Girls Und Panzer: The World Tournament!
Chapter 14: Inner Demons
Ōarai Girls High School, Ōarai Carrier
Miho waited patiently along with the landing crew for the arrival of Saunder's C-5M Super Galaxy in the dark, breezy night. All the landing lights had been set up, lights bright enough that the ship may have been seen from space.
As she sat on a crate near the garage, Miho looked at a group of students idling near the tank garages. It seemed the girls have taken their new posting with some enthusiasm. With nothing else to do, Miho approached the students.
"How are you all, tonight?" Miho asked first. She finds that the students were from Pravda.
"Great! Thanks for asking!" The tallest one of the bunch replied, shouldering her weapon. Miho suspects her to be their senior.
"It's not too chilly for you all, is it?"
"Nah, we deal with worse where our school goes."
"I see. How do you like this position?"
"Oh, I'm liking it so far. Nothing's happened yet in the OSF!"
The Ōarai Security Force; a hastily chosen name, but it showed the purpose of the group. A form of defense against the enemy scouts. Miho, by the advice of the instructors, pushed for its formation after Yukari's "little adventure".
There were many uncertain risks when Yukari left for her excursion. What if she failed? How would they get her back? Would their opponent decide to launch a counter-attack? Something had to be done, so the security force was made for Ōarai in the World Tournament.
Since Saunders were mostly gone on their journey, the security team was currently made up of mostly girls from Pravda, who are all somewhat trained on the firearms that Ōarai has, as well as having brought along their personal arsenal. Thus, Miho was introduced to Pravda's PPSH-41 and PPS-43. The light 7.62x25mm cartridges produces a small recoil able to be handled by a schoolgirl's physique, yet the submachine gives unparalleled close-range firepower should it come to that.
"I've been meaning to ask one of you…" Miho began, "why does Pravda have access to such weaponry? Pravda doesn't go through the international tankery very often.
"We're prepared for any circumstances!" The senior said. "What? You got a problem with that?"
"N-no! No, just wondering," Miho said. She wasn't objecting too hard against it. Ōarai wasn't the most well-armed and if Pravda and Saunders have more practical experience with them, it makes sense if they make up the bulk of the security force.
"As one of Japan's top Sensha-Dou school, we got to be prepared just in case we're ever called upon by the International League for the World Tournament!"
"Has Pravda been brought up to the international community before this?"
"No, but that's beside the point."
"I see. Well, I'll be going then."
"Das vidanya!" The senior waved as Muho left. "Hey, Nina! Watch where you're pointing that thing!"
"Sorry!" A timid voice came from the crowd as Miho walked away.
Some of Ōarai students volunteered as well, they were in another area of the field. Of the volunteered Ōarai students, the security force was made up of Anteater, Duck, Hippo, and Leopon, giving Ōarai at the very most 16 fighters from their own school. They were all ready to fight if the time comes to it.
Miho spotted one of them patrolling around and decided to check on them. "Hello!" Miho waved towards them.
"Halt!" A voice cried out, it was Caesar.
"Gah!" Miho instinctively held her hands up, finding herself at the business end of a Kar 98k rifle.
"What's the capital of Okinawa?"
"Caesar, it's me, Miho!"
"That's not an answer I'm looking for!"
"Caesar, let it go." Saemonza said walking up to Caesar with a MP40 rattling on her.
Caesar raised her rifle, smiling cheekily, "Sorry commander, got words of enemy infiltrators on the carrier!"
"On the battlefield, I might've believed you. But please don't give out heart attacks like that, and don't use that excuse either, you might raise paranoia."
"Sorry about that!"
"Do you have everything ready just in case though?"
Caesar held up a phone, "Got one ready and dialed to the garrison!"
Miho was relieved. The current plan was that the security force would keep watch and alert others via phone in an attack, mobilizing everyone. How this would work in an event of an actual scouting raid is unknown, but there's no way to quickly test it now with only a few days to the match against the British 3rd RTR cadets.
"Alright, I'm going to be off now, take care you two!" Miho said to the two girls.
"God's speed, Miho!"
Miho returned to near the center of the field where all the landing crew equipment laid. It's been almost two days since Yukari left. On this night, two days away from the match, the student council got a call from Saunders saying they were on the way back. Miho personally got ready to receive the cargo along with the other crew on the ground.
The sea breeze blew heavily on the school carrier that night. Miho dressed warmly in her red, fluffy jacket and pink fuzzy gloves, but drop in temperature as the ship headed north still left a chill. Though, Miho was determined to wait for Saunders to land.
She had a stern talking to do to a friend of hers.
The landing crew started scrambling, preparing for something. Miho looked up in the sky. Somewhere in that distant void, something was making its rounds towards them.
Amidst the splash of the ocean waves and the moans of the wind, the four high powered GE CF6 engines roared in the air as the C-5M Super Galaxy made its descent. In the air, the navigation lights highlight the wing and flap tips. The large beast flew away from the carrier towards its aft after making a pass, slowly turning as it rolled to the side for the turn and deceleration. Soon, the Galaxy was moving towards the bow as it made its touchdown onto the tank field. Once fully landed, the Galaxy taxied closer to the tank garages, parking firmly with a complete stop.
The nose of the flapped open, over the cockpit, to expose the fuselage interior fully to facilitate loading and unloading. A ramp was laid out as the Saunder crew inside got to work. Miho got closer to inspect the work process and to look for a certain stowaway.
One side of the aircraft was taken up by a large black helicopter; its rotor blade was folded up to fit inside the plane. On the other were three large green tanks, soon belching out a menacing, metallic roar with their gasoline engines as they prepare to disembark.
One lone female walked out of the plane onto the dirt, unaware that she was being sought out. Miho approached this person, and upon eye contact, the figure froze, though Miho continued walking closer. The female sheepishly approached Miho, her messy hair now visible in the dark. Her clothes was a mess, she smelled as if she hadn't shower for days, and her face was grimy with dark stains of oil, dirt, and wrinkles.
"H-hi, Nishizumi-dono…" The figure spoke to her with a hint of nervousness and fear in her voice. Miho looked at her with a subdued disapproving look.
"You were gone for two whole days, Yukari," Miho said to her friend. "I didn't take you for one about to go AWOL."
"I'm sorry, Nishizumi-dono…" Yukari said regretfully.
"Practice wasn't the same without you, y'know? We were all worried about you, that one empty space in the Panzer IV just echoes without you…"
"Umm..."
"Not to mention being gone for two whole days. You even worried your own parents! I had to tell them that I believed you were alright, but with no way to contact you…"
"Nishizumi-dono…"
Miho sighed, taking a breath to catch her thought.
"I did this because I thought you wouldn't let me…I only wanted to help…"
"I know, Yukari… But next time, don't be afraid to tell us when you're leaving. You worried us a lot."
"Right… I'm sorry, Nishizumi-dono!"
"Well there is nothing to worry about," the American girl said approaching the two. "She did her job very-"
"As for you," Miho said towards Isabelle, taking a stricter voice than usual, one even Yukari haven't heard before. "I appreciate the help you've given us, but don't you dare take anyone else from Ōarai for your business. This is my team, not your's."
Despite Isabelle being taller than Miho by a head, Miho seemed to stare down on the American cadet with her expression. Yukari shirked as she had never saw Miho like this before. To her, Miho had become a different person, with an attitude like a mother bear protecting its young from a predator.
"... Understood," Isabelle relented, her expression unmoving. Awkward silence followed as the girls glared at each other, aside from Yukari who could only gawk with uncertainty.
The trio was interrupted by the roar of mechanical beasts, turning their attention towards the interior of the Super Galaxy plane once more. Three new Saunder tanks rumbled off the ramp onto the dirt. Though they do not look any different from the M4 Sherman base model, a look on the turret and gun mantlet design gives the indication that these models had more under their green paint than they seemed.
"Miho!" Kay shouted enthusiastically, waving from the cupola of the lead Sherman, "Check this out! The girls back at school managed to pimp these gnarly Shermans out with extra armor! They're registered as Jumbos now! Ain't that sweet?!" She says all this waving her hands around expressively in a childlike joy. Her teeth flashed as she smiled like a maniac whose toy was about to be unleashed onto the world.
Miho could only look into Kay's wide eyes before the three Jumbos clacked passed her towards the garage holding the rest of the other school's tanks.
"She's… one energetic woman," Isabelle commented, rather stunned by the display Saunders put throughout the journey.
"I'd say," Miho agreed, still watching agap. Kay had quite a wildcard of a personality.
