget the pain.

Then after another stroke, her hand touch something soft, yet rough and solid. Bringing her head up, Miho saw she had made it to the muddy bank. There were some trees and bushes adorning the edge of the bank. Using what strength she could, which was difficult with only one arm in use, Miho pulled herself up onto the muddy bank. Once she was out of the water completely, she then use both arms to drag the lifeless body of Fukushu across the ground till they were under a host of trees.

Miho wasn't allow much of breather, as she took in the sight of Fukushu's face, which was pale. Instant terror went through Miho, knowing she had to do something for Fukushu whose lungs had to be filled with water after falling into the river unconscious. Quickly Miho remember the CPR classes she had to do at Kuromorimine, something the school prided to have their girls know in case of need to use it in real life.

Crawling over to Fukushu, Miho came to her side. First she unclip the 1938 US tankers helmet off and tossed it to the side, then unzip the heavily soak tankery jacket Fukushu was wearing to give her access to her thin black shirt underneath. Next Miho place the heel of her hand in middle of Fukushu's chest, with her other hand on top of the other. Then she began to pump her hands into the chest, doing it thirty times, with the last step pinching Fukushu's nose, then place her mouth over hers to give her two breaths into her lungs. Then repeated the process, five more times.

"Come on, come on, don't leave me. We don't even know each other, but we're sisters. Come on, I want to know why you don't want to be family, please Fukushu, don't give up!" Miho screamed, as she began another cycle of pumping the chest.

As if Fukushu heard her, the youngest Nishizumi spat up water. Her body jerked as air began to circulate in her lungs, coughing hard several times to get the last of the water out of her lungs. Miho, running practically on empty after her rescue, still help her half-sister sit upright, who cough some more, as Miho rub her back to help her.

With her coughing fits coming to an end, Fukushu turn to her left to look at Miho who was staring at her with a tired smile. Memories began to playback in her mind, to her tank beginning to fall off the collapsing bridge, and then to point where her head snap back against the tank's turret knocking her out.

After that it was blank, but one thing was for sure, Fukushu knew she should have die in that fall. Yet she was alive, alive because the very one she had been trying to beat, to humiliate like her mother did to hers long ago. Had saved her, leaving Fukushu's mind blank and only able to utter some simple words out to her foe.

"This isn't happening."

XxxxX

A collective sigh from three young girls echo through the tent.

Maho, Koume, and Erika had been out of their seats watching Miho dive into the water to save the American tanker who had fell in. Each were holding their breath, as again they watch this selfless girl, not only save someone from drowning, but a foreigner as well. For each of them, they were all having flashbacks to that day in the final of the 62nd tournament, where Miho had done the same thing, but saving Koume and her crew's life.

For Maho, she still remember the ending gun sound, telling her they lost. She had kept calm on the surface, but fear ran through her knowing they had lost and their mother would be very unpleased. Especially against Miho who had been the flag tank, but when she found out later that her little sister hadn't lost them the match because the enemy took her out during an engagement, but because she had dove into the river to save their teammates only warm her heart.

Maho felt sick to her stomach that she actually was having thoughts about scolding her sister, but knowing that Miho had put her own life at risk for others, made Maho question a lot things about herself. Was she so ready to blindly follow the Nishizumi style to the point that her teammates drowning was ok? Had she fallen that deep off the edge of her humanity?

She remember walking by Miho without a word to board the truck for home. Yet it wasn't done because she was ashamed of her little sister, no, Maho was ashamed of herself. She couldn't muster any words to Miho because she in that one act, prove to be better in every sense of Sensha-do than her older sister. Maho felt dirty and unworthy of the role of heiress, wanting with all her power to hand it over to Miho, but decided in that moment to be better. To improve herself to be worthy of the honor of being the heiress.

Koume for her part, still had nightmares of that day. The water slipped into the Panzer 3, her crew crying for help. She herself tried with all her might to get the hatch open over her commanders cupola, but to no avail. Getting to the point where Koume accepted she was going to die, but Miho didn't let that happen. She with all her strength pull the hatch open to let her teammates out. Then they all swam to the surface and to the muddy bank to get away, where Koume and her crew swarm their sub commander thanking her for saving their lives.

Yet when the tensions of losing took place at the school itself in the weeks following, Miho began to gradually distance herself. Koume to her shame didn't try to be more to be at her friend's side, believing she needed space, but in reality, Koume should have been at Miho's side even if she herself didn't want it. More than anything now, Koume wish she would have fought hard for Miho, to show her that what she had done was everything that Sensha-do should have been about at their school, to have each other's back, forgetting titles and prestige. That the team matter more in the end.

