Strum Von Das Kettenantrieb (Assault of the Tracked Vehicles)

by mazinkaiser

A teenaged girl was trying to escape her troubled past only to confront them (along with her old and new friends) in the only way she knew how – The Way of the Tank.

5. Ooarai-Bellwall's In an Icy Pinch

Greetings, everyone. Mazinkaiser here. Unlike last chapter in which most of the battle was a cakewalk, in this chapter, Ooarai-Bellwall has to fight tooth and nail to get a win. So, read how they would succeed against both their enemies and the weather in this chapter aptly named...

---

Chapter 5 – Ooarai-Bellwall Sensha-do Team's in an Icy Pinch

As it was the Anglerfish Festival for the town of Ooarai, the whole Ooarai-Bellwall sensha-do team had agreed to do the Anglerfish Dance in various locations in either Ooarai itself or the Zuikaku.

At first the team had refused especially since they had either done the dance itself before after being defeated by St. Gloriana or watching it in Youtube or even live. Not only that, but US Army Second Lieutenant Zacarias Wycoco's vocal argument for refusing to participate was the loudest of all.

As it was, the town council as well as JSDF Captain Ami Chono had used whatever persuasive measure that could be undertaken, either offering a bribe like giving free mochi for a week or even money to actually putting on a bunny suit and trying to seduce the team member (actually the team member in question was the vehicular instructor himself).

Much of the bribes were rejected for various reasons with the last attempt actually secretly filmed to be watched by the girls later for laughs, mostly as they got to see a lot of steam coming out of the instructor tank's cooling vents since Ami had done her own version of the Anglerfish dance in the process.

Still, Anzu Kodatoni had gotten the whole team to participate only by appealing to their school spirit and to get even more of the townspeople to watch their matches.

In addition, the whole dance routine would be videotaped for future festivals.

In the end, the whole team had done the Anglerfish Dance in their respective teams with the end part of the routine done by everyone in one big finale.

-oOo-

The video had started with Anglerfish Team, in their anglerfish costumes, walking to a seaside park with two benches right next to each other. Once they had reached their assigned positions, the team had stopped and faced the camera and bowed.

Once each girl had straightened up, they had waited for the song to be played in the nearby speakers and replayed in the video itself. Each girl had different expressions on their faces – Miho Nishizumi's face had shown determination, Saori Takebe's face had shown fear, Hana Isuzu's face had shown confidence, Yukari Akiyama's face had shown happiness…odd, and Mako Reizei's face had shown that she would have rather taken a nap.

The music had started with the whole team taking a deep breath with their eyes closed to prepare themselves for the plunge. Once the song had started, the whole team had turned to the right and raised their right arms in a crooked manner with their left forming a teacup handle with their weight slightly concentrated on their toes. Their stance was also slightly bent at their knees and the waist as well.

As the song had gone on, the whole team had turned to the left with the same posture then turned back to the right with their right hands slightly moving up and down as if imitating a mating ritual of the female anglerfish then left once again for a few turns.

After finishing their turn, the girls then faced forward once again with their arms raised and their right leg slightly forward. This was followed with their arms and legs pulled back with the former being crossed over their chests and heads slightly nodding.

The girls then made a full turn with their arms raised and slightly crooked in the direction to the left. This was followed by their getting their left legs forward and their arms still raised.

Again, they had pulled back their arms and legs as before with their arms again crossed over their chests. This was followed by yet another turn then ending the turn with their arms wide and their legs slightly spread.

They then touched their left foot briefly, followed by their right foot before shaking their collective booties. With their legs slightly spread, they then spread their arms forward. They then touched their left foot before raising their arms high and wide once again.

They then touched their right foot before shaking their booties once again. Once again, they had turned to the right with their arms straight and their hands slightly down while still standing slightly bent.

This time, they had shaken their hips with their hands clasped above their heads. This was followed by repeating the same moves while facing left. Then coming back to shake their hips with their hands still clasped above their heads.

They then repeated the same moves as before as they turned to the left and the right, before turning their backs to the camera and shaking their hips once again.

The group had once again repeated their same movements at the start of the dance.

We then shift to the Turtle Team nearly doing the same moves at different sequences in the playground of a shopping mall (Ooarai Maiwai Market Annex) in town. Duck Team is dancing in front of the dolphin statues in Aqua World Ibaraki Ooarai Aquarium.

Hippo Team was seen showing their prowess in dancing somewhere at Ooarai Park. Rabbit Team was seen in front of a general store displaying their own skill in dancing.

Mallard Team was dancing on the steps towards one of the Shinto Shrines with Anglerfish again seen in a far shot at the top floor of the Ooarai Marine Tower. This time, Tiger was seen on a bridge near Ataetoshiiku Shrine, Panda Team was seen dancing at a hotel front.

Hawk Team (including a projected 3-D image of their commander) were later seen in front of the dolphin statue near Ooarai station. Anteater Team was seen dancing near a souvenir shop in one of the parks.

Finally, all of the teams were seen dancing on a parking lot of the aforementioned shopping mall before bowing.

After everyone (well almost everyone) had changed to their civilian clothes as they were given the rest of the day off.

To that end, Miho and her friends had used the lieutenant as their personal vehicle as they headed to 7-11 to buy some drinks and snacks.

"That was quite a routine we made," Yukari had told the others as they had walked inside the convenience store. "It's even tougher than fighting in tanks."

"Yeah, but why us?" Mako said suddenly as she was looking for sweets. "I'm sure that the town could find some people to do that dance."

"Maybe so, but it is our contribution to the festival." Miho answered her. "Not only that, having more of them in the stands would be a good thing for us in terms of morale."

-oOo-

In the school ship – Kiev, a meeting of commanders in the form of a tea party was being held in the massive private meeting room of the Pravda Girl High School's sensha-do commander's office.

Please note that said sensha-do commander is also in charge of the whole school ship as well.

As it was, the aforementioned commander named Katyusha and her guest was none other than the St. Gloriana Girl's College sensaha-do commander – Darjeerling.

"It is too bad that we couldn't do better in the semifinals," the taller blonde said to her hostess. "Black Forest had simply outmaneuvered us in the end or at least its commander did."

"You lost to a team that we crushed last year," the diminutive commander scoffed at her guest's admission of losing to weaker school in her eyes. "Pathetic."

"As they say – Lady Luck is a fickle mistress," Darjeerling replied in allusion to her and Katyusha's differing situations when it came to their dealings with both Nishizumi sisters.

Of course, the whole thing had gone way over Katyusha's head.

"Excuse me, but I have been hearing my name being paired with a big word that says I'm small with a joke that says the same." Katyusha then said while looking around with Darjeerling using a fan to hide her giggling face. "Wherever or whoever you are, once I find you, you will be enjoying your stay in the gulag."

Like that would happen as I am not even a student of Pravda. What the hell?! H-how did you get here?

"Oh, I have my ways." The elegant brunette answered with a feral smile as she had a combat knife on my neck. "Now are you going to apologize to Comrade Katyusha."

Alright, alright. My humblest apologies to the great commander Katyusha of Pravda High.

"Thank you," the great commander then said with a big smile. "And Nonna, please teach me how you had done that."

"Of course, Comrade." Nonna, Pravda's sensha-do team's vice-commander answered with a slight blush that contrasted with her stoic facial expression as she had exited author space. "I shall teach you when we have the time."

"Here," she added while placing a bowl of red sugar for their guest. "Something to nibble as you talk turkey."

"Thank you, Nonna." Darjeerling said with sincerity as she had picked up a spoonful of the red jam before trying to put in her cup of black tea,

"You're welcome."

