Scene 1: The Albigensian Crusade
Crusaders in a medieval city, fittings.
Rika sat in the turret of her M5A1 Stuart. The echo of Crusaders' Nuffield engine was getting louder and by the seconds. Standing in her hatch, She looked around. Jan Cox, her Stuart, was standing by at the entrance of an alleyway barely wide enough for the light tank, facing the middle road in an abandoned medieval city. To the left and right of the tank were two timber-framed houses concealing the light tank from the middle road. To the rear is collection of buildings and alleyways. To the front of the light tank was Naoko's Type 97 Chi-Ha, "Srikandi", also hiding between two buildings. When the Crusaders passed them, Srikandi and Jan Cox would pounce. The echo was getting louder, it was almost time.
When they close enough, Atlanta will block the road from its concealed position. As the Crusaders stopping from the sudden blockade, Srikandi and Jan would go forward and strike them from their rear. Rika thought, reminding herself her role.
Half a minute later, a blur of grey passed them. Then a squeak of stopping track was heard. Almost at the same time Jan Cox and Srikandi moved to the middle road and turned towards the supposed Crusaders. The gun barrels traversed to their target and took a shot. A volley of two shots disabled a single grey Crusader, the only crusader on that road. A realization hit Rika.
War is deceit.
"Damn!" Rika cursed, she stood in her hatch. "All tanks! Get back to the Illustrious II, this one is just a bait! "
Scene 2: The Ghost, the Butcher and the Speedster
My tea name is Glengettie, and as for now, I am the second best driver in St. Gloriana.
Left, right, left again, use the stair to the right, turn right again, turn left and voila. The driver of Rosehip's Crusader tried to remember her route through the alleys, street and arcades of the north side of the medieval city. Her feet, wearing a pair of leather boots irregular to St. Gloriana's tank uniform, were dancing around the three pedals on the tank floor like the fingers of a pianist playing her favourite song as her hands professionally danced around the tillers and the gearshift, controlling the Crusaders high speed trudge through the city. Her bistre brown hair waved in the breeze sneaking in through the opened sliding block and pistol port. After some time navigating the alleyways, her scarlet eyes finally saw the destination.
The proverbial light at the end of a tunnel. She mused.
"Miss Commander, we're here." the driver announced to Rosehip.
"Are we? Thank you Glenn." Rosehip said, picking her radio. "Cranberry, you may go forward."
"You both better prepare yourself." Glengettie said to her crewmates.
At the edge of the alleyway, Glengettie expertly pulled the right tiller with both of her hand while flooring the accelerator pedal. In an instant the Crusader drifted to the right and suddenly the cruiser tank now sped on one of the city's main road. Glengettie and Rosehip laughed in excitement
On the front of Rosehip's Crusader, Melati's flag tank was preoccupied by shooting Cranberry's Crusader further down the road, clearly didn't expect another Crusader came to its rear.
"She's distracted! Miss Gunner, it's your turn!" Glengettie yelled.
"Ohohoho, The Speedster of St. Gloriana is here!" Rosehip unceremoniously announced their presence. "Hit it!"
The Crusader shot its 6-pounder gun while speeding towards the medium tank in the road. It missed. Rosehip loaded another shell and the gunner pulled the trigger again. It ricocheted off its side.
Glengettie sighed in annoyance. "Argh, come on Miss Gunner!"
After finishing off Cranberry's Crusader , the Sherman reversed and turned towards the advancing Crusader. Glengettie analyzed the barrel of the Sherman, then drifted her tank out of harm's way as the Sherman shot it's gun. Glengettie laughed at the successful avoidance. The Crusader shot again, this time it hit the up-armored front, the shell ricocheted to a house nearby.
"Hold the shot until we are at point blank!" Rosehip commanded. "Glenn! Drift to its rear!"
"You read my mind." Glengettie agreed. "One Ooarai Drift coming up."
The Crusader immediately increased the speed to reach the speed needed. The Sherman shot again, but with a single flick of the tillers Glengettie avoided the Crusader's demise. Glenn heard Rosehip's laugh of excitement behind her.
"Well, the exciting part start now!"Glenn muttered as she pulled the right tiller with both of her hands again.
