Finals Match:
Kuromorimine Girls Academy vs. Ooarai/JayPac High School
Fields of Kuromorimine
"Panzer Vor!" The round was underway, the sound of 15 tanks rumbling into battle filled the air. "All tanks turn and follow Ankou! Scout actual, move into the woods and see if you can spot Kuromorimine forces."
"Roger that. See you guys!" Jay said. The group watched the Hellcat turn around into the woods and disappear into the forest. The rest of the force began moving into the city. Jay kept his hatch closed to avoid getting hit by the low-hanging branches, until they came to a semi-secluded area.
"Alright, shut it down here." Jay ordered. The engine cut off and jay the ambient noise of the forest behind him consumed the air. He got his binoculars and looked through them, only to find more forest. The boys all opened their hatches to get some fresh air.
"Jay, how long do we have to wait here?" Caleb asked, poking out the bow gunner's hatch.
"Not too long hopefully." Jay replied, but in his head, he knew they might be here for a while.
Anglerfish position
Miho was leading the tanks through the forest to the town of Kuromorimine, knowing that they wouldn't be able to maneuver well in urban areas. She looked behind to see the T29 starting to slow down. And heard the engine start to struggle.
"2-3, your engine isn't sounding too well, what's the problem?" She asked. Over the radio she could hear the crew panicking a little.
"Nothing to worry about. The transmission's just giving us a little trouble." D-ray replied. That's when the tank just flat out stopped moving. "Shit! The drive train just gave out!" She heard the driver exclaim.
"2-3, did you blow out your transmission again?" Pascal asked.
"Yeah, but we can fix it! You guys keep going." D-ray insisted. "We promise, we'll make it back to you guys."
"Let's keep moving." Miho said. "Good luck with the repairs 2-3."
"Roger, we'll begin right away. 2-3, out." The convoy of tanks continued to move. It wasn't long before they had the city in their sight. And that meant plenty of cover.
Shield 3 position
D-ray sat on the commander's cupola, watching as the convoy disappeared behind the wall of dust that they kicked up. He switched off the radio and climbed back inside.
"So, what's the damage?" He asked.
"Well, the drive train has split, in other words, we're immobilized." Scott, the driver, said. "We're out the fight."
"The hell we are!" Jordan, the gunner said. "I say we let 'em come and try to take us. Give 'em a good Georgia ass whoopin'!" he exclaimed. "As long as we can fire, we can fight!"
"Even so, we only have a limited amount of ammo" and even then, we may not be able to fight them all off." Brian, one of the loaders stated.
"Not to mention these rounds are heavy as all hell, and we would have to bring up the shells from the lower rack." Joshua, the other loader, stated. D-ray knew this was true, since the 105mm shell would be a pain to carry to the top racks.
"Jay wouldn't want us to flee. Let see if we can actually repair this." D-ray said. "Scott?"
"Way ahead of you." Scott got the toolbox and hopped out the tank. He crawled under the tank and began to fix what he could. D-ray was looking out the commander's cupola, watching the tree line carefully.
Jay's position…
Jay kept a close watch on the advancing forces, from a distance of course. He had circled around far enough to where his tank was behind the Kuromorimine team. He was driving through a field when he saw the burning Porche Tiger. Oh no… He saw the tread marks from the heavies, but also saw tire marks.
"Courtney, we're gonna deviate a little. Follow those tire marks." Jay ordered. He felt the hellcat turn and follow the tire marks. He grabbed the radio.
"Ankou, this is 1-1, over." He waited for a response. "Ankou, this is 1-1, its Jay, please respond."
"This is Ankou, what's the situation?" Saori's voice crackled through the radio.
"We're going after Leopon team. Their tank is destroyed, but they've been taken away." Jay reported. "Kuro's forces are nearing the city, 1-1 out!" Jay said.
"Jay no! You ca-!" Jay cut the radio off, he knew he was going to a serious beating for this, but he didn't care. He opened the commanders hatch and racked the .50 cal.
