It was a coin toss but dividing and conquering was the only feasible solution with such restrictive terrain. They had found the enemy flag tank and sprung a successful ambush.
Miho watched as the enemy ARL-44 and Firefly fled from view. Her crew waited silently for their next order as Miho received a call from Rommel. As Miho nodded and thanked them for their part, Shark radioed from the Mark IV.
"What's the play?! Do we go back around or chase after?"
Miho brought her hand to her throat. "Pursue, they have broken past Hippo team and are proceeding north. We'll never catch them going through the rough terrain. Pursue on the road. Once we catch them, pin and envelope their flag tank once more".
With a roaring "Aye, Aye!" Shark team led the charge as the remaining five tanks scrambled onto the road and sped in a column. Their enemy wasn't too far ahead and was slower. They had divided their force and were now being whittled down. A worrying factor was how Anzu was doing.
"President? How are things on your end?" asked Miho over radio.
Nonchalant as ever, Anzu responded. "Ahh, not so good here. Seems this side was quick on the uptake and fought back pretty hard. We got one but also lost the underclassmen. We're falling back to the crossroads and will join you. If we make it that far."
Despite her joking tone, Miho could sense the tinge of anxiety behind it. Her side had been successful but as expected sending only two vehicles to slow down Transcendence's seven heavy hitters was too much to ask for. She questioned herself if she was correct in having the other three vehicles that accompanied them as a feint to make Transcendence believe they were splitting their numbers.
Miho dismissed the thought. She had grown and what was done, was done. "Please hold out Pres. We've taken down four of their vehicles and have sent their flag tank retreating north. You'll guard the rear as we pass."
"North? Sounds like you have them running away not retreating, Ah gotta go, Momo is yelling again." Miho giggled at the relaxed comment.
Her team cast a reassuring glance at her. "We sure did get lucky finding the Panther so quickly" commented Yukari.
"Even if we hadn't we would've just had to blast through both of their forces" chimed Saori.
"Let's not drag it out. This altitude's making me sleepy…" interrupted Mako.
"Mako! You're driving! Open your eyes!" shouted Saori shaking Mako.
"Mmmrgh…"
Hana exchanged smiles with Miho. "I suppose you finally did get a read on their commanders after all?"
"Sort of" laughed Miho. Though she agreed her mind wished to clarify. They still confused her but she had noticed they had similarities to others she had met. Namely Kuromoromine. That Kaiser fellow seemed to pull most of the weight behind closed curtains from her guess and even though he left her with nothing she could at least be proactive and confront what tactics she recognized.
She just hoped comparing such an unorthodox team to a school they knew well wouldn't cause her or her team to misjudge them.
-Kaiser's unit, at the beginning of Oarai's ambush.-
-Five minutes prior-
Kaiser's force of seven vehicles proceeded slowly along their route as he received the report from Virtanen. A type 89B had broken into their formation and was causing a ruckus. As soon as the information had been relayed, Virtanen went quiet. Presumably, after having issued orders, he informed Kaiser of their need for assistance.
It was as they caught up to O'diveley's M18 who rejoined the column, that they were engaged. A single round missed the M18 and impacted the IS-1 and ricocheted with no effect. The column halted to assess the strength of the ambusher as the M18 retreated behind the Tiger for extra safety. When another shot didn't arrive they pushed forward.
A few meters were gained as another shot landed short of the IS-1's track. Natalya reported this as they returned fire. It was a clear attempt at drawing out battle and buying time. Virtanen had been short in his report due to the urgency of having to escape but Kaiser knew the majority of their force was after Virtanen.
"Natalya, hug the left side of the road and push forward, if you're tracked the column will push to the right side and proceed. Time is of the essence, we need to get the tank destroyers up and past this ridge."
His enemy couldn't agree anymore whether it was a matter of time or the importance of the tank destroyers they were escorting. As a positive I.D. on their assailant from ahead found it to be Oarai's Hetzer, an explosion came from the rear.
"Su-100 reporting! We're out of commission!"
