"Fire!" Fukuhara ordered aboard her Type 97 Short gun.

The tank's 120mm submarine gun roar loudly with its cannon blast, making the tank roll back from the force of its gun's velocity. With its anti-recoil cylinders just able to keep the tank from completely rolling back, since this gun was way larger than the tank was intended for by a lot.

Its target was the M4 Sherman, sitting sideways down the road because Fukuda had taken its track out earlier. Now was the perfect target, as the huge explosive shell hit the side of the tank, again not doing enough damage for the sensors to react as a kill shot. Yet enough to give its crew a good shakeup from the force of the blast, just as their commander wanted to use the tank's gun, and Fukuhara was loving every second of it.

"Good hit!" Maita aboard the Mk 4 Valentine mark as the operator tank said over the net, as her tank charged at the M4 Sherman now, hoping her teammate's blast would suppress it long enough for her to get close. Her tank's QF 2-pounder gun was not going to penetrate the Sherman's armor from range and needed to close the distance to within 50 or fewer meters for a chance to get the kill.

Yet Fukuhara wasn't given the chance to call back to her upperclassmen. As through the smoke of the blast, she could see the M4 Sherman, seeming to not be fazed at all by the blast, begin to line up their 75mm gun against the Type 97 Short gun. Making Fukuhara lean back in her cupola, knowing her reload wasn't going to be fast enough to fire back.

"Maita, its go-," Fukuhara began to say, but was cut off as the American tank fired, with its shell puncturing the front armor as if it were nothing, while overloading the systems as a kill shot, with the dreaded white kill flag coming up over smoking tank.

Looking back from her hatch, Maita tap the top of her turret in frustration over another loss. Leaving her now all alone, but her junior had given her this chance, just like Fukuda, Ishido, Kimura, and all the first years who had been fighting tooth and nail today. They were rookies, with no knowledge or experience from Maita and the other upperclassmen to give them the tools to fight in Sensha-do. Yet Miho had rectified that with her training to which these eager cubs took advantage of.

Now came the time to show why these cubs now look up to Maita now, and she would do it by honoring the Voltigeur platoon spirit.

Touching her throat microphone to her crew, Maita spoke over the net. "Kama, full speed ahead, while veering off the road."

"Roger!" Kama, the driver reply while working the sticks.

"Sui, traverse left and hold your fire till I say," Maita said, then lower herself back into the tank. Even though she was the commander, she had to act as a loader as well for her gunner.

"Got it, where are we trying to hit the Sherman?" Sui ask turning to look over to her tank commander.

"its side armor that is pointed to us, since it spun out on the road, thanks to Fukuda. Hit it after we get a bit closer, were also not stopping, so have to hit it on the move," Maita order, knowing she was going against her commander's teachings about being stationary while firing.

The reason was for this breaking of the commander's teachings, since the most impressive feature of the Sherman M4 that most people didn't credit it for, was turret rotation. With ranges of 15 to 20 seconds to do a full 360 turn, gave it exceptional turret traverse speed which at times was all the difference to winning a duel, with even some of Germany's greatest tanks during World War Two.

Maita knew this well, and why she needed to keep moving. As she peak her head above the open hatch to see the Sherman quickly traversing its gun in their direction. The distance between the two tanks was no more than 50 meters by Maita's best guess, and knew the moment was right to win this duel.

Yet the Sherman had another trick ups its sleeve, that was becoming quite popular with Sensha-do teams to now begin to use once again. With its gun getting on target, to buy time to set up, the Sherman gunner use the 1919 Browning coaxial machine gun located in the tank's turret. Red machine gun tracers splash widely all over the Mk 4 Valentine. Trying to buy time to get lined up to take the Chi-Ha-Tan operator tank out by trying to unnerve Maita's gunner.

Doing her best to aim through the tracers, Sui finally call her shot. "On the way!"

All the fury of the QF 2 Pounder gun was wasted as the shell screamed over the Sherman tank. Who then look ready to deliver some fury back to this enemy tank.

"Kama, full stop!" Maita order.

Pushing hard on the brake, the Mk 4 Valentine ground to a halt, kicking up dirt and grass. Which was just in time, as the 75mm gun of the Sherman fire, its shell smashing just in front of the hard stopping tank, to the spot the Sherman gunner was leading the shot towards. With its shell kicking off the ground and into the distance, just missing the takedown.

"Full speed forward! Sui, traverse to 9 o'clock, then do your best to hit that Sherman as we wrap around," Maita ordered, as she pick up a shell to slam into the 2 Pounders breech.

Both crew members acknowledge their tank commander's order. The Mk 4 Valentine push forward again, having to slip on the on the muddy ground at first, but finally got traction to go forward. With the Sherman again, splashing tracers into the passing tank, but these angry tracers were met by Sui who use the Mk 4 Valentines Besa coaxial machine gun, that spit out red tracers as well as their turret face over the side now at the opposing tank.

Then as both tanks look to fire at one another, a blaring alarm sounded off.

"All tanks are to cease hostilities immediately. The match for the moment is being suspended till further notice. This does not mean the match is over, if there are opposing tanks within 100 meters of each other, you are asked to give yourself 300 meters of space, in case the match is resume."

Maita was surprised by the sudden announcement, but got to work. "Kama stop, Sui hold fire."

The Mk 4 Valentine came to a stop, having just about crossed the face the Sherman's frontal armor that was facing sideways on the road at her. The Sherman's gun was lined up on the Mk 4 Valentine, but it seem the American tank crew had gotten the news as well, as they didn't fire at them. Suddenly the hatch above the Sherman pop open.

Standing tall in her cupola was an African American girl, wearing her 1938 US tankers helmet. With the distance at no more than 40 meters, the American tanker waved to the Maita's tank. Said tank commander also rose up in her hatch to wave back to the American tanker. Then both girls saluted one another, even if they didn't speak the same language, the respect of the hard-fought battle was there.

"Why do you think the match got stopped?" Kama ask from her driver's seat.

"Don't know, strange, never heard of a match being stopped by the Federation," Maita said, touching her chin thought, wondering what was going on.

"So what do we do now that match hostilities have ended?" Sui ask from her gunner's chair.

"Well we can't stay here, we need to give the enemy tank 300-meter spacing. It's only fair, though this will give them a chance to repair their broken track," Maita said with a shake of the head, while she watch the American tankers climb out of their Sherman to begin to repair their broken track Fukuda had blown off earlier.

"Well we got a good amount of fuel still, we made sure to top off before we left the last time from the supply base," Kama said from her driver's chair.

Touching her chin once again in thought, Maita ponder about what they should do. Her first thoughts were to go help Miho, yet she had sent Fukuda to go help her already. Even in the Type 4 Ke-Nu, she was certain the first year would show why she was going to be the Rookie of the Tournament when all was said and done, as that was how much Maita believe in her junior.

The commander is doing all she can to fight for our team's dream. I will be just getting in the way going to help her, but she might still need help…no, she would want me to find the path to victory, especially with the match so up in the air now, so I will obtain that path for Miho, with all I've got

With a gutsy idea coming to her, Maita made up her mind as she call down to her driver. "Kama, get us back on the road. We're heading to the city and helping Tozen Company. I'm pretty sure will do better there helping them get the Ooarai flag tank that has to be hiding somewhere in that city."

"Roger that," Kama said, while working the sticks and clutch. Veering the tank back onto the road.

"Pretty brave call your making Maita, have to say you're taking after our beloved commander," Sui said with a smile at her friend.

"She does inspire us to do this sort of thing, guess we should tease her about being a bad influence on us when this is over," Maita joke.

That made the crew chuckle to together, then Sui spoke. "Yea let's do that, I love seeing her get flustered. While I want to honor all she's done for us, by winning this match for her."

"Me too, we just need to push and hope a little luck comes our way to," Maita said.

Then another announcement was made over the comm system in the tank. "Alert to both Oaira and Chi-Ha-Tan. The rain has completely stopped, making conditions safe for what remains for both air forces to be called in one more time. They will be refitted for bomb runs and 20mm as well. However, you have to wait till the match is resume before you make the call."

"Well see, ask for a little luck and you get it. Now let's go win this thing for the commander," Maita boasted.

"Yea!" her crew roared back.

XxxxX

"Oh my! Dear Viewers, we've just seen the American tanker, whose life was saved by Miho Nishizumi, just throw a punch. I can't even find the words for this heinous act," Fumihiko Sakaguchi, host of the Sensha-do Battle network said, currently on screen.

"This is a disgrace, as an American, I like to be the first to apologize for this despicable action," Susan Marshall, the American co-host on the show said, then got up from her seat and bow gracefully to the screen deeply.

"Miss Susan, please be seated. You are no way at fault for this, as you are quite respected by many here in the Japan Sensha-do community," Fumihiko said, doing a balancing act of keeping the peace.

Susan nodded, but her face show definite sighs of grief. "Even so, as a fellow American, this reflects badly on us. Being someone who loves Sensha-do, and is an advocate for our government to take steps to accept it into our nation's sports program. I vow here and now, that when I return home, I will make sure this academy is held responsible, with written and verbal apologies. While also working personally to bring my own academy up that will honor all that Sensha-do is about, that is a promise to the people of Japan and the world."

The Sensha-do host nodded at her. "Then let be know, by me Fumihiko Sakaguchi, that I wholeheartedly endorse Miss Susan's words and commitment. Let us not let this poor showing from one tanker, ruin our American friends across the sea reputation. I believe Miss Susan will make good on her commitment and show what America can bring to Sensha-do in the future."

"Thank you Mister Fumihiko, I again promise to make good on this commitment. America will show it wants to be part of Sensha-do, with an academy worthy of fighting with respect for the sport," Susan said, again bowing in her seat.

Yet, for this American legend in Sensha-do, she was smirking on the inside. As everything had been turned upside down, but had given her the opportunity to accomplish her dream, just as Chiyo Shimada said it would.

XxxxX

In the great metropolis of Japan's capital city of Tokyo, the Sensha-do Federation Headquarters was in a state of panic. All because of one punch being thrown by the American tanker. Calls were coming in from casual viewers and diehard fans to complain about the action. The Call Center Agents were doing what they could to explain that things would be taken care of, but instead of quelling their anger, many were accusing the Federation themselves for allowing this American team into the match for ulterior motives that now caused one of Sensha-do's most renown tanker to get hurt.

Many saying the Federation was experimenting too much with the sport. That this last-second reinforcement perk was an excuse for them to bring these tankers into their sport, while pointing out the result of this perk by the conduct of one of their members who had been saved by Miho. Some of these callers were bold enough to question the head director himself for allowing this to happen, since he was the one in their minds proposing this plan.

While the caller agents try to handle the intense call volumes, Shichiro Kodama, the head director himself was sitting in his office on the top floor feeling the weight of what had happened. His elbows were on his desk, and his face was buried in his hands. Feelings of despair and anxiety were dominating his mind. With good reason, as he had just witnessed the punch thrown by the American tanker on the screen in his office, with the Sensha-do Network commenting on it, with replays showing it over and over.

What made things worse, was the audio itself was being played as well. Apparently, this American tanker was the daughter of Tsueno Nishizumi, who people knew cheated on his wife when the scandal was made public years ago. Back then people question the integrity of the Nishizumi house, which would now be even more in question after this, knowing the child was suffering from apparent neglect from the father.

Yet that was a whole different problem that had nothing to do with the director. What was the problem here, was the backlash coming in. Everyone would blame him for what had happened on the field, even if Renta, the head of MEXT, had suggested it. Kodama himself was the one to push for its acceptance with the board, or at least that's how the public would see it.

That went double for the American tankers brought into this sport. He wonders now if the International carrier system he had proposed would be put into jeopardy, since this poor showing from this foreign tanker, would cause hostilities from the Japanese public if other nations join Sensha-do. Which might put the world cup idea in trouble now as well.

