The cracks were beginning to show. Assailed by nature in the form of the sudden downpour limiting their visibility and his foe assaulting his defensive position, Virtanen was feeling the pressure. The sound of fire ahead of him from his ARL-44 and 44M-TAS had slowed down, unable to properly engage their foe with the limited visibility from their position more exposed to the elements.
The sound of harsh wind and rain beating against the steel carapace of their tanks nearly erased the sounds of their enemy's engines that were once so clear in the jungle minutes before. The cherry on top, of course, could only be the miraculously accurate and annoying indirect fire from Gloriana's SPGs.
Virtanen stayed hulled down in a dense patch of vegetation as his squad defended the front. The occasional 88mm artillery shell landing near him after its trajectory was shifted in the stormy weather only intensified the strain on him as he coordinated information between his units and moved the imaginary pieces on the map before him in his mind. Under a barrage, frontal assault, losses being taken across the west, unexpected weather, delays in information, the enemy's movements now better concealed, and the daunting responsibility he felt for his position, for what his friend had done to cover for him, his frayed mind hit an impasse.
He tried to calm himself, difficult in the humidity and cramped confines of the tank as he loosened his blouse and dropped his cover, barely succeeding only for the dilemma to repeat. His crew would repeatedly call his attention as he got lost in thought to urge or remind him to radio, direct, or respond to their teammates. The four cadets, close comrades, and friends themselves were at a loss of what to do or so to help him as he began to struggle. For now, they were keeping him capable, operating the team but if they were to engage in combat themselves, could Virtanen keep himself together and pull through?
Then an ominous sound from ahead erupted. The sound of earth shifting rang prominent among the rain, followed by the sound of steel colliding.
Holding the line till Kaiser's squad could reinforce, Piper and the 44M-Tas commander were slowly shifting around the edge of their elevated position. Amidst the falling deluge of water, it was difficult to see the Matilda's below but they fired the occasional shell to keep them at bay and received one in kind.
The enemy IDF was an unwelcome company as well. Having long since zeroed their aim before the storm, it was a small reprieve that the strong winds would throw some shells off mid-flight. But so long as the Matildas were unable to advance below, the two enemy guns fired their shells.
It was almost laughable their squad was stuck in this situation once more. But mostly frustrating and annoying unlike Kuromorines had been. What had once been shocking and terrifying at being unable to fight back was now a nuisance. It still held the possibility of being defeated without fighting back but now the shells were notably smaller than the SturmTigers mortar.
Kuromoromines massive shell would come in between long pauses, preluded by an ominous howl. Gloriana's shells were smaller, with shorter pauses, and silent until impact. What had begun being fired in pairs was now being fired intermittently. One shell would land and presumably, as that vehicle was halfway loaded again, the second would fire and the process would repeat. Under suppressive fire, nothing was more annoying than the enemy 'talking guns' as Virtanen and Kaiser had drilled into the cadets of Transcendence, a painful lesson they had learned in InfanterieKampf.
What was most concerning for Piper, who was de facto leader of the two tanks while Virtanen was distracted in the rear, was that she had seen two masses speed past earlier. What she had assumed was enemy reinforcements boldly racing to break past her, turned out to be nothing as they never came.
Tense and alert, she and the 44M-Tas were now slowly moving along the edge of their position in a small circular routine, nervous to be in one palace too long less the assumed assault came or the enemy arty got lucky. It was when the realization that while she had been in contemplation, Piper realized that the Matilda's below hadn't fired in some time. She hadn't even seen a silhouette.
Had they gone to reinforce the west to attempt a breakthrough on Kaiser's rear as he fell back? She couldn't think any further as a sudden rush of sound took her and her vehicle. The incessant explosions by the arty, the movement of the two vehicles, and most, unfortunately, the rain, had weakened the edge of their elevated position. What had once been an invaluable piece of terrain to fire down from, soon gave way in mass as the two tanks slid down among the cascade of clay-like mud.