"Your wrong," Katyusha suddenly exclaimed. "Don't dunk the jam in."

While the other blonde was looking at the great one oddly, the Pravda commander then explained while forgetting that having some of the jam stuck to the corners of her mouth. "You lick it as you drink the tea."

Nonna then said with a slight smile. "You have some jam on your face."

"You don't have to tell me that," Katyusha retorted, embarrassed at the fact being pointed out.

The Pravda vice commander had calmly taken the rebuke calmly before turning to the visitor and adding while placing a plate full of treats at her side of the table. "Have some pirozhnoe kartoshka and some pechenye."

"Your semi-final match will be held soon," the St, Gloriana commander then reminded her counterpart. "Yet you seem to seem to be taking it easy. Don't you need to practice?"

"That'd only be a waste of fuel," the Pravda commander said with a dismissive wave. "Besides, our opponent is some weak high school I've never even heard of."

"Their commander is part of the Nishizumi clan's head family though," Darjeerling then said with a mental smirk.

At first, only Nonna had looked at the visitor as if to hear the all-important information. Then, Katyusha finally got the idea. "What?"

Turning to her vice-commander, she then asked. "Why didn't you give this crucial information before?"

"I told you many times," Nonna answered calmly.

"Did not!"

"It's the younger sister though," the St. Gloriana commander then added, enjoying the show.

Katyusha had caught her breath before saying. "Oh."

"She and her instructor tank had brought that no-name team school this far after she had transferred there from Black Forest last year."

"You came all this way just to tell me that, Dajeerling?" The Pravda commander now tried to cajole her visitor on what she really came to her school for.

"Of course not," the visitor answered with a slightly goofy smile, hiding her true intentions. "I came here for some of your delightful tea."

She then took a sip of her black tea with elegance.

-oOo-

Back in the Zuikaku, both the Automotive Club and the Good Wrench team were busy in fixing all of the tanks in the garage. Thankfully, the damages were minor thus the Abrams and the Tiger were fixed first with the others fixed afterwards in terms of damages.

After they had fixed the damages, they had talked with Miho Nishizumi and the Student Council for an important announcement.

"The Automobile club now throw our hats into the sensha-do ring as Leopon Team," Satoko Nakajima then said for her team. "Given that our next opponent isn't a pushover, and that Hokkaido is pretty cold this year, we made up our minds to assist you with our new weapon – the Tiger (P) Heavy tank. Not only that, but Good Wrench was also given permission to attach an Auxiliary Power Unit to the Abrams to keep it running in the cold weather like its counterpart."

"Welcome to the team, Leopon." Miho then said with a big smile at the newest recruits to the sensha-do club. "We need yours and Leopon's power to help beat Pravda and be one step closer to winning the championship."

"Yes, like Miho and Satoko said." Momo Kawashima then took the stage. "Our semifinal match is coming up and we're fighting last year's champion – Pravda Girl High School. We have to win no matter what."

Miho's face had a mix of emotions that was hard to read once the Public Relations manager had mentioned the name of school that had defeated her own before.

After a pause, Momo then added. "If we lose, it's all over."

"How come?" Azusa Sawa then asked the PR manager, curious at the answer much like everyone else.

"There's always next year," Karina Sakaguchi then added. "So, who cares?"

"And we're up against last year's champions too." Yuuki Utsugi chirped to add to her teammates' own responses.

"Yeah, it'll certainly be a learning experien-" Aya Oono had tried to explain when Momo finally blew her top.

"We cannot afford to lose!"

This had certainly shocked everyone in the garage except for Zack who was beginning to suspect something. 'I think Anzu and I need to talk tonight; if not, either Momo or Yuzu would do.'

To break the silence, Anzu Kadotani added in a softer voice. "We have to win. Nishizumi, take command!"

"Oh, okay." Miho realized that something about the championship really spooked the student council for some reason. "Then let's begin practice."

While going towards the Panzer IV, she could not help but think. 'But what is it?'

"Alright."

"Miss Nishizumi," Anzu then called for her school's commander. "There's something important that I need to tell you so drop by the student council room later."

-oOo-

That evening at the Student Council Room, the three student council members (along with their guests) had thought to have dinner at their office as the others had gone home early, all of them worried about the outcome of the coming match.

"Wow," the twin-tailed SC president said who was already in her red yukata over her school uniform. "It's gotten pretty cold."

"We've crossed the 39th parallel north, after all." Momo answered dejectedly, as she wore her leather jacket.

"Our next arena is so far north," Yuzu Koyama said in agreement, her blue yukata already over her shoulders.

"Seriously, they need to stop picking a home team advantage for some schools." Momo groused loudly. "When will our turn be?"

"Um, what do you want to tell me?" Miho then chose to spoke up as things were just going nowhere fast. "By the way, I have the Lieutenant on my phone right now since we may need his input as well."

"Well, let's have some anglerfish hot pot first." Anzu then said that even Miho could tell she was nervous. "It's rude to just talk without eating first."

"Prez's anglerfish hot pot is amazing!" Yuzu seconded her friend.

"First, you have to stir-fry the liver carefully." Anzu then started to tutor Miho on how to cook her special hot pot. "Then you put some miso in -"

"Well, neither of us came to learn about your hot pot recipe." Miho then objected.

"The kotatsu isn't too hot for you, is it?" Yuzu then asked, and yet both Miho and Zack could tell that they were stalling for something.

"Oh, I'm fine."

"Koyama had set aside part of the budget, so we are able to buy this kotatsu." Anzu then said in explanation. "We bought a lot of other things too."

"Like a refrigerator, a microwave, and a hot plate." Yuzu then added quickly.

"We often stayed her overnight before sports festivals, chorus contests, and school festivals." The red-headed SC officer then reminisced about their past activities. "Last year, we held a curry contest and -"

"Well, we didn't come here to hear about your fun memories either."

"We've been the student council here since we were in first year here," Yuzu had once again continued the discussion.

"Oh yeah, I have a treat for you two!" Anzu suddenly spoke out loud as she had remembered something. "Here."

The green book that Anzu had pulled out was their own personal photo album that both visitors had looked at with Miho holding the phone so the image of the commander in the screen could take a look. "Look, Kawashima is smiling."

The picture was that of a younger version of the Turtle team posing in front of the school's sign at the front gate with their fingers showing the V-sign for victory.

"Don't show her that!" Finally, Momo was able to say something.

Anzu then pointed at a second picture of the group in their Halloween costumes – Anzu as a witch, Yuzu as a fairy, and Momo…as a pumpkin. "This is from a costume party."

The twin-tailed SC prez then pointed at a third picture of the group in the beach, having fun. It showed Yuzu in a white bikini being splashed by Anzu's water bazooka with Momo wiping out in the background. "This was at a summer water festival."

Yuzu then pointed at a fourth picture in which Yuzu in a striped bikini was refereeing a match in which Anzu had gotten muddy Momo in a chokehold in a special ring. "Mud wrestling tournament."

"That looks fun," Miho said with a smile at the fun pictures. "Right, Lieutenant?"

"Yeah, it sure does." Second Lieutenant Zacarias Wycoco said in agreement. "Poor Momo though."

"Thanks, Chief." Momo flashed a smile at the phone screen. "It just so happened that these were taken when I got in trouble."

"Yeah," Anzu had to agree with Miho's statement. "It really was."

"We really had a lot of fun…" Momo added with a bittersweet smile.

"…back then." Yuzu finished.

