"Fire" ordered Erika as the Maus shot its 75mm cannon to test the range of their targets. The round landed short, alerting the three Transcendence tanks as it was followed up by the more enormous 128mm cannon and the King Tigers 88mm.
The Maus's second shot narrowly missed the M18 as it reversed. The shell burying itself into the frail stone before exploding into splintered shrapnel. Erika's Tiger II on the other hand struck Valerya's rear left track. The armor-piercing shell ate into the track before shearing into the engine bay and sending a small stream of smoke.
Caught by surprise, the three jumped into action with remarkable calm. "Nat, a little help here!" asked Valerya, her vehicle still operational but immobile.
Coming to her sister's aid, Natalya's IS-1 rammed her sister's KV-85 and began to adjust its orientation to face their new foe. O'Diveley's M18 scurried behind the two heavy tanks for cover and swung its barrel around to return fire.
The Maus and Tiger II were easily visible atop their elevated position and O'Diveley's gunner easily set his sight on them. At well over a kilometer away, his gunner adjusted accordingly and fired. Through the telescopic sight, he watched as his round flew through the air at the Tiger II before impacting the front plate and turning into a brief light as it bounced high into the sky.
O'Diveley bit his lip, "Oh fu-" The Tiger II reciprocated its salvo of fire with the Maus as Natalya's IS-1 joined in retaliating. The two 85mm and single 75mm guns fired in vain as each shot yielded little effect as the two assaulting heavy vehicles outranged and armored them.
Valerya was the first to see the writing on the wall. "Nat! Fall back and link up with the main body!"
"Val, I can tow you out of here! Just hang on!" defied her sister.
The Maus fired its 75mm once more landing a glancing blow onto the KV-85's front. The shell landed flat but at such range without enough velocity to penetrate the armor. Eyes wide, Valerya demanded her sister listen. "This is an order from your lil' sis! Now go!"
No further words came as the Maus followed with its 128mm having found its ranging. Valerya's KV-85 took the round square to its front and rocked upwards at the impact. A small white flag darted out as the suspension rocked under the sudden impact and smoke began profusely emanating from the destroyed tank's engine.
As smoke plumed upwards, highlighting their tenuous position, Natalya began to slowly draw back as O'Diveley's voice came into her ear.
"Well, it's been fun accompanying you lasses but I think I've overstayed my welcome."
"Are you running?!" spat Natalya with a simmering rage.
O'Diveley forewent his usual demeanor and snipped back. "I love to keep levity but here and now I have to ask, What the hell can I do?!" Watch!" At his word the M18 fired another round out into the distance, striking the Maus' turret before being deflected to the left and whizzing away from its unharmed target. "Listen, I'll get reinforcements and clear a path to egress outta here, just stay calm and stay alive!"
Frowning bitterly at the display of their powerlessness, Natalya begrudgingly accepted his proposal. "Hurry up."
Without further instruction, the M18 sped off as she and her crew fought to maintain pressure on the enemy overlooking them. Naturally, their attention shifted to the fleeing light tank as it hastily fled. With no concern as to grace, the M18 narrowly avoided the fire directed after it as it found refuge behind the concealment of the backside of the hill.
Natalya braced herself to hold out, the outcome almost certain when she heard an explosion from the rear. A familiar sound she couldn't mistake. It was the firing of a Tiger's 88mm cannon. Her crew set about firing as she frantically looked around for the source, hope swelling in her chest.
Abruptly, the M18 returned to her view, emerging from the same route it had taken and catching air as it rushed back to her IS-1 while she watched in confusion. The light tank's tracks had barely touched the earth beneath it as the Tiger II slammed a precision shot into its side.
The M18 landed on the corner of one track and with its ensuing momentum toppled over onto its side as a white flag emerged from its undercarriage. Natalya watched in shock as her crew fought to retreat. Her confusion muddled her mind. What had happened?
Her vehicle had retreated out of the enemy overwatch's sight and began to speed away in an attempt to rejoin friendly lines/ Suddenly a square silhouette appeared in the distance. Bot her vehicle and it stopped, staring at each other when that feeling of hope returned.
O'Diveley's voice shouted in her ear "The enemy's here! In a Tiger!" Eyes dilating, Natalya noticed the distinctive white eagle of Transcendence was absent, instead, there was a black cross on the turret and hull. It was too late as the enemy tank took the initiative and fired first.