The landslide felt immediate as the crews within the two tanks were thrown down and began sliding downhill. A nauseous feeling took the occupants of the vehicle as they spun, and shifted about violently as if in an unpredictable carnival ride. It felt as if the earth had suddenly thrown them up and swallowed them.
Groaning, the two crews reoriented themselves as they nursed their newly bruised bodies. Piper and the 44M-Tas commander took to observing their surroundings. It was all quiet. There were no enemies before them or even further south at the pass let alone the two Matilda's.
Piper urgently ordered her crew to begin moving, determined to circumvent the slope they had fallen and flank their enemy rear. Her driver tried starting the engine which sputtered before going silent once more. Piper was puzzled, why had their engine died? There was no flag or extreme damage dealt to them. She opened her hatch, greeted by the warm rain against her face as she looked at the rear of her vehicle and saw the answer.
The back half of her vehicle was buried in mud, the exhaust valves filled with whom knows how much as the chassis was caked in feet of the slosh. It surprised her how she hadn't even noticed the awkward angle her tank was buried in, practically on a twenty-degree incline with the back half buried.
Again and again, her driver tried to start the engine, each jerk of the transmission giving a slight hope until she ordered them to stop. The 44M-TAS was in the same predicament. Dread took Piper's usually cheery and optimistic mind. Without so much as a fight, nature, and circumstance had effectively rendered their tanks inoperable and dealt a harsh blow to Transcendence's defense. Something she had been entrusted with by Kaiser and Virtanen…
It could only be counted as unlucky yet that did not change her determination. She ordered her crew to grab the shovels to try and dig the vehicle out and try to prop some logs under the tracks, hopefully in time to rejoin the front that was going on just a few hundred meters away behind them. She was hopeful as her crew set to work in the rain yet she wasn't foolish. She radioed Virtanen and informed him of their status.
Virtanen listened as his RO informed his crew for him while he remained in silence. This was just after he heard the Frost sibling's status of defeat and stared at the markings on his map. Gloriana was closing in on him and within ten seconds, he had lost his squad.
Disbelief stunned him. He felt a tinge of anger wanting to lash out at the absurdity of it all. But he was unable to. Instead, he felt as if he was watching his prospects slip, his futile attempts at proving himself once again showing him he was nothing.
Tears threatened his glossy eyes. His breath hitched, painfully causing him to clasp his head as his mind went blank. His lines were shattered, his forces retreating, he felt as if he had already lost. That it was already all laid out what would happen as his mind played a taunting future for him.
He couldn't even hear the voices of his crew as they softly tried to get his attention. Sensing his dire state, they exchanged glances before turning to the RO in silence. The Cadet hurriedly changed the frequency and relayed a short message. "Eagle's lost."
The cryptic message wasn't even registered by Virtanen as his RO changed his headset to a private channel and the stern voice of the contingency messages creator entered his ears.
"Finally lost it, Huh?" asked Kaiser.
Virtanen stilled, holding his breath at the unexpected voice.
"To be honest, I thought you would've broken sooner, would've been more convenient instead of mid-match. Guess that shows growth on your end. So congrats." The empty talk couldn't confuse Virtanen any more than he already was, especially as feelings of resentment welled up.
"Not surprised you aren't speaking either, I already know what's going on in that head of yours, hell I may be the only one on our team right now who could."
Virtanen bit his lip as he glanced at the back of his crew's heads. He wanted to bite back, to retort, defend himself in some way but the dread of embarrassing himself, acting out before them left him in a stiflingly unpleasant silence. Were they listening to the transmission? Had they also given up on him? Immediate indignation at the self-posed thought was swallowed by self-pity. He couldn't blame them if they did. After all-
"Hey!" Roared Kaiser into the headset. Virtanen recoiled at the sound as he winced and removed the offending earmuffs. Virtanen stared at the headset in his hands with temporary shock as he heard Kaiser's voice emanate from them with a muffle. "Put your headset back on!" demanded Kaiser predicting his friend's action.