Yukari only looked on tiredly; she was exhausted from her entire journey. "Well… I think I'm going to go home, and find my soft, soft bed to lie on.
"Whoa, Yukari, are you okay?" Miho asked a weary Yukari, whose legs seem to be wiggling like jelly.
"I'm fine… Nishizumi-dono, just tired."
"I'll walk you home, okay? You get a good night's sleep tonight," Miho said.
"I have to be here tomorrow though," Yukari said before giving out a big yawn, stretching her roughed-up Ōarai uniform. "For practice…"
"No, no, it's alright Yukari. It's alright," Miho said, putting a hand onto Yukari's back as she guided the tired girl back home.
Akiyama's Residence, Ōarai Carrier
Miho helped Yukari all the way to her house and into her room. Yukari's room was just the same as she remembered the first time she came in looking for Yukari after her first absence from school. Large posters decorate the walls, each one of them detailing a famous war movie or some military-themed anime. Model tanks decorate a shelf, complete with a family photo of the Akiyamas. Next to that shelf was another with loads of books, of course all were military-themed in some shape or form. Jerry cans were also scattered across the room filled with who-knows-what, not to mention the large decorative tank shells placed alongside the walls for whatever purpose other than display. On her desk, the same large radio set was still there, with various military cosplay uniforms above it.
"Just like old times, huh?" Miho asked Yukari, who was pretty much half-asleep and had to be nudged by Miho up the stairs on her shoulders.
"Yeah…" Yukari said softly, "When I first went scouting against Saunders… you four were there in my room too."
"Yes, we were," Miho said, recounting the experience back then, meeting her parents and seeing her room, it was a grand exposure of Yukari Akiyama's lifestyle.
"You all were my only friends back then…" Yukari said, Miho looked at Yukari bobbling head as she laid her down on the tatami floor as she grabbed the futon from a closet. Setting it up, she laid down Yukari on the futon. "Now, look at us… the world at our fingertips…"
"Yes, it's quite a change from what we're used to huh?" Miho said. In a way, she felt very similar to Yukari. They both had quite a different upbringing, but their lifestyles meant that their attempts at relationships with others hadn't exactly been great. The two were very lonely girls in their lives until they met up with each other. Now they have lots of friends, with none willing to leave them behind in the dust.
"Yeah… it's a change," Yukari said, Miho could feel her drifting away into her sleep. Miho only smiled as she saw Yukari gradually slip away to a restful state.
Miho got up and silently left the Akiyama residence. Finding herself at ease that her friends were safe once more, she headed home.
The Next Day - Conference Room, Ōarai Carrier
After the usual school routine, the girls of Ōarai Sensha-Dou team were called into the conference room by the Student Council. Miho went along her way with Saori, Hana, and Mako. As Saori practically dragged Mako down the hallways, Miho soon made an instinctive dodge to a looming threat.
"Nishizumi-do- Umph!" The voice cried out as Miho dropped towards the left, but inadvertently had her right elbow stick out and land in someone's gut.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Yukari!" Miho said, "Don't know my own strength!"
"That's… okay," Yukari said, "I felt worse."
"You certainly look a lot better now than how Miho described it," Hana said. "You must've been really tired last night."
"Yeah… but I'm all charged up now!" Yukari boasted, arm flexing as if to show her rejuvenated strength.
"Well, girls, here we are," Miho said as the five approached the conference room. Miho opened the double door to find the room with its large wooden oval table nearly full with the many important members of the Ōarai Sensha-Dou team. Saunders, St. Gloriana, Pravda, Anzio, Continuation, and Chi-Ha-Tan were represented by their captains, vice-captains, and some of their students. The group was quite chaotic among the chatter and the table was littered with their various items from personal mementos, tea, and lunch. Miho didn't feel like she could gather this group under control if she tried.
Loud tapping of a hard object on the whiteboard was the only thing that was louder than everything else in the room. Miho saw it was Isabelle with a long pointer stick hitting the whiteboard. "Now that everyone is here, may I have your attention please?" She said to the crowd. The tapping continued until the noise level lowered, eventually reaching silence as Miho and the rest of Anglerfish team found some seats. "Thank you," Isabelle said.
"So what have you got us here today for, yank?" Katyusha said.
"It's about our match in two days, against the British 3rd RTR, and a debriefing of our intel gathering mission the other day," Isabelle said. "I figured we might as well share the intel to try and get us all up to speed on what exactly the enemy team will be fielding on the day of the match. Any objections?"
No one in the room spoke up, except perhaps Kay's chewing on a piece of hamburger.
"Good, let's begin," Isabelle said as the room dimmed and a projector shined its light onto the whiteboard. An image loaded, showing the emblem of the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment cadets that the Ōarai girls and St. Gloriana were familiar with. A simple wreath with a Mark IV landship in the middle of the symbol, with a royal crown on top and their motto on the bottom 'Fear Naught'. "The 2nd round of the tournament matches will take place with the first match being Ōarai against the 3rd RTR cadets of the British's cadet force. The 3rd RTR cadets have their lineage from the same 3rd Royal Tank Regiment that served during World War II. This regiment is a really famous bunch in British military history."
"How famous?" Miho asked.
"We're talking about 'Been there, shaped history' famous." Isabelle explained, her arms widening to show the scale the 3rd RTR were in. "They were involved in the Battle of France, Greece, Egypt, El Alamein, Tunisia in the span of 1940 to 1942. Then some time later they were involved in Normandy, Netherlands, Ardennes, and even into Germany from 1943 to VE-Day."
"Ardennes… Germany…" Mako said, counting off the campaigns on her fingers. "That's most of the major fights in the European Theater…"
"Except Italy!" Yukari pointed out their absence.
"Are you implying something?!" Pepperoni lashed out, with Anchovy and Carpaccio holding her back desperately.
"Calm down over there!" Isabelle shouted in the temporary chaos. Order was soon established in the small green-walled conference room. "Continuing on… Today, the original 3rd RTR military unit had become amalgamated with the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, its name disused until picked up by some rather proud members in the Army Cadet Force." She stuck the pointer right at the emblem image, "To say they are a rather patriotic team serving their royal highness would fit their image just right."
The image on the presentation flickered to a blank page, "The 3rd RTR Tankery team is commandeered by their leader, Regimental Sergeant Major John Montgomery, an eighteen year old with quite a history in the Tankery field." The image transitioned to Montgomery's face, one that would fit in a yearbook. He had the same brown beret that Miho and the others saw him with the first time they met, though now Miho recognized the 3rd RTR emblem on his beret. He was also wearing the same standard woodland camouflage that all the other cadets wear.
"His second-in-command is Company Sergeant Major Emma Brooke, a gifted sixteen year-old." Another image popped up with Emma's profile. The face caught Yukari's eyes, as if making sure the girl she fought the other day was indeed her. She didn't change much from her profile with her hair length and color, though the brown eyes were now even more glaring in this close-up image. "She's gotten herself quite a name in the Tankery community for her 'stalking' tendencies on the tank field. Her adversaries call her a 'Puma'. She's known to excel in tank destroyers!"
"So that's what happened during that practice match…" Miho said to herself; hand on her chin, as if a scenario was just explained to her on how it was committed and why.
"Alongside with these two are more than 150 cadets ready to ride their tanks into battle with them. In the 2nd round, the match vehicle limit has been raised to 35 tanks." Isabelle continued. "They're a determined foe, though not the worst that the tournament has to offer."
"Don't worry!" Kay said out loud, hand waving off any doubt. "We've got reserves to fill in the extra slots, and they'll be a piece of cake now that we've got actual intel on their tanks! ...Right?"
"That's true," Anzu piped up. "You managed to get an insight on what tanks they may have, right Yukari?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah…"
"Would you like to present those instead?" Isabelle asked Yukari.
"No, no, I'm fine here. Please continue."
"Alright then," Isabelle said, clicking on a remote control and the presentation moved along. "From the scouting mission we sent approximately two days ago, we managed to get a view on most, if not all, of the 3rd RTR cadet's inventory for their Tankery team." A click followed, with images popping up. "They've got tanks such as Cromwells, Fireflies, Comets, and Churchills…" Another click on the remote brought up another set of images, "Tank destroyers like the Achilles and Archers…" One more click brought up another set of curious images, "And the most conspicuous of all those in the hangar we found… armored cars."
"Armored cars?" Anchovy seemed to speak for the entire room.
"Yes it is," Isabelle reassured, sticking the pointer onto it. "An AEC armored car to be precise. And from the looks of this, it's a with a 6-pounder turret attached onto it."
