Chapter 24: Overcoming Hesitation
The day of the match between Pravda and Black Forest came, and it was a day that everyone on both of the teams, and a large portion of the tankery-watching public had been awaiting with eager anticipation.
The match took place in a wetland area, and featured many bogs and other obstacles that would impede the tanks' movement. The terrain was extremely difficult to traverse, with some of the wet spots slowing tanks down, and some sinkholes able to trap a tank until it disabled itself trying to escape... if another tank did not defeat it first.
The organizers of the tournament had debated whether to even include this as a possible tankery battlefield, with some citing possible safety concerns, and others saying that it was simply impractical as a tankery match. By narrow consensus, it was approved, as the safety concerns were not considered far beyond others, and it was considered a battlefield with challenging terrain, which some of its proponents considered an important part of tankery, and a way of leveling the field for some schools.
In spite of the conditions, the match was well-attended due to the hype it had received over the past week. Both Pravda and Black Forest had entered this battlefield with the intent of challenging the champion, and only one would emerge from it to face Oarai in an attempt to reclaim their title.
The pre-match ceremony was held on one of the few open fields on the site of the match, and Black Forest and Pravda's commanders exchanged bows. While the schools were said to be bitter rivals, the individual tankers in both schools valued professionalism and good sportsmanship too much to openly show hostility, whatever their feelings were. The best way they could prove their school's superiority over their rival was to win this match, and to be the better person until then.
"Let's have a good match, Itsumi-san," Kinue said, extending her hand.
Erika eyed Kinue's hand for a moment, and, shrugging almost imperceptibly, took her hand and shook it.
"Yes, let's do our best," Erika said, less than wholeheartedly, a sort of forced politeness people like her showed to those they saw as their lessers.
After they withdrew their hands, Erika paused before speaking.
"Rest assured, there will not be any unforeseen accidents this time," Erika said. "The winner will be decided by skill alone."
Kinue paused, slightly taken aback by what Erika was implying.
"Is this about two years ago?" Kinue said. "My sister and the others weren't happy to win that way. The outcome was what they desired, but the circumstances under which they got it were not."
"I'd imagine," Erika said. "But since it first became a major player in the tankery tournament, Black Forest has always had people accusing it of winning through underhanded means or the strength of its technology, using any excuse possible to avoid having to acknowledge their own inadequacies. The simple matter is that we take tankery more seriously than others, and that's why we do it better than they do."
Kinue sighed. This difference in mindset was the greatest difference between her and Erika. Erika had fought under great pressure in all her years as a Nishizumi disciple, and Kinue wondered whether her reasons for fighting could compare with those. Thoughts like those often made her feel inadequate, and as those feelings would not be conducive to winning, she decided to put them out of her mind.
As she silently parted from Erika and walked back, Kinue let off a soft sigh when she was far enough from Erika that she would not be heard.
"Is something wrong, Comrade Commander?" Anastasia said.
"It seems, even after everything that she's experienced, Itsumi-san is still looking down on us," Kinue said. "She doesn't afford me the same consideration that she might to my sister or Miho-chan, much less Maho-san and the others who taught or commanded her."
Anastasia paused, finding it difficult to reply to what was Kinue's interpretation of Erika, based on Kinue's past interactions with Erika, and her own assumptions. Rather than disproving Kinue's beliefs, Anastasia decided to share her own.
"I don't really know what people like her think or how they judge others," Anastasia said. "But if you're determined to stop judging yourself in comparison to your mother and sister, then you certainly don't need to take the opinion of someone with an inflated ego like Itsumi's into account."
Kinue chuckled at the uncharacteristically blunt comment out of the otherwise quite polite Anastasia's mouth. Anastasia was respectful and polite to most people, so it was a bit of a shock for Kinue to hear her take such a tone when talking about Erika.
"That's true," Kinue said. "Of course, if Itsumi-san still feels this way, then it's clear that she has yet to fully understand what the years have taught her."
Anastasia shrugged.
"Maybe so, Comrade Commander" Anastasia said. "But all the same, the two of us, and the rest of our team, know what we have to do here. It may not be the same obsession many of the Nishizumis have, but we do give our all for this goal."
Kinue nodded. She often had found herself wondering why she was standing where she was, commanding Pravda, but realized that this was all the reason she needed. Someone had to lead the school, and she had a duty to her friends and subordinates to do the job as best as she could. As long as she did that, she could feel as though she deserved the responsibility, and have no regrets regardless of the outcome.