The Crusader dangerously closed in on the Sherman and passed under its gun and started to oversteer to the Sherman's right side and slid sideways, it's track sparkling and squeaking. However, to Glenn's surprise, as the Crusader drifted on its right side, the Sherman were already reversing as well, turning its rear to its right.
"Oh bugger!"
Before Glenn realised it, the Crusader's left side collided with the Sherman's right side, stopping it instantly. The two tanks then stopped in side-by-side position, the gun barrel almost parallel to each other. Realising what happened, in an impulse of instinct, Glengettie put the gear to reverse, pulled the left tiller, and stepped on the accelerator, attempting to break free from the awkward position and point the gun barrel towards the flag tank, but despite the Crusader's whining engine, the tank did not budge. Glenn deduced what happened and sighed.
The Sherman, in other hand, reversed and broke free of the deadlock, pointing its gun to the Crusader faster than the Crusader did. Glenn noticed and smiled in amusement.
Bravo, Miss Jasmine, Bravo.
The Sherman shot its 76mm gun at the still Crusader, the effect of the point-blank shot pushed the Crusader a few feet to its right and lifting its left side up a few centimetres. Glenn climbed out of her hatch once the vibration was over. She looked around. The tracks and the links of her Crusader were scattered on the road. She then looked at the Sherman who kicked her out of the match. She saw the commander of the Sherman standing in her own hatch.
"Miss Jasmine, right?" Glenn greeted loud enough to be heard by the commander "Miss Black Tea told me about you."
"It's Dini," Jasmine replied, a sign of annoyance shown in her expressionless face. "Butcher Glenn, right?"
Glenn chuckled. "It's Glengettie now, actually. It seems our reputations precede us." Glenn said.
"You shouldn't have drifted your tank." Jasmine said bluntly, lifting her side cap as a sign of salutation. She then got back in her tank, closing its hatch. The Sherman immediately moved forward, leaving the Crusader.
"And you shouldn't have blocked a speeding tank like that, my new friend." Glenn said smilingly, saluting at the distancing Sherman.
"Ah dang it! I know we shouldn't have drifted in this kind of road! Darjeeling-sama going to scold me again." Rosehip's voice interrupted Glen's admiring the Komandan.
Rosehip stood worriedly in her hatch, gazing at the scattered parts around her tank. Glengettie sighed.
"Really, Miss Commander?" Glenn said, looking at Rosehip in astonishment. "Our team now outnumbered, a very scary Sherman commander, and that's the part you're stuck on?"
"But, my poor Crusader." Rosehip said, still gazing at the scattered parts with an empty expression that made her looks like she was about to cry.
"Um Miss Commander, have you reported to Miss Orange about the operation Warwolf becoming operation Peacepup? Miss Spy and Miss Orange must be very worried right now." Glenn said, trying to distract Rosehip from crying.
"Oh no, I forgot! I have to tell Pekoe-san what happened." Rosehip said in her usual quick way, and disappeared into her hatch in a blur of red and pink.
As her tank commander started speaking in the radio, Glenn turned her sight to the road where the Sherman was a moment ago, but the Sherman was already gone.
"Au revoir, Le fantôme de Sainte Gloriane." Glenn said, smiling.
SCENE 3: Operation Claret
Rika Tatsuo waited worriedly in her hatch. Her green eyes scanning the vast plain surrounding the south gate, fearing the eventual coming of St. Gloriana's Infantry Tanks. Melati's other tanks were also parked near the south gate, waiting for their Komandan.
As she sat on the turret roof, the Komandan's last radio transmission echoed in her mind again.
"Go to the south gate, watch out for the enemy. I'll deal with the Crusaders myself."
Stupid! She swore to the absent Komandan.
She looked up to the battlement of the gatehouse, the South Eye and the North eye were also looking out for the Infantry Tanks. North Eye's actual name was Ayu Morine, a second year student and the hull gunner of the Komandan's Sherman. After the breach of the north gate moments ago, she relocated herself to the south gate, where she regrouped with her southern counterparts. The South Eye, in other hand, is one of this morning's automotive club's volunteers. Asaka Miwa was her name.
Rika inhaled her jacket sleeve again, trying to scent the jasmine fragrance again, it was fading.