"Caleb, load High explosive and get on the gun. Fire when I tell you." Jay said.
"Roger that!" He heard the breech block open and close, as well as Caleb shifting into the gunners seat. They followed a road, where the wheel marks disappeared. The Hellcat easily traveling at a good 40mph at this point. Jay got ready to fire, feeling that they were.
They crested a hill and saw the truck. It was stopping.
"Keep driving! Don't stop until I say so!" Jay shouted. He saw the soldiers start to move away from the girls and faintly saw the flap of another truck open. "FIRE!" The tank rocked when the gun fired, but the shell hit its target, blowing up the truck seconds after the MG in the back opened fire. The distance was closing fast, and its only then that Jay ordered the stop. "GET SOME!" He opened fire on the soldiers, cutting all of them down. "FIRE WHEN READY!" He shouted. Caleb serviced the other truck with another High Explosive round. He stopped firing after he realized he was shooting randomly now. He calmed down and hopped out the tank and ran towards the girls. He just stood there looking at the three bodies on the ground.
"Help!" Jay snapped his head towards the voice. He saw that one of the girls, Suzuki, he believed was waving him over kneeling over an injured Hoshino.
Shield 3's position…
We are so screwed… D-ray thought as the sound of boots clunking on the tank grew louder and louder. Scott was outside, but he wasn't fixing the transmission anymore. He had a bullet hole through this head. The commanders hatch opened, and Erika was looking in.
"Hello boys…" She said, with a devious smile on her face.
"Ey! What the fuck do you want you little Bi-..." The shot echoed in the tank as Jordan fell silent.
"Oh god…"
"Listen, we don't have to do this the hard way. I just want to use your tank to intercept your radio communications." She said. "So, turn on your radio and tell them you're on your way." D-ray reluctantly turned the radio on. He knew he couldn't do anything because the moment he tries something, they'll shoot the tank.
City of Kuromorimine...
The tanks were parked outside of a warehouse, awaiting the arrival of the two missing tanks.
"Bloody hell Jay…this is reckless even for you…" Pascal muttered to himself.
"Co…in..2-3…" The radio crackled. "Ankou, 2-1, come in..." Pascal picked up the radio.
"Go ahead 2-3." Pascal replied.
"We've repaired the transmission, and we're on our way. We haven't been captured and should be there in 20 minutes. 2-3 out." The way that he said it was a bit like he was forced too. Pascal thought about it for a minute but was interrupted by the familiar sound of the M18's tracks growing louder and louder. The Hellcat skidded to a stop in front of the warehouse, riddled with bullet marks. Jay was on the .50 cal, ready to open fire on any Kuromorimine member. As soon as the tank stopped rocking, the hatches all opened, and Jay hopped down to help Hoshino out of the tank.
"Somebody get a first aid kit! She's been shot!" Jay shouted, carrying her into the warehouse. Leon rushed in behind Jay as he set her down on a crate.
"Hoshino! I'm here..." He said, gabbing her hand.
"Luckily, the bullet went straight through. I gave her some morphine a just before we left." Jay said. "Now come on, we've gotta go."
Shield 3 Position
The remaining crew of the T29 just sat in silence as they were being towed by a couple of Panther's. The rotting body of Jordan was dumped out of the tanks bottom hatch. He was lucky, at least he didn't have to worry anymore.
"Jordan…and Scott…they're…"
"Don't say it. We know…" They just sat in silence as they were pulled. Joshua was in the driver's seat with his foot on the gas, as to help the tanks pulling them.
"You know, I didn't think that we would end up like this, captured and used against our friends like this." D-ray said. "You'd think we go out a little bigger than this." He said.
"Yeah…I wish we could…" Brian said, his voice a bit shaky. He looked at his brother, remembering the joy they had shown their parents when they allowed them to do sensha-do.
"Hey Bri, remember when Mom allowed us to do this?" Joshua asked.
