Chapter 2: A Council of Conspirators
Location: Ooarai School Ship, Lower Decks
Time: Aug 25. 2215 HRS
Ogin strode the dimly-lit corridors of the lower deck with a sour mood.
Her boots clang each time they hit the metal floor, and anyone within hearing distance could surely guess the sense of urgency in her stride. Some did give her a nod of respect as she passed by, but she still ignored them. She was too deep in her thoughts to acknowledge any of them. None, however, dared try to block her path.
That fact alone says a lot of how much respect she commanded from this eccentric cast of delinquents. After all, anyone who could technically take her out was all here loitering in the deep bowels of the school ship. Being left alone was a small consolation for her irritable humors. However, it's still not enough to completely reverse her mood after getting a call from a person she should have punched in the face a long time ago.
Whoever said delinquents like her were bad people clearly had never met Anzu Kadotani. As the old adage goes, looks can be deceiving. Ogin might have a flamboyant taste for fashion, sporting a tricorn cap and a dark coat over her white sailor uniform, which made her look like a pirate, but the devil could just as well dress plainly as an ordinary Ooarai highschool student with twin-tails and red-brownish hair.
She should have never given that twin-tailed snake her number. She owed her nothing, and she does not deal with the devil.
Without warning, Ogin slammed her fist into the metal wall, which produced a loud clanging sound. Those present to witness the random burst of violence made no attempt to bother her with questions. All they needed to know was that their 'Oyabun' was in a grim mood, and they should give her space.
"Why did you have to fail?" she muttered through gritted teeth.
As someone who values individual freedom above all things, getting dragged into another of the President's schemes made her feel like a complete sell-out. Following authority for the sake of authority was anathema to her libertarian free spirit.
And yet, she knew she didn't have a choice. Unlike the Morals Committee, who she annoyed to no end with her constant infractions by dressing like a pirate, she couldn't simply ignore the President's plea for help.
And that was the second reason for her sour mood.
Without saying a word to her onlookers, she resumed her walk.
A year ago, after the saintly Momo-sama saved her and her crew from expulsion, the manipulating chibi asked her for help. Of course, her first instinct was to tell her to take a hike, but Momo-sama convinced her to reconsider. After all, what they were asking for was a matter of life and death situation for the school itself. They revealed that the school ship would be decommissioned and sold for scrap in a year due to the school's abysmal performance in almost every metric.
To save this unpalatable outcome, the president had made a deal with a MEXT representative to reconstitute the school's landship club, win some National Landship Tournament, and put Ooarai Girls School back on the map.
A highly improbable plan, Ogin initially thought, but she did like its boldness and the outright defiance against bureaucratic meddling. That was the first part of the plan. The second part involved reforming the school and aiming for high marks in every metric. This would mean finally ending the nonsensical turf wars of delinquent groups within the Naval Studies Department.
The president wanted her to stop these clashes and bring every delinquent group under her banner. Ogin didn't like being manipulated by this chibi president, but she relented at the behest of Momo-sama. After all, even though she didn't like Anzu Kadotani, she couldn't deny that the president's plan was the only way they had to save their school ship.
And thus, for a year, Ogin fought and defeated all the gangs in the lower decks of the ship, uniting them under her banner. Due to her exploits as 'Tornado' Ogin, she gained massive respect from her fellow outcasts. The first-years and second-years called her "Aneki" or "Big Sis", while her fellow third-years addressed her as "Oyabun" or "Big Boss" in Yakuza fashion. Still, others called her Captain, though she no longer had a ship to command.
She managed to ensure what the Morals Committee could not. She brought peace within the delinquent groups by earning their respect, be it by her fists or by her wits, rather than enforcing nonsense rules that stifled individual freedom.
Ogin kept her side of the bargain, but now everything she built was once again under threat.
Whatever happened to all the schemes and manipulations made by the president? What happened to Anzu Kadotani's grand plan? How many people did she deceive and blackmail, so she could get her way?
Didn't she instituted back the Ooarai's landships and won that fancy landship tournament? Why then did it seem like everything was for naught?