"Why on earth do you always smell your jacket like that?" Mina who sat beside her asked. "Are you some kind of fetishist?"
"What the hell Mina? Of course not! I just love my jasmine perfume that's all."
"Cintami's magic perfume? Guaranteed to dispel demons and align your chakra? You really like that?" Mina chuckled.
"Hey, it's make me focused, that's what matters." Rika said.
"Yeah yeah, you do you my dear friend, I'm going to count our ammunitions to pass the time." Mina said, getting in to her hatch.
"Well, speaking about remaining ammunitions." Harumi said from her own hatch. "We're only have five HE shells and ten smoke shells."
"What? That small?" Rika said, looking at her fellow Vice-commander. "You really are a trigger-happy pyromaniac, aren't you?"
"Well, in my defense, that's almost my only duty in this match. Besides, look at my beautiful masterpiece" Harumi said while gazing at the smoky pillars to the south.
Suddenly, the radio crackled to life. "All tanks, the Crusaders have been eliminated, Let's regroup and start operation Claret." Her Komandan's voice was heard from the radio.
Finally, It's time to bring this fight to an end. Rika sighed in relief, followed by everyone.
Scene 4: The Confrontation I Flower of Carnage
After half an hour of scouting the area systematically, Jan Cox finally found them, enemy flag tank. Flanked by two Matildas, the Churchill cruised elegantly on the plain just southeast of the city, southbound, obviously heading towards the south gate. Rika scented the fading fragrance again.
"Illustrious II, Jan Cox. All enemy tanks are southbound just off point 63. Over." Rika said to her Komandan.
"Roger, proceed with the plan. I'll be there in a moment. Over." Dini's voice crackled from the radio.
"Wish me luck. Jan Cox out." Rika put the radio handset to its hook.
"Girls, it's time, stay calm, okay? And do And do as I said." Rika said to her crewmates.
"Don't worry about me, I'm always calm." Mina answered with her usual antic.
"Roger." Karin also answered with her usual soft voice.
Rika smiled. She pulled an AP shell from the ready rack and held it. She took a deep breath.
"Jan Cox, serbu!" Rika yelled. Charge!
Jan Cox immediately lunged forward from the trees and entered the plain. After turning left, Jan Cox now sped behind the infantry tanks. The infantry tanks realised their presence, stopped and formed a defensive formation with one of the Matildas covered the Churchill's rear in an angle, and the other covered its right side. Jan Cox shot its first round, but it ricocheted off Matilda's thick side armor. The rear Matilda shot, but Jan Cox easily avoided it. Jan Cox then drove to the side of the Churchill and tried its luck again, the shot bounced off. Jan Cox ended up circled the strong tank formation whilst avoiding shot after shot and shooting at the Churchill, trying to probe for weakness.
As Jan Cox completed one lap around the formation, a familiar explosion landed between the Churchill and the rightmost Matilda. It was Atlanta, finally arrived from her scouting area, shooting from a ridgeline on the right of the formation. It shot a smoke round at the formation, while Jan Cox still circling and shooting the fortress of tanks. Smoke emerged from between the formation. Reading the writing on the wall, The tanks started to move again. The rightmost Matilda broke off from the formation and advanced towards Atlanta while the other Matilda still guarding the Churchill rear from the circling light tank.
Good, finally they break off. Rika thought.
As Jan Cox made its third lap around the Churchill, Rika heard an explosion, and in an instant, everyone inside were thrown around inside the tank. The sickening move stopped with the tank tipped over on its left side, immobilised. Rika opened her hatch and got out, followed by her gunner. As she set her sight to the south, she saw the Churchill distancing away with a smoking barrel.
I, I fail again, I was very close. RIka thought as she ran back to tank.
Rika picked up the radio handset and turning the knob, but nothing but static came out. The Radio was dead. She threw the handset in frustration. She stood up, looking at the distancing infantry tanks. A Churchill and a Matilda were on the flat plain, as the other Matilda was dueling with Atlanta beyond the ridge on the right.
Well, at least now the Churchill go straight to her position. Rika mused, although a single drop of tear wet the grass by her feet.
