Girls Und Panzer: World Tournament!
Chapter 23: Defining the Stakes
Loading Docks, Ōarai Carrier
"Here", Isabelle handed over a black plastic case to Yukari. She shifted her balance as the ferry under her swayed with the waves of the English Channel. The open end of the loading docks sprayed in the sea mist and wind as the water rocked the metal structures.
Yukari took the case, big enough to be a briefcase, from Isabelle. Along with her large khaki military backpack, a shoulder-slung messenger bag, and two weapons packs, the briefcase felt as another hefty addition to her load. The briefcase was sturdy, but was not loose like how the M3 Grease gun bumped around in its case.
"Is there anything else in there, Nonna?" Isabelle yelled back to Nonna. She came back from the interiors with her usual stoic expression, but held up a rectangle block in her right hand.
"You forgot this."
Isabelle checked her pockets. "Damn, good catch." She said as she retrieved her phone.
Yukari waited idly by their baggages as her two seniors departed the ferry. "Here, I'll take that." Isabelle gestured and took back the package, as well as the messenger bag and the M3 "Grease" gun's weapon case.
"We're really walking all the way back?" Yukari asked in a subdued plea. They didn't have much stuff, but they were heavy.
"I don't trust military equipments in a cab." Isabelle said. "Isn't there like a cart we could use?"
"Yeah, to bring the stuff to taxis."
Isabelle hunched another bag over. "We're carrying then. Surely you can survive the walk, Yukari?"
"Well…" Yukari readjusted her grip on a case. "Yeah, but…"
"Then it shouldn't be a problem. Nonna, help me with this. Let's go."
Yukari sighed. She couldn't waver Isabelle if she wanted to.
Their flight from Moscow back here was anxiety-inducing. Yukari wondered what were the policies in Tankery against stopping an exfiltrating force from escaping their territory after committing espionage. Isabelle caught her eye wandering off to the background, looking for suspicious characters. Fortunately, their trip was uninterrupted to the airport in France.
However, their phone call back in Russia never went through. As such, Hawkins' Blackhawk helicopter was nowhere to pick them up. After some talks, the girls managed to catch a ferry to take them to the Ōarai carrier off the coast. Still, the silence from the carrier worried them until they saw that the carrier was still there.
The morning sun has just broken the roof tops of the urban housings when the girls finally made it back to the school. The green school gates were eerily left open, its reason unknown. Out in the open, the girls could hear the sound of firearms discharging. Their first thoughts were of an early morning practice session.
But as they approached the school, it dawned on them that something more has happened here. The first sign was stumbling on a metal helmet left on a pathway. The second was the new
"What happened here?" Nonna asked, looking at the damage on the school building.
Isabelle approached one of the said damage, a heavy dent on the school's white walls. From the impact, cracks spiraled out like spider legs. "Bullet holes," she said while running a finger over it. "Rubber ones, judging from the shallowness of the strike."
"Why is it all the way out here?" Yukari asked. Their practice range for small arms was pointed the other way.
"Well, considering this and its...oh, 20 other bits on this wall," Isabelle waved over the entire school wall. Yukari noted that the entire wall was peppered with the marks. "I think 'accident' could be ruled out."
"Then how-?"
An explosion sounded in the background, causing the three ladies to spin towards the sound as the noise echoed away. Like in a concert, the act was followed by tiny cracks of bullets. Isabelle pointed towards the commotion. "That's your answer. There's fighting going on."
"Fighting, with who?" Nonna asked quickly. "If there was fighting onboard… that means must have been in trouble!"
As they talked, Yukari was rapidly browsing through her phone on the news site of Ōarai carrier and the school. "I got it! Right here, uh, it says that our school team was raided by… Suvorov!"
"Suvorov? So they decided to attack the same moment we were gone?" Isabelle shook her head.
"Katyusha must be in trouble! я должен идти!" Nonna shouted, dropping her baggage.
"No, wait!" Isabelle dove for the baggage as Nonna ran off. The box hit the ground with a CRUNK. "Ah, shit. That was the box with the binos too…"
"You need help with that?" Yukari asked, though her hands were quite full with what she had already.
"No, I got it."
"Okay…" Yukari acknowledged. "So Suvorov coming to our school… did you think it was a retaliation for what we did?"
"Doubt it." Isabelle said, dusting off one of the fallen box. "It takes time to organize and launch an attack. They were planning to do this from the start before we arrived at Moscow."
"But you seemed concerned about their timing…" Yukari asked.
"That's because Suvorov's raid plans always involved attacking at the night before the matches," Isabelle explained. "Not two days prior. It's always been their strategy to attack before the match."
"Why?"
"To disorient their opponent. Occupy them, drain them, force the opponent to spend the night dealing with an enemy force so that they'll be exhausted on the day of attack. Suvorov wouldn't suffer much as these attacks are led by their airborne corps, not the tankers."
"Airborne can get involved?" Yukari asked with surprise. "I thought Tankery is suppose to be between the teams involved!"
"That's what the official rules say. But in practice, these kinds of raids are still considered 'unsanctioned' to the actual match. Its more lenient in a way."
"Oh I see, like Tankathalon!"
"Like what?"
"Uh, nothing," Yukari said. "Ah, let's move on so we can get all these stuff dropped off."
"Right. Let's go."
The two continued walking down the path to the garage. On the way, they came across an empty Russian helmet out in the open, its original owner unknown. More dents from the high-velocity projectiles appear as the sunlight cast shadows over the uneven wall, showing each scar in the plaster. The school… Yukari thought somberly. "Another mark on its history, huh?"
"Did you say something?" Isabelle asked.
"No, nothing…" Yukari said as they continued to the assembly area.
The garages were no better. The brick walls were no longer the smooth texture they once had, but rough and corroded. The place bristled with activity, with the girls present active and about. Yukari couldn't help but note the assortment of weaponry now visible, ranging from the submachine gun to pistols. The atmosphere also had a new feeling in it, a sense of paranoia and urgency; far away from the usual social school club one.
"Isabelle, ya bloody yank! You're late!" A cocky English voice rattled out in the crowd.
"Emma, you look like hammered shit," Isabelle shot back, putting down her baggage.
Emma truly did, despite her white grin. Her hair was a rough mess, strands floating and protruding all over. Her uniform was rumpled up and wrinkled from wear and tear. She was sweating, with grease on parts of her face from her M1 Garand, holding it in her right hand. A Webley revolver was holstered on her left side.
"How was your trip in Russia?" Emma sniffed, wiping her hand across while streaking another grease stain on her face.
"Fun, Yukari had a blast."
"Oh? Is that so? Did you, Yukari?"
"Oh! Ah...yes! I have so much to tell everyone for the upcoming match," Yukari said excitedly, then she looked around concerned, "Hey, where is Miho and the others?"
General Hospital, Ōarai Carrier
The green monitor blipped steadily as it picked up the vital signs.
Beep...beep...beep...beep...beep...beep.
The sound continued with each interval the line makes, linking with the heart beats of its patient as she laid on the bed. Her chest moved up and down slowly as she visibly breathed in and out.
Miho watched over Erika as she laid there in her unconscious state. Her dirty body cleaned and mangy clothes removed for a sterile hospital gown. Her appearance reminded Miho of the girl she always known as Erika. Many questions prodded Miho with her sights, but she knew she wouldn't get the answers from her now.
