Chapter 46: Where All Roads End
How in the world do we take that thing out? Miho thought hurriedly. She quickly racked her brain trying to remember the specifications of the Maus. We should be able to break through its side armor at close range! She realized. "Hana, Mako, we need to get right beside it if we want to knock it out. Yukari, load APCR," Miho ordered.
"Are you sure we can penetrate it, Miho?" Yukari asked with uncertainty
"I think so, APCR can penetrate 182mm at a 10-meter range and the rear armor is 150mm at a slight angle. We might just penetrate it if we're lucky," Miho replied before activating her radio, "listen everyone in the second group, keep the Maus focused on you but don't get knocked out. We're going to attack the Maus from the rear. Rabbit Team, I want you to follow Anglerfish Team and knock out the Panzer III if you find it. Pheasant Team, protect the flag tank from that Panzer III."
"We shall protect you with our lives!" Fukuda declared.
"Understood Captain!" Azusa followed.
"Mako, take us down this street and turn onto the street with the Maus on it. Pheasant, protect our left, Rabbit, our right," Miho directed. The M3 Grant pulled up to cover Anglerfish's right flank while the Type 95 pulled up to cover their left flank. The tanks didn't completely cover the Panzer IV, but it gave them a little protection and completely blocked off the street. "Let's go," Miho stated.
The three tanks drove forward cautiously, looking for any possible ambush. Meanwhile, Wolf, Hippo, and Turtle Team were firing round after round into the front armor of the Maus as it lumbered forward down the street towards them. "It's too thick!" Erwin exclaimed as the StuG III slinked back into cover to reload.
"We just need to keep its fire on us, try its tracks!" Koume replied.
The turret of the Maus slowly turned to its right as it entered an intersection, toward the Semovente and StuG's corner. "Now's our chance Yuzu!" Anzu shouted urgently. Yuzu shoved the steering levers forward to round the corner and poked the 105mm gun of the Sav M/43 just enough for Anzu to get a shot. The gun flashed and the large shell slammed into the left track of the Maus. The track came undone and the Maus's driver quickly stopped the super heavy tank to avert the damage.
"What? Why'd you stop?" Sangou asked as her Panzer III halted behind the Maus.
"They got our left track!" Mauko answered irately, "we're gonna get them for that!"
Miho's group rounded the corner and saw the halted Maus and the Panzer III. "There they are! Fire at will!" Miho ordered.
"They're behind us!" Sangou exclaimed.
Fukuda and Ayumi quicked fired their guns into the rear of the Panzer III. The tank was knocked out in a show of smoke and sparks. The Panzer IV halted and Hana tried to aim at the Maus. "I can only hit the back of the turret!" she exclaimed as she leveled the gun on the Maus.
"Hit it!" Miho ordered hastily.
The Panzer IV fired a round into the back of the Maus, but the round just shattered against the rear of the turret. "It's too thick!" Hana exclaimed.
The turret of the Maus started to slowly rotate. "I'm going to get you!" Mauko shouted. Miho's eyes widened in fear as the massive turret rotated slowly but surely toward them.
"Aya hit the turret ring with HE!" Azusa ordered.
Saki slammed an HE shell into Aya's 37mm gun. Aya quickly followed it with a shot to the Maus's turret base. A small explosion briefly erupted on the hull, but the turret kept rotating. "Karina, ram their gun!" Asuza ordered.
"Ram?!" Karina squeaked. She quickly composed herself and shoved the steering levers forward. The M3 Grant rushed forward and the tall height matched up with the Maus's long gun. Sparks flew when they made contact and the M3 overpowered the turret drive. Horrible crunching sounds filled the air as the drive fought to rotate the turret but failed.
"Momo, HEAT, Yuzu, poke out!" Anzu demanded. The Sav M/43 poked out from cover. The side of the turret was nearly perfectly perpendicular to the 105mm gun. Once the breach clicked shut, Anzu took her chance and fired.
The large shell crashed into the slightly angled turret armor and exploded with a massive, fiery blast. The turret drive ceased operation and the engine died out. When the smoke cleared, the Maus had a small white flag on its roof. "Yes!" Anzu cheered.
"Thank goodness…" Miho mumbled. She took a deep breath and activated her radio. "Great work everyone. Nice shot Anzu, great improvisation Asuza."
