Megumi had gathered in the meeting room that morning as if she was preparing everything. She was pacing back and forth, trying to figure out how to play the angles in the schizophrenic nature of the meeting coming up. This was going to be between their friends, Riccioli and Earl Gray. She was trying her best to get everything set up beforehand and she was just waiting for Kay to come in and attend the meeting to represent the school. A knock was heard as Megumi lifted her head up to hear the knocking.
"Come in." Megumi told whoever was at the door they could open it. The door opened to see Kay stumble into the room and Megumi was curious to what was going on. "What's going on? You look like you didn't get any sleep last night." Megumi began. Kay looked at her friend as her eyes were heavy, tired and in need of a picker up before she looked at Megumi.
"Party last night as it went on." Kay replied. She opened the mini fridge and pulled out a can of soda. She cracked it open and began to drink. "And on." Kay took another sip from the can. Megumi looked at her friend as if Kay wasn't well and couldn't be presented at the meeting.
"Kay you shouldn't be partying all night, especially if we have very important guests coming over. This would determine the alliance that we're going to get." Megumi told Kay that behavior like this should be prohibited. "Get some sleep, you look exhausted. I'll take over for you." Megumi told Kay that she wasn't going to be represented for this meeting and instead needed some sleep. Kay nodded before she finished her soda can. She stumbled out of the room while Megumi watched her. Kay wasn't well, almost as if she was acting drunk. There was another knock on the door, but Megumi was hesitant about answering it as she thought Kay had come back. "Who is it?" Megumi would ask.
"It's Azumi and I got my friends with me. Are we ready to have the meeting?" Azumi told her name to see if the door was open. Megumi walked over and she opened the door to let Azumi and her friends inside. Azumi walked in first followed by Rumi then Earl Gray and Riccioli came last. The five of them then sat down at the table and they all began speaking to each other.
"Yes, we are now." Megumi softly replied. Rumi laughed before she began speaking next.
"So, you guys know what this meeting is about?" Rumi asked Megumi why they were able to call them over.
"So, the meeting is about Riccioli and the Anzio-Kebab war that she had yesterday." Megumi began. She turned to Riccioli who began speaking next.
"Yes, the war actually went better than we expected. It was the guerilla fighters that kept launching attacks within our inside that were bringing us down. Plus, this was the first time we really used airplanes for usefulness." Riccioli explained that the war went better than she had anticipated. "We were able to force their hand to the negotiating table and we got what we wanted."
"Any reaction from Gisela and Manami?" Megumi asked Riccioli.
"Manami was concerned as she thinks if we defeat them, the smaller schools are just going to pounce on Kebab as Ankara's school is weak at this point and loaded with strife. We decided to take advantage of it and Gisela was enraged as she wanted a strong Kebab. Kebab is ready to collapse at this point and so is your so-called Dual Alliance, the students from the schools involved want their own way to prosperity, not whatever you tell them." Riccioli explained their reactions and what everyone was feeling. She continued to speak. "It was from this day forward I learned, maybe Alexandra was right. Gisela isn't one to be trusted or listened to. Only reason I joined her and Manami in the first place was purely for defensive reasons. Now seeing that Gisela isn't one to make friends, so I left the alliance."
"You left them?" Rumi asked, Rumi was shocked to see Anzio drop out of the alliance.
"Yes, Anzio felt like it wasn't getting its fair share of the spoils, so we left but this leaves us between a rock and a hard place. We need new allies." Riccioli explained what had happened and why this was going to lead to a bit of a bumpy road ahead. Earl Gray began to think about it while trying to figure out what to do in a situation such as this.
"So, it's clear that the alliance consists of myself, Rumi, Megumi and Madeleine and with things growing tense, we're looking to begin expanding to counteract Kuromorimine which had beaten us in a war at the beginning of the year, took something from us that we want back and the possibility of war with them is looming again." Azumi explained her fears to why she wanted to begin expanding the alliance to include more members.
"Sounds simple, but we need a way to be able to match them in heavy tank power." Earl Gray added on before she took a sip of her tea. Azumi looked at Earl Gray and she began to reflect on what she just said.
"You should do something no St. Gloriana commander would do. Ally with BC Freedom and use its dreadnoughts to balance it out." Azumi told Earl Gray that the two schools should ally together and use their heavy tanks to put pressure on Kuromorimine. Riccioli was listening to this as she also remembered something.
"I also read this morning that Manami is slowing down the production of heavy tanks as the program is starting to become too costly for them." Riccioli announced that Kuromorimine was beginning to slow down.