"Alright, what's really the problem here?" Zack spoke up in an irritated voice as he finally had enough. "Why have you really invited Miho here? I mean, she wouldn't have gotten me to fetch her here if she hadn't felt that it would be important."

"There never was any fooling you, huh Lieutenant." Anzu said with a tear in her left eye. "Alright, I think it's best that we can make a skype call to Miss Ami so at least we can come clean with those that has to know."

Yuzu had done exactly that with Zack transferring back to his own body to open up his own skype account.

Once the computers were turned on and the skype accounts were logged in and connected, Anzu then started her story while the five humans were eating.

"Before we delve into the nitty-gritty, let me just say that unless we win the 63rd National High School Sensha-do Tournament, we're gonna lose our school."

Gasps were heard from Miho and the speakers. It had taken a minute before Ami was able to speak. "Why didn't you tell us this before?"

"We didn't want to cause a panic with the student body," Momo answered for her friend. "And if we did win, we can just sweep it under the proverbial rug."

"So, that's why I was hired to join Zack as your school's instructor." Captain Ami Chono's shocked face was shown in the street alongside Zack's.

"Yes, we needed the best and you're pretty much the best."

"And that would explain why I was made to take sensha-do and become this sensha-do team's commander," Miho then realized her own role. "So, that means that only Mister Zack had come here by chance and that we were lucky to have him."

"Correct," Anzu then said with a big smile through her tears as none of the three visitors had judged them for what they had done. "Thank you for believing in us."

"Yeah, but we still need to tell everyone else and with the full story, so they could believe us." Zack then said in the speakers. "Even then, I'm beginning to suspect that they may have some inkling of it. No thanks to Momo's outburst and Anzu's sudden request for Miho to come here."

"My bad," both Anzu and Momo said before laughing out loud.

'Well, let's get to the nitty-gritty while we eat." Ami then said after her co-instructor had his say. "Maybe I can get some needed help from outside as well."

-oOo-

An hour later, Zack had brought Miho home before getting the night guard to let him in and lock the garage door once he entered and parked himself.

Once the double door was locked, Zack had received a skype call from Ami.

"Is it true?" The young woman's worried visage was seen in the screen that Zack had used for Skype.

"What is?"

"The part when you said that everyone else would suspect the SC's intentions for the team."

"Yeah, since none of them are stupid enough to just let it be." Zack answered with a shrug from his digital image in Ami's laptop. "If you could come by tomorrow, maybe it's good idea for us to come clean since I have a feeling that none of them would be happy with all the secrets goin' round."

"Yeah, I'll be there since my boss in the Japanese Sensha-do Foundation just told me to give my team a good pep talk."

"Thanks for that and tell your boss the same since we need all the pep we could get."

"You're welcome," Ami added with a big smile as she was about to log out. "Love you."

"Wait…" Zack had tried to correct his (girl) friend, but it was too late as she had already logged out. "As if I don't have enough to worry about."

Zack immediately logged out and turned off the wi-fi receiver before entering sleep mode.

-oOo-

Meanwhile in the Nishizumi residence, both Shiho and Maho Nishizumi were having a family meeting in the household's dining room.

"Did you know about this?" The matriarch had asked her eldest daughter, referring to how Ooarai-Bellwall had won against their opponents.

"Yes," Maho answered laconically as she had someone if not herself surreptitiously watch the matches, both to determine who would they face next and for Maho herself to follow her younger sister's progress as a practitioner of sensha-do."

"She had abandoned her obligations as a Nishizumi," Shiho then added as she was reading the JSF status reports about the schools competing. "She just does as she pleases."

"I won't let her affect our family any further," the matriarch said after a brief pause, not even looking at Maho's pensive face. "Never miss a shot, guard steadfastly, and charge forward in perfect file. Iron discipline and a heart of steel."

"That is the Nishizumi style." Shiho concluded. "Maho?"

"Just like you, I uphold the Nishizumi Style's principles." Maho then said once given the chance to do so. "Yet, Miho is…"

"Forget it," the matriarch did not need another excuse as to why her youngest had acted like she did as she had stood up, ending the meeting. "I'll go watch the semifinals and see for myself what path she had taken. And if she had continued to take the wrong path, then I will tell her that she will be disowned right then and there."

-oOo-

The next day in the tank garage, the newly arrived Miho and the whole of Turtle Team were surprised to see the rest of the sensha-do team plus the Good Wrench Team glaring daggers at them. It was so potent that Momo actually hid behind Yuzu.

It was Emi who had spoken in behalf of the team when she said. "Alright, what's with all the secrecy? We're a team and as a team, we carry each other's burden."

Being the weakest emotionally, Momo immediately blubbered at the short tirade of one of the tank commanders that had hit the bullseye. "I-it's true; we n-need t-to win the t-tournament to k-keep the s-school from b-being closed."

"Wait, closed?!" came the shocked and collective cry. "Why?!"

"Allow me to answer that question," a stern voice from outside was heard from the double door. "Despite our combined Student Council's herculean efforts, our school is still considered by MEXT to be underperforming and thus needed to be shut down with the Zuikaku to be either used for other purposes or just be scrapped."

Almost everyone was shocked to say anything and thus Ami had entered with poise and an aura of authority that she rarely used.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't get any help in reversing the decision unless the school does win the tournament," she then added with a trite tone. "Rest assured; we'll find something to prevent it once MEXT tries it again."

"That's alright," Anzu said while drying her tears at the support given to her by one of their assigned instructors. "For now, let's do things one step at a time."

Given that both Momo, who was crying on Yuzu's shoulders, and surprisingly Miho on Emi's, Zack's voice then boomed in his tank's PA speakers as he had taken full command. "Since your question has been answered, I want everyone in the training grounds on the double. Now, move!"

Scared of their instructor's commanding tone of voice indicating his now triggered temper, the rest of the Ooarai-Belwall team had gotten to their tanks and left for the training field in a hurry, leaving behind only Anglerfish, Hawk, and Turtle Teams along with their tanks and Ami in the garage.

All of Miho's friends and even both Momo and Yuzu were visibly scared of their instructors as they hugged each other and shivered in between the panzers.

Even Anzu was scared a bit at how frightening their instructors would be when they had gone completely serious with their jobs, a testament to their rigorous training that brought them their present ranks.

'Tankers are really scary when mad,' she thought with a slight shiver. 'I'll bet even the Kuromorimine students would shit a brick if they saw these two in action right now.'

Emi had hugged her old friend even harder that just made Miho smile with reddened cheeks as she was getting used to it.

The latter even said once to both of her instructors once the red head had let go with her cheeks burning hot. "I have no doubt that even Maho would listen to you both when you go full commander mode."

This had brought the needed laughter in the garage before the remaining tanks had moved out closely followed by Ami's own Type 10 modern battle tank that was already parked outside.

-oOo-

The practice was a little more brutal with emotions running high for everyone and even more so since Ami herself had joined in the fight, after having her own tank converted to be sensha-do ready.

With the Abrams, Type 90, Type 10, Panzer 38 (t) and Panzer IV playing the opposite team, the others were certainly forced to dig deep to learn new tricks or be taught some basics in case of Leopon Team.

This combined with shooting practice, evasive driving under fire, climbing slopes, knowing when to go turret or hull down, and finally a practice battle between the modern tanks and the Panzer IV had honed the team's collective skills as preparation for their showdown with Pravda.

-oOo-

After instructors had calmed down and everyone had gotten a good rest, Anzu had gotten the team to prepare for the cold-weather battle in Hokkaido, Pravda's home province.

So, they had unpacked some boxes filled with the necessary items for the aforementioned battle.

"We need pocket heaters?" Hana was asking her teammates. "Why?"