"Is it legal to use?" Darjeeling said, looking as calmly as ever while drinking her tea.
"We looked into the database and it is. It's a legitimate vehicle to use in Tankery."
"But that's insane," Kay said, "Who'd want to bring a car to a tank fight?"
"Perhaps they are bringing it for reconnaissance duty?" Darjeeling said, her tea cup still in hand. "It's not unlike what Rosehip does with her Cromwells."
"Not to mention they are a lot smaller, easier to conceal," Aki from Continuation said. The petite girl made little presence with her small stature, but her opinion still weighed the same. "The 6-pounder on them can make them effective ambusher if they hit our sides."
"But we'll be in a forest…" Janne, the Continuation KV-1 commander spoke up, that's not a good environment for wheeled vehicles…"
"I second the idea of them using the cars as recon," Anchovy said, "It's pretty similar to how we use our tankettes as well."
The chatter behind the intended use of the armored cars spread throughout the room. It went on long enough that Miho was certain they probably weren't all on topic anymore. She tried to get attention among the commotion when a string instrument plucked loudly.
"How about anything we missed?" Mika said in a soothing voice said along with her kantele's melody, "Are we looking too close towards a large picture?"
"That's right, we've been focusing on the cars for too long," Miho said. "Was there anything else they had that's worth mentioning?"
"Yukari? Any inputs you want to add?" Isabelle asked, "You're our only field agent that was down there."
"Huh? Uh…" Yukari said, uneasy about being thrown into the spotlight. "Well… outside their garage, there was this large… thing they had hiding near the workshops."
"'Thing'? Do you know what it is?" Katyusha asked.
"I'm not sure…" Yukari answered. "But… they did have it under heavy guard, I was discovered trying to find out what it was."
"Any features you can point out?" Miho asked Yukari, intrigued at this development.
"It was large… much too big for a normal truck, and too wide as well…" Yukari recalled that night.
"I know! I know!" Anchovy shot up, arms held high as her cape flapped about. "It's one of their large food trucks, right!? That's where they keep all the rations for the camp!"
Silence filled the room.
"Anchovy, wha-? Are you…" Isabelle seemed to face palming beyond even her face.
"Well, it can't be a truck…" Yukari said, "It's doesn't have the squarish shape of one in the back. I couldn't make out what was underneath, but it seemed like part of it was… hanging out?"
"Hanging out?" Orange Pekoe asked.
"It looked like a rod of some sort…" Yukari said, "Just sticking out…"
"I know!" Kay said, "Like an enlarged man's d-"
"Okay, I think we're going a bit off topic now!" Isabelle quickly got the situation back underhand.
Under the bantering between the various commanders among each other, Miho couldn't help but give herself a small chuckle. After a tense moment last night, this kind of atmosphere was one the Miho liked to see in her Sensha-Dou match. It was a casual atmosphere, not a strict one like in Kuromormine, nor an authoritative one like in Pravda. It was all just a regular school time activity that can be taken lightly.
Though it seemed not many could take this friendly go-happy atmosphere. Isabelle looked exhausted as she made her way to Miho. "How do you handle this? This is worse than my team on a pizza-film night."
"Uh, well…" Miho tried to say, "I guess it just happens…?"
She simply groans as the noise level in the room rises, "And I thought Daniel was bad…" Perhaps the Ōarai Compound Team was just a bit too much for a 'normal' person.
After their lengthy discussion period in the conference room, the girls have reached a conclusion.
"While we have obtained vital information about the line-up of the 3rd RTR…" Miho said. "It's not nearly enough to form a concrete attack plan against it. I think we better consider the match area first before their possible attack force."
"Unfortunately, I agree," Isabelle said. Both she and Yukari were a tad bit dejected that the intel they work hard on just wasn't enough. It gave ease that there wasn't anything spectacular like another Black Prince or a Centurion tank, but the current information can't form solid strategies.
"Well then…" Anzu got up, "if that's the case, then we'd better continue our practice schedule for the match, right girls?" She said to the entire room.
"Right!" All the girls in the room unanimously agreed as they all got up, ready to go. The room clattered and chairs rattled as the crowd filed out towards the double doors. Miho, being closest to the door, was about to leave first before she heard,
"Yukari, a word please?" From Isabelle.
Curious, she told the rest of her team, "I'll catch you all outside, start up the Panzer IV."
"Okay then," Hana said as Miho brushed past her, taking a seat next to Yukari.
The room emptied in a good minute before the girls found out that they were the last three left in the room. Miho sat next to Yukari, which made her in front of her in the direction towards Isabelle. Isabelle, surprised by this predicament, walked towards Miho in a manner exhuming some annoyance.
"I thought I just said Yukari," Isabelle said, leaning in onto the Ōarai commander.
"Why does her business with you have to be confidential?" Miho asked with the same steel personality she showed last night.
Isabelle sighed as she returned to her normal posture, "Well, I guess this is for the best. I was going to go over a personal debrief over Yukari's performance in her solo infiltration."
"Solo-?" Miho said in disbelief, her fingers pinching between her nose bridge. "So not only did you take Yukari with you, but you sent her out there, alone?!"
"M-Miho! It's alright!" Yukari said, calming her friend in front of her. "I'm back in one piece, aren't I?"
Miho turned her chair towards Yukari, "But what if something goes wrong? You could've been alone out there!"
"I know what I was getting myself into, Miho. I knew the risks, and I still wanted to do it. I would have done it even if you told me not to."
Miho saw the determination in her friend's eyes. It wasn't one of the usual fan girl squee mode Yukari goes on, it was one with a goal and a willing to finish it. She took a moment to calm down, "Alright then…" Miho said, conceding to Yukari's wishes.
"May I continue?" Isabelle asked, sidelined by the two girl's moment.
"Yeah… go on."
"Okay. Yukari, your infiltration was rather superb. Even taking account the bad weather and horrible lighting on that part of the base, you moved like a pro. Most boys and girls in your shoes would catch chicken feet halfway in."
"O-oh really?" Yukari said about that praise, fluffing her hair with her hand bashfully. "I didn't think much of it…"
"And your fight against Emma…"
"You fought Emma?" Miho asked of this unusual situation.
"Yeah… it was a rough one," Yukari commented about the fight, her fingers twizzling with each other. "Maybe if I had a better weapon than a tranquilizer, I wouldn't have been so… scattered."
"Either way, the whole operation was a stunning success. I relayed the results of your solo infiltration back to the ACA. Daniel was very impressed."
"He thinks so? Heh heh…"
"He's willing to drop off some equipments for you to use next time you scout."
"If there's a next time," Miho slipped in. Isabelle made a mental note of Miho's protectiveness.
"What sort of equipment?" Yukari asked, curious on what other gadgets she may get to play with. If Isabelle's 'minimum' gear was a stealth suit and a tranquilizer gun already, who knows what else they had in stock?
"No specifics at the moment, but we'll receive them the day of the match," Isabelle explained. "But they'll be better than the ones I sent you with that night."
Yukari did a silent Sweet! motion with her pumped arm. Her enthusiasm knows no bound.
"So Yukari, you did great, and I think everyone in the team would be happy for what you did to help them have a better fighting chance." Isabelle concluded in a rather charmful remark.
"Yeah," Miho chimed in. Despite her disapproval of the whole scenario, she couldn't hide that Yukari's achievements were pretty badass and noble. "You did good."
"Pretty good, huh?" Yukari said of herself.
"Well Yukari, I think that wraps up this little debriefing of ours. You're to return to your original assignment as a tanker."
Yukari playfully, yet at the same time quite seriously, stood up and gave Isabelle a salute. "Yes ma'am!" She yelled out in affirmative. "C'mon Miho, let's go!"
"I want to speak with Isabelle for a bit. You can go on ahead," Miho said.
"Oh… okay, see you at the tank field!" Yukari shouted before disappearing out of the room in a swift. Miho and Isabelle were now alone in the large, empty conference room.
"Don't think this is over between us two," Miho said.
"I know…" Isabelle said. "But y'know… Yukari, she's quite gifted."
"Gifted?" Miho rolled that word around in her mouth. That word had only been thrown about her skills in Sensha-Dou in the past and present, but to hear that for someone else now… made her interested.
"Miho…" Isabelle said, in a tone of uncomfort as she approached Miho. "I think I owe you a bigger apology than I gave you last night…"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Yukari's little 'adventure'... wasn't the first in our history."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Miho… Before Yukari's attempt, we had seven different instances in the past when we tried to use solo-infiltration. They all failed."