Kaiser's head swung back. Through his viewport, he saw the five vehicles behind him, one of which was smoking. The largest gun they had on the team was gone and the perpetrator was to their left. Just as they had done on Virtanen's side, Oarai had snuck a vehicle into the woods to their left. This was thought near impossible by Kaiser who thought that they wouldn't have time to traverse the distance from their starting point.
He was proven wrong in the worst way but immediately sought to rectify the problem. Another round from the Hetzer followed, dinging off of his cupola as he barked his orders.
"Vaerlya! Push with Natalya to the Hetzer, and make them retreat. Have the column proceed around me!' O'diveley, you're with me!"
"Aye captain!" came the jolly boy's response as his turret rotated and fired blindly into the brush off to their left. A second shot from the hidden perpetrator came almost too quickly in retaliation, bouncing off the top of his chassis rear.
The column scurried past the Tiger which rotated itself and faced the treeline as the M18 huddled next to it, wary of the enemy's next shot. Kaiser peered his head out of his cupola and heard the faint sound of an engine past the brush. Their enemy was following the column.
"Westhoffen, break through that treeline!" Immediately his driver shifted gears and rammed the Tiger into the brush, catching a tree under its immense weight. As the Tiger leveled out on the other side of the burm an interesting sight met their eyes.
An M3 Lee was right in front of them, too close for them to lower their barrel and annihilate but also trapped before them. The felled tree had caught before their tracks and held them. If they reversed they were open to the Tiger's eighty-eight. Caught in a predicament the rotatable turret fired its 37mm at the Tiger defiantly as it struggled to free itself.
"West keep the pressure on" ordered kaiser as he radioed O'diveley. "You're up"
"Bout time!" hollered his peer as he lived up to expectations. Just as he had in their very first training exercise at Hawaii and all training since O'Diveley made an entrance.
The M18 caught air as it ascended the burm and landed to the right of the Tiger. Not slowing down, it sped forward with a track caught onto the fallen tree. The Lee's stationary 75mm tried to fire at the oncoming TD only to miss as it abruptly hit a right turn and circumvented the tree's obstructive trunk and branches.
"First kill coming up!" Shouted the boy as his TD's 75mm fired into the side of the Lee and rendered it inoperable.
Whoops, and cheers erupted on O'Dively's end from his crew as Natalya reported in. "Sir, the Hetzer's retreating. We've received nothing other than superficial damage."
"Good, we'll rejoin you, proceed with caution." The Tiger reversed over the burm with the M18 shadowing it as they made to join their column once more.
Kaiser was radioed by Virtanen once more and updated on the situation and was requested for help.
"We'll see what I can do" he answered.
"You telling me you're being held up by two tanks?" asked Virtanen disbelievingly.
"You can count! I'm proud of you" mocked Kaiser. "No, it's a matter of speed. If we could rendezvous without Oarai catching you at the crossroads first, I would but the heavys are struggling at the moment. However, I do have an idea to ease them off your tail."
"I'll look forward to it," said Virtanen with anticipation. " I'll try to salvage our end and get the ID on that new tank of theirs while you come save our bacon." With that, Virtanen's voice disappeared.
Once again they were in a rush to assist their flag. The Hetzer had presumably fallen back to the crossroads if not further and so they were unabated. With the lack of pressure, Kaiser grinned to himself.
He felt justified in taking it as a point of pride that he had gotten the ever-so-faithful Oarai team to basically sacrifice one of their teammates for an ambush that admittedly succeeded but still failed to destroy his flag tank.
Soon they arrived at the first crossroads with no sign of Oarai nor the remains of Virtanen's team. Kaiser was relieved, the path that they were on was shorter and thankfully gave his plan time to commence. With the obstructive terrain that split the road at an end, there was now a divide between the two winding roads.
The Hetzer wisely retreated further back, choosing not to be trapped in the open view of both roads. With no immediate threat, Kaiser spaced his vehicles at even intervals and moved them down the road. Those with traversable turrets angled themselves while backed up against the road burm and their barrels aimed over the divide with the newfound depression.