"Well, besides the Abrams, there is no heating inside the tanks." Miho was saying with a strange expression. "So, we should be prepared."

All the while, Saori had picked something pink from the top of the box and it turned out to be a panty with an image of Boko sewed on it.

"And I'll take that," the brunette commander said while grabbing the said underwear from a grinning Saori. "Whoever put that in there is certainly trying to be funny and failing hard in doing so."

-oOo-

"Should we wear two pairs of tights?" Ayumi was asking her teammates as they had discussed on how to warm themselves up.

'We should get leg warmers too," Yuuki then added with a smile.

"Why don't we put on colorful lip balm?" Karina then asked.

"After all, it's a semifinal match," Azusa Sawa then said happily. "So, there'll be a lot of spectators."

Ayumi had gotten another idea that she could not wait to tell her friends. "How about cheek make up too?"

The remaining three members of Rabbit Team either just loved the given ideas or was just too lost in her imagination to understand what was going on.

-oOo-

As for Hippo Team, Saemonza had tied a red bandanna with six yellow circles with red squares in the middle. "Behold."

Not to be outdone, Caesar had put on a plastic wreath of fig leaves on her head to warm her up alongside the other items. Oryuu had worn her black hakama to keep herself warm.

It was then that Midorino had arrived to enforce the school's regulations. "Hey, no makeup allowed."

Turning to Hippo Team, she then added. "No costumes either."

"You're such a spoilsport," Oryuu retorted hotly.

"This is still part of school activities," the leader of the School Discipline Committee rebuked back. "You should still follow regulations."

The diminutive disciplinarian had gasped when she felt a gloved hand on her right shoulder. She had turned around to see Erwin's smirking face.

The blonde co-commander of Hippo Team then said. "It's my life, it's now or never."

"What are you talking about?" Midorino screeched in reply. "Are you joking?"

"I ain't gonna live forever," Chihiro then sang loudly as she stood on top of the Abram's glacis front, making Erwin smirk grow even bigger as the others had laughed at the impromptu performance. "I just wanna live while I'm alive."

"Ugh," Sodoko muttered while leaving in a huff. "Delinquent's music."

-oOo-

As Sono had left the garage in a huff, Shinobu Kawanishi was telling her teammates. "Quite a few people will be watching the match especially since the council did promise that they would send more of the townspeople to watch our match once we did the Anglerfish dance."

Taeko Kondo then had a brainstorm thus added. "Let's tape a volleyball recruitment poster on our tank."

"Great idea, Taeko." Noriko Isabe exclaimed in elation. "Now we just have to keep it in one piece throughout the match."

-oOo-

With Miho and her friends, Yukari then noticed. "Even with the bombshell earlier, everyone still has high hopes that we'll win."

"Given our straightforward win against Anzio, our classmates and even schoolmates are giving us their support in the hopes that we'll win." Saori then added with a slight smile. "It is our school's first tournament in twenty years, and we have the ability to win it too. We should try our best to prove them right."

Hana then added with clasped hands in delight. "Shinzaburo told me that he's bringing my mother to watch the match. Isn't it great?"

"Yeah," Hitomi agreed with a nod. "It's nice to know that she can finally see us in action."

"All the more reason for us to win this match," Emi finally spoke up after being silent for some time. "We have to prove to everyone that we have what it takes to win the tournament especially that MEXT guy."

"Yeah!"

-oOo-

An hour later, Miho was studying the Pravda tanks and tactics in her apartment. On her laptop were the past battles of Pravda in their favorite terrain and weather.

"Fifteen tanks versus eleven," Miho had said to herself as she had compared her own team's strength with her enemy's. "Not that big an advantage. And yet, they have 76s, 85s, a KV-2, a JS-2, and their instructor tank/trump card – a T-80 Russian modern battle tank that has the soul of a cadet of an exclusive Russian officer's school."

"One option would be swiftly charging in and take out their flag tank at once," the brunette commander then added to herself as she had picked up one of the information sheets. "But considering that their commander isn't a fool and even more their instructor tank would have easily read that tactic and make the appropriate countermeasures would make it a suicide run."

"No, there has to be something else." Miho then said with trepidation. "Pravda's main tactic is to lure in the enemy with a tactical retreat before going on the offensive. Pretty much, what happened in the Eastern front back in WWII."

"We shouldn't fall for their provocations," she said with finality. "I won't make that mistake again."

-oOo-

The next day, both Leopon and Good Wrench Team had gotten to work on the conversion of the Panzer 38(t) to a Hetzer complete with the changes to suspension and other parts to complete its transformation from light tank to tank destroyer.

"It's good thing that Prez had actually bought the needed upgrade last week since they'll certainly need it against Pravda," Taichi Shimaoka was telling his friends and fellow mechanics. "The 38 (t) may be nimble, but it won't last long in a fight and its own cannon won't do much damage."

"Yeah, I'm glad that she gave us permission to go with it as we need more tank destroyers than light tanks right now." Satoko Nakajima then added. "It's too bad that you guys can't go though."

"That's alright," Hikari answered for her crew chief. "We're not really students of this school and we have a Type 90 as our tank, so it's best that we just help train you. So, we wish you luck in the match."

-oOo-

After three days in which the Zuikaku had finally reached the port of Hachinohe in Aomori, Japan alongside the Pravda school carrier – Kiev. Again, compared to the other ship, Zuikaku felt much like Katyusha did with the other students.

The tanks were brought out of the school ships before being loaded on a group of Oshkosh M1070A1s and their accompanying M1000 semi-trailers and KZKT-7428 Rusich tank transporter artillery tractor to carry the tanks towards snow-covered plain near Mount Maedake.

The weather was dark, and it was snowing as the region had gotten a freaky summer snowstorm that had gotten the battlefield under twenty inches of snow and an average temperature of -5 degrees Celsius.

The tanks were then placed in a tank hanger for them to heat up while the girls would have some fun outside with their pocket heaters and heat packs. Zack did not mind cooped up in another building just as long as it's warm, so he did not need to use his Auxiliary Power Unit to heat himself up until the start of the match.

Outside, most of the girls were playing in the snow as they had enjoyed their downtime despite the efforts of the Disciplinary Committee to keep them organized. Even then, Miho had approached the newly formed Leopon Team who seemed a bit nervous as they had to make sure that the temperamental tiger did not make too much of a fuzz.

"Thank you again for joining us," Miho said with a bow. "We certainly need another heavy tank to our team and one more to lessen their numerical edge. Not only that, if we would ever be in need of a quick fix in battle, we have you plus Emi, Hitomi, and myself to help the others do some quick repairs."

"No problem," Satoko answered with a grin. "It's actually the second reason why we joined the team, the first being to crew that big boy…well, girl. In this kind of weather, having some mechanics around would be best."

"Yeah, and thankfully, we have our tools in the tanks as well."

Their conversation was cut short by the roar of diesel engines nearing them. Even Zack had briefly powered up to head outside where Miho and the Leopon Team were in case of trouble.

The said roar was coming from the nearing Katyusha multiple rocket launcher that was accompanied by the Soviet T-80 main battle tank. Both vehicles had stopped just two meters away from the tank hanger.

From there, both the great commander Katyusha and her vice-commander Nonna had come down the rocket launcher while the T-80 followed at a distance.

"Who's that?" Saori then asked her friends.

"That's…Pravda's Girl High's commander and vice-commander," Miho had answered her radio operator.

"They're Drifting Snow Katyusha and Blizzard Nonna," Yukari added in awe. "Definitely two tough customers. And with them is their instructor tank."