Miho was stunned. From what she heard from Yukari and what Isabelle had told her, solo infiltration was a relatively new concept. An unproven concept, nonetheless, but a concept that just needed someone to try it out. But this...
"It wasn't a new trend in military strategies that caused the solo-infiltration concept to fail, it just flat out never worked." Isabelle continued somberly. "Yukari was the first time the solo infiltration concept worked, and I never told her of our failures."
Silence refilled the empty void between the two. Miho was becoming more than annoyed by this development, and the fact that someone from a foreign school is playing around with not just her teammate, but her friend, like a guinea pig in an experiment known with an extremely low survival chance. Something inside her filled, she clenched a fist, some sweat even began forming on her forehead. Miho looked at Isabelle with a look that even Isabelle became startled. Isabelle barely saw this look personally, but it reminded her of some of her TV shows with the customers angrily telling off their cashier for their unsatisfactory transaction. Miho was becoming more like that customer.
"Isabelle…" Miho finally said.
"Yes?"
"You better be damn worth having around here…" Miho then got up and left the room abruptly. As she left, the door banged shut behind her, the echo traveling through the empty room, leaving Isabelle behind to deal with the mess.
Isabelle, left alone in the room much too large for herself, suddenly felt a lot like the room itself, empty. A sense of regret suddenly swam over her. She only tasted bitterness as she figured out what to do next.
Tank Field, Ōarai Carrier
"Agh… I'm so dumb! Why did I say that?" Miho ruffled her hair over and over.
After cooling off a moment from that conversation, Miho could think rationally again. The only thing that stuck with her was that she told off Isabelle, a senior and instructor to her. Not only that, she left before Isabelle could say anything in her defense.
Miho reluctantly made her way to the tank field. Her team was waiting for her, but Miho knew Isabelle and the other instructors would be there. Her mind was filled with words, dialogues, apologies, something to explain to Isabelle that she had come to biting her words she spat out at her.
She made her way outside and saw the rest of the team already starting their practice routine out in the field. The dust kicked up in the distance showed they've been at it for a while. First time a team commander's been late to her own team's practice session.
"Miporin! Over here!" Saori called out to her, waving from the Panzer IV inside the garage. They were all waiting for her! She started to run towards the Panzer IV.
"I see even the Legend has to take the time to catch up with the story," a familiar voice came to her side as soon as she crossed the open garage door. Miho yelped to see Isabelle leaning on the hangar wall, tapping on a smart tablet.
"Isabelle…" Miho said her name softly. All the rehearsed thoughts from before was blown away by this surprised encounter. Miho was left with nothing but to be upfront and personal. "I-I'm sorry about what I said earlier… I didn't mean to…"
"That's alright," Isabelle calmly said, her attention still on the tablet as she closed it up on an attached case. She got off from the wall and looked at Miho, "You had every right to be angry at me."
"I-I know, but… I didn't, well, want to come off that rudely…"
"We all have an inner demon of some sort, Miho. No need to be ashamed." Isabelle said, now near Miho. "I'm not a good girl either. All I've ever wanted was for the ACA to excel. Now that we're done in this tournament, I want Ōarai to succeed."
She brushed her hair aside. "It's hard to break out of my bad habits. I'm sorry they're affecting your daily routine."
"Isabelle…" Miho looked at the girl in front of her. She was quite a different character from the boisterous and sportsman personality emitted by Daniel. She was one willing to do what she could to reach her end goal. Someone with an agenda, someone who has to know she's gone a bit too far. "I know you're trying your best for us, but we all have standards and reasonable expectations from our teammates. I just don't want you to get anyone hurt by making them go too far from what they are used to."
Isabelle seemed to take the words well, simply nodding in agreement as Miho finished. "Alright… alright," she said softly. Isabelle looked at Miho up close, though with an expression Miho found a tad… different. Isabelle then chuckled, "Alright, I hear you, 'Legend'. I'll keep myself in check."
"Thanks, but you can just call me Miho."
Isabelle smiled, then threw a rather informal "farwell" salute with two fingers as she walked, "Later Miho." Miho watched her walk off, glad that she was able to amend the relationship.
"Nishizumi-dono! Are you coming?!"
"Coming!" Miho yelled, running along to join her friends in the tank.
Tank Garage #2, Ōarai Carrier
Fire crack down range as tanks blast their cannons towards each other. The teams have started shifting practice to fire-and-maneuver tactics, one side laying down a steady amount of cannon fire while another maneuver closer to surround the enemy. This type of movement, however, is best suited to tanks with rapid-fire capability, so two-piece or heavy ammunition tanks like the IS-2 and KV-2 were sidelined during those exercises.
When Anglerfish's Panzer IV return to the break area, Miho took note of the IS-2 commander, it's original commander.
"Nonna! You're back!" Miho happily received the return of the cold Pravda sniper.
"Yes, I am." Nonna replied nonchalantly.
"How's your hearing, are you alright now?"
"Yes, it is fine now. Thanks for asking."
"You had us all really worried about you, especially Katyusha."
"Katyusha? Oh, so she was…" Nonna seemed to go a bit absent upon hearing that, smiling to herself in her own little world.
"Well, you take care now."
"Das vidanya," Nonna gave the usual Russian goodbye.
Miho went to go check on the others. Cannon and gunfire crack off in the distance as she moved away towards the garage. Inside the garage, she sees Saunder busily getting their new tanks into commission.
The M4A3E2 "Jumbo" Assault tanks would be quite an improvement in Ōarai's line-up in the tournament. Their armor has been welded over to reach about 100 mm, but the sloped angle gave it a line-of-sight thickness of about 150 mm. Though their armament are still the usual 75 mm cannon on the Shermans, the increased survivability means they can get more chances to fire off a killing shot. She sees various Saunder crew members, as well as Leopon, getting these tanks into shape. On one of the tanks, a boisterous blonde girl jumped off the engine deck of one of the metal beasts. "So Miho, how's our odds looking now?"
"It's great! These Jumbos would be a great help! Thank you for all of your efforts!"
"Eh, it's no biggie. Aside from that, I've mobilized the other Sherman ready for your team. All of them bring up a total of… 33 tanks, so you're going to find another two to use."
"I'm sure Pravda has some T-34s they can use in their ranks, I'll ask Katyusha about that later."
"Great! Man, can't wait to see how powerful the whole Dandelion force is now!" Kay said excitedly. It's clear she's spent a lot of time and anticipation on these new Jumbos.
"Alright, I'm going to check on the others now Kay. You get these tanks ready and practicing on the field as soon as possible, okay?"
"Kay, Okay!" Kay playfully saluted, as if proud of saying that.
Miho smiled as she moved on to the other part of the garage. Some Pravda crew were among themselves near their idle T-34 tanks. Next were the tank slots for Continuation's tanks. Putting the two school's tank together didn't make any side happy, with Pravda still accusing Continuation of stealing a tank of theirs. It's mostly side bickering, but Miho worried it may grow into an issue at the worst time possible, like at the battlefield. One Continuation tank, the one in question actually, was in the garage being tended to by its crew.
"The KV-1 breaks down a lot, huh?" Miho asked.
"I'd say!" A short girl with blue hair reaching to the nape of her neck said as she got up from the engine deck. "Bastard's a lot of trouble to work with!"
"Mind your manners, Matti," The tank commander, Janne, says from on top of the KV turret, her blonde hair swishing around longer than shoulder-length. She was of average height, and when she got down and stood on the hull roof, she was much taller than the KV turret itself. "How can I help you, commander?"
"Nothing, I'm just making my rounds. How's your tank, anything I can do for you?"
"Oh no, thanks, commander. But we learn to try and be self-reliant with beasty here so we know how to take care of it on the field." She then faced to the crew on the tank, "Ain't that right, girls?"
The three girls simply groaned. Aside from Matti, there were two other girls. One brunette with her hair tied in a long pony tail and a redhead with short boyish hair.
"They don't seem to be enjoying it…" Miho commented.
"Yeah, well, 'Beasty' here is a bit of a bitch to drive."
"How so?" Miho asked.
"Well, Matti, our driver there, has a hammer on her side on all times to move the gear lever."
"Wow, that bad?" Miho reminisce her time in Kuromormine when they had foreign-equipment practice with T-34s, and she thought that was tough!
"Yeah, I'd hate to be one of those poor bastards in the KV-2 though. Thing's a nightmare to use on slope to add to that."