Ogin curled her hands into tight fists.
This was why she hated politics. This was why she could never get along with Anzu Kadotani. She would make an excellent politician with her forked tongue and deceiving reptilian eyes.
People might call Ogin a cutthroat, but her methods were fair and effective.
She kept the peace while the president lost the ship.
Finally, she arrived at the entrance of Danzoko bar. She placed her on the doorknob and was about to turn it when she stopped.
She stared at the characters on top of the door that spelled out "Danzoku bar". Before becoming the Oyabun of the delinquents, all she wanted to do was to open a bar with her friends to hang out. When not sailing in the open seas, she wanted to come here and just relax, caring nothing about what the upper deck landlubbers were doing.
Now her place of solitude would be gone if nothing would be done to stop the ship's decommissioning.
She saw light coming out under the door, and she could hear muffled voices from the other side. She didn't hear Flint's singing, which told her all she needed to know of this meeting's undertone. She also heard the voice of the person she wanted to strangle.
She opened the door and made her way straight towards Anzu Kadotani.
"Ah, Ogin, nice to see-"
Ogin approached the student council president in a blur, grabbing her from her seat by the collar and then dragging her all the way towards the wall.
The pirate then slammed the president's small-framed body on the wall's metallic surface, holding her high up by the collar so her feet couldn't touch the floor.
"You broke your word," Ogin growled. It was not a question.
Anzu tried to speak. She opened her mouth to croak out a reply, but the pirate's grip on her uniform's collar prevented her from saying anything.
Ogin heard the cry of protests from other individuals inside the bar. She even heard the voices of Flint and Murakami, advising her to calm down.
She ignored them. She ignored all pleas for mercy. After all, the devil before her needed to be reminded of why she was cast out from heaven.
"I kept my word." Ogin started. Her voice full of righteous indignation. "I kept the delinquents in check. I stopped them from causing troubles against the landlubbers in the upper deck so as not to trouble your grandmaster plan."
Anzu attempted to peel away the pirate's hold, but her hand felt as solid and strong as steel.
"And yet, you failed to keep your word." Ogin continued. "And now we've come to this pathetic situation where our ship is to be sent to the Philippines to be scrapped. Tell me one good reason, Anzu… Tell me one good reason why I should not just throw you overboard?"
"That's enough, Ogin-san!" A voice from behind shouted. "Let the president go. Please!"
Ogin turned to glare at the voice's direction but then felt the soft touch of delicate hands holding on her own hand that kept the president pinned to the wall.
"Ogin-san, please." The voice pleaded once more. It belonged to a girl with short brown hair dressed in a standard white sailor uniform. Everything about her screamed ordinary except for the cap she wore. It was not the usual cap worn by any Naval Studies Department student. In fact, there was only one such hat on the ship, and it's only worn by the highest-ranking sailor onboard.
Student-Captain Zuikaku, overall captain of the school ship, stared into the pirate captain's eyes, pleading for her to release the president. Everyone in the Naval Studies Department liked the unassuming commander of the school ship. Even the delinquents below deck respected her not only for her command but for her style of leadership. She earned the respect of her fellow sailors through her deeds and kind-heartedness, even going so far as treating the delinquents fairly and without prejudice.
It would be foolish to antagonize such a well-loved captain.
Ogin let out an annoyed grunt and then dropped the president down to the floor.
"President!" Zuikaku approached the panting Anzu. "Are you al-"
"It's nothing, Zuikaku," Anzu held up her hand to stop the school ship captain from assisting her. "Thanks, but let it be. I… I deserve that. Ogin is correct. I have b-broken my word and… And now we are in this predicament."
Ogin sneered. "What an understatement."
Zuikaku shot a look at the pirate, who then rolled her eyes.
"Apologies, Ogin, you're right. That's an understatement." Anzu corrected. "But still, this is not das finale… I know I made a huge mistake, and now I need your help."
Ogin didn't respond. Being taller than the president, she loomed over her, glaring at her with contempt. Then, she spun and strode towards her favorite stool at the bar, where she ordered her favorite Habanero drink from Cutlass.