"Thank you, captain," Azusa replied, "now let's get their flag tank!"
Miho nodded determinedly. "Right, everyone let's get into an ambush position and lead them into an ambush!" she directed.
"Sorry we're late!" Nakajima called out. The Porsche Tiger and KV-1K of Leopon and Mongrel Team entered the street and stopped just before the intersection.
Laika whistled as she saw the smoking Maus wreckage. "Wow, that is a massive tank. Must've taken some work to take it out. Sorry we didn't get here in time to help," she apologized.
"It's fine, what we need to do now is bait out the enemy flag tank. It won't be easy, but we might be able to bait them out if we lure them into a one-on-one duel. I have the perfect place for it too," Miho explained.
"Are you sure you want to take Maho on your own?" Koume asked.
"We don't have a choice. Otherwise, we'd have to take out each of their tanks directly and that might not be possible," Miho replied, "does everyone see the gated apartment complex on the other side of town?" When everyone pulled out their maps and found it, she continued, "we're going to have to lead their flag tank to it and then block off the entrance. I think Leopon Team is the best choice for a roadblock."
Nakajima nodded in agreement. "Our tank is heavy so even if they try to move us, it'll take a while," she added.
"We'll lead them there with Pheasant and Anglerfish Team. We have the best speed and agility of everyone left. Our casemates will pick them off one by one at various ambush points along the route. After the first point, I want Mongrel Team to begin pursuing them to prevent them from reversing away to find an alternate route. We'll start by baiting them onto the riverside streets and then to the complex in a staircase pattern to prevent any long stretch of sight. Does everyone see what I'm getting at?" Miho explained.
"Let's go with it," Anzu said, "Miho's got us this far. I have faith in her."
All the commanders agreed. The casemates coordinated their ambush points and alternated specific positions to catch Kuromormine off guard. "And once we've baited the flag tank away, the rest of our tanks will eliminate the bunched-up tanks at the roadblock. Baiji, Medaka, I want you to leave your positions and move toward the roadblock. Wildcat Team, get the roadblock sighted and be ready to fire on it once Leopon Team confirms that it is blocked," Miho directed.
"Alright, we're on our way!" Canaveral replied. Over the radio, Miho could hear their engines firing up and driving off.
Miho took a deep breath. "Alright everyone, proceed to your positions," she ordered. All the tanks started moving and dispersed in various directions down the streets, leaving Pheasant Team and Anglerfish Team alone with the wrecks of the Panzer III and Maus. "Let's go Fukuda follow me and protect our rear," Miho directed.
"Yes ma'am!" Fukuda replied with determination. The Panzer IV and Type 95 turned toward the street where the river that Oarai had previously got stuck in far downstream met the city. Then they turned downstream where they anticipated Kuromormine would advance from. It wasn't long before they reached the edge of the city. Miho climbed onto the top of her cupola and pulled out her binoculars. In the far distance, she saw them. What was left of Kuromomine's team, the Tiger I flag tank, a Tiger II she assumed to be Erika's, the Kugelblitz, the remaining Jagdtiger, three Panthers, two Jadpanzer IV/70(V)s, and two Brummbärs, eleven tanks in total. They had been pretty successful in winding down Kuromorimine's. Now they just had to isolate the flag tank and take it out.
Miho jumped back down into her cupola. "Hana, get their attention with an HE round," she ordered.
Hana and Yukari nodded. While Yukari grabbed a shell and loaded it, Hana prepared the gun and focused on her gunsight. Once the breach clicked shut, she fired the gun. The shell soared through the air in a large arc, covering a large distance before it hit the ground and detonated in front of Kuromormine's force.
Maho pulled out her own binoculars without flinching and saw the Panzer IV with the Type 95. "There is their flag tank," she stated. She noted that it was alone, except for the Type 95. They're likely preparing for a trap. But their numbers are too small for more than one ambush. Let's meet them head-on, she determined. "Everyone, Oarai is likely trying to lead us into an ambush to eliminate our tanks in one last battle. Let's entertain them and overpower their ambush," she informed.
Erika looked at her map. "They're likely going to lead us into the complex and eliminate us all there once we are trapped. It's impossible to enter in any other direction other than the main one," she explained.