Those with Fix turrets, Sokolov's Stug IV and Pz sfl IVc were positioned between the Tiger in the center and Valerya's KV-85 at the rear. There they positioned themselves in the treeline behind the burm.
Almost right after each vehicle had become comfy a vehicle came into sight. It was difficult due to the burms on both sides of each road but they could just make it out. A Panzer IV raced into their field of view, Transcendence markings visible. Then the Panther and the ARL-44 and finally the Firefly.
They didn't even seem to register Kaiser's presence in their rush. The reason was self-explanatory as a hailstorm of fire pursued them. It was almost comedic the amount of small cannon fire that ricocheted off of the rocky terrain. Some even pelted the Firefly who fired back. Finally, the mass of Oarai's tanks came from behind the terrain in pursuit.
There they noticed a small red flag on a brown camouflage turret. Oarai's Panzer IV, Anglerfish squad. The burm obscured them just as much but with a slight view of their turret Kaiser breathed his order next to his gunner's ear. "Fire."
The Tiger's 88mm was the only one to fire. It's projectile aimed through a small divet in the burm that provided a moment of exposure on the vehicle that passed it. He could see the round fly and connect. The sparks emitted as it collided, the shearing of metal, and the Panzer IV continued unphased. The round had barrel missed and only peeled off the schirzen on the turret's rear.
As expected of their seasoned foe, they continued uncaring for the distraction, confident in their cover.
Before Belle could even lower her head in disappointment, Kaiser placed a hand on her shoulder. His comfort only amounted to that as he stared adamantly at his foe and gave his next order to his unit. "Fire!"
Five cannons roared from varying cannons. The IS-1, M18, KV-85, Stug IV, and Pz sfl IVc all fired in unison at Oarai. Their rounds all impacted short, landing on the burm.
Oarai's POV
The main force of six tanks proceed after their target who had broken visual once more. Miho had ordered them to be alert of their flank once the pass opened but confidence was restored as they had no direct eyesight with the other side. All hearts skipped a beat as they saw the firing line with a Tiger at its heart set up and waiting for their appearance.
Inside the Panzer IV itself, all but Miho seemed to jump in shock as they felt the impact of the Tiger's eighty-eight miss them by a hair. Their relief was short-lived, however. As the sound of five more barrels erupted. Initially, they were calm, the shots all landed short, then their vehicles were shaken down to the bolts.
None knew what had just happened. Yukari herself was dumbfounded by the occurrence. Miho glared at the firing line to their left, following them with their turrets. She had studied Senshado and warfare thoroughly in her past. She had a hunch but had never seen it in practice, let alone in Senshado.
As she glared the line of six barrels fired as one once more. All rounds impacted the burm and miraculously she saw it. The rounds were HE. They held delayed fuses and once impacted the dirt, 'skipped' off the impact due to the low angle, and exploded over the heads of their column.
"They're using ricochet fire!" yelped Miho in surprise.
"What?!" shouted Yukari as their crewmates looked puzzled.
With no time to explain, Miho radioed her team and instructed them to offset and space themselves out. They had no such shells themselves and as such had to endure the deluge of fire. It may not have been effective against armor as it was intended for Infantry, but it certainly shook the girls and their tanks to the core.
Kaiser's POV
After the second volley of fire, a small trail of smoke seemed to emerge from one of the vehicles and with luck, there may have been more to the others. He was able to get a third volley off but with only three vehicles as Oarai had begun leaving their field of view.
As the final three shots were fired, the other three vehicles displaced and began moving. The Stug IV and Pz sfl IVc emerged from their cover as the M18 ran to the front of the column. The Tiger, IS-1, and KV-85 pushed as soon as their casing rattled on the floor beds.
Instead of tailing after Oarai and therefore his commander as well, Kaiser deemed it wise to stay on their side of the divide. If opportunity struck they would harass Oarai and hopefully give Virtanen time to reconnoiter. The roads now ran parallel at the same length but with luck, they could push Oarai to pull back. Even if for only a moment, it would open a variety of options. Kaiser relayed this to the Panther.
Do you want me to cross the second point where the roads meet?" Asked Virtanen.