"They are. Looks like it was time as Darjeeling was implementing the 1:2 ratio on heavy tanks meaning for every heavy tank Kuromorimine ordered, we would order two more. As this would get them to slow down when they realize we have more heavy tanks than they do." Earl Gray happily replied that the arms race was beginning to slow down.
"Darjeeling's got a plan but I think she would be confident to learn that Kuromorimine is finally grinding to a halt." Azumi replied.
"She does but I thought she was just a little late to it." Earl Gray added. Megumi realized the conversation was getting off course and she decided to begin speaking about it.
"The conversation is getting a little off topic and we should head back to the topic of interest and that is getting Riccioli and Earl Gray into the alliance to prepare for a potential war against Kuromorimine." Megumi told them that they were beginning to deviate a little too far off course and they should get back to what mattered most. "So, Earl Gray and Riccioli, would you like to join our alliance?" Earl Gray was scratching the back of her head while Riccioli was thinking of what to say. She began to speak first.
"We don't know about it. We just got out of the alliance with Kuromorimine and we would like some time to discuss it." Riccioli told Megumi that they just got out of the alliance with Kuromorimine and they wanted to see where they were going to go with it, either continue the alliance with them or take Megumi's offer. Earl Gray also wasn't so sure about it either.
"Maybe?" Earl Gray's word was a mutter, she didn't know what this alliance was going to have for them and what it was going to be for. Megumi knew she had to be patient before she began speaking again.
"Take your time you two, there is no rush." Megumi calmly told them that there was nothing to rush over in terms. "But you should decide on this quickly as war with Kuromorimine is right around the corner." Megumi wasn't exactly sure about what might happen with them and Kuromorimine, war could come the next day, the next week, the next month or not at all. She was definitely still having her fear. Then her phone began to ring as Milica was calling her. "Hello?"
"This is Milica." Milica began speaking to Megumi.
"What is it, Milica?" Megumi asked her if there was anything going on between her and the alliance.
"Yes. The Balkan League has declared war on Kebab." Milica told Megumi that the war with Kebab had begun.
"That's terrific, how is the war going?" Megumi asked Milica as Kebab was having another war right after its war with Anzio.
"The Kebab students are exhausted and we're getting easy victories against them. Anzio definitely tired them out yesterday." Milica told Megumi that the alliance was winning against an exhausted enemy. Megumi nodded.
"Great, when do you expect this war to be over?" Megumi asked Milica if she had a time when this war was going to wrap up. Milica began to think about it.
"Hopefully this afternoon. Sofia is taking Ankara head on, and she is going ham with her. I think time is running out for Ankara." Milica replied with the best time guess she could think about. Megumi nodded slowly.
"Okay, meet us at Saunders and we'll decide who gets what." Megumi told Milica.
"Bye." Milica told Megumi. She hung up the phone before Megumi knew what was happening, they had arranged another meeting with the Serbian gang and Earl Gray knew she had to ask about it.
"What was the phone call about?" Earl Gray asked Megumi.
"The Balkan League has declared war on Kebab and they're winning." Megumi began. The others gasped about it. Riccioli especially since she was at war with Kebab just yesterday. She began speaking.
"I guess I was right about it. Kebab High School is really weak at this point." Riccioli sighed, she was correct about what she had said.
"I say you four should stay as Milica and the others are coming over later today as the Balkan League is going to definitely be the winner." Megumi told them that they were most likely going to have to stay as they needed to decide who owned what. Azumi and Rumi were enthused, Riccioli was confused, and Earl Gray just wanted to go back to St. Gloriana.
A few hours rolled around as Milica, Sofia and a couple others had arrived with news. They were representatives of the Balkan League.
"Megumi, we got some news." Milica began. "We won the war." Megumi and her friends were excited and even Riccioli was happy about all of this.
"Congratulations Milica, you and Sofia make a good team." Riccioli began, she was more than happy with this victory.
"Thanks." Sofia told them. The four girls sat down, and peace talks began about redrawing the border. Before the talks began. Earl Gray had something to ask.
"Where's Ankara?" Earl Gray asked about Kebab's commander.
"Kebab is undergoing its own problems so she wasn't able to come." Sofia told Earl Gray that Kebab's commander had something to do.
"Okay. Now what should we agree on?" Megumi asked as she wanted to get the peace treaty out of the way. A knock was heard on the door as someone wanted to come in. "Come in." Megumi told whoever was at the door to come join the peace talks. Megumi thought it was Kay that wanted to join but the door opened and Runa, Kuromorimine's second in command entered the room.
"Now before any of these peace talks begin, I would like to announce that Gisela has placed Ankara under her protection as Kebab is having a lot of infighting aws we speak." Runa's words were short and snappy while she began to chat away.