Maho nodded. "Nonetheless, we should be able to overcome their ambush and eliminate their flag tank, especially if we concentrate our fire on it while it leads us in. Everyone, pursue the flag tank but be prepared for a large ambush," she ordered.
"Yes ma'am!" replied Kuromormine's tank commanders. As the tanks rolled forward, Maho and Miho's eyes met through their binoculars. Slowly, they both lowered their binoculars and watched each other's moves like two gladiators waiting for the other to make the first move.
"All tanks, concentrate fire on the Panzer IV!" Maho demanded. As the cannons roared in response, Maho felt something boiling in her for the first time in years. Passion, anticipation, excitement… She let go of her stoic, calculated facade and let a smile creep onto her face. "Okay Miho… let the best captain win," she whispered.
Mako spun the Panzer IV around quickly. Pheasant Team's Type 95 followed. Both of the tanks' turrets spun around with their gunners at the ready. The drivers slammed down their levers and the tanks sped off in time for them to miss the volley of fire. The shells crashed into the buildings and the street. Smoke and fire covered the street behind them as they rushed toward the first ambush point.
Erika's Tiger II was the first break through the smoke. The German heavy tank was followed by the three remaining Panther tanks. "Alright, everyone behind me, aim your guns to the left and right to catch any tanks waiting to ambush us," Erika ordered.
"Yes ma'am!" the Panther commanders replied.
"Tank destroyers and assault guns, join us at the front!" Erika added.
As the Panthers rotated their turrets and moved aside, the heavy Jagdtiger came to the front to join the Tiger II. The rest of the casemates followed when Maho interrupted them, "Erika, I will be the spearhead."
Erika looked back at the Tiger I as it started to catch up to the formation and join the front. "What? Captain, are you sure? You might get tar-"
"I am aware," Maho interrupted, "but I cannot hide behind my force any longer. It's not the Nishizumi style, especially when offered a direct challenge."
Erika stared as Maho passed her. "I-I understand," she replied. She switched her radio to crew-only mode. "Listen, everyone, do everything to knock out any tank that even looks at the flag tank, understood?!" she stated aggressively.
As Anglerfish and Pheasant Team rounded a street corner, the first ambush point came into view. At first, it looked like a normal intersection. Mako veered the Panzer IV to the left when they entered the intersection and was quickly followed by Pheasant Team. The Tiger quickly followed and veered left. "Fire on the flag tank!" Erwin demanded. The StuG III was parked close to a building at the right turn of the intersection. The 75mm gun fired loudly, but as the shell flew out of the barrel, a Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) passed in front of it and took the hit. "Reload, quick!" she ordered.
Thankfully, the Jagdpanzer IV/70 had stopped right in front of them so they could act as cover. "Oryou, drive us around the Jagdpanzer," Erwin ordered.
Oryou nodded and pushed her levers forward. The assault gun pulled forward to the right and rounded the front of the Jagdpanzer IV. As the tank settled, the last of Kuromormine's tanks rounded the next corner of the intersection ahead of them. "Alright, let's pursue them!" Erwin decided.
To their left, Mongrel Team entered the intersection. Laika quickly waved before their tank turned to follow Kuromormine. "Oryou, follow Mongrel Team!" Erwin exclaimed.
Anglerfish Team passed a cinderblock wall blocking an alleyway at the next intersection. "Attack!" Anzu shouted as Kuromormine's tanks passed on the other side. Yuzu shoved her levers forward and the Sav M/43 surged forward, knocking down the cinderblock wall in a shower of concrete dust. The moment she saw something in her sight, Anzu pulled her trigger, and the M/43's gun fired. The Kugelblitx burst into flames as it was blasted with a 105mm HEAT round. "Turn right a little!" Anzu demanded. While Yuzu quickly adjusted the tank to the right, Momo slammed another round into the gun. Right in front of them a Brummbär at the end of the enemy formation started skidding to a stop. Anzu slammed down the trigger before the enemy got a chance to retaliate and knocked out the Brummbär. "Alright, let's follow the rest!" Anzu exclaimed. As Turtle Team pulled forward, Mongrel and Hippo Team entered the intersection.