All with one act, the world of Sensha-do had been turned upside down.

"Well this has been a bad turn for us," a voice said from across Kodama's desk.

Looking up from his hands, Kodama took in the sight of Renta Tsuji himself, wearing his usual black business suit, looking shady as ever.

"You mean for me," Kodama said, now leaning back into his office chair.

"Well no, we all are affected by this," Renta said.

A shake of the head with a defeated chuckle from Kodama follow the statement, then he spoke. "When it comes to any problems, it's always the person at the top people will go after. This will make things difficult for our sport in the future."

"Certainly, yet we can work things out. For now, though, what will we do about this match?" Renta ask.

"The referees are following protocol to suspend it, and will get medical personnel down there to check on the young Nishizumi," Kodama said.

"Fair enough, but you know our rules. Article 7, Section 45, rule 10. No match can be completely halted due to a physical confrontation. Unless both teams' commanders agree to it, to which both teams will be marked knock out," Renta explain.

Sharp as ever, as if you knew something like this would happen, damn you

Kodama thought, feeling something was up, since it was Renta himself who had found out somehow of this American team being built up. Suggesting it be good for the sport to have them added in, under the guise of this reinforcement perk. Now that was all working against him, since it had to be brought forth by Kodama himself. Renta would receive some blame, but the majority would fall on Kodama's shoulders.

"Whatever the case," Kodama began, forgoing the blame game. "The match will be suspended for now. The medics will make a decision on whether Miss Nishizumi can continue to participate."

"Very good, if she can't continue, what shall we do?" Renta ask.

"Will have one of her Vice Commanders that have been knocked out, take her place in the Tiger 1 for the remainder of the match," Kodama said.

"Is that legal?" Renta ask with a side-long look.

"I will make it legal for this match, and then next year with new rules. Since this is the second time Chi-Ha-Tan has had an injured member of the flag tank, so will need to adjust new rules for next year to account for this sort of thing happening," Kodama said.

"Understood, if you excuse me. I have paperwork that needs to be seen to," Renta said, then stood up to bow in respect, and then made his way out of the office.

Miss Shimada was right about this little scheme. Though if I'm honest, this result couldn't have been what she thought was going to happen

Renta thought with a smirk, as he left the office in a rare good mood for him.

XxxxX

Aboard the Akagi still at the port some hundreds of thousands of meters away from the match site, was resting on the calm seas, as the rainfall had finally stopped now. Though the community was quiet, mostly because many had left to go see the match against Oarai, which included most of the Chi-Ha-Tan students. Leaving only essential personal still on board, using this opportunity to do maintenance on the ship.

At the Chi-Ha-Tan academy itself, the Headmaster of the academy, Hidemichi was pacing around his office. As he had also seen the punch thrown by the American tanker, who had obvious ties to the Nishizumi family. The young girl practically look like Miho, but with grey eyes and long hair. Though he remember the conversation with Shiho during the match against Saunders about the mystery then of the American Nishizumi, which was now reality before not just his eyes, but the eyes of the world.

Worse, again his Sensha-do team was being put into a controversial situation. Though this time of no fault of their own, but what might happen to this match, and what might happen afterward, were definitely going to be examined with a fine comb by analysts. He had hoped the Saunders match would be the end of any bad blood with other teams, but knowing how defensive the team was about Miho, it would take a herculean effort to hold them back from going after this American Nishizumi.

"Aren't you going to tell me this is all my fault?" A voice call to Hidemichi.

Turning to look at the other occupant in the room, sitting on a comfy luxurious sofa in his office. Hidemichi took in the sight of a burly man, with grey eyes, wearing a white polo shirt with green dress pants. The very man who had cheated and hurt the woman who Hidemichi look at as a daughter, the very man he once held in high regard who made Shiho happy for once in her life. Breaking the stifling hold of the Nishizumi style on her, but was also the one to send her back to it.

Tsuneo Nishizumi.

"Placing blame at this moment is pointless. What we should be focusing on is how to fix this in the future," Hidemichi said, turning back to the screen for a moment and then walk back to his seat behind the large wooden desk.

The sofa was some ways from the desk, so Tsuneo now stood up and walk over to take a seat across from the Chi-Ha-Tan headmaster, as the two men focus on each other, since the match had been suspended for the moment.

"They have to stop the match at least?" Tsuneo ask.

"Only halt it, since a Federation drone saw the act. Something like this had happened in the last match, but my injured student play off being injured, while the darkness did no favors for the drones to catch it," Hidemichi said, rubbing his forehead in thought about that sly act his Sensha-do team did to stay in the match with Saunders.

"Well, they will at least have to stop this match, and schedule this for another day right?" Tsuneo said wanting this all to end, while he would play his part to end his American daughter's hatred, though that be easier said than done, now knowing why she had pushed so hard to be in Sensha-do, and that was to make him proud of her.

Hidemichi shook his head. "That depends on Miss Miho."

"How does it depend on her?"

"Remember I was once an instructor at Kuromorimine for Shiho. I had to learn the rules of our sport that haven't changed much over the years. Article 45, Section 19, Rule 42. A Tanker who has suffered what is perceived as a minor cut that can be mended is allowed to tell the referees that they can go on," Hidemichi explain.

Tsuneo's face contorted. "That's insane. The match should end right away, I'm surprised they didn't end it when my daugh-."

"That was one small silent rule change to the match I've heard, though for the minor cut I saw Miho received from that punch, they allow it since people forget how brutal this sport was when I first started. Carbon lining was in its infancy for interior protection, so a lot of girls back then would get cuts and scrapes all the time. Though for broken bones nowadays they will mark the tank out of the match immediately, which was why my team kept things secret about our flag tank's commander having a broken rib," Hidemichi stated.

"Ok, but how does that pertain to now?" Tsuneo said, not really caring for a lore session about a sport he still hated.

"Rules back then allow girls to carry on, haven't changed to this day, except for broken bones as I mentioned earlier. Meaning if Miho wants to continue to fight, the match will carry on once medical personal get to her and mend the cut."

Tsuneo shook his head. "That is beyond outrageous. Their lives are the most important part, they don't need to prove they are tough. If anything a parent should have the right to pull their child out, and no say from the girl about it. Yet I know Shiho won't do that, all she cares for is victory, just like Nayoko."

"Mind your tongue around me about Shiho. Though the illegitimate child, I won't blame even now for her actions. You have no right to talk about what is right and wrong," Hidemichi snap at him.

"I thought you weren't going to play the blame game," Tsueno said, with a annoyed look.

"Did I blame you in that sentence? No, I did not, I merely stated facts, if you can't handle that, then there was really little point in me reaching out to you," Hidemichi scolded, which put the tired father in his place.

"Your right I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be disrespectful. I am grateful you are giving me an opportunity to see Miho," Tsueno said.

At that moment, Hidemichi recall how he reach out to Tsuneo. Though Shiho had kept silent about his coming to meet with her at the Nishizumi estate, Shiho's maid, Kikuyo Idegami, had reached out to Hidemichi to tell him about it. From there Hidemichi sent his secretary to track Tsueno down in Chibi prefecture and arrange for him to be flown into the school carrier after Miho and the team left for the match.

Next Hidemichi had his secretary tell Shiho he was sick and couldn't make the trip out there to watch the match with her. That way he and Tsueno could watch the match, and make plans for him to meet with Miho afterward. Yet with how things were going, that might not be even a slightly happy reunion once Miho was brought back to the Akagi with the rest of the team, win or lose this match.

"I hold you in little regard for what you did to Shiho, but I'm a father too. I understand what wanting to be near your child can be like, that is why I am granting you this opportunity. After this you are to leave my carrier and never bother her again unless she herself wants to reach out to you," Hidemichi said, sounding like the real father figure here.

"I understand, I will talk to Miho. Even if she doesn't want to hear anything I have to say, I will at least be a man and apologize for causing all this," Tsueno said, his tone sadden by the thought of the last conversation he would have with Miho.

He still remember Miho's toothy grin as a small girl. Though she was only 4 or so, when he was still around enough to play with her. She always had mountains of energy, which he could never match or ever tire her out enough to go to bed sometimes. Tsuneo would chase and little Miho would run, with him never able to capture her. Maho was easier back then to capture, but now that Tseuno thought about it, Miho always seem to know just when he was about to grab her and slip away.

Tsuneo wonder now if that escape and dodging ability had been an early trait of her skills in Sensha-do.

Yet those were memories that faded almost out of existence for Tsueno when he took Kiko, not Fukushu at the time, to America to raise her away from Sensha-do. However, now Tsueno could see he never truly look at his illegitimate daughter with the same look as Miho and Maho, because she look so much like them, that he was always constantly reminded of what he had lost.

It explain the whole outburst that the Federation Drone had picked up on audio. Knowing what his American daughter really was going through emotionally, that because he never look at her with a real smile, that's what cause the slow deterioration. It wasn't her being in Sensha-do that he was so against with, that had begun their falling relationship, it was because he never look at her as the daughter he wanted in the end.

Now that pain he had for his lost family, had caused the pain of another daughter.

Will I ever learn from my mistakes?

Tsuneo thought, while rubbing his forehead in frustration.

"There will be time to repair all wounds," Hidemichi said.

"I don't think these wounds are able to be repaired now," Tsueno said, sitting up now, looking to the principal.

"Oh, they will. Time is our greatest ally for healing, use it for the future, it will save your guilt and make it into fortitude to do better," Hidemichi lecture from his seat.

Tsuneo just nodded, as he was seeing why Shiho held this old man in such high regard. He was a man of wisdom, integrity, and strength. Tsuneo only hope he could be like that one day, but first, he needed to find a way to start the healing process for the women that once love him so much.

That all he wanted for them was to smile once more, even if he wasn't around them anymore in the end.

XxxxX

Located at the starting point from where Chi-Ha-Tan began the match, lay the remnants of their tanks that had been defeated. Heavy tow trucks had pulled the tanks away from the battlefield that had been taken out of the match, when it was deemed safe enough to do so. They were then offloaded into a neat line, with their crews standing by in a rest area, being looked over by medical personnel to treat bruises and small cuts, while also checking for any concussions.

The defeated members were also given the luxury of a large T.V. displaying the match under a tent. Once they were deemed alright, the defeated Chi-Ha-Tan girls would rush to the tent, to begin to check on how the match was going.

What they were treated to was awe-inspiring, as their commander was doing all she could to fend off the Oarai and American allies. Inspiring them once more, as Miho had done since the day she took over. Then watch her jump into the river to save the American tanker who fell into the river, saving her, and then performing CPR to save her.

Yet what should have been a touching reunion had turned into a berating session from the American girl, who everyone around the world saw. She look just like Miho with little deviation, while they were allowed to listen in on the American Miho, as she was nicknamed by the Chi-Ha-Tan girls, voice her frustration about their father to Miho.

Then the next shocking moment that set everything off, was when American Miho punch their commander. Silence followed the punch, as the image of Miho sprawl out on her side made everyone in the tent shake with anger. One such girl, who care deeply for her lover, now was in a rage and trying to get out of the tent in a frenzy to deal with American Miho for what she had done and nothing save her comrades holding her back was going to stop her.

Lucky said comrades were doing just that, knowing what she was about to do.

"Let me go!" The girl said, while shouting loud enough to echo across the entire starting area, shocking some of the Federation medical personnel and other staff members nearby.

The voice belong to Tamada who was struggling against a horde of her fellow teammates, who were doing all they could to stop her rampage. Which was no easy task, since she was considered one of the stronger girls on the team. No one could match her physical fitness regime, some of them even wondering if she should have chosen boxing or mixed martial arts as her sport.

"I said let me go!" Tamada yell again at her teammates, mass hugging her to hold her back.

