Girls Und Panzer: World Tournament!
Chapter 7: The Selections
Bovington Tank Museum, Orientation Room - Bovington, England
It was late at night in England. Almost 9 PM, Miho was there with the rest of Anglerfish team and the student council.
"Wow, look at all these people!" Saori said, looking at the crowd inside a large orientation room, larger than the one they were in a few days ago. It was all set up like a formal party room, with platter of dishes around the rear and seats facing a presentation screen.
"Yes, it's large indeed." Hana replied while looking at all the exotic food.
"Alright, settle down you all," Momo said, "We've got to make a good impression among these people."
Miho agreed. If anything, it was a complete repeat of the time they were first at the selections for the nationals. They were the outcasts among the big names.
She along with the other girls had put on their tanker uniforms for the event. Though it wasn't anything to write home about compared with some of the fashion they've seen in the amphitheater, it was better and more formal than their school uniforms.
"Ahoy there!" A voice called out in the crowd.
"Ah! Montgomery!" Yukari greeting the British cadet sergeant. He was in the dress uniform of the cadets.
"See you've all made it on time. Is it just you lot?"
"The important ones at least," Anzu replied.
"Yeah…" Miho said, "the important ones…"
Yesterday - Ōarai Girls High School, Ōarai Carrier
"Huh?" Saori was surprised, "You couldn't contact your big sister?"
"Yeah… It's weird, she never ignores me like this," Miho said, trying to troubleshoot the problem here. "Do you think… maybe she's disappointed she didn't get the invitation instead?"
"Doubt it! Siblings like you two would never be one to put down the other just because of a simple blessing!" Saori affirms.
"Maybe something came up at Kuromorimine, there's a lot of thing that could prevent communication…" Hana said, comforting Miho.
"But if something is happening in Kuromorimine, wouldn't their school news site say anything?" Saori wondered.
"That's the thing," Miho said, "I already checked, nothing abnormal is happening."
"I guess it's only a matter of whether she'll check her messages or not."
"Worst case… I might have to call home," Miho said. She was absolutely reluctant on that idea. She was ready to see her again…
"Don't worry Miho! I'm sure everything is alright with her!" Saori attempted to comfort Miho again.
"Thanks you two…" Miho said to her two friends in the class. Last year they helped support her by not taking Sensha-Dou, they were all still in this together still.
Just during that, the bell rang for the upcoming class.
"Man, imagine that…" Saori said, "We've got to worry about this Tankery tournament stuff and we're still in the middle of a school year here…"
"It's rather busy," Hana pointed out.
"We'll be alright," Miho said. "Same thing with the nationals!"
"Alright you girls there, be quiet. Class is starting," the homeroom teacher said.
"R-Right!"
Tank Garage, Ōarai Carrier
"Alright everyone, listen up!" Momo was shouting with her usual authoritative tone. "We've learned a lot about Tankery over the last few days that we would have to get use to over Sensha-Dou!"
The Sensha-Dou team murmured with discussion about that. The fight against the cadets was really enlightening about that experience.
"We got many problems to worry about, but no worries!" Momo said, "We'll solve each of them one at a time! One problem we have is the lack in numbers and that we would get run over by our competitors…"
"Yeah, that's true," a comment went up.
"How do we win with eight tanks?!" Another shouted.
"Just like the Spartans!" Someone from Hippo team spoke up.
"However! We have solved that problem!
"Ehhh?!"
"How?!"
"It's just like that time against University!" Anzu butted in.
"Wait, so we're getting all the other schools to join us?!" Azusa asked from the crowd.
"That's right!" Anzu replied confidently.
"Wow!"
"Just like old times!"
"Wait, Prez," Miho spoke up. "Who have you contacted?"
"We've sent a message to Saunders, St. Gloriana, Pravda, Kuromorimine, Anzio, Chi-Ha-Tan, and Continuation."
Miho froze when she heard Kuromorimine. Maybe Anzu got some news on her sister?
"Saunders, Anzio, Pravda, and St. Gloriana accepted our request, Continuation and Chi-Ha-Tan said they'll get back to us on that. But I haven't gotten any response from Kuromorimine yet, so we'll have to see about that." Anzu listed out.
Miho was deflated at the news. Just what the heck is going on at Kuromorimine?