However, her body was a shell carrying even more questions for Miho. Bruises were present in various sizes and density on Erika's body; her arms, her legs, her torso, her joints, her face… Blunt trauma had been the cause, the doctors said, the damage hit the skin and the flesh underneath, but none was so severe to break bones. But these splotches of dried blood under the skin were vile sight against Erika's pale skin.
Miho mellowed in that detail for hours. Examining Erika like a comb for any more clues. Was there something she's missing? What caused Erika's injuries? Was she thrown about or… did someone inflict it? If so, who?
"Miho, you are still here?" Hana spoke at the door as she walked in. The large hospital room holding other patients from the night before was still quiet in the morning as Hana and the others walked in.
"Good morning," Miho said to them.
"Miporin, did you even sleep last night?" Saori asked, looking into Miho's eyes.
"No...no," Miho glumly answered, rubbing her eyes with her fingers. "It's just that...so much has happened."
"Yeah, I know…"
"If I could transfer my sleep over to you," Mako said. "I would."
"Thanks Mako," Miho said as the trio moved in.
"Has she stirred?" Hana asked.
"No," Miho stated, "She's been unconscious ever since she got here."
"Is she going to wake?"
Miho looked at the Erika, still unresponsive, "The doctor… said that her physical and mental condition indicates heavy exhaustion," Miho tried to find the words. "He said she might not wake in a few days, maybe weeks…"
"I see…" The girls calmly dug in the facts. But the others couldn't help but wonder what Miho was going through. This was the first sign of Kuromormine in a month, and it was a washed up girl in a lifeboat.
"Nishizumi-dono?" A voice echoed from the entrance. The four girls instantly zoomed in on the familiar voice.
"Yukari?"
"Nishizumi-dono!" The girl ran over and glomped onto Miho. Her full body weight nearly toppled Miho. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah! Yeah, I'm fine," Miho reassured Yukari, catching her balance.
"I heard about what happened. I couldn't believe it!"
"Yeah, it's a very different level of-"
"I should have been here when it happened!" Yukari spoke out. "I wanted to be there fighting with you girls! I didn't want to leave you all to that!"
"Yukari, sshh!" Miho hushed the hysterical girl. "We're in a hospital, there are people trying to rest here."
"Oh, sorry!" Yukari held herself back, regaining her composure. "I, uh, I'm just worried about you girls…"
"We're all fine. Thank you for your concerns Yukari," Hana said with a smile, her composure straightening up for full attention towards Yukari.
With the noise dying down around them, the hospital's business commenced. Above them, light footsteps sounded under the shoes along with the crinkle of carts rumbling along. Curtains shake as they were swayed in and out. Beeps and boops clicked around the hospital in the room and in the halls. Under these noises, the breaths and the groans of the living patients all around could be pinpointed from the artificial sources. Though to Miho and the girls, one sound was established in their heads.
Beep...beep...beep...beep...beep...beep.
Miho and Yukari's faces turn from each other towards the bed. The incessant beeping, declaring the vitality of its user, continued with its green hue.
"What happened here?" Yukari looked at her, unaware of her presence. "Why is Erika here?"
"I don't know…" Miho said, back in her weary voice. "She just…appeared, after our match..."
She was at a loss of words. Everything was still a mess. The only thing she knew about Kuromormine now was that Erika was safe in the hospital. The mystery has barely been touched.
Miho reached out, slowly and gently, with her hand towards Erika. She brushed the back of her hand down her cheek, brushing over one of her bruises while at it. The smooth skin radiated with body warmth, an improvement from hours ago when her skin was chilled to the bone. The pale color on her skin when she emerged from the lifeboat has saturated with a vibrant shade, stained by the bruises under the skin.
"Miho…" Hana grasped Miho's shoulder. "I know you're worried, but it's almost time we met up with everyone else. Erika will be safe here, but we have to leave soon."
Miho did not react at first, staying fixated at Erika as her hand grasped her's. Erika's pulse pumped strongly inside, the sensation and warmth of her flowing blood transferring to Miho. "I'll be back soon…" Miho said. It might hit deaf ears, but she hoped it would resonate within Erika. She then got up from her seat, "Sorry about that, let's go."
As the girls got up to leave, they tried to comfort her. "Don't worry about it Miho, you can visit later. Maybe her condition would have improved!" Hana said.
"She probably needed the sleep a lot more than any of us," Mako said.
"We won't know anything until she wakes up," Saori said. "So don't worry. I'm sure the doctors will say something once she's up!"
Yukari tried to find something to say, but she was still trying to absorb everything. How could so much transpire in just one night? She was as lost as Miho in this sea of blank information.
And the match is just tomorrow…
Conference Room, Ōarai Carrier
"Alright...everyone here?" Isabelle said, convening the group to the subject at hand. The school team's captain had gathered for a meeting; just like the one after the scouting with the British cadets, but a new subject has sprouted from last night. The student council was present, despite being absent last night. Anzu chewed on a sweet potato carelessly, though Momo and Yuzu sat in an uncomfortable atmosphere, as though their non-participation alienated them from the other's experiences.
It was easy to tell who was there last night, all the girls were worn out, expressing it in different ways., Momo was near unresponsive while Yuzu tried her best to stay true as an accountant. Kay was quiet and calm, her demeanor filled with latent seriousness. Darjeeling sipped on her steaming tea, completely dark with its high tea concentration. Katyusha laid her head on Nonna's shoulder, staring forward in a weary state as Nonna stroked her head. Mika was present with her kantele, but also a blue shade pillow that she has planted her head on and may or may not be asleep. Nishi tried her best to look attentively, but she was slowly nodding off as her face slowly drooped down. In one instance, Nishi's head hit the table and she jerked herself awake from the impact. There was one team captain missing, her position filled with a blonde girl with her hair reaching past her shoulders.
"I'm here for Anchovy," Carpaccio noted to Isabelle.
"Ehmma izs abbzseant ars whell," Anzu said as she chewed on a dried sweet potato. Her food was not unusual on the table. It was nine o'clock in the morning, and everyone present had a meal from the nearest convenience store to feed on, ranging from sandwiches to onigiris.
"Well, she's not-"
*Boom*, a dim but noticeable explosion could be heard. Momo and Yuzu reacted instinctively, but everyone else has been numbed out from such noises. Isabelle paused only for a second, continuing before the noise completely disappears.
"-not important… Anyways, we're still gathered here. That's great, none of you were severely injured. Let's just hope you Anzio students don't get too badly hurt soon, and-"
The door creaked open as five girls entered.
"-and the star shows up." Isabelle finished. "How are you, Miho?"
"Hmm?" Miho looked up. "Oh, uh… I'm okay."
"You sure?" Isabelle looked at Miho with a probing look. Her eyes prodded Miho for further depth.
"Well… yeah…"
Isabelle just nodded softly, "Well, take a seat. I was just about sum everything from last night."
Miho walked along the conference room to the closest open seat. Her team stared at her, not to admiring, but in concern for her well being.
"Yukari, you're ready to present?" Isabelle singled her little agent out.
"Oh! Yes! Uh, now?" Yukari said in the spotlight.
"Later. Just hang about. Now, we all set?" Isabelle reconfirmed the room's attention."