For that failure for not pushing to be at Miho's side, Koume resolve to fight to honor Miho's efforts that day, and now Maho would also be honored by this newly remade girl to win together with her team she love so much.

Erika was the most affected by this, mostly because she still held onto a deep regret about that day. Back before that final, she always had a grudge against Miho. Because she had been chosen to what Erika perceived as favoritism of being the sister of Maho. There was no questioning Maho at her commander's position, she had more than earn it by her actions in the 61st tournament which Erika watch before she join the famous school to study the Nishizumi style.

Yet Miho was nothing like her stalwart sister. So timid, so shy, so unsure. Erika hated her from the moment Miho did her botch greeting, but that wasn't to last long. As Miho time and time again in the 62nd tournament fought her way in the Tiger 1, and won doing it. Erika had to come to respect her skill, which could no longer be overlooked anymore, even as some team members up until the final questioned her.

Then came the moment that change everything. Erika in the escorted Panzer 3 at the rear of the column as her, Miho, and Koume beat off the Pravda attack back along the river, watching in horror as Koume's Panzer 3 fell into the river. At that moment, to her shame, she had to decide in her own mind what was more important, the match or her teammate. Yet Miho had no indecision, going after Koume, which snap Erika out of her daze.

Trying to honor her sub commander selflessness, she try to get her Panzer 3 in front of the Tiger 1, but Pravda's IS-2 took it out and ended the match. Afterwards, Erika came down to help Koume's crew who came swimming up to the bank, but even as one of them clung to her, Erik felt secretly disgusted with herself over how she had to decide over a match and the lives of her teammates.

Things were made worse when news got out that Miho had left the school, angering Erika that she had done nothing to help her. Just stood off to the side and let it happen, but that was all behind them now. Miho was in a happier place, doing what she love with a group of odd girls who gave her a place to belong to which Erika could see was the right decision in the end.

Having their own reflections now passing their minds, the three girls sat back down in their seats slowly. With their eyes never leaving the satellite T.V. watching Miho talk to the tanker, checking on her.

Erika though, drew her eyes away to look pass Maho in the middle to Koume, feeling she needed to say something she had never said to her up to this point.

"Koume," Erika call quietly to her friend.

Leaning forward in her seat, Koume look at Erika with a perplex look. "Yes?"

"Um, I…I…I…I wanted to say sorry," Erika mumble out.

That made the perplexed look on Koume's face widen. "For what?"

"For that day in the final last year. I never told you this before, but I hesitated wondering if I should have saved you or the flag tank," Erika said, then feeling like a flood of hidden regrets came out of her, got up from her seat to stand in front of Koume.

"Erika, you don't need to aplog-," Koume try to reply.

"I do!" Erika yell, then bow deeply to Koume. "No matter what, we were teammates that should always look out for each other. Yet I care more about a victory flag than your life, so please accept my apology for that day. You are my friend now, and I will never betray that trust ever."

That made Koume go wide eye, as she never thought she hear Erika openly admit that they were friends. She always thought of their relationship as professional, but over the course of this year, that had been gradually changing to the point that now they were open with each other in their odd friendship.

With a pleasant smile on her face, Koume rose from her seat. Then she reach out to touch Erika's face, making the silver hair girl bring herself up to look her friend in the eye.

"Erika, know I see you as my friend. A hot headed friend," Koume teased.

"Hey!" Erika growled at her.

Koume chuckle, then calm down as she reply. "Yet nonetheless, I'm grateful to call you my friend, as there is no one else I would want to have my back in a dire situation."

A small genuine smile cross Erika's face. "Yes, I will always think of you and our teammates first, always."

That made Koume's smile grow wider, then couldn't control herself and leap at Erika for a hug. With the sudden feeling of being enveloped by the slightly smaller girl, made Erika blush from the contact, while also she argue about Koume being too touchy. Yet Koume didn't care, as now it was Erika who had finally had her big change, just like commander Maho had had hers, making Koume once again glad she hadn't given up Sensha-do, as she was seeing the best parts of it day by day.

Watching this from her seat, Maho just smile at her friend's closeness, making her feel confident about the future of the team. One without her leading it, though hopefully, she could make it through this tournament with her condition. Turning back to the screen, with the Federation drone zooming in now on Miho and the American tanker, the sight suddenly made Maho's breathe hitch.

Looking at the young American girl intently, then looking to Miho, Maho thought they were twins. Though the only difference was the long hair on the American and the grey eyes. The very eyes Maho remember her father having, and then it hit her.