"Umm, if I may," Miho inquired. "What's the deal between Pravda and Continuation, anyways? You two always seem to have a bad blood. It can't be because of just this tank, is it?"
"Oh, that? Well, partially," Janne said. "It involved the match that we got the KV-1 more so."
"What happened during that time?"
"As law of nature, or Sensha-Dou, goes; the weak would always be vanquished by the strong. Pravda and Kuromormine were almost undefeated gods in the Sensha-Dou field."
"Yeah."
"So it was during the 60th Sensha-Dou National Tournament that Continuation 'did their deed' against Pravda."
"How so?" Miho was curious. She wasn't around during that time, but she kept tabs on the news and she didn't remember anything happening with Pravda. That or, of course, they wouldn't publicize a humiliating event.
"Well, we… ah, kinda bended the rules. Y'see, on that match, we brought ourselves a surplus of student into the match."
"But, why?"
"Because, well, there are rules against the number of tanks you can bring in, but no rules on the number of people. So we snuck in a few people, planning to use them as scouts so they can report where each of Pravda's tanks were at a given area and time. A certain ambitious squad found several Pravda crew members to be careless in their security. They were resting outside of their tanks, one of which was a KV-1."
"Uh oh." Miho knew that was trouble. In Kuromormine, she was taught never to leave the tanks unsecured.
"They jumped at it. Got into the KV-1, fired it up, and blasted a good load of Pravda tanks to kingdom come."
"How brave."
"Yeah, and it worked for a good while too. Pravda never got an idea that it was one of their own tanks destroying them. They picked their tank off one by one until they were knocked out."
"Oh, that must've been a shock to them."
"And after the match, apparently there was some fluke in the mechanics or format because before anyone knew it, that KV-1 became the rightful property of Continuation."
"So that's why Mika always said, you guys never 'stole' it."
"It was a loophole of some sort, I dunno. I didn't expect it when I jumped it."
An applaud came from the KV-1 in question, "Whoo, yeah, way to go commander. As if we hadn't heard that story 10 times already."
"You all are killjoys, you know that?"
"Well, that was an interesting story, Janne," Miho said. "Thanks for the explanation. I must be off now."
"No problem, we'll see you later on the field. Hey Matti! Get back to work!"
Miho simply heard them rattling with their business as she carried on with her inspection.
Tank Garage #1, Ōarai Carrier
Inside the original tank garage for Ōarai's tanks, another type of lesson was being carried out.
"You girls are getting better, but there are still problems with this arrangement!" Hawkins said, inspecting each of the Ōarai tanks involved in the lesson. Each tanks were covered in the new camo nets, with the crew's addition to it visibly seen in the array of leaves, vines, and sticks attached to it. However, Miho could see something wrong with each of them, which Hawkins was pointing out individually.
"Hippo! All these foliage is interfering with your optics. How are you going to see at all when on the move?"
"We'll move with our heads exposed to see!" Erwin said.
"Then what about the gunner? How is she going to aim with all this?"
Silence.
"Fix that, okay?" Hawkins said as she moved onto a tank next. "Rabbit team! I'd think your Lee would look like a fantastic tree."
The team seem to be skitty on an anticipated praise.
"But this large pink rabbit in the front is basically saying 'Shoot me!' There isn't much point in all this camouflage if the paint is still going to go through!"
"But it's cute~" Karina whined.
"Either cover it up next time or give the camo nets to someone else," Hawkins said before moving on to the next tank. "Anteater…"
"Y-Yes?" Nekonya meekly replied.
"How on earth did you get logs onto your camo net…?"
"Umm… by lifting them?" Momoga said.
"With a crane?"
"Nope, with these guns!" Momoga flexed her arms. A visible bulge in the muscles appears, startling Hawkins for a second.
"Well, logs definitely give the tank a camouflage specialty, but the logs will prevent any traversing of the turret! It'll work fine if you're taking on a tank destroyer role, but be prepared to work your butt off constantly if you need to keep replacing the pieces of camouflage."
"Yes ma'am!"
Hawkins moved on to the last vehicle in the row. "Turtle team, you're not covering enough of the yellow paint. It'll keep standing out like that."
"Aw. Momo, see? Told you we should've added more vines."
"Prez! The only vines there were poison ivy!"
"Why do we have poison ivy growing there then? I thought the garden management was better than that."
"A-hem, girls," Hawkins attempted to grab their attention. "Well, that yellow paint on the Hetzer is quite conspicuous in the woods, so you'll have to do a better job on covering that, alright? And don't cover the driver's vision port as well."
Hawkins returned to the center of the garage. "You're all improving, and show a great understanding in the basics of camouflage. But you're not all ready for battlefield application yet. Learn from the mistakes here, not on the battlefield, and you'll become a better practitioner in the future. Is that clear?"
"Yes ma'am!"
Hawkins finally looked behind and saw Miho standing there, "Ah, The Legend has arrived."
"I'd prefer if I wasn't called that," Miho said.
"My apologies. How do you think of these lessons?"
"They're very helpful. Thank you, Ms. Hawkins."
"Please, just Hawkins or Helena is fine."
"Oh, right…"
"Maybe you'd like a private lesson as well in some skills in Tankery? We're always here to help."
"I'll think about it, thank you Hawkins."
"Don't mention it, just call me whenever."
Miho approached the other team members now here learning from Hawkins. "How'd you think of the lessons?" She asked each one of them.
"Enlightening!" Caesar replied.
"Tiring!" Azusa replied.
"I-interesting to know how camo indexes work in real life…" Nekonya replied.
"Frustrating!" Momo replied.
"So, Miho, how goes the Ōarai team?" Anzu asked Miho whilst eating a dried sweet potato.
"Everyone is working hard for the upcoming match!" Miho explained.
"Good! I trust you have the whole thing under control for the match?"
"Yes, I will!"
"I'm happy to hear that. It's a lot harder being a Sensha-Dou captain than a student council president y'know? If you need any help, don't be afraid to let us know!"
"O-Okay!" Miho said. "I have to be off now!"
"Of course you do! Good luck!"
Tank Field, Ōarai Carrier
Miho was on her way back to her Panzer IV when she saw an unusual scene. Yukari and Isabelle facing off against each other. Yukari lunged in a form of grab, only for Isabelle to quickly turn it around and put Yukari in a chokehold. Miho sprinted towards the situation. "Hey! What's going on here?!"
"O-oh! Nishizumi-dono!" Yukari said while in the chokehold before Isabelle released her.
"What's going on?" Miho asked again.
"Oh, Isabelle's giving me some private lessons on close-quarter combat."
"Close-quarters…?"
"Yeah, you see, during my infiltration, sorry, scouting; I told you I had to fight Emma, but we fought pretty close and she grabbed me. I didn't know much so all I could do was flail around. Isabelle offered to help me learn a few moves! Watch! Hey, Isabelle!"
Yukari braced herself as Isabelle entered a fighting stance. Isabelle rushed forward, attempting to grab Yukari. In a quick succession, Yukari then blocked the grab, grabbed Isabelle by the shirt and tripped her with her legs, sending her tumbling down hard onto the dirt.
"See that?" Yukari said, rather proud of herself. "And one more. Isabelle?"
Isabelle got up and turned her back on Yukari. Yukari moved closer, as if sneaking up to her. Despite Isabelle being a head taller than Yukari, an arm flashed out and grabbed Isabelle by the neck. Yukari had put her in a chokehold, enhanced by kicking Isabelle's legs to bring her down to Yukari's level. However, Isabelle quickly tapped out, and when Yukari released her, she was gasping.
"Too hard!" She said, "You could've choked me out."
"Whoops! Sorry!"
"You got the technique. You just need to learn control next, that'll take a few days."
"Yes ma'am!" Yukari said, before turning to Miho. "So what do you think?"
Miho could only nod, "I think that's pretty ninja."
"Ha, ninja? Please, not like that…" Yukari said, happy that at least Miho praising her skills.
"Let me try."
"Nishizumi-dono?"
"C'mon, Isabelle must be tired. Try it on me."
"Umm… okay?" Yukari was reluctant as she approached Miho.
"So, I attack first by grabbing, right?" Miho asked.
"Y-yes, Nishizumi-dono."
"Okay…" Miho steadied herself as she entered a battle stance similar to Isabelle's. At least, what she could remember.
"You have any martial arts training?" Isabelle asked Miho.
"Well, Kuromormine had a rather strict martial arts class next to Sensha-Dou. But it's been a while…."
"Alright then, I'm sure you'll be able to handle yourself."