"They'll meet us over here at England for the team group-up, but they won't be here until three days from now," Yuzu explained. "Until then, we'll have to finish the registration process and tournament match-up on our own."
All the girls in the Sensha-Dou club were estatic! They just might have a chance with three prominent schools from Japan teaming up with them! However, Saori and Hana looked at Miho and saw a very puzzled look on her face. One lost in the scenario.
"Miho, I'm sure maybe your sister is busy with something…" Hana tried to comfort her.
"Doesn't explain why no one at Kuromorimine isn't answering…" Miho said, "there were more than just the field commanders present, they have administrative and logistics officers. Any of them could've contacted us, but not one has done so yet."
"Eh? What's up?" Yukari said, out of touch with Miho's situation.
"Should I?" Hana asked.
"Yeah sure."
"Miho's unable to get into contact with Kuromormine as well, even to her sister," Hana explained.
"Ha? That's very strange!" Yukari gives her input.
"I know right?"
"Anyways!" Momo continued talking. "The other part of the rules that we have to face in Tankery will be discussed by Miho, explaining what we bought yesterday."
"Huh? Oh," Miho realized she was called on to the front. As she did, she noticed that there were large boxes up front, all labeled "Panzer Glory". Guess their delivery service is really fast.
"So what other rules we have to worry about Miho?" Someone asked from the crowd, most likely a rabbit team member.
Miho prepared for her explanation. "I've been told by the cadets that the way scouting works in Tankery is a lot more competitive than the way Sensha-Dou works. They might not infiltrate in a disguise."
The crowd started talking amongst themselves about what that meant.
"Basically," Miho continued, "they may be able to raise a small attack force and just barge their way into our school for the intel."
"Eh? What?" The crowd went with other surprised reactions.
"So…" Miho said, opening the lid of one of the boxes and looking at its content. She pulled it out. "We're going to need to prepare for any potential hostiles."
"Eh?!"
"But Miho…" Karina said, "Being shot at is scary enough as is! Are you saying they can come in the middle of a night in an attack!"
"No! No!" Miho tried to clarify, "They will be using force to fight their way to the hangar. So we only have to get a few people guarding the hangars every now and then…"
"So are you asking for volunteers?" Caesar asked out loud.
"Not yet," Miho said, "We need to be familiar with these… weapons first. I'm not a teacher for this kind of stuff…"
"I managed to call Ami," Anzu said.
"Eh?" Miho was surprised, "Didn't you say she couldn't help?"
"She can't help us learn about Tankery. No one said she can't help us with… well, supplementary survival lessons…" Anzu worded it out specifically.
"Loopholes huh?" Saori saw it that way.
"That's just another aspect of Tankery I want to let you girls know of," Miho continued. "Also, these weapons, once we've learned how to use them, I'll issue them out at least two per team. Now, another addition we found in Tankery…" Miho said while going through another large box. The crowd wondered what exactly it was now.
"Is these," Miho said pulling out tank shells. It looked very similar to the shells in use already, except they had a grey color scheme on the shell instead of a solid black for armor-piercing or green for high-explosives. "These are smoke shells."
"Wait, don't we already have smoke dispensers on our tanks?" Sodoko asked. "Why do we need more smoke?"
"Well, not all of the tanks have smoke dischargers, and being able to cause smoke from a distance may give us a tactical edge…"
"We can blind the enemy!" Aya screamed out.
"Like in that movie against the German tank!" Yuuki also shouted.
"Yeah! Kinda like that…" Miho says while putting down the shell. It was getting kind of heavy. "We only got a few rounds of smoke, but enough to have at least five rounds in each compatible tanks for the tournament."
The crowd was talking again, this time about the application for smoke in the battlefield.
"Alrighty then!" Anzu said, "is there anything else you want to add Miho?"
Miho thought about her experiences in the last few days. "Nope!"
"Alright then, let's get back to practicing with our tanks! We need to get better for the tournament coming soon! And I don't want any slackers!" Anzu shouted out, mouth cupped like a megaphone.
"Heh heh," Miho giggled, seeing Anzu being enthusiastic about this raised her spirits.
But she still wondered on what happened with her sister.
Present Time, Bovington Tank Museum - Bovington, England
"Miporin? You there?" Saori got back the wandering Miho.
"Ah! Yes! Sorry! Just let my mind wander," Miho explained.
"Oh don't worry about that," Montgomery said, "I've had my fair share of that as well."
