Hello! As promised, here's the 3rd chapter, released with the 2nd one. This one's much longer and a bit more exciting than a boring military board meeting!

Chapter Three

Ooarai Girls school ship - 0700

Miho stretched, silencing the incessant beeping of her alarm clock, she got up. Brushing her teeth and changing into her school uniform. Finally, with her school belongings in tow, she left her small apartment, locking the door behind her. Getting out onto the street, something was immediately apparent…

…It was awfully quiet. Yes, the streets on the school ship were unusually quiet this time of morning, seeing as morning traffic would be bustling, it wasn't completely dead per say, but there definitely weren't many people out today. She shrugged, I mean, it was Monday after all. Moving on, she approached the school gates, trying to fight back laughter seeing Mako fall on Sodoko, who of course, protested vehemently. Both paused momentarily as Miho walked up, with her ever-present smile and a friendly greeting. The expression playing out on Sodoko's face practically screamed, 'Help!'

Chuckling, Miho began to lead the drowsy panzer driver away from the leader of the Public Morals Committee.

"Good morning, Rezei. How are you today?", Miho asked.

"Wouldn't say any mornings are good…", Mako replied. Miho was about to speak once more before the ding of the intercom sounded.

**Nishizumi Miho, please report to the Student council office, repeat Nishizumi Miho, please report to the Student council office. **

"Huh? I wonder what that's about…?", Miho thought aloud, saying goodbye to Mako, she quickly made her way up to the office of the Student council president, Anzu Kadotani.

"Ah, Nishizumi. Please, come in.", Anzu greeted.

"Uh, good morning!", Miho replied back. She noticed that only Yuzu Koyama was present out of the three members of the council. Momo Kawashima was nowhere to be seen, strange.

"Lovely weather today, isn't it?", the president started, collapsing into her chair, before continuing, "Quite nice for a Monday morning.", she finished.

Miho could tell she was apprehensive, Anzu had done this before, deciding to cut to the chase, Miho piped up, "Uhm…It sure is, but I don't think you called me here to discuss the weather."

The president smiled, "Very perceptive, Nishizumi. Yes, I didn't call you here just for that, please, sit."

Miho obliged, sitting in one of the chairs in front of the desk, as soon as she was situated, the president began speaking once more.

"I actually have troubling news. I received word from the higher ups in the Sensha-do Federation. Apparently, the world tournament is being put off…"

"Wha-What?", Miho was shocked, "Why? Did something happen?"

Anzu glanced at her desk, searching for the answer.

"Well, it was ordered by the JGSDF. They, nor the Federation, divulged many details. Something obviously has them spooked…", Anzu said.

Miho thought aloud, "…Maybe it has something to do with that nationwide catastrophe in the United States..."

Anzu shrugged, gnawing on her favorite dried sweet potatoes.

"In any case,", Anzu started with a mouthful, swallowing before continuing, "We'll still practice as normal. They may reverse the decision, I don't know. Just thought I'd inform you first."

Miho nodded with a smile, "Got it."

"Well then, Nishizumi. Is there anything you need?", Anzu asked.

"Nope.", Miho replied. Anzu nodded, telling her she was free to go back to class, bidding her farewell. Miho smiled before turning to head out of the office. Yuzu looked up from her work, towards the president.

"I wonder where Momo-chan is. It really isn't like her to not show up for school.", Yuzu pondered.

Anzu simply nodded, "Yes, that is strange. Maybe we'll give her a call later, check up on her."

Yuzu smiled, and nodded, before turning back to the paperwork in front of her. The day dragged on as usual, however unusually, many were absent. Not to say half the school body wasn't present, but a good chunk was missing, much to the frustration of the Public Morals Committee. It was now lunch time, Miho would be linking up with her friends, not finding them in the cafeteria, she instead opted to head for the tank sheds to enjoy her lunch. Once there, she found Mako, as usual, asleep in the tank. Laughing, she hauled herself onto the Panzer IV Ausf H, the sound of feet on metal stirred Mako.

"Oh. Sorry, Rezei. Didn't mean to wake you!", Miho apologized.

Mako shrugged it off, "Don't worry about it…"

Not two minutes passed before there was movement inside the tank sheds once more, the smiling faces of Yukari and Saori greeted Miho and the more than half asleep Mako.

