Chapter 14:
Ami also found herself smiling at the sight of the Pravda school flag. 'Perhaps we have a chance of winning today's match after all' she thought.
Usagi stared at the banner flapping in the breeze. "I can't remember very much about this school, Mako-chan. Is it good news for Miho?"
"I'll say one thing, Usagi-chan" the tall brunette grinned. "It wiped that arrogant smirk off Maho's face real fast!"
The Pravda tanks were now visible at the front of the thick dust cloud, running side-by-side and charging fast towards the staging point across open ground, the roar of their engines echoing off the grandstands. "I count twelve of them, Mako-chan!" Rei spoke excitedly. "That should nicely even our chances."
"Hai. It's the first break Miho's gotten all day."
Yukari carefully studied the approaching machines. "Looks like they're deploying six T34/76s and... six /85s!' she exclaimed. "We finally have some big guns on our side!"
"They'd better reduce their speed soon or they'll miss the access road to the staging area" Mako mused as the tanks continued charging forward.
But the powerful Soviet-era tanks didn't slow down or make the slightest attempt to turn onto the road, instead plowing straight through a stout wire fence and leaping across the ditch beyond it, shaking the earth beneath their tracks as they thundered into the field.
"Now that's what I'd call a dramatic entrance!" Minako laughed above the music and singing as Pravda's school anthem played on. "Minna, look! There's Katyusha! And Nonna too!"
"This is a surprise, Anzu" Momo said. "Katyusha was the last person I expected to meet here today."
"Hai. Pravda doesn't usually operate this far south. All the better for our side!" the Council President laughed, leaning back against her Hetzer's front armor.
The T34s braked hard and pivoted sharply, pulling up to a stop alongside the tanks of Miho's teams. The teens watched as Katyusha climbed out of her turret and stood waiting on the hull of her T34. Nonna strode over to her commander, allowing the tiny girl in charge to climb onto her shoulders.
Ami giggled, whispering to Makoto, "I had assumed that such odd behaviour only happened in the anime, Mako-chan. But they actually do it in real life!"
"I guess it's because Katyusha is even shorter than Anzu" the brunette chuckled.
"I heard that, Makoto-san!" Anzu grinned. "It must feel nice to be the tallest girl here."
Bearing her diminuitive commander, Nonna walked up to the other three teens as the band finished playing and fell silent. "Greetings from Pravda!" Katyusha spoke. "Our glorious machines are on your side today, Miho!"
"Arigatou, Katyusha-san" the Anglerfish commander smiled, bowing politely to the girl. "We've been anxiously waiting for you."
"Sorry we arrived late, Miho-san" Nonna apologized. "There was a problem at the warehouse where our tanks were being held. The main door had somehow jammed closed and refused to open despite all attempts to repair it."
"Oh? How did you finally get out?"
Katyusha laughed, "As if a simple broken door could stop the might of Pravda! Ha! A few shells from our guns and that meddlesome door exists no longer!"
"You shot your way outside?" Miho gasped.
"Hai! Of course we did!"
"You should have saved those rounds for battle" Maho cautiously spoke. "Instead of acting in such a heavy-handed manner, Katyusha-san."
The Pravda commander regarded her opposition's line of tanks and answered with a dismissive wave of her hand, "We have more than enough shells remaining to deal with your tanks, Maho-san. And Saunders' Shermans too, Kay! Be warned, we will neither expect nor show any mercy toward you!"
'Now that's what I wanted to hear!' Makoto thought, a wide grin appearing on her face.
Three female Sensha-do judges appeared from behind the stage, walking briskly up to the four school commanders and Nonna. After bowing, the senior among them greeted the girls, "Minna, konnichiwa. We formally welcome you and your teams to today's competition in Nagasaki. I will now explain the rules regarding today's match."
"I assume we'll be using flag tanks in this engagement" Maho said.
"Not today, Nishizumi-san. This battle will be carried out under the last-tank-standing rules." She continued speaking as another judge passed folded maps of the battlefield to the commanders, "Your teams' starting points are as indicated on your respective maps. For this event, Kuramorimine Girls Academy and Saunders University High School will compose Blue Team. Ooarai Girls Academy and Pravda Girls High School are Red Team. Please ensure that each of your tanks reaches their assigned starting area before hostilities commence ninety minutes from now."