"Is it just you this time Montgomery?" Yukari asked.
"Yes, just me, though I suppose it won't hurt to continue guiding you through here. You lot are very new. Wouldn't want you to get lost now."
"Hey, we're not kids," Momo said sharply.
"Well, at least don't let the bigger names here step down on you. Here take a seat at this row here…" Montgomery gestured to a row of seats laid out.
"Are everyone here from a Tankery group?" Miho asked.
"Everyone here is Tankery-affiliated," Montgomery explained. "So you've got members from schools all around the world and reporters as well."
Miho looked around again. Indeed, it was actually easy to tell apart reporters from tankers. Reporters were wearing fine suits or dresses, whereas tankers were wearing their formal military wear, or the best wear they had if anything.
"Do you know how many different schools or organizations are going to be matched up?" Anzu asked.
"The tournaments have always been a four-match structure, so at least sixteen different affiliation are here at the moment.
If only sixteen different groups are chosen, that must mean they are very good… Miho thought about the rather low number for an international tournament.
"Oh my, oh my! If it isn't the old rascal!" a rather jubilant deep female voice rang out to their side.
"Oh gosh, uh… hi," Montgomery nervously said.
"Now now Montgomery…" The woman said, poking her finger at his cheek. "After all this time, that's how you greet me? How rude…"
"Please, can't you save this for later Dianne?"
"Oh please… Not just a little company?"
"We're not going like that…"
"Montgomery, who's this?" Anzu asked first.
"Hmm?" The woman, which Miho saw had a blue uniform, with dark black hair flowing beyond her shoulder blades. A set of hair strand had been dyed a bright violet color. She was about 5'5", short, but she was still taller than Miho by about three inches. "Montgomery, who are these young 'uns?"
Montgomery sighed as he stood up, "Well, better now than later… Miho and the others, this is Mademoiselle Dianne, commander of the prestigious French Tankery academy 'De Gaulle Tank École'..."
So she's from France? Miho thought as she looked at her. "Dianne, this is Miho and others from Ōarai.
"Miho?" Dianne asked with curiosity. "Miho Nishizumi?"
"Yes," Montgomery confirms.
"THE Miho Nishizumi… The Legend?"
Oh boy, Miho thought to herself, bracing for another fan squee to happen. But as Montgomery confirms her suspicion once more, she laughed with a jovial tone.
"HA! So YOU are the Miho Nishizumi?! Geez, I thought you were a lot… taller."
"Umm, yeah, it's nice to meet you too," Miho said extending her hand.
Dianne looked at it for a moment, before shaking it, "Wow, um, sorry for my behavior then. I get excited easily."
"No kidding," Saori offhandedly mentions behind Miho.
"So, you're participating in the exhibition matches then?" Dianne asked.
"No, we're here to watch you all get your selections for-. OF COURSE WE'RE HERE FOR THE TOURNAMENT!" Momo said sarcastically with annoyance.
"Jeez, calm down girl," Dianne says with a soothing hand gesture, "it was like, a rhetorical question."
"Still a stupid one."
"Alright enough all of you," Anzu and Montgomery seem to say at the same time.
"Right, Sorry Prez," Momo apologized.
"Anyways, you are from Japan right?" Dianne asked.
"Yeah," Miho replied.
"And you are aware of how Tankery is fought right?"
"Yep, it's, uh, very unique."
"Good, you're not going in this blind at least…" Dianne said, "They don't give good instructions for new schools from out of country. Lots of them fail because of that."
"I guess we're just lucky to have the opportunities then," Miho replied back.
"Yep, you're truly lucky…" Dianne said, trailing off as she redirects to Montgomery, "So, see anyone intimidating yet?"
"Nothing of mention, just the usual bunch. Looks like some schools just brought their members along as representatives."
"What do you mean Montgomery?" Miho asked.
"Some places in the world can't afford to send their leaders all the way over here for the match-up, be it time constraints or budget. So they just send someone able to come, even if they are just a driver in a tank."
"Oh…"
"Like that guy," Montgomery pointed to a man in a fine dress uniform, "he's definitely not a commanding officer of a team, no formal insignias and no badges."
"Damn," Dianne said looking at the man, "He's from America ain't he?"
"Guess we're not seeing Marshall for a while again…"
"Who?" Miho asked before the room light began to dim.
