Senshado is a very physically demanding sport. Injuries are just part of the lifestyle, but they shouldn't be a result of it. Jay knew that firsthand, when his tank at the time, an M5 Stuart, rammed another tank at moderate speed. Though the wound from hitting the cupola ring was there, it was the brief flash of light and pain he would never forget. He could only imagine how bad it was for the crew. A couple of days had passed since the team had returned to the Ford, and Cody and his crew had returned to the carrier via air. They were still recovering from the overkill hits, which news of had been circling around the networks. Immediately after the incident, the head of the US senshado league, after a very heavily worded meeting with Instructor Izumo confronting Lone Star's Instructor, decided to disqualify Lone Star from the Tournament. In its place, JayPac would be playing, since they technically also knocked out the Lone Star flag tank as well.
The news of what happened was still bothering Jay to the core. It was like a dream almost. Luckily he had a couple of days left to think about it before the training started up once again. The incident had postponed the final match, which gave them an extra week to prepare. Every day after practice, Jay and a couple of the Sniper team members would pay Cody a visit at the school hospital, glad to see their comrades recovering. Each day they seemed to be getting better, but they all seemed a little off.
"So, unfortunately, we're gonna need a new loader and driver for the Panther," Jay told his sub-commander one day. They had decided to meet at the 34R Diner by the airport that day. "Major concussive injuries. Much worse than we thought."
"Damn, I was hoping that wasn't the case," Pascal said. The mood was a bit somber., and the weather didn't help as it was raining quite hard. "And what about Cody?"
"We're gonna need to find a new gunner. His shooting days are over." Jay said. "Although the doctor said there might be a slight chance he could gun again. Until then, he's out for the next 2 months."
"Well this is just peachy, isn't it?" Pascal stated. There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone, which was followed by an annoyed sigh. "So, we're gonna be without him for the foreseeable future."
"It's only for a couple of months," Jay replied.
"A couple of months without our sharpshooter." Jay knew Pascal was right. Their best shot was out in a battle where he would be needed. "So, the real question is what team you want me to command."
"Sorry I'm late, Kommandant," Hanz said, walking up to the table. He pulled up a loose chair and took a seat between the two, facing the window. The rain rapped on the window.
"You're just in time, and, we were about to discuss who would take command of Sniper team while Cody's out," Pascal said.
"I wouldn't mind taking command. I like how Hanz has been running the Shield team. I kinda wanna see what he can do in person." A glow of joy seemed to radiate off of Hanz as he received the former Sub-Commanders' praise.
"Danke schön, kameraden. But I believe it would be most effective for me to take over." Jay nodded in agreement.
"My thoughts exactly. That KwK was made for that sort of work." Jay said. Pascal looked a little disappointed to hear that. "However, I'm gonna put you back in command in our next battle."
"You mean.."
"Exactly. I wanna see what you can do against an equally difficult opponent." Jay said, giving a smirk. "Now then, with that out of the way, let's eat. Wait out the storm." The boys talked and ate, with Pascal telling about his stories of dominance in the European theatre.
"Ultimately, I was just a bit too aggressive and my team didn't really appreciate that," Pascal said. "That, and I may have gotten into a fight with one of my colleagues about something, well, personal."
"Makes sense, but you engaging in fist-to-cuffs? I hardly see that." Jay said. "Well, I'm gonna be blunt. Whatever happened in the UK, it's all good. No need to dwell in the past."
"Correct me if I'm wrong Kameraden, but wasn't your fight with Lone Star's commander based on some past conflict?" Hanz asked. Jay just shot Hanz a look.
"Irrelevant, but the first practice is on Monday," Jay said, quickly changing the subject. Pascal was just chuckling at the short exchange, glad to be back home.