"You read my mind, but yeah I do. Her last wish was to make something of ourselves." Brian replied. It was the first time since they were put in the same tank that he called him his nickname. "Joshua…if we don't make it through this, there's something I have to tell you." Joshua turned towards his brother and looked up at him. "I uh…I was the one that broke the TV. I just used your anger as a lie to do protect me." His brother was silent, most likely internally raging. He just gave a long deep sigh and continued to keep his foot on the gas.
D-ray just sat in silence, waiting for this nightmare to end. He reminisced about joining the team and being assigned to the T29. He recalled training under Commander Graham, operating the radio and even learning how to fly. That's when it hit him. They can't track our communications. And Saunders has some real airpower…yes…this could work… He felt the paper in his pocket. Jay told him that he should use this in an emergency.
"Boys, I'm gonna do something risky and it might kill us." He said. "But it should be enough to get us out of this situation." Brian and Joshua looked at him with confusion. He climbed down into the Radio operator/assistant driver seat and pulled out a piece of paper with a few numbers on it.
"The hell are those numbers?" Joshua asked.
"I'm gonna phone a friend." D-ray replied. Then he felt the tank jolt to a stop. We're at the edge of the city…
Warehouse
Leon was kneeling next to Hoshino, pistol in hand, ready to fend off anyone who even dared to separate them. By now the tanks had left and some crew had found some weapons to fight off the panzers on foot.
"Leon, please go…fight on." She said, wincing when she tried to turn her body towards him.
"For the last time Hoshino, I'm not going anywhere. We're both gonna make it through this." Leon replied. "I love you too much to say 'Oh, ok' and then just leave."
"Leon…"
"I mean that. You must keep fighting too. Keep living for your friends." He began to tear up a little. "Please don't make me leave…" He cried a little, and what caused him to calm down was Hoshino's hand placed on his cheek. She was tearing up a little, but smiling. It was about time to change her bandage, and he knew it was going to be painful.
"Hoshino, I'll be right back." He said.
"Where?"
"It's about time we changed your bandages." He said. She nodded and watch as he disappeared behind some ammunition boxes. He came back out with a roll of bandages and some athletic tape. He kneeled down beside her and lifted her shirt to reveal a bandage wrapped around her lower stomach. He took out his swiss army knife, and carefully cut the bandage, unwrapping it and putting the new bandage on her, as well as giving her some new morphine.
"Thanks. Leon, we need to get moving." She said, more serious. Leon nodded and picked her up, bridal style, and carried her out of the warehouse. She was a little heavy, but he could manage it.
Shield 3's Position
D-ray scanned the skies through the cupola windows, hoping to see the weather improve, but it was still cloudy. When called in the strike package, they told him that they were well on their way. But he did say that they will keep an eye on their tank as a reference point.
"Well boss, we do have a shell in the breech." Joshua said. "We could at least knock out one tank before we get off'd." He said.
"I'm well aware of that, and we can." He got onto the gunner's seat and raised the gun so that it was pointing at the panther's rear plate. "You loaded AP, right?"
"Yes, sir." He poised his hand on the trigger, ready to pull it once the timing is right. Through the sight, he saw the clouds starting to part and sunlight was coming through the clouds. He could hear the faint roar of planes growing louder and louder.
"Here they come boys! Hold on tight!" Outside he could hear the panicked voices of the commanders as they scrambled to their tanks. He heard the tank hatch open and a hand with two fragmentation grenades popped in and out. The grenades hit the floor and instinctively, Brian picked them up and got one outside, and covered the other one.
"BRIAN NO!" Joshua shouted, but it was too late, the grenade went off, and with a slight jolt, Brian stopped moving and stared smoking a little.
"Brian? Brian answer me…ANSWER ME GOD DAMNIT!" He said, shaking the body. He started crying
"He's gone. Round Away!" He pulled the trigger just as the first bombs made impact, causing the panther in front to blow its turret off." He opened the hatch and looked at the forces scrambling towards the city. He laughed as they were running, seeing some of the units get bombed out. He left the cupola open and heard a very sickening thud against the tank. He went popped back out the cupola and saw a horrific sight, a 1000lbs. bomb had stuck itself between the turret and the engine deck. He got back inside the turret.