"I'm so sorry for Ogin-san's outburst, President Kadotani," Zuikaku apologized, bowing furiously at the chibi president. "As the overall captain of this school-ship, I accept full responsibility for my subordinate's transgression."
"Hey, no need to apologize to her, Zui," Ogin called out from the bar. "She got us into this mess because she was so full of herself. Leave her be… Let her dig herself out of her grave."
"Ogin-san!" Zuikaku shot back. "President Kadotani is under extreme stress. Can you at least be considerate to her? She's doing all she can to save our school."
"Oh, I don't doubt that for one second." The pirate clarified. "I don't question this chibi's resolve… I question her methods of using people for her own ends."
"Why are you so hostile towards her?" The school-ship captain let out an angry squeak. "She saved you from expulsion!"
"Uh, no, it was Momo-sama who saved my crew, not this she-devil." Ogin then added. "And furthermore, she used my indebtedness to Momo-sama to ensnare me to do her bidding!"
"I'm sure it was for the greater good." Zuikaku reasoned out.
Now it was Ogin's turn to glower at the school-ship captain.
"Thank you, Captain Zuikaku, for your generous words, but I'm afraid Ogin is correct," Anzu interjected. "I miscalculated, and we're now paying the grim price for my mistake."
The pirate closed her eyes and sighed.
"So," Ogin then turned to give the president a dismissive look. "What's your grand plan this time, Anzu?"
"As I was saying before, you tried to strangle me," Anzu started. Her hand instinctively went to massage her neck. "My plan has two parts. The first part involves proposing another deal, this time in writing, with MEXT for another Senshado match to decide the fate of our school."
Ogin sneered. "And why would they agree with you this time?"
"Because we won the 63rd National High School Senshado Tournament, and it would be a huge scandal if MEXT attempts to close the championing school."
"You are going against corrupt old farts this time." Ogin retorted. "You are no longer fighting one pathetic bureaucrat. You're fighting the whole bureaucracy."
"Not everyone in MEXT and the Senshado Federation is alright with closing our school down," Anzu replied. "If news of our school's closing goes mainstream, then Senshado would once again be accused of rampant corruption."
"And you believe the old farts don't know about this?" The pirate asked, still not convinced. "You think they'll simply agree to your proposal for another landship tournament? They've nothing to gain and everything to lose."
"True," Anzu conceded. "But just like before, they underestimated my resolve."
Ogin smiled mirthlessly.
"And there it is, your true self." The pirate started cracking her knuckles. "It's always about you, isn't it, Anzu? The world revolves around the Great Student Council President of Ooarai, for she's the only one who can solve everything."
"Ogin-san!" Zuikaku interjected. "That's uncalled for."
Ogin raised her hands to her side, palms open wide. "What? I merely speak the truth. Look at her, do you see her objecting to what I said?"
Zuikaku stole a glance at the student council president, who remained silent.
"Zui, she's right. People do underestimate her," Ogin continued. "But she also overestimates herself!"
Anzu opened her mouth to reply, but Ogin raised a hand to stop her. The pirate then faced the school ship captain.
"Zui, listen carefully to the next words, this she-devil will say. Understand that you and I are merely expendable pawns in her plan."
Zuikaku stared back at the sitting pirate but said nothing back.
"I'm sorry, captain," Anzu looked at the school ship captain, her eyes glinting with shame. "Again, Ogin is right. The second part of my plan involves the whole Naval Studies Department stopping the ship from reaching Philippine waters by any means necessary save for scuttling it."
The school ship captain didn't respond. She remained silent as she brooded over the implications of the president's request.
Then her eyes lit up with realization, and her mouth fell agape.
"Now, do you understand, Zui?" Ogin's mirthless smile came back. "Do you understand the insanity of what Anzu is telling us to do?"
"You want us to mutiny?" Zuikaku mumbled, dumbfounded.
"Exactly!" Ogin's smile warped into a snarl. "This woman is telling us to mutiny knowing full well the consequences of such a request!"
"If my plan works," Anzu started. "All of you in this room will be given full pardo-"
A shot glass whooshed past the president's side, crashing at the wall behind her.