"Gisela has done what?" Riccoli asked. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Well, I didn't decide on that. Manami told me about it, and I feel like I'm the only normal commander around here." Runa added. She pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Who invited her here?" Milica asked as Runa kind of scared her with the way she barged into the scene.
"She must've come on her own accord, when the war was being displayed." Sofia told Milica that Runa must have come over to settle something. Megumi began speaking.
"Okay. If Gisela wants to protect Ankara, let it be. So, we're going to make "Albania" though it will be settled by a combination of the great schools. All Kebab's claims to Crete are gone meaning Olive Academy will have the location all to themselves. The new border line between Yogurt Academy and Kebab will settle it. Plus, anything west will be split between the victors. Serbian Gang gets Kosovo gang and the Macedonian gang, Montenegrin gang gets a bit more, Olive Academy will get Thessaloniki and Yogurt Academy will get parts of Macedonia and Thrace." Megumi laid out what was going to happen, all the major schools involved nodded with approval including Runa. "Any objections?" Megumi asked the smaller schools. All the major schools agreed with them. Milica and Sofia looked at each other before turning back to Megumi.
"We're fine. Nothing being disagreed on between us." Sofia told Megumi that there was nothing to worry about and the borders were established.
"Okay we're good." Megumi told them as the final peace was presented. "You're all dismissed." Megumi told them. Everyone got up and left the room. Runa was the last to leave but she turned to Megumi.
"Hey Megumi, before I go, can I have a word with you?" Runa asked Megumi if she had a second to spare.
"Sure, what is it?" Megumi asked as she began cleaning the room up.
"You're aware that the 61st National Sensha-Do tournament is coming up?" Runa asked Megumi if she remembered that event that occurred once a year.
"Not that I'm aware of, we just don't have the time to think about the tournament when all of this other stuff is going on." Megumi told Runa that the events that were occurring were deemed a distraction from normal school life. "Getting the school modernized, rebuilding it from the revolution, settling peace treaties between the schools. It's chaotic, I'm willing to tell you."
"I sensed you were busy and with everything that has been going on, I can see why I needed to send you a reminder." Runa replied to Megumi.
"Thanks for the heads up, however. Anything you want to do before then, like see a ballet or go to a theater?" Megumi asked Runa. Runa began to think about it and she decided to say something.
"Tell me when you made up your mind. Also see what is available for us to watch." Runa told Megumi before she got up and left the scene.
"Take care Runa." Megumi told her. Runa was out the door before Megumi decided to sit back down and began looking up to see what was available to watch.
Alexandra was walking through the hallway with Nonna as they were speaking something among themselves.
"Pyotr is dead but we are sure to figure out what to do now." Nonna began. She was uncertain about this turn of events.
"You sound like you aren't sure what to do." Alexandra responded.
"I'm really not." Nonna gave her reply that she had nothing on her mind. Alexandra nodded before she began speaking again.
"Also, the two wars that happened simultaneously. Something must be going on, I might ask." Alexandra told Nonna about the recent events that had been going on as if something big was coming up.
"So, Alexandra, if a big war breaks out, will you be returning to Saunders to go fight for it?" Nonna asked Alexandra if she was going to get involved in the war. Alexandra began to think it over nervously as she was being forced to make some kind of conclusion. On one hand it was Megumi she was going to be fighting alongside as she hadn't been by her friend's side in months but on the other hand, Kay had exiled her, and her presence wasn't going to be welcomed. Alexandra knew she needed to come to a conclusion.
"I need to think this over." Alexandra told Nonna that she couldn't come to a clear conclusion and didn't know what to think about now. Nonna nodded before she began speaking again.
"Having trouble I see, I'll give you time to make up your mind and if any more news comes to us within a few days, we will tell you about it." Nonna told Alexandra before she nodded. Alexandra got up and walked away. Nonna watched before Clementia entered the scene. "Hey what's up Clementia?" Nonna began speaking to her friend.
"Nothing much, been learning my classes and some of the students in Pravda are starting to grow restless, they think a big war is around the corner with the other schools and they were wondering if they could spread revolution and take over these said schools." Clementia began. Nonna began to take interest in this.
"So, the students are getting restless, Fumie has decided to do no more strike robberies as all the schools are beginning to heat up. Kebab had two wars so far upon which it lost both of them and now the peace treaty should settle it unless Yogurt Academy isn't happy with it. Either that but if the next war explodes, I intend to smuggle ourselves into Saunders to get the people to protest about it. And if it doesn't go anywhere, we might as well strike and get the people to rebel against Saunders." Nonna explained her plans that they were getting ready for something big. Clementia nodded before she began speaking.