"Joshua I'm so—" The bomb went off, detonating the T29. The tank's ammo cooked off, finishing off the tank, separating the turret from the chassis, at least what remained of it. The remains of the tank sat on that hill, along with the other destroyed tanks.
Jay's Position
"We've lost all contact of Shield 3!" Jay winced when he heard that. He knew that he had just lost a good friend. He wanted to cry, but he couldn't. There's no mercy in war, people live, and people die, that's all there is too it. At least that's what he thought. He saw the P-47's diving and strafing the area where Kuro's tanks were, and soon they were gone. That's when he heard them. The sound that terrified German soldiers on the Eastern front. The Sound of Stalin's Organ.
"Jay! Get away from the windows!" Pascal shouted at him. He backed away just as the first rockets made impact. The street lit up and buildings started to collapse, even catch fire. In his earpiece he could hear the panic of the tankers as they tried to maneuver out of the way of the barrages. Not only that but the P-47's started targeting the city as well. The barrage went on for what felt like hours, but as soon as it had started, it was stopped.
"Alright, We're through. Let's get ready." Jay said to his friend. He moved up to him and they took position, readying their AT weapons, which were RPG-2's and of course, Jay's T-Gewehr M1918. They watched carefully as they a Tiger 1 and a couple panthers rolled down the street. Jay gave Pascal the signal.
1…
2…
3…
"LAUNCHING!" They shouted and aimed at the Panther in the pack of the short convoy. Both the RPG's hit, knocking it out. The tank caught fire and slowed to a stop.
"Yes! We got one!" Pascal shouted, but his joy quickly turned to fear a he saw the other panther's turret turning towards them. "JAY RUN!"
They bolted. Closing the door just as the shell hit the building. The two were thrown to the ground by the explosion.
Kenji's position…
"The most honorable thing you can do is to die in battle… That's bullshit." He was muttering to himself about some sayings, but ultimately just kept it to himself. He scanned the streets carefully, looking for the telltale signs of tank treads or a barrel of a German tank. The Panther II was next to him, his turret pointed to the left side of the street. Cody was also scanning the streets carefully.
"2-2, this 2-1 what's your status?" It was Mike. He knew the IS-3 was alone, from what he heard earlier they had lost contact with almost every unit JayPac had. The only ones left were the remaining Ooarai tanks, the T34, Panther II, M26, and M18. It was even, 7 on 7. The airstrike had left them with their force lower than that of which they started with.
"Unknown, front, about 500 yards." Cody stated.
"Halt here." The two tanks screeched to a stop. He looked and saw it, the telltale muzzle break of a Tiger II.
"Grid Alpha-28, tank spotted, most likely a Königstiger. We're gonna fire, then fire AP. Cody, get ready to follow up."
"Roger." He watched Cody drop into the tank and close the hatch. He watched the gun train on the target and waited. "On your command."
"My tank, FIRE!" The 120mm gun broke the windows of the building it was next to when it fired. The shell, a High Explosive one, impacted the building it where the barrel was jutting out from. The building collapsed and what they saw wasn't a tank, but an AT-gun position. "Hold fire Sniper, it was only an AT gun." Kenji said. "Advance, slowly." He ordered. The two tanks moved up from street to street, cautiously checking to make sure they didn't just run into an ambush.
That's when they heard a boom.
Scout actuals' Position
The M18 was going at about 50mph when it crossed the intersection where the Stug III was hiding. Unfortunately, they appeared at the wrong time. An 88mm shell impacted the engine, passing through it and into the Stug. They were responding to a radio callout where Hippo team was being attacked by a King Tiger. The boys both had girlfriends in the Stug, Caesar and Saemonza. Instinctively they changed course and drove as fast as they could to the area where they had radioed.
