"Marie to see Darjeeling" Marie said to the receptionist, beside her stood two taller women, her Vice President Andou and Secretary Oshida.

"Ahh yes, please follow me", the receptionist said, standing up and leading them to the Tea Room.

"I wonder why she summoned us so urgently..." Andou whispered to Marie.

"I'm sure it's probably nothing to be concerned over" Maire swallowed nervously, catching a look of concern from Andou and Oshida.

The big oak door slowly swung open as they entered the room, A chair sat facing the fireplace on the far wall, it's occupant hidden by the backrest.

"Madam Marie and the BC delegation here to see you Miss Darjeeling"

A hand appeared from the side of the chair, shooing the receptionist away, she quickly turned and left the room, closing the door with a hard thump.

Marie looked around and noticed the guards, who had been hiding out of sight, slowly approaching them.

"I DEMAND TO KNOW WHATS GOING ON" She screamed as they charged and held her and the delegation down. Struggling underneath them, she was able to look up and see the chair swivel round. The tall figure of Assam now visible.

"Miss Marie, You are hereby charged with Espionage-" Marie screamed to be let go and to plead innocence, "Kidnapping of one Miss Rukuriri and the aiding of a enemy state." Assam slowly stood up and walked towards them. "Consider this to be trial by military court tomorrow, Gloriana Parliament has authorised capital punishment. Your nation is now forfeit and to be absorbed into the gloriana state" Assam loomed over her, fear gripping marie. "May Darjeeling have mercy upon you" Assam looked at the guards. "Take them away".

Marie bawled as she was dragged away, kicking and screaming, Andou and Oshida followed in complete and fearful silence.

*Forward Operating Base Echo, 8 Miles from Oarai*

"Ma'am Assam reports Marie has been arrested, Military Police have entered into the BC republic and began dissolving and assimilating their government" Pekoe said, entering a small tent. Darjeeling and Kay were leaning over a small table covered in maps, officers were dashing around, taking and giving orders, as a nearby radio constantly crackled with reports and support requests.

"Excellent" Darjeeling looked up at Pekoe. "Kay, pass me the radio"

Darjeeling pressed the microphone, "Earl, report please"

A few seconds later it crackled back to life "All land routes out of Oarai are secure, shes trapped now" Earl Grey replied, "I also want to report that the western sectors have taken 70 miles, KMM resistance is crumbling to the north".

"Perfect, Thank you"

"No problem Ma'am"

"Oh and Earl, I've arranged for Rosehip to meet you, grid point 36.282641 -219.54234 your Cromwell has been repaired, Darjeeling out".

"Roger"

"Well Kay, lets go get her" Darjeeling said, walking towards the exit "Have your batteries soften the town Kay. Pekoe with me"

*Oarai Town Hall*

"Maho! WE NEED TO GO" Erika screamed, the building shaking around them.

"I WILL NOT RETREAT" Maho slammed her hand on the desk.

"Reports indicate combined Gloriana and Saunders forces are now only 5 miles from this location" Koume said, turning the volume of the radio she was sat at.

"Pravda are sending reinforcements and Anzio are rushing to that sector, IT WILL BE FINE" Maho's voice trembled slightly.

*BOOM*

A huge explosion shattered the window behind them, knocking the three to the floor, Maho slowly climbed to her feet, seeing the building next door collapsing in flames, soldiers sprinting to try and extinguish the fires.

*5 Miles from Oarai, Anzio Defence Line*

Anchovy sat quietly shaking in her P40. She wore her old combat uniform, washed and pressed that morning by Pepperoni, a small photograph of her, pepperoni and carpaccio clutched tightly in her hand, they were at the Oarai Tankery finals. "To our favourite 'Chovy love pep and carp" *Loveheart* scrawled on the back.

"I'm not sure this is a good idea" Amaretto said, turning towards her Duce.

"We have no other choice, if we can hold them off.." Anchovy sighed "Maho promised to return Tiramisu"

Pepperoni crackled through the tank radio, "Duce!, I can see dust in the valley, I think it's Saunders!"

