Kaiser recognized the female voice calling out to be one of the girls who had blatantly tried to flirt with him when he had spied on Pravda. Why he remembered her voice he didn't even know but was thankful he had pegged her as not to be the most attentive of individuals. 'Hopefully, she'll just brush this off' he prayed in his mind.' His back to the vehicle Kaiser dragged the Radio in a hurry behind his head as he rolled to his side nearly on top of Katya. Her shout of surprise at his sudden movement died in her throat as Kaiser's hand found itself atop her mouth.
The muffled cry of Katya underneath him went muffled and unheard by their enemy as she saw him usher her to keep quiet. He had dragged the Radio in front of them in an attempt to cover their faces with the green paint job to prevent their skin and faces from sticking out in the night. Blood moon and tall grass or not the girl would still notice specks of white sticking out against the darkness. It almost brought a chuckle to his lips as he remembered how people forgot the simple things.
A small part of brush stirred to their front, rustling as two small birds flew out of them drawing away from the ISU commander's attention. "Kaiser could hear her crew speaking to her however their voices were muffled as opposed to her own. "No just some animals" she declared.
'Tch does she not know how loud someone's voice travels in the night?!' Criticized Kaiser mentally at the girl's lack of field knowledge. 'No I suppose simple infantry knowledge is seen as needless in senshado' he quickly amended mentaly, but he couldn't help himself. If this were his old sport and this an armored vehicle he could easily ambush or attached a simulated explosive to it.
It was once the ISU commander dipped into her hatch distracted by her crew once more that Kaiser dared move. Katya greedily sucked in air As her flushed face and cheeks matched the moon. She could only stare impetuously at Kaiser. Seemingly lost for words or so he assumed Kaiser didn't make conversation instead he nodded his head sideways signaling for her to continue moving. As he crawled forward dragging the radio once more Katya realized he intended to move on let alone say anything over the topic.
'He had been so close!' her mind screamed treacherously as she thought back on the moment. Her distracting thoughts, however, led to her thankfully forgetting her exhaustion, granting a second wind for her to quickly catch up once more. 'Perhaps it is best if neither of us speaks of this again' she blushed nodding her head along with her silent decision.
Kaiser noticed the girl's newfound aloofness buy chalked it up to nerves. They hadn't taken much action, but individuals hardly left their vehicles in senshado so she'd naturally be surprised. It was reminiscent of when he'd have to do the same years prior with loud mouth peers who threatened their ops years prior in infantry matches.
Thoughts aside the two continued crawling till they got around a hundred meters away then rose to a low crouch running as fast as they could back to the position of their vehicle. They heard an engine roar to life in the distance and begin heading their direction. The ISU seemed to be patrolling once more. Had the girl figured out their situation and tried following or even deduced where they were heading, leading them to their vehicle?! 'No, no that girl couldn't be that bright' kaiser assured himself.
Kaiser grit his teeth as he ordered Katya to stand and run as he tossed the radio to his back. In a hurry, the two sprinted to their team's coordinates slowing only for Kaiser to occasionally check a small map and compass.
The engine grew louder and louder as it seemed to be picking up speed alongside them. "Katya, up ahead!" announced Kaiser as they broke through a bush. Immediately before them, the Tiger stood barely any of its steel showing instead covered in branch and brush fumes radiating from the still-warm engine and the crew happily chattering half outside of r hatches.
They were not the only ones to make a grand entrance as the Tiger's crew looked up in surprise to see their heavily panting comrades and a moment later the enemy ISU bursting out from behind a thicket of trees and landing in a divot in the ground. Kaiser locked eyes with the ISU commander or at least returning glances at each other. The action repeated between his crew and the ISU then he and his crew followed by a few seconds of silence.
Kaiser was the first to move. He grabbed Katya by the wrist pulling her along. "Get the 'VIC' moving now!" He shouted. The crew caught off guard by the sudden noises jumped at the sudden chaos, upon hearing Kaiser's distinct voice however training kicked in and no further words were passed.