Hesitantly and with shaky hands, Virtanen did so. Embarrassment welled up as the gloss in his eyes threatened to burst into tears. Now he was not only fearful of embarrassing himself, he felt ashamed as if he was a child being scolded and by his friend no less.
"Are you listening?!" asked Kaiser.
Virtanen's voice felt hoarse as it came out barely audible. Kaiser could not hear it. "My god, Emma! Is his headset on or not?!" demanded Kaiser.
Virtanen's eyes widened as he looked down at his RO who he caught glancing back at him. Awkwardly, she turned away and he heard her whisper over the comm. "Yes sir, he is."
"Good, you all can tune out now, this will be between me and him." as the line went private, Virtanen prepared himself. A stabbing remark, chastisement, grueling rebukes, and remarks that would eat away at his sanity, showing just how terrible he was. It would all be true. If Kaiser said it, it had to be right? He couldn't measure up after all. His way of doing things was just his own misplaced hopes.
"Are you still overthinking things?" groaned Kaiser. "I swear, aside from your fear of public speaking this is your second worst attribute… Maybe third, after your past with problematic women."
The intended joke only hollowed out Virtanen's soul more. Just as Virtanen was about to cut the call himself, Kaiser's tone shifted.
An unusual sensation came about from what Virtanen could only recognize as a concern. From Kaiser? It somehow made him forget his self-pity momentarily but also uncomfortable.
"I remember when you'd jump at the smallest explosion or gunshot in InfanterieKampf. It always made me laugh because I was the same months before you. I remember when our squad was ordered to assault a trench and we got into hand-to-hand fighting. We were both taken out after securing the trench and afterward, you had a bruise fatter than your forehead and I had a busted nose."
Virtanen recalled the same scenes. The sound of his engine, and the pattering rain, were all washed away as his mind recalled the vivid emotions and sensations of those earlier days. He hadn't even realized that Gloriana's SPGs had stopped shelling them.
Kaiser let a long sigh out. His vehicle was still racing to reconnoiter with his squad and set a defense but in this moment he found himself peacefully reminiscing in the lull of battle. "I remember when we raised our battle flag over that mock city and won the nationals. The euphoria on us as we placed it. Point is, I remember every success, every failure, and every struggle. Most of which you were there beside me."
Virtanen stayed silent. He remembered it all too, but despite his usual cheer, it all felt hollow.
"Do you think they didn't count as yours because you weren't alone? Because you weren't in charge? I'd call you worse but I'll settle for stupid. You are stupid if you think so. We were a team and still are. We had comrades who fought alongside and didn't make it to see the same ends we did, does that invalidate our achievements?"
A lump welled in VIrtanen's throat, the answer obvious as emotion welled in him. "...No" he softly answered.
Then you have nothing to prove here other than what you can do" replied Kaiser.
"But-"
"Nothing, those relics of antiquity on the Senshado board can stuff it for all I care."
"What? You called in those favors, bought us time to prove ourselves you-"
"Did it so we can finish the season strong. I don't care for the aftermath and neither should you. What matters is this battle, this fight."
Virtanen had a small smirk of disbelief twitch on his face. Even with the stakes, everything they had done, and what they owed to others, he was still in it for the thrill of battle.
"It's unfair of you to belittle me for being the same as before" countered Virtanen. "You haven't changed at all either."
"Probably never will" snickered Kaiser. "If I do, it will-"
"Take time, I know. I know" finished Virtanen.
"Good. Now take some time, a moment to forget everything unnecessary. Everything outside this battle and what you can do to make the enemy hurt. I understand how you want to do things but now understand how I do them. Think of us as tools to complete a task. Willing and obedient but prepare for when we fail not if. Use us to our utmost value and expend if need be but be mindful that there will always be a following action. Don't use all your cards at once."
