Hell On Tracks
Part 64

I was already cold when the match started. There was high winds, heavy snow, and the sun was setting. All in all, it felt like the second coming of winter. While we'd had the forethought to bring a canopy tent to keep the snow off of our heads, none of us had thought to bring something that had walls to keep out the wind, meaning the only protection from the wind was the cramped interior of the M20 parked outside the tent. If this went on much longer, even that was going to be snowed in and stuck.

Arisa, Naomi, and I were all huddled up under our own blankets, with varying amounts of layers to try and fend off the cold, while Hannah was the first one to retreat into the M20 to hide from the wind. Kay, on the other hand… Kay was just crazy. She was in her usual Sensha-do gear, with nothing extra to help fend off the cold. And she had a smile on her face the whole time.

"Coffee?" Kay asked, offering me a thermos. Despite my dislike of coffee, I seriously considered the hot drink for a moment. Was this how she was staying warm?

"Eh, sure." I said with a shrug, accepting the thermos. Despite my layers and blankets, I opened the thermos and poured myself a small cup. The hot drink managed to warm my fingers through the cup, and I took a moment to just savor that feeling. I raised the cup to my lips and took a sip- oh god no! Nope! Nopenopenope! I spit out the disgusting drink and passed the thermos back to Kay before I could do something rash. "How do you drink that swill?"

"By the gallon, usually!" Kay countered cheerfully. "The taste wakes you up long enough for the caffeine to kick in."

I stared at her in shock. "And you like this stuff?"

"Grew up with it. This isn't as good as it usually is, the pot wasn't properly seasoned." Kay said with a shrug.

"Hey, things are starting up!" Arisa called, bringing Kay's and my attention back towards the big TVs that were showing the match. Ooarai was moving in against Pravda's vanguard. It was a quick firefight, with two of the Pravda's T-34/76s getting knocked out. The third fled back towards Pravda's main force.

"They're just waiting there…" I mused, pointing out a line of T-34s including the flag tank. The fleeing T-34 was leading Ooarai right to them.

"And Ooarai is following without a care in the world." Kay added. "Look in the village behind the flag tank. They're buying time and laying bait to bring Ooarai into their trap."

"Looks like a standard Katyusha tactic." Arisa added.

"Isn't it rather risky to have the flag just sitting out there? Someone like Naomi could take that out without much chance to react." I asked.

"Not necessarily. Pravda knows where all of Ooarai's tanks are, and only the Lee has any form of gun stabilization. Ooarai is never going to be able to land any hits while on the move unless they're very lucky." Naomi pointed out.

"And who wouldn't take the bait of chasing after the flag tank? Ooarai did it to me." Arisa added. "I just didn't have a convenient ambush to lead them into."

Ooarai slowed down and fired upon the line of Pravda tanks. Two of the T-34s immediately moved to protect the flag tank with their own hulls, and all of them fired a salvo at Ooarai. The two sides traded volleys until someone managed to knock out one of the T-34/85s. Pravda once again began an orderly retreat, and Ooarai chased them with wild abandon.

"Look at Miho lagging behind." Kay pointed out. "She knows something is up, but she's lost control of her team."

"She is the only one there to have actually fought Pravda." Arisa replied. "Of course she knows Katyusha is pulling something clever."

We watched in silence for a moment as Ooarai stopped in the center of the village square and opened fire on the frantically dodging Pravda flag tank. They were perfectly stopped in the middle of Pravda's trap.

This was probably going to be a very short match.

The trap closed with brutal efficiency. T-34s on the rear and flank, the IS-2 on the other flank, and the KV-2 coming out near where the flag tank was hiding. Ooarai was surrounded. The first casualty of the bombardment was not a tank, per se, but the 75mm gun on the M3. One of the screens showed it on instant replay, where a shot from one of the 85s nailed the gun barrel right at the mantlet, blowing it away.

"Oh, that's gotta hurt." Kay commented, wincing slightly.

While Ooarai was returning fire, it wasn't effective, with most of their shots either missing, or failing to knock out the well armored T-34s. A moment of what I could only describe as indecision nearly cost Ooarai the game as a round impacted the ground right between the tracks of the Type-89 flag tank.

It seemed that was enough to spit Ooarai into action, and they ran for a large concrete church. They nearly all made it before a lucky shot tracked the StuG, trapping it and the Panzer IV outside the church.

More fire came in from Pravda's forces, hammering the Panzer IV, though failing to knock it out. The turret jammed as it was tracking over towards a target, and I winced. Both tanks were trapped outside, and neither could effectively engage Pravda anymore. If Ooarai lost all of their big guns right here…

The Panzer IV reversed, ramming into the stuck StuG. The StuG's driver must have put it in neutral, because after a moment of no movement, the Panzer pushed the StuG into the relative safety of the church. Pravda instead targeted the church, and opened fire for all they were worth. A round that had to be from the KV-2 managed to blast a hole in the concrete wall before they all ceased fire.