"Hello? Is this thing on?" A speaker goes off with a distinctive accent, Miho looked at the presentation screen and sees three people, two man and a woman, up on the stage. "We are about to start the tournament match-ups everyone, please make yourself comfortable as we set up the stage and get your letter ready for presentation."
"Yuzu, you got the letter?" Anzu said.
"Yes, right here," Yuzu showed it to the others.
"Give it to Miho, she might need it," Anzu said. Yuzu passed it over and Miho received it.
The room had gotten a lot quieter now as everyone took a seat somewhere in the room.
A man on the stage has the microphone, while the woman was on a computer, from the screen that has turned on, she was trying to boot up a program. The other man seemed to be a security guard as he was standing by the wall diligently.
The man with the microphone began talking. "Welcome everyone, to the World Tournament exhibition matches opening ceremony! I want to thank every one of you contestants for showing up. We will begin the first stages of the exhibition matches by setting up the match blocks right now. When I call your organization you are with, please respond, walk up to the stage, show your proof of acceptance, and pull a number from this box." He concluded by showing said box, a white box with only a small hole on top to get the contents in and out.
It's just like the nationals… Miho thought to herself, remembering how she was put on the stage in front of an entire theater drawing the number to fight Saunders.
"I will begin… the first one! Maple 5th Armoured Corp from Canada!" The man said, then a man from the crowd stood up. He was young like most others in the room, maybe between late teens or early twenties. Dressed with a dull brown uniform and a black beret, he walked up the stage, handed a piece of paper to the woman, and walked up to the box. He reached in and pulled a paper.
"Number 13!" The announcer said loudly, reading the paper. On the projector, which now shows an image of a tournament board. The 13th position from the left was filled in with 'Maple Armoured Corps'.
"Next up!" It continued, "De Gaulle Tank School from France!"
"Right here!" Dianne said loudly jumping up, then walking to the front. She reached into the basket…
"Number 11!" The man said, and the 11th position was filled with a name.
This continued on, 'American Cadet Alliance' got number 4, 'Cadet 3rd Royal Tank Regiment' got number 2, 'Suvorov Military School Armored Cadets' from Russia got number 5, 'Carius Academy' from Germany got number 15, 'Wojtek Brawlers High School' from Poland got number 16, 'Merlion Waves Academy' from Singapore got number 1, '500th Young Lion Brigade' from Israel got number 7. 'Home Guard 10' from Sweden with number 6.
Soon, the man announced. "Ōarai Girls High School from Japan!"
"Ah!" Miho was caught unprepared, "H-Here!" She said loudly. A tad bit loudly as some people were turning their head to look at the disruption. Only later as Miho walked up the stage that they weren't looking at her because they found her annoying, but because it was… her.
"Hey, isn't that…?"
"No way? She's that young?"
"Huh? Her? She did that?"
Waaaa-! Everyone's staring at me?! Miho frantically thought, she felt very anxious as she walked up the stage knowing everyone's eyes, ears, and mouths were about her now. She handed the acceptance letter to the lady, then was lead to the stage. In front of the white box, but also in front of everyone's eyes.
"She looks like sixteen man…"
"Ist das wirklich ihr?"
If this is what it means to carry a reputation. By god, she really wants to get rid of it now.
"Miss, please, pull a number," the gentleman said.
"Oh! Right…" Miho said, spacing out.
She reached her hand into the box, rustled around the folded parchments. Picked one out of the lot, and took it out. She unfolded the paper and looked at the number, then showed it to the announcer.
"Number 3!" He said loudly in the microphone and Miho looked behind to the tournament board. Number 3 would put her up against…
The American Cadet Alliance.
"Alright next up…" the announcer continued, which Miho took it as a cue to get off stage. "Sentinel High School from Australia!"
Miho walked back to her friends down, a lot easier now that the crowd was focused on the next group of contestants…
"You really caused a commotion there," Anzu teased her…
"Oh be quiet, how do you handle all this pressure on the stage?!" Miho exasperated in a hushed tone.
"So in the end, we're number 3… against the Americans…" Hana recounted.
"Kinda like deja vu huh?" Saori mentioned.
"Yeah…." Miho said, remember the match against Saunders last year, "but we're going to team up with the ones we fought against last time!"
"Oh yeah, maybe Kay might know things about that American Alliance thingy!" Saori suggested.