"Please calm down Tamada," Chisato, Tamada's gunner said. Though just as angry as her tank commander, she knew if Tamada went back on the field there be punishment handed down on them, which couldn't happen since they had already suffered enough from the last Federation punishment.

"Like hell, I'm going to be calm, let me go so I can go punch that bi-," Tamada began to say.

"Enough Tamada!" Nishi ordered, coming through the crowd of her fellow teammates, who made way for her.

Tamada turn her reddish brownish eyes to her fellow Vice commander. "How can you say that!? You care about Miho too right!?"

That accusation shocked Nishi, who could see Tamada wasn't in the right mind right now. All the fiery Vice commander was seeing was red. Not that Nishi could blame her, it wasn't like Nishi herself didn't want to storm the field as well. Yet if there was one thing Nishi had learned from Miho, was to keep a cool head in any situation, to look after the team first and foremost.

"So you think I don't care about Miho?" Nishi said, challenging Tamada, while she cross her arms.

"I didn't say tha-," Tamada try to argue.

"You think everyone here doesn't care about her?" Nishi challenge again.

Now the fire was going out in Tamada, who relax in her teammate's arms around her. "No, I know everyone here cares for her."

"Good, do you see everyone else running on the field? No, because we have to think of the whole team. If we go running on the field will hurt our team for the future by breaking the rules, so please relax," Nishi said, now coming up to Tamada to place both hands on her shoulders.

The other Chi-Ha-Tan girls slowly let go of their fiery vice commander, as Nishi had seemed for the moment to calm her rage down. Nishi had once again played her role as the sub commander, able to calm her team down when Miho wasn't around, then again that was what she had always done, starting with her close friends.

"I'm sorry," Tamada said, not able to look her close friend in the eyes. "I'm a vice commander, but I'm acting like this. Acting like a fool, letting my emotions about my lover make me act irrational."

"Wait! You and the commander finally shack up!" one of the Chi-Ha-Tan girls said.

"Finally!"

"Aw man, I lost the bet, I said it take whole another year for them to confess."

"Pay up Oshri!"

"Ah, my precious pork buns!"

"So when's the wedding?"

"Can I be the ring bearer?"

"No, it's got to be a traditional Japanese wedding with elegant kimonos."

"Miho would look so beautiful!"

"Tamada too!"

Now all the anger left Tamada, as a blush of embarrassment came over her, now speaking to her frantic teammates, most of them first years. "Okay enough, your skipping steps! Also if I find out who place bets on us you are dead."

That just made the girls laugh at their fluster vice commander, glad they had cool her rage for good then. As she was the one for once being teased for a change, knowing how much she did that to not just Miho, but to a lot of the girls on the team. Payback was nice every once in and awhile.

Glad for the lighter mood, Nishi took hold of Tamada's hands as she spoke. "See your team has your back."

"I know, but still how can we joke when she is hurt?" Tamada said, looking at Nishi.

"That's because we all know how tough she is. I just hope there's no permeant damage, but I'm going to pray for her, that's all we can do," Nishi said, knowing she herself was feeling ill about the lighter mood, when their commander was hurt. Yet this is what Miho would want in Nishi's mind, to never let the team fall into despair and keep their spirits up.

"Hey look! Another tow truck is coming in!" One of the Chi-Ha-Tan girls said.

All eyes turn to see a large flatbed coming into the starting area, with a Type 97 Short gun, Type 4 Ke-Nu, and lastly the Type 3 Ka-Chi.

Everyone ran out of the tent, to go see their defeated members. Surrounding the flatbed as it came to a stop, holding their hands out to help the crew members who had been riding on the back of the flatbed down from it. Slowly all of them were helped down, each one was mass hugged by their teammates, glad they were safe, and congratulated them on how hard they fought.

Coming up to the happy team reunion, Tamada notice Fukuda's driver Hasegawa looking wobbly trying to get off the flatbed. Making Tamada work her way through the crowd to her, then held her hands out to her junior to help her down.

"Here Hasegawa," Tamada said, holding her arms out to the driver.

The tired driver smiled wearily, then lower herself to be caught in Tamada's arms. Then Tamada held her close in a bridal carry, since her junior was pint size like Fukuda, she felt like a child in Tamada's arms. Making Tamada hold her close, knowing how hard Hasegawa had fought in the match driving the Type 4 Ke-Nu, dodging shells, and performing tight maneuvers the entire match, no easy feat for a tank driver that had taken a lot out of the first year.

"You did really well, I'm proud of you," Tamada said, looking down at her junior in her arms.

"Thank you, Miss Tamada, I'm glad I could do what I could for my team," Hasegawa said in a happy tone, as her eyes flutter closed, wanting rest.

"You did that and so much more," Tamada praise once more.

The tired driver said nothing back, just letting a tired smile plaster her face. Then snuggle closer into Tamada to get warm and comfortable, then fell asleep. Tamada just held her close with an equal smile, then walk off with her, to get checked on by the medical personnel.

When the match is over, I'll make sure to do the same for Miho, I won't just carry her, I'll carry her pain and suffering till it's gone, she's my world now, and nothing is going to stop me from making that happen

Tamada thought, as he carry her precious junior off, ready for this match to end to see her lover once more.

XxxxX

The sun had set long ago on the California coast, with the cloudless starry sky dominating now overhead. A cool spring air hung over the Wolverton Academy now, with many of its students and staff still up, as they had been watching their teammates in Jasmine, Fukushu, Ellie, and Morena fight in their first official Sensha-do match. It had been exciting to see their teammates fight, with them earning some tanks kills to boot. Luckily the match in Japan had started a 10 AM, which meant it was 6 PM here in California and the long match had gone till now it was a little past 9 PM.

Yet all of the excitement had been undone by the punch thrown by Fukushu, which horrify all the Wolverton girls who had been watching in the large hanger that housed their tanks, with a large fold-out screen had been displaying the match from a projector in the back, allowing everyone to watch from their fold-out seats, or from atop of their tanks.

In that one moment, it seem all their team's hard work had been undone, because Fukushu had decided to take what she had perceived as justice into her own hands. Everyone had heard of what the young Nishizumi had gone through, while the accusation about the Japanese Nishizumi family's own dark past had been brought forward.

However, the fact remain that Fukushu had hit the Chi-Ha-Tan commander. Worse it was after her very life had been saved by said commander, putting the honor of Wolverton Academy in jeopardy. Every girl in the room knew it, shaking their heads, or clenching their fist in silent anger. Most knew this would only come back to haunt their academy and they hadn't even been in the match. Making all the tough practices they had gone through up to this point, the sweat they shed, the soreness they woke up to every morning, and long hours of studying tank tactics, seem worthless at this point.

One such girl, who was leaving the hanger in a fit of anger, while also feeling the weight of what was going to come more than anyone.

Linda Sickle was that girl, now walking off into the cool night air. She needed space to vent since it is unprofessional to do it in front of her students. Though they themselves were beginning to voice their frustrations, yet Linda was an instructor, so she had to remain calm in this situation, even if she wanted to punch holes in anything she walk by.

The walk didn't have a set distance, Linda just went as far as she thought was needed. Finally, after a while, she stop. Standing on top of a small grassy hill overlooking the wide-open plain, that glow with the bright moon hanging in the sky. It was a tranquil scene, peaceful, beautiful, and calming. Yet all Linda felt was frustration, and if she were honest some sadness as well.

"Dammit Fukushu, I may have told you to be ruthless, but I didn't say to punch the opponent directly," Linda said, with her hands on her hip, her face staring at the ground.

Maybe I'm just trying to make myself feel better. Like I'm not responsible for what happened, even if this hatred she has goes deeper than I could ever believe, she is my brat. I have to look after my brat as well, but goddammit this is going to fuck the academy over hard, and I might be out of a job….which sucks, I think the other girls might have actually started to like me

Linda thought, knowing she had to do something. Fukushu had started out as overconfident, thinking she had everything figured out. That was until Linda show her otherwise, that Fukushu was just an entitled brat, who thought she understood what Sensha-do was. Linda had dropped her knowledge on her to help rectify this, not trying to make Fukushu like her, if anything trying to make her better than what Linda was when she was the commander of Saunders.

I was a disgrace to Sensha-do too, and now Fukushu is following in my steps. Yet the difference here is I won't let her sit alone and suffer. That was the mistake I made, till Miss Konomi sorted things out for me. After this match, Fukushu won't know who to turn to, so I need to be there to take responsibility and maybe find my own little redemption, even if I don't deserve it.

Knowing what she needed to do, Linda walk back to the academy, not to watch the rest of the match, but to head to her own room. She had to start packing and get on a flight as soon as possible, as she was going back to Japan to help her brat of a student, since, by some weird twist of faith, she actually come to care for the young girl, making her think she was becoming too soft.

Yet maybe that was a good thing in the end, yet Linda would figure that out herself.

XxxxX

The press box that serve as a pleasant spot to watch the match of Oarai versus Chi-Ha-Tan, was anything but pleasant now. As the sound of someone crashing into a chair and then going down with it, echo through the press box. As Shiho Nishizumi had given her cousin the same treatment Fukushu had given Miho, by striking Konomi across the face.

Both women had just seen Fukushu strike Miho, and before Konomi could even comprehend what was happening, Shiho had grabbed her by the shoulder and turned her around, with a fist connecting across her face. Now they were here, with their anger for one another overflowing like a volcano, and no way to quell it at this point.

"I see you didn't teach your daughter gratitude," Shiho said, shaking her hand out that had thrown the punch.

"That's rich coming from you when you probably weren't this angry last year when one of your students and her crew fell into the river," Konomi said, sitting on the ground rubbing her face that she knew was going to have an ugly bruise soon.

"That was then, this is now," Shiho said, trying not to let her cousin change the subject.

"Oh, you're a real piece of work. I'll admit I don't approve of Fukushu's action, and I will deal with it. Yet now you want to act like you give a damn about things," Konomi said, now rising to her feet.

"I do give a damn when my daughter is being physically abused, something you'll never understand," Shiho said, taking a stance to fight back.

Konomi chuckled darkly, then spoke. "Oh but I do understand, look at us. Even now our family does nothing but fight one another, it's what we're good at."

That made Shiho balk. "You're the one that brought this on, you warp that child's mind. Did you not hear she is suffering, and yet you did nothing?"

"Don't play that card with me! How long did you make Miho suffer, made Maho suffer? Look at your own daughters and ask yourself if they are happy about their relationship with you, because from where I'm standing they aren't. Most likely holding onto the same pain Fukushu is," Konomi growled back.

At first, Shiho said nothing. For again her emotions were bubbling up to the surface, emotions that wouldn't stay down like in years past. With everything going on, they had reappeared, clawing and gnawing to be let free, to turn Shiho back to who she once was. Not the prodigy who destroy her fellow family members, or the great Shiho, leading Kuromorimine back to prominence.

It was the playful mother Shiho, the one in between these seemingly different people she was in her life. The one she at times wanted back, yet seem too distant now with her own return to what the Nishizumi style really was. If she were honest, all she wanted now, was for Miho and Maho to smile at her.

Such a simple thing to want now.

Yet simple wasn't part of the Nishizumi family, it never was.

Focusing herself, Shiho didn't waver. "At least I can say I had a happy time with them, can you say you ever saw Fukushu as your daughter and not a tool for revenge?

Now it was Konomi's time to be shocked. For she had never thought about that, about how she really viewed Fukushu. Their time together had been only a little over a year, but when Konomi really thought about it, she really only spent time training Fukushu, while dealing with bringing the Academy up. Their light-hearted moments together seem to be few, making Konomi wince that she never thought about it before till now.

Did I ever actually sit down and enjoy my time around Fukushu?