"Get on with it!" Katyusha raised her head from Nonna to cry out, irritated by the constant interruptions.
Isabelle clicked her tongue, "Right, anyways…" Isabelle messed with a machine on the table, "While this projector boots up, let's talk about last night and our… available crew members. So, I got all of your recall and tallied it with our available troops."
"How many do we have left?" Darjeeling asked. Her team was not as affected as the others.
Isabelle sighed, "We only have enough able-bodied team members for 34 tanks."
The room murmured at this figure. Kay took her legs off the table and her seat came back down. "I'm sorry, we have 34 tanks?"
"Yeah."
"How many tanks are for the upcoming round?" Kay asked.
"Semi-final matches can have up to 40 tanks." Isabelle explained. "You're about to have an uneven match-up tomorrow.
"Six tanks deficient against the enemy," Darjeeling said. "Well, I don't think Ōarai should have such a big problem."
"What do you mean?" Isabelle asked.
Darjeeling turned and faced Miho. "A single rice can tip a scale. Miho Nishizumi and their team are expertise in managing outnumbered teams for victory. Isn't that right?"
Miho did not respond.
"Uh, Miho?" Saori whispered towards her.
"Huh? Oh! Uh," Miho broke from her train of thought, trying to catch up. "What?"
"You can lead our team to victory? Miho-sha?" Katyusha said sternly. "We're down six tanks from the 40 standard in the match."
"Hmm…" Miho thought about it. "It's not that bad. We're only down by 15%. If we can maximize each tank's ability for a kill, we could still win!"
"I'm afraid that's the issue there," Yukari chimed in. At the same time, the projector finally came to life with its beam of light. "Whether we could kill our targets."
Isabelle placed a USB drive into the projector and the screen loaded the data. "How about let's go over what Suvorov has in stock for you girls tomorrow? Mika, can you get the lights?"
Mika, next to the switch, did not stir from her pillow.
"Mika!"
"Guh?" Mika raised her head with half-opened eyes. She looked at Isabelle funny for a moment, then turned and freely tapped the light down, then crashed back down.
"Thanks." Isabelle said as the projector image became clear in the darkness. It showed the scout images Yukari took on the field, the first one being the gathering of the Russian tanks out in the field. "Yukari? If you would?"
"Right," Yukari got up and head towards the front, the field expert in the room now. The screen loaded with its first image, and Isabelle tossed her the remote. "So Suvorov team, right here, is a trained military cadet school for boys as young as 13. Their leader here…" Yukari clicked and the screen shifted to a man with white blonde hair that accompanied his icy blue eyes. His white skin seemed to blend in with his own hair and the snow background in the night. "Erik Dimitrevich Katukov, he's the school commander. He is also the commander in their breakthrough heavy tank IS-3."
"Excuse me, may I speak?" Nishi raised her hand. Yukari confusingly nodded. "The IS-3? Isn't that post-war?" Nishi said sleepily, her voice slurring, but understood the topic at hand.
"IS-3 was built in spring 1945, it is completely valid," Katyusha said. "Pravda could've gotten one if they ever had one in stock!"
"Still… an IS-3," Kay and Darjeeling were in deep thoughts about that behemoth. "IS-3 would be quite troublesome in all sides, the Russian designers went all out with that thing."
"We'll worry about that later," Isabelle interrupted. "Yukari, please continue. We got lots of go through and a busy day ahead."
"Right, uh," Yukari caught up. "Aside from the IS, Suvorov also has stocks of T-34 tanks, both the 85 and 76 mm variants in the 'Mickey Mouse' turret."
"Mickey mouse?" Kay perked up on that American icon.
"She means the T-34 1943 model," Isabelle commented without batting an eye from her screen.
"Isn't it the 1942 model?" Katyusha spoke up.
Isabelle looked up, "No? The 1942? They always call it the 1943 in my sources."
"The catalog calls them the 1942," Nonna said, supporting Katyusha.
"It depends on the source and author, really," Yukari pointed out. "Past the T-34, they've got ISU self-propelled guns."
"The 152 or 122 mm variants?" Katyusha asked again.
"Both actually."
Katyusha rashly slammed a fist on her table in rage. "So they did sell us out!"
"Katyusha, please." Isabelle reined in the topic once more calmly.
"Well, that's about it, really," Yukari said. "I don't recall any other-"
"Yukari," Nonna then said. "The 44s"
"Huh?"
"The T-44, from the conversations," Nonna reminded Yukari.
Yukari thought back to the conversation they eavesdropped. "Oh! Right, they have the T-44 medium tanks as well."
"T-44 medium tanks?" Carpaccio said with concern. "IS-3, ISU 'Zverboys', T-44. How do you expect us to compete against those tanks? None of our weapons could knock those tanks out reasonably."
"Not true," Miho said. "The 88 and 122 mm could take them out."
"At close range," Kay said. "88 mm on the Porsche is good, but not that good against 1945 tank designs. Plus the 122 mm got its reload speed issue, and we've got one tank with that."
"There's also KV-tan," Katyusha said.
"That tower?" Kay laughed, "The only thing it's best to do is scare them off or as bait to be skewered!"
"Why you-!"
"Ladies, please!" Isabelle said, acting as a mediator. As the commotion went on, Miho shifted swiftly over towards Anzu.
"Hey president."
"Hey Miho, what's up?"
"Umm, did our school lose anyone yesterday?
"Oh yeah, three people."
"Who?" Miho asked.
"Uh, let's see." Anzu brought up her fingers, counting off. "Noriko from Duck...Takeko from Hippo...and- oh wait."
"What?"
Anzu smiled sheepishly, "Yukari actually, but as you can see, she's here!"
"Hmm?" Yukari heard her name.
"Oh nothing, please continue," Anzu said as Yukari looked absently.
"May I speak?" Nishi raised her hand again, Yukari and Isabelle nodded. "I'm still concerned about this. These tanks we're going against are a huge boost over our last two."
"Yeah, things are getting real rough here," Kay said. "Starting to think our upgrades aren't that big of an improvement here…"
"When the going gets tough," Darjeeling spoke, pausing to take a sip from her tea cup. The Assam tea malt flavor with a tinge of brightness lingered in her palate as she swirled it around, the tea cup clunking as it landed back in its saucer. "the tough gets going."
"Darjeeling's right," Isabelle said. "You're playing with the big boys now; they'll be bringing their heavy gear to make it to the finals. No more playing around if you want to make it big now."
"In a way, we have to fight this like how we would fight in the finals," Katyusha said. "I would know because I did that too in the last nationals."
"We can't hold anything back," Miho said. "We'll just have to try our best tomorrow everyone. I know it's hard to say this now after last night, but there's no better option."
Miho didn't really have anything else to say other than that. She could only trust her friends to do their part. Kay was the first to stand up.
"What the hell, we've made it this far. Ain't no way I'm backing down from this challenge!"
"I agree, everything about this has become very interesting. It would be a shame if we couldn't put our whole might into it." Darjeeling said.
Nishi shot up, "We'll charge our tanks to the very edges of the world for a chance of victory!"
"Anzio hasn't taken things easy since 1943. We won't break that tradition now," Carpaccio said.
"You'll have the iron might of Pravda with you!" Katyusha said out loud. "...after my nap!"
Kay laughed, "What iron might? You're down to four tanks this match!"