"Maybe…"
It was only about ten more minutes before the entire event was wrapped up. The entire tournament slot was filled up and settled.
"The first matches will begin next week," The announcer continued. "The information of the location and time of each match will be sent out by tomorrow by mail. That will be the only copy of the mail, so keep it safe and recorded."
He finished up the explanation by clearing his throat, "That is all. You are dismissed, enjoy the party, and…" He paused, "Congratulations on your acceptance in the 26th World Tournament!"
With that, the man put away the microphone as the crowd applauded. He walked off the stage, along with the woman and the man. Then they were gone, and everyone recommenced their routines in the room, attending to the snacks still strewn about in the back.
"Wow!" Saori said astonished, "they're so mysterious!"
"It's even more shady than that MEXT guy…" Yukari said. It was like when those three people walked into the room, the atmosphere turned into a dark miasma of tension.
"Yeah…" Miho said, still wondering just how much of an impression she made on the crowd.
"Perhaps we can go about the crowd and see the other members here?" Hana said, though a cursory analysis could see that Hana was eager to break for the variety of food at the back.
"Not a bad idea," Montgomery said. "Getting to know some of the top people here would help get an idea of the way they fight.
"Yeah, let's go enjoy ourselves!" Anzu said, trying to break Miho out of her little world.
"R-Right!" Miho finally said. Just as the Ōarai girls got out and about to leave their seat row, they were met by a blue uniform which Miho bumps and almost faceplants into her bosom.
"My, I didn't know they were that irresistible!" Dianne joked about the situation.
"Dianne, none of your lasciviousness now…" Montgomery said in a sighing tone.
"Uh, anyways, excuse me!" Miho apologized.
"Oh, no worries," Dianne said.
"What's with those people anyways?" Momo asked. "Why so mysterious in their actions? Can't they just do things online just like the national Leagues?"
"Hmmm, yes, it is strange…" Dianne said. "Like you, the League associated just for France has their own site…"
"So what does that mean?" Yuzu asked.
"I don't know, the International League operates on a whole different caliber than the national ones… I'm not familiar with their organization either."
"Makes it all look like some underground business we're in…" Anzu breaks it down.
"Either way, the I.L. does have great influence in the world, like reputations. Isn't that right? Ms. Legend?"
Miho sighed at this repeated title. "I just don't get why I'm the one stuck with such a standing out title…"
"Yes, yes, it must've been a shock to you when you realized your value…" A mysterious voice called out to Miho's left. A heavy accented one, and one that Miho recognized.
A man was there, she recognized the face, but instead of the dark olive suit he had, it was a straight black dress uniform. On it was a set of medals for decorations.
"Kraus…" Montgomery said with a tone only spelling out rivalry.
"Montgomery… Dianne…" Kraus greeted them back. Another man, a teen maybe only a year older than Miho, was by his side with a similar uniform. He was just about the same height as her, remaining a tad shorter than Kraus. His white platinum blonde hair with bold brown eyes. His unique colorization stood out like Dianne's purple hair streak. But it was his eyes that Miho felt were just gazing towards her…
"Come to take the title again?" Montgomery asked towards Kraus.
"Hmm hmm," Kraus seemed to mischievously laugh, "and you two are here to make fools of yourselves again?"
"Hey!" Dianne shot back, "I've gotten better than last time!"
"Oh really? The classical blitzkrieg formula seemed to work fine last time…"
"Enough Kraus," Montgomery said, "It's been a while already, experiences of the past can be discarded. Tank tactics change quickly, you know that."
"Yes…" Kraus agreed, though with an ice chilling tone, "just like I have this year."
"Oh? You're going to tell us about it?" Dianne said.
"I'm not that suicidally confident," Kraus said smirking, "but I do have to thank my second-in-command for the new idea."
"This runt?" Montgomery asked, aimed towards the platinum blonde teen.
The teen's eye became perplexed at Montgomery's words, tilting his head slightly as he rolled the word around his mouth. Kraus looked at the confused boy slightly before he spoke "Er meint Gör"
Then the boy reacted, "I'd watch who you call 'runt'," he said with a mild voice coupled onto a rather thick accent. The words tumbled out like barrels. It was obvious that English wasn't this teen's forte.
"Didn't think you started letting kids into the academy," Montgomery joked towards Kraus.