It was over in a moment, the 88mm shell landed a final blow on her IS-1 and popped the flag signaling her defeat. The tension in Natalya's body struggled to leave as she sank into her seat, despair prevalent on her face. Suddenly, it bubbled out and she couldn't retain her usual calm any longer.
In silent frustration she kicked her feet and rustled her hair into a mess, tears threatening to stream as she bitterly restrained them. Her crew silently wallowed in their own emotions, mutually enduring the same emotions. After a moment, she brushed her hair out of her face and hid a portion behind a hand. Glaring out of a viewport, she saw the Tiger that had defeated her steadily drive by.
It's commander a stoic girl with refined beauty. Everyone knew of her, Maho Nishizumi. The prestige of her enemy did little to abate the feelings of vexation. As the woman who defeated her drove past, not sparing a glance, Natalya's emotions flared. It was ridiculous, she knew. How many had she beaten and ignored as she continued to her objectives? Following orders without care for the thoughts of opponents?
Yet now, she felt incredibly frustrated. Vulnerable, useless. She had failed her objective, Kaiser's orders, and the team. Why had she been so preoccupied with the thought of him coming to help?
A realization dawned on her. O'Dively had radioed her after being disabled, perhaps she could redeem herself if just a bit. Ordering her RO to patch her to Kaiser's frequency she saw the same faces on her crew who felt just as embittered. If she could give a heads-up, then perhaps it could redeem them as well. After all no matter how she felt towards herself, she knew they had tried their best.
-Meanwhile-
At the area of the JagdTiger's last stand
Everyone of Kaiser's crew was outside the tank aside from the gunner, Belle who kept a watch in the distance Southeast. Kaiser, Laura, Westhoffen, and even Katya were all outside the tank repairing the damaged track.
The four were needed to expedite the repair and to also find spare tracks atop the Tiger that weren't damaged by the large mortar shell from the SturmTiger's final fire. West found a few good links and with the assistance of Katya adamantly straining herself to carry the heavy pieces, delivered them to Kaiser and Laura below.
West hopped back into the tank and started the engine, shifting the vehicle so that there was enough room for Kaiser and Laura to lift and replace the destroyed link, and then reattach the new one. Katya watched from above, her red braided hair spilling over as she looked down on Kaiser and Laura as they hurriedly snapped the pieces in place.
"I guess thinking positive did help after all" she grinned from above. Kaiser snickered at the remark as Laura concurred.
"It is definitely lucky that mortar missed, don't you agree?" she asked stepping back and dusting her hands of the fine earth and sand that now caked their vehicle and tracks.
Kaiser glanced up at her as he finished the repair, dusting himself off and wiping the sweat from his brow. "That's one way of putting it." he pointed north at a large blackened crater. "Seems the shell landed on the northern hill face which directed most of the blast away from us here on the eastern slope. It's devil's luck. Or so Virtanen likes to tell me I have it." He then gestured up and extended a hand.
Laura grabbed her garrison cap and fixed it atop her head. "Gladly, the winds starting to pick up and I'm tired of sand in my hair." She took his hand as she raised a foot high and stepped on his other. With a heave, Kaiser pushed her up as Katya pulled her atop and crawled inside. Kaiser took a step back and with a running start, jumped atop the chassis before slinking into his hatch.
"Belle?" asked Katya. "How long has this light been blinking?"
"Hmm?" responded Belle, pulling her eye out of her sight. I haven't noticed, a while presume."
Katya, fiddled with the radio as Kaiser took in his surroundings and directed West to begin moving. Surprisingly a loud voice quickly resonated in his ear, unmistakably Natalya's. Kaiser! Our advance was wiped! It's Kuromoromine's leader, she's pressing south!"
Their Tiger had barely moved when a shot rang out from the distance and pierced them from the side. Instinctively, West pulled a hard turn to face the front of the tank to their foe, the sudden knee-jerk reaction accompanied by the bucking of the impact caught all by surprise.
West had banged their heads against the vehicle as Laura lost her grip and dropped a prepared shell on her lap with a resounding "ping." Kaiser had braced himself in time, placing a hand against his cupola and only bruising it as his forehead smashed into it as Katya grasped onto anything to stabilize herself, gripping the hull MG and firing a burst by mistake.
Most surprising of all, Belle had rammed her face into her sight and in a mild fit of anger, swung the turret slightly with the front-facing vehicle and fired a shot of instant reprisal. Before Kaiser had even located their enemy, he heard a distant ricochet take place, evidence of Belle's miraculous shot despite the circumstances.
