Chapter twelve: Warhawk from Hell

13 miles away from Nago, June 23

Maho stared through her binoculars, staring at the ruins of five North Korean vehicles strewn across the bridge. "Good job, time of advance!" She ordered, and her Tiger X started to move forward. Scores of Infantry surge forward, pushing the already wavering North Koreans into full retreat.

"Commander, there's three enemy APC's by the hill. Permission to engage?" The girl's voice crackled through the radio.

"Take them out," Maho replied. She winced as machine gun rounds bounce off the tank, and she ducked down to her seat. "Enemy machine gun position, nine o'clock." She ordered. The Tiger X turned and fired a shot at the machine gun by the edge of the road. The ensuing explosion killed the machine gunners.

…...

Maho leaned against the Tiger X, tired after the long fight. She watches the soldiers march past her, securing their newly-liberated territory.

"Commander!" Maho turns to her left. It was Sakata Mai, or "Ritaiko" as everyone called her. "Want some tea?" She offers Maho a thermos of tea.

"Thanks," Maho accepts graciously. She noticed the soldiers were moving dead bodies, both North Korean and Japanese away from the road.

"They're giving us a rough time, aren't they," Ritaiko commented. Maho nodded. She's been here for a few weeks now, and though they were advancing, it was slow and hard, and they suffered many fatalities. In this attack alone they suffered nearly fifty killed.

"They're not the type to give up," Shenoted. "They give us everything they've got, even though they're suffering worse casualties than us. I have to respect them for that." Though their conduct on civilians is abysmal, from what I hear, she thought. She heard that Okinawans have been hostile to the Japanese for the last few years, but all she's gotten is a warm welcome from the natives, and is thanked for defending their island. But the ones who were under the occupation of the North Koreans...Maho shakes her head. She doesn't want to think about it.

"Commander, have you talked to your sister lately?" Ritaiko asked.

Maho sighed. "No. I don't know if I should,"

"But she would like it, wouldn't she?"

Maho pondered for a moment. "Alright, maybe I should. I'll do it later." She relented. A convoy of vehicles drive past them.

"How do you think this'll turn out?" Ritaiko asked.

Maho looked at her. "This campaign? Or the war itself?" She asked back.

Ritaiko shrugged. "Both, I guess," She answered.

Maho nodded. "I think we'll be able to retake all of Okinawa, by the rate of how we're doing right now. For the war, we'll definitely have to liberate South Korea first, then invade the North. And that's excluding anything they're going to do. And we can't forget the Chinese. They are our enemies now," She said.

Ritaiko nodded in agreement. "Do you think Japan will be attacked?" She quired.

Maho shook her head. "I don't think so. Their navy and our navy are fighting, and it seems we've been beating them every single time," She took a sip of tea. "But who knows for sure. Anything can happen." I sure hope Miho and mother are okay… I feel bad for not thinking about them for a long time, her thoughts echoed through her head. She took out her phone. "I'm going to call Miho." She announced. Ritaiko watched as she tapped furiously and putting her phone to her ear.

….

"Miho! I'm sorry I didn't call earlier," Maho apologized when Miho picked up.

"No, it's alright. I'm happy you called," Her words relieved Maho. "I don't want to call you when you're busy."

"Thanks. It's been pretty tough,"

"Yeah, I know. I've been following the news. There's continuous lists of soldiers who were killed,"

"Oh…" Maho looked down. "They didn't compile all the people who were killed yet."

"Really?"

"Yeah…, I'm sorry, but Koume's dead, and so are others,"

"What? Ho-how?"

"I'm sorry," Maho muttered out.

"I can't believe it… She's gone,"

"I know. I can't believe it even now,"

"How about Erika-san?" Maho quickly changed the subject.

"She's doing well. She was wounded a while back, but it's nothing major."

"Really? Is she ok?"

"She's fine. She's resting as of now. I think she got the best deal, to be perfectly honest,"

Miho chuckled from the other side. "What about kaito-san?"

"Oh, Kaito. I was surprised by the news as well,"

"What kind of person is he?"

"He's kind of weird. Why?"

"Ah, oh Saori's interested in him." Miho's voice flustered, and Maho could hear a loud "What?" from the background of the other side. Maho glanced at Kaito, who jumped when his phone rang out the tune of "Erika".

Maho smiled. "Tell her it might be hard to get to him. He's already fighting a hard fight," She told Miho.

"What?" Miho questioned. "Nevermind. Have you talked to mother recently?"

"No, she's been busy too. We're all separated, it's sad,"

"Don't worry. We'll meet together again," Maho said confidently.

"Yeah, you're right. We can't be worrying right now,"

"I'll see you soon then,"

"Yeah, see you soon., The phone hung up, and Maho looked at Ritaiko with a smile.

JSDF Strategic HQ, Ichigaya, Tokyo, Japan

Shiho slumped down on the desk, tired from work.

"Want some coffee, Nishizumi?" General Sakurai walked in, holding two cups of coffee. He placed one on the table, and Shiho took it.

Sakurai looked around. "Where's Ami?" He asked.

"She flew to Australia to negotiate an alliance with the Australians, Malaysians, Singaporeans, Filipinos, New Zealanders and Indonesians. Join the Anti-Chinese/North Korean Alliance, she said. We may get military support if this goes through," Shiho replied.

Sakurai sat down. "I guess that's a good thing," he said. "Say, remember that kid from a few weeks ago? The one with your last name?" He asked.