"Hey! Quiet!"
"Oi," Mika acknowledged with a small bump into the air. A small, but significant agreement to the team.
"Well, if you're all settled. The meeting is adjourned," Isabelle finally said. "Everyone, make do with the last day until tomorrow dawn. If you're heading back to the garage, make sure to keep your heads."
The room shuffled about as everyone excused themselves.
"Miho, a word?" Isabelle said as the room emptied. Miho pointed to herself in a "me?" fashion as Isabelle confirmed her statement with a nod.
"We'll wait for you outside," Hana said and so the Anglerfish girls left the room, the door clicking shut. Isabelle came over to Miho and leaned aside on a table.
"I heard about what happened this early morning," Isabelle said. "Emma told me about her. I'm sorry to hear about the circumstance."
"No, it's just that…" Miho tried to articulate her thoughts. "I'm just very confused about everything now."
"Well, you certainly hid it well. 's appearance raises lots of questions on Kuromormine among us as well. But the only thing I can say is to not let your mind dwell in it now."
"But-"
"We're not going to get answers now, Miho. It's just not in our resources. We did refer Itsumi's life boat's identification numbers to the International Maritime Rescue Federation to see if this lifeboat did come from the Kuromormine carrier." Isabelle crossed her arms, "but that's gonna take time too, and until their results come in, all we can do is wait."
"I see…" Miho hung her head as she returned to her thoughts.
"So here's what you're going to do instead, alright? You're not gonna keep your head in this. You're going to go out to the field today and lead the team, and you'll lead them tomorrow against the Russians and win, okay? Do that, and when you come back, maybe we can find out what the hell is happening here."
Miho didn't like that option. She wanted to know what was happening with Kuromormine now! What if it was time-sensitive? Every minute spent thinking about it, Miho felt herself weighing in the questions and speculations in her head.
Upon asking herself again "what was going on?" Miho decided she needed something else in her mind now. After barely a minute of private deliberation, Miho looked up straight at Isabelle. "Alright… I'll do my best."
Isabelle gave a small smirk, partly from Miho's renewed purpose, partly to create a response to Miho's decision, something to keep the momentum up. "You go get 'em girl."
"Right. Uh, I'll be off!"
Tank Garages, Ōarai Carrier
"This place looks totaled," Yukari said after a brief examination around.
"Oh man, it felt like they brought everything they had!" Saori exclaimed, her hands pumping about to express herself.
At the first glance didn't look so bad earlier in the morning. But now that the sun was up and shining, the extent of the damages was clear.
The garage windows were mostly broken, the dangerous bits of glass were dangling above, though all the fallen shards have been cleaned up by now. The concrete road blocks, instrumental in the defense, was also scarred by battle, especially the autocannon damages from Suvorov's airborne armor. Hopefully the road services won't charge for the damage, or that it would be eligible in the Tankery league's compensations.
Even the paint on the pavement were not untouched. Bullet marks buzzed off the paint at the impact points. Some lines were diminished from the fire intensity. Even the steel tank tracks in the garage don't do that.
Signs of conflict and hostile presence was still marked as well. Towed to the very side and away from the activity were the two T-60 tanks. Their hull still bore the white flag to indicates its deactivation, awaiting a restart. Next to the tank were piles of equipment, discarded or confiscated from the Russian cadets. The ammunition was graciously taken to feed Pravda's small arms, but that was about it.
"The Russian's had a lot more stuff than we had," Hana said.
"Too bad we outnumber them," Emma said as she brushed up against the group.
"Emma, where are the others?" Yukari asked. "Weren't there more than this from the roster?"
"We've split to two groups, some of are still in the garages, making sure the tanks are in tip-top shape for your match tomorrow. The other half-"
A loud Brrrrrt is heard in the distance, followed by irregular noises from shouting and rumbling in the distance.
"-are out there."
"The Russians are still there?" Saori asked. "How long are they going to be there?! I don't want them to keep shooting at us!"
"Another day," Emma responded. "A rule in these raids is that all irregular combat between two teams cease on the dawn of the match. Teams not in their rightful place have to turn themselves in for return to their sides at the match site."
"Meaning…?"
"It means that the cadets fighting out there have to surrender by tomorrow mornin," Emma pointed out. "Until then, everything is fair play."
"Next morning is a long way away…" the girls noted. "Do you think they may starve out there?" Saori asked.
"That's always a possibility," Emma surmised. "But again, it is an incentive to surrender to us. We have food, they won't have much for long."
"War of attrition…" Yukari mumbled as she looked out at the field. Then she looked back at the discarded equipment and the T-60 tanks. "So… what do we do about these stuff?"
"Well, we would be returning them to their rightful owners along with the prisoners," Emma explained.
"Give it back? Just like that?" Mako said.
"That's just tankery," Emma shrug-spoke. "Besides we-"
CRACK-KOW
Something zipped into the air. Yukari recognized this pattern right away.
"Sniper!"
"COVER!" Emma shouted out, and every girl in the vicinity fell into place.
Silence suddenly filled the garages.
Tank Field, Ōarai Carrier
The small patrol has halted over a peculiar structure on the field. It wasn't anything they had, that was for sure. They could confirm it by the Russian inscription on it. They were intentionally hidden, brought to the edge of a tree grove, with hastily placed bushes as means of concealment.
"What do you suppose this is?" Cassia said as she brushed her hand against it. It's made of wood, she thought. It was a curious design.
"I read something about this…" Sencha said, examining the green wing color and wire construction. The whole thing was split in the bottom, which had a large square shape where something belonged, but is now gone. "There was a project for a flying tank back then…"
"Flying tank? Be real," Cassia shot back. "This thing?"
"No, see they would put the wings on a light tank and then once they land, they just disconnect and ride into battle. See right there?" Sencha pointed to the distance, her khaki desert uniforms's short sleeve barely reaching over her elbows.
Cassia looked out the way Sencha was looking and saw the familiar imprints of tracks on the ground, especially around the moist areas. The grass also showed the dragging of a large object all the way to their area, where the wings were.
"Interesting…" Cassia eyed the wings more intriguely.
"Yeah, see? They've got to-"
THWACK
Cassia turned over to see Sencha drop to the ground. A puff of dust freshly smacked lingering in the air.
"Contact!" Someone cried. The patrol hit into high gear.
More firing came along. RATATATA, as the air once again filled with bullets. The rest of the patrol hid in the trees as Cassia reached down and grabbed Sencha by the shoulder, helping her to the trees.
"D-damn...it!" Sencha said through her pain.
"Hold it in there! You got a match to get to tomorrow!" Cassia yelled out as the rounds danced around them. She dragged her into the shades of the grove.
"It's coming from that grove over there!" Cranberry called out. "Get the QRF on the radio!"
Nikolai couldn't believe he was still in for the play.
Last night's debacle, ever since the M4A3E2 Jumbo showed up, had the airborne fall into a withdrawal. Using the cover of darkness, the two platoons split up into the field, disappearing from Ōarai's sights until daylight and fighting with guerilla warfare.
They came, they hit, then they withdrew. The process has been repeated from the night, to early morning, to now. Each time attacking, each time withdrawing, each time losing one or two men.
He didn't know where Albert or Vasiliy were. Maybe in a different group, maybe captured, maybe wounded somewhere in the field. Nikolai could only hope they were safe as he engaged on an unsuspecting group of Ōarai students when they came to examine the wreckage of the A-40 glider.