As the thought ran through Konomi's mind, she began to feel sick. All this time she was thinking of taking down Shiho, the great monster, who had made her suffer in her mind. To avenge her own honor, to wipe away the memory of Konomi's own terrible mother who was the one to turn her back on Konomi after she lost the duel, then throw her out on the streets.

Did…did…did I see Fukushu as just a tool?

Now an even more terrible self-question in Konomi's mind, as her hands grip her own face. As the disgust she felt for Shiho, now she felt at her own self. To think she had prided herself for so long on being better than her family, better than Shiho, better than her own mother. Yet Konomi was not better than anyone, because she hadn't brought Fukushu along to love Sensha-do, she was brought along to avenge her.

Even after all the times, Konomi told Fukushu to just give up the notion of avenging her, there was no hiding it from Konomi herself of the secret want for that. For vengeance for the disgrace, the humiliation, the horrors Konomi suffer to be here. It was always there, Konomi just try to make herself feel better by saying that wasn't the focal point of her want to beat her nephews, which in turn be defeating Shiho.

You damn daughter of mine! You fail our family! You're good for nothing brat all that time training you, all that time molding you, and this is my thanks! You were supposed to be the true Nishizumi! Yet you're nothing but a failure! Get out! Get out!

Ah, you're cold out here, aren't you? Why not come to my apartment? I'll take care of you miss

The voices of the past play in Konomi's mind.

Yet what had she really gained all these years digging herself up? Even if Konomi's and her mother's methods were different, there was no denying they had both used their daughters to try and achieve their own ambitions. Shiho at least was at peace with what she had done, but Konomi was realizing she was still holding onto hatred, making her use someone's love for her own selfish desire.

"What the hell are we even doing?" Konomi ask, her mind shattering at this point.

"The same thing we've been doing for years, hurting each other. That seems to be the Nishizumi way as you say," Shiho said, her sadness in her voice evident.

"I…I…I can't forgive you still, but what do I have now? Thiers no way our academy will be open after this stunt, I will lose a place I called home. What will I have left? What will I do about Fukushu when they want to discipline her?" Konomi said, sliding down to her knees, her hands on the floor as tears fell down her face.

Coming over to Konomi, Shiho bent down. Unsure if this was safe, if this was right, or if she had any right at this point. Her hands quiver a bit, as she touch her cousin's shoulders, to which Konomi lookup. As Shiho was once again trying to comfort her cousin, trying to start the mending process for their family.

Shiho was so close.

They were looking to be rid of these lingering grudges.

Yet pain isn't something one can let go of easily, not when so much had been lost.

Clinching her teeth, Konomi rose up and struck Shiho across the face, paying her back for earlier. The force of it making Shiho now fall, with Konomi not wanting to waste time, pouncing on her foe. Straddling her cousin, Konomi quickly rain down punches with Shiho covering up as best she could, but several times she caught a fist on her face.

As each punch rained down, Konomi scream her frustration at Shiho.

"This is for humiliating me!"

"This for not looking out for me!"

"This is for being a fool and looking up to you!"

"This is for our family you destroy!"

Before any more frustration could be vented, the door to the press box burst open, with Federation security personnel storming the room, having seen the fighting on the cameras. They quickly grab Konomi who struggle against them off Shiho who was bruised and battered after the assault, with blood leaking from her mouth, and bruises adorning her face.

"That is enough!" one of the Federation security guards said, trying to hold onto Konomi as best he could.

Seeing there was nothing more she could do, with an empty feeling starting to take over, Konomi stop resisting in the security guard's arms. Going limp now, as she had lost all will to fight back. Wanting nothing more than to be alone and away from all of this, knowing there was some reflection she needed to do about herself.

"Miss Nishizumi, are you alright?" another security guard ask, coming over to help Shiho up.

Yet Shiho wave the man off as she sat up on her own, seeming not to be the least concerned about her beaten state. She rose to her feet slowly, then once she was steady, walk over to Konomi still being held up by the Federation security guards. Though Konomi was in a daze at this point, even as her eyes were drawn to Shiho.

"The match isn't over, please be seated cousin," was all Shiho said.

"What?" Konomi said back.

"I said the match isn't over, be seated so we can watch the rest of it. We owe each other that much," Shiho stated.

"But…I just punch you, why would you want to be left in a room alone together?" Konomi ask in bewilderment, wondering if she had hit Shiho too hard in the head.

"Because I'm doing something that I should have done for Miho, but didn't. I won't let you leave, not without us sorting things out, not without fighting for what is important in the end," Shiho said back.

Konomi just remain silent, wanting to argue, but something within her just wanted to stop resisting, to stop fighting, and to stop looking to the past. Maybe it was because she realize she had just been repeating history with her handling of Fukushu, that if Konomi left this room now, she do nothing but berate her adoptive daughter after the match. In turn repeating the cycle, only leads to more anger and hurt in the future.

Nodding her head, Konomi accepted Shiho's offer.

"Miss Nishizumi, is this wise?" the security guard ask, looking at Shiho.

"It is, thank you for your assistance earlier. I will take it from here," Shiho said her eyes never leaving her cousin, and would never leave her again like they did that day so long ago.

The security guard nodded in acceptance and ask his men to release Konomi. Once the men left the room, Shiho guided her cousin back over to where they had been sitting. Putting the chair back in place, Shiho took a seat, with Konomi sitting in her original spot next to her, though a bit closer with their bodies almost touching one another.

Again silence took over.

Yet Shiho, with a bruised face and all, as well as the blood running from her mouth, held out a hand to Konomi, whose face was equally bruised, who look at the hand. Then nodded and place her own hand in Shiho's, with the two women intertwining their fingers together, doing away with hate if only a little for now.

With a small bridge being formed to hopefully close a chapter on the ugly history both women share, and hopefully bring back the family that had been torn apart.

XxxxX

The Tiger 1 of Chi-Ha-Tan roll over the wet earth, kicking up dirt as it was in full gear. Standing tall in the commanders cupola, was Nene herself, having taken the commander's role for now. As they had crossed over the bridge on the western side, that was destroyed in part to the crew's effort to destroy it so Oarai and their American allies couldn't follow them. Yet one of the American tanks had gotten overzealous and tried to follow, only to meet its demise as the bridge, already weaken, snap apart.

Nene herself watch in horror as Miho jumped from the tank and into the water. She was quickly swept up in the rapidly moving water, while the Tiger 1 crew watch on in shock. Then they got their senses quickly and decided to get off what was left of the bridge and try to catch up to Miho at least.

Yet before they left, the American crew of the M4A3E8 tank, came running up to them. Gesturing to the river as well, but Nene or the rest crew couldn't understand English at all. However, Watabe out all of them got the gist that they wanted to come along to most likely see if their tank commander was alright, so Nene gestured for them to ride on top of the tank.

Now all of them were riding along the river, both crews looking desperately for their respective tank commanders. They had been traveling for a while, but hadn't found them anywhere in the water. Making both crews anxiety shoot through the roof, till suddenly a helicopter could be heard above. All eyes turn to the grey sky, seeing a Federation Medical helicopter heading along the river.

Knowing it had to be looking for their tank commanders, Nene guided Moteki to drive and follow it. They soon saw the helicopter stop its flight down the river, hovering over a small patch of woods along the western bank of the river. Watching from their tank as it close the distance, Nene along with the Americans riding on top, watch zip lines protrude from the helicopter, quickly follow by medical personnel sliding down them into the woods.

Quickly parking the tank outside the woods too dense for the Tiger 1 to go through, Miho's and Fukushu's crews climb down and ran. They didn't have far to travel inside the woods, when they reach the spot the Federation Medical personal zip line to. Coming into view for both crews was Miho laying on her back, with Medic's looking her over, while Fukushu was sitting by a tree, with her knees pulled up to her chest, and face buried in her knees.

Both crews split, heading for their respective tank commanders.

"Miho!" Moteki came up, but was suddenly stopped by some medics.

"Easy! She is alright," the male medic said, doing his best with his medic team to calm them down.

"Let us see her!" Nene yell in desperation.

"I want to hear her talk!" Nomi match her twin's tone.

"Mo…mo…mo…Mom!" Watabe stutter out, with tears.

The mom part made the medics raise an eyebrow, but they didn't relent.

"Look girls she is alright, just a minor laceration under the left eye and some heavy fatigue. We're going to airlift her out of this match, and then going to bring a vice commander from your team back to take over for her," the medic explain, hoping to appease them.

"Laceration? Did she get it when she jump into the river," Moteki ask, knowing that meant she got a cut in her skin, worse near her eye.

The medics look at one another, wondering if they should say anything. Yet seeing how concerned the girls were for their teammate, even going so far as to call her mom, which was strange, but they ignore it. With one of them finally deciding to tell them the truth.

"No she didn't get it in the river, Miss Nishizumi got it from being punched," one of the medics explain.

That made Miho's crew gasp. Knowing the only one around Miho was the American tank commander she jump into the river to save, which didn't need anyone to spell it out to them who had punched Miho. The first to want to do something about this was Moteki, who turn to see the American tankers talking to their tank commander but didn't seem to care that they were trying to comfort and check on her.

"Mo...Moteki?" Watabe ask, watching her close friend walk past her to the American tankers, following her along with the twins.

Seeing the Tiger 1 crew coming up, Fukushu's crew members turn to them, wondering what was going on. Since Fukushu wasn't talking to them, or even acknowledging that they were there, making them wonder what had happened when she fell into the river and got to this point.

"Hey!" Moteki said, yelling in Japanese to Fukushu.

Yet Fukushu didn't raise her head.

Anger by the none response, Moteki move close, but Fukushu's gunner Nicole stood in front of her. Even if she didn't understand Japanese, Nicole could tell the Tiger 1 driver was not happy about something. That something that had to be the reason Nicole's tank commander wasn't talking, which was only being made worse by the none response by Fukushu to the Chi-Ha-Tan girl.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" Moteki again scream in Japanese, moving left to right to get away from Nicole who did her best to block the encroaching angry girl.

Moteki spoke again. "What happened to my tank commander?! They said she was punched, did you do it?!"

Now Fukushu raise her head, her eyes puffy from crying earlier, as she didn't know what she wanted anymore. Her mind was broken, knowing she was no better than Shiho who humiliated her adoptive mother. While her father could never be proud of the disgusting daughter that she had become in her mind, leaving her with this empty feeling, like nothing mattered anymore.

"Yea I punch her," Fukushu said monotone.

At first, Moteki was surprised when she saw the girl, since the American girl look just like Miho, making Moteki have to do a double-take, but the small deviations of the grey eyes and long hair made no mistake it wasn't Miho. Yet that meant the girl had to be Miho's family member at least.

She punch her own family!

Moteki thought, whose anger reach a boiling point as she shove Nicole out of the way. Then before any of the rest of the crew could stop her from both sides, the Tiger 1 driver pounced on Fukushu. Instinctively, Fukushu brought her hands up to cover her face, as Moteki who was straddling her began to rain down punches. Though she only got in 4 punches, when Nicole tackle her off Fukushu, then the two began to wrestle one another for dominance.

Not wanting to leave their tankery sister to fight alone, Nene and Nomi headed into the fray, jumping on Nicole to try and drag her off. Yet things were made worse as Fukushu's loader Alice and bow gunner Rebecca jump into the dogpile, trying to break up the fighting, but in turn, only fueling the fire as the two crews fought one another.

Watabe try to join in, but was too scared since fighting like this just made her hyperventilate, as the memories of her traumatic life came to the forefront. The only member of Fukushu's crew who wasn't involved was Holly, who saw the scared Chi-Ha-Tan girl having a panic attack, so she came over and held the girl trying to calm her down, but it seem to do little good.

Fukushu all the while, rose up to see them fighting, but made no move to stop it. She was still broken mentally, too broken right now to help. To lost in her own self-loathing to care anymore, just wanting to be left alone.