Once the pair had stopped with the instructor tank continuing on to come face to face with his Ooarai counterpart. Katyusha then commented. "You brought these tanks as a joke, didn't you?"

"Yusha, let me speak to them." A harsh youngish voice was heard from the T-80's external speakers. "We're not here to show superiority, but rather sportsmanship."

"Yes, Big Brother." The Pravda sensha-do team's commander said in a trite tone. "You never let me have fun."

"You know I do and besides, you can go show your superiority once we win." The T-80 replied with a calmer tone. "I just don't want our opponents to act like that girl – Sheska. She may be a sore loser, but those blue eyes are just filled with so much hate that I'm concerned for your safety."

"Yeah, you're right about her." The blonde commander said with a shiver. "Alright, I'll just talk if necessary."

By this time, Anzu had approached the trio before speaking. "Hey, Katyusha. Care to introduce us to your companions? By the way, I'm Anzu Kadotani, school council president of Ooarai-Bellwall Academy."

"This is my vice commander, Nonna." The short commander had introduced her vice-commander with her free hand as she had clasped the taller Anzu's right hand. "And this is our Instructor Tank and my big brother – Mikhail Matsui."

Nonna was secretly pleased that with Mikhail there, Katyusha (Larisa Matsui) could not go on a power trip since he always values fair play and humility. Of course, that only strengthened her hidden feelings for the eighteen-year-old boy even more. "Hello."

"Greetings, students and instructor tank of Ooarai-Bellwall." The Soviet modern battle tank then added with aplomb. "I am Cadet Mikhail Matsui of the Moscow Higher Military Command School and I am pleased to meet an American officer along with his students. May we be introduced to who would we be fighting against?"

"Of course," Zack said with flourish. "You've already been introduced to our president – Anzu Kodatani."

"This is our SC vice president – Yuzu Kobayama and our Public Relations slash Vice Commander Momo Kawashima." Zack had used his machine guns to point to the two girls who only nodded after being introduced. "Then there's our commander – Miho Nishizumi and her crew – Yukari Akiyama, Hana Isuzu, Saori Takebe, and Mako Reizei."

"Then, there's the lieutenant's crew." Miho then added after she and her crew were introduced. "Emi Nakasuga, Hitomi Yuzumoto, and Chihiro Yusa."

"And we're the newcomers to the team," Satoko then said. "I'm Satoko Nakajima, tank commander of Leopon."

"Call me Hoshino," the dark-skinned gunner of Leopon said with a nod.

"I'm Suzuki, pleased to meet you." the equally tanned skin loader of Leopon then added with a wink.

"And I'm Tsuchiya," the driver of the Tiger (P) tank then added. "And speaking for all of us, we hope we could have a good battle with you."

"I say the same to you," Mikhail said with an amused tone. "Considering that you had both beaten Saunders and Anzio, right now I already consider you as a challenge."

The T-80 then had its turret turn to both the commander and vice-commander of Pravda. "I think I've said enough."

"Nonna," Katyusha said before being lifted up by her vice commander before turning to the visitor team. "Before you would think that you are a match for us, remember that we're above you in every way even in firepower."

"Let's go, Little Sister." The T-80 added a little harsher. "We'll gloat once we defeat them."

"See ya, chumps." Katyusha then added as Nonna had turned around and walked back to the rocket launcher. "By the way, thanks for last year's win, Miho. Bye-bye, pirozhki (cream puff)."

"Dasvidaniya," Nonna then added with a wave.

Miho's gloved hands had quickly curled into fists as the brunette had made breathing exercises to calm herself down as the vehicles had left with Zack raising his middle machine gun until it was standing straight up.

Emi had quickly hugged her commander and friend to calm the latter down while wondering at first on why the Abrams had one of its machine guns up.

"Don't mind her," the red head had whispered to Miho's right ear, tickling it. "Just devote all that energy in the match."

"Yeah, thanks." Miho said with a giggle. "And Lieutenant, that is very rude."

"That Russian gremlin in a brown overall just called you a cream puff and was very rude to us," the Abrams replied with a snort. "It's only fair to be just as rude."

"I know, but that doesn't mean you can give her The Finger in return."

"My bad."

Emi and the others could not help but laugh at how the lieutenant could actually get away with that famous rude gesture.

-oOo-

The Ooarai-Bellwall tanks then left the tank hanger and headed for their starting position once the PA system had called for them to get into position.

Again, the Leopold mounting, and twelve-wheel bogies had carried a giant LCD screen on top of the special rails that were laid for that purpose.

Also, the usual suspects like the Commander and Vice-Commander of St. Gloriana Girls College – Darjeerling and Orange Pekoe respectively were seen watching the match. The pair were still sitting in between their special sitting with an Indian Pattern Carrier parked beside them along with a stove where a pot of tea was being warmed up to provide some conventional heat for the girls as well.

"Given the cold weather and how superior Pravda's tank line up is…" Orange Pekoe was saying while holding her cup of hot tea. "I wonder if they have a strategy to win against all odds."

-oOo-

In the Ooarai-Bellwall starting point, Miho was giving her team a needed pep talk before the match. "Anyway, don't get overwhelmed by their numbers and remain calm."

Seeing that everyone had looked at her with hope in their eyes, she then added. "We'll slowly advance while defending the flag tank, Duck Team's Type 89B, in this case and wait for them to make the first move."

"I'm fine with taking it slow," Caesar then said. "It was what Julius himself would have done if he were in your shoes…and yet, in the Battle of Vosges, he still charged despite being outnumbered."

"I see your point," Miho answered before pausing to make a suitable response. "But we're not fighting with swords, shields, and spears but with tanks. Not all tank battles are won by charges, but with smart positioning of their armor and strong defense of their own positions."

"I may have to agree with the Commander," Erwin said with a shake of her head. "Simply charging in would expose our flanks and even rear to attack. We may end up like the famous English Light Brigade in the Battle of Balaclava in the Crimean War."

"Hey, I think I read that in History class." Azusa suddenly exclaimed with her right fist contacting her left palm. "That was brutal and well…kinda stupid."

"Well, since you put it that way, let's go with the slow but sure since the last thing we need is us being target practice from both our flanks." Momo said with a shrug of her shoulders. "But we still need to watch out for sudden attacks from our flanks and rear."

"Alright, it's settled." Anzu finally said. "We'll go with our usual formation as we go east in the hope that we could surprise them."

"I'm fine with that," Zack said in agreement. "But we need to go as fast as we could, so we won't be caught with our pants down if they would suddenly attack us. Not only that, we need to keep our vehicle's engines running or they're pretty much done."

"Let's go," Miho then said as she had gone towards her tank that had a kerosene heater like the other tanks did. "Panzer Vor."

-oOo-

At about the same time, the Pravda sensha-do team were already on the move themselves. Katyusha herself had told her team while leaning on her T-34/85 tank's hatch. "If they shoot down your tank, you'll get a twenty-five-year vacation on the gulag archipelago!"

"Meaning twenty-five days of supplementary lessons in a dark classroom, right?" Nonna then said to clarify her commander's punishment.

"Correct," the great commander said. "Let's go. Save their flag tank for me and take everyone else out."

"We need to show these southern yahoos the differences between our strengths," Katyusha added with a wide grin. "Show them what you've learned in Moscow, Big brother."

"You got it, La-Little sister."

"Ura!" Everyone else yelled in excitement at going to the finals against an unknown team making waves in this tournament.

Not only that, Nonna had started singing the song that has the same name as her commander as the tanks had gotten into a formation similar to Stuka's shape.