Westhoffen, Laura, and Belle dropped into their hatches undertaking their tasks. Soon fumes rose into the sky as it blocked minimal light, the turret starting to turn oh so slowly. A glance to his right showed the ISU adjusting its turret up and around so the barrel wouldn't eat dirt as it moved out of the minor depression.
Kaiser and Katya were now in full sprint. Kaiser sprinted at full speed hopping over low lying branches and uneven terrain, Katya fared less so stumbling at every other divet in the uneven earth. Kaiser glanced back seeing Katya's progress or lack thereof. Katya had nearly reached the vehicle when her natural capabilities seemed to meet with her luck. She landed foot first into a small hole most likely made by some small animal and covered by wild grass.
Kaiser bit his lip as he took a deep breath and sprinted back to her. Katya caught a glimpse of him sprinting back as she offered a hand for him to help her up. "Ah, sir! I'm so sorr-EEEEEE!" Katya's teary-eyed apology was cut off as Kaiser took matters into his own hands grabbing the girl and lifting her into a carry.
Kaiser kept his eyes locked on his footing in the dim lighting to ensure they both didn't fall. Outside of his focus was Katya seemed to glow at the interaction seemingly ignoring his heavy breathing and the groan of gears and steel around them, at least until she was thrown over his shoulders like baggage. 'Much easier' panted Kaiser. The ISU's engine roared as it pushed out of the depression, leveling itself. Kaiser spared no glance knowing there was no other action it would be taking. It would try to eliminate his crew.
A short final sprint and Kaiser arrived next to the Tiger. Immediately kneeling and propping Katya up, assisting her onto the chassis so she could enter. As acrobatically as he could manage Kaiser followed suit swinging himself atop the turret. The top of his head peering out the cupola he could see the ISU facing them, its barrel settling downwards. "West move now!" he shouted as the Tiger lurched forward with surprising speed as an impact of metal was heard. Kaiser could hear two distinct shots of fire.
Slowly peering about kaiser caught sight of a tree supporting itself on his chassis having lost its base from the ISU's shell. The offending vehicle in question sitting still with a disabled left track. "West push up the enemy's right, Belle lowers the gun, aim for the just behind the canons breach where the loader would sit," ordered Kaiser. "Verstanden" they responded in kind following his orders as directed.
The ISU's crew seemed willing to continue the fight as a few scrambled out to repair the track but upon noticing the Tiger pull up next to them they deigned their safety priority and quickly gained some distance. The 88mm shell impacted where Kaiser had directed the vehicle rocking it violently and no doubt ringing the remaining crew's ears harshly from the concussive impact. Assuringly a flag popped out.
Static entered Kaiser's ear followed by a sarcastic voice. "Smooth" came the low tone out of his headset. "Thanks for the assist," said Kaiser choosing to ignore the sarcasm directed at his vehicles scramble. "I'm sure you could have handled it yourself" continued the voice. Kaiser took a deep breath calming his lungs and emerged from his hatch exposing his torso and inspecting the area. As he glanced around he looked about for his suddenly talkative comrade.
"Well with the Tiger's slow turret rotation it would have been a tiresome chore, thanks for sparing me the effort," remarked Kaiser ending his search. A loud snort of air came in response to the sass. "Well then someone may have seen the flashes or at the least heard those shots, let's relocate to the defensive line and get a grasp of the situation Sokolov."
In the not so far distance, an engine started up in response. signaling Sokolov's acknowledgment of the order. 'Huh, closer than I thought' noted Kaiser. Let's follow suit" Kaiser ordered
A few painfully stretched minutes passed as the crew regressed to the main body. Tension set in as new life seemed to find the crew as they advanced and heard successive cannon fire in the distance. We should be coming onto friendly lines now be prepared" Ordered Kaiser as he braced himself for what he feared to see. They didn't even make it out of the treeline before he saw the remnants of the frontline. Disabled tanks dotted around as the still operating teams lay scattered about.