New York Battleground…
It felt like deja vu, Jay was running through the muck that was the ground, sending up splashed mud as he ran between tanks to get to the A13 cruiser tank. It had rained during the day, only clearing up a few hours before dusk. Lightning storms are no joke in this sport, and one had reared its ugly head that morning delaying the inevitable. Jay, from the moment he had found out they would be fighting in this battle, was battling with emotions. On the one hand, he was happy, elated they had made the finals. But on the other, he was terrified. He knew that Sophie wouldn't go easy on his team. And from what he saw, she more surgical with her strikes than Porter was.
His thoughts were interrupted when he got to the A13 and banged against the tank. In his hands was a map. Pascal pulled himself up and out of the commander's cupola and onto the engine deck.
"Thanks, I was having a little doubt you wouldn't make it back!" Jay just nodded, trying to catch his breath. "You probably should get back before we crank up!" Jay began the jog over to his tank, with the only thought being; Get back to the tank!
He soon pulled himself up the side of the Hellcat and onto its engine deck. He stopped for a moment to catch his breath. He then took a deep breath and got grabbed his helmet which was sitting on the roof next to the cupola. He climbed down into the cupola, putting on his helmet.
"Alright, crank her up." Jay switched on the radio. "All tanks, get your engines on." A bunch of copy and wilco calls came over the airwaves. He felt the hellcat shutter to life, and he stuck his body halfway out the cupola. He looked around, seeing the blue flag on the post hanging above him. He had the target on his back this time.
He looked up to see the signal flare go up and pop. "All tanks, let's roll out!" Jay said. The sound of the many treads rattling filled the air momentarily before they were drowned out by the engine. Aside from diesel, there was a slight hint of pine in the air. Made sense since they were driving along a forest highway. He adjusted his headset and spoke.
"Everyone, we're gonna continue along this road and until we reach point alpha 2-5. From there, Sniper, you and Scout 3 through 5 will break off and head for the high ground overlooking the town." Jay looked at the map in his hand, which was being blown by the wind.
"Copy that Kameraden," Hanz said over the radio.
"From there, Shield 2 takes up the front line with Shields 3 and 5. Waifu will take up position on the flank with Scout 2 and 3 on the east side of the town."
"You sure you don't want one of us to stay back with you?" Peterson asked over the radio.
"Cmon Pete, you of all people know if it's Pac-man and I in the backfield, we can make some magic happen," Jay said.
"You know what we're capable of," Pascal added on.
"Fair point." Jay sighed and the mass of tanks continued on.
A few long minutes had passed since they had started on the road, over the radio he could hear Peterson singing something over the radio with a banjo faintly cutting in and out.
"Didn't know we'd be serenaded on our drive into battle," Pascal said. "Scout 2, you have an open mic."
"Ah, let the guys have their fun," Hanz said. "It is kinda nice." Jay just let them play. He knew Peterson was on the lookout. He looked off to the side of the formation, which was taken up by Shield 4 and 5 as well as Sniper 3 and 4. He saw a couple of the commanders look at him then look behind them. The M36 began to slew its turret in the direction of the commander's view. Jay watched the woods behind them carefully, straining his eyes almost.
"Issac, pass up my binoculars," Jay said into the mic.
"All you commander." He felt them bump against his leg, and he reached down to grab them. What he saw next made his heart skip a beat.
"Jay, we got a contact at 4 o'clock!" Jay saw it, it was a Panther tank. He wasn't alone either. The first thing going through his mind was how he had gotten there so fast, but the muzzle flash from the Panther forced his mind to go back to the problem at hand.
"Shield 5, Sniper 4, Stop and fire!" Jay saw the two tanks break off and face the Panther. The two 90mm cannons boomed, each splitting the air. He saw the panther take two massive hits. The tanks that were behind that now knocked out Panther made a break for it.
"Shield 5, Sniper 4, fall back in line. Shield 4, I'm gonna have you and Scout 2 go after that group."
"Right now?" Leon asked.
"Go! Before they send more." Jay ordered. "We need to secure that flank sooner than I thought."
"What about us kommandant?" Hanz asked.