-oOo-

Back with the Ooarai-Bellwall team that was in its new formation with the StuG III at the point position with both the Char B1 bis and the M3 Lee on its sides and behind it, the Char B1 on the StuG's left and the M3 Lee on the right.

On the French tank's left and rear was the Panzer IV and the T-44 being behind and on the American WWII tank's right.

In between the two medium tanks lied the flag tank – the Type 89B to keep it from being seen (or shot). On the Panzer IV's rear and left lied the Hetzer, Ooarai's surprise in case of ambush with the Type 3 on its own right and behind the T-44 on its left.

Finally, behind and on the Hetzer's left lied the M1A1 AIM v.1 Abrams tank and on its right lied the Tiger (P) with the Tiger I on the Tiger (P)s right and behind and right of the Type 3.

"You know, maybe we should have gone on the offensive." Saori was saying while using her breath to warm her hands despite the tank having kerosene heaters. "Even the heaters aren't enough."

Yukari then poured something from her brought thermos to a Styrofoam cup. "I've brought hot chocolate in a bottle."

"You should have one," she said while giving one to her commander who was leaning out of the hatch.

"Thanks," Miho had taken the cup and took a sip as the tanks had gone through some sparse groups of trees. "I wonder what sort of traps that Katyusha would be readying."

-oOo-

At one of the snowy ridges, two Pravda students were doing reconnaissance and had seen the group coming past. They did dig the snow quickly to provide cover once the Abram's turret had turned in their direction.

"Enemy tanks are moving east at about thirty-two kilometers per hour," One of the students then reported. "Possible detection by Abrams."

From their position in the northeast, both Katyusha and Nonna were waiting for the report of their scouts.

"It seems that they're hoping to catch us off guard," the Pravda commander said to herself. "I would have thought that they would have at least gone north-east to make our job easier. I guess we'll go for Operation Uran."

"Nice choice, Sis." The T-80 then said before starting up. "Let's go set up the welcoming committee."

-oOo-

Back with the visiting team, they seemed to have gotten stuck as the Char B1 bis has problems going up a snowbank due to both its weight and weak engine that was definitely not paired well with its body.

Try as Gomoyo might, she just could not get the French heavy tank up the snowbank. Unfortunately for everyone else, the Char B1 bis was at the right flank of the forward elements and thus had held up half of the team.

As it turned out, Mako had asked permission from Miho to help the Char B1 bis climb up the bank as it would temporarily break formation. It turned out that the Tiger (P) was also having trouble mostly because of its own weight and the fact that it had a worse ground pressure than the other tanks including the Tiger and the Abrams.

Thankfully, it was offset slightly by the specialized winter tracks fitted on the Tiger (P) that lessened its ground pressure just enough to keep it above the snow on level ground. Not only that, Tsuchiya had gotten the tank up in a zig-zag manner to get it up the bank.

The diminutive badass driver had gotten out of the Panzer IV and walked towards the stuck heavy tank and switched places with Gomoyo. As with the Tiger (P), Mako had gotten the French heavy tank to climb the bank through a zig-zag manner.

Midoriko had made herself known by berating the Anglerfish driver. "Don't just get in another team's tank and take over the driver seat."

"Loosen up," Mako replied before continuing with her job of getting the Char B1 up the snowbank followed by the others. "Gomoyo doesn't mind and she's the driver."

Midoriko just shut up as her subordinate had given her a look of contrition and askance for help through her tear-stained eyes and turned away to hide her own tears that fell to her skirt.

-oOo-

After all of the tanks had passed through, the next obstacle was a wall of snow in front of them.

Miho then asked her gunner as the Panzer IV had gotten its gun aimed at the wall. "Hana, can you shoot the snow in front of us with an explosive shell?"

"Yes," Hana answered as Yukari had loaded the said shell. "Please watch me, Mother."

The long-haired gunner then aimed the gun at the center of the wall and pulled the trigger. The Panzer IV's gun had barked, and the wall was holed at the center as the shell had punched through it before exploding, destroying the whole wall in the process.

With the snow taken care of, the whole team had gotten through the gap and continued on its way.

Back in the stands, Shinzaburo had clapped loudly at the precise shot made by his Young Mistress. "Milady, that was our young miss who fired that shot."

"Yes," Missus Isuzu said sadly. "With the same hands that she uses to arrange flowers with."

"Now that she had gone this far," the manservant added in the hope of changing his mistress' mind. "We should cheer for her."

"Maybe…maybe we should."

-oOo-

The tanks had passed some trees where some squirrels were passing through to either look for food or head back home. Ayumi had spotted them as she had leaned out of her cupola and immediately had gone into "that's so cute" girly mode. "Squirrels!"

Inside the tank, Aya had exclaimed with the rest smiling at seeing something cute. "How cute."

Inside the StuG III that was in front, Erwin had told her comrades. "Snow, Russia, and war makes me think of…"

"The battle of Stalingrad, yes?" Caesar finished for her. "Me too."

"Don't even joke about it?" Oryou remarked hotly. "That's giving me bad vibes."

"Sorry 'bout that."

-oOo-

After travelling for about a kilometer, the group had noticed that there were three Pravda tanks barely seen above some snowbanks.

"Enemy tanks at 11 o' clock," Miho then reported to all her tank commanders. "All tanks, be alert."

"Roger."

The platoon then turned to the right to avoid an early confrontation while still keeping formation while firing volleys at the exposed tanks to either hit them or just scare them away while taking fire themselves.

"Just three tanks?" Miho said to herself. "Is it part of their outer ring of defense?"

"I smell a trap," Zack then said as the Abrams had taken out one of the T-34/76s and managed to scare the other two tanks' crews silly. "I suggest that everyone distance themselves from each other while still remaining in formation since we haven't seen the T-80, IS-2, or the KV-2 yet."

No sooner that Zack had reported in the radio that explosions caused by 122mm APHE shells along with 152mm OF-530 shells, and 125mm D-81TM shells raining from the 7 o' clock direction, scattering snow everywhere.

"Everyone turn north west and let's get out of here," Miho then yelled in the radio to be heard from the explosions rocking the visiting team's tanks. "Also, everyone break formation with Rabbit, Duck, and the tank destroyers in front along with Mallard and us while the rest cover us from the rear."

Not only that there were more tanks that had joined the symphony of cannon fire that had forced the Ooarai-Bellwall team to either retreat or charge at obvious targets.

"Damn, even if we do charge at those tanks we can see." Anzu said with terse tone. "Those hidden monsters would blast the stuffing out of us."

As with Zack before, as soon as the red-head had spoken, three more T-34s, this time of the 85 variety had showed up in front and started firing at the visitors.

"Damn, we can't go back." Caesar then said. "I suggest we break through here or we'll be trapped back there at the mercy of those monsters."

"We don't have a choice, Hippo." Miho then said rather calmly. "All units, break through this line and try to outmaneuver them by driving south-by-southwest once we're clear."

"Roger."

-oOo-

Back at the spectator's area, Shiho was suitably impressed with the strategy being used by their old foes. 'Fascinating, they had used a combination of their usual tactic with the use of heavier tanks as artillery to force Miho's team to go in the direction they wanted them to go. Of course, that wouldn't do any good against Kuromorimine.'

Even Darjeerling's eyes had narrowed as Ooarai would certainly prove her vice-commander's words spoken no more than a half-hour earlier. 'It seems that Mikhail and Nonna are finally given permission to make changes in Katyusha's plans. That means that Miho is now fighting against three minds instead of one.'

The crowd sitting at the Oorai-Bellwall stands were just stunned at the reversal of fortune of their team and just when they had come in force too.