At Oarai, the team had yet another session for watching the tournament in the team' s meeting room. Some, such as the commanders, came to analyze the strategies that their final opponent might use this year. Others, like Yukari and the rest of Octopus Team, came out of love of tankery. Miho hoped to see some of her friends on both sides, and Caesar hoped to watch her second cousin.
Some members of the team were tempted to assume that the match had little to do with them, but others saw it differently. They believed that it was a chance to see their final opponent in action, to analyze the opponent's tactics and understand how strong their foe would be. Given that the last opponent would be one of the schools that had won the tournament in the two years before Oarai had, they would have an exceptionally strong opponent at the end of the tournament.
As Miho sat down with Yukari and her other friends from Anglerfish Team, she turned her attention to the student council. They had brought pens and notepads to take notes, but had also brought snacks, and even the serious Shizuru and Ayano seemed relatively relaxed. Miho had gotten to know them well over time, but still found it surprising to see them in such a way. Still, perhaps just as the Kadotani administration showed its serious side in moments of crisis, the Mikado administration could relax and enjoy themselves in calmer moments.
Oarai had been in many difficult matches thus far, and would not succeed in the finals without a great deal of training and preparation. In spite of those facts, Oarai could rest for the moment, watch their opponent, and take the time to prepare their strategy.
Meanwhile, Koume stood near her Tiger II, which had been chosen as the flag tank.
"You seem quite dedicated, Akeboshi-senpai," one of her crewmates, a second-year, said.
Koume nodded. The girl was part of the first generation of Black Forest tankers since Black Forest's first defeat in almost a decade, and while they knew the importance of the event, it had not affected them the same way it had their seniors, who had experienced Black Forest's win streak being broken first hand.
"Two years ago, a friend of mine, Nishizumi Miho-san, saved my life, abandoning her flag tank to do so," Koume said. "Some people blamed Miho-san, but I believed that it was because of me that she made the decision she had. So I resolved to do what it takes for my team, to never let down those who supported me again. And I also hope to see Miho-san again in the finals."
Koume's crewmate nodded.
"Whatever some people are saying, Black Forest won all these years because of the efforts of people like us, who wanted to do their part and support the team," the crewmate said. "Even considering recent events, I'm glad to be part of those efforts."
Koume looked at her crew, which was entirely composed of second-years, save for one first-year. All of them had heard of what had happened to Black Forest two years ago, and Koume's role in it, but none of them truly understood the significance for Koume on an emotional level.
But they were Koume's teammates and crewmates. They looked up to and trusted her, and were willing to stay by her not just out of the discipline demanded by the commanders, but out of a genuine sense of loyalty. Koume was willing to face Pravda and do what she could to prove that she was a valued member of the team who would no longer burden them as she once had.
Meanwhile, Kinue's vice-captain was the one entrusted with the position of being flag tank for her own team. As she looked at the flag affixed atop her IS-2, she stood, lost in thought. Disregarding the method by which the flag tank was chosen for a moment, she wondered whether if someone like her was worthy of this responsibility.
She knew what it meant to be flag tank commander, and that she would be filling the role that Kinue had filled in the final. Kinue had been defeated back then, and had taken it quite hard, but now, they were once again fighting the opponent that had defeated them last year, in the same match in which they had lost.
For all of Pravda, this was a second chance to win, to avenge their previous defeat and do better than they had before. They were thus determined to defeat Black Forest now, and Oarai at the finals.
In the stands, Eclair and Fondue watched the match, just as they had come to watch Pravda's match with BC Freedom. They realized that Black Forest, as the champion, would not fall easily, and Eclair's stomach churned with nervous anticipation for the match.
"So, Eclair-sama, are you once again rooting for the Nishizumi school this time?" Fondue said.
Eclair let off a sigh. Fondue had unwittingly posed a difficult question, but her tone was casual, one used for trivial questions that required no thought to answer.
"In the past, it would have been an easy decision, Fondue," Eclair said, "but now, I am no longer so sure."
"Is it because Pravda, by defeating us, earned your respect?" Fondue said. "Or might Black Forest have lost that respect through their recent defeats?"
Eclair responded with a nod and then a shake of he r head.
"Pravda has impressed me, but I do in some ways identify with Atago Kinue-san," Eclair said. "Like me, she is thinking outside of what her school traditionally does and trying to find her own way."
"That sounds reasonable," Fondue said. "But as far as you go, I assume you're thinking about Maginot, not the Nishizumi school?"