Scene 5: The Confrontation II Circle of Life
Sorry Tatsuo-san, you seems like a good person.
Assam was still grasping the sky-blue handkerchief on her pocket as she pulled the trigger that destroyed the Stuart. She took a sip of her tea to calm herself and traversed the gun back to the front. The Churchill drove at full speed to the south accompanied by one Matilda, Elegance 03, on a vast flat plain while Rukuriri on the other Matilda: Elegance 05, was fighting one on one battle with enemy Sherman 105 on the hills.
"Elegance 01, this is 05. We destroyed the Sherman 105" Rukuriri's crackled from the radio.
"Good job, Rukuriri-sama, now would you go ahead and support us from the hills, please." Pekoe commanded politely.
"Roger roger. Elegance 05 out." Rukuriri complied, and then closed the transmission.
"Now three vs two, Pekoe-san. We can do this," Assam wheeled to her commander. "And in this plain, she has no option but to face us head-on."
"That's right Assam-sama." Orange Pekoe smiled. "Let's do our best!"
"Enemy flag tank and a Chi-ha spotted. 12 o'clock and charging towards us." Chamomile announced.
Assam went back to her periscope. She saw the up-armored Sherman and a Chi-ha driving towards their Churchill.
A frontal assault? Is she that desperate?
"Pekoe-san, I have a clear shot." Assam said, putting her eye to the gun sight.
"You may fire when ready, Assam-sama." Pekoe commanded. "All tanks, marching fire."
Assam pulled the trigger, the shell ricocheted off the upper glacis. Elegance 05 also take a shot, the shot missed.
Of course the shot won't do anything on that armor at this distance. She thought.
Suddenly the Sherman and Chi-ha turned right. Assam deduced Jasmine's plan.
"They're trying to circle and outmanoeuvre us." Pekoe yelled. "Ruhuna, get us to the flag tank's rear!"
The Churchill turned left softly with Elegance 03 protecting the rear, just like the Sherman and the Chi-ha. The four tanks circled each other, side to side, trying get to each other's weak point. Both of them couldn't afford to break the circle, lest the enmy found their rear. The Sherman's turret turned at the Churchill. The Sherman shot, missing the Churchill track for a few centimetres. The Churchill shot back, the shot glanced off the Sherman's mantlet. Elegance 03 and the Chi-ha was also shooting each other to no avail.
Finally, after minutes of circling, as if tired with the stalemate, the Sherman turned hard to the left and accelerate towards the Churchill head-on. The Churchill does the same. The two flag tank now sped towards eachother at maximum speed.
"Elegance 03, go deal with the Chi-ha, guard our rear. Elegance 01 will deal with the Sherman!" Pekoe said as the flag tanks got closer and closer.
Looking at the periscope, Assam can't believe at what she saw. She grasped the sky-blue handkerchief on her pocket tightly.
Scene 6: Confrontation III Kiss of a Rose
A few minutes ago, inside Illustrious II, Misaki Imamura was sick of circling the infantry tank.
"We can't afford to do this useless maneuver! We are the faster tank!" Misaki complained.
"I told you there's something wrong with the running gear after that crusader collision. If we got any faster, I don't know what will happen!" The driver of Illustrious II, Juwita Takagi replied through the intercom.
Misaki sighted her gun quickly and stepped the trigger, the shot missed again. She clicked her tongue in frustration.
"Something will go wrong, if we continue like this!" Misaki yelled again, She looked at the Komandan sitting behind her. "Orders! ma'am!"
Dini Nishijima was sitting with her usual stoic expression, looking attentively at the battlefield and wearing the battle flag around her shoulder. After hearing Misaki's asking for order, she looked at her gunner.
"Back to your station, wait for my signal. Loader, ready HVAP shell at hand," The Komandan finally Commanded. "Driver, on my command, hard left and charge at the Churchill, don't mind the bloody running gear and avoid their shots! Hull gunner, once we're charging, try raining bullet at the Churchill's gunner sight, disorient her!"
Dini picked up her radio. "Srikandi, at my signal, break the circle and engage the Matilda."
"Ah finally!" Misaki returned to her gun sight, with her tongue on her upper lip.
The Komandan stood up in her hatch, holding the battle flag up high with her right hand, waving it in the wind.