Kaiser was speechless. Which left something to be said for how far the situation had degraded. Slowly moving to join the adjacent vehicles kaiser tried radioing in his arrival to no avail, there was still panicked chatter about on comm. Seeing a flash and a barrel pointed away from him he took a flashlight and in quick succession flickered it. He wanted to attract the vehicle's attention without being fired upon. A small flickering light couldn't be mistaken for a cannon firing and once they drew near the Tigers silhouette would be obvious enough at close distance.
Once the Tiger was within 30 meters and no friendly fire was received Kaiser took in his surroundings. From the vehicles and the barrel flashes, he determined there were only three vehicles still active of the main body's original six. "Laura you're in charge! Aid in deflecting the enemy assault and hold them off till I can get to Virtanen!" said Kaiser tearing off his headset realizing comms were useless at this point.'
Kaiser hopped out of his vehicle once more glancing back to see his Tiger's machine gun firing a small burst to accurately find it's enemies distance after a second burst the 88 fired in tandem. It was one relief that his crew was calmly operating while hell had broken loose for everyone else as he kept a low sprint. Though from the continuing shells flying at his side of the battlefield Kaiser assumed this mass assault was the enemy playing smart and conservative most likely waiting for some catalyst. 'Perhaps their main focus is our left flank?'
He made his way past the vehicle he had signaled, not stopping knowing that if only three guns were firing prior to his arrival then Virtanen would be in the center trying to hold the line and chain of communication. The occasional friendly disabled vehicle didn't go unnoticed as well as their crews ashamedly looking away as they looked away from the ongoing battle to catch glimpse of him. They undoubtedly felt guilty but he had no time to comfort nor encourage them. They had already failed.
Further to the left of the hasty defense's line he finally caught sight of Virtanen's Panther. Virtanen to his surprise was outside of his vehicle crouching low and far behind it shouting orders through a small radio much like Kaiser had previously used and to Knight who sprinted back to his own Panzer IV.
Kaiser ran up to Virtanen, pausing for a breath and demanded an explanation. How had the plan gone so awry? he found himself wondering as he looked about the chaos. Virtanen in frustration glared at Kaiser as he explained the situation.
"Those damn girls made an assault and broke through the left flank! First, they sent six of their vehicles to assault Diana's maneuver element, then the other three harassed came to pin us down! That damn IS-3 hasn't missed a single shot and the damn KV-8 has been tanking everything we throw. To make matters worse Diana's element has been encircled and forced to retreat northeast deeper into their territory. It seems their being chased by a small skirmishing detachment while the reinforcements head this way." Virtanen's teeth clenched as he caught his breath.
"They've already lost Piper and Anna, meanwhile here we've lost the 44M TAS, Firefly and the 'Flakpole' With you and Sokolov, if he's even still up we have seven active tanks, two of which are still encircled," Kaiser noted Virtanen's frustrations. Strangely Kaiser was not bristling at the occurrence of Virtanens's plan disintegrating before his very eye's, the situation seemed that dire after all.
"Figures" Kaiser grunted under his breath. Though the sounds of battle rang around his head Virtanen heard the insult he seemed to have felt the metaphorical dagger that had been thrust into his chest.
'I've failed' Virtanen's face seemed to portray no other words. Sudden anger took Kaiserl. 'Screw it' Kaiser shouted internally as he grasped Vitanen by the collar. Something had snapped within him to revert in an instant to his old ways. Virtanen could see the change evident. The anger his face replacing the calm demeanor. His violent movements taking hold instead of measured actions. It was as if he had changed completely all except the look in his eye that showed he was having fun, even now.
"Get these vehicles to fall back to the woods now! Sokolov and I will cover the escape and once you reach these coordinates set up an AO and outer cordon!" Kaiser wrote the numerals on Virtanen's hand while his peer eyed him warily barely containing his frustrations.
The two stood still for a single moment. Eyes locked holding a silent conversation.