Shiho scowled and glared at him. "What about him?" She demanded.

Sakurai leaned back. "Jeez, what's with that reaction? I was just thinking, I was surprised when he was on TV. I mean, a male Nishizumi? Kinda weird," He muttered/

Shiho took a sip of her coffee. "He should never have been on TV," She mumbled. "That bastard…"

"You mean your husband?" Sakurai asked.

Shiho groaned. "Ex-husband. He's a cruel heartless human being," She said.

Sakurai rolled his eyes. "Seems to me you two were the perfect pair," He said sarcastically.

Shiho gave a dirty look. "I know I'm tough, but he's on another level," She spat.

Sakurai nodded. "I know. I've met him a few times myself, and the rumors don't even add up to half of what he is. He's so off the charts in the political spectrum that not even the radical Left or Right wants to touch him. He's told me that he wants the Empire to be reinstated," He said.

"He's the biggest warhawk out there. Ami told me he suggested we attack North Korea and China in 2021. That was probably the only thing he was right about, to be honest,"

"And now he has a kid, seems to be the same age as Miho."

"Sending his own kid to the front. What filth." Shiho gritted her teeth. Sakurai raised his eyebrows.

Shiho gave him a look. "I was, and still against sending the Senshadou teams to war. You people wouldn't understand,"

Sakurai shrugged his shoulders. "Sure thing,"

"For a bastard, that kid sure is attractive." Maho turned to see Shimada Chiyo, head of the Shimada Style.

"Fancy seeing you here. What do you mean?" Shiho said.

Chiyo smiled. "Well, Alice told me something over the phone you see," She informed.

Shiho raised her eyebrows. "And?" She asked.

"Well, it seems she's developed a crush on that boy," Chiyo was jeering through her hands. "I was thinking, if that boy and Alice got together, the two styles of Senshadou would merge into one. I was thinking the name Shimazumi," She chuckled out.

Shiho's jaw dropped. "What?" She said in surprise.

"I would think Nishida would be a better., Sakurai chipped in.

"Not bad, general." Chiyo winked.

"How about you?" Sakurai turned to the end of the table, where a man with glasses sat quiet. "What do you say, Tsuji?"

Tsuji stared at Shiho, then at Chiyo. "Ooarai should have been shut down," He muttered in a low voice.

"Oh, come on. Don't be a killjoy," Sakurai tapped his finger against the table. He turned to Chiyo. "So, what happened to your man?" He asked.

Chiyo shrugged. "Who knows. He just disappeared," She answered truthfully.

"Oh." Sakurai said, "We were gossiping about Nishizumi's husband, you see."

Shiho rolled her eyes. "Ex!" She exclaimed.

"I love gossip," Chiyo exclaimed.

Melbourne, Australia

Chouno Ami walked down the hallway nervously. She was being escorted by two Australian soldiers. They stopped by a large doorway, and the two soldiers saluted as Ami opened the doors. As she entered a booming voice shouted, "Ah, welcome to Australia, Chouno!"

Ami saluted. "Thank you for inviting me, General Kelly,"

"No problem." The man with the bushy moustache shouted. He turned to the man next to him, a small wiry figure with glasses. "How about it, Bransby?" Kelly asked. Bransby shrugged.

Ami sat down. "Is this all?" She looked around. Besides Kelly and Bransby, there were three Asian men sitting at the table.

"Long time no see," General Yong of Singapore nodded his head.

"Good morning," General Zamrud from Malaysia waved his hand.

"Good to have you here," The Filipino General Marcos lit a cigarette.

"Is this all?" Ami asked again.

Kelly sighed. "The Indians turned down the offer, and the Indonesians said they had important matters." He answered. "I don't know why though. This is for a self-defense alliance. They're giving the rest of us trouble." He complained. He looked towards Ami. "How's the North Koreans treating you?" He asked.

"We're pushing them back right now in Okinawa. Our navy is engaging their ships in the sea of Japan," Ami answered.

"No Chinese involvement yet?" Bransby leaned forward.

Ami shook her head. "Not yet,"

Zamrud groaned. "They're giving it all in our country," He said through gritted teeth. "Can't you send more reinforcements?" He pleaded.

"I'm trying, for God's sake," Kelly answered.

"We need you to survive." Yong added.

"We're on the verge of collapse!" Zamrud shouted.

"Calm down. We're wary of the Chinese as well," Marcos said. "The situation is extremely dangerous right now."

"We're near our limit as well," Kelly added. He turned to Ami. "Can you send troops down?"

Ami shrugged. "We're still in the middle of mobilization, and we're all tied up in Okinawa. I can try though," She said.

Kelly nodded, turning back to Zamrud. "We're all doing our best to support you," He said.

Zamrud groaned in anger. "Goddamn," He mumbled.

Kelly leaned back in his chair. "Don't worry. As long as the Indonesians are fighting, we're set," He said.

8 Miles away from Nago, Okinawa

Maho stared intently at the map. "So close…" She mumbled, trailing her finger to the city of Nago.

"Our first major victory, won't it?" Ritaiko leaned in closer.

Maho nodded. "Shame Erika won't be here to witness it,"

"I'll just recount my heroic exploits." Kaito patted Maho's shoulder.

"And after that we all can go out and have a drink." Hiroi popped up from behind Maho.

Maho turned around, and smiled. "Yeah, we'll have to celebrate till dawn," She agreed.