"Well, that was exciting!" Kay cheered.

"Why'd they cease fire?" I asked. "This is the exact same thing they did against Viking Fisheries, and we did against Maginot."

"Look down there." Naomi said, gesturing towards one of the screens where a Pravda crew was extricating themselves from their tank and… was that a white flag of truce?

"What the heck?" I had no idea what was going on anymore. We all watched in stunned silence as two Pravda girls approached the hunkered down Ooarai team, had a short discussion, then returned to their tank.

"Maybe the officials will make an announcement soon enough?" Naomi guessed.

"I hope so. It looks like Pravda is setting up a bit of camp and completing their encirclement." Arisa said.

With nothing going on, the four of us descended into just chatting about stuff. Arisa tried to pry into Kay's and my relationship, but we both rebuffed her. Naomi just grinned at us.

"Attention please!" A radio announcer called. "Pravda Girls High School and Ooarai Girls Academy have agreed to a three hour ceasefire. We will make another announcement five minutes before the ceasefire ends."

"Three hours? The sun's already gone down!" I exclaimed. "Do they want us to freeze?"

"No, but I'll bet Pravda is prepared to endure the cold while Ooarai has to suffer through it." Arisa said. "If Katyusha can wear them down into surrender without doing a thing, that is a massive ego boost for her."

"Even if they don't surrender, they still have Ooarai surrounded. There's an opening in her line, but that's almost certainly another trap." Naomi said.

"Well, I wouldn't say Ooarai is completely surrounded. Pravda only has a half-encirclement around the one exit." I commented. I had no idea if this idea would actually work, but if it could…

"What do you mean?" Kay asked. "Pravda controls Ooarai's only way out."

"The only exit." I corrected.

"That's what I said."

"Who's to say that Ooarai can't make their own door?" I asked.

"They don't have the firepower. The T-34s barely left a dent in the walls with their 76s and 85s. Ooarai has two actual 75s, and the B1's hull howitzer." Naomi said. "Heck, we'd probably need Firefly's 17-pdr to even put a scratch in that concrete."

"The dome at the far end of the cathedral is a weak spot. If you used some of the Lee's 75mm ammo as a bit more high explosive, they could probably blow a hole out that way." Arisa mused. "Do you think it's possible to jury rig spare 75mm ammo as mines?"

"Arisa, no." Kay said firmly. "No mines."

"Yes ma'am!"

"That sort of blast also has a pretty high risk of hurting someone or bringing down the whole building. I don't think anyone wants a full team repeat of what happened to you during the Yogurt match, Tally." Naomi said.

"So you'd rather run face first into the pre-aimed guns of Pravda instead of trying to find another way out?" I retorted.

"Maybe, maybe not." Naomi waved her hand in a so-so sort of gesture. "Look, Ooarai is already sending out scouts. They might be able to find something we're missing."

"They're pulling in the StuG's tracks, too." Kay added. "It's good to know they aren't giving up. I'd have to give Nishizumi-san a stern talking to if they were."

"A tank wouldn't give up just because of a little snow and a poor position. They're a stubborn bunch, just like the girls who crew them." I said with a shrug.

"That we are. Isn't that right, Arisa?" Kay agreed, calling over to the shivering intel officer.

"I dunno, I could go for a little less snow and a little more watching the match from our heated hotel rooms." Arisa replied.

"You were saying about stubbornness?" Naomi joked. I shot her a friendly glare.

"She's just gonna be stubborn about us leaving, now." I countered.

"Correct!" Arisa exclaimed. "We don't all have our own personal heater like you do, Tally!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Don't think we haven't noticed you snuggling up with Kay like that! You've been spending more and more time together recently!"

I facepalmed. "Arisa, need I remind you that you stole Hannah away, and Naomi ran off to spend time with her girlfriend at Ooarai, and we got shoved into a room of our own without any input from us?"

"Actually…" Kay interjected. "I did sort of mention it to Naomi when we were arranging who would have which room."

"You… but… we…" I stammered, embarrassment welling up in my chest. Without a proper counter, I hid my face in my hands, trying to suppress the rapidly spreading blush.

Kay and Naomi broke out laughing.

"So, Arisa, how do you think Ooarai will break out of Pravda's encirclement?" Kay asked, thankfully changing the subject of conversation. "And no stealing Tally's guess of blowing a hole in the wall."

"Nishizumi is going to know that the weakness in Katyusha's line is a trap. There's no way she wouldn't after already falling into one. I think she'll rush through the middle of Pravda's line, circle around, blow past the KV-2, and try to isolate the flag tank." Arisa answered.

"No way Katyusha expects something so suicidal." I agreed. "What was it you said about my plan against Maginot, Naomi?"