'Your jealousy threw you in over your head, not only being incapable of holding your own but of rationalizing the situation'- chastised Kaiser's glare
Virtanen seemed to receive the message and seemed that much more defeated however compliant as well. "Snap out of it" these words muted all other sounds to Virtanen. "I need a fellow commander here not a submissive boot" Demanded Kaiser." We have a job to do."
A single nod and no more words were exchanged their glares only interrupted as a shell bounced from the panther sending a resounding screech into the air. Suddenly all other sounds came back to them as Kaiser sprinted back to his vehicle leaving Virtanen with coordinates and emotions running wild.
'I'm no good like this, any plan even from him right now is better than no plan or something I throw together' Virtanen reasoned to himself as he ran to his vehicle.
Kaiser watched as another two rounds flew past until he sprinted back to his Tiger himself. Hopping on, then into it in quick succession. A surprised gasp from Laura alerted his crew to his sudden presence. Quickly Kaiser began relaying his orders.
'Damage control, damage control, damage control,' the words repeated in his head as he completed task after task. He toyed with the radio letting an ear-piercing sound ring out through it, all chatter ceasing and allowing him to give orders. Now he had reinstated communications through the panic. He then gave the order for a retreat and for Sokolov to be on standby so he could fall back last as well. Finally came his hefty gambit.
His tank advanced slightly, firing tracers from the machine gun singling them out drawing enemy fire and alleviating it from his remaining ally's who now began to slowly withdraw from Virtanen's side of the engagement down south behind Kaiser.
Sweat began to build on his brow as each minute ticked by and another name would sound off their successful retreat. Each impact, overhead tracer, or concussive force rebounding off the steel hull increased the pressure Kaiser and his team felt. He scanned about the battlefield memorizing what notable locations he could see and estimating the distance of every light firing off. Giving orders to fire after the barrel would adjust ever so slightly or shift their hull another degree.
After the last vehicle had retreated Belle let a startled gasp out. "Sir! I think I see the enemy flag tank!" Kaiser spun in his seat looking through his bino's for what good they would do in the darkness. It was hard to make out but the distinctive yellow markings on a red flag from a roving T-34-100 were enough to confirm it. Now he faced a dilemma
Thoughts of engagement in hopes of destroying her and ending the match swam in his head. Or should he follow the retreat and maintain the already fractured unit integrity? Taking in the scene once more he may have realized it was an impossible task.
He was holding a line against an enemy that outnumbered him at the least 4 to one if their reinforcements had not arrived. He would be incurring untold risks by weighing the small possibility of success in destroying the enemy commander rather than the greater possibility of his side losing an experienced commander and asset in firepower seemed minimal. Any doubts he had were assuaged by the thought of success and it forcing Virtanen's gripes of the current disaster to cease.
"Push forward! engage the enemy commander!" Kaiser ordered. He received an unsure glance from along with a moment's hesitation from his crew. Ever loyal however they followed through. The Tiger pushed forward out of its position halting just before a dried riverbed forming a gradual depression in the terrain from the enemy's side and a steep one from theirs. Katyusha had descended into it and was most likely giving orders as she observed the lines. Now he just had to engage her.
The Tiger's barrel appeared over the edge and just as its weight was about to shift forward dragging it into the riverbed Kaiser gained a sickening, familiar feeling. "REVERSE!" he shouted reaching for West's shoulder. West pulled the controls as hard as he could in a frightened panic forcing the vehicle to a lurching halt as a loud explosion rang from beneath them.
The IS-3 aimed upwards with its barrel's elevation maxed. It had been aiming from the steep riverbeds slanted walls. They had set a trap baiting with their commander to finish the Tiger with a shot to its underside. The round had come so close Kaiser could have sworn there were scratches from its scraping against the paint. The moment seemed as if it lasted minutes but reality crashed back down as Kaiser ordered them to fall back once more. The IS-3 made to pursue attempting to crest the edge of the riverbed but was forced back as Sokolov's shell ricocheted off its hull. In concealment and providing the support he relocated.