"Ready, Nishizumi-dono?"
"Ready, Yukari." And with that, Miho lunged. She extended her right arm out as Yukari dodged, moving too fast to be blocked. Yukari still use the chance to counter-grab Miho and proceed to trip her. However, something sparked. In a flash, Miho soon found herself above Yukari instead.
"H-Huh?"
"Ergh…."
"Oh! Yukari, I'm sorry! I… wha?"
"What just happened…?" Yukari moaned as Miho helped her up.
"Wow," Isabelle simply said in astonishment. "Yukari grabbed you, was about to trip you, but it looked like you shift your body weight enough that you practically pulled her under you, letting her take the fall instead."
"O-oh, uh, I… I, I'm sorry! I don't know my strength!" Miho tried to apologize to Yukari.
"Ha ha, that's alright. Wow, maybe you really are a 'legend', huh?" Yukari said as she ached with a little pain.
"Let's take a break, okay?"
The three unanimously agreed on that.
Miho's Apartment, Ōarai Carrier
Miho was in her apartment, tired from the last few days of practice with the tanks and the extra lessons the girls took with the instructors. They've gone a bit overtime in practice routine to make sure they have everything down. Now there was only one night before the match, and Miho felt wasted. After soaking herself in the apartment's bath, even after the Sensha-Dou team's usual after-practice soak, she still felt a bit sore under her muscles. She still had some last minute detail-hunting to do though, so she hit up on the internet for information on their aforementioned match location.
Quebec was the largest province in Canada, a commonwealth country. With contact to the sea on three sides of the province with the Hudson Bay, James Bay, Hudson Strait, Ungava Bay, and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, getting to their destination would be easy. She looked up the coordinates Anzu gave her, and found the location to be on the small peninsula area extending off near New Brunswick into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. How exactly their tanks would go from there to the match location was now in the hands of the International League.
Miho then looked up images of the forests in Quebec to get an idea of the main setting of the match. An array of coniferous trees, with a few deciduous trees as well in the mixture. The leaf color of these trees range from the usual green, to the strange yellow and red, though the latter two color are of a minority. Their forests were a rather strange bunch in comparison to what Miho was used to the usual imagery of the word "forest".
"I wonder if those camo nets would even be useful like this…" Miho said to herself. The different colors of the forest she saw would be hellish to try to camouflage and move, but the different colors would help break up perception in a distance. Either way, visibility in the forest with no clearing would be quite hellish. Encounters in this environment would be either an ambush, surprise-encounter, or a seek-and-destroy. All require quick reactions and an unwavering attack. She hopes everyone was up to this task, it wasn't like the long-range engagement like in the Mojave.
She sighed. Her workload has certainly increased since the nationals. Miho felt an aching in her head, something she hasn't felt in a long while. But the headache wasn't one of simple discomfort from stress. A nagging feeling, as if something was really wrong with the scenario.
The description of what Yukari gave of the… thing the British had under the tarps gave her some concerns, but even with her focus on it, that feeling hasn't lightened up at all. It pounded on her head like something was poking it. Fortunately, it would come and go at various intervals, but Miho was uneasy.
She tried to think of other things, hoping it would go away. The issue with Isabelle, fighting the cadets tomorrow, Yukari's sneaking tendencies, her sister. In the moment of recall, Miho suddenly started wondering where in the heck was her sister. She checked her flip phone and saw her usual notifications. There were messages from school, her friends, and the such, but nothing from her sister and Kuromormine. She had messaged a few of her friends and acquaintances still at Kuromormine like Koume, but they had all adopted a dead silence just like her sister.
"Just what are you up to big sister…?" Miho incessantly wondered to herself. She wished she had an answer, but no one seemed to know. Miho was very tempted to file for a missing person report, but there were still possibilities of a simple cut in communication that could be the case. She didn't want to take things too extreme just yet.
Despite that, her worry of her sister continued to grow as she laid on her bed. The light shining in from the full moon disappearing underneath the new night clouds that appeared on the horizon.
Quebec, Canada
On the wee morning hours, the Ōarai carrier arrived at the landmass containing their match location. Due to the lack of abled port to hold the carrier, they ferried the tanks onto Quebec. From there, the tanks traveled by rail to their destination deep inside a forest, arriving at a station that also served as a gathering place for people wanting to watch the match in-person.
The Ōarai Compound Team had mostly brought their same tanks they brought during the Mojave match against the Americans, but with the new vehicle limit now at 35, Miho had elected to bring a few more. As Sunflower was pretty strong as is and Jasmine being quite unorthodox as is, Miho chose for Saunder to fill in the slots with their Shermans for Dandelion to strengthen the group. As the League work crew unload the 35 tanks at the station for the Ōarai Compound Team, the school girls stood there waiting, conversing with each other.
"It's rather chilly," Saori noted as a breeze past by, rustling the tree leaves surrounding them. She was shivering under tanker uniform.
"Well, we are up north…" Hana said, rubbing her gloved hands together.
"Suppose you rather have the winter cold against Pravda?" Mako pitched in, her unmoving face doesn't match with the slight shiver her body is emitting.
"Oh no! Anything but that!" Saori protested.
"It shouldn't be that bad," Yukari said, her body expression the usual as though she wasn't affected by the weather, "we're wearing the same exact gears as the time against Pravda, just without the snow tracks."
"It's alright girls," Miho said, "Once we get inside the tanks, our blood will be pumping and we won't even feel the cold!"
"Yeah, I guess you're right, Miporin."
"Still, this forest environment… Nishizumi-dono, do you think we can handle this?"
Miho looked out on the forest area they were in. Thankfully, it wasn't as colorful as she thought so there was an uniformity in color to allow usage of camouflage, but the forest was so dense it was like there was only one opening in the trees for the tanks to cross. "I'm sure there would be a better way around. I'll find out when I get the field map."
"I hope so. This looks worse than the Ardennes of 1940."
"Miho," Isabelle called out from her side.
"Isabelle! Should you be here? Wouldn't the League suspect you of helping us? No registered teams should be helping others right?"
"Ah, you know, they don't really enforce that rule much anyways. Besides, lots of members from other teams sometime catch these other matches to watch for fun in person, or gain intel. There's a private viewing area for those people."
"Oh, okay then."
"I wish you luck out there, Miho. I didn't think much of the terrain here, and I didn't think it was going to be this bad. You're pretty much on your own from here on out."
"Thanks for the help anyways, Isabelle."
"Don't mention it. I'll be off now. See you after the match."
"Take care!" Miho said as Isabelle walked off to a location unknown.
"So we could've just scouted in person on the day of the match?" Yukari asked.
"Not very effective though. You'd only see the vehicles they have at the time they fight their opponent, but they could switch it up to throw someone off who just looks at the matches."
Suddenly, an accented voice spoke behind Miho. "Well, well well. If it isn't the tournament's shining glory…"
Miho couldn't mistake that voice as anyone else, even if the last time she's heard it was during the tournament selections. "Mr. Kraus." She said as she turned to the source of the voice. Axel Kraus stood like a wall despite being only slightly taller than Miho's height. He wore a large German World War II-standard greatcoat to dress for the weather. To his right, Hans Wittman stood by in nearly the same attire aside from his Einheitsfeldmütze M43 visor cap, which contrasted to the black-banded Schirmmütze peaked cap that Kraus wore. Miho also noted that just like their first meeting, Wittman seemed to have an eye on Miho. "What brings the two of you all the way out here?" She said in as best of a friendly manner as she could muster.
"Well..., your performance on television is quite more substantial than what I was initially led to believe. I decided I wanted to see that for myself."
"Well, I'm glad we're able to grab the attention of the likes of you," Mako said.
"Hmph!" Kraus sounded rather offended by that statement. "Well, I look forward to the match you have here. I hope it's as good as it was when I saw it and not 'television magic'. It was quite a show after you sent Marshall to the hospital."
Miho froze when reminded of that debacle. "It wasn't my fault…" She said softly.
"Oh? Isn't everything supposed to be hinged on the commander? Your team's activity, your reputation, your name… all that is suppose to be held against your shoulder. Now look at you, Miho Nishizumi, you're a team commander who not only refused to take accountability for her actions, but also threw out her name heritage two years ago!"
"Hey!" Saori shouted as the rest of her team butted in, defending a stunned Miho from this madness. "What's your deal with her? We all make mistakes, right?! So what if she messes up a few time?!"