Ammo was running low though. Several boxes were parachuted for the paratroopers with enough supplies for three days of constant fighting, but only half were accounted for and they were running low per person. This has already caused several groups across the field to surrender, and as Nikolai's stomach rumbled, he felt his group might be next.
But in the heat of combat, senses like hunger disappeared under the stress of the flying bullets. He fired his M44 carbine, keeping track of the rounds and only shooting at figures he could see. Mentally counting his bullets, he let the heavy recoil of the short Mosin-Nagant firing the 7.62x54mmR rounds carry itself up.
His bolt finally locked up, and he reached into a pouch and pulled a clip for usage. Once he closed up the reloaded rifle, he heard the sudden roar of an engine.
"When did that get there?!" Someone cried in his hastily-created squad. In the distance, Nikolai could hear the rumble be associated with the cracking of wood under tracks.
"Oh shit! Tank!"
"Tankette!"
"Pepperoni! Don't run them over! They don't care what type the L3/33 is anyways," Anchovy screamed out through the radio. The P40 stood outside the forest grove as the lighter and more agile L3/33 tankette drove in. As the 3 ton tank bumped around in there, the spray of its two 6.5 mm Breda machine guns towards the enemy blasted away. The muzzle flash brightened up the shade of the tree groves, each flash brightened up the interior.
Anchovy waited as the fighting continued inside, with the St. Gloriana students covering on the other side of the grove, and so she waited at her position. A minute later, five figures ran out the grove into the field.
"Take aim," Anchovy said as she peered through her vision port. The gunner pulled the gun towards the running Russians. "MG ONLY!" Anzio added the last necessary details in case they get trigger-happy.
The gunner fired the coaxial machine gun and the bullets were traced from the last man to the front. A short while, Pepperoni's L3/33 appeared out of the grove and fired at the same targets. The firing didn't stop until they were all on the ground in one form or another.
"Cease fire!" Anchovy cried out. The machine gun shut off, and one figure rose up. Before anyone can put him back down, he raised his hands. "Alright, look like we got this group."
"That's for last night!" Pepperoni screamed out in the radio as Anchovy tuned in to the St. Gloriana students, telling them of the new prisoners they have to escort back.
Tank Garages, Ōarai Carrier
Yukari glanced up, towards her cover. Everything fell silent as the sniper loomed in the field.
"I thought you said the fighting was out there!" Saori cried to Emma.
"Well, we have one or two stragglers manage to make it through," Emma plainly said, used to this scenario. She peeked around atop the concrete cover to the field. In the open field, one sniper was a hard man to find.
"I didn't see the shot," Yukari said.
"Yeah, he's out there somewhere though…" Emma said. "Hey, reach me that helmet?"
Emma gestured to Mako, who gestured if she was the subject of the request. Emma nodded and Mako stayed low as she rolled over towards the equipment pile. She swiftly reached for one and passed it to from Hana to Saori to Emma. Emma placed the helmet on the barrel end of the M1 Garand in her arms. She slowly raised the helmet sideways out the cover.
PWANG!
"Gah!" Saori cried as the girls flinched. The helmet spun in place as Emma brought it down. She inspected the new dent on the helmet. She then looked at the suspected general location from where the shot came from.
"Alright…" Emma finally said. "I need a volunteer."
"For what?" Yukari asked.
"To run to that building there," Emma pointed towards the garage housing the other school's tanks. "I need you to let Naomi know about the sniper. He is-" Emma used a knife hand towards the direction. "-over there."
"Wha-you're making her run out there?!" Saori cried out for Yukari.
"We need to keep the sniper busy as well," Emma ejected the clip in her Garand, then inserted a clip full of magenta-tipped rounds into the open bolt. "I'll try to keep his head down when you run for it, try to disorient him while you run for it."
Yukari looked at the garage over there. It didn't look too far, but now it felt like a mile away. She shaked her head, trying to look past the hyped illusion as she breathed in and out.
"Yukari, are you…?"
"I'm going, you girls stay safe!" Yukari said as she took up a crouched running position.
"You ready?" Emma said. Yukari nodded. Emma raised a number three on her finger, counting down with each of her nod. Then as the last finger came down, Emma jumped up so her torso was over the cover and fired her Garand towards the sniper.
POW POW POW!
Yukari ran as fast as she could.
KROW!
A heavy incoming shot zipped by behind her. Yukari kept running, not stopping. She remember the concept in the tank gunnery training, that a moving target was a harder target than a stationary one.
KROW!
Another one came. Yukari couldn't tell where it was aimed at, but crushed it as her concern as she made it to the garage.
THUM!
Another shot rang out, a bit different than the rest, but Yukari kept on running until she reached the garage. At the door, she elbowed it open.
The green steel door gave way as Yukari fell through. She looked up to see Kay, Alisa, and Miho looking at her.
"Yukari? What's wrong?"
"There's a sniper out there!" Yukari said with the last of her breath.
"Calm down, catch your breath," Miho said as she crouched next to Yukari. "It's safe now, we got her."
"...what?" Yukari looked up stunned.
"Yeah," Kay followed up. "Naomi's been on counter-sniper duties since this morning." Kay gestured to the second floor railings with the windows. On the other side, Naomi was in a prone position with her scoped Springfield 1903, staring out into the open. "She's got like five of them already."
"So…" Yukari got up, still breathless, "She knew all along?"
"Yeah, why?"
Emma, you cheeky little… "Heh, well then, guess I got worked up for nothing!" Yukari tried to laugh it off.
"Well, it's good that you're ready to warn everyone." Miho smiled at Yukari's gusto. Yukari was taken aback, this was the first time Miho smiled today.
"Oh, it's nothing…" Yukari said, but wondered how seriously was the sniper situation actually taken by the people who've been here this long. "So what're you doing here, Miho?"
"Oh! I was talking to Kay about some reorganization in the team structure, you know with the losses Pravda had last night, and also on her tank's modifications!"
"What modifications?" Yukari asked.
"Oohoho," Kay rubbed her hands together like a mad scientist ready to reveal her new babies. "Check these babies out!"
Her hands dabbed towards the M4A3E2 Jumbo next to them. Its front plate scarred by small-caliber rounds, but it's not the only noticeable thing on the front now.
"A 76 mm gun! So it did fit!" Yukari squeed on that note.
"Yep! All of our Shermans are now using 76 mm guns!" Kay said proudly. "Hopefully we can get a better punch, especially more than Alisa's time with her own 76 mm."
"Hey!"
"Also, we've placed .50 cal M2 machine guns on each tank as well! Look up there!" Kay pointed to the M2 Browning machine gun atop each turret on a pintle-mount.
"It's still a question on how we could easily use those though…" Miho added in. Yukari simply nodded as the machine gun was possibly one of the worst place to be for a tank crew. Where it is, the commander or its loader would have to expose themselves on the turret to use the gun, and only backwards. Unless they get out of the turret and fire from the engine deck, but that's even more exposed.
"Yeah… it may be cumbersome compared to the Panzer IV mount." Kay said.
"What about the Panzer IV?" Yukari asked.
"Oh, uh, I'm getting a machine gun on the cupola as well. One of the MG34s."