"Crazy enough to be at Jatkosota and Ooarai. Which means it's crazy enough to work." Naomi answered. "I don't think they'll do that, though."

"Oh?" Kay asked.

"It's too suicidal, too risky. Assuming they get the StuG and Panzer IV fixed up, they're only down the ruined gun on the Lee. The cathedral has already been shown to be resistant to anything smaller than the KV-2, so they could continue to use it as cover while engaging Pravda at the choke point of the entrance. Put the StuG and the Panzer in the entrance, and even if the StuG gets knocked out, the Panzer is basically safe and hull down behind it." Naomi explained.

"Wouldn't work." I countered, shaking my head. "That's a suicide mission for the StuG, and a potentially worthless sacrifice that traps them inside the cathedral. They'd be giving up all tactical or strategic mobility, and throwing away one of their best guns."

"They can use the 38(t) and B1 as a distraction to get the Type 89 out of danger, while sending the Panzer IV and StuG out to hunt down the flag tank. There's no way those scouts aren't finding out where everything is with three hours to explore. The Lee will probably be with the bait group, since it's more useful as a blocking force with the 75mm blown off." Kay guessed.

"The Type 89 won't be able to get away. Even with Sensha-do modifications, it's too slow." Naomi said, shaking her head.

"Ooarai couldn't outrun us, and the T-34 is a bit faster than a Sherman." I agreed. "It would have to be a heck of a bait and delaying action if they want the Type 89 to get away unnoticed while also splitting off their big guns to hunt the flag tank."

Naomi considered my point for a moment before her eyes widened. "Momo could do it."

"Huh?" Arisa asked.

"Momo's gotten a lot better, and while she's still not great at range, I've seen Koyama in action in the 38 (t). She can make that little Czech tank dance and get Momo into close range. Tracks, turret rings, whatever it takes to slow or halt Pravda's pursuit. And with the threat of Ooarai being shut down if they lose here, she'll be desperate enough to agree to it." Naomi explained.

Oh. Oh.

"How does Katyusha not see this?" I asked. "She's cornered Ooarai, and now they've got everything left to lose."

"Katya doesn't see it because we didn't know about the deal to save the school by winning the tournament until we talked to Ooarai. All she'll have done is taunt them." Kay answered.

"However Ooarai gets there, I believe they can win." I stated. "They've got a reason to fight."


It was a long three hour ceasefire. The storm was getting worse by the minute, Arisa had decided to join Hannah in the protection of the M20, and even Kay was starting to feel the chill a little bit. Arisa had at least been kind enough to donate her blankets to the cause before she hunkered down.

There had been some commotion inside the cathedral as Ooarai reorganized their lines for the run out, but Pravda kept their lines as they were. They had to have known that Ooarai did recon during the break, so I would have at least repositioned the flag tank and its KV-2 escort.

"And here... we... go!" Naomi said, waving her arms dramatically. Kay laughed at her antics, but Naomi's timing was spot on. Immediately after Naomi said "go," the Panzer 38(t) led Ooarai's forces out of the cathedral in a mad dash for safety.

For a moment, it looked like Ooarai was running for the blatant weak spot in Pravda's line, before they veered off to blow past Katyusha's first line of defense.

"Looks like Arisa had the right idea…" I murmured.

"Not quite. Look at the 38(t)." Kay pointed out. I looked closer at the light tank, and yeah, it was splitting off. A single Panzer 38(t) versus two T-34/76s, one T-34/85, and an IS-2.

"How many do you think she'll get, Naomi?" I asked.

Naomi considered it for a moment. "She'll knock out two of the T-34s, and immobilize at least one of the other tanks. And not a one of them will be anywhere near knocking her out."

"You're confident in her capabilities." I observed.

"If you can get Momo that good, do you think Tally has a chance under your tutelage?" Kay asked.

Naomi laughed. "Oh please. Even I couldn't help Tally get on target with a 37, let alone anything with actual power."

"Hey!" I protested weakly. "Gimme an AT rifle and I'll give you a knocked out light tank. Or give me a Matilda and the shoulder-fired 2-pdr."

"For some reason, I doubt that. The Matilda part, not the AT rifle part." Naomi snarked.

"Maybe we can have a meet up with St Gloriana's and put it to the test! I'm sure Arizona would love to show off her tank!" Kay suggested.

"Focus on the match!" Arisa shouted from the M20. Naomi sent a rude gesture her way, but our conversation did die down as the 38(t) ripped through the Pravda tanks. One of the T-34/76s was already down, and the tracks had been blown off another one.

We watched with rapt attention as the 38(t) bounced a shot off the back of the IS-2. Naomi had been right; they were absolutely dancing around the Pravda tanks. The other T-34/76 went down to a turret ring shot, and the T-34/85 got itself tracked as well, leaving the slow IS-2 as the only mobile tank besides the nimble 38(t).