"It's her," Maho said in a whisper, looking at the Nishizumi of America Miho had mentioned to her before.

Clinching her hands in her lap, Maho grew angry, because her mother had to have some inkling of this, since she told Maho she was going to some important meeting with the entire Federation board a week or so ago. Which if that was the case, Miho had to be also left in the dark, while dealing with this in the match. To think once again she was looking at her mother like she was a villainess made Maho's stomach clench.

"Mother, why didn't you say anything," Maho said in a whisper lowering her head, as sadness gripped her heart.

Seeing her commander distraught state, Koume turn to look at the screen and gasp. Her reaction made Erika turn to the screen as well, matching her friends shock state. They were both looking at twins, or so they thought of Miho and this American tanker, with a few small deviations.

They weren't the only ones gasping at the sight, as the Nishizumi of America had been introduced to the world, but not in the dramatic way the very girl in question wanted.

XxxxX

Back on the field, with the sound of the rushing water behind them. Miho look into her half-sister face, which was slowly regaining its color. Though she could tell she was cold, which didn't help when they were both soak through to the bone. The only good thing they could count on was that the rain had stop, with a chance to rest after such a long fight to save her sisters life.

Yet Fukushu just stare at Miho, feeling completely befuddle knowing she had rescue her. Then Fukushu stood up and walk away into the woods, wanting to be anywhere but near the very girl who rescue her life. With a shocked look, Miho watch her walk away, unsure of what to do. Before making her mind up to go after Fukushu trying to get away from her in the woods.

"Hey, you need to sit down, you just got resituated," Miho call after her half-sister, while trying to keep pace, but her legs felt shaky at this point.

"Shut up! I don't care!" Fukushu yell over her shoulder.

That made Miho balk, as she had hoped that they could talk calmly now, but that was far from the case as she spoke. "Please, you need to rest."

Spinning around in anger, Fukushu spoke. "Don't tell me what to do. I won't listen to some daughter of that monster of a woman your mother is."

Now the two girls were standing face to face, while a Federation drone quietly move into the woods to capture the exchange between the two girls for all the world to see.

"My mother is not a monster," Miho said, once again surprising herself by how defensive she was becoming about her mother.

Fukushu grip her own face as she chuckle darkly. "You have no idea, and you're the older one here, but you're so naive. What a joke all of this is, you don't deserve to be where you're at."

"I don't understand," Miho argue back.

Bringing her hands down, Fukushu stare back at her almost twin of a half-sister. "Of course you don't. You're just some pamper girl, who's never known what it's like to struggle to achieve what you want."

For one of the few times in her life, Miho grew angry. Again, just like before the match, Fukushu was just assuming she knew her half-sister without ever truly talking to her. Yet whatever it took, Miho needed to get the complete story, so she could understand Fukushu's hostility, and hopefully squash it, so they could be family.

"I have struggled to get here," Miho said, a fire in her eyes now and her voice becoming hard. "I've only gotten here because I've struggled, and nothing was handed to me."

"That's a damn lie!" Fukushu yell back.

"It is not, I left my home because I want-," Miho try to say.

"I don't care what you did! I don't care what pains you've to think you've gone through, because it can't hold a candle to what I've gone through," Fukushu said, closing the distance between, making Miho flinch at how angry she looked.

"Why won't you hear me out?!" Miho cry out.

With small tears in her eyes, Fukushu spoke once more. "I won't hear the words of a daughter my father always wanted, while I was nothing but a cheap replacement in his eyes."

The words were said, the secret hatred of the bastard daughter that even Konomi had no inkling of, was now made know to the very girl Fukushu hated.

"Father? What do you mean?" Miho ask again.

"What do I mean?! Are you stupid?! I was a mistake, don't you get that. Our damn father had me because he was unfaithful to that damn mother of yours, and to soothe his own ego he try to raise me, but never loved me," Fukushu said, her hands at her side closing into fist.

That let Miho in a state of shock. To hear what really was bothering her half-sister, which was deeper than just this avenging her mother Fukushu had said before the match. With the truth out, Miho's thoughts turn to her father, the very man who had been absent from her life since she was 6 years old. Though her memories were hazing, Miho still remember her father as a happy and joyful man who use to play with her and Maho, and it seem crazy to think he might not have been the same way with Fukushu. Though memories of him fighting with her mother were also there.

"I…I…I get that father cheated. He was the one to make my mother turn into the person she is now," Miho said sadly.