"Come on Courtney! Drive!"
"I know!"
This was only a few seconds before, but now they had literally thrown themselves in front of the bullet, well shell, but to no avail.
The Boys groan from the impact as the tank rolls to a stop. They check themselves for cuts, which they do find. Courtney has a slight gash on his head but is otherwise unharmed.
"You good?" Caleb asked.
"Hell yeah, let's get out of here were on fire." He replied, opening the drivers hatch and grabbing his gun. Caleb climbed out the commander's cupola, grabbing the fire extinguisher. He sprayed every last drop onto the engine deck, stopping the blaze. He thinks that they might be able to recover the vehicle, but chances are slim. The two ran to a nearby alleyway and wait, in hope that reinforcements might arrive.
"Jay is going to kick our asses." Courtney said.
"he'll be happy we made it out, don't worry." Caleb retorted. The two backed away from the street, as to no give the tanks still out any vision. That's when they bumped into something hard. "What the hell?" They turned around to see something that made them both happy and afraid.
"It's…"
"It's unit 2-1-0, "Fury"
Shield Actual's position….
The IS-3 pushes past a destroyed panther, the barrel smoking. Mike had punched another shell into the breech, cursing that Pascal had been volunteered for the AT position.
"Make a right here Sasha." The tank turned, and the barrel with it. The tank pushed into an open street at an angle before being hit.
"What the blin was that?" Sasha asked.
"Enemy tank, reverse!" The tank shot backwards, its barrel, almost getting stuck in a window as they did. The tank that had shot at them was a Jadgpanther. Nothing the IS-3 couldn't handle.
"Push back out." The tank lurched forward and stopped at a bit more of an angle. He saw the German TD was still moving, but then a rocket hit it from the side. Causing it to come to a sudden stop. He opened the commanders hatch to see Miho checking down the street for more targets.
"Ah, comrade Miho just saved us a shell." Sasha said. He knew he was right, but just in case, they fired. The tank blew up, and the IS-3 moved on. They began to patrol the roads closer and closer to the actual school. That was until they got his in the side.
"ARGHHH!" Mike shouted as some shrapnel from the shell had entered his leg. He could still move it, but it hurt very bad to do so. "Sasha...You ok bud?" He asked. He got no response. "Sasha?" he looked down into the driver's compartment, and it was only then that he smelled the burning flesh. He reeled back, just as another shell bounced off the tank. Sasha was gone, and if you asked where, he went everywhere in the driver's compartment. He couldn't get out through the top hatch, he would me mowed down by the machine guns. He had no other choice but to move through the remains of Sasha to get out the bottom hatch. He did this as quickly as possible, eventually landing on his back under the tank. He crawled towards the engine and used the tank to cover his retreat. The last hit the IS-3 took was to the engine, and slowly it burned. Mike began to cry, that tank was his home and it had been destroyed. His sadness grew to anger and ran to try and find the groups.
Shield 10's Position…
The Jumbo Sherman rolled through the streets, now crewed by four of the survivors. Jay and Pascal took up their original positions. Jay was looking through the binoculars, his radio headset listening as the last remaining tanks, Ankou and Shield 4, were giving their positions to each other.
"This is Shield 4 Tiger and panther Spotted. Firing!" They heard the familiar 90mm fire. "We missed, Send it again!" This was Leon's voice. He knew that they had a chance once they arrive there. That's when a shell hit their tank.
"On that's an 8, it's a ti-OH IT'S A TIGER II! REVERSE LEFT STICK!" The tank stopped and reversed into an alley way. "Hey, we still got some of that Wiley Pete?"
"Yes sir!"
"Stick that shit right in her face!" Pascal loaded the smoke round into the breech and took aim. He fired into the ground, and the tiger pushed forward and turned its engine towards them, its gun moving to the right side. It had a burn mark on it, like it had been set on fire previously.
"FIRE!"
"Round away!" Pascal pulled the trigger, and the gun fired. The shell impacted the engine, setting it ablaze.