The Federation medics were moving to break up the fighting, but were too few.

"ENOUGH!" A voice yelled in Japanese.

Both crews immediately stop their struggle against one another. Even the Americans could tell by the tone of the voice, even in Japanese, that they were being asked to stop. It wasn't the medics who had called for the stop, as they were just as in awe by who had said.

All eyes turn to Miho, standing on wobbly legs, the left side of her face cake with dried blood that hadn't been washed off yet by the medics yet, who had been focused on closing up the wound with liquid band-aids. Some of the other medics try to make her sit back down, since she had awoken suddenly and rose to her feet and yell.

"Enough," Miho said again, her voice tired and looking ready to fall over.

Watabe seeing her injured commander, broke out of Holly's hold on her. Then came running up to hug her surrogate mother, burying her face in her chest, glad she was alright. Though the blood on Miho's face made her heart wrench, as Watabe pull back to grab a handkerchief from her skirt pocket to begin to wipe it off.

While Watabe did her tender wiping, Miho look down at her surrogate daughter with a tired smile as she spoke. "Watabe, are you alright?"

"I sh…sh…should be as…as..as..asking you that," Watabe stuttered, but her face let out a grateful smile to Miho.

Touching Watabe's face, Miho spoke again. "I'm sorry I made you worry."

Watabe said nothing back, as tears came out, knowing how scared she was to lose the very girl who had brightened her life up. Who had become her surrogate mother, whose love and tender touch had made Watabe forget her horrid upbringing with her abusive parents and equally abusive classmates. Watabe wanted Miho to always be in her life, and hopefully, one day pay her back for everything she had done for her.

Now Miho look past Watabe to her other surrogate daughters. "Moteki, Nomi, and Nene. No more fighting, am I understood?"

Immediately the girls responded with nods, making Miho smile, then spoke again. "Apologize as well, you know the English word for it."

"Why should we apologize? That bit-," Moteki try to argue.

"Moteki," was all Miho said, her tone having all the power of a iron clad mother behind it.

Which made the Tiger 1 driver clamp up, then turn to the American tankers to mumble the word out. "Sorry."

Nicole was surprised by the English word, then said it back as well. "Sorry."

This was followed up by others saying sorry as well. Which next saw an exchange of handshakes as a show of sportsmanship. Making Miho glad, since she didn't want bad blood between the two teams, who had so far fought an intense battle that was worthy of respect, that shouldn't be wiped out due to personal trouble with Miho's family that needed to be sorted. With the apologies out of the way, Miho had one final person she needed to talk to.

Much to Watabe's worry, which was soothed by Miho, she extracted herself from her crewmate's hug, to walk over to Fukushu. The youngest Nishizumi seeing her half-sister coming towards her, made her look down at the ground, with one arm gripping the other. Even though she had thrown the punch, now she was fearing what might happen to her, knowing she deserve every bit of it.

Now Miho was standing in front of Fukushu, with everyone looking on, even the medics, not moving. All wondered what was going to happen, and if they would need to jump into action if the American sister threw another punch that would start the brawling all over again.

The Federation drone who had caught the initial outburst and punch, was still present watching the action now under the trees, focusing on the two girls for the Sensha-do world to see.

"Fukushu, look at me," Miho said.

Against her will, Fukushu brought her head up, to take in her half-sister's face. The cake-dried blood was mostly wiped away, but the smear was still there, along with an ugly bruise starting to form. Miho's left eye was mostly swollen shut, but could vaguely see out of it.

"If…if…if you want to hit me, go ahead, just do it," Fukushu said, lowering her head in acceptance.

"I don't want to hit you," Miho said.

That made Fukushu have to raise her head once more, looking at Miho with a bewildered look as she spoke. "How can you not want to hit, yell at me, or just do something."

"I don't get angry, it's just not in me. At most I'll get angry if someone hurts my tankery family, or insults my real family, like you did my mother," Miho started.

"That's cause Shi-," Fukushu try to argue against her better judgment.

"Yet I never get angry to want to hit someone just to get even," Miho said, making Fukushu shut down, as her half-sister, with dried blood on her face, just smile at her.

"How can you smile? You should hate me, scold me, or say you never want to see me again. What's wrong with you?" Fukushu said back, wanting her half-sister to do what most would do in this moment.

"That's because like I said earlier, I love you," Miho said, her voice soft and inviting.

"No, don't start saying that again," Fukushu said, tears threatening to come out.

Then Fukushu got another surprise, as Miho brought her hands up to brush some hair from Fukushu's forehead. Following this, Miho press a gentle kiss on her half-sister's forehead, which made the younger Nishizumi yelp at the contact, but didn't move to stop Miho or resist her.

Once she was done, Miho lean back to take in Fukushu's face. "I know you're hurting. We share that hurt, trying to make the one's we love proud of us, even if in the end it seems a fruitless effort. Yet even when I thought I leave this path behind of tankery, wondering if I was worthy to be around my family ever again. My big sister told me something that reminded me that I will always be accepted."

"What was that?" Fukushu said, hanging onto Miho's every word.

"Whatever doubts you have about yourself, you are my sister, you are Tsueno Nishizumi's daughter, and you are part of this family," Miho said, though she modify Maho's wording a bit.

The powerful sentence, that had inspired Miho before she ever join Chi-Ha-Tan academy, that had started her journey to find her own Sensha-do. Now had the same effect on Fukushu, who could no longer stand, as she slid down to her knees crying. Her mind, so earlier warped for the need to avenge her adoptive mother and make her father love her once more, now had been reset to zero, now not knowing what her goals were. Needing to find her way once again into the world of Sensha-do and figure out who she wanted to be.

As she watch her half-sister cry, Miho felt the last of her strength go, but was caught by someone before she fell. Miho thought it was one of her crew or a Federation medic, but was surprised when she saw it was one of Fukushu's crew with crimson hair. Nicole could understand the two Nishzumi had had a heart to heart, now she wanted to help the Chi-Ha-Tan commander.

Miho nodded with a tired smile at the American, in thanks for her help.

One of the Federation Medics came up now, looking to Miho as he spoke. "Alright, we're going to airlift you out of here. Don't worry, we're going to substitute one of your vice commanders to command your Tiger 1 so the match can continue."

"No need, I will stay in the fight," Miho said.

"Look, you're obviously in no condition to command anymore. Rules state you are to be brought out of the match," the medic said, surprise the girl wanted to keep fighting.

Miho, even in her exhausted state, pull at her photographic memory over the rules of Sensha-do. "Article 45, Section 19, Rule 42. A Tanker who has suffered what is perceived as a minor cut that can be mended is allowed to tell the referees that they can go on."

"Well…yea..uh," the fluster medic try to say.

"You can contact the referees and let them know I'm ok to continue since the cut has been mended, thank you," Miho said, then bow a bit, with Nicole holding her.

The medic knew he was caught out, then walk over to his other medical personnel to radio to the referees of Miho's want to continue.

Nodding, Miho now had to get back to her tank. Once the match resumed Yukari would be coming for her and whatever was left of the Oarai forces. Even in a fatigued state, Miho's mind was already thinking of the small supply stash she left in a large barn outside a village not far from here.

Yet Miho was dragged from her thought, as she suddenly felt herself get scooped up. A yelp follow it, with Miho seeing it was the crimson hair American tanker, who now was bridal carrying her. A blush at their sudden closeness follow, yet Miho didn't have the strength at the moment to squirm in the girl's grasp.

Suddenly the girl began to walk off, making Miho's crew complain, but made no move to get their tank commander out of the American's carry. While the rest of the American crew, went over to comfort the crying Fukushu, who clung to her comrades, telling them sorry for what she had done. Knowing she had made a mess of things by her actions.

I hope Tamada doesn't get too jealous, though I don't feel the usual comfort I do with this girl…it really isn't the same unless it's Tamada carrying me, without permission of course

Miho thought with a light chuckle, though her mind wanted nothing more than to feel her lover's arms around her. Hopefully, the match could end soon for that to happen, as the American carry her back to the Tiger 1, with a Federation drone capturing all of this for the world to see.

Soon they were standing by the Tiger 1, with Nicole nodding her head to Miho's crew, who understood what she wanted to do. Quickly Miho's crew all climb back onto the tank, then turn around to hold their arms out for their commander. Nicole handed Miho up to them as gently as she could, as the Tiger 1 crew took her earnestly, glad to have their arms around their surrogate mother.

Nicole then spoke, in Japanese which was rough as she learn a bit from Fukushu while she bow to Miho and her crew. "I'm very sorry."

Looking at her, enveloped by the arms of her crew, Miho offer a salute to the gunner as she spoke in rough American. "Thank you for carrying me."

Raising her head in surprise, Nicole was shocked by the words, then by the salute of the other crew members, to which she return sincerely. Then drop it and headed back into the woods to go comfort her tank commander as well.

"Alright girls, time to move. The match will be recommencing soon, Moteki drive us back to that barn that has our supplies to the west," Miho ordered.

"Roger, but you get some rest," Moteki said, now handing out orders herself. "Nene, take the commanders chair again. Put Miho into the bow gunner's position, Watabe I know I'm asking a lot, but take the loader's chair in case we run into trouble."

"Roger!" the crew said.

Quickly Miho was placed into the chair to rest, while Moteki got the Tiger 1 moving off, still in the fight to win this day.

As the tank rolled on, Miho could only stay awake a bit longer, before again sleep took over.

And yet again that voice playing in her mind.

My dear granddaughter…

You are the reincarnation of Nakano Nishizumi…

Our great founder of the Nishizumi style...

You are what we have been searching for…

Now you must one day show the true form of the Nishizumi style…

The Kage no hon'nō, the ability to be one with battle…

XxxxX

An eerie quiet had taken hold. As if time itself had stopped in the large 20th-century design city that dominated the middle of the battlefield, making the hairs on Miyata's neck rise up. She was at the present moment walking along the sidewalk, down a street that was flanked on either side by shops and apartment buildings that rose at least two stories high, while also adjoining together. Luckily the rain had completely stopped now, which was a relief for Miyata whose uniform was soaked from earlier, already looking forward to changing out of it and into some fresh clothes after a hot shower.

Though when she did, Miyata wanted it to be after they won this match, which was going the distance with Oarai, but everyone on the team had already thought this would be the case. She, along with everyone respected the newbies who had proven their strength against all the odds, of their right to be in Sensha-do.

Yet if Miyata wanted to win this match, it would be without her Company commander in Tamada, who had gone in full frontal charge against Oarai's Type 5 Chi-Ri and Porsche Tiger, as Miyata led the rest of the platoon through a break in the rubble of the destroyed buildings to get out of the street and flank around to get to the city center.

It didn't take a genius to understand that Tamada and her Sherman Jumbo had been taken out. Since she hadn't made any net calls to Miyata, meaning she and the rest of the Tozen Company were on their own, with the responsibility to win this match.

Yet for some reason, the match was put on hold, when a net call from the referees came in telling combatants in the city to stop their tanks in place and wait for confirmation about when the match would resume. Since they didn't want the Oarai and the Chi-Ha-Tan tanks running into each other randomly in the condensed city, while if they were on the open ground, would be allowed to move freely as long as they stay 300 meters away from one another, which is difficult to do in the city.

Miyata was frustrated by the stoppage since she review the map and knew they were close to the city center, which had been their objective ever since they enter the city. Being a bit mischievous, Miyata had decided to leave her tank again to go on a scout mission on foot, since the referees didn't say they couldn't, so now she was scouting ahead of her tanks to make sure Ooarai didn't have any surprises for them.

"Alright, there is a cross street coming up. If we push through it and head straight the city center is only 200 meters away," Miyata said to herself, while looking over the map in her hands as she walk.