"Sounds like you should've told me this at the start of the season" quipped Virtanen with a tired expression.
"You'd never have listened let alone done it."
Virtanen could only confirm with a small hum.
We're running low on options now so most importantly, when you defend, do so flexibly and watch for opportunity. When you attack, do it savagely and without remorse."
Virtanen silently absorbed the info before posing a query. "Is this your way of saying you're taking charge?"
"Pfft, Running wild does sound enticing. Perhaps I should shove you to a corner while I and the Gloriana girls have some fun?"
Virtanen's usual smile bloomed back. "Then congratulations."
"...What"
"As acting commander, I recognize that I am no longer capable of commanding this unit."
"Hold the hell on-"
"Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Kaiser, I hereby appoint you as temporary commander until this match is over.
"You know damn well, I don't want it. Why would I want the burden that just drove my peer to break down?"
"Isn't that why you called?
"I called because I didn't want us to lose because you were soiling yourself."
"Crude remarks aside, I know one reason why you'll accept it regardless."
"Enlighten me before I get up there and ram you off a cliff."
"Besides glory and bragging rights, of course, you have free reign to alter our mission and do as you see fit."
"...Are you sure about this?"
"More than I am of doing it myself."
"Even if I make you the lynchpin for this change?"
"Who else could do things your way as you told me than you?"
"It's regrettable the only time you make sense is when I don't need you to" griped Kaiser. "But you have a deal. Stand by for a change of orders and pass any information on the status of the squads to me."
"Will do… Thanks." There was no reply as Kaiser cut his line, perhaps his way of telling Virtanen to shut up and have some self-respect. A small chuckle crossed his lips as his crew looked back in relief to see him give them a reassuring smile. They didn't see his hands still shaking at his side.
While video footage inside of the vehicles was transmitted to the audience, the audio within was scarcely played due to an incident where a spectator was relaying information to a team mid-match years ago. With this factor, the match's coordinators and announcers were quick to fill in those watching.
The news of Virtanen passing on command at this crucial juncture brought about a row of chatter. Excitement, curiosity, and naturally, conjecture as to just why. The gaunt look he had on his face moments ago was broadcasted to all, the knowledge that he was being watched having fled his mind.
Some thought it good, others disappointing. All around curiosity arose to see what would happen especially as the ever-infamous Kaiser would take the reigns. But amongst three of the more experienced girls, a conversation over character not tactics took place.
"I hope it isn't a rift like the last time. What do you think sis?" asked Miho.
The two sisters watched the screens ahead intently as they pondered. Both their eyes flitter from the ongoing scenes of fire to the flickering screens showing the crews on both sides.
Maho sat firm as she deliberated over her judgment. "I don't think so Virtanen seemed relieved and from what Kaiser told me when we last met, he was relieved to have overcome any lingering resentment between him and his peers. Unless it is something new it was most likely Virtanen believed that it was in his best interest to delegate the role."
Miho breathed a small sigh of relief. "Regardless, it doesn't seem like the momentum is in their favor, is it?"
Maho shook her head. "St. Gloriana certainly seems to have the advantage for the moment. But I'm sure we both know that they are far from finished."
Miho giggled at the statement. "That's true. Their entire team has a certain tenacity to themselves a lot like their commanders. Knowing him, I doubt Kaiser is even worried about the situation as it is."
"His mindset is as firm as our family's teachings. Trivial upsets aren't likely to phase him" agreed Maho.
Having listened in and grinning at her two peers' recent knowledge of him, Mika interjected after quietly placing a handful of trash from the snacks she had eaten aside. "He's a simpler man than you would think. His confidence can be summed up with a simple saying."
"Shared dangers awaken shared courage: they hence tie the noblest bond of men. Friendship."
"You're quoting sayings now as well?" Laughed Miho as she nonetheless applauded the statement.
Maho's eyes narrowed as she asked for clarity. "What's the source of that saying? Well, Mika?"