Laura offered a compliment of amazement, calming Belle from the embarrassment of acting out as Kaiser snapped his head left and saw the culprits. Two large vehicles, a Tiger and Tiger II, the latter of which was reversing in response to Belle's shot. A third tank slowly lumbered into position behind them.
They had been watching them repair, setting an ambush, and once their opportunity was about to slip, fired onto them when everyone was inside the vehicle despite the Maus not being ready. Unfortunately for them, the Tiger II's shot had gone clean through the toolbox attached to their turret. The other Tiger however fired and landed a shot on the corner of their front plate, thankfully not penning.
Without waiting for the Maus to join in, Kaiser sounded a retreat. "West get us out of her! Belle keep up the pressure!" With fluidity, West and Belle obeyed orders and performed with amazing synchronization. Outnumbered, Kaiser himself stooped down and began grabbing shells to pass to Laura who then sent the ejected ones to Katya.
Aside from Katya dropping a hot shell on West's lap, their Tiger maneuvered and fired at an impressive rate. Yet four guns against one proved too much. Range aided them by decreasing the velocity of the incoming rounds yet impacts became more prevalent as pings, dings, thuds, and the occasional whistling round sounded around them.
Amidst their dilemma, the 'devil's luck' had reared its head again. The wind had been whipping itself into a storm recently and suddenly took on a new form. Kicking up dust and sand, a small cloud had permeated over the battlefield and drifted from the south up North- Northeast.
As the sky dimmed and their surroundings turned orange, Kaiser ordered West to full reverse, disregarding any form of counterfire. Soon their vehicle was engulfed by the storm and the persistent pelting of sand against steel replaced cannon fire.
"Now what?" asked West. "I have no idea where I'm going in this sudden sandstorm."
Kaiser breathed in relief. "It appeared suddenly so it shouldn't last too long. For now, we need to gain distance. Keep a constant speed in second gear and I'll do the math on where we're going based on time and speed. Won't be precise but it'll get us away."
"So long as I drive and do deal with numbers I'm fine with it," replied West getting a laugh out of Belle and Katya. Laura splayed her limbs out, placing her legs over Katya and her torso on Kaiser's lap with an apology. The strenuous work she had just completed had drained her. Forgiving of her and thankful, Kaiser directed his driver as he began contemplating the situation.
Was it a sleight of hand? The use of their larger main force as a distraction, engaging in traditional warfare to serve as a distraction as they inserted a smaller elite force to cause havoc? It was possible, if so it had worked and he had just met the latter. The worse part was that he had no counter to it, with no reserves left to call upon he was essentially all that held the flank, him and one other.
The sudden storm began dying as quickly as it had arrived and visibility resumed. "Katya patch me into Sokolov."
"Yes sir."
If he could only use what limited resources he had then it was fortunate that Kuromoromine's command structure was slightly more complex than theirs even after their updates. They now worked at a squad level with newfound individual freedom for individual tanks. Though Transcendence did much the same they had incremental levels of command priority.
It was humbling to admit but Kuromoromine was better organized and disciplined. They were keeping neck and neck with aggression and luck but it was irrefutable just how well-oiled of a machine Kuromoromine was. Hopefully, he could throw a wrench in it before things unraveled.
In the Dicker Max, Sokolov was grinding his teeth. His vehicle had been trailing behind the priority targets for most of the match, keeping them in his sights and out of theirs. He had been waiting for an opportunity to strike as the enemy flag tank was never in a clear shot, something he could confidently strike at. He felt he would only get the one chance to fire but now he wondered if he should have acted when O'Diveley and the Prokovs were defeated.
Without opportunity or order, he pursued at a distance, using his gun's depression to watch their slow advance from afar. Amidst his anxious thoughts, he received his first radio call since going silent.
"Sokolov, you alive?"
"Would you be disappointed if I said yes?"
"Frustrated? Must be if you're willing to banter."
Sokolov frowned at being read so easily and pressed to move on. "What is it, sir?"
"Where are you and what do you see? I trust you haven't been getting lost?"
"I… I saw the Prokovs and Div get taken out. Also saw you get chased off. "
"That was a tactical reposition" corrected Kaiser, a sense of ease in his voice.
Sokolov's team got a small laugh out of it but soon returned to their somber attitudes. "I also have eyes on the enemy task force. With that storm gone, they seem to be preparing to sweep the hills and reunite with their southern forces. Can't tell if they'll divert to Virtanen or sweep up Knight afterward."
"Then you're up to date on the situation. Good. We're going to take the fight to them. It'll be a desperate fight of us two against three of their best."