It was clear the enemy was advancing now noticing the lack of fire being returned and if the IS-3 was to cross and engage him he'd be outmaneuvered and finished. Another set of hasty orders and the Tiger joined the retreat. Sokolov would only make an appearance in warding off the enemy and throwing them off the main body's trail hopefully leading them southwest while the team would rendezvous in the southeast of the woods.
As Kaiser reentered his friendly lines once more he passed the KV-85 idly on watch. He and Valerya exchanged passing glances as he reconvened with Virtanen and Knights Panther and Panzer IV. The vehicles were parked apart as each vehicle's teams scrambled about. Ammo between vehicles with similar cannons were being redistributed, information passed, as well as maintenance being done.
Kaiser dismounted his vehicle for the umpteenth time of the day and approached the gathering of panicked cadets. The only eyes to meet his were Knight's concern filled orbs and Virtanen's portraying his utter distaste.
The third official engagement of the match was a turning of the tides for Pravda and a resounding defeat for Transcendence mentality.
-Transition-
The crowd's reactions had changed from every possibility in the possible spectrum. Pravda and Transcendence cadet's cheering for their teams as each showed their prowess. Females exchanging approvals over images of the handsome male cadets and vice versa for the females. Both genders even finding themselves faint of heart at the sight of certain stars such as Nonna for instance. But this admiration and swooning were soon replaced by tension as both schools residents saw how the match was degrading and flipping about in terms of results.
Even the civilian audience found themselves biting their nails and amazed at Pravda's willingness and patience to lose their numbers advantage to find an opportune moment to shatter their enemy lines. Needless to say, this sent a shock to the Transcendence students and nearly erupted in a fight between the two schools more fevered fans. Distractions aside the Audience looked on in anticipation at what to expect next. A veteran school with ruthless discipline had just taken an advantageous lead over the expertly yet fractured newcomers.
Omake.
"Let's follow suit" Kaiser ordered in anticipation of hearing a sighting of Nonna. His team, however, seemed stunned incapable of moving at all.
"Oi, Why are you all frozen stiff?" demanded Kaiser confused by the sudden lack of adrenaline. His team already look exhausted and for some reason flustered. Katya seemed to be the only other not sitting stiff averting her eyes. Looking about their team the three fellow crew members adamantly refused to meet Kaiser or Katya's eyes.
Trapped between the two and trying to avoid their eyes failed they naturally couldn't avoid both curious gazes. Both got small looks at them as they shifted their heads about. Laura held a scowl with a flushed face. A mix of embarrassment and disappointment gracing her features. Belle was worse off hiding her distress. Her face being the same shade of red as the lighting cast outside by the moon. Seemingly inordinately focused on the inside of her sight and even jumping when Kaiser tapped her seat to get her attention. West, however, seemed to be the only one whose face had remained the same or to be more precise was contorted into envious anger. Kaiser deemed that normal however and dismissed him.
Kaiser repeated his words frustration mounting only to her each one mutter slightly in response.
"I can't believe that he…"
"So bold…"
"Of course this bastard..."
They rattled off simultaneously
Then they all spoke the same words together.
"In the middle of a match no less."
Laura, Belle, and West looked to each other and didn't know what else to say. How could they explain that when Kaiser had departed with Katya they had heard nothing but the regular report until a few minutes before their return in which they heard 'everything.'
-Fifteen minutes prior-
The scenery around Kaiser's crew as they sat in the Tiger was still and somewhat disturbing to the three remaining team members. Not too long after Kaiser had departed with Katya to complete whatever task he was partaking in, Laura had in an attempt to prove to get praised (not that she'd admit it) had herself and Belle camouflage the vehicle with nearby foliage. Even going as far as making mud with a canteen to spread across the turret to further disorient its appearance in the dim outside light.
This, however, hadn't taken as long as she would have liked and found herself waiting once more for orders to come. For unknown reasons Kaiser had deemed his task worthy of discretion and had left them in the dark much to Laura's annoyance. 'My rank may not warrant a need to know basis but he could at least tell me what he's doing' she pouted internally.