"What if…? What if!?" Kraus was fuming now. "You girls know nothing about the impact of Tankery in this world. School boards, politicians, even leaders fall and bend down underneath the International League's tankery! Not even the new aviation sports have come to the same level! Tanks has been the key to modern warfare since its inception and nothing will ever make it obsolete!"
He gripped his hand in a fist while speaking as if to an audience, the other Ōarai team members were also taking notice of this attention. "But it all stays that way only if it remains a key part of this world! My school, Carius Academy, has been the shining stone of Tankery for decades! I, like the many Captains of Carius beforehand, have been a core part of establishing the dominance of Tankery in this world! Capitalism, communism, terrorism! All that can bow under Tankery! We are the supreme example of the power of Tankery and its influence in the world!"
He pointed very angrily and accusingly at Miho, "But as soon as you! You! Legend! Showed up on the world table with Ōarai, you shattered us! A third-year high school student who led a no-name school to victory not once, but twice! Against immeasurable odds, was able to win! Our integrity was shaken! Suddenly, our name meant very little next to you and your so called 'Ōarai' school. You became the rallying cry for many smaller school's Tankery team, you showed the world that anyone could take the reins of tankery. Our control over Tankery has weakened, and so has its stability, because of you!"
Miho was in a state of shock. She tried processing everything she's hearing. Has her name really affected the world's Tankery that badly?
But Kraus wasn't finished. "Our credibility has been shattered, you 'Legend', but it's by no means irreparable. We can prove you're just a fluke, a fraud, a mistaken prophet, with these coming weeks. I have taken it to personal accounts that you will be defeated by us! Though, it'll be much easier for us if you just be removed from the picture beforehand."
"You're all just vain, aren't you? Isn't this tournament all just an exhibition?" Hana asked.
"I wouldn't expect an outsider pleb like you to understand. If you truly did, you would all had forfeited before the letter of acceptance even left the League's office."
"If you think… you can just run around amok… just because you're strong…" Miho said, softly, but with a hint of disturbance.
"Hmm?"
Miho looked at Kraus with a sense of confidence, something she found hard to tap into. She was still shocked, but no longer about how the world's been affected by her 'rise in name'. No, she was shocked that this world, the whole world issue of Tankery, is run by some nut who believes that the strong must remain on top. No, that did not conform to Miho's style of Sensha-Dou, not at all. "You think the law of nature runs around with you, that the strong will always beat the weak. Well Kraus, I think it's time I show everyone that even a tiger could be beaten by a rat."
"Uh, yeah! You tell him, Miporin!"
Kraus scoffed, "So you finally show some pride. Well then, 'Legend', I hope I see you on the battlefield then so I can personally make you eat your words."
"I hope so too, ditto." Miho replied.
"Come, Wittman! Let us join the audience and watch the 'Legend's' spectacle on screen. Let the movie magic play out for her and her squadettes." His unbuttoned coat waved with his motion as he turned and adjusted his hat. As began walking away. Wittman stuck around and his words spoke to Miho.
"I'd recommend keeping this mood when you get to us," He said rather softly, yet still heavy on the German-accent. "An, uh, angry Nishizumi, makes for a better game."
"H-Huh?"
"Have a good match," Wittman finished before he turned and followed Kraus out.
As soon as the two were out of earshot, Saori exploded, "Those two are real assholes!" Saori cut loose on her 'lady' limits and spouted her feelings, hands swinging as Mako became caught up in her arm length. "What is up with this world and Tankery, creating those two jackasses?!"
"Yeah…" Miho said. For once, she'd actually really want to show those two that she was more than just a name. She found herself stumbling backwards
"You alright, Nishizumi-dono?" Yukari asked catching her, once again shaken by Miho's rather strange personality earlier.
"I-I'm fine…" Miho shook her head, as if evil spirits clung on her. "I… just lost myself for a bit."
Miho caught her breath. She just notice she was breathing heavily. What a strange reaction, she's never had this against any adversary before. Then again, her past main adversary were rather tame compared to Axel Kraus. Against Kuromormine in the nationals, the worst they had was that some of their team members thought she was a traitor and by that means, Miho understood and could sympathize. Against University in the bid to save the school, Alice and Miho had no ill will at all, just two tankers put in the match and asked to duke it out.
Kraus… Kraus on the other hand, was pure antagonism. Miho was fighting Kraus on the analogy of, as she said, a rat being hunted by a tiger. Not only that, she couldn't understand his reason of hostility. A culture clash perhaps? No matter, Miho had recognize Kraus as a bigger enemy than anyone she's fought before, and she felt that some rule on her was lifted.
"Cheer up, Miho," Hana said to Miho, "I'm sure he's always like this to any small-time schools. You're only different because of your, well, name."
"You think?" Miho asked.
"Well, no… But I'm sure he has a more rational reason for this rather extreme rivalry."
"Doubt it," Mako said, rubbing on an area on her forehead where Saori smacked her. "That man's got some serious issue."
While the rest of her team was talking about Kraus specifically, Miho was somewhat curious on the short words Wittman gave her. What did he mean?
"Excuse me," A man from the loading crew came up to Miho and the others, "We've finished the standard unloading process for your tanks. We would need you to drive them to your starting location in the match."
"O-okay!" Miho said, "Everyone! Let's get to business!" She cried out loud for everyone to hear.
The Ōarai tanks rumbled to their starting location of the match. The place looked no different than the area where they arrived. A whole lot of trees. The map given to Miho by the referee also didn't make much sense on a quick glance. There was a clearing cutting through the forest as part of a river, and the forested area was varying in elevation as well.
"This match is going to be troublesome…" Miho said to herself. She had all the team organized the same way as in the previous match, and there was no changing it now. This match is going to need coordinated support between all the groups to go well.
The Panzer IV came to a halt, alongside the rest of the team. Everyone got out and viewed with awe at the beauty of being in the depths of the forest.
"Wow, it's so pretty!" Azusa said from the cupola of Rabbit's M3 Lee.
"Hey, look! A squirrel!" Someone inside the Lee shouted.
"This certainly looks worse than the Ardennes…" Someone from Hippo team's StuG III said.
"Not a very good place for any volleyball practice!"
"I-I can't get any wi-fi service out here!"
"The leaves aren't going to be good for the track traction!"
Miho looked to the distant west, where the opposing side would be according to the map.
"I don't think a jeep will be carrying anyone through the woods here," Yukari said.
"The terrain wouldn't be good for that," Miho said. Then a thought came to her head, was all the talk about the armored cars the other day for nothing?
"Miho!" A voice cried out from the woods.
"Huh?" Miho looked where the voice came from. Just off in the woods, no discernible direction.
"Ummm…" Saori waited for something to happen, but aside from the rustling of the leaves, there was nothing.
A figure, no, two figures approached from under the horizon of the forest hill. In this wooded environment, their camouflage worked the best here, the only way to discern their presence was their movement. One was a tall man with blond hair covered by his brown beret. Though his uniform blended into the forest well, various patches like the now-known 3rd Royal Tank Regiment emblem showed as well as the flag of the United Kingdom. The figure next to him, shorter, with her shoulder-length haired seemed to walk up in normal fashion… then took on a sprint. Miho and the other girls got more and more concerned as she sprinted closer to them.
"Yukari Akiyama!" The dashing British cried out as she ran towards them. Yukari jumped upon hearing it, yelping and hiding behind Miho Nishizumi. That didn't stop her as she rounded the body shield, and Yukari made off in a dash around towards the Panzer IV. "I'm gonna kill you, Yukari!"
"Aye! What did I do?!" Yukari said as they ran in circles around the Anglerfish crew and their tank.
"And then I'm going to roast your tank! Roast it with all the ammo! I'll be cooking s'mores on the brisking fire with your corpse in there!"
"Well, that's a bit extreme… What did I do?!"
"GAAH! Just get back here! You know what you did!" Emma continued yelling, chasing Yukari.
"Emma, knock it off…" Montgomery said as he approached the Anglerfish crew, a sign of bemusement in his face.
"H-Hi Montgomery," Miho greeted the tall British cadet, still stunned by the unprecedented… situation.
"Ah, hello. You'll have to forgive Emma, she's real pissed after what your friend did to her the other night."
"May I ask what she did?"
"She put Emma to sleep with tranquilizers on our tank hangar floor about three days ago and left her there. When we went in the morning to get our tanks ready for transport, we found her lying asleep next to her Achilles. Unfortunately, she became a source of multiple teasing by various mischievous members of our cadets. It's mostly stopped, but stories get attached and now people are calling her 'Sleeping Kitty'"
"Slee-? Oh, that would be quite embarrassing." Miho says as another scream came from the two girls running amok.