"The person she is now? Fuck, your worst off than I thought. Your mother was always like that, she destroy the women of your family because she wanted to be in the position she is in now," Fukushu explain, losing her will to not curse, mostly because her Konomi and Jasmine weren't here to scold her.

"That's not right, she wouldn't do that," Miho said, but doubt was creeping into her mind. She once remember her and Maho finding an old picture of her mom during her days at Kuromorimine, where she look emotionless and ruthless, but her mom at the time waved it off as her being grouchy.

Now that seem to confirm a bit that maybe Fukushu was right. Yet as much as Miho fears her mother, even now, she still love her. The days of being a playful mother and daughter still work their way into Miho's dreams, making her sometimes wake up in the middle of night with tears in her eyes over the lost days that seem to be not real anymore.

"I will make that judgment for myself when I talk to her, but right now, I want us to come together at least. We're sisters, we share the same blood," Miho said, trying at least to get some happiness out of this.

Yet Fukushu wasn't having it. "What don't you get about this. I want nothing to do with you. I came into this match to destroy you, not just for my adoptive mother, but for myself. I was going to take some pleasure out having beaten you down, just to prove to our father who he should have really loved in the end."

"You think he would have wanted that?" Miho shot back, aghast at her half-sister's reasoning.

"Don't fucking try to tell me what he wants," Fukushu said, practically in Miho's face now.

Miho against her better judgement, said the words that would set in motions things that would have far-reaching ramifications. "Fukushu, I may have not known my father well. Yet he care for us back then, as he care for you I bet. He loved you, I know that."

The words made Fukushu stare in silence at her half-sister, then without warning, she shove Miho. With the sudden aggression catching her off guard and already standing on shaky legs, Miho fell back onto the wet ground. Then she stare up to see her half-sisters face contort into full rage, teeth clench and veins popping along her forehead.

"You don't get to say that! Not to me! Because he always love you! Not me!" Fukushu screamed, with hot tears coming down her face at him.

Even with the angry words hurl at her, Miho spoke while still on the ground looking up. "You don't know that."

"I don't know that," Fukushu now said, her voice low in disbelief. Then she reach down to her tankery jacket breast pocket, to pull out a photo that had been luckily sealed in plastic so it didn't get wet.

Fukushu continue. "This is how I know he never wanted me," then she threw the photo at Miho's feet.

Leaning forward, Miho look at the picture. It was an old picture of Shiho smiling, holding onto 3 year Miho laughing in her mother's arm. Tsuneo was in the picture too, holding 4-year-old Maho on his shoulders, while she cover her dad's eyes, making him flail a bit. A picture of a happier time for them as a family, one that Miho couldn't quite remember, but the picture was starting to jog her memory a bit. Reaching out, Miho touch the picture tenderly, as if it was made of glass.

"Where did you get this?" Miho ask, her eyes never leaving the picture.

"From our father, where else do you think I got it from, I stole it from him when I left home," Fukushu growled.

"I didn't think he kept any memories of us when he left," Miho said, her eyes never leaving the picture.

"He did, and you know what. He stare at that picture in the middle of the night at our home, with more happiness than he ever look at me," Fukushu said, her voice sounding defeated.

That made Miho look up, but couldn't find the words to say back.

Making Fukushu keep talking. "Now do you get it. All those years I grew up with him, he just gave me a fake smile, one to hide the pain. The pain of not having what he really wanted, you and your family. He must have thought I couldn't see it, but I wizen up, I knew. All I wanted was to find a way to make him happy and make him proud of me, but anything I did was always met with a forced smile. I was never good enough, so when I decided to do something that make me happy and thought to make him proud of me, being in Sensha-do, he got mad, he yell at me, and he look at me like I was a disgrace."

Fukushu again clench her hands at her sides. The memories of seeing her father, sitting at the dinner table in the middle of the night, staring at the picture of the family he left behind with a soft, yet genuine smile. It made Fukushu jealous, since she was smart enough to see how he always look at her with this sadness. Things got only worse when she said she wanted to be in Sensha-do, to which he yelled at her. Afterword, she spent many nights, crying into her pillow, wondering why she wasn't wanted by even her own father in her mind. Why couldn't he look at her like did with that picture?

Now her wish was to defeat the Nishizumi family, tear down all the walls of sorrow they laid on her father. Then raise them up, bringing a happier form of Sensha-do, with Konomi guiding her. Hoping her father would see that Sensha-do can be something to be proud to watch, especially with his daughter doing it. The daughter he should have been loving all along in her mind.