"Just one more turn…" Miho whispered. She ducked as a shell whizzed past her head. "Just one more…" she whispered anxiously. She looked back and saw the Tiger I's 88mm gun bearing down on her. She grit her teeth and winced as it looked to be perfectly aligned with her Panzer IV. As the gun fired, Mako yanked her levers to turn left one last time and the Panzer IV veered left away from the shell that zoomed past. Miho risked a look away from her pursuers to look ahead. Just as she planned, the lone entrance of the complex was ahead. "Get ready Leopon!" she called out over the radio.
"Ready Miho!" Nakajima called back.
She smiled lightly as she turned back to look behind her. "Alright Fukuda, cover our rear!" she directed.
"You got it Miho!" Fukuda replied. The Type 95 fell in line behind the Panzer IV to block any shots that would take out their flag tank on the last stretch.
Back at the intersection, a bus blocked Wolf Team from the view of anyone approaching from ahead of them. "Take out the first tank you can!" Koume exclaimed.
"Right!" Carpaccio responded. As the Tiger I and Tiger II turned away from them, Wolf Team's gunsight fell on the remaining Jagdtiger. "You're mine!" Carpaccio declared while firing the cannon. The shell flew through the air and crashed into the Jagdtiger's track. The heavy tank destroyer screeched to a halt suddenly. Then, the last Brummbär behind it crashed into it.
"Use the bus as a shield!" Koume ordered to her driver. The Semavente pulled back and reversed behind the bus. The Jagdtiger lined up its massive gun and fired. The shell tore into the bus, sending fire and sparks as the shell exploded, but the Semavente was unharmed.
The right sides of the Jagdtiger and Brummbär burst into flames as they were hit by a flurry of fire. From behind, the Sav M/43 and StuG III approached while the KV-1K approached from the street Koume's left. "Just a few more, come on!" Laika exclaimed.
Koume smiled. "Right, let's go!" she called out.
The Panzer IV raced into the tunnel that would lead them to the gated complex, followed by Fukuda. "Now Tsuchiya!" Nakajima ordered. If we reverse from here, we should make it just after the Tiger I passes by…
The Tiger I sped past the alleyway Leopon Team was hiding in and entered the tunnel. The Porsche engines and motors whined loudly as they strained in reverse. "Activate the EPS!" Nakajima ordered. Suddenly, the motors screamed as more power was forced through and the tank reversed even faster. Then, with precise movement, the heavy tank slid in front of the tunnel as its tracks stopped and sparked. The turret whined as it rotated forward to face what remained of Kuromormine's team, Erika's Tiger II, three Panthers, and a Jagdpanzer IV/70(V). "Wildcat, Hoshino fire!"
Both of the 88mm cannons facing each other fired. Leopon's shell hit the front armor of the Tiger II and bounced into the air. The Tiger II's shell crashed into the front, flatter armor of the Porsche Tiger's turret, and knocked out the tank. "Oh well… our job is done anyway," Nakajima said sadly. "We've blocked the tunnel, Miho. Good luck," she radioed.
Erika grit her teeth and growled as she glared at the wreck of the Porsche Tiger. "That useless prototype is blocking the only way in! Damn it!" she spat while resisting the urge to punch her periscope in frustration. Suddenly, she was pulled from her anger when the ground behind her exploded and threw up dirt and debris everywhere. She clamped her hands over her ears as the thundering scream of the explosion shook everyone's tanks.
As if things couldn't get worse, the last Jagdpanzer IV/70 was shaken by an explosion on its left side that knocked the tank destroyer out. Down the street, the StuG III and Sav M/43 approached with smoking guns. "Left, left!" Erika shouted. The turrets of the Tiger II and Panthers rotated slowly to the right when the rightmost Panther was hit by a pair of 75mm shells into its side armor.
"Just in time!" Canaveral yelled from her commander's hatch of her M4 Sherman. Medaka and Baiji Team were parked on the road to Erika's right with smoking guns.
Finally, the last two Panthers were hit by a volley of fire from behind. Rabbit, Wolf, and Mongrel Team stood behind them triumphantly with smoking guns. "No, no!" Erika screamed. Before anyone had reloaded, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air. Erika looked up slowly at her cupola hatch. She couldn't see the incoming 8-inch shell, but she could hear it get closer and closer. The massive shell slammed into the turret roof of the Tiger II with a thundering roar. The tank exploded in a ball of fire and smoke. Sparks flew as it was consumed by the fireball.
"Nice shot Victoria, you got the vice-captain," Li Ming informed.