Scratch that idea, the Hetzer may be waiting for you to try something. Push on to the third and make your crossing. There is a road that shoots off to your right-"
"It's not like I can backtrack to that now!" interrupted VIrtanen, panicked that he had missed his turn.
"Let me finish" sighed Kaiser. There should be an open field of view there. I want you to stop, gain a field of fire and stop Oarai's pursuit. I'll follow with flanking fire and we'll try t drive them into that road. It'll buy you time to get to the third crossing and for me to prep some surprises."
"Why do I not like that tone?" dreaded Virtanen.
"Because you hate ingenuity?" snarked Kaiser.
"More along the lines of you pushing boundaries. I'll do just what you said, it's helpful having someone who can give an outside perspective."
"What do you mean? We're both in this match and equipped the same."
Virtanen was silent.
"You forgot your maps didn't you?"
"Why do you think I put this call on a private frequency?"
Kaiser ended the conversation as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. His Gunner and loader gave polite chuckles at overhearing his end of the conversation.
Laura's were more sarcastic than anything. "That's our commander after all."
"Unfortunately" agreed Kaiser. "Let's hope he lives up to it."
Audience POV
The usual fanfare was present back at the stands. This time both sides were getting along far better with O'Diveley in the match and not antagonizing the other school's students. Murmurs of either school's performance and improvements passed as they watched the action unfold.
When the Ricochet fire began confusion set among the crowds before turning into hollers of surprise at seeing the distress amongst Oarai. Within the sea of grey and blue student uniforms, sat a trio of soft blue clothing.
Mika and her friends had a small spread of food, granted by Transcendence, as they watched the screens.
Aki prepared a small plate of snacks for herself as she commented on the match. "I've seen Oarai up against a wall before but this seems different than usual."
Mikko hurriedly wolfed down some deli meat as she eyed Mika cautiously. "Seems the usual doesn't it? I'm sure they'll pull their own trick and whip another win."
Ignoring her friend's piercing gaze, Mika lightly strummed the instrument on her lap. "Fates change as often as the people who decide them."
Routinely, as usual, Mikko looked to Aki once Mika finished speaking. "She's saying that nothing is set in stone and that as everyone grows so does the chances of an upset… I think."
Mika offered no clarity as she continued gently plucking her chords. Aki took that as an acceptable translation and looked over her shoulder at the screen. A daring race had now begun as columns of armor raced along steep mountain roads with shells flying in every which way.
"If Mika says there's a chance they could win then I wouldn't doubt it." Aki brought a piece of cheese to her mouth. Chewing on it she thought aloud. "Speaking of, do you know their vice commander? He seemed rather familiar with you when he found us-"
"Ah! Aki!" shouted Mikko. Aki turned her head to see her plate empty and Mikko pointing a damning finger at Mika who appeared to not have moved at all. Except for the crumbs of food that fell from her fingers onto her Kantelle.
"Mika!"
Kaiser's POV
The gorge between the roads had widened before closing again, and as it did Kaiser began firing over Oarai's head. They were fast approaching the fork in the road that was so desperately needed.
Knight's Panzer IV pulled a tight U-turn that left it riding the burm as it raced behind the panther. The ARL-44 decreased its speed and stopped as the Firefly approached and halted next to it.
Both vehicles rotated their chassis, turning inwards to the road and facing the rear. The Panzer and Panther offset behind them. Blocking the width of the road a gamble was set. Here they would divert Oarai into taking the detour the Firefly and ARL would be disabled, leading to the Panther and Panzer IV beating a hasty retreat.
Oarai was aware the road to their right was safer but reasonably, did not want to lose such a close pursuit. Seeing as Kaiser's force was not parallel to them and somewhat behind, they attempted to break through. Their time frame was short but their confidence was unshakeable.
Oarai's Char B1 Bis and Porsche Tiger took the front of their formation. Behind the Porsche Tiger was the Panzer IV nestled safely between the burm and the friendly Mark IV with its high silhouette protecting it while its side cannon faced out over the valley. Behind the Panzer IV was the Type 3 Chi-Nu. Following the B1 Bis was the aforementioned Mark IV and behind that was Oarai's new vehicle, still out of sight for Kaiser and hidden behind the tall Mark IV.