"Thank you Pepperoni, Carpaccio, take position with the CVs"

"Yes Duce" Carpaccio replied.

Anchovy, began to shake more violently, "Do it for Tiramisu" she repeated in her mind.

"OH NO", she shouted, peering through the sights of the gun, "MAHO SAID THEY'D BE SHERMANS, NOT PERSHINGS"

"Uhhh Duce, what should we do? These are a lot bigger than those shermans..." Pepperoni crackled through the radio.

"Do it for Tiramisu" Anchovy replied, desperately trying to give her fleeting squad some confidence.

"FOR TIRAMISU AND THE IMPERIUM OF DUCE!" a chorus of voices replied

*Kay's Lead Sherman*

"CONTACT" Kay shouted through the radio. "I see 5 P40's, 11 CV/33's and 2 Semoventes, All with Anzio markings"

"Are they firing?" Darjeeling replied through the radio.

"No, they cant penetrate our pershing's anyway"

"Order them to stand down..."

"And if they don't?"

"You'll have no choice" Darjeeling sighed.

"ATTENTION ANZIO FORCES, THIS IS KAY OF THE COMBINED TASK FORCE, STAND DOWN OR WE WILL BE FORCED TO ENGAGE" Kay echoed through a megaphone.

She was met with a volley of fire from the P40's, Anchovy's screaming "Charge" prompting a flurry of movement from the CV/33's.

"DAMNIT" Kay ducked back into the Pershing, "Open fire!"

The several tanks behind her began to fire, knowing out several CV/33s. Kay's tank was next to fire, hiting the Semovente square on, and causing it to explode.

"CARPACCIO" Anchovy's head appeared from her P40, her hands grabbing her head, tears visible, through Kay's sights.

The CV/33's had reached the pershings, and were trying to wedge themselves under the tracks to stop the pershings advancing.

With a sickening crunch and grind of metal, the Pershings simply drove over them, using their weight to overpower and crush the tiny tankettes.

"PEPPERONI" Anchovy screamed, scramble from her tank towards the Pershings. "NO NO NO" She screamed, tears pouring from her eyes.

"WE SURRENDER" she cried, waving a small white cloth. sprinting to the burning Semovente, trying to pull the hatch open, but forced back by the flames, then to the crushed wreck of the lead CV/33, desperately clawing at the hunk of metal.

"NO NO NO, THIS IS NOT HAPPENING" she banged on the metal.

Kay, looked helplessly from her tank, disgusted by how events had happened and what was becoming of them.

"I'm sorry Carpaccio, Pepperoni, please don't leave me" continued to bang fruitlessly, "I just wanted to protect you all, now i've lost you all, I'M SORRY" she dropped to her knees, clutching the photo tightly.

Several jeeps flew past the pershings, as soldiers hopped of, subduing Anchovy, and the tank crews of the remaining tankettes and P40's.

A Centurion came flying past, flanked by multiple crusaders, prompting the Pershings to follow. "It's her" Anchovy whispered, seeing the markings of the Centurion - A gold crown, ontop of a Blue Teapot - "It's Darjeeling and Rosehip".

"Excellent work Kay" Darjeeling crackled through the radio.

"Is it really worth it" Kay replied.

"We're acting in self defence Kay, they destroyed our towns and tried to kill you, you tried to get them to surrender and they shot at you" Darjeeling sighed, "I wish it was different, but if Maho hadn't have started it, we wouldn't be in this position now"

"She doesn't look like a threat" Kay whispered, "But I understand".

"We're now two miles from the town hall, Let's move" Darjeeling popped out of the centurion hatch, waving her hand forward.

"YAHOOO" Rosehip chimed through the radio, Finally she was riding with Darjeeling again, pure joy filled her mind, almost as if she'd forgotten why she was actually there...

The sight of a burning Oarai greeted them as they crested the hill.

"Today is the day she falls" Darjeeling whispered through her radio. "Do it"