Victoria smiled triumphantly. "The eagle has been avenged," she stated.
Miho covered her face with her arms as dust and debris fell from the building next to her as a shell from her pursuer tore into the concrete. She quickly looked back to see the 88mm cannon of the Tiger I stared Anglerfish Team down. "Fukuda, after their next shot fall back to get between the buildings on the Tiger's right and the Tiger. We're going to veer right at one of the next intersections and I want you to force the Tiger to keep going forward," Miho directed.
Fukuda bit her lip anxiously but slowly nodded. "Alright, we'll do our best!" she replied, "Tatsu put us between the buildings on the right and the Tiger!"
The Type 95 slowed down, catching Maho's attention. "Stay focused on the flag tank, just don't let the 95 get our tracks," she ordered.
As the Type 95 slipped between the Tiger I and the building, Miho gave her next order, "Mako veer right, then make a left turn and turn us around the block ahead so we come face to face with the Tiger, Yukari, load APCR," Miho ordered.
Mako slowly turned the tank to the left side of the street and slowed down to let the Tiger I get close. "They're gaining on us!" Saori called out as she poked out the hatch.
"That's the plan," Mako replied dryly, "hold on." She suddenly slammed the left lever back, causing the tank to veer right. Before Maho could even react, the Panzer IV was already flying around the corner.
"Turn right!" Maho ordered, but the tank was already halfway through the intersection and the Type 95 obstructed their path. "Wait, keep going forward!" Maho corrected. They could've pushed Pheasant Team aside, but it would've delayed them enough to miss the corner anyway.
"Yes, we did it!" Fukuda celebrated, "Tatsu, pull us back to get behind the Tiger I!"
Tatsu pulled the tank back to pull behind the tank. "Alright, knock out their tracks!" she called out.
Fukuda picked up a 37mm HE shell and loaded it into the gun. Then she looked through the gunsight and grabbed the gun's grip. "Steady now…" she mumbled.
Maho glanced back at the Type 95 and saw the gun aiming down toward her tracks. "Driver, move side to side to avoid the Type 95's fire!" she ordered. "Gunner focus ahead and fire at will, loader Panzergrante 39!"
The Tiger I veered left just in time to miss Fukuda's shot. The 37mm shell crashed into the ground and exploded harmlessly. As they neared a corner where they would have to turn right, Anglerfish Team spun around the corner with their gun aimed right at the Tiger I's front armor. "Right!" Maho directed. Just as the Panzer IV settled, the Tiger I veered to the right and crawled over the curb. It knocked down a streetlight as it raced past the Panzer IV.
"Hold your fire!" Miho ordered. Hana quickly took her finger off the trigger as Pheasant Team came into her gunsight. "Drive forward and turn left at the next intersection Mako. Hana, aim the turret left. Fukuda keep following Maho," Miho directed.
The Type 95 drove past the Panzer IV and tried to catch up to Maho. The Panzer IV surged forward again and turned left at the next intersection. Hana rushed to spin the turret to the left as they turned onto the next street. The engine roared as the tank rushed to catch up to Maho. As they reached the second block from the intersection, the Tiger I came into view down the street, racing down the parallel street in the same direction as Anglerfish Team. "Fire!" Miho ordered.
Both tanks fired down the street but were already passed it when the
shells impacted the ground near where they used to be. Their loaders strained to load another shell before the next street. Their guns fired again, each sending a shell toward their opponent, but the shells failed to hit their target again.
Meanwhile, Fukuda closed in on the Tiger I's tracks. Maho spared a look backward to see the light tank aiming at the track again. "Gunner, forget about the Panzer IV for a moment, take out the Type 95 behind us," Maho ordered.
At the next intersection. The gunner rotated the turret further to the right to face the Type 95. Fukuda gulped as she stared down the 88mm gun. Stay strong, we're not done yet! she encouraged to herself. "Tatsu back and forth again!" she called out. As the tank started veering again, she compensated her aim to stay close to the treads. Then the 88mm flashed. In the split second she had to react, she squeezed the trigger, hoping that the hastily aimed shot would connect.