Yukari's parents were worried for their little girl who was doing her best to lift her team by loading as many shells as possible while the Panzer IV had helped the other tanks in fending off the pursuing Pravda tanks, knocking out two more T-34/85s in the process.

Yuri Isuzu was also worried for her only daughter that she hid well in her poker face despite her manservant being openly worried for the Young Miss.

Mako's grandmother had somewhat known that this might happen as she had lived long enough to know that even the famous Nishizumis may find themselves a match.

Maho just took everything in silence as this was the kind of match that would test her younger sister's resolve to win using what she had learned and what she had been taught. 'Now Miho, what would you do?'

-oOo-

On Miho's orders, the whole team had punched their way through the line of T-34/85s with two of them taken out by the combined assault of the StuG III, Char B1 bis, and the M3 Lee. The remaining tank had turned tail and thus were chased further north, down a hill.

It was in the "town" ahead that they had seen the flag tank (another T34/76) firing back at them while dodging fire from the visitor tanks and hiding behind the houses.

Most of the Ooarai-Bellwall team were so busy firing at the dodging flag tank that only an alert few including Emi, Zack, and Miho had noticed that they were trapped as Pravda tanks started showing up at their would-be escape routes.

Even Midoriko had sensed that something was wrong as if they were baited by the enemy.

But it was too little too late as every escape route was blocked and the combined firepower of the Pravda sensha-do team had showered the visiting team's tanks.

Miho had seen a church nearby and thus ordered. "All units, get into that big church like building at the edge of town. Everyone that could make smoke, do so now."

The Abram's smoke grenade launchers went hot as Duck, Rabbit, Panda, and Tiger Teams had thrown smoke candles in all directions to cover their escape. White smoke had covered the area where the tanks had run to and spread out to cover nearly the whole town.

Even then, all tanks had suffered damage during their sudden run with the Type 89 being the least hit.

The church itself was being bombarded that reminded the Hippo team of the urban battles of Stalingrad, Manila, and Berlin.

After a while, the shelling had stopped. Two Pravda students with one of them carrying a white flag had approached the battered structure, both of which were a little fearful of the Abram's machine guns and main gun pointed in their direction.

"We bring a message from our great commander Katyusha," the one who was not carrying the flag said. "Surrender, and I'll forgive you if all of you kneel down before me. That's what she said."

The Ooarai team, who had gotten out of their tanks with the Abram's turret lowered to be less intimidating, had gasped at the terms of surrender.

"What did you say?!" Momo said angrily. "Nuts!"

The Pravda pair was more scared of the modern battle tank's armaments than the monocle-wearing girl's implied threat. Thus, the speaker had added. "Being a generous person, our commander has given you three hours to decide. That is all."

As the pair had left, Noriko had voiced her disagreement by saying, "Like hell, we'll kneel down to that midget."

Momo then added, seething. "She just wants to be the tallest for once."

"There's no way that we'll let our school shut down just because we gave up," Erwin angrily added. "We'll fight to the end if needed."

"Miss Erwin's right," Azusa had added her own fifty yen into the conversation. "Let's keep fighting. As the saying goes, 'It isn't over till the fat lady sings."

"But we're completely surrounded and the last thing we need is to make a last stand like General Custer of America and the British at Tobruk." Miho then explained. "Oh, I forgot, the Americans and Filipinos too at Bataan and our own forebears at Okinawa."

"Even then, I want to go down fighting." Zack then said over his speakers. "I know it would be contradictory to my opinion of keeping us safe, but sometimes, when you have to fight, you just have to fight."

"Then, let's get ready to fight back." Miho then said with renewed confidence. "But first, I think it's time for Prez to give the rest of the team what you told Mister Zack, Miss Ami, and myself."

Anzu then looked at her Vice and Public Relations officer in the hopes of giving a second opinion.

Momo only shrugged as she said. "It's only fair since they have a right to know."

Yuzu then added. "At least, we'll all be united in our stance from here on."

"Alright," the red-headed school council president then said with a shrug of her own shoulders. "It all started after we were asked to report to a member of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology early this year. I remember as if it was just yesterday."

-oOo-

We now come back in time to the meeting that Anzu was talking about. In truth, the member of MEXT, she was talking about is Mister Reiji Tsuji, who is the head of the Bureau of Campus Ships.

"Shutdown?" Anzu was saying in disbelief as to be told of the reason for their summoning.

"After reviewing our budget," the man said with a casual tone. "We decided to consolidate schools."

After taking a moment to pause for breath, the man continued. "Schools with poor performance will be shut down first."

"So, you'll take our school away from us despite the union of our school and Bellwall's?" Yuzu then added. "At least give us some time to bounce back."

"This is downright absurd," Momo chimed with her fellow SC members.

"Even though you may that way, both schools are still underperforming and had wasted too much of our budget just to be made seaworthy." The man then answered without a change in tone. "Thus, you still need to bring things to a close within the year."

"You mean next year, we won't…" Yuzu had let the sentence hang in her worry.

"That's correct," Reiji said, glad that the three SC members were getting the clue.

"That's too sudden," Momo exclaimed in surprise. '

"Recently, even with the additional student population from Bellwall, Ooarai is still losing students and has failed to distinguish itself in any way." Reiji continued as if he was talking to his subordinates. "In the past, there was quite an active sensha-do team, but…"

It was here that Anzu had been given a crazy idea that she would then bet on with everything she had left. "Then let's bring back sensha-do."

"What?!" Yuzu could not believe what her friend had just said.

"Sensha-do?" Momo could not believe it either. And yet she was the one who was asked on what to do with the descript tanks now parked in the garage in the campus itself.

"You wouldn't shut down the champion's school," the red-headed third year student then issued her challenge. "That would just make MEXT look bad in the eyes of the tankery organizations around the world including our own Japanese Sensha-do Federation, right?"

The man's silence was taken as his tacit assent.

-oOo-

Back in the present, Neko then said in understanding. "So, that's why you had restarted the sensha-do program all of a sudden. To which, my friends and I are certainly happy to hear."

"Yeah, you're all part of the original sensha-do team of Bellwall along with those we've met in Anzio." Momo said with a grin. "I have to admit fighting with twin blondes who are your school's Leopon Team was fun in itself."

"Yeah, we never thought those brats would actually drive any tank." Neko said with a similar grin. "They weren't part of the original team, but they are certainly experts in anything mechanical."

"Even then, you can't just expect us to win the title in our first year." Emi told Turtle Team. "At best, it would take us two years to jell just enough to be a strong contender for the championship."

"Well, you see…" Anzu answered the other red head. "I thought there'd be some awesome tanks lying around since we had such a good team, but apparently all of the good ones were sold when the school ran out of money."

"So, that means most of our tanks are…" Yukari could not continue in her shock.

"Yeah, the unwanted leftovers." Anzu finished. "Sucks, doesn't it."

"How would you expect us to win against those odds?" Erwin then spoke up.

This time, Momo had answered the given question in a softer voice. "We couldn't think of anything else to keep our old, unremarkable combined school afloat."

As with her friend and fellow SC officer, Anzu herself had spoken in a softer voice as she answered. "We might have bitten off more than we can chew. We could've just spent our last year crying over spilled milk, but we don't want to lose heart."

"Sorry, for not telling you before, girls." Yuzu finished their apology.

There were a few seconds of silence as the majority of the team had known how deep in shit they really were.

"We wanted to get our volleyball team back, but if the school is going down…" Noriko had used her guts to keep herself from crying. "This suck donkey balls."