"Oui," Eclair said. "In truth, I cannot honestly say that the Nishizumi school is my school, not since I received the rejection letter almost a decade ago. I still remember, though, how it told me that, even if they had no room for me in the school, that I should try to excel in my daily life and incorporate their principles of not compromising in the pursuit of victory. You could say that's the one lesson they can give to those who are not their students, so the least I could do to show my appreciation is to follow it."
Fondue paused in thought for a moment, adjusting her glasses as she did. She'd known Eclair for a long time, and known about her admiration for the Nishizumis for nearly as long, but this was the first she had heard about Eclair being rejected.
"So only a handful of people can truly become Nishizumis, while the rest only see it as an ideal that they can hope to emulate," Fondue said pensively. "Itsumi-san has been described as arrogant, and I wonder if her graduating at the top of the class only furthers her belief in her own superiority over someone who never even got in."
Eclair shrugged.
"She would probably dismiss me as second-rate for having failed where she succeeded," Eclair said. "I can hardly fault her for that, since most fans do not ask for the recognition of those they idolize. But if we faced on the field of battle, I would be more similar to her current opponent, which is why a part of me hopes that Pravda will win."
As the match began, both teams advanced, keeping an eye out for the opposition, wary of being attacked while they were in a vulnerable position.
They rushed toward the more advantageous terrain- firmer ground and the more wooded areas- hoping to take it for themselves and establish a defensive foothold, so that they would be in an optimal position to attack the enemy as the other side struggled to counterattack or evade.
Black Forest reached their foothold first, a wooded patch of land near the morass, and quickly set up defensive positions, knowing that Pravda, having pursued the same goal, would likely be close behind them.
Meanwhile, Pravda's tankers, observing from afar, noticed what Black Forest was doing, and the realized that they had succeeded in the initial contest to seize the advantage. As the saying went, they had lost this battle, but it did not necessarily mean that they had also lost the war.
There was still a way forward, a way to force them to fight outside their comfort zone and off of advantageous terrain. It was a significant risk, but Kinue was long aware that when facing a former champion, few things were guaranteed to work with any degree of reliability. She'd attended enough strategy meetings with her sister to know how many ideas had been considered, and how few worked out in practice, and fought enough battles to know that she had to know how she intended to achieve victory.
In the relatively slow early part of the match, Miho turned to Mako, reminded of something she had discussed with Erika.
"Mako-san, Erika-san was curious about one thing," Miho said. "She mentioned that she graduated at the top of her class in the Nishizumi school, and suspected that such a feat would be meaningless to someone from Oarai; I believe she had you in mind. Do you think so?"
Mako chortled.
"Well, from what I saw in the previous rounds, she's certainly not living up to it at this moment," Mako said. "So yeah, I would question what kind of school your family's school is like if someone like her managed to come out on top."
Saori couldn't help but smile at seeing some of Mako's old self for the first time since the match with Rinkai and the news of her grandmother's passing.
"Biting sarcasm again," Saori thought. "It looks like you're starting to bounce back from your grandma's passing, Mako."
"The Nishizumi school is strict, rigid and disciplinarian," Miho said. "They're highly dedicated at best, but ruthless at worst. That's why someone like Erika-san is able to do well by their standards, while I was not. But the Nishizumi style does have its merits and its uses, even if it's not good for a place like ours, with many neophytes and few tanks of high quality."
One Nishizumi school assistant instructor was quoted as saying that if tankery was like rock paper scissors, the Nishizumi style was like a hammer, able to break scissors, crush rocks and even overwhelm paper. Just as the hammer, despite being like a rock, was superior to all the other choices, superior skill and strength were said to be able to overpower all else in the Nishizumi style, which is why it was so inclusive. Some critics, however, asserted that the Nishizumi style relied too much on the strength of its tanks.
"But you were able to find a way to defeat it, Nishizumi-dono," Yukari said.
"I suspect it's in part because Miho-san understands her school so well," Hana said. Flower arranging did not have the same competitive aspect as tankery did, but Hana knew that she had certain insights into her family style that outsiders and even students of her family did not.
"That's true, Isuzu-dono, and I don't think Black Forest's ever faced an enemy like us before," Yukari said. "But they have faced Pravda, haven't they?"
"They have," Miho said. "Most of the time, they're able to win, but exceptions have happened before."
In the stands, Kinue's parents, sister, aunt and cousin were watching. All of them had participated in matches against Black Forest in the past, so one thing struck them as odd when they saw all of Black Forest's tanks in play.