Virtanen's defense had stationed themselves a hundred meters down the road from the fork, both sides would have clear shots at each other. The battle erupted in a flash. It was as soon as The ARL sighted the B1 Bis come around the bend in the road. The early 75mm fired and ricocheted off of the chassis. An expected outcome as their goal was to deter and displace Oarai even if it meant just throwing shells downrange.
Oarai continued until both their columns were on the road and just before the fork where they stopped. There was just enough room for the Panzer IV to assist in firing between their lead vehicles but the Porsche Tiger and B1 Bis took the brunt of the assault and returned it.
Virtanen's defense meanwhile had Oaraioutgunned with his positioning. His four guns to their three with Kaiser's team providing fire from across the way. A round from Oarai's Panzer IV found its way to his Panther's turret and skimmed off its slanted top.
Feeling the vibrations in his fingertips, Virtanen blinked through the instinctive reaction to shut his eyes. The noise, the flashes, even the sun was bleeding in through his viewport from his side. He was in a good position, success seemed guaranteed but one thing he had learned working with Kaiser is that no matter how secure you feel, a position is always tenuous at best.
He found himself asking 'Why did they put the Mark IV in the middle where it blocks a useful gun and obscures its team?'
At over thirteen feet, it was certainly not small, in all reasonable scenarios, it would have been at the back since Oarai was on the offense.
'Oarai is not reasonable'
Had Kaiser said that? Or was it himself? Had he just made it up? Anyway, he thought it didn't matter and ordered his gunner to hold fire as the other three vehicles continued suppressing Oarai.
The exchange had lasted almost thirty seconds now, Kaiser's force was pushing along and would soon be parallel to Oarai. Despite proceeding meter by meter, undaunted by the superior firepower, it was now or never. Miho gave a calm command into her headset and as expected, Oarai performed the unexpected.
Another salvo was exchanged between the two teams when Oarai's new vehicle revealed itself in the lull of fire. With the whir of an engine certainly not to spec for the vehicle's time, an upgrade from their infamous mechanic team no doubt, the vehicle emerged from behind the Mark IV.
Barrel raised into the air, the crew of Oarai's new Comet backed away from their team. Housing sufficient speed and firepower for Oarai, the new crew sought to make themselves useful and found their opportunity with fresh orders from Miho.
The Comet lurched forward, its driver shifting gears to reach its max speed. With a harsh impact and a sudden jerk, their tracks connected with the Mark IVs. Unbelievably, they had used it as an impromptu ramp.
Virtanen's team watched in disbelief as thirty-six tons of steel took to the air before landing abruptly atop the B1 Bis in its path and clambering over the turret. With luck, their barrel didn't snap off into the earth as they fund purchase on the soil and within the short timeframe of stupor by all, pushed straight towards Virtanen's defense.
Oarai's spearhead had been thrust. The ARL, Panzer IV, and Firefly fired at the speeding mass as it zig-zagged along the road, closing the distance. Oarai skillfully fired around their ally, pinging rounds off of the FIrefly and ARL who struggled to steady their aims amongst the impacts.
Knight's Panzer IV fired landing a glancing blow onto the Comet's side as it serpentined again. The comet began driving straight at the Firefly who was mid-reload. All barrels focused on the approaching Comet but could not find a line of sight as they impeded each other with their close formation. The Comet shifted abruptly, its aim set for the burm next to the Firefly.
Virtanen had pulled his Panther back as soon as Oarai made their move. His barrel no longer between the ARL and Firefly turrets. With a firm hand on his gunner's shoulder, they held their breath and their shot.
Virtanen was not the only one to notice the Comet's intent to ride the burm and get behind their defense. Damian Frost abruptly ordered his driver to push forward and left in an attempt to derail the comet's path. It worked to their detriment.
Within a few seconds from that order, the Firefly pushed forward and ahead slightly exposing its flank. The Comet shifted onto an unstable footing of the burms loose topsoil where Virtanen took his chance. The Panther's gunner fired, the 75mm shell impacted, sheering through the steel on the front of the chassis before ripping straight through a gap in the tracks and the thin metal covering it. Surprisingly, it wasn't disabled.