"Yes, well this boy has been with the school only within the last three years, and his results speaks truer than what he seems," Hans said.
"Oh really?" Montgomery said, "What's your name kid?"
"Hans Wittmann," the teen said, "and I'm not a kid."
A pause seemed to pass between the different commanders there. Miho only looked at the quarrel with little input to add.
"Hans Wittman…" Dianne said curiously, "You're not related to… are you?"
"Heavens, no," Kraus chimed in, though in a tired tone as if he's been asked that many times. "It's only a name coincidence. That man died too young for any descendants."
"Oh okay." Dianne said, clearing that misunderstanding.
"But make no mistake Frenchie," Hans' voice turned hostile, "I will make break your tanks."
Dianne looked at him with mild amusement, as though his sentence broke the weight his threat may had carried.
"Hans!" Kraus snapped at him, though Hans didn't flinch.
"Vergib mir Herr Kommandant." Hans said, back to his usual tone.
"My apologies for his behavior," Kraus said to the two, "this is his first time at an event like this."
"I can sympathize," Montgomery said.
"Yes, and I'm sure she can too?" Kraus asked, pointing towards Miho.
"U-umm…" Miho was still speechless on what to add to this conversation, "N-nice to meet you!"
"A pleasure to meet 'The Legend'," He said, extending his hand. Miho took it and shook. "How does a young lady like you become one of the biggest names in the international community?"
"Uh, it just kinda happened…" Miho said. It was the truth, after all.
"Many spend their lives trying to achieve even a short time in this fame, Ms. Nishizumi." Kraus said, "even I would like this fame."
"Ah, well…" Miho still fumbled with her words.
Then the grip tightened, "That's why I'll do my very best to destroy you if we shall ever meet on the tournament battlefield…"
Kraus had his intimidating look return. Miho froze. His vision stared into her soul, her personality. Almost like how Hans was looking at her earlier…
"Enough Kraus, you're frightening the poor girl," Montgomery intervened.
"Hmm," Kraus let out a small laugh and released his grip. "But is she really ready for our level of competition Monty? I've seen her fight in the nationals… I wouldn't call it, intimidating."
"She'll be more than enough when you get to her," Dianne said, supporting her. "But you'll have to get through me first!"
"Assuming we even meet in the tournament branch Dianne," Kraus said back. "It takes more backbone than just a tale to get into a tournament like this. What exactly was the International League thinking inviting her here?"
"What right do you have on who the I.L. chooses?" Dianne defended Miho.
"I say, she's too naive! Day by day, us tankers fight for our titles, our positions. And Nishizumi here has her name and tale to herself, and she's not even out of high school…"
"And she damn well earned it Kraus!"
"But is it really her own efforts?" Kraus asked, "Or did she happen to be in the right place at the right time, paraded around like a poster girl?"
"Kraus," Montgomery said loudly, "That's enough."
Kraus just smiled back, "I'm just saying…" He reached into his pocket and brought out a smartphone that was rumbling. A phone call? "Now if you excuse me, I have more important business to take care of. Come Hans!"
"Jawohl!" Hans replied, and two walked away, exiting the room.
When they were gone, Miho felt like she had been holding her breath the whole time and took a deep breath.
"Man, what's with that guy!?" Saori said.
"Kraus, Axel Kraus" Montgomery explained, "He's been the commander of the Carius Academy since six years ago."
"Wow? Six?" Anzu said, "Wait, he's been in the academy for six years? What the heck?"
"They have a special league-approved curriculum for extended school time for opportunities to participate in international competitions," Montgomery said. "He should be in his last academic year now."
"A change in curriculum?" Hana asked.
"Should you really be surprised? Don't you have a special school curriculum too?"
"Oh right…" Miho remembered, Ōarai Girls High School had a four-year system, even if secondary education was typically only three years long. "Was that part league-approved Prez?"
"Maybe, probably a throwback to the old Sensha-Dou team and they just didn't bother changing it when they disbanded." Anzu said. "Now that I think about it, it may be because of the discrepancies between regular schools and Sensha-Dou oriented schools that MEXT came after us in the first place. It was an immature system when they placed it and it still is now."