"Choose your words carefully, Anzu… I'm not going to miss this time."
"Ogin!" Zuikaku protested, stepping in front of the president to shield her from another shot glass. "Don't threaten the president!"
"Did you not hear her, Zui?!" The pirate growled with frustration. "She's telling us to break the law. We are not just going to break some stupid law the Morals Committee made up. She's telling us to commit a maritime crime!"
Ogin then turned to glare once more at the president. "And I know what you're going to say next. You are wondering why a self-proclaimed pirate is now afraid to break the law. Yeah, try thinking harder, and you'll get your answer."
"I am not trying to use you, Ogin," Anzu said softly, her eyes pleading at her to believe her words. "And I know you're not scared to do what's necessary. You hate rules that suppress and oppress a person's freedom. Your honor demands it from you to act."
"Careful now, Anzu," Ogin narrowed her eyes. "I don't think too kindly of people who attempt to question my honor without even having the nerve to pose the question."
"I need you, Ogin," the president bowed her head, pleading. "You command the respect of all delinquents in this ship, and you're the only one who actually commanded her own warshi-"
"Don't." The pirate glared menacingly at her. "Don't say it."
"Please, I need you," Anzu repeated. Then she turned to look at everyone inside the tavern. "I need you all, and I understand… I truly, truly, understand what I'm asking."
"Do you, Anzu?" Ogin shot back, totally unconvinced. "Do you really understand what you're asking from us? Do you understand what will happen to us if you fail?"
The president remained silent.
"It's not just expulsion that we'll get," Ogin continued. "They'll slam us all with lengthy sentences. Mutiny is a damned crime to commit."
"That is why failure is not an option." Anzu declared. "Either this plan works, or we'll all go to prison."
The president then strode towards the sitting pirate until she was only a foot away from her. Ogin, for her part, didn't move but instead glared at her.
"That is why I need your help, Ogin," Anzu said softly, her voice shaking. "I need your help. I… I cannot do this all alone."
To her credit, this time, Ogin didn't quip a snide remark. She remained silent as her eyes studied the president from top to bottom.
This was the first time she'd seen the Anzu at her most vulnerable. Before her, the girl no longer appeared like the manipulative president who had no qualm about using people to achieve her goals. Before her, Anzu Kadotani was just an ordinary high school girl.
Ogin clicked her tongue and sighed.
"I've yet to meet a cutthroat as terrifying as you, Anzu," Ogin grumbled with annoyance. "And would you stop groveling? You already know my answer. I can't just stand by as a bunch of old farts close down our school because you shamed them on that landship tournament of yours."
"Thank you, Ogin," Anzu exhaled with relief. Her shoulders sagged like an anchor was suddenly taken off.
"I trust in your judgment, President Kadotani," Zuikaku smiled assuredly. "All your matches are incredibly intense and impressive. My middle school friend Mako is also in your club, and I know with her in your team, you will win any match you compete."
Anzu returned her smile. "Mako is a genius. With her as the driver of our lead tank, we'll give any foes a run for their money."
"Yes, Mako is simply amazing, isn't she?" Zuikaku blushed, suddenly turning excited at the mention of her friend. "That's why you just focus on winning, President Kadotani. We'll handle keeping this ship safe."
"Yeah, about that," Ogin interjected. "You're putting too much faith in us. Unless you just want a full-scale mutiny in the sea, I'm sure you've thought this through?"
"I have." Anzu concurred. "That's why I've already requested the help from our friends from the Mystic Dojo club."
Ogin's brows furrowed. "Mystic what? Never heard of that club. What are they? A bunch of ninjas?"
"That is correct, Ogin-dono."
The pirate nearly jumped out of her seat from hearing an unfamiliar voice so close to her.
A few feet from her sat five individuals sitting at a table, all wearing different colored ninja suits.
Ogin's eyes bulged with surprise. How in the seven seas did she not notice them all sitting so close to her?
"W-Wha-... How… H-Huh?"
The five ninjas stood up and bowed solemnly towards her.