"Wow, Nishizumi-dono, you up for that?" Yukari asked.
"I'm... not really sure," Miho said with doubt. "But, It might be necessary given what we've seen from Suvorov last night."
"Well," Kay clapped. "You two girls go on with that. We need to finish the conversion with all the 76 mm guns, or I'm gonna give Alisa the only 75 mm left unconverted."
"Wait, what?!"
"Let's go!" Kay dragged a reluctant Alisa away as she protested.
"Well, uh, now what?" Yukari asked.
"Well, we still have a long day ahead of us…" Miho said. "We need to worry about the Russian prisoners, the Russians are still out there, and the team composition. It's just…" Miho sighed.
"...just?"
"I'm just worried, Yukari," Miho laid it out. "I didn't expect any of this when I came in. I thought I could actually have some fun for once, just like Sensha-dou, when we fought in the nationals against everyone else…"
"Like how it was before we learned the school was going to close down?"
"Yeah…" Miho said. "When my sister told me years ago to find my own Sensha-dou… I thought I found it here. Sensha-dou where I can fight with my friends and actually enjoy my time with these tanks. But every time, it always gets so...stressful. This isn't fun at all."
"You're right," Yukari said. "It's not as fun like this. But… that doesn't mean you're fighting alone Nishizumi-dono. You said it yourself!" Yukari tried acting pumped up. "We're doing our own sensha-dou with everyone! Everyone we know, we fought against, we worked with, they're all here to support your version of Sensha-dou! We couldn't have gotten this far without everyone, so let's keep this up and let everyone who tagged with us experience the greatest moment of our high school lives!"
Yukari could see Miho's spirit being lifted up. She chuckled lightly, and held Yukari's hands. "Thank you, Yukari."
Yukari felt something rush through her as Miho held onto her. It was interrupted by a bzzzz, the silent rumble of a phone. "One moment," Miho said as she reached for her phone, Yukari was still left light-headed.
"Hmm?" Miho said as she looked at her notification. Yukari looked as Miho seemed to analyze the content way too closely.
"What is it, Nishizumi-dono?"
Apartments, Ōarai Carrier
"Nishizumi-dono, what are we doing here?" Yukari asked as Miho and her walked up to the main road in front of the apartment housing the transfer girls. It was 9 PM with the sun dead set, yet the building was still lively in the hours before the match.
Miho did not come to partake in the activities inside however. "Katyusha messaged me this morning asking for a private meeting with me outside the apartment," Miho told Yukari. "You don't have to wait for me."
"No way, I don't want to leave you alone at night now." Yukari said with her own rehearsed excuses. "It shouldn't be too big of a deal, should it?"
"I hope not… She was a bit down earlier when we reassigned Saunders to take up the brunt of the force now."
"Can't be helped, Kay just has more tanks and crew to supplement yesterday's losses. I hope she understands." Yukari hoped. Katyusha was a tiny girl with pride, but she was mature.
The two girl waited a few more minutes at the road outside the entrance. The light bled past the glass door, illuminating the grey stone path with a gravel outline and the display flowers in a yellow hue."
"Psst!" A hush said in the darkness. Miho and Yukari looked quick for the source. "Miho-sha! Over here!"
Miho and Yukari loomed to the right of the entrance to one of the alley ways between the boundary walls of the building zones. Katyusha, looking like a lost child with her casual clothes, beckoned the two over to her.
Miho and Yukari looked at each other confusingly before they slowly approached. Katyusha disappeared back in the alley as they peered in, the Pravda girl moving deeper into the alley before stumbling out of the restricted corridor to the area past it. Miho went in first, angling her body sideways to fit through. For the first time, she thought of Katyusha's stature as a benefit than a hindrance.
Yukari followed behind and the two popped out on the other end, finding themselves in the rear lounge garden of the apartment. Katyusha could not be seen until she rustled a hedge and a citrus tree. The two followed the path to find Katyusha entering a greenhouse, its interior lathered with exotic foliage. The moon's light reflect off the glass construction cleanly, even as the entrance opened and Katyusha entered, holding the door open for Miho and Yukari as they approached.
"Katyusha, what is this about?" Miho asked.
"Not here, inside," Katyusha responded as she held the door open. Miho entered the moon-lit house. The humidity and heat was still present in the windy night. With the amount of dark spots present, Miho wondered if this was the safest place to be in this time of the night. She flinched as the two glass door insulating the entryway from the heat escaping clicked shut. "Miho-sha," Katyusha said nervously, yet with a serious tone. "I want to apologize for bringing you out this late."
"Uh, it's quite alright." Miho said, but wanted to wonder out loud on why now.
"But this is something I think only you would find urgent." Katyusha said as she passed Miho deeper into the greenhouse. "Nonna! Klara! You in here?"
Miho and Yukari flinched once more as a response came from the darkness "да." Two girls popped out, the tall Nonna and cunning Klara.
Miho's mind raced with this, "What's going on?"
Katyusha looked up to Miho. Miho looked into her eyes and found...restlessness. She was opening up, and her short height amplified on her willingness to stoop even lower than anyone's level to get this message across. "The truth…" her voice trailed off, her fingers twiddling each other. "The truth… about Kuromormine…"
That really grabbed Miho's attention. "Kuromormine? What? What do you know?!"
"The truth is, uh, we have actually have a lead in Kuromormine's...situation."
Miho lunged, restraint kicking in as she resisted the urge to shake that information out of Katyusha. Instead she slapped her hands onto her shoulders. "What lead? What are you talking about Katyusha?"
"Nonna! I got this!" Katyusha shouted. Miho looked up and saw Nonna was in a mid-sprint stance, ready to protect Katyusha. The two girls brought themselves back up and calmed down.
Katyusha continued, "It's not really me or Pravda as a whole that had it, this is new information to me too. Only one person here knows about this."
Miho, as calmly as she could, prodded, "Who?"
Katyusha bit her lip as she looked back. "Klara?"
Klara stepped forwards, her tanker boot still on as the sole clopped on the concrete path. She approached the confrontation and stood firm in attention.
"Klara?" Miho asked, pleadingly. "What's going on?"
"She told me this morning," Katyusha said. "But we didn't want to tell you because we were afraid you went through a lot today, so we wanted to tell you tonight when everyone's gone so it stays between us if you wish. Klara, if you would, tell Miho everything."
Miho looked at Klara, who looked back with regret.
"Forgive me, Nishizumi," Klara bluntly states, her eye and head lowering in a compliant states. "The other day, when I said I was not involved at all with Suvorov… was a lie."
"A lie?"
Klara looked back up for eye contact. "I know many people in Suvorov. Many are old friends from my residency in Russia years ago."
"So are you saying…" Yukari felt wrong asking such a question now. "You were spying on us for them?"
"No," Klara answered calmly to the accusation. "I had nothing to do with them now. Last night's encounter took even me by surprise. However…"
Everyone leaned in closer to get every single bit of detail now.
"It was in last night's attack when I learned what may be happening with Kuromormine."
Last night - Tank Garages, Ōarai Carrier
"Don't move!" The male voice spoke loudly in Russian.
"Ah!" Klara winced.
"Drop your weapon and hands up!" The man ordered.
Klara assessed her situation and sighed. She slowly lifted her arms apart, with the PPSh-41 in her right hand's grip.
"Drop it!"