"Oh." Miho seemed weak to respond. She couldn't grasp at what Kraus was doing to them. Too naive? Talking down on them like that? Miho's been told that Tankery was extremely competitive, but to that level? Then again, Miho thought back and remembered how during the nationals, Ōarai was the buttmonkey of the bunch, schools like Saunders cheered at getting an "easy" foe, and Pravda along with Kuromormine only talked about crushing them.
"But what's the kid's deal?" Momo said, "He's real bratty for someone like that."
"Hans Wittman…" Montgomery goes, "I've heard stories about him from my more open cadets… apparently he's a talented Tiger I commander… almost like his namesake Michael Wittmann."
Miho knew that name. Despite his association with the Schutzstaffel, Michael Wittmann is still regarded as one of the "poster boys" of the Tank Ace. Even in Kuromorimine, he was paraded around as an iconic tank ace for his exploits, and there were lessons settled around what how he did things, what mistakes he committed, and what could be improved for better field performance.
"Though, I'm not sure how he can tot that name around and survive in Germany today…" Montgomery continues, "but I guess he's been studying at Carius Academy three years ago and made a big name in the German nationals either last year or two years ago…"
"So he's that good?" Hana asked.
"Can't say, never fought him. Though he must be important enough that Kraus himself would take him to this event…"
"Hmmm," Miho thought about it. It was a rather interesting tournament being built now. All these new people, with different ideals? Miho was getting kind of nervous on just what is going to happen as the tournament progresses.
"Anyways," Dianne butted in, "What are we standing around here near the seats for? All the foods in the back!"
"Oh right!" the girls seemed to have forgotten about that!
"Let's party!" Dianne pumped her fist and ran off.
"Gosh, she's a handful…"
"You two know each other well?" Saori asked.
"Got to know her during an exchange their school did to watch how we do Tankery," Montgomery explained. "It's nothing much, but she keep coming back to me on improving her Tankery team. She can't really do much with the older French tanks…"
"Well, anyways!" Anzu said, "Let's go girl! Just enjoy ourselves here for now! We can worry about the tournament preparations tomorrow! We can get our team set up and all once the other schools get here."
"R-Right!" Miho agreed. Ōarai didn't have much else to do other than train, and they have until Ami showed up and when the other teams come and reinforce their Sensha-Dou team. Thus, now is a good time to relax now that they've got the situation settled. "Let's go!"
"Yeah!" All the other girls agreed in unison.
Fort Knox - Kentucky, USA
"Ha ha! Can't catch me!" Daniel said as he dribbled the basketball past his tank loader.
"Why you little…!" Conner desperately tried to block him
"He shoots…" Daniel tosses the ball out of his hands and it swishes through the basket. "And he scores!"
"Damn!" Hill, the driver, said loudly. He was watching from off the court, "That's the third one already!"
"Grrr… You're not getting past next time sir!" Conner gritted his teeths.
"Really Conner? Because I recall you saying that to me the last two times."
"Oh go to hell!" Conner cursed at Daniel.
"Hey sir! Can I join in?!" Ethan, the gunner, requested.
"Only if Conner decides to give up!" Daniel shouted, recalling the challenge Conner made on a 1 v. 1 match.
"And I'm not done yet!"
"Man, give it up Conner! He's too fast for you!" Noah, the bow gunner, cried out to Conner.
"Shit, yo, it's because he's so damn small that's he's nimble. Look at this guy! He's only up to my neck!"
"Well, works for me Conner! What are you gonna do about that?"
"Well I get my hands on you I-" Connor said as suddenly Daniel went for another shot, passing by Conner and readying the ball…
"Daniel Marshall!" A loud yell for the commander of the Cadet Armour called out, which he momentarily paused his basketball shooting action and stepped back onto the dirt.
He sighed, "Man, Bradley, what now? You made me lose my focus!" Daniel said in a near whiny tone.
"Lose your focus?" The young lady said with a stern voice at him. "May I remind you that you're suppose be at the World Tournament opening in Britain?"
"Ah, I gave that duty to that new guy from the light tank platoons. He always wanted to go to Bovington…"
"That's not the problem here, sir." Isabelle was frustrated at the free-going style of her commander. It didn't match up with her demeanor. "What about your duty as the representative of the Cadet Alliance?!"
"Look, Isabelle, dear…"
"Don't call me that," Isabelle shot back stoically.