Rising to her feet shakily, Miho knew she had to bring all of this to an end. Her half-sister was hurting, and hurting badly. She needed to know that she could let go of her anger, to be better then she is now. Just like Miho had to do, to let go of the need to meet expectations, and to find her love for tankery through her own actions. What had got her to that point was having Maho in her corner. To which Miho would try to do, and help Fukushu over this.

"Fukushu, I've struggle to be here, against my mother and our Sensha-do style. I probably out of anyone understands you. There are things I probably don't know about my family as you say, but no matter what, like I said before the match, I want us to be family," Miho stated.

That made Fukushu shake her head in disbelief. "What don't you get about this, we're never going to be family, nothing you say will make it magically happen."

Nothing I say huh?

Miho thought, though she knew maybe she was reaching with what she was about to say next. Miho was tired of being part of a broken family, when for some time with Chi-Ha-Tan Academy and its Sensha-do team, she had been with a complete family. They may not have share blood, but they were tankery sisters, who look after one another inside and outside their sport. All it took was some care, and Miho's whole world was brightened up by a team of girls who value her, not for her famous last name, but for just Miho.

Such a simple thing Miho needed and was given, that she would extend to Fukushu whether she wanted to hear it or not.

"Fukushu," Miho said, standing as tall as she could in her tired state.

Hearing the tone of her half-sister sounding serious, Fukushu gave Miho her full attention, ready to throw back anything she said.

"I love you," Miho said, letting a heartwarming smile cross her face now.

At first, Fukushu could say nothing back, then spoke in a quiet angry tone while shaking her head. "no…no…no….no."

"I love you," Miho said once again.

"No stop saying that," Fukushu said, her hands trembling at her side.

"I love you sister."

"Nooo!" Fukushu said, unable to handle the pull on her mind, as if these simple words were erasing all she fought to be at this point. All the sweat and tears she shed, now were seeming to mean nothing as three little words were destroying it.

Not knowing what to do, prodded by her hate still burning in her heart, made Fukushu have to do something. Stepping to close the distance with her half-sister, she close her right hand into a fist. Then pull it far back and threw it forward in a hard punch. Her form was perfect, the strong jab catching Miho who was too surprised and too tired to dodge.

Fukushu's fist connected right under Miho's left eye. The heavy sound of the flesh on flesh contact, sounded like a clap. With such force in the punch, Miho went down onto her side sprawl out, the right side of her face getting mud, grass, and twigs all over it on the ground. While Fukushu stood over her, breathing hard from the force of her punch.

Then there was just silence, as Fukushu's eyes stay on Miho's sprawl out body on her side. She wasn't moving, just staying where she was. Instead of feeling victorious or glad of what she did, Fukushu felt something in her chest begin to squeeze. This wasn't what she wanted, this wasn't how things were supposed to be, she was just supposed to win this match and regain Konomi's honor.

How did things get to this point?

"He…he…hey, get up," Fukushu said, fear in her voice staring at Miho, then felt something sticky and slippery running down her hand.

Staring at her hand, made Fukushu go wide eye in fear. As blood ran down it, dripping down onto the earth. It wasn't hers, it was Miho's, which made Fukushu's hand begin to shake, as she had spilled blood. Yet had gained nothing from it, but wonder if she was the real monster here.

Laying on the ground, Miho was losing consciousness. Under her left eye, she felt something trickling down her face. It was warm and sticky, but she couldn't focus on it, as her right eye, the only one she could see through, was closing slowly now. Her exhaustion was too much for her body, now shutting down in need of rest.

Yet in her near dream state, a voice call out to Miho. A voice she felt familiar with, but unfamiliar with at the same time. The voice spoke in her mind, like the person was right there with her, talking into her ear with a sharp tongue that commanded her attention.

My dear granddaughter…

You are the true Nishizumi, you are what we've been searching for…

Your mother was a pretender, your sister will never reach the heights because she will be held back…

Yet I can feel it, your potential that will be unleashed one day…

However, doubts remain, that I must rectify before your mother waste your potential…

So I wonder, when the time comes…

What will you do when you are pushed to your limits…?

What will you do when your enemies try to break you…?

What will you do when you must break down the walls of defeat…?

What…

Will…

You…

Become..?


Author Thought:

Well that was heavy.

Now we've seen what secretly was driving Fukushu, leading to things that will have far reaching consequences for a lot people in this story, not just her.

I had hope this would be the ending chapter, but again got so long, that I will have to do another one. Hopefully I can get it out soon, since were near the end, with the victor still up in the air. Thanks again for reading this volume up to this point, and hope you have great rest of your day.

Till the Next Author Thought.