"Yeah, you can say she's…. got a small score to settle with Yukari."
Miho looked at the two. Emma got Yukari in a chokehold as they struggle about near the Panzer IV.
"Emma, don't kill her just yet. You need to beat her in the tank battle first to earn back your brownie points." Montgomery said to his ferocious second-in-command.
Emma released Yukari from her grasp, with Yukari gasping for breath, holding on her neck where the grip was slightly hard. Emma extended a hand out, Yukari examined it for anymore funny business, to then which she took and Emma hoisted her up. Emma just stared at the newly-beaten up Yukari, then fist-bumped her on the shoulder. "See you in the match…" She says in a near grit as she trailed off. "Oh, hey Legend."
So offhandedly? Miho thought, before wondering why she would get so worked up over how her so-called title was used.
"Anyways Miho, back to business," Montgomery said, steering the whole situation back to the match at hand as he extended a hand out. "Let's have a good match."
"Yes," Miho said, grabbing the hand. "Let's have a good match!"
Montgomery smiled warmly, the same smile he always bore. "Come Emma, you can do your deed on the battlefield."
"Yes sir!" Emma said, marching off with Montgomery.
"You alright Yukari?" Miho directed her direction to her exhausted friend.
"I think she took off 10 years of my life with that…" Yukari said, still breathing in lost air.
"Alright then," Miho said to herself as she got down to business. "Call all the school team captains, it's time for an operation briefing."
"So what's the plan here, Miho?" Kay twirled her long, blonde hair around in her fingers, staring eagerly at Miho while sitting on a foldable chair she brought.
"Alright," Miho said, examining the map laid out on the ground. "The playing field is pretty random. There are no discernible landmarks at all around here except this river running here." She pointed at the river, which was the only real sign of direction on the map. From her map perspective and based on the elevation slope, the river starts its flow on the southwest portion of the map. The river follows a course of a bold squiggle, making various small turns, sometimes large ones. There was a large specific S portion of the river in the middle of the map before turning into a straight line heading to the northeast. The river seemed to cut through the forest like a knife, as in the area it was in, the ground has a large clearing from the cluster of trees all around. Meaning it was a good place for a view, as well as a good place to be spotted. "Aside from the river, we have these tiny dirt roads spread out the entire sector, each one following a fixed path. All end up near the river though."
"We're quite constricted…" Katyusha said, examining the map from atop Nonna's shoulders. "Not good for a deep-entrenched defense or a flanking maneuver."
"Not to mention a disadvantage even with speed," Mika replied, though not before pulling a few strings on her Kantele as usual. "Even if we move quickly deep into the woods, the restricted nature of the map means our movement can easily be predicted."
"I don't get it, why are we stuck on the roads?" Nishi asked rather naively.
"Nishi, tanks can't maneuver that well in the woods. Our tracks could get bogged down and the closed nature of the woods really restrict our path on what we can take." Kay tried to explain.
"I see! So it's about squeezing in between the trees?"
"It's not that simple, but that's the main problem. Even our Stuarts would have a hard time managing it here."
"If we could bulldoze our way through, it would clear a path for us," Darjeeling said. "The Churchill has enough horsepower for that job."
"No, that'd just give our attack position away. Besides, you'd still only clear a single pathway through, not a large area for an offensive." Katyusha asked. "We'd be asking for an ambush to happen."
"So what do we do then, commander?" Darjeeling ask of Miho.
Miho wondered. Kuromormine had a strategy with the woods, she was on the receiving end of it. They simply barged through. But unlike that instance where they simple crashed through to reach the plains on the other end, here had endless amounts of trees. The only plains were near the river, but the width between the both sides was only about 300 meters, quite a close quarter battle. Tanks in the woods could also snipe from within and take out any tanks attempting to cross or attack in the clearing. Those tanks stuck in the woods would then be nigh impossible to find if they can conceal their muzzle flashes. Either way, there had to be a general step of procedures, or they'd all be going random.
"Okay, let's do this. Sunflower will take up the main thrust again. This time, they'll be heading to this clearing here in the middle." Miho pointed at the S shaped river turns near the center of the map. "They have to attract as much of the enemy's attention as possible. We want them to attack us at this point, it's the best clearing and we could get a terrain advantage on our side."
"Create noise? How? You want us to go in gun blasting?" Katyusha asked.
"If that's what it takes!" Miho affirmed. "Jasmine and Dandelion will support Sunflower in their assault. Make sure the enemy doesn't completely surround Sunflower. We'll have Jasmine take the south flank to use the large wooded area to gain a good sniper's nest to cover this entire clearing."
"Perfect, we'll get there and set up camp on the whole valley from there," Anzu said, seeing where Miho was going.
"Dandelion, you have to go through the north flank. If Jasmine could create enough noise, you're bound to receive the least brunt of the enemy's counterattack. Dandelion will then either support Sunflower from the North or breakthrough the enemy's side defenses and hit them hard from behind. With the extra and upgraded tanks from Saunders, Dandelion's punching power should be a lot better than before."
"You can count on us! American Blitzkrieg!" Kay shouted enthusiastically.
"Any objections or concerns?" Miho asked the group.
Katyusha raised her hand, "And if this becomes a static battle between the two riverside, then what?"
"Then… we'll improvise until we find a way."
"You really have no idea huh?"
"No I don't," Miho admitted. "Do you?"
"Eh… well, no. But we've got to have something, right?"
"We'll improvise until we find a way, sounds good?"
"Eh, sure, let's go with that," Katyusha shrugged along.
"Anything else?" Miho examined the cluster of team captains. They all seem to go along with it. They all have learned to trust Miho's instinct. After all, it was her leadership that led this mashed up group to victory not once, but twice against two very disproportionately different and powerful opponents. They had absolutely no issues going along with Miho's plan.
"Yes, I have one," Darjeeling stood out in the last minute. "What is-"
"The operation name?" Anchovy said first.
"Yes, yes, what would this operation name be?"
"Name? Hmm, how about 'Pancake'?" Miho answered almost instantly.
"P-pancake?" Kay said, almost ready to burst laughing.
"Well, since we're trying to saturate a whole area of random into our territory, I- Oh, never mind."
"No, No! Keep it!" Kay insisted, "It's perfect! Ha! Ha!"
"R-right then. This operation will be 'Operation: Pancake!'"
"This is going to look very weird in your Sensha-Dou history book…" Katyusha said offhandedly.
"Okay then. If that's everything there is, get your tanks ready and prepare to roll out!"
The group dispersed, heading their separate ways to their own individual tanks. "Operation: Pancake, huh?" Miho still couldn't believe that was the name she thought up. It was perhaps more random than anything else that happened before. Plus, above all else, it barely matched the current situation or plan. Well, the plan was set and that was how they were going to do it.
"How are you, Miporin? Ready to rock and roll?!" Saori asked from within the Panzer IV, sticking her head out of the radio operator's hatch.
Miho climbed into her commander's position. "Ready!" Miho said to the crew. She got into her radio, "All tanks, this is Anglerfish. Radio check, over."
"Jasmine, check!"
"Dandelion, check and ready to roll!"
"Sunflower, check."
"Roger that, all accounted for. Be ready for zero time." Miho finished, now they waited for the match to start.
In the distance, a flare was shot into the sky from the area of the referees, the sparks easily made out in the dark cloudy atmosphere. The match had officially started
"Alright," Miho steeled herself for the upcoming battle. "Panzer Vor!"
I'm back!
Probably my most troublesome chapter ever. First I went on vacation, then I fell ill while on vacation so I couldn't work on it effectively. Then, I was in a place where internet was restricted so I couldn't keep everything up to date every time of the day. Yeah, it was a nightmare.
By the way, do you know how hard it is to get your antagonist to have the right "mood"? I had to redo Kraus and Miho's meeting so many times because it just started as a simple "bullying" (okay, it's still bullying, but still), when I should be expressing his motives against Miho once more and elaborate. I can't have him be a villain because "he's a villain", so I gotta flesh out this guy to show his thing and a bigger scope. And no, this can't wait until before the Russians because that's when bigger stuff happens. Even now, I'm not sure if I got the message across as best as I could, but that's the extent of my writing skills I suppose...
Anyways, thanks for being patient for this new upload. It's been a rough winter vacation for me and I got school starting again. Nevertheless, another chapter means one more closer to a conclusion! If you like the story and can't wait to see more, feel free to to Favorite and Follow the story to keep up with it. I look forward to seeing you all on my next upload.