"One more! One More Pascal, One More!" He loaded the shell into the breech and hopped back on the gun.
"Advance!" Jay saw that the gun was almost fully turned around by now.
"Round away!" The shell hit the engine with a thud. The engine sputtered and the turret stopped moving. Jay saw the crew get out, scrambling down the sides of the turret and chassis. He thought about shooting them, but decided to let them go. They had more pressing problems to deal with. He gave Miho a walkie talkie before they separated, and hopefully there were still some units left.
"Miho, this is Jay. We've commandeered an abandoned tank, where are you, we can give support." Jay said. "Any units still out please respond." He said into the radio. Jay waited for a response, but got none.
"We need support! This is Miho, I've spotted a Tiger! Please Hurry!" Miho's voice crackled through the radio. She gave them their position and Jay ordered Courtney to step on it. The Sherman was a fast tank, even the Jumbo model, and this speed was used to its advantage. They flew down the street that they reported they were on, eventually coming to more and more damaged buildings. Jay looked to his left and saw the remains of both a Pershing and a Panther.
Leon… He thought to himself. He gave a little prayer to his fallen friends, before moving his attention back forward.
"TIGER!" He heard Courtney shout.
"Hit the brakes!" The tank skidded to a stop. The tiger had its armor turned towards them, meaning they could see them. The building it was next to had smoke coming out of it, and is barrel was smoking.
"Caleb move to the loaders Position!"
"Roger!"
"Fire when ready!"
The Tiger fired, its shell not being able to penetrate the front plate of the Jumbo, leaving a mark on the tank. "Damn! Fire!"
"Round away!" The shell hit the Tiger, bouncing off its turret. "IT BOUNCED!"
"Angle 10 left!" Courtney turned the tank to the left a little. The tiger fired, its shell bounced off.
"Your clear Pascal!"
"Round away!" The Shell hit the lower plate, penetrating the tiger, stopping it from closing the distance.
"Pascal, try to aim for the turret ring. Just under the gun!" Jay said.
"Roger that!"
"Your clear!"
"Round away!" The shell impacted the tank, blowing off the turret. "Tank Destroyed!"
"Keep it moving, no time for celebration!" They pushed past the Tiger, moving cautiously from street to street. Soon Jay saw them, they were in the building that the Tiger had fired upon. "Jay! Get over here!" Miho shouted. Jay unlatched the First aid bag from the Sherman, and ran up the rubble to them.
"Christ! Yukari!" Jay saw that she was bleeding heavily. Jay turned her over, which caused Yukari to scream in pain. "Sorry Yukari!" Jay grabbed some morphine from his bag and gave it to Yukari, while Miho was wrapping her up with the bandages. Jay Picked up the walkie and spoke.
"Pascal, have the tank ready to go, we're gonna move out to find the Panzer IV."
"Roger that. Is Yukari ok?" Jay looked at Miho, locking eye contact. Miho gave him a quick nod.
"Yeah, she's gonna be alright." Jay said. He hooked the Walkie Talkie to his pants and walked back to Miho and Yukari. "Here, I'll carry her to the tank. We can lay her on the engine deck." Jay said.
"Alright. Yukari, you're gonna be alright." Miho said, helping her onto Jay's back.
"Jay…" Yukari said weakly.
"No Yukari, save your strength. All we have to do is get to the Panzer IV, and then we head to the school." Jay said. The two carried her onto the tank and laid her down on the engine deck. Miho stayed with her to keep her from shifting too much.
"Advance!" The tank rolled forward, slowly, and moved a little deeper into Kuromorimine.
This battle is only halfway over. I know it not the most pleasant thing to read, but there is more to come. So much happens with the addition of JayPac to the battle. I haven't even wrote the other perspectives of those earlier in the story or even the end of the battle. Those will come out in the second half of this Battle.
To be honest, I really hope you're enjoying this. Spoiler, There may or may not be a Yukiyukite II in the works...
Until next time, Panzer Vor!