Mika remained silent, sweating under the glare as she did not know the source, worse yet, she wouldn't dare reveal she had heard the saying from Kaiser years ago at an InfanterieKampf match. Seeking an out, she turned her attention to Miho and requested her company to retrieve more food. Ever protective, Maho had to switch gears to prevent her sister from funding Mika's appetite.
On the matches front, Darjeeling's centurion advanced eastward uphill and along the road to Virtanen's last known position without any resistance. She took a long, satisfying sip of her tea. The warm liquid brought comfort despite the muggy interior of the tank and her stuffy clothing.
"Tell me, do you know who said this?"
"An action committed in anger is an action doomed to failure"
On the other end of the radio was Alice, cocking her head in confusion as she fought to keep her half-filled cup steady while thinking over the sudden quizzical question.
Hearing the junior struggle over the radio with "umms" and "er's" Pekoe came to the rescue as she topped off Darjeelings tea. "That would be none other than Ghengis Khan, Ma'am."
"Correct as always Pekoe, now let Ms. Alice answer. Do you know why I am saying this quote?"
"Um… because It applies here?"
Again Pekoe interjected. "As we rehearsed Ms. Alice. Apply your own interpretation to the question.
Silently, Alice did as Pekoe suggested and mumbled to herself. What Darjeeling thought to be her critical thinking was partially true. The other part was the young genius comparing the circumstances to an episode of Boko the Bear. After a moment of quiet, the young girl gave an excited answer.
"After taking a beating we're going to get back up and win! Showing them that we won't lose!"
Darjeeling praised the childish answer as Pekoe giggled to herself, the secret being only between her and Alice. As Darjeeling continued educating Alice over comms on how a proper student of St. Gloriana conducted themselves in this situation, a curve ball was thrown their way.
It was as she explained they had applied extensive pressure on the enemy commander to disrupt his judgement-making abilities when the unexpected happened. The two Centurions who were racing ahead of their slower allies to maintain pressure on their retreating foe were suddenly attacked from the side.
As the two tanks raced along the road, a sudden mass of steel came careening out from the roadside foliage with a powerful blast from its cannon before joining them in their drive east. The two vehicles swerved and slammed against each other as they avoided the oncoming mass.
Alice had dropped her teacup and Darjeeling had spilled the majority of her tea as they looked back to see the cause. With wide eyes, Darjeeling saw the Tiger tank, far from their prediction of falling back. As Darjeeling was momentarily shocked by the audacious attack, Alice was the first to react.
Her vehicle dropped speed and collided side by side with the Tiger, attempting to drive it off-road. The two tanks fought, ramming one another as they tried to drive the other off-road. Soon Darjeeling joined the fray and hit the brakes.
The sudden stop nearly had the Tiger rear-ending her vehicle if it were not for its sudden dodge. The Tiger shifted right and rode the edge of the road's crevice, dangerously close to falling down the ever-steepening slope. Avoiding Darjeeling's sudden stop, Alice's tank nearly received the blow as she attempted to ram the Tiger once more.
Now the Tiger was ahead of the two Centurions who quickly took aim and fired. Both shots missed as the Tiger pulled another abrupt maneuver, suddenly turning right sharply and crossing their paths. First Darjeeling's tank struck the Tiger's side, slowing both vehicles down as Alice's maintained her speed. The Tiger immediately struck the side of her tank as well and dragged its speed down as the three heavy tanks formed an awkward circle trying to maintain speed and direct their long barrels at each other.
With an elegance expected of none other, the two vehicles untangled themselves from the Tiger's hectic ambush and proceeded to advance east despite the tenacious pursuit. Too close to fire their guns, and persistent enough to continuously ram them and impede their speed, it was developing close enough to what Kaiser had planned.