Almost on queue, she heard a static arise over the radio. Katya had left it on for Kaiser to communicate with them if the need arose in his absence. The three jumped but soon scrambled for the receiver ready to respond. The sound was distorted somewhat and kept coming in a spontaneous burst. Almost as if it was in a rhythm.
The continuous noise garnered West and Belle's attention as the three found themselves distracted and staring at the device turning on and off. 'It sounds like-' they thought in unison
"Breathing? Heavy breathing at that," commented West as he listened intently to the noise trying to decipher the sounds. "Perhaps it's broke?" offered Belle suggesting the probable cause.
"I doubt it" replied West. " I sit next to Katya in here and in class after all. I always see her fiddling with these radios and I've picked up a few things from observing. If anything it's most likely on their end. Probably being dragged or banging against something." He replied in kind.
Laura and Belle sent quizzical looks to West who had provided useful information for once instead of a poor attempt of a pickup line. Before West could defend himself the radio came on once more this time with a voice that though somewhat quiet, clearly belonged to Katya. Through her heavy breathing, they could make out a meek word.
"Hard"
The three sent questioning glances to each other. "W-what was that?" Asked Belle aloud as if the radio would respond to her. Laura tried thinking of what the word could have meant perhaps code? Maybe Pravda was listening in and they were trying to convey that? Their thoughts were interrupted as the radio started up once more.
"Under your - watch" Came Katya's voice once more in a quiet and meeker than usual voice. This time more panting had followed the end of the transmission Causing Belle's cheeks to tinge and West's Mouth to unhinge as they stared at the machine. Laura herself was wide-eyed her mind no doubt running the same thought process as her peers.
"H-Hey maybe it's not what it seems you two, I mean really now it's the Sir after all. Could you imagine him doing such a thing?" she stuttered out in an attempt to reassure her team as well as herself. The comment held it's truth however as Belle seemed to ease somewhat her blush not dying down however and regardless of West's muttering of "Probably" he seemed to relax as well.
Then the radio turned on once more.
"Go under-"
The radio shutting off mid-sentence did nothing as the three cadets lost their calm. Each train of thought racing. West couldn't help but feel a pang of Jealousy only for it to bloom into anger while Belle seemed to have short-circuited and couldn't quite function as she lost feeling in her hands and her cheeks heated. Laura was perhaps the most conflicted after all 'Why would Kaiser do this in the middle of a match! And- And with Katya of all people! T-Theres plenty of other people and time! The thought consumed her mind as she ignored why she would even think in such a way.
The radio came to life once more as if taunting them. No words were transmitted only the muffled sound of Katya's voice as she seemed to have something pressed against her mouth. The three proceeded to lose their minds as they argued allowed about the 'indecency' of 'that' man. For some reason, Katya being the poor victim in their minds.
As the debatable comments went out they found themselves suffocating in the now sweltering vehicle. The three opened their hatches in an attempt to get some fresh air and cool off. This however proved counterproductive as they continued spouting out comments of their 'outrage' the noise they didn't even realize they were making covered the sound of two individuals sprinting in their direction followed by a deeper slowly growing engine reverberating in the woods. The First thing to break through the foliage and meet their eyes were their comrades panting faces.
-Present-
They shared an undeclared vow of silence with their ever reddening faces, Kaiser's patience did not care for it, however. "Out with it now!" he roared as he instructed West to drive. though only West received the order the other two scrambled around seeking something to distract themselves. The trip back to their friendly lines wasn't long but it sufficed for Kaiser to worm the truth out of them. Even if he had to suffer their blatant accusations of improper behavior from the girls and having a "monopoly on the market" rant from West, whatever that was supposed to entail.
Though Katya sat back in horror covering her face at the suggestive and unfoundedly detailed behavior they thought they had inadvertently heard Kaiser's calm explanations persuaded them otherwise. At least the female members anyways. One look at West showed he still wouldn't take back his earlier remarks.
'I'm sure the Senshado organization somehow got footage of that escapade, they'll have to wait till later for proof' thought Kaiser focusing on his immediate goal