Now nearing the cross street, Miyata slow her walk down. Noticing a building along the right side of the street had collapsed creating a large mound of debris, most likely the result of a match fought some time ago, to which Miyata chose to climb the rubble since it was acting as a cover. Climbing the fallen bricks, wood, and glass, she accidentally lost her footing and slipped, with a small shard of glass cutting slightly into her dark yellow leggings that match her skirt, making a slight hole.

Counting herself lucky it didn't cut into her skin, but she was undeterred from her goal. Miyata climbed to the top of the mound, where she looked down onto the rest of the road to the cross street with the binoculars she brought along. It was a four-way intersection, with half-destroy buildings in every direction around it. Yet Miyata's eyes were drawn to something which made her blood run cold, and the binoculars in her hand began to shake.

As their situated in the middle of the cross street, face in her direction, was the formidable French heavy tank in the Char B1 Bis, with its impressive 47mm and 75mm gun looking ready to pounce if need be. It was positioned out in the open, but Miyata knew this tank's armor was strong enough to bounce their Type 1 Chi-He's guns with no problem, while both of the enemy tanks' guns could puncture holes in their tanks like they were nothing.

"Damn, we're so close," Miyata grumble.

They could flank around, but there be no hiding their engine noise at this point with how quiet things were. Not to mention the time that would be wasted even when the match would resume, so going forward was the only option. However, it was asking for a massacre charging frontally against the French tank with their Chi-He's who down the single street would make for delectable targets for both guns on the Char B1.

"Come on Miyata think dammit, think, what have I been training so hard for?" the frustrated first year said to herself quietly.

"Miyata," A voice call out to the first year in a quiet yell.

Turning around, Miyata took in the sight of her fellow first-year tank commander Shibata and Nakahara, remaining as quiet as they could coming up to the bottom of the rubble. Miyata nodded to them, then climb down the rubble, careful not to knock any bricks that would tumble down, and would alert the Char B1 crew to their presence.

Once she was settled on the street level, Miyata spoke. "What's up? I told you to wait for me with the tanks."

"We just got word that match is resuming now, you turn your throat microphone off, so we came looking for you while our crews ready up," Shibata said keeping her voice down.

"Alright good. Were close to the city center, but there's a Char B1 situated in the cross street waiting for us," Miyata reported to them.

"Are you serious?" Nakahara ask in a baffled tone, doing her best to remain quiet as possible.

Miyata nodded, then spoke. "Yea, there's no option for us but to take it out and quickly before whatever is left of the Ooarai tanks in the city come to support it."

"How are we going to do that? You know our guns aren't going to puncture that frontal armor," Shibata ask.

Touching her chin in thought, Miyata processed things for a moment, then an idea came to her. "Maybe we can't penetrate that armor from the front, but we can outshoot them to give us the chance we need."

"Huh?" Both tank commanders said, thinking Miyata had a screw loose.

Yet the proud first year just smile. "Come on girls, we got a tank to destroy."

XxxxX

"So the Chi-Ha-Tan commander really dove into the water?" Jasmine ask over the net.

"Yea, she went to go save Fukushu," Ellie said over the net, as her M36B2 was idle now.

She along with Oarai's commander Panzer 4 were waiting at a ford in the river. Without Fukushu it was hard to communicate between them without a translator and hand signaling could only do so much. Yet Ellie had gotten the gist that Yukari was waiting for their A43 Black Prince to join them, who had defeated the Type 5 Na-To earlier and was making their way to them.

"Is Fukushu alright?" Jasmine ask with concern.

"Yea, a radio call came in English to tell me she was good and was being airlifted back to the starting point," Ellie explain back over the net. "At most, she is just cold, with the rest of her crew with her as well"

"Thank the good lord she's alright. Will have to thank that Chi-Ha-Tan commander after this match is done, even though isn't surprising since their family that she go after her and brave that rapid moving river," Jasmine said, knowing that Miho and Fukushu were distant relatives, or so what Konomi and Fukushu had been saying they were.

"Yea, but every time we talk about her cousin she always scowls about it," Ellie said over the net.

"I know, like she hated her or something. I should have pressed Fukushu more, but I never felt I had the right to do that," Jasmine said in a solemn tone over the net.

Ellie just smile as she spoke into her wired communicator. "That's just you platoon leader, you always look out for us. When this match is over will go talk to Fukushu about things I'm sure she wants to get off her chest."

"Yea we all will, were her friends. Alright, so did you tell Miss Akiyama about the Chi-Ha-Tan Operator tank heading off to the city?" Jasmine ask.

"Yep, luckily her radio operator can understand English a bit. From what I could understand, Miss Akiyama wants you to join us as we've found ford to cross the river and hunt the Tiger 1," Ellie said back over the net.

"Well hot damn, get to take on a Tiger 1. My grandfather and his platoon actually encounter one in the war, said he never felt more fear in his life seeing the 88mm pointing at them," Jasmine said back over the net.

"He didn't get hurt in the encounter?" Ellie ask with concern over the net.

"Nope luckily it had been abandoned by its crew after an airstrike damaged it pretty badly, but his whole platoon open up on it at first, with most of their rounds bouncing off his armor. Said he didn't know when they stop, but half their ammo was gone," Jasmine retold the story.

"Great, now that's going to boost my confidence for our encounter with it again," Ellie said over a net in a joking tone.

A chuckle came over the net from Jasmine. "Don't worry, we got a tank destroyer in you and that Black Prince, while I and the Panzer 4 can flank it. Plus you have been giving it to that Tiger 1 all match, you got this girl."

"Roger that platoon leader, alright meet us at Point 0378, will wait for you before we cross," Ellie said over the net.

"Roger that, on the way," Jasmine said with excitement and then cut the net call.

It's been a long battle, but we got this, we can prove Wolverton is here to stay.

Ellie thought, unfortunately, unknowing of the consequences her friend Fukushu had caused for her and their academy.

Aboard the Panzer 4, Yukari was standing stall in her cupola, near the ford in the river. With the M36B2 behind her, waiting on their Black Prince and M4 Sherman to join them so they can get could continue the pursuit.

They had to repair their broken track that had been taken out by Type 3 Ka-Chi that they had put down. Unfortunately, they had been knockout of the pursuit, leaving their American allies to keep up with the Tiger 1. Then for some reason, the match had been put on hold all of the sudden, while thanks to Saori understanding English a bit, was able to learn from Ellie about Miho diving into the water to save Fukushu, though the news had been relaying that they were both alright and the match was resuming.

"Miss Nishizumi, can you be any cooler?" Yukari said quietly to herself, as once again Miho had put people's lives ahead of the match. Yukari hoped that Fukushu and Miho had come closer because of the rescue, especially after the heated moment between them before the match.

Though Yukari and Ellie were unknowing of the horror of what happened between the two half-sisters.

"Miss Akiyama, we got this, the Tiger 1 is all alone now," Kisa, the loader said, leaning out of her hatch.

Turning to look at her junior, Yukari spoke. "Yes, but it's still formidable. Miss Nishizumi have shown why their crew is one the deadliest in the tournament."

"So beating them makes us the deadliest?" Saori ask as she pop her head up out of her hatch over the bow gunner area.

"Are you asking that because you want your face plaster all over Sensha-do Battle Network?" Hana ask with a teasing smile, leaning out her hatch over the gunner area, thought the side armor skirt was gone, due to one of Tiger 1's shell tearing it off.

"Yep!" Saori said, holding out a victory sigh, making her crew chuckle, then she spoke again. "Oh, before I forget. Erwin has reported having taken out the Chi-Ha-Tan Jumbo, but we lost Leopon team."

"Darn, did you relay to them that the Chi-Ha-Tan Operator tank is heading for the city?" Yukari ask.

"Yea, Miss Erwin will be ready to call in our fly girls again, though she is concerned about the Type 1 Chi-He's since she doesn't know where they are at," Saori said.

Yukari nodded at that. "Understood, I know Miss Erwin can handle anything, which helps when you got the Type 5 Chi-Ri with them. Will press on when our friends join us and take the Tiger 1 out."

"Good, because I want to show that Tiger 1 driver who the best driver is," Mako said.

That made the rest of the Panzer 4 crew balk, since they had never seen Mako be competitive. Yet it seems this match in particular was making her have an out-of-character moment. Wanting to best the Tiger 1 driver who has been matching them step for step the entire match.

"My, my, even Mako is getting fired up. Must because this Miss Nishizumi seems to bring the best out of her opponents," Hana said happily.

"Yep, can't wait to meet her after this match, after we win of course," Kisa said, matching her upperclassmen's excitement.

"I know you girls will like her, Miss Nishizumi is the greatest, but let's make sure to fight her with all we have, because she's going to give us back a heck of a fight that make Otto Carius proud," Yukari said, raring to get into the fight once more with her idol, who had to live up to all the hype, but Yukari never doubted Miho would.

Now the real challenge would be to finally find the strategy to win, against a tigress back into a corner.

XxxxX

The Tiger 1 of Chi-Ha-Tan came rolling along a path, off the main road they had been traveling earlier. Nene, who was acting tank commander, directed their tank to the large barn located some ways from a small village. It was here they had stored some ammo and fuel from their resupply for use later if need be. The barn itself was large enough to house the Tiger 1, which was why Miho had chosen it.

"Alright, I see the barn dead ahead. Keep pushing a little more….alright stop. Put it in neutral and spin us around, so we can reverse backward into the barn," Nene order, while standing tall in the commanders cupola.

"Got it," Moteki said, while working the clutch and gears.

The Tiger 1 spun in place, till Nene order the stop. Then slowly directed the tank back into the barn, which unfortunately didn't have doors installed and was just open. Yet beggars couldn't be choosers, so they have to deal with being in the open barn with the enemy obviously being able to spot them when they caught up.

Yet the barn would serve its purpose for resupply, as they were low on shells and fuel from the intense dueling they had been doing earlier. For now, they had a breather, but that might not last long since the match had resumed now and whatever was left of the Oarai force had to be coming for them, and there was no hiding the tracks of their tank they left behind in the mud and grass, that would be easy to follow.

"Alright, just a little more," Nene directed while looking behind in the cupola.

Completely under the roof of the barn, the Tiger 1 got to the middle of the barn's interior, before the sound of something hissing from the engine block echoed. Next black smoke began to rise up, making Nene fearful, as she call down to Moteki.

"Cut the engine! It's overheating!" Nene said in desperation.

Moteki got to work, putting the tank in neutral, applying the handbrake, then cutting the engine. Everyone then held their breath, save for Miho who was out cold in her bow gunner's seat. As they all knew if the engine blew, the sensors aboard would mark their tank as kill since their tank would no longer be able to operate and the match would end since they were the flag tank.

Smoke rose faintly now but stop since the engine was off and cooling down somewhat. A breath of relief sounded through the crew, knowing they had dodged a bullet. Now they had to get to work, but their first task in their mind was to care for their commander. The girls quickly got out of their hatches and made their way over to the bow gunner's hatch.

Nene lower herself into the hatch, being careful not to wake Miho while lifting her up since she was physically the strongest of the bunch due to loading heavy shells. Passing Miho up to Nomi and Watabe, who hoisted their sleeping commander and gently lower her to Moteki who carry her surrogate mother over to a large haystack in the corner of the barn.

Turning over her shoulder, Moteki spoke to her crewmates. "Watabe, grab the blanket we got in the stowage bin on the rear of the turret."

"Ro…ro..roger," Watabe said, then made her way to the stowage bin, which houses tools mostly, and some essential things for the crew.

When she reached the haystack, Moteki gently lower Miho down onto it careful not to wake her. Watabe arrive soon with the blanket which she drape over Miho, to keep her warm. Now all the crew were standing over their commander, staring at her with concern. All of their eyes were drawn to the swollen and bruised left eye, which had its cut under it close with liquid band-aids, that would close the wound and not need stitches.

