Chapter 4
In Which Philosophies Clash and a Second Battle is Offered
Ayako woke the next morning as she usually did, energetic and driven. Then the memories of yesterday's events crowded in on her and ruined her mood.
They had won! Better yet, they had won their first match against a crew from an experienced sensha-dō team. But Hayley had usurped her place as commander. That was… wrong. At Kuromorimine, you did as you were told and the people who told you what to do were the tank commanders, and the people who told them what to do were Itsumi-san and Nishizumi-san herself. It worked because Nishizumi-san was a panzer expert and the team became a ruthlessly efficient extension of her will. She was an inspiration to Ayako and part of her objective was to try, as best she could, to emulate Maho and bring that expertise to her new school.
But if Hayley had not acted, they would have lost, and losing was failure. Losing was not the Nishizumi way.
This bounced back and forth in Ayako's mind as she got dressed and made breakfast.
She had alienated her crew and Hayley in particular. She needed them if she was going to continue sensha-dō here. She supposed she would have to mend fences. It wasn't like Hayley had disobeyed orders, after all.
Since it was the weekend and they had no classes, Ayako went over to Hayley's room straight after eating. Hayley answered at the first knock. She looked at Ayako cautiously. "Oh, hey."
Ayako took a deep breath. "I wish to apologize for my behavior yesterday. I overreacted. Your quick-thinking, albeit unauthorized action won the match for us."
Hayley smiled. "That's OK, eh? I'm sorry I went over your head. You looked pretty mad."
"I was," said Ayako. "I need to remember that you're not from Kuromorimine."
Well, no," said Hayley. "But that doesn't mean we're not willing to learn." She paused. "Do you want some coffee?"
Ayako didn't have anything else planned. "I would, please."
She followed Hayley inside. It struck her how Spartan her own quarters looked compared with Hayley's room, which was coated with a layer of touristy Canadiana. Posters, flags, snow globes, dolls, most hockey-related, all of them decorated with maple leaves. She stared at a large, threadbare stuffed moose wearing a tuque sitting on Hayley's desk.
Hayley followed her gaze. "That's Gordie. I got him on a trip to Vancouver when I was a kid."
"Ah." Ayako had disposed of all her childish toys some time ago.
"We went to see a hockey game when I was there," Hayley continued. "That's how I got interested in it." She smiled wryly. "I seem to have a knack for picking sports that I can't actually compete in. Until now, that is, thanks to you."
Hayley handed her a steaming cup of coffee from a brewer perched on top of a filing cabinet. She pushed aside a haphazard pile of ramen packets and retrieved sugar and some creamers. Ayako mixed them in and took a sip.
"This is good!"
Hayley gave a short laugh. "You must not drink much coffee. This is the cheapest brand I could find."
"I have never actually had coffee before," admitted Ayako.
Hayley looked serious. "Look, I gotta tell you, I was pretty angry myself yesterday. I know you're trying to whip us into shape, but I really wish you'd lighten up. This is a sports club, not some paramilitary organization where everything has to be by the book. It's supposed to be fun, eh?"
Ayako considered this. "Thank you for your candor, but I believe the Nishizumi style that I am following to be correct. This is very important to me."
"OK, summarize the Nishizumi style for me," said Hayley.
"Act swiftly and decisively. Hit hard, never retreat. Victory is everything," said Ayako after a pause.
Hayley frowned slightly.
Ayako continued, somewhat defensively. "This method has given us more wins than any other school."
"Yeah, but have you considered that your equipment played a big part in that? I mean, if I'm in a King Tiger, and you're in a 7TP, who's gonna win, eh?"
Hayley started pacing around the room while thinking out loud.
"We're doing one-on-one matches, not big battles where units are expendable and overall strategy is important. Here, it comes down to who sees who first. You've gotta remember that tanks are eggshells armed with hammers."
"What do you mean?" asked Ayako.
"OK, take a Sherman Firefly and a Tiger. The Tiger has more armour, right? But it doesn't matter, 'cause the Firefly can still kill it with one shot at most combat ranges and vice-versa. The winner will probably be whoever shoots first without missing.
"What I'm trying to say is, everyone in the crew has to be able to use their initiative and you've got to listen to our ideas, no matter how crazy. You need to use us to our full potential."
Ayako was starting to feel jittery from the unaccustomed caffeine rush. "Good discipline and maintaining the proper chain of command reduce confusion and promote efficiency. However, I am willing to consider suggestions from you during a match and act on them as I see fit."
Hayley nodded. "Well, that's something."
It seemed they had come to an understanding. Ayako finished her cup and handed it back to Hayley.
"I'll see you at the next practice. Thank you for the coffee."
"You're welcome, eh?"