"Okay, okay," Klara responded back in her native language as she released her grip. The heavy submachine gun clattered loudly on the ground, the rounds in the drum magazine shaked about with the impact.
The two were in a secluded part of the zone, behind the garage in an alley-like construction. Barely anyone passes through here. The man approached Klara, his boots went CLOMP CLOMP as he approached. Klara could feel him inspect her from top to bottom. She eyed back at her fallen submachine gun if she must go for it.
The man stood still on Klara's rear right. The area removed of noise except of their breaths. Her metal piece in her rear pouch suddenly felt twitchy, ready to be used.
"Klara?" The voice reached out gently, its original coarseness and urgentness gone to reveal a more negotiable one, and one that felt familiar...
Klara slowly turned, her hands still raised, to see her opponent. His uniform looked the part of a Soviet paratrooper in World War II. The brown uniform covered his body, with a green hued helmet on top. His gear lined his body on straps of a lighter tan color. Dropped on his right side was his metal PPS-43 submachine gun, hanging by a sling. In his hands, he held a pistol that was slowly lowering as Klara looked back. Their eyes met, and Klara felt a name spring up into her mind.
"Loza?" Klara said as he sprouted a small smile. Klara slowly lowered her hands as she saw him lower his own, strange pistol with dulled color.
"My gosh..., it is you Klara," Loza looked at her like he still couldn't believe who he was talking to. "I haven't seen you since middle school."
"Stuff happened," Klara mildly said, her arms full lowered.
"Heh, I suppose," Loza moved up to the wall that made up part of the garage and laid his back against it. "What a bizarre situation this has been."
"What are you doing here?" Klara asked, like a person who found their neighbor in their own home snacking in their refrigerator.
"You been keeping up to date with our tactics? You know… Suvorov's tactics?"
Klara looked at Loza, then back at the parachute tangled in the tree, then back at Loza. "So it was tonight?"
"Yep," Loza said, breaking out a gum pack. "Although, if we had known you were here, we would've given you a call. Save us a whole lot of trouble."
"You know I wouldn't answer," Klara said back, "I changed my number anyways, and I wouldn't have told you Ōarai's strength either way."
Loza plopped a gum piece into his mouth and started to chew it, like a succulent little fruit pop. "I figured, but what if he called?"
"Who?"
"You know who."
Klara shifted uncomfortably, her left arm slung across and grabbing her right arm closer. "I… uh."
Loza got up, pacing around menacingly as Klara lost herself. The boot stomped around her. "What would you do? Hmm? I know you two haven't talked in months."
"How do you know that?" Klara shot back.
"He tells me." Loza haphazardly said before pausing, taking a stance facing towards Klara. "He misses you, you know?" He pressed the question into Klara, twisting it in as Klara's uncomfort expresses itself even more.
"I… ummm," Klara tried to find a way. "I don't know what to-"
"Hold that thought." Loza said to Klara, then lunged.
His left arm hooked itself around Klara's neck, rolling her across as he came down, his right arm doing its own thing. Klara came down on a chokehold on his left arm, later a human shield as she saw Loza's right hand posed in front of her, carrying a rather stylistic pistol shape.
The pistol emitted a puff of smoke with a TSST towards its target. Klara could trace the dart's movement towards a girl downrange. Nina, with her huge ushanka hat, had a wide-eyed look towards Klara and Loza as the dart sailed straight into her forehead.
Thud. An audible hit as the dart made its mark and was doing its work. Nina staggered backwards as she tried to catch her balance. The effect of the dart's content kicked in as she became sluggy and fell down, out cold.
"Nina…" Klara eyes widened as she stared at Nina's slumped figure.
Loza sighed as he relaxed his grip. "You don't want them to have any ideas of you colluding with us." He said as Klara slumped down. "Else where else do you have to go? Home?"
Klara shot back up and turned to Loza. "Listen Loza! You know what happened! You know I won't go back! I just won't! I came here to get away from them, and I won't go back as long as they're still there!"
Klara's shout echoed harshly in their alley. Loza stayed cautious, checking for signs of suspicions. After a few seconds, petite whimpers came from Klara, as she stared with her head hung on what she said, her voice breaking with an overwhelming feeling in her that she's kept bottled.
"I can't go back..."
Trying to act comforting, he gently placed a hand on Klara's shoulder. Her response was slow, so he brought her in close, his right hand patting her head, comforting her. "Hey, it's alright. It's alright."
He could feel Klara's vitals return to normal as her body was pressed on him. He found the appropriate time to separate from her, making sure she was calmed. At the same time, the background cracked loudly. Both he and Klara flinched as they pinned the source. On the other side of the garage, the ghastly sound of bullets ripping into the wall and girls shouting occurred. Loza pulled back on his watch, "Right on time…"
"Your whole team is here, huh?"
"Yep," Loza answered without beating an eye.
"Is he…here too?"
"Nah," Loza said teasingly. Klara's look on him show she didn't really appreciate his tone. "I mean, you know him as well, don't you? More than me even. You know he doesn't do this."
"It's just been so long…" Klara muttered, clenching her arm uncomfortably.
"Hmm. Well, I might not know him as long as you have, but here's what I know. He doesn't care what your mother or father thinks about you, you know?"
Klara looked at Loza again, this time eager for him to continue on his train of thought.
"He's willing to take you back. Keep you safe. Your mom and dad don't even have to know."
"They'll find out," Klara submitted defeatingly.
"You don't know that." Loza was now leaning on the garage wall, even as bullets crack in the air. "Heh, it must be a nice thought. Having someone willing to protect you no matter what. I don't know how that feels, you know my family, but… it's something... something I can see 'The Legend' do."
"Miho Nishizumi?" Klara clarified.
"Yeah, her. Y'know, I'm sure she's out there ready to protect her older sister, and vice versa. What, with her sister's situation and all."
Klara took note of Loza's specific words. "What situation?"
"What? The situation involving…" Loza trailed off as Klara's words was analyzed. Then his face went with revelation. "Oh...so you girls don't know…"
"Know what? What's going on, Loza?"
"Kuromormine…" Loza walked around, his steps surrounding Klara. "Has been through some tough times recently."
"Like what?"
"No idea."
"Huh?" Klara canted her head.
"It's something I only heard from him." Loza was kicking the dust on the ground as he walked, sounding as carefree as possible like it wasn't his big deal. "But not its details. Only thing I know is that there was a concern with Kuromormine's presence up north."
"That doesn't mean anything," Klara rebutted.
"Why would Suvorov concern itself with Kuromormine otherwise? Why would someone like him be interested about it?"
Klara was silent.
Loza looked at his watch. "Ooh, look at the time." He unholstered his dart pistol and aimed it at Klara, who flinched at its sight.
"Wha-?"
"I mean no hard feelings Klara, but I am still on a mission." He gestured his head towards the fighting across the garage. "If you'll excuse me, I have to-"
Klara didn't hesitate as Loza explained himself. In a swift draw, Klara's arms blur as she pulled her own pistol from the rear pouch. The old flap design did not inhibit her draw as the Tokarev glinted briefly in the light. As Loza's eyes widened in surprise, Klara fired off three rounds into his chest.