"That's odd..." Masaki said. "I don't see the Maus anywhere. One would think Black Forest would feel threatened enough to bring it out."
"They didn't bring it out against us last year or the two years before that, Mom," Hiroko said. "The Maus is large and powerful, but it's not practical for all situations, nor is it invincible."
"You could say the same about Black Forest," Hiroe said. "The German tanks are quite difficult to take down in a straight-up fight, but they can still be defeated by other means, particularly the ones Oarai used."
Masae nodded.
"The Nishizumi style has remained relatively stagnant over the years," Hiroko said. "It's somewhat ironic that Maginot's current commander- I believe her name is Eclair- described herself as a fan of the Nishizumi style while she herself brought change to her school."
"The style means different things to different people, Hiroko," Masae said. "A servant may see it as a way of teaching her loyalty and humility. A Self-Defense Force officer might see it as an ideal to follow while playing for her school and serving her country. A teacher might be inspired by its use of discipline on students, to ensure they learn the lessons they're being taught."
"True, Mom," Hiroe said. "That said, it does attract a fair number of people who want to pad their resume or look for some excuse to lord over others. I really hope Maho revamps the ethics and sportsmanship part of the school when she takes over; she did promise to do what she could, but said that it wouldn't be a simple matter."
Masae nodded. As the founder of her school, she was also responsible for creating the rules that she had to follow herself, including those that limited her power. She recognized that some changes and adjustments had to be made for the school, but she only made those changes that were within her authority, and for the good of the school as a whole.
"I'd say Maho's assertion is realistic," Masae said. "The challenges of effecting change in a long and tradition-oriented organization aside, you simply can't force everyone who takes part in an organization to come away with all its values. Since Maho's own sister grew up to be a very different kind of tanker in spite of Instructor Nishizumi's parenting, Maho realizes the limits of parents' and teachers' influence."
Hiroe nodded. She acknowledged that she was in many ways different from her relatively reserved and serious mother, possessing a great deal of passion and hotheaded exuberance.
"Maybe," Hiroe said. "I certainly have to wonder if Instructor Nishizumi's so hard on Miho because Miho didn't turn out the way she wanted, in spite of her efforts, which is further proof that the Nishizumi style isn't all that it's cracked up to be."
Masae shrugged. She had heard a great deal about Shiho, including her belief that her efforts were out of respect for her predecessors and teachers, and for the sake of he successors and students. Shiho put a great deal of stock in that goal and was harsh on those who did not contribute, so the realization that her efforts were in vain would be a difficult one to bear.
But perhaps it would be a realization with which Shiho would have to come to terms sooner or later. Black Forest had been defeated before, and if Erika was not careful, her school would suffer defeat once again.
As Pravda approached where Black Forest's forces were entrenched, Black Forest fired on them, seizing the initial advantage by ensuring that Pravda's counterattack would be less effective, since not all of their tanks would be able to fire back..
Two Pravda tanks fell in the initial volley of mostly well-aimed shots. The battle was, for now, going according to Erika's predictions, so her subordinates remained orderly, efficient and deadly, as might be expected of Black Forest in peak condition.
Pravda, despite having suffered losses, returned fire. Their gunners kept their composure relatively well, and their shots struck home. Off in the distance, two Black Forest tanks- a Tiger II and a Panther, spewed smoke and raised white flags.
Pravda advanced toward Black Forest, continuing to fire. As other shells fell to earth or into the marsh, exploding and throwing up water and earth, shots struck true, taking out a Panzer III and another Panther. Meanwhile a shot from Black Forest took out one of Pravda's tanks, a T-34/76.
Kinue noticed that she was inflicting losses on the enemy, but was also suffering them in turn, without disloding Black Forest from their position. The battle had not been completely hopeless thus far, but she stood no chance of victory of things continued as they were.
"All tanks, withdraw after this next volley," Kinue said.
More shells burst forward from the Black Forest tanks, with some falling to the water, others striking the earth, and one finding its way into a T-34/76. As the smoke and dust cleared, they saw a single disabled T-34/76... and the rest of the Pravda tanks quickly escaping.
As the Pravda forces retreated, Erika realized that while they stood ahead of Pravda in terms of casualties inflicted- having lost three tanks to Pravda's five- it was hardly a result befitting the Nishizumi disciple attacking from an advantageous position.
Pravda was retreating, but in tankery, retreating was not merely a sign of cowardice. Often, it was a way to escape from an otherwise hopeless situation, to lure an enemy into the trap.