"I can't believe her own sister punch her," Nomi said.

"She's lucky Moteki only got a few hit ins, or else she have five times the bruises she gave mom," Nene said, quiet anger in her voice.

"Yet for all that Miho still said she loved her," Moteki said.

"That's just Miho, she can't help but want to make everyone happy," Nomi said with a smile and shake of the head.

"Yea, that's her alright. Yet let's focus, we still got a match to win and our Tiger 1 needs looking after," Moteki said, needing to get her girls to focus.

"Wha…wha…whats the plan?" Watabe ask.

It was then that Moteki noticed Watabe and the twin's eyes were on her. Making Moteki nod, knowing she had to take command while their commander rest, and have things square away when the fighting would resume soon enough.

"Well that engine needs looking after, so will get on that," Moteki said.

"What about the turret power traverse? Think we can fix it?" Nomi ask.

With a nod of the head, Moteki spoke. "I've learned a few things from Miss Himi on mechanical work, so I'll work on the engine first and then will work on the power traverse, since we're going to need both to win. As I'm sure mom is going to be having us doing some crazy maneuvers when Oarai catches up to us."

"Ain't that the truth sister," Nene said with a teasing grin.

"Yep, Watabe, stay with Miho. Make sure to keep her warm," Moteki ordered.

"You go…go…got it…co…co…commander," Watabe said, teasing her friend a bit with a salute.

"Hey! I'm not the commander," Moteki complain.

"So commander, what should I do?" Nomi ask, playing the game.

"Yea hurry commander, we don't have much time," Nene added to the fun.

Rubbing her forehead in frustration, but with a smile at her tankery sisters, Moteki spoke. "Nomi, go gather the fuel cans and top off the Tiger 1, then will work on the power traverse. Nene go do your arm stretches first so you don't cramp up later, then begin loading shells in."

"Wah, come on, I'm good, I don't need to stretch," Nene complain.

Yet all she got was a stern look from Moteki that broker no more argument.

"Ugh, fine I'll go do the dumb stretches," Nene said, then walk off to the corner of the barn and start her arm stretches.

"Good, I'll look over the engine, let's get to work ladies," Moteki said.

"Roger!" the crew said then got to work.

XxxxX

Rolling down the streets in the lowest gear, was Miyata and her Type 1 Chi-He teammates. All 3 of them were coming down the street said girl had been scouting down earlier, ready to put into action her plan. Though if the other tank commanders were honest, it was a reckless plan, yet with the limited firepower they had, it was the only plan that was going to work.

"Alright, everyone halt," Miyata order over the net, with the tank column stopping quickly.

They were positioned along the right side of the road, using the fallen debris from the destroyed building to cover them. Knowing down the street at the crossroads was the dreaded Char B1 waiting for them. With the knowledge that even as an early war tank, it was more than a match for their Japanese tanks, but that wouldn't deter these cubs from showing what made their tanks great.

"Ok, here we go, I'll go first. Nakahara and Shibata position your tanks close to the rubble, and get them diagonal to it so you can come around the cover to fire," Miyata ordered.

"Roger that, please don't be too reckless," Nakahara said from her cupola.

"Yea, we're going to need all of us to assault the city center when this is over," Shibata said as well.

"Don't worry, I got this," Miyata said with a confident tone, then switch her net over to her crew. "Alright girls, time to show why teams need to fear us now and for next year."

"Yea!" the said back.

"That goes double for you Sakiko, the commander praise you're driving before the match in that speech of hers," Miyata said, challenging her driver to get the best out of her.

"Oh no worries, I won't be letting Miss Miho's praise be for naught, so give the order and let me prove my unparalleled driving skill," Sakiko said, her hands anxious to get pulling the sticks and step on the accelerator.

"Alright, then let's roll, remember the plan, Panzer Vor!" Miyata yell, no longer caring to keep as quiet as before.

Nodding to her tank commander's order, Sakiko stepped on the accelerator. Making the Chi-He lurch forward at full speed, coming around the debris covering most of the right side of the street where the building collapsed. Glass, bricks, and wood were crushed under the tracks of this now hard charging tank, which came down the road for the cross street and right at the Char B1.

"Kishi load AP, Yuro keep your gun silent till I give the order," Miyata ordered.

"Loaded!" Kishi said after getting the shell in the breach.

"Roger, on your call," Yuro said, while leaning into the shoulder mount of the gun, doing her best to stay balanced as their tank rolled forward since she and Kishi had to stand up.

Now Miyata brought her eyes up to see the Char В1 that had taken notice of this lone tank coming down the street at them, in what seemed like a suicidal charge. Quickly the Char B1 rotated its tank a bit, since it's 75mm gun had no horizontal traverse so the driver needed to rotate it on target, while the 47mm gun at the top could be traversed by the commander.

Feeling her stomach clench, seeing the two guns begin to line up, and knowing they could take her out without breaking a sweat made Miyata feel some fear run through her. However, she push this down, knowing how fearless Tamada was, and wanted to match that trait of her upperclassmen who she respected like no other.

Seeing the Char B1 now angle to her tank with both guns, Miyata call her orders. "Now Sakiko! Swerve right!"

"On it!" Sakiko said, working the sticks with calmness, due to Miho's tedious training since she took over, making the first-year driver feel confident in her own abilities.

The call had been just in time, as the Char B1 let loose both guns, but miss the swerving Chi-He going to the other side of the street. Their shells smashed into the building adorning the side of the streets, causing masses of rubble to fly everywhere. Now the French tank traverse its whole tank to the foe again, its crew annoy they had missed and wanted to get another shot in.

Again another volley from the Char B1's guns try to take down this tank, yet Miyata had made another great call for the swerving back to the other side. With another salvo from the foes tank doing more damage to the buildings on the other side of the street, while Miyata's tank roll forward now, ready to execute the other part of their plan.

"Sakiko swerve back to the right and then I want full speed forward no matter what!" Miyata ordered, then switch to her tank commanders net. "Shibata and Nakahara now!"

"On it!" Both tank commanders reply.

Behind their hard-charging teammate swerving to the other side of the road, both Type 1 Chi-He's came out from behind the large rubble mound they were using for cover at diagonal angles, first Shibata's tank that stop as their gun had the Char B1 in sight, with Nakahara pulling a little more forward to be able to fire around her sister tank. With both tank's guns facing over the side, they began to fire.

Their tracer shells flying down the street smashing into the sloped frontal armor of the Char B1, as they knew would happen, bounce their rounds off with a shrug, proving this French tank design was too much for their 47mm guns to penetrate. Yet this didn't deter the crew, whose loaders slam shells home as fast as they could, while the gunners pull the triggers as soon as they were clear to fire.

Load.

Fire.

Load.

Fire.

Load.

Fire.

The speed of the firing was unmatched, as in under 30 seconds the two tanks fired off four shells each. Just as Miyata had needed from them, a tall task to ask the loaders who would have to push their bodies to do this, but their training and fitness regime made this possible. Thankful at that moment to Miho who push them in the weeks before, knowing her first years could do it.

Bounce after bounce, the shells spark off the Char B1, yet there was no return from the French tank. Just as Miyata was counting on, since they had learned from Miho that she believe this tank was under crew, leading to low return fire. While in its match with Koala seem to get shaken up from being hit constantly, which seem to be true here.

"Alright! Keep the fire up, Yuro traverse left, 9 o'clock," Miyata order.

"Roger!" Yuro reply, while she work the hand wheel to get the gun in the clock direction.

Standing at full height in her cupola, Miyata rotated with her 47mm gun. While their tank continue down the right side of the street as her friends kept hitting the Char B1 that was now rotating their tank to try to fire at the irritants down the street, seeming not to care for Miyata charging hard on them.

Yet they were stopped, when Nakahara and Shibata's gunners snipe at both of the tracks, finding their target while tearing them apart. Which completely immobilize the Char 1, with no way to bring its 75mm gun to bear, now relying solely on the 47mm gun to get them out of this jam. Which wouldn't happen as Miyata had finally made it into the cross street.

"Don't stop Sakiko," Miyata order her driver. "Keep going, then on my on my order hard left and will get on the enemies rear."

"Let's do it!" the excited driver yell back, pushing harder on the accelerator.

As they pass the side of the Char B1, whose 47mm gun try its hardest to traverse with the speedy Japanese tank, but had no hope to get them in sight, while it snapshot at them. Missing and giving Miyata the chance she needed to finish the job, as she swung her tank hard to her left, getting the side of her tank to the rear of the Char B1, with her tank's 47mm gun already facing over the side and at the enemies engine block.

"Hit her!" Miyata order.

"On the way!" Yuro yell.

At point blank range there was no doubt of the result. With the shell puncturing the engine block, overloading the system as a kill shot, and a white kill flag popping up on the Char B1 proclaiming its defeat to the world.

"Yea!" Miyata said, with her crew in her tank also yelling their excitement for their first tank kill ever.

"Good kill" Shibata said over the net.

"That's Tozen's fighting spirit right there, hope Miss Tamada saw that," Nakahara said as well.

"I know she did, now let's give her another show of us getting that flag tank. Come on, the enemy will know we're here, we got to hit the city center quickly," Miyata ordered now.

"On you leader!" Both tank commanders said, as they brought their tanks down the road, then the three of them push hard for the city center and step closer to hopefully victory.

XxxxX

There was nothing but darkness. Everywhere she look, Miho only saw blackness. Like she herself was swallowed up in it, but her feet were on solid ground. Looking down, Miho saw she was wearing what seem to be a black kimono with a white flower pattern across it. Then she move her hands up, and felt her hair had been done up since her bangs weren't slightly over her eyes.

Where am I? Miho thought.

Then a voice call out from the darkness to her.

Dear granddaughter….

Granddaughter? I've never met my grandmother…

As if to answer her question the veil of the shadows open, revealing an older woman, sitting on her knees with a pillow under her with her hair done up as well. She wore the same black kimono with a white flower pattern across it. Slowly Miho walk over to the woman, seeing there was a pillow set out for her to sit on as well.

Miho lower herself to as well to sit on her knees next to the woman. Then she stare at the woman and felt her breath hitch. The woman sitting next to her look like her mother Shiho, but older, holding a baby in her arms. Which shocked Miho, since she was looking at her 1-year-old self, being held in the older women's arms.

Quickly Miho pull at her memories of who this woman was, but nothing was coming up. While her mother had never ever mentioned their grandmother to her or Maho growing up, to the point Miho let it slip her mind.

Your mother and that damn man are sneaking out once again like they think I'm not aware of their late-night activities. Despicable to think how unclothe your mother has become in such a short time…

The older Nishizumi said, looking down at a little baby Miho with a small smile.

What are you talking about?...

The women ignore Miho, as her only focus was on the baby bundle in her arms, which was staring at her with quiet intensity.

It matters not, I allow Shiho to be no better than a love-struck teenager since her usefulness is at an end…

Usefulness?

Again the women ignore Miho.

Even worse she had to go and spoil your sister, taking away a chance to bring out her full potential, what a shame, I had wanted the two of you to bring glory to this family, yet I have only you, my precious granddaughter…

What do you mean?...

Once again the women ignore Miho.

Miho do you know who was the greatest Nishizumi in our family history is?..

Even though she had said Miho's name, the older women's eyes for only the baby in her arms. As the baby gurgles a bit as if to ask who it was.

Nakano Nishizumi, a warrior from our clan so long ago, during a time when bows and swords were our trade in warfare…

Miho didn't bother responding, knowing she wasn't being heard by the older women. Now just listened to her talk, while she held baby Miho in her arms.

She was said to be a whirlwind of death on the battlefield. Able to shoot off horseback with a bow with no equal in her precision, she always advance when she swung her sword never backing down, and most important was one with the fury of battle…

Sounds like us now doesn't, to advance with strength and fire with precision. These were what Nakano fought with, she like all of us, follow the creed of our family's fighting style...