Ayako went back to her room, but could not stop fidgeting. She considered Hayley's points. They made some sense, but it had been drilled into her that the Nishizumi style was sacred. Her objective would lose its meaning if she resorted to different methods.
She wanted to avenge Kuromorimine's losses. She would first remake True North's sensha-dō team (what there was of it) in Kuromorimine's image, then beat Pravda and Ōarai. That would show them that Kuromorimine and the Nishizumi style were not to be trifled with, and she could finally rest easy.
Ayako remembered again the crashing disappointment when Ōarai's victory had been announced. She, like all the others, had been sure that Nishizumi-san would prevail, or that Itsumi-san would come to her aid in time. But Miho had beaten them. Miho was problematic. She was a Nishizumi and Maho-san's sister and seemed like a nice person. But to Ayako, she was inextricably associated with Kuromorimine's two defeats.
At the next club meeting, Liza and Justine eyed her warily, but relaxed when she congratulated them on their win. She reminded them of the importance of following orders and, belatedly, lectured them on radio discipline and the clock method for relative bearing that Kuromorimine used. During the training session that followed, Ayako noticed to her surprise that Justine was unaffected by the tank's movement.
"You're not sick!" she said as they rumbled over the grass.
"Yeah, Hayley-san, she give me these wristbands!" said Justine happily. "They use pressure points or acupuncture or some junk."
"I saw them at the pharmacy and I thought they might be worth a shot. I'm glad to hear they're working for you," said Hayley.
Ayako found herself giving Hayley a grateful look. They completed their drills and retired for the night.
Ayako lay awake thinking. We aren't ready for Pravda or Ōarai yet. Who next then? St. Gloriana? No, they would probably send one of their Churchills and laugh as the six pounder rounds bounced off. Anzio, maybe? She finally fell asleep.
Her phone rang the next afternoon. "Ishiguro-san? This is Mika at Continuance High School. Kay-san told me about your new team. We have a StuG III crew who would be willing to battle you, if you are interested."
How fortuitous! "I am most definitely interested! Thank you, Mika-san!" They hashed out the details together.
A week later, the academy ship docked once again and they drove for many kilometers to a barren, sun-baked expanse of desert. A judge, Mika and a grey StuG III were waiting for them. They disembarked and introduced themselves.
The StuG crew were all fresh-faced and eager. Their commander, a tall blonde named Alena, greeted Ayako enthusiastically. "We just joined our team, so this will be our first battle outside of training! It will be a change from going up against our veterans!" She shook Ayako's hand vigorously.
Ayako opened her mouth to reply, but Alena had already moved on to greet Hayley.
"Thank you for arranging our match. It is rather unconventional," said Ayako to Mika.
"Think nothing of it! We are always happy to help new teams, it benefits our sport. I think some of the other schools will also be willing to help you," said Mika.
Just as long as Pravda and Ōarai are among them, thought Ayako.
"You mentioned that you are formerly from Kuromorimine," Mika went on.
"Yes, I was there for two years. I'm attempting to build this new team using that experience."
Mika smiled. "Then I am sure my crew is in for a tough battle."
"Well, I am no Nishizumi," said Ayako modestly.
"We can't all be like Maho-san or Miho-san."
That name. Ayako's smile vanished. "Shall we begin?"
"Of course."
This time they had to drive a fair distance to their starting point.
"We've expended more shells and burned more gas in the past month than during all of last year," noted Hayley. "I hope the student council doesn't crack down on our funding."
Ayako sighed inwardly. Another potential obstacle to deal with.
The terrain looked relatively flat, but ridges and gullies among the dunes would provide cover. Vegetation was virtually non-existent, except for a verdant patch surrounding a tiny oasis near the center of the battlefield.
Ayako wondered what Alena was planning. Continuance were out of their element in a desert, but the sand had many of the same properties as snow. It was comforting to know that with Justine in good health, their first shot ought to settle the matter.
Author's Notes:
Mika, the leader of Continuance High School's sensha-dō team, only gets one mention in OVA #6. Maybe she'll show up in the movie or one of the manga spinoffs.
The Ram's six pounder gun is fearsome when using APDS ammunition. For the purposes of the narrative, I'm assuming they only have regular AP shells to work with.
Point taken about the logistics involved in humouring True North's requests for one-on-one battles. It could take months for it to be convenient for both school ships and the opposing team.
I updated Chapters 2 and 3 to give Saunders' M4 commander a name and some more lines. I removed the line equating the Nishizumi style with attack. Now it's more of a personal preference for Ayako. I'll have a think about ways to expand the first battle.
I'm following all the feedback. I don't know if I'll be able to address everything, but it is very worthwhile. Thanks!
From what I've read, I agree that the Germans' flexibility and initiative are at odds with the idea expressed in Episode 11 that KMM fall apart easily when their plans go awry. I don't know what they'd do without Maho.