The 88mm round blasted the front armor of the Type 95, completely destroying it and knocking it out. The tank slid to a stop as the Tiger I pulled away. Fukuda shook her head to gather herself and looked at the Tiger I through her gun sight. She sighed with disappointment as the track looked intact. "We did all we could do," she whispered. "Miho, we've been knocked out, good luck with the Tiger!" Fukuda called out.
Miho frowned as she saw the Tiger alone as they traded shots over a side street once more. "Mako try to speed ahead, if we put enough space between us, we can turn onto the side street and stop to get a better shot!" Miho instructed.
"Understood!" Mako and Hana replied determinedly. The Panzer IV's engine whined as it picked up speed and RPMs rose. After just one block, the difference was starting to show as Anglerfish Team was nearly across the opening before the Tiger even began crossing. "Alright, at the next intersection!" Miho ordered.
As the Panzer IV entered the intersection, Mako slammed back on her left lever and the tank spun to the left. As it screeched to a halt, the gun settled, and Hana diligently focused on the crossing ahead. But the Tiger never entered the intersection ahead. Miho grit her teeth and listened for the Tiger's engine through the Panzer IV's engine sound. Just in time, she heard a slight change indicating it turning on the block beside them. "They made a left turn, reverse the tank backward and turn the turret left!" Miho instructed.
Just as the Panzer IV pulled backward onto the street, the Tiger rounded the corner. Once again, both guns pointed at each other as the tanks screeched to a halt. They fired at each other, sending shockwaves through the air with their blinding flash. The 88mm shell sheared away the Panzer IV's right hull Schürzen skirt in an instantaneous flash of sparks. The 75mm shell impacted the side of the Tiger's turret and left a nasty scorch mark and dent but failed to penetrate.
"Forward!" Miho called out. The Panzer IV raced forward to put some distance between itself and the Tiger.
"After it!" Maho followed. The Tiger lurched forward into the intersection to pursue the Panzer IV.
"Right!" Miho called out as they raced down the street. Just as the Tiger straightened itself on the street behind them, Anglerfish Team veered right to avoid another round that sailed into the building behind them. A cloud of concrete dust coated the T-intersection before the Tiger rushed through the cloud in pursuit of its prey.
The turret of the Panzer IV spun around quickly at the next intersection. The guns sparred again, trading another blow in vain to knock out their opponents. This time they completely missed each other in part because they were moving, and the guns bounced around like leaves in the wind. As they raced down the street trading shots back and forth with nothing to show except for scorch marks and debris scattered across the street in their wake.
The Panzer IV neared the end of the street as it dodged another round. "Keep following the street Mako, I'll find us an opening!" Miho called out. In the corner of her eye, she saw the exterior portion of the Nahverteidigungswaffe grenade launcher that was mounted to the roof of the turret. Maybe I could use the Nahverteidigungswaffe to gain an advantage… As they neared the corner, she slipped inside the turret to hurriedly load a flare pistol into the breech with a Schnellnebelkerze 39 smoke grenade inside it.
"Gunner, fire a high explosive round into a building on the left of the Panzer IV's path around the corner ahead," Maho ordered. The gun of the Tiger raised into the air away from the Panzer IV and fired after it was loaded with the high explosive shell. The round flew over the shorter buildings on their right and into the building on the perpendicular street's left. The walls and roof of the top floor collapsed as the explosive destroyed portions of their support. The debris crashed onto the street below with an earsplitting sound of concrete, steel, and wood crunching. The Panzer IV screeched to a halt with the destruction blocking its way. Miho looked back at the Tiger and its gun with fear coursing through her body. For a moment it seemed that she was paralyzed when she grabbed the flare pistol's grip and slammed the trigger down. The smoke grenade whizzed out of the port and exploded above the ground, filling the area with smoke.
"Halt and fire regardless!" Maho ordered. The tracks of the Tiger I screeched to a halt. As the tank gun settled in the smoke, an armor-piecing round was loaded before it fired blindly. Maho hoped to hear the declaration of Kuromormine's victory over her radio, but it was swept away when the rear of the Panzer IV came into view. The left Schürzen skirt impacted the right corner of the Tiger's hull as the Panzer IV reversed past them. The steel screeched terribly as it was pulled off its mounts and fell to the ground next to the Tiger. Despite this, the Panzer IV still passed behind it. "Stop and fire into its rear!" Miho commanded triumphantly.