"Driver, Srikandi, Now!"
M4A3E8 Sherman "Illustrious II" turned hard to the left and accelerate towards the Churchill head-on, the beginning of the end had begun.
...
With this last charge, let my determination be heard: I realized once again, senshado...are really fun!
Dini Nishijima stood in her hatch, smiling widely, her big blue eyes focused on the closing Churchill. As if on slow motion, her teammates' words echoed in her heart.
"Sure, for you, Dini. I don't see why not."
"Yes! Of course, I'd like to join your Senshado club!"
"My dear Komandan..."
"I like your confidence when speaking about Senshado, you should be like that more often."
"Yes, of course we can beat them!"
"Do not worry Komandan. I respect you just the way you are"
"Orders! Ma'am!"
"Jasmine, do you know this saying..."
"Hey, Jasmine, right? I'm Assam, nice to meet you!"
"Here,...I had this handkerchief made for you...Don't wet your tank jacket with tears again."
"Listen, if you disregard your teammates' safety like that, maybe you'd better stop doing Senshado."
Dini opened her eyes, the Churchill were going closer and closer. Illustrious II rained the Churchill with bursts of machine gun fire. Assam pulled the trigger, but Illustrious II managed to avoid the shell. The two flag tanks were close enough at each other. Dini took a deep breath.
Here it comes, ASH!
"Gunner! Flag tank! Fi..."
"Boom!" an explosion was heard behind Dini.
Illustrious II slowed to a full stop. Dini looked beside her, a white flag popped up from the turret roof, marking Illustrious II inoperable and couldn't continue the match. She slowly looked behind her, almost too afraid to do so.
A black pillar of smoke raised from the engine bay. Further behind that was a Matilda II with number 05 marked on its side skirt. Rukuriri was standing in her hatch, looking as surprised as Dini.
Of course, the Matilda from the hills, Dini looked at the Churchill again, smiling. It seems we're not strong enough, Ash, sorry.
"Melati Girls High School's flag tank cannot continue the match!" The match announcer yelled excitedly over the radio. "The Winner is St. Gloriana Girls College!"
Scene 7: Mawar dan Melati
Assam couldn't believe what she saw. Jasmine smiled, even after losing the match. Assam climbed down her tank and approached her. Her feeling was a mix of happiness for winning the match and sadness for Jasmine losing hers. She was squatting beside the Sherman, checking something on the suspension, as Assam approached her with nervous steps, holding the handkerchief on her right hand. And that's when Assam heard a familiar yell.
"JASMINE!" Chamomile ran to Jasmine.
Jasmine realised what approached her and stood up. She was about to run from Chamomile as the bespectacled girl hugged her from behind and fondled Jasmine's hair. Assam could only smile at the nostalgic view.
"I really missed you! You left so suddenly!" The girl in glasses said while keep holding the shorter girl.
Assam cleared her throat, "It's not very elegant to run and hug someone like that, don't you think? Darjeeling." Assam said, once she got close enough.
The bespectacled girl looked at Assam with a made-up surprised look. Jasmine struggled to get out of Darjeeling's grasp.
"You noticed, didn't you?" Darjeeling smiled.
"Since the first time you open your mouth, Chamomile." Assam lied, she only found out a moment ago.
Darjeeling released Jasmine. Jasmine ran behind Assam for protection, gasping for air.
"Bloody hell, I didn't know you want to kill me that badly" Jasmine finally spoke, still gasping.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Assam asked, putting her hands on her hips. "Are you supposed to be this match's announcer and commentator?"
"All is fair in love and war." Darjeeling took off her black wig and glasses and wiped off the freckles on her face, revealing the usual Darjeeling. "I asked Kay to do it for me, and unsurprisingly, she agreed."
Saunders' Kay, of course. Assam rolled her eyes.
"And you, Jasmine, the fight was just a consolation match, yet you fought like it's the finals. You've really grown. I'm sure you'll give everyone a hard time in the next competition." Darjeeling said with her usual gracious and elegant tone.
"Thank you, Darjeeling-sama" Jasmine replied, still hiding herself behind Assam.