Sokolov gulped slightly. It was desperate. But did they have any choice? Slightly outnumbered, their enemy on the offensive and Their lines now compromised with majority forces south, there was little alternative. Perhaps it was self-vindication begging him to rectify his earlier mistake of not having assisted his friend and the Prokovs even if it was practical. "Wouldn't have it any other way, sir."
"You're starting to sound like Div," remarked Kaiser with a grin. "Standby. I'll inform Virtanen."
"What?!" asked Virtanen exasperated. "You actually think that will work?"
"You want an honest answer?" asked Kaiser.
Virtanen ran a hand across his face. "I suppose it is now or never. I'll fight to the last shell but the last report I heard from Knight was a section of Kuromoromine's forces were beginning to converge on the entrance of the ravine. He's driven the remaining light KampfGruppes deeper into the hills but hasn't defeated nor lost any more of his own tanks. A stalemate through and through on his end.
"I can retract my plan and offer assistance. But it'll be a race against time on whether I can thin out your front or they catch me from the rear."
Virtanen wanted to request help, even order it. But that wouldn't be the right decision of a commander. With an unstable front requisitioning Kaiser would only prolong his Panther's demise. With Kaiser's plan, they may have a shot at victory. After all, it was his friend who was going after their flag tank.
"Negative. Can't do that with those two on your tail. Besides, I know you're dying to show the commander and vice-commander of Kuromoromine how we fight in InfanterieKampf." Kaiser's silence was damning. Virtanen snickered as he continued. "Knight is tying up a fair amount of enemy forces, I can handle a few stragglers coming my way."
Kaiser then spoke up, the grin on his face clear as day as Virtanen listened to him speak. "As thanks for letting me have my way without a fight, I'll try to make it quick."
"What are commanders for if not simplifying things?" replied Virtanen with an easy smile. "Now I hope you don't mind but I'll have the team rely on you. To add to the pressure, I'll make an announcement."
"Please don't" groaned Kaiser.
Nudging his RO, Virtanen radioed the entirety of his team both operational and defeated. "Attention all Cadets. Both still in combat and out. I thank you for your admirable tenacity in fighting our opponent today. They have proved equally tenacious but do not worry! To secure victory, we have an operation in progress one that can only be considered a Hail Mary but with a promising outlook nonetheless. I ask of you to continue fighting and those who cannot, place your hopes in your teammates."
As his hopefully morale-boosting speech ended, his Ro patched a private call through from O'Diveley. "Well, can you ask 'Mary' to be a little faster next time? I'd appreciate not looking like an ass in front of his squad mates."
"I'll be sure to pass that on later" laughed Virtanen as an incoming round struck the rock above his tank. In the distance, he could see a Panther and Nashorn out past the Ravine's entrance. Preparing to engage and keep them at bay, Virtanen responded into his mic "I'll have to call you back Div."
With final movements underway to the north, only Knight's front remained a stagnant grind. The young commander having heard the announcement from Virtanen while under fire felt a twinge of self-loathing. Had he been useful? One could argue that he served a purpose in tying up enemy units. Yet a passionate youth cannot sit idly and think reasonably. He wished to make advances, visual progress against his enemy.
It was from this desire that he formulated a plan. His forces had been pursuing and pushing their enemy who gave a prolonged defense. From hill to hill, up and across the process repeated. Slowly, grinding, attritional warfare without the attrition. Both forces played so cautiously that no further vehicles were lost after their initial engagements. Only time was a casualty on this front.
And so he gave directions to his detachment on what formation to take as their enemy dug in again, prepared to defend this hill with another hail of gunfire. While organizing his tanks, he noticed the fire die down slightly. A quick peek showed two vehicles from the enemies' defenses fall back as a much larger figure lumbered forward.
It was the SturmTiger. Despite the terrifying presence, Knight was undeterred as he continued. The enemy had switched two guns, a Panther and Nashorn, for the SturmTiger. Its presence necessitated his assault in his mind.
Once prepared he shocked them with the unexpected. He ordered a charge. Knight's Panzer IV was spaced 20 meters apart from Damian Frost's Firefly. Centered and behind them was Diana's T-34-85 and offset behind her was the SU-100 in support.
The beginning of the charge started with the M24, its engine already damaged and speed limited, the crew along with its commander volunteered to draw the enemy's fire. Their outcome was guaranteed. Emerging first, the light tank had barely ascended a quarter of the hill before a Panther and Panzer IV fired upon it, immediately disabling it.