Sufficiently spooked and in a disadvantageous spot, the Comet crashed through the brush to its right in an attempt to escape. The Firefly sought to fire after it but in its exposed position, Oarai threaded a shot.
The Panzer IV as if it had been waiting saw the slim opening and landed a shell in the thin gap between the Firefly's track and its angled hull. Smoke emerged from the Firefly as Virtanen's defense fell into disarray.
Oarai pounced. The remaining five vehicles pushed around the Panzer IV who was taking another well-aimed shot as they sought to overrun VIrtanen's position.
The Firefly down, The Panther's barrel pointed in the wrong position, and Knight's Panzer which had repositioned amidst the fiasco, only the ARL could retaliate in hopes of deterring the assault.
A modicum of despair set upon Virtanen as he watched Oarai press forward ten meters before a wave of relief washed in through one ear.
"Cavalry's here."
With a break in the burm height along the valley, a hail of cannon fire landed along the road and in front of the charging Porsche Tiger who pulled a miraculous 360-degree drift to avoid the oncoming fire. Virtanen looked across the valley to see Kaiser out the top of his cupola and directing fire with a pair of binos.
Virtanen raised a hand out of his cupola and frantically waved his cap at Kaiser who tipped his own. The complacent exchange was short-lived as Oarai returned fire to fall back. As they fired back at Virtanen and Kaiser force a round flew by his turret, the hot air brushing past his hand and nearly taking his cap along with it.
Virtanen pulled his arm back and shook it to ensure he still had a hand. He could practically hear Kiser's snickering in his mind. With the pressure relenting on his end, he watched as Oarai's thrust had been countered.
Retreating they did what they could only do, they took the offshoot road. Transcendence had succeeded in diverting their foe and buying time. Virtanen had no time to slouch as the ARL and Panzer IV made to pursue, eager to be on the offense.
"Hold back!" ordered Virtanen.
"Sir?!" responded Piper as her ARL stopped and the Panzer IV rear-ended it. \
"We achieved what we needed to, not to mention Kaiser's force is still on the other side. They've already shown us that they are full of surprises and capable of taking us head-on. Let's stick to the plan."
"Sir, the plan is already out the window" responded Knight.
"True but I'm sure Kaiser's got something convoluted cooked up."
Another voice pathed in. "Glad you caught them before I did. I wouldn't have had any qualms about leaving them without support just so they could slow Oarai down another minute or two."
Any chuckles of disbelief within the two vehicles died down when Virtanen didn't join in and both proceeded as if it was an obvious matter.
"Do as the commander said, we've bought time for you to get to our side. Don't waste it. Valerya kindly volunteered to watch the road until further notice."
A brief static arose as a female voice in protest shouted "Sir?!" before being cut off. Ignoring the interruption Kaiser continued. " Don't join us at the next crossroads, Hetzer's still on the prowl, push further and join at the one after. We'll continue slowing them until you meet with Sokolov."
"Sounds good, and might I mention you have impeccable timing?"
Kaiser shook his head at the comment. "Always a fine line between good timing and bad luck." Without further banter, he watched as the Panther with its two escorts took off. His Tiger along with the IS-1, Stug IV, Pz sfl IVc, and M18 followed suit. Much to Valerya's chagrin, she was left to watch the crossroads in case Oarai tried to backtrack.
"It wasn't too long before it proved a valid decision as none other than the Comet began prowling about. It attempted to pursue but was scared off by Valerya's KV-85 Firing on it. A short exchange began but ended with the KV-85's second shot. The comet then promptly turned tail and ran.
Valerya was confident that Oarai wouldn't try to take the main road anymore and radioed Kaiser.
"You are to stay there until further ordered. Despite her complaints, the conversation ended with a "yes sir" and her strengthened resolve to especially annoy him after this was all over.
She was left to simmer in her thoughts as she decided, 'Maybe I'll make Nat suffer too'
-Chapter End-