While Mako reversed off the sidewalk, the tank crushed a bench and a trash can. The rear of the tank rose into the area as it went over the debris of the street fixtures and fell onto the street below the sidewalk curb. The tank shook as it did so and Miho bounced around at her post. Just after she gave her command, her head slammed into the edge of her cupola and the turret roof hard. Her steel helmet was dented from the impact and she started seeing stars as her vision blurred.
"Miho are you okay?!" Yukari called out in fear.
"Mako keep reversing, get us away from the Tiger so Miho can recover!" Hana demanded and taking her hand off her grip to hold Miho steady.
"N-no, take t-them ooutt," Miho slurred through her injury.
"Miho, just breath and stay steady," Hana instructed, climbing out of her seat to better hold Miho.
"W-why didn't you fire…" Miho whispered, "that was a perfect shot…"
"You're more important Miho. You weren't ready for the recoil and if you hit your head again…" Hana answered with concern.
"Damn it!" Miho screamed, "you could've worried about me after you saved our school!" Tears started to form in her eyes as she looked like she was losing control of herself. "I don't care if I get hurt! I don't care at all! It doesn't matter at all if I get hurt as long as everyone wins! I. Don't. Matter!" she screamed.
Saori, Yukari, and Hana looked at Miho with anxiety and concern. Mako was looking around out of her hatch to reverse the tank around, visualizing the street around them, but struggling against the concern for her commander as well. "Miho, no! You do matter! You're our friend and our commander!" Yukari exclaimed emotionally.
"You're a girlfriend and a mother, You are important!" Saori added with tears of her own forming.
"We need you! We need you right now! And you can't be a commander if you're hurt! Ross doesn't want you to be hurt! You can't be Natalie's mother if your hurt! Please, don't say things like that!" Hana affirmed.
Miho around her at her friends. Her head was shook the impact, but she slowly started to regain herself. Her self-doubt still dominated her thoughts. She didn't feel worthy of the wonderful people around her, but that didn't seem to stop their concerned, warm eyes from reassuring her slightly.
Miho, you shouldn't judge your own worth based on what other people say… Ultimately only you can decide if you want to see yourself as a failure, but if you want my opinion, I think the fact that you put yourself in actual danger over artificial tank shells shows the opposite.
Her eyes widened as she remembered his sweet words of reassurance. Her friends around her, the people who supported her, the people she loved and loved her back… and the people who needed her now. Her look hardened and she steeled herself once more. "Thank you everyone… Let's finish this," she stated determinedly as she stood back up in her cupola.
Her crew smiled and turned back to the task at hand. Mako had turned the tank around and had driven a few blocks away from the streets they were previously dueling with the Tiger on. Miho turned around and saw the Tiger I still following them as they entered a plaza with a stone brick pedestal in the center. "Loop around the pedestal, we're going to finish this," Miho decided.
The Panzer IV sped towards the pedestal. Mako had the levers slammed down to their maxim, nearly level with the hull floor in front of her. Then she pulled the left lever back slightly to dodge the pedestal and then switched the position of the levers so that the tank quickly raced around the pedestal in a quick right turn. As the Tiger I entered the plaza, the Panzer IV's gun fired while screeching to a stop. The shell bounced off the roof of the hull because of the poor angle of attack while the Tiger I sped to the opposite side of the pillar. "Turn to face them Mako!" Miho ordered. As the Tiger I stopped on the side with the pedestal blocking their guns, Miho could only see the cupola of the Tiger when she looked out of her cupola.
The Tiger I stopped and was only a short distance away from the pedestal. Miho and Maho stared at each other. "There is no running away in the Nishizumi Style. We must finish this here," Maho declared.
Miho glared at Maho determinedly. "I accept your challenge!" she shouted back. Her hand snapped up to her throat to activate her radio. "Mako, reverse as far back as you can then speed forward to the pedestal and drive around to the left with as much speed as you can on my signal Hana, fire an HE round into the turret ring. After that, Yukari load an AP round. Keep driving around Mako and drift us around to the Tiger's rear. Saori, fill that gunsight with lead," Miho instructed.
"Affirmative," Mako replied.
"I will put everyone's feelings into these shots," Hana added, pressing her face against the gunsight. Yukari simply slammed another shell into the gun determinedly.