The enemy held the hilltop, a horseshoe-shaped height with a gentle slope. An advantageous position yet as the two mediums reloaded and they witnessed the oncoming column charge uphill they countercharged.
The SturmTiger's hefty tracks teetered over the edge of the hill and found purchase before shifting gears and picking up speed as it sped directly at Knight column. There was no time to make sense of the tactic, on why a support vehicle would go head first. Instead, all guns opened up.
Knight's Panzer IV fired, missing as the Sturm moved past, but revealing two smaller vehicles pursuing behind it. With their enemy past, Knight ordered his crew to press on as he relayed that the two Luch's light tanks were behind the SturmTiger.
His allies found out quicker than he could speak. Like a battering ram, the SturmTiger hurled itself at the Firefly, shifting itself menacingly as the 75mm rounds ate into its front plate harmlessly.
Just before impact, the SU-100 fired and clipped the SturmTiger's right track. The belt unraveled as it sped downhill, forcing the heavy vehicle to begin shifting sideways as it encroached before finally impacting the Firefly. The momentum and lack of control sent the behemoth climbing up the Firefly's sloped front with its good track, crushing it beneath and then toppling over onto its side in a fit of dust and sand.
As the Firefly recoiled from the impact, Damian's sister didn't hesitate to rectify the strike against him. Diana's T-34-85 fired on the overturned tank and struck its weakly armored top. To the mystery of all, the SturmTiger erected its flag of defeat without firing a shot.
Following up the mystery was the frightening presence of the two Luch's serpentine from behind the SturmTiger and past the Firefly. On the reload, the T-34-85 was also passed up as they encircled the SU-100 and began shredding away at it with their automatic cannons.
In a panic, the SU-100 chose a target and began chasing one of the lights with its barrel while exposing its rear to the other. The T-34-85, apart of the rearguard, turned and engaged the Luch's persistently staying behind the SU-100 and disabled it while it focused on driving rounds into the engine bay.
The assaulting column had now been fully stopped and separated. The enemies still above took advantage. The final JagdPanzer IV lowered its barrel and fired, disabling the Firefly before its crew had even regained their senses.
The T-34-85, still trying to save the Su-100, was firing its machine gun desperately at the lunch's tracks. Minfull of their intent, the light tank danced around avoiding the small caliber rounds but incidentally disregarding their target's front. For a split second, the flank of the Luch's lined with the tank destroyers 100mm barrel and in an instant was sent careening into a pit of sand with a white flag.
The T-34-85 began correcting itself to face uphill when it was struck by the Panther above, its 75mm striking their turret cheek and finishing them with a single blow. The SU-100, now turned around, did the same only for its engine to spiel black smoke as the Luch's efforts began showing itself. A final decisive shot from the enemies Panzer IV finished its engine and disabled the vehicle.
The column had been eviscerated with only the loss of an ammoless tank destroyer and two light tanks. Their victory was hardly celebrated as Knight appeared on the hilltop and at their flank. In an instant, he drove a round into the JagdPanzer's flank disabling it and startling its two remaining compatriots.
The Panther and Panzer IV turned to engage when Knight sent another round out, shredding armor off the Panzer IV and forcing it to retreat behind the Panther. A standoff ensued as Knight utilized a divet in the terrain to hull down his vehicle and engage the two mediums who stayed a healthy distance away.
It was an impasse once more or so it seemed. As the heat of another ejected shell graced his face he peered out into the bright sight beyond his viewports. The mediums began to retreat. Knight's eyes narrowed, a pragmatic thought crossing his mind.
Checking his compass, he saw the direction they were moving in. North-Northwest. They were going to converge on Virtanen's position. Had they received new orders? Wisely waiting to pursue the enemy, Knight kept his thinly armored tank at a distance and planned to harry them from afar and slow their movements.
There were already two tanks assaulting Virtanen. Two more may be enough for them to overrun his position in the ravine. Unfettered by his losses and with conviction in his heart, Knight pursued his foe without relent.
The audience sat at the edge of their seats, a nail-biter of a game unfolding in front of their eyes. It was four Transcendence vehicles against seven of Kuromoromine's. The former was spread out in four positions, almost isolated. The latter was consolidated in two positions and pressuring their final target.
It seemed certain who was expected to win. Arguments began over harsher situations being overcome and the capabilities of both sides. No matter who rooted for whom, the end was drawing near. Every commander still operational prepared for their last stands and final assaults.
-End Chapter-