"We should have Saunders under our control within a matter of days when we put the revolution forward to take over and run the place as well as Pravda." Clementia replied. She knew where this was all going now. Nonna nodded as Clementia was beginning to understand all of this.
"That's a good girl. I am off to tell Katyusha about this and I will get back to you about it." Nonna told Clementia. Clementia nodded as Nonna began to walk away. Hopefully Nonna and Clementia were right, and Saunders has a second revolution to bring about its downfall.
Megumi the next morning decided to head down. She noticed someone had written a letter to her about their relationship. Megumi decided to open the letter and began to read it.
Dear Megumi.
How are you doing? I am doing well. I will say I have found safety within Pravda and I'm working there as a paper runner. I do miss our times we spent together with tsarevich Alexei and his sisters. I saw the statue they made for you, and I can respect that. I was wondering if I can come back to Saunders and finally feel at home again. I would like to hear from you as I really do miss you and the horses I was forced to leave behind. Get back to me whenever you can so I can finally come back.
Sincerely Alexandra
Megumi placed the letter down as she began to think about it herself. Alexandra definitely wanted to come back at this point. However, Kay was the one who decided to have expelled from the school and who to keep around. Kay walked into the room as she looked better than the day before.
"How did you sleep Kay?" Megumi asked Kay as she seemed to be more refreshed than the day before. Kay began speaking.
"Better than the day before. I wanted to say that you made the right call." Kay told Megumi. Megumi smiled before she began speaking next.
"Glad you've slept well. I must ask, should we bring Alexandra back to Saunders or?" Megumi asked Kay if they should bring their friend back home. Kay began to think about it for a moment before she came to a conclusion.
"Do we have to?" Kay asked. She wasn't fond of bringing her friend back. Megumi began to think about it before turning to Kay and began speaking to her again.
"Yes, we have to. We have had her away for the past few months and its time we bring her back and let her resettle down into life here. There is a lot brewing up and having experienced students like her to lead the school is the only hope we have other than allying with other schools." Megumi explained to Kay that they needed more time to prepare themselves. "We have plenty of tanks, armored cars, machine guns and rifles. We need to quickly scratch-build the cavalry again as we don't have that many armored cars either."
"How many armored cars do we truly have at this point?" Kay asked Megumi if they had a count in their inventory. Megumi began to count up how many they had in the garage before she turned back and began speaking to Kay.
"About twenty-five give or take." Megumi answered Kay's question. Kay was starting to get worried; a normal armored car group was about ten cars and that was only enough for two and a half groups. Kay decided to grab a piece of paper and she began to write it down for Megumi.
"Order twenty-five more. We need to be able to beat Kuromorimine if this turns into a giant war." Kay gave the note to Megumi. Megumi went forth and began to type the note up on the computer as she was giving the message. Twenty-five more armored cars were needed. Kay nodded before she decided to take inventory with what else they had.
"What else do we have for school?" Kay asked. Megumi began to speak.
"We have two and a half thousand rifles for the school as we still need about five hundred more to fully arm the entire school and its forces. Sixty-five or so tanks, some of these being your Shermans that you ordered and the rest of the miscellaneous stuff being the horses would amount to being about a few dozen." Megumi took orders about it all. Kay wasn't pleased.
"We have too few of everything. We will not be able to last long against a war with Kuromorimine and its allies." Kay began to fret. They were nowhere near prepared for what they needed to fend off their attackers and it meant they were going to have an easy time steam rolling their way through the school.
"I did tell the armories to begin producing more stuff as things are tensing up. Plus, we've been updating the older rifles, but that process is slow and cumbersome. I just hope we have enough of everything." Megumi explained to Kay that they needed to be praying in order for this to work. Kay nodded before she began to walk.
"Well, we're going to keep an eye on things. But we shouldn't take the risk and not bring Alexandra back." Kay told Megumi that Alexandra could possibly still derail her plans for getting Saunders to be what she dreamed of. Megumi was going to do it, however, she wanted Alexandra back home.
Then the phone began to ring. Who could it be?
[A/N]: Leaving it on a cliffhanger as things are continuing to speed up. Milica, Sofia and a couple others have decided to go to war with Kebab and it ends up being successful for them. Now Kay is starting to get worried as the major schools are ready to beat each other up. This all ends with the phone ringing though we don't know who it is from. If you have an answer or guess on what the phone ringing could be, leave your guess to see what it could be.
Also, should Alexandra come back to Saunders to help in the war? I would like to hear your answers for this as Alexandra is a very experienced student who is capable of leading the school to victory, but she and Kay don't like each other so will bringing her back be the best choice? Let me know.