"Hanz, take your group towards that higher ground. We're gonna have to put the plan into action a bit earlier." Jay watched as the Tiger II break off from the group, taking with it the 4 tank destroyers and two other light tanks. "Good luck fellas." He turned back forward. He saw the crossroads in front of him, and with a quick cross-reference of the map, he gave the signal for The heavies to take up positions.
"Slow down for them, driver, and maintain about 15 feet from the rear of the IS-3."
"Scout 1, I suggest we just drive straight towards the town through the forest." He heard Pascal's voice crackle in. "They probably have the road into town ranged up and ready to be fired on." He thought about it for a minute. The direct line to the town was a bit slower due to being offroad, but he knew he was right.
"Alright, let's do it," Jay said. "Shield 2, head straight into the forest. And tighten up."
"Roger Comrade." He saw Sasha lift himself up and out the IS-3, making sure his driver was going in the right direction. "Let us get a bit of action, yes?"
"That's all you, Sasha."
"Hey, don't forget us," D-ray said. "We're all kicking some ass today."
"It's in the name, right?" Kyle said. "It's just what we do. Except for Pascal, of course."
"Oi, don't you forget that battle against North Star!" Pascal said, a little offended.
"Yeah, he did knock out a lot of armor that match. Cold as hell though." Jay added. The group continued forward, having a bit of banter over the open airwaves. Even joined in by the other units still making their way to their respective positions. That was until Hanz broke the cheery mood with a bit of a serious tone interruption.
"Hold on, I've spotted something." He could be faulty heard telling his driver to crest the hill. "I've got eyes on the town. Kommandant, the enemy has quite the welcoming party set up for you."
"This is scout 4, I conquer. I see about 2 Panthers, two Jadgpanthers, and a Jadgtiger. All looking at the woods." Jay marked the potential spots they could be in on his map. He looked ahead, seeing the town slightly illuminated by the sun. If they had one thing going, it was the Shadows.
"Can you see the force looking at the main road?"
"Negative, not fully. From our angle, looks like they had a couple of Royal Tigers and some more panthers and Jadgpanthers in there."
"This is Shield 4, we're approaching our position."
"Roger, try and secure us a rendezvous point. We're gonna need it."
"You got it." The sky grew a bright orange and yellow, slowly darkening. Streetlights began coming on in some areas. Night combat wasn't their strong suit, but he would have to make it work if they didn't work fast. The edge of the forest grew closer and closer.
"All tanks in my group halt," Jay said. The tanks lurched to a halt. He climbed out of the tank down the side. He bolted up to the IS-3 and climbed up it.
"Sasha, I need you to do me a big favor."
"Da, what is it, comrade?" Jay described his plan to him.
"Comrade, are you serious? You want me to just dig a pit right here and now?" Jay nodded.
"We're gonna need you hull down for this to work."
"Fine. I'll trust you this once." Sasha shouted to his crew to get out and start digging. Jay hopped down from the IS and ran back to his tank.
"Alright boys, change of plans, I gonna have Shield 2 go hull down and we're gonna keep the fight in the shadows of the forest as long as we can," Jay said.
"If they're expecting a fight here, we're gonna make some noise."
"Are you insane?! They'll tear us to pieces." Pascal objected.
"That's where you come in. I want you to drive up and down the tree line, firing shots to make us look like a bigger force." Jay looked over at the British tank. "It's simple and maybe a bit crazy, but they were expecting this."
"I don't agree with this at all, but if it's what you think is best, I'll get it done as best I can." He replied. Almost half an hour had passed. All throughout it, Jay was going over the map, making sure everything had been properly marked. He could see the silhouettes of the tanks against the lights of the town.
"This is Shield 2, We've finished comrades."
"Copy that, Sniper team have you got the targets ranged up?"
"Jawol."
"Shield 4, head into town. Fire on anything that isn't ours. Sniper team, bring down the thunder." Jay took a breath. He knew this was it, now or never. He watched as the IS-3 pulled into its hull-down area. He heard his loader slam a round into the breach.
"Ready!"
"All tanks, open fire."