Irritated at this development, Erika rushed ahead. She was determined to not allow Pravda to control the match, and rather than let them force her to play on their terms, she would crush them her way.
In their haste to reach the enemy, though, many of Black Forest's tanks struggled with the terrain and their own limitations, hindering and, in some cases, stopping, their pursuit. A Panther was caught in the swamp, and taxed its engines, taking it out of the game. A Tiger I threw a track and a Tiger II's engine broke down and it was taken out of the game.
"All other tanks, press on," Erika said with forced stoicism.
Erika had learned many things about leadership at the Nishizumi school, but the most fundamental was that they were pillars of the team. Many Nishizumi practitioners, including Shiho and Erika herself, believed that any show of doubt or weakness on the leader's part would cost them the faith of their subordinates be fatal to the entire group's efforts. Maho had lost control for a moment, and her troops had rushed into a trap that she had anticipated.
So Erika chose to stand by her decisions, and believe that they would see her through to the end.
In the stands, Kazue and Carpaccio, as well as Anchovy, watched the game.
"This hardly seems like the same Black Forest that crushed us three years ago," Anchovy said dismissively, albeit aware that Anzio likely would not have stood a chance against even this "inferior" Black Forest.
"Or the same Black Forest that defeated us two years ago," Kazue said. "I suspect it's because they have a new commander this time."
"I sometimes find that difficult to believe, given some of the mistakes that they're still making," Anchovy said. "Did Black Forest learn nothing since losing to Oarai?"
Carpaccio shrugged. While Oarai had succeeded, and Pravda stood a good chance, other schools were not so lucky. Chihatan, Continuance and Waffle had all lost to Black Forest, and even Pravda had been defeated a year ago. Those schools had worked to improve their tankery, but not all of them had much to show for it.
"We learned our lessons from our defeat," Carpaccio said, "both in terms of tactics and philosophy. But in the end, we were defeated as well this time. The fact that some schools overcome significant odds to win doesn't mean that all of them will, and I'd say that Pravda is still less likely to win today."
Kazue pondered what Carpaccio had said, before shaking her head. The fact that her school had been unable to overcome its disadvantages did not diminish her belief that doing so was possible.
"If Pravda succeeds here, it won't be the most surprising turn of events this year," Kazue said. "Of course, the same goes for Black Forest."
Pravda continued to escape, pursued by Black Forest's tanks. The heavy German tanks were keeping up better than Kinue had thought, so she realized that the chase could not continue forever. They would have to reach their destination, and be prepared to fight the enemy once they did, or else they would almost certainly be defeated.
They reached a bridge over a stream that was too deep for the tanks to ford. On Kinue's order, the tanks seamlessly formed single file and crossed the bridge, which was able to support their weight, even as Black Forest shells rained down on them.
As all of Pravda's tanks crossed the bridge, those that had made it across turned and provided covering fire, although a T-34/85 was lost as Black Forest shot it from behind.
The KV-2 fired, destroying the bridge as the last Pravda tank crossed and preventing Black Forest from crossing at this point. There was another bridge nearby, but it would take time to locate and cross, giving Kinue time to plan and ambush the enemy. Her forces then withdrew in a calm, orderly manner, having eluded their foes for the moment.
On the opposite end, of the arena, with time to spare as Black Forest searched for the other bridge, Kinue found a smaller patch of dry land, albeit one that was smaller and only had some rocks. The map had seemed to indicate that it was an ideal spot to entrench and fire on the enemy, but in practice, it was too exposed.
An idea occurred to Kinue. She could use that patch to station a few tanks, including the flag tank, there and draw the enemy in, before launching an ambush that would cut down the enemy's numbers while preventing them from counterattacking effectively.
She momentarily doubted this plan. It seemed a bit too simple, and she wondered if her sister would think of anything better, much like Hiroe had effectively controlled the match against St. Gloriana two years ago. If she were up against Maho, Maho would have anticipated what she was trying to do, much like she had anticipated many of Miho's moves in the finals.
Kinue quickly put those thoughts out of her head. She was not fighting under any of those she admired, or facing off against those of whom she was in awe, but for the sake of her school, and to achieve something she wanted to achieve for herself. Black Forest was a formidable opponent, but her school had defeated them before, which was all the proof that she needed to believe that she could help her school do so again.
Author's Notes
I'd like to thank KMT4ever and Stalker117 for beta reading this.
I suspect that if Eclair admires the Nishizumi style but is not a student of the school, she tried and failed to become one in the past.
Next up is the second half of the battle.