Darjeeling chuckled. "Ladies, it's been a real pleasure, but I also have to congratulate Orange Pekoe. If you'd excuse me." Darjeeling said politely, slightly nodding. She then walked back to the Churchill.
"Assam, I suppose you will be with me in a few moments." Darjeeling said, as she passed Assam.
"Of course, Darjeeling." Assam complied.
After Darjeeling walked away, Assam was left with Jasmine in another awkward standoff beside Jasmine's Sherman.
"Look...um...I want to apologize, I was too harsh on you back then." Assam said, couldn't bear to look at her old friend.
"It's okay, Ash, I'm fine now, thanks to the great match." Jasmine said, smiling widely.
Assam felt relieved upon hearing Jasmine's reply and seeing that smile again. It had been more than three years, since the last time she saw that smile. That reminded Assam.
"Here, you seems to have dropped this" Assam said, handing out Jasmine's sky-blue handkerchief. "Don't wet your tank jacket with tears again."
"What? Where did you find it?" Jasmine was surprised, holding the handkerchief. "I'm sorry I threw it away. I was angry at that time."
"Don't worry, I understand." Assam said, while casting a meaningful smile. She pat Jasmine's shoulder. "Thank you for your forgiveness, Dini-chan"
"Yes, thank you for everything." Dini said with teary eyes. She then whispered Assam's real name.
...
Not far, Rika overheard the old friends' conversation. Rika felt a mix of happiness and pride for her Komandan.
Ultimately, Melati lost their third match, but all was not lost, many other match were waiting for them, many hours to practice their tankery, many more competitions to compete in. A hopeful smile bloomed on Rika's heart. She reached into her binoculars carrying bag and picked up a small book. Finally found words to finish her first poem in her high school, she sat down on the grass and started writing.
...
Through one crusade after another
Peace of the rose, peace of the mind
Even after the butcher showed her bill
We will continue our sagas
The Jasmine was stopped at the third
Peace of Jasmine, their fate entwined
Stopped by a queen of the hill
Melati di tapal batas.
… The Jasmine and The Roses - TAMAT ...
...
Author Note
If you reached this far, thank you very much for reading my first-ever fanfiction! I realise that this story is very far from perfect, so if you haven't done so already, please leave a review or two to let me know what I can do to improve my writing.
Credits to SharkyCast for inspiring me to write a story of my own and for giving me some input on how to write a story.
Cheers!
Sturmi Daniels.
...
Bonus 1: The Tulip's Gambit.
Two girls were sitting in the spectators stand watching the big screen displaying the match between St. Gloriana and Melati when a Matilda shot down the flag Sherman. The situation at the stands were filled with the cheering and exciting clamor for the exhilarating match that was just happened. In contrast to their surroundings, these two girls just sat there, one with angrier expression than the other.
"Let's go." The blonde one urged, standing up and started walking without waiting for the other girl.
"What? Going already?" The brunette sighed and followed her angry commander.
Both of the girls wore their school uniform, simple white shirt with dark blue blazer, red skirt and orange tie. The blonde was a tall girl with long hay-colored hair and blue eyes. Her steps were sure and confident, walking past other spectators in the stands without a single glance backward or sideward. The brunette, on the other hands, was a short girl, with short hair and blue eyes. Her steps were careful and unsure. She walked on the stands accompanied by apologies and excuses to every other spectator she accidentally bumped.
After a short walk in the spectator area the two girls finally reached the parking lot. They were going for their Sherman Hybrid IC parked in the far end of the parking lot among other tanks parked there. Many spectators watched the match from the parking lot like in a drive-in theatre, so it was as crowded here as in spectator's area. Upon reaching their dark green tank, the brunette opened a conversation.
"Why did we smuggle a spy into their ranks and arrange their match against St. Gloriana and Tategoto? I still don't get it. I mean, what is your endgame here? I'm really curious." Whispered the brunette.
The blonde smirked, "Don't worry about little details now, you are going to understand soon enough, Richel." The blonde said as she climbed into the tank commander's hatch.
Richel sighed. "You and your godverdomme evil mastermind theatrics, Rijn." She said as she climbed up as well. She knocked the driver hatch along the way. "Vaals, wake up, let's head back to the Doorman!"