"Hai" Miho and her sister nodded.
"You may use the first thirty minutes between now and then to discuss tactics between your joint commanders, after which you may brief your crew leaders at the designated huts. They are located west of the grandstands, behind the catering vehicles. We expect to witness fair play during today's match" she cautioned. "Attempts at cheating or trickery in any form will result in immediate disqualification of the school involved. On behalf of the Sensha-do Federation of Japan, we wish you and your teams good fortune, a safe match, and success on the field of battle."
The Sensha-do judges and team commanders soon ended their talk with another traditional bow.
. . . . .
After the judges had left, Nishizumi Maho returned to her Tiger, gesturing for Erika to follow her. They walked several meters behind the massive vehicle, well out of earshot of anyone from the two competing schools.
"Pass the word to my other Kuromorimine commanders, Erika. Unless absolutely necessary, no one is to engage Miho's Panzer. I will formally request that Kay and her teams do the same during our meeting."
Erika smiled evilly. "Saving her tank for yourself, Maho?"
"Of course I am. I do not dislike my sister, but the recent string of victories she has cobbled together has elevated her status as a commander, and raised Ooarai's reputation as a competent Sensha-do school far beyond the point where they both deserve to be. That ends... today."
"Aren't you concerned that Pravda will make our win today more difficult?"
"Difficult? Possibly. But still eminently achievable, Erika, and I predict with only moderate losses to us. My mother has stated she will tolerate no further embarrassment to Kuromorimine, and I intend to honor her wish by seeing Miho utterly defeated, and every last one of her pathetic tanks returned to her school ship in pieces. Nothing less that that will be acceptable."
"My Tiger's crew is ready and able to make it happen, Maho." Erika laughed, "And we have one less tank to worry about. That freakish Tiger P may be well-gunned, but it will probably destroy itself before the match is halfway over, if it even lasts that long." She glanced toward the opposing team's tanks and spotted Makoto and a blue-haired girl talking. "Did you notice the look Ooarai's new Panzer IV commander, that tall brunette with the ponytail, was giving you Maho? I thought for a minute she was going to take a swing at you!"
"I'll let my Tiger do the fighting for me, Erika. She and her rookie team and their puny Panzer with that ridiculous crescent moon emblem on its turret, are going to soon learn, just as Miho will, that my fist of iron is much deadlier than their tanks could ever hope to be."
As Maho turned away, she said, "I'm going to go talk to Kay about our strategy for today's match. Bring my other commanders to our hut in half an hour for a final briefing."
"Hai" Erika nodded. "We'll see you then."
. . . . .
Finding themselves with half an hour to kill before Makoto and the other Ooarai and Pravda commanders were to meet with Miho and Katyusha, Usagi dragged the other members of Luna team westward. "Minna, follow me! I heard that Sensha-do judge say something very important a minute ago and we need to investigate it right away!"
"Was it something about the match, Usagi-chan?" Makoto puzzled.
"No! About the catering trucks! I'm famished!" the blonde grinned. She sniffed the air and pointed, "My nose tells me the food is that way! And it smells yummy!"
Rei sighed, "It never fails. Odango-atama could somehow find food in the middle of the Sahara desert! I think you're part bloodhound, Usagi-chan."
"Stop teasing me, Rei-chan!"
The group soon found the line of converted military vehicles parked at the base of a grove of trees, providing everything from coffee to full hot meals. Usagi nearly leapt for joy, her mouth sporting a massive smile. "Minna! They have hamburgers! And hot dogs! And french fries! And-"
Minako began waggling a finger at the other blonde. "If you eat too much now you may get sick in our Panzer during the match, Usagi-chan. And that just won't do! I'm going to be driving my tank harder and wilder than ever before, so please try to pace... yourself..." She looked at Makoto and giggled, "It's too late, Mako-chan. Usagi is already at the burger truck!"
. . . . .