"Hiiii~", Saori greeted, noticing Mako about to doze off once more, "Rezei! Don't tell me you've been skipping classes, sleeping in the tank again!", she shouted angrily. Mako simply blew her off, shrugging. Saori sighed, before climbing up onto the tank, followed by Yukari.

"Good morning, Nishizumi-dono!", Yukari beamed. Miho smiled, appreciating the pleasant greeting. "Morning, Yukari-san. Morning, Saori-san.", she said back, pausing before speaking again, this time with a tone of slight confusion, "Uhm…Have you guys seen Hana-san? I haven't seen her all day.", Miho asked, a little worried.

"No, she wasn't in my class.", Saori stated. "Now that ya mention it, that's a little strange."

"I think there may be something going around…", Yukari started. "I've noticed we're missing a good bit of students today."

"Ah, I see…Well, we should go visit Hana after school today!", Miho suggested. The group agreed. They all began to eat their lunches, chatting amongst each other idly, until Miho decided to bring up the troubling revelation Anzu had told her hours before.

"Oh! I almost forgot, I've got bad news…", Miho started. Her friends all made eye contact with her, even Mako.

"It appears by order of the Sensha-do Federation and the JGSDF, the world tournament is being postponed...", she finished. Her friends' expressions ranged from surprise and confusion.

"That is pretty weird…", Saori added. Yukari nodded in agreement. Mako shrugged in response.

The lunch period ended, and with the next classes starting up, the group parted, and went off to their usual classes. The remainder of the day came and went, and soon Sensha-do practice was starting.

Ooarai tank sheds - 1600

Assembling at the sheds, it was immediately apparent that a majority of the team was present, although some teams were down a member. Leopon team was one of the last to arrive. Something was off, usually, the automotive club would've gleefully sprung right to getting the tanks that had suffered damage repaired, True, half of the team's tanks were repaired, but it appears that halfway through the repairs on Turtle team's Hetzer 38(t), progress was stopped, hell the engine compartment on the tank was still open. Miho's face immediately turned to that of worry when she noticed the state of Leopon team, most of which were still coated in motor oil and grease from the tanks, as they had been working on them just then. Nakajima, Leopon team's commander, looked fine, although concerned for her friends, as did Tsuchiya, Leopon team's driver. However, Hoshino and Suzuki looked ragged, Hoshino was being supported by Nakajima.

"Commander Nishizumi, we can't make practice today, I'm sorry but halfway through the repairs, Hoshino and Suzuki were just feeling awful.", Nakajima stated, a pang of worry in her tone.

"Oh! I see, please, get them home safely to rest immediately!", Miho replied, clearly worried about the wellbeing of her team. It was then that Suzuki who'd managed to support herself and remain standing, collapsed and began to gag, vomiting uncontrollably.

"Christ!", Tsuchiya bent down after her friend had finished throwing up, and pulled her to her feet. "Let's get you two home!", Nakajima stated. The group waved goodbye to Commander Nishizumi, and turned to head for the school gates.

Miho looked after them for a while, until they were barely visible, before turning to the group, and speaking up.

"Uhm, alright! Listen up. I'd like each of you to please look at your tanks, and inspect the damage. See what you can fix yourselves, we begin in ten minutes, thank you!", Miho ordered. Leopon team had shown them the basics, but she feared the more extensive damage like the transmission on her Panzer IV, which none of them had the experience to fix, would need to wait. With that, all teams began to examine their tanks. Out of the functioning ones, and ones that could be repaired, the teams now consisted of Turtle team, Hippo team, Mallard team, and Rabbit team. Meanwhile Duck team, Anteater team, and Anglerfish team were rendered inoperable. Due to the absence of Leopon team's crew, it was now also deemed inoperable. With that, practice continued with the remaining teams, although done caution as though the tanks were operable, they were still somewhat damaged. Hippo team's breech was damaged, as was the 75mm on the M3 Lee. With Miho on the sidelines, monitoring the battle, while offering advice. It was certainly strange for her, being so used to being out there in the fray.

Before they knew it, practice was over, somewhat cut short by the lack of the full team, but over regardless.

"Good work, everyone!", the group sounded off, only partially complete with more than a few missing. The teams then dispersed, headed off into the setting sun towards their homes, all except for Anglerfish team, who were planning on headed off to check on their missing gunner.

Well, there's three down! I've already begun work on four, stay turned for that. See ya.