"Panzer vor!" Miho shouted. The Panzer IV lurched forward and raced to the pedestal. It picked up a surprising amount of speed before it veered to the left. Sparks flew from the tracks simply because of the sheer speed. The turret of the Tiger I started to rotate, tracking the Panzer IV like an apex predator tracking its prey, perfectly, and precisely.
"Fire!" both Nishizumi commanders ordered. The guns fired at the same time. The shells traveled through the air toward their targets, but the Panzer IV was moving too fast for the gunner to keep up and the Tiger's shell barely missed. Anglerfish Team's shell blasted the joint between the Tiger turret and hull precisely and a horrible grinding sound filled the air.
Somehow though, the turret still slowly rotated after the Panzer IV. "Drift now!" Miho demanded. The seemingly impossible task began as Mako managed to make the tracks lose some grip with her immense skill. The tank spun to the right but still maintained its inertia to the left and spun around the Tiger I. Sparks and suspension wheels flew into the air as the tracks started to fall apart dramatically. The Panzer IV managed to keep going and started grinding to a stop behind the Tiger I. In Hana's gunsight was the rear armor of the Tiger I just as the Tiger I's turret started to catch up. Whoever could fire first would be the victor. As the Panzer IV's gun fired, the flash showed up in the Tiger I's gun sight for a microsecond, causing her to fire the gun regardless if she had a shot or not.
As the round hit their targets, a blast of fire and smoke covered the two tanks. Smoke filled the area and blotted out the screens showing the dramatic finale. The JSF's officials looked rapidly between their sensors and screens trying to figure out who won. "I've got Oarai's flag tank as knocked out!" one of them called out.
"That's not right, I have the Kuromormine flag tank knocked out!" another called out.
"Wait for the damn smoke to clear!" Ami Chono shouted.
Everyone watched tensely at the screens waiting for the call of victory. Ross could barely stand to stare at the television in front. He leaned forward slightly in prayer, Lord, please give them their rightful victory… he prayed.
William watched with his fists clenched as he rode the tank transport hauling his wreck of a tank back to the preparation lot. Below him, the rest of Oarai and the Freikorp watched tensely. Joseph had crushed a can of cola in his hand, while Duck Team had formed a human chain, holding each other's hands in comfort and reassurance. "Come on Miho, I know you can win…" William whispered hopefully.
The smoke slowly started to clear, both at the scene of the duel and on the screens. Miho and Maho were staring at their posts, in a frozen position with their hands clenching their cupola's edges. Both of them were covered in smoke marks and sweat. The rear armor of the Tiger I was warped, scorched, and pierced by the 75mm Panzergranate 39 of the Panzer IV's gun. The right corner of the Panzer IV was warped, scorched, and smoking like the Tiger I's rear, but it was not penetrated.
And the pure white flag of elimination waved daintily over the Tiger I flag tank of Kuromormine, while the Panzer IV's white flag was absent. Realization poured over the Nishizumi sisters as they stared at each other silently. Everyone was completely, utterly, totally silent as they watched history being made.
"You did it you crazy son of a bitch, you did it!" Joseph shouted while spiking his crushed soda can onto the ground and raising one of his fists triumphantly.
"Hell yeah!" Melitta shouted while jumping onto him to high-five his fist. Oarai's supporters and crew members broke out into celebratory cheers of victory.
"Kuromormine's flag tank has been eliminated. Oarai Co-ed Academy is the victor! Oarai Co-ed Academy is the 63rd National Sensha-do Champions!" Ami Chono declared.
Momo had nearly collapsed on the spot. She was completely in tears and diving down to the driver's compartment of the Sav M/43 to cling onto Yuzu. "Your crying way too much," Yuzu jabbed lightly while holding Momo with a smile.
Ross stared silently at the television screen. An infographic popped onto the bottom of the screen reading, Oarai Co-ed Academy is the champion of the 63rd National Japanese High School Games. An ungodly amount of emotion flooded his body. Relieve, triumph, pride, appreciation, love, exhilaration, excitement, many of these could describe how he felt. But, as much as he is a responsible student, father, and tank commander, he is still a teenage boy…
"Damn she's hot when she wins," Ross stated bluntly, almost unconsciously as the footage focused on Miho.
000
It's over…
Next time, on the final chapter of Girls und Panzer: Tank Aces!
Chapter 47: Who We Are and Who We Will Be