"Okay, okay, Cadet Sergeant Bradley…," Daniel calmed her down, "What I'm trying to say is this kind of thing is not unheard of for the meet-ups. As long as someone from the organization is there, they'll let it happen…"
"But what if…"
"You do trust that Cpl. Ellis right? C'mon, he's just like you and me back when we were first here, he won't mess up."
Isabelle sighed, "But it's all on you if he did screw things over."
"Right, my orders and stuff, yada yada," Daniel said as he reached for his fitness towel and sport drink. "Hey y'all!" He referred to his crew, "I'll see you later! Business shit!"
"Coolio Bro!"
Daniel and Isabelle walked away from the rough basketball court on Fort Knox. The actual U.S. Army was working away with their armor pieces a few miles down the base. The cadets have managed to acquire a piece of Fort Knox's territory to train under the Armored officers on Tankery. Two main styles were practiced, the old way of World War II to compete in the Tankery business across the world, and the modern style with the third-generation main battle tanks like the M1A2 Abrams to prepare the cadets as they graduate into armored officers and crew members.
"You can't be this casual sir…" Isabelle said, with a tinge of concern in her voice. "Even for someone of your status…"
"I know, I know," Daniel said reassuringly. "But what's the point of this all if I can't have some fun?"
Isabelle sighed. When she was assigned as his second-in-command, she never expected such a laid back commander. It conflicted with everything she knew about top commanders that took their situation seriously. Admittedly, morale in the cadets have been raising ever since Daniel's been appointed commander two years ago, so it's not that Daniel's methods were wrong, just unorthodox.
"So what is it Isabelle?" Daniel said, changing from his usual casual tone to a strictly-business one, "you wouldn't get this pissy over something like this…"
"I got a phone call from Cpl. Ellis, the one you sent to England."
"And?" Daniel looked at his watch, "The selections must be over I guess?"
"Yes," Isabelle confirms, "We're up against a school from Japan."
"A school from Japan? Oh please…"
"Sir, the school is Ōarai"
Daniel took a pause upon hearing that name.
"Sir, the person there drawing the selection number for them…" Isabelle continued, "it's confirmed that it is none other than Miho Nishizumi herself."
"Miho Nishizumi…" Daniel touched upon that name for a bit, "The Legend?"
"Yes sir."
"Thee Legend?"
"Yes."
"Hmmm…" Daniel was considering this new predicament. Sure, it's not as bad as fighting anyone from Russia or Germany. But to fight the "legend's" school right off the bat… Daniel has no idea about her capabilities… "This changes everything…"
"Sir?" Isabelle questioned. He hadn't seen Daniel think about someone this much, but then again it has only been a year since the "legend" was made.
"We're reconstituting our tank formations," Daniel concluded.
"What?" Isabelle was surprised. "What about the Stuarts and Shermans?"
"We can't use our standard formations against these lot," Daniel said. "There's so much we can expect from them that I won't hold back."
"This will cut into our logistics though…" Isabelle tried to argue. "We keep everything at one set because they all have parts commonality. How will you get this approved by the colonel?"
"I'll figure that out."
Isabelle was rather perplexed about Daniel's new approach. Even when against the German-oriented school in the American nationals, Daniel never changed the line-up, and it has gotten them far. "Well sir, if you can get the colonel's approval, the final decision is up to you."
"Damn right it is."
So that's the tournament line-up.
Here it is if you don't want to go through all those numbers.
1) Merlion Waves Academy vs. 2) Cadets 3rd Royal Tank Regiment
3) Ōarai Girls High School vs. 4) American Cadet Alliance
5) Suvorov Military School Armored Cadets vs. 6) Home Guard 10
7) 500th Young Lion Brigade vs. 8) Hamina Armored Institution
9) Nankai High School vs. 10) Phalanx Academy
11) De Gaulle Tank School vs. 12) Madrid Armored University
13) Maple 5th Armoured Corp vs. 14) Sentinel High School
15) Carius Academy vs. 16) Wojtek Brawlers High School
Some of them weren't mentioned, but I think it'd be getting out of focus from our main characters if I continued after we found Ōarai's number. Either way, now we have the whole World Tournament set up!
It's been a very crazy week huh? Especially the election for America, I'm sure that stunned the world. Despite everything, we must keep hopeful for our future, because light cannot come without a source, and we have to keep the beacon lit.
So with that, I just want to end this week on a happy note.
Happy Veteran's Day! And thank you to all the soldiers who have served to protect their country!