The 7.62x25 mm rounds, traveled with less mass than a typical 9 mm round but in a faster speed, carried a similar energy as the bigger round as it smacked into Loza's chest. Klara could not see clearly past the bright muzzle flash, but flakes of fabric and dust blew off his chest as the rounds landed on him. The impact forced Loza to the ground, stumbling back as he barely broke his fall with his left arm.
Klara watched Loza struggle on the ground as she caught her breath, catching up on the facts. She could feel small stabbing pain on her abdomen, looking down to see a familiar dart protruding from her uniform. Klara reached down and pulled the dart out. The sharp end glistening in the air as she dropped it, the empty plastic vessel clunking on the concrete. She could feel Loza's eyes looking up on her, waiting for her to collapse.
Except she never felt any sensation, looking at Loza back in defiance as his facial expression shifted from eagerness, to confusion, to a set realization.
"You… you're…?"
Klara nodded, keeping her pistol pointed at him.
"Resistant…" Loza could only chuckle as he fell down defeated. "You're just like him…"
Klara approached the fallen Loza and grabbed him by the shirt. Pointing her pistol at him, all she got was a mocking "hands up" gesture from him. "Tell me what happened with Kuromormine."
"Oh, so now you're interested, eh?"
"It may be a concern for us later," Klara's chilled voice said as she pressed the Tokarev's barrel on Loza's chest.
"Well then, tell you what."
"What?"
"This information? I had specific instructions on it from my commander. He told me my secondary mission was to tell the Legend, see if she knows about this and gather information if you do. Well, apparently she doesn't from the looks of it. So why don't you deliver this message from my commander to her then:"
Apartments, Ōarai Carrier
"Tell me what?" Miho asked, impatient for the answer. Klara breathed in and recited his terms.
"He said… 'If you want to know more about Kuromormine…'"
Miho and Yukari gulped.
"'Win. Win in the match tomorrow, and we'll tell you all I know.'"
Silence filled the greenhouse, the humidity wafted in the air as Miho felt a trickle on her head. Sweat had been running through in her anticipation for the answer.
"That's it?"
"That's all there is…" Klara said. "All he was willing to tell me, at least."
Miho stayed silent. "Nishizumi-dono…" Yukari said, her hand on Miho's shoulder as she remained with her thoughts.
"Where is this man?"
Old Club Room, Ōarai Carrier
"Put that back down!"
"Queen takes it!"
"If you think that's a queen, take a look again!"
"...crap, it's a jack!"
"Hand it over, tovarish!"
Loza laughed as he took in the prize. All Albert could do was throw his cards on the table. "Honestly, I can't believe we're playing this over dorayaki!"
"Hey, c'mon Albert. Give it a break. Dorayaki are delicious," Loza enthusiastically opened the shrink wrap on the snack.
"Hey, uh, Sir Loza?"
"What?" Loza looked at another loser behind him, winning a bet that caused him to refer him to that title for the day.
"There's some girls outside asking for you, Sir Loza."
"Whew, I didn't know I had fans already! Right boys?!"
The room of Russian cheered. The room was big enough for 20 people to sleep in and so the captured Russians had made it as comfortable as possible for the night. They also had their way with the credit system on the convenience stores around the area, so they had stockpiled snacks, meals and drinks.
Loza got up, "I'mma go out and meet these ladies, then I'm coming back for that figurine, Minolta."
"It's for my brother!"
"Sure, sure," Loza said as he opened the door. Backed out and closed the door behind him and put on the best Japanese he knows. "Now who wants a- oh…"
In front of him was Miho, Yukari, Katyusha, Nonna, and a Klara who is facepalming in humiliation.
"Hello there… 'Legend'," the only one in the group he took note of.
"You must be Loza," Miho aptly said.
"I take it you're here for a very specific reason," Loza said.
"Loza… are you descended from a 'Dmitry Loza' by any chance?"
"Huh?" Yukari perked up on that name, in the exact same way as sighting of Erik Katukov.
"I can't confirm or deny that," Loza said. "But it's intriguing, not many make that kind of connection."
"Well, but-"
"We're getting off topic. I think I know why you're here, Miho Nishizumi."
Miho had hit the wall. She looked back at Klara, who simply nodded, then Miho looked at Loza in the eye, despite him being a near head higher than her. "What happened to Kuromormine?"
Loza sighed, "I understand this is important to you, Miho Nishizumi. But I have my orders on this subject, and the statement still stands."
"Please…" Loza broke stride as he heard Miho plead. "I need to know, Loza. I don't know if your commanders know, but I've had no contact with my sister at Kuromormine for weeks, nothing from the school was out of the ordinary in all this time. Only today did I find someone from there, and she's in a coma! So please, Loza, I need to know what happened to my sister's school."
Loza blankly looked at Miho, his pathos being tugged on. He took an even heavier sigh. "I'm sorry, Ms. Nishizumi. I really can't. Even if I wanted to, I simply don't have enough details that would be satisfactory for you. My orders from my superior was to let you know that they know something with Kurmormine, and that was it. Everything else, I have nothing."
"But why? Why won't they tell me?" Miho's hands were nearly grabbing Loza's uniform for the information. "This could be important! I need to know!"
"I'm afraid I can't answer either," Loza answered. He looked glum as he watch Miho go through phases of an emotional rollercoaster. He really couldn't tell anything to Miho if he wanted, he knew nothing further than the existence of a situation.
Miho took a deep breath as he sent back a glare to Loza.
"Very well. We'll defeat Suvorov tomorrow, you can count on it Mr. Loza."
"I sure do hope so," Loza said as he took a bite off the dorayaki. "For your sake and your sister's."
Miho nodded. "C'mon girls," She said as she departed from the old clubs area. Loza disappearing into the background.
"Nishizumi-dono…" Yukari tried to get her attention, but was cautious. She hasn't seen Miho like this in a while.
"Katyusha," Miho said, "Can you really only get four tank tomorrow?"
"Yeah… that's it. Unless some of our girls get discharged from the hospital early," Katyusha said. "We've only got enough crew for the IS-2, KV-2 and two T-34-85."
Miho shaked her head. "It's not enough… but we're going to give everything we've got tomorrow, okay?! We can't lose!"
"Right!" The girls responded instinctively.
Yukari did it with great concern. Her current state reminded her of Momo's state last year. "Not again…" Yukari sighed under her breath as she followed Miho into the night.
This was a hectic chapter… its development I mean.
Summer turned out to be very time-consuming from the story, with my attending to my family and their events. Because of that, I wasn't able to devote much time to the story writing. Another thing was that I was pretty drained from everything as well, so I suppose you can say I took a break from the story. I'm back now, so let's keep this up!
Another reason is that I got into some more writing activities. I manage to become an admin of a Facebook tank page and I'm writing posts and articles of American armor from World War I to present. It's an enlightening experience for me to study American armor development while delivering the info in a condensed, but easy to digest articles.
Still, chapter went through some turmoil in my concern of its quality, to the point of nuking half the draft during the writing process because I was dissatisfied with it. This is why it is important to have a very good beginning hook before continuing, otherwise everything else won't feel "right."
Otherwise, that's it for this chapter! Thanks for reading all this way and for your patronage! If you can't wait for Suvorov's match tomorrow, feel free to Follow and Favorite to get notification for the next chapter's release! See you next time!
Special thanks to Goodalwayswins98 for reading my draft of an important scene in this chapter and providing feedback!