Further west, Gloriana's forces were conglomerating, the lone Churchill would be joined by the last Matilda's and the heavy reinforcement platoon. Given enough time, they would certainly overwhelm whatever defense he could mount. Even If he recalled Sokolov now, they likely wouldn't arrive in time. Instead, he would keep Sokolov back to tie up any forces he could as he sought to catch his opponents separated and delay their advances.
Only these Centurions and their crews were nothing to scoff at. He knew just who was commanding them and so devoted his full focus to this strategy, not allowing any chance for himself to underestimate them. As he and Westhoffen tediously exchanged command and feedback on the situation as they fought the skirmish of speed and weight against their foes, two things became clear.
Alice's fighting style wasn't fully compatible with Gloriana. She could adapt and comply with it but she wasn't able to fully mesh. This was made clear by their near collision at the start of his ambush. The second point of notice was that despite these advantages and realizations, the two fierce girls commanding the powerful Centurions were giving him no respite.
So he initiated the second phase of his ambush. As the Darjeeling's Centurion swiped against the front of his chassis and Alice narrowly missed a shot to his engine, He radioed his squad. "Val, Nat, Now!"
Up ahead, the IS-1 and KV-85 emerged into view on the road, side by side, as they unleashed coordinated fire onto the Centurions and even Kasier's Tiger by accident. The occasional glancing shot was understandable. The three tanks were intertwining and speeding down onto the Prokov sisters but that didn't mean Katya wouldn't rebuke them over the radio or his crew wouldn't wince at the impacts. Thankfully the two sisters and their crews were crack shots and he hadn't earned their ire. For the two shots that incidentally struck a glancing blow on his Tiger Five had hampered the Centurions.
Now his opponent's focus was no longer solely on him. Their barrels faced forward returning inaccurate fire as they hastily moved, trying to maneuver out of incoming shots or utilize his vehicle as a shield.
Kaiser and his crew were zoned in on the hectic race. He was sure that the audience was enjoying the spectacle even as the rain obscured the drone footage from overhead. But just as the audience was sure to be eating it up, a pessimistic voice rose in his ear.
"Are you sure about this?" asked Virtanen.
"I thought I was acting commander?"
"That doesn't answer my-"
"My answer doesn't change what needs to be done" interrupted Kaiser. "I'm not asking if you will do it. I'm telling you to. But if you need some motivation then I'm sure this is our best chance."
"This isn't some thrill-seeking on your behalf?"
"Might just be some" admitted Kaiser with a shrug. "Have you begun ascending to the upper tributary?"
"Yes, we're moving slowly, the path seems stable and good for our movements" responded Virtanen.
"Then wait for my arrival. The finale will begin soon and you'll finally get to be a hero."
"The added pressures not helping" added Virtanen quietly before ending the transmission.
Without missing a beat, Kaiser ordered Belle to reverse the turret and nodded to Katya who transferred him to Valerya and Natalya's frequency. "Begin second phase" he calmly ordered.
At his word, The IS-1 and KV-85 fired in sync and lurched forward. They too began racing downhill on course to intercept the incoming Tiger and Centurions. The ensuing clash caught the Centurions slowing down as they prepared for an expected collision which came to naught.
As the Tiger gained distance and sped ahead, the IS-1 and KV-85 raced past, ignoring the Centurion's fire as they fled downhill.
At a loss, the Two centurions hesitated on their next course of action. Without deliberation, Alice set off after the Tiger, intent on fulfilling her prior orders as Darjeeling followed.
The lines were more blurred than ever. In the east, Virtanen fled to the upper tributary as Kaiser followed. Darjeeling and Alice pursued as Natalya and Valerya followed Kaiser's order to hold up any Gloriana reinforcements that would be congregating. The Arl-44 and 44M-Tas were still trapped in their earthy confines while both O'Diveleys and Knight's squads were out of commission. Despite heavy losses to Gloriana, their foe remained steadfast.
In the West, however, the spotlight would not be stolen by the two remaining outliers.
-Chapter End-