"It is an honor to finally meet you, Tornado Ogin-dono," the ninja with long brown hair and sporting a dark-red suit pressed a fist on her palm in greeting. "My name is Splinter, the head ninja of the Mystic Dojo club. We've heard so much of your martial exploits in subduing the delinquents here in the lower decks of the ship."
"How… How did you k-know that?" Ogin asked, still dumbstruck at failing to detect their presence so close to her.
"We keep ourselves duly informed of such matters," the dark-red ninja revealed. "It is part of our service to our liege, you see."
"Liege?" Ogin whirled to glance at the president, who nodded to confirm her question. "Anzu is your liege?"
"Umu," the dark-red ninja acknowledged. "By tradition, the ninjas of the Mystic Dojo club are bound as vassals in service to the Student Council President."
The pirate once again gave the president a questioning look, who also nodded to confirm her suspicion.
"Yes, Ogin, we do have a ninja club, and yes, they are in my service even though I've said many times I do not want vassals under me."
"You are too modest, Lord President," Splinter bowed again, this time towards Anzu. "As my predecessors before me have done, we pledge our life and loyalty to the current Student Council President. Command us as you see fit."
Ogin had to blink a couple of times to make sure her eyes were not playing tricks with her. Real-life ninjas actually existed, and they were students of this school ship. She whirled towards her crewmates, Murakami, Rum, and Flint, who were all sitting at a table near the stage. She noticed they, too, had dumbstruck faces at seeing actual ninjas in their bar.
"Ah, forgive me, Ogin-dono, for not introducing the rest of my team." The head ninja smiled. "Allow me to introduce to you my fellow shinobi… This is Leo, my vice-commander."
The ninja with short chestnut-brown hair, wearing a deep-blue suit, pressed her fists on her open palm in greeting.
"And this is Miki, the recon specialist of our team."
Splinter held a hand towards a ninja with shoulder-length silver hair and sporting a rust-orange attire.
"It is truly an honor to meet you, Tornado Ogin-dono," Miki bowed.
"Then, we have Dona, our trap ninja specialist."
Splinter pointed at another of her companions with long jet-black hair and wearing an indigo suit.
"Please feel free to summon me if you have questions about traps of any kind, Tornado Ogin-dono." Dona smiled, though Ogin could detect a sliver of mischievousness in her lips.
"And lastly, we have Raphie, our assault ninja specialist."
The last ninja sported long red hair tied into a ponytail. She also wore a crimson ninja uniform, which completed her red themed appearance.
Raphie said nothing but gave a curt nod towards the pirate.
Ogin nodded in return.
"Likewise, it is also an honor to meet the famous members of your crew," Splinter whirled to face the three sailors sitting at a corner table and bowed. "We look forward to working with you, Murakami-dono, Flint-dono, Rum-dono."
Then she turned back to face the petite bartender. "And Cutlass-dono."
"How… How did you know of us?" Asked the bartender.
Splinter smiled. "Like I said, it is our job to be duly informed with matters concerning our school."
"Does that mean you also know of the president's plan?" Ogin inquired.
"Yes, we have been briefed earlier by the Lord-President."
"And you are still willing to go with her plan even if it means ending up in prison?" The pirate pressed further. "This plan is already convoluted as it is. The chances of failure are high, and still, you want to go through with it?"
"Yes." Splinter replied immediately, with no hesitation in her voice.
Ogin blinked at her instant answer. "You seem so sure about this plan."
"As I've said, we are shinobi under the vassalage of our Lord, the Student Council President." The head ninja expounded. "This has always been the case for sixty years all the way back to the first Student Council President of this school… Every shinobi of the Mystic Dojo club has pledged their allegiance to the Lord-President, whoever she is, always trusting her judgment."
"So if Anzu says to jump off a bridge, would you?"
Splinter smiled.
"We would even jump off a cliff if she so demands."
Ogin stared at the head ninja, bewildered by her response. She turned her gaze at Anzu, who was waving her hands as if to downplay the head ninja's answer.
"I rarely ask them for help," Anzu clarified. "Most presidents do so as well."