With everything either delayed or stuck, the 38(t)'s crew must have decided that flight was a better idea. Sensible, but ultimately in vain, as it just gave one of the T-34/85s a clear shot as they pulled away from the stuck and disabled tanks. One shot was all they needed to send the cute little panzer flying, and ultimately landing on its turret.

I winced. "There's no just walking that one off."

"She did her job and did her job well. That's a significant portion of Pravda delayed." Naomi said.

"But not all of them. Ooarai is still outnumbered by their pursuers." Kay observed.

She was right, of course. The 85 that had stopped to eliminate the 38(t) and the IS-2 were both rejoining the chase, making it five being pursued by seven. Pravda's flag tank and KV-2 were the only tanks not caught up in chasing Ooarai. A wave of tracers flew through the air as Pravda tried to illuminate their targets, but it was too dark to see most of the tanks.

Ooarai set a course for a ridge which they could cross and use to break line of sight. It would be useful for disengaging and doubling back like Arisa had predicted. As they crested the ridge, the Panzer IV and StuG split off to either side, while the other three tanks kept running.

"Splitting up is probably the right call. Pravda would be suspicious if Ooarai just all disappeared instead of only two tanks." Kay commented.

"Not hiding the flag tank, though?" I asked.

"By holding out baits, he keeps them on the march. Then, with a body of picked men, he lies in wait for them." Naomi quoted. "It's a race now. Ooarai needs to circle back to the village before Pravda can snipe out their flag tank. Nonna's good enough that she'll make it hard for them."

"Is she as good as you?" I asked, glancing over at her while Pravda climbed up the ridge after Ooarai.

"Nah." Naomi shook her head. "She's good, but I'm one of the best gunners in the league for a reason."

"Fair enough." I nodded. I turned back to the video screens right as the two who stayed behind came out of their cover and began their dash back to the village. It was going to be close. Pravda was closing in on the slow Type 89 and its escorts, but the Panzer IV and StuG were closing on the village faster.

The two Ooarai tanks pulled to a stop in the village, pausing just long enough for someone to dismount from the Panzer IV before they began searching for the hidden T-34. Meanwhile, the IS-2's massive 122mm cannon nailed the M3 on rearguard duty, sending the medium tank tumbling onto its side.

"Ooarai's behind on the chase now." I commented, as Ooarai's big guns managed to flush Pravda's flag tank from its hiding place.

"The match isn't decided until the final shot." Naomi replied.

"Did I say they had lost? Behind does not mean lost." I retorted grumpily. A gust of wind blew past me, and chilled me despite the layers of blankets. I was really starting to hate this June blizzard.

"Stop bickering and enjoy the match!" Kay said encouragingly. "This is exciting!"

"That's one way to put it." Naomi said simply. I shook my head and refocused on the match. The B1 had moved to be the Type 89's rearguard, while the flag T-34 had led the Panzer IV and StuG right into the waiting maw of the KV-2.

And yet, even from a well-prepared position, pre-aimed at where the German tanks were coming from, the KV-2 missed wildly. Ooarai came to a halt, and took a moment to actually aim their shots. Two shots later, the KV was eliminated. At almost the exact same time, the B1 was eliminated. Both flag tanks were now on their own.

Going by sheer distance traveled around the playing field, this match had nothing on the matches we'd played against Ooarai or Maginot. But the final moments? The only thing that had been closer was the Maginot match. This was going to come down to the final few shots.

And inaccuracy was the name of the game for those shots. Pravda's flag was constantly moving, keeping its pursuers mobile and unable to aim properly as it danced around the village. But it was only running from two tanks who were deliberately being careful with their shots. Ooarai's flag had a half-dozen tanks constantly firing on the move, and they were being thrown around by every other round being a near miss. It was only a matter of time until someone got lucky.

Or someone got smart.

"What is the StuG doing?" Naomi asked.

I checked the screens, where the StuG had broken off its pursuit, and was instead burying itself in the snow. "This is just a guess, but what I wanted you to do during the Maginot match. If the T-34 goes to them, it won't see them until too late, and no need to worry about firing on the move."

"Clever!" Kay cheered. "Come on Ooarai!"

It only took a matter of moments. The Panzer IV baited the T-34 to turn in towards the buried StuG with a burst of machine gun fire. The IS-2 fired, and a burst of dark smoke rose up around the Type 89. The StuG fired, and Pravda's flag stopped in its tracks.

The white flag appeared above the T-34 as the clearly crippled Type 89 rolled out of the smoke. It continued maybe 20 feet before the flag appeared over its turret as well.

"Ooarai Girls Academy wins!" The announcer called.

"Go Ooarai!" Kay cheered, as Naomi let out an enthusiastic whoop. I was on my feet as well, cheering with everyone else.