What truly set her apart was the Kage no hon'nō, or simply put the Shadow Instinct, she was said to feel the battlefield and be one with it. Whenever her enemies try to strike her down, her sword or her bow would be her answer to them at every step like she always knew their next move…

Yet this skill never manifested with any Nishizumi since her death, even with me or your mother. To think we spent so many years with Panzer Kettō, using it as an excuse as being the head of the family, but in reality, we use it to find the one who was reincarnated with Nakano's abilities…

For so many years, all that seem for naught now, as we tore each other apart for this, to find the girl who had been granted this ability, but none of us were deem worthy…till you of course….

Maybe I'm just getting old, holding onto something that should be buried away, but I don't know why, but I can feel it. You have Nakano's abilities, you have the potential to be more than just a Nishizumi…

To be more than just another tool for power, that make no mistake your mother will one day do, especially when that cheating husband of hers infidelity comes to light…

He must have thought he was clever, but our dark deeds will always come to the light, even including me. Make no mistake, there will be no pleasant rest for me when my death comes, to which I know is coming soon, strange how I can almost feel its embrace coming for me and it won't be pleasant...

I…I…I did terrible things, that cannot be forgiven, nor do I want it. For I am a Nishizumi, it's what we are…but maybe….maybe we can be better…and I think you can do that for me Miho…look at me…..

A shiver ran up Miho's spine, as she saw the women stop staring at the baby in her arms, as she turn to look Miho in the eyes. There was no denying she was looking at her, with those dark brown eyes, that look so much like Shiho's boring into her.

I will say the words I said to your sister to test her…to which she fail…

You must be like a wolf when it hunts, ever silent and ever watchful for your prey's weakness, and then strike with your pack to encircle them…

You must be like a tiger, stalking silently with careful steps, your body hidden from your prey, coiled up ready to strike when they least expect it…

For you are a Nishizumi, your will is made of iron, your strength is unbreakable, your mind is ever on victory no matter what and your enemies ever fearful of you. Remember that little one, let the words be sewn into your heart…

For Miho, she felt something pull on her heart, but she never took her eyes off this woman, while the baby in the older women's arms never waver, which seem to please the woman as she spoke again.

Good, you are ready...do not fear what is to come…for you have always felt it…the aura of your tank…the crew who are an extension of your body who move as you do, as one…and the excitement of battle that only enhances your ability…

Miho for the first time spoke to this woman truly now….

Who are you?...

I am you, or what I should have been...Now go…go and show who you really are…not just another Nishizumi, you are the Nishizumi who will guide us from our dark path…to a better future…a future where maybe my daughter will find happiness…

XxxxX

Suddenly Miho's eyes flutter open, or better put her one good eye did, since her left was still closed shut. Above her was not a gray sky she had been used to seeing all match, but a wooden high roof. She was in a barn from what Miho could gather quickly, while luckily she was also warm as well.

Turning to the right, she found the source of her warmth in Watabe who was cuddled up to her, with an arm across Miho's chest and a blanket over them. On instinct, Miho brought a hand up to rub Watabe's face, who didn't have her usual spectacles on, leaving them off to rest peacefully.

Doing this for a little bit, Miho reluctantly stop, as she knew she had work to do. Rising up to a seating position, is when the soreness in her body was made evident. Every joint felt locked up, while her muscles were tender. It made sense after the long swim in the river before saving Fukushu.

"Ahh," Miho hiss out, as she finally reach the top of her sitting position.

The hiss grab the attention of the rest of her crew, who were working on the Tiger 1, yet hearing their commander made them drop their tools and come running over. They didn't care for being proper, as they pounce on Miho. Which woke Watabe up, who got her bearings and join in on the hugging party.

"Girls, easy with me, I'm sore," Miho said in a muffled tone while being smothered, though smiling at her crew.

To which the crew back off a bit, but all kept their arms around their commander and surrogate mom, not wanting to let go of her. Having seen her risk her life, only brought home how much they care about Miho, who was more than a tank commander to them, she was what had brightened their life up so much in their time together.

"Are you ok?" Nomi ask.

"Of course she is ok, no one is tougher than our Tigress," Nene boasted.

"That doesn't mean she needs to get bruised up to prove that to us," Moteki said, then look into Miho's eyes. "Are you ok though?"

Miho at first just took in the eyes of her crew, glad to have them and the warmth they provided in her life. Not responding with words, she responded by actions, by pulling them in close for a group hug, to which her cubs clung to her like never before.

Once she was satisfied, Miho pull back from them. "I'm fine, thank you for keeping me warm. Sorry I made you do all the work while I rested."

"Really?" Nene said with a lopsided smile. "You're going to say that when you jump into freezing water like it was no big thing."

"Worse you get punched by the American girl whose life you saved," Nomi added.

"Da..da…da…damn her," Watabe stutter out, with a mildly angry look.

Miho turn to Watabe. "No cursing."

That made the stuttering first year turn away with a blush of an embarrassment, but Miho patted her on the shoulder to show she just making sure she acted like a lady.

"That girl is your family, right? She practically looks like your twin," Moteki ask.

Miho nodded. "Yes, she is my half-sister…she…she…"

"You don't have to talk about it with us now, I can tell by the heart to heart with her, it's really personal," Nomi said, not wanting to put Miho on the spot, especially after she just woke up.

"Thank you, Nomi, we'll talk about it later, right now we need to focus on this match. How's the Tiger 1?" Miho said, looking to Moteki.

Rubbing the back of her head in frustration, Moteki spoke. "Her engine is on the fritz. I gave it some fine-tuning, but our water pump is the main problem. It's leaking, and can't properly flow into the cylinder block, which almost blew our engine from overheating when came into the barn initially."

That made Miho frown, as she had guessed earlier in the pursuit with their foe that might happen with the Tiger 1's engine, then spoke. "Is there any way to plug the leak?"

"Already did with heavy duct tape, though that is a temporary fix at best. I use what water we had in the stowage bin on our tank to refill the water pump, but it's not enough to keep the engine cool for long once we get going. Sorry, I couldn't do more," Moteki said, lowering her head in shame.

"Don't Moteki, it's thanks to your handiness with the engine that were still in this fight. Nomi, how's the main gun looking?" Miho said, turning to her gunner.

"Ready to fire, also some good news is I fix the power traverse. That hit from the 90mm gun only shook some wiring loose, I fix the junction that had been damaged, which was why the gun wasn't responding to the power traverse pedal," Nomi said happily, quite proud of herself in figuring out the problem.

"That's good, we're going to need it for the coming fight. Nene how's our ammo?" Miho said turning to her loader.

"Were fully loaded thanks to the ammo supplies we left here. AP and HE are at Federation allow amount, I did it all myself too," Nene said, while flexing an arm to show off her prowess.

"No you didn't you liar, I had to load half on my own because you were chowing down like the glutton you are," Nomi said annoyed.

"I prefer connoisseur Madame," Nene said with a teasing smirk at her twin.

"Putting fancy words on your eating habits doesn't help miss piggy," Nomi said with a shake of the head.

"Oh, you're dead!" Nene growled, about to pounce on her twin.

Miho was about to try and calm her cubs down, till an all-familiar sound could be heard outside the barn. The sound of a host of tank engines that weren't holding back as they roll forward. Even as tired as she was, Miho stood to her feet, too much complaining from her crew that she was pushing herself too hard.

That didn't stop Miho, as she near the open front of the barn to look out to the countryside. Coming directly in front of them, some 500 meters away was Oarai and their American allies. With the impressive A43 Black Prince at the front, Miho was able to make out the Panzer 4 just behind, with the M4 Sherman, and M36B2 bringing up the rear. Most likely following the tracks of their tank they left behind in the soft ground as a way to track them.

The rest of the crew now came up too and took in the sight of their foes coming onto them. Again their back was up against the wall, outnumber and outgun. Yet they had come so far, battling against all the odds, which even now they weren't going to despair.

"Well looks like we're in the final round, time to go the distance," Nene said, her voice confident.

"As mom says when the chips are down, we're still in this fight," Nomi said, taking hold of Miho's hand.

"We…we…were st…sti…still in this fig…fight," Watabe stutter happily taking Miho's other hand.

"Yes, we're still in this fight, alright to your fighting positions," Miho said, then walk back to their Tiger 1.

Quickly they climb up, with the crew helping Miho up it, since she still was feeling fatigued from earlier. Then they got into their fighting positions, doing double checks on everything.

Miho taking her commanders chair, now pondering over the dream she had earlier as her crew worked. The woman she saw still seem so familiar to her, but who she was a mystery and would remain that way for now at least. However, questions remain, about what she was talking about when it came to being the reincarnation of the Nakano Nishizumi, a great female warrior of times past.

This all seem to be so unreal, like something out of a book to Miho. Yet some things were making her believe what the women in the dreams spoke were true, how Miho could feel the aura of her tank, her sharp intuition, and her seeming ability to be one with her crew.

Maybe I'm just reading too much into this, I'm sure there are other tank commanders who can do things like me

Miho thought, but doubt remain, then adjusted her throat microphone as she spoke to her crew. "Alright, the enemy is coming. We're going to break out from the barn and take the fight to the village that will help even up the fight for us."

"Roger!" her crew said back.

"Alright, Moteki start up the engine. Will push hard, while hopefully, we can slow down the tempo of the fight in the village so as not to overstress the engine," Miho ordered.

"Roger that, going to wow you girls with my driving once again," Moteki said happy to get behind the wheel.

"I will be wow if you clean up your room," Nene couldn't help but tease.

"Would you leave that alone!" Moteki griped at her teammate, causing her crew to chuckle.

Pushing past the teasing, Moteki moved to turn the ignition key to get the engine started, as she had done countless times before.

She twisted it…

And nothing happen.

"Huh, ok don't do this to me girl," Moteki said, with a small bit of panic starting up.

Again she twisted the ignition key.

And once more the engine remain quiet.

"No, no, no, no, no," Moteki said, panic in full mode now. "Come on, I gave you fine-tuning. You should be good…come on start…come on…come on."

Again and again, she struggle, but nothing was going to wake the batter Tiger 1. It had reached its limit, with its foes so near. Miho watch all this from her commanders chair, as again the jaws of defeat seemed to take hold now, as a tank with no engine was dead in the water. No amount of hoping was going to fix that, and with no time to figure out what was wrong.

Nomi turn to her twin, and the two nodded since the gun could still fire. They have one shot, but they make sure to go down fighting.

Watabe gripped the MG 34, knowing it do little good against amour tanks, but she wasn't about to do nothing, she wanted to fight for her family, even to the end.

Miho smiled wearily at their fighting spirit. Then her head began to ring, making her wince in her seat, as the voice of the women in her dreams play in her mind.

Do not rely on what is in front of you dear granddaughter, for like Nakano you do not fight conventionally…

You feel the battlefield, like she was said to do…

Reach out and let it in, for I will it will guide you…

It will mold you…

It will empower you…

It will take from you…

And most importantly, it will set you free…


Author Thought:

Well again, this was supposed to be the end, but just got so long since I wanted to capture the reaction to Fukushu punching her sister. Also add in the tension reaching its breaking point for Shiho and Konomi which has unveil things both women must come to terms with.

Now the show itself has always made Miho and Maho have this ability to sense when tanks will fire or where they might be hiding. Almost like The Force or something, so it was interesting to explore the concept and give it more depth for Miho who quietly through the volumes has always sense this.

Whether it came off believable is hard to say, I try my best to bring it in with reasons.

With again Miho and her crew facing its greatest hurdle, and the rest of team fighting on to win. It's again up in the air who will come out on top.

Thank you so much for just giving me some of your time to read this chapter and I hope you enjoy. Till the Next Author Thought.