"I find that hard to believe," Ogin muttered to herself.
Then, the pirate let out an exasperated sigh. "Ok fine. Whatever. Your life, your choice."
"I sense my words might have offended you, Ogin-dono." Splinter again bowed. "If so, then I apologize."
Ogin immediately shook her head. "Oh, no, no, not at all. Please… It's nothing. It's just that I find it hard to comprehend why you would put your complete trust on one shady individual."
"It's not just that we have complete trust in the president that we serve her with our lives," Splinter clarified. "Ooarai is also our home, and by extension, so too is this school ship. As shinobi, we are also honor-bound to protect this ship as well."
"Huh." Ogin nodded slowly, still unsure if she should be impressed or be repulsed at the ninja's dedication to servitude.
The ninjas operate with entirely different sets of values as hers. While they all value the importance of honor, Ogin valued personality liberty more while these ninjas value service and loyalty.
She shook her head to clear out her thoughts. Whatever floats their boat. It's their life to live, not hers to judge.
"So, since you trust this chibi wholeheartedly, have you already heard all the rest of her plan?"
Splinter shook her head.
"Obviously, I haven't figured everything out yet," Anzu interjected. "I just got the news three hours ago."
"I saw a giant plane land on the carrier before I went down. Is that part of your plan?" Ogin asked.
"Ah, that was Saunders University. I asked them to safeguard our tanks so the officials from MEXT won't confiscate them."
"How about the Philippine delegates that would take charge of the ship?" queried Zuikaku. "I just received a communique from the bridge saying to expect guests by midnight."
"They are coming." Anzu nodded. "They are from a school called Maharlika Girls Academy, a prominent school from the Philippines or, so I've read."
"Ma-Maharlika?" Ogin blurted.
"Have you heard of them, Ogin-san?" Zuikaku asked.
For a fraction of a second, the pirate seemed to hesitate at the mention of the Philippine school but then immediately shook her head.
"N-No. Never heard of them." Ogin answered.
"By the way, President Kadotani," Zuikaku began. "Were you able to find out where exactly in the Philippines the ship is to be decommissioned? I need to know which route to take, so I can plan the proper course for the ship to follow."
The president let out a wide grin. She waved a hand towards the head ninja, who then placed a black briefcase on top of their table.
"No need to worry about that, Captain," Anzu assured. "Everything you need to know about the voyage is all here inside this briefcase. Splinter was kind enough to retrieve it for me."
A/N:
In the original OVA ep 3, we see that Mako has a Middle School friend in the Naval Studies Department who she met at the ship's bridge along with her Anglerfish team. Since she's unnamed, and we do not know anything other than she's Mako's friend, I made her as the school's Overall Captain and calling her Zuikaku. As you know, Ooarai's school ship is derived from the Zuikaku CV, and in my interpretation, captains are called by their ship's name.
Also, In Episode 1, we are shown a list of clubs the Ooarai Girls Academy has. One of those clubs is called a Ninja Club. We later find out in the Alice War OVA that there is indeed a Ninja club, they have five members, and they're called the 'Mystic Dojo'. In the Alice War OVA, you can see the five members of the Mystic Dojo club all meditating under a waterfall. Like Mako's friend, we don't know their actual name so I just gave them fan nicknames, Splinter, Leo, Miki, Dona, and Raphie. They're named after a famous 90's cartoons show which also has ninjas. XD
Lastly, as I continue writing this story, I begin to see that underneath the stories of perseverance, friendship, and camaraderie portrayed in the Anime, there lies a much darker undertone. In the Saga of Pravda manga, we see that the Senshado Federation has become a corrupt organization and in the Motto Love Love Sakusen Desu manga, we saw a page where Yuzu gave Yukari a bunch of documents that she said should never, ever see the light of day. Makes you wonder what shady activities the Student Council must have done to save their schools.
Anyways, if you like this story, please don't forget to Follow, Fav, Review, and share this story to anyone interested in Girls und Panzer. Thanks. XD
Enjoy!
Revision History:
- Originally published on Oct 23, 2020