"Unconditional surrender," Oryou added, remembering the bitter pill their own country had taken just to end WWII.

"I had no clue that was going on behind the scenes," Yukari added in a sad tone. "And yet, what can I do about it."

Hana then offered her own input. "All of us could have ended up in different schools if ours is closed."

"I don't want that at all," Saori complained with some tears trying to escape in her eyes and yet even she knew that nothing short of a miracle could fix this gordian knot that they had found themselves in. "I don't. I don't. I don't."

Mako then added with melancholy. "I guess I won't get those extra credits, after all."

The whole Mallard team had looked at their schoolmate with trepidation and hopelessness.

For the whole Rabbit Team, tears flowed freely as this would be their first and last year in Ooarai.

Both Panda Team and Tiger Team were clutching their gloved fists and hoping for something to hit with. Hawk Team was just silent and looking at both Miho and the Abrams, hoping for confirmation that the battle was not over, not by a long shot.

Anteater Team were just mumbling to themselves that life was shitty game where it was easy to get a game over.

"Remember, the match is not over yet." Miho reminded her team. "It's not like we already lost."

"Miho…" All of Miho's childhood friends had breathed.

"Miss Nishizumi…" Yukari echoed in awe.

"We just have to hang in there," the brunette commander then added. "I mean, if the lieutenant himself says that we need to fight to the last if at least to prove to everyone that we aren't the pushovers that Pravda and my old school Kumorimine think we are."

"Not only that, I want to do sensha-do in this school next year before I also graduate and I'm sure you girls want to do it too with me."

There was another pregnant pause that had shown the other team members had started to feel invigorated that hope still sprung eternal courtesy of their commander's assuring words.

"I'm in," Emi spoke up before Yukari did. "If I'm going to prove myself to Maho and her team, then I'll be going for the proverbial full nine yards."

"Me too." Yukari finally said. "I never had so much fun before."

"So, do we!" the rest of the team yelled in joyful tears. "We're right behind you, Miho/Miss Nishizumi."

"Thank you," Miho had done her best on not to cry as well. "But to succeed, we need a level head so that no one gets hurt."

"Right," Anzu said with a nod.

The brunette commander then turned to her friends as well as Leopon Team. "Please start with the repairs please. We need the StuG III's track fixed as well as the M3 Lee's primary gun."

After a pause, she then continued. "Some of the tanks' engines won't perform well in these temperatures, so heat up their engine compartments. We don't have much time but keep calm."

"Right!"

Momo had once again fought back tears before saying. "We'll take care of the planning."

-oOo-

Back in the spectator's stands, Shinzaburo then reported to his mistress who had sheltered from the falling snow by means of his carried paper umbrella. "Mistress, the Young Miss's team is surrounded. I wonder if she's alright."

"Calm down, Shinzaburo." Yuri Isuzu reprimanded his manservant. "I'm sure that she'll be fine. She has the Nishizumi girl as her commander."

Mako's and Shiho's ears had perked up at the mention of their family name. They too had wondered on what would happen next as Miho had yet to demonstrate the strategy and tactics that had brought her this far.

In the St. Gloriana portion of the stands, Orange Pekoe was wondering on why Pravda was not attacking, given their huge advantage in position and slight advantage in firepower.

"Pravda's commander is enjoying the situation that she had put her opponent's in," Darjeerling answered. "She loves demeaning people, crushing their spirits. Something that may have happened to herself before."

Seeing that nothing was happening for the past fifteen minutes, Shiho had enough. "I'm leaving."

As Maho had looked up to her in askance, she answered. "This match is a waste of my time."

It was then that Maho had surprised her only parent by saying. "Please wait."

The matriarch of the Nishizmi household then asked in a confused tone. "Maho?"

"The match isn't over yet."

Shiho had sat down, impressed by her eldest's insistence at watching the rest of the match.

-oOo-

Katyusha was then talking to her vice commander since her big brother was forced to conserve fuel since his own APU could only power his systems for a short time unlike his American counterpart.

"Let's talk about what we'll force them to do," the great commander was telling Nonna as she sat inside the warm confines of the GAZ-98 Snowmobile. "How about having them weeding our school for three months? Tending to our wheat fields? Or digging up our potatoes?"

The vice commander only nodded at the given suggestions before saying as she had offered a white face towel. "You need to wipe the food off your face."

"I know." Katyusha said while grabbing the towel and wiping the food off her face before throwing it in the snow much like spoilt child. "Thanks for the food."

The Pravda commander then lied down while saying. "That meal made me sleepy."

"You gave them time to surrender so you could eat and sleep," the Pravda vice-commander commented. "I get it."

This had woken up Katyusha who rebuked her vice by saying. "No! I did it because I have such a big heart. It's as big as the West Siberian Plain."

"And just as cold," Nonna shot back.

"Shut up," the Pravda commander said before lying down on her sled once again. "Good night."

The Pravda vice commander then sang a lullaby to her beloved commander (and hopefully sister-in-law later) to put her to sleep, much like a mother would do for her child.

-oOo-

Back in the church, there was a flurry of activities as the Leopon Team as well as the other mechanics had split up to fix the tanks with tools that they had in their disposal (and hidden in their tanks beforehand) as the crews of the tanks had helped out as much as they could.

For example, Tsuchiya was joined by the entire Rabbit team as they had fixed the primary gun of their M3 Lee as well as warmed up the engine of their tank to keep it from freezing over.

"Thankfully, we have enough materials here to fix the gun and also get the engine to warm up." The mechanic with red brown hair told Asuza. "It'll be a piece of cake."

"Thank you."

At about the same time, Hoshino was helping Duck team's driver – Shinobu in fixing the damages to the Type 89B so it could fight or flee more effectively.

"Can you fix it?" Akebi was asking both girls.

"Yeah," Hoshino answered for both girls. "I think I can even do some temporary modifications too."

"Do it, please." Shinobu then said. "We need all the help we can get."

"Alright."

Emi was on hand to help Hippo Team in returning the tracks back to its place over the wheels where her gorilla strength (according to some of her friends) had proven to be very useful.

"Thanks for the help, Miss Nakasuga." Saemonza had told the Abram's driver. "If not for you, we wouldn't have been able to attach this."

"No problem," the redhead said while wiping some sweat from her forehead. "Just helping out a fellow team member."

Hitomi was there with the Tiger and its namesake team as she had helped them in patching up some of the damages as the Tiger had tanked the lighter vehicles in their run.

"You rock, Hitomi." Koharu was telling the diminutive part-time mechanic. "I'm glad that we have at least seven mechanics here with us."

"With eleven tanks, we need that many." Hitomi replied with a smile as she had continued to patch the damaged armor in the rear of the tank. "In fact, we'll be done before the hour is up."

Miho had joined in the patching up of the T-44 that was thankfully one of the least damaged despite it was covering the Type 89 from cannon fire the most. 'I guess they were lucky that their combined speed along with the smokescreen had helped them escape harm more than the slower heavier units do.'

Zack had chosen to go to sleep mode to conserve fuel as he may need it even more in the battle ahead.

After repairs were over, Miho had joined Turtle Team in the planning portion of the jobs to be done. Hana and Yukari had brought enough soup, crackers, and chocolate bars to help them last for the remaining two hours as Ami had told them before leaving to stack up as much as they could for a long haul.

Momo was saying. "We need to find a way to break through the siege."

Yuzu then added in worry. "I wish we knew the exact positions of the enemy tanks."

"Let's do some scouting then," Miho then suggested. "At least, we could use the remaining two hours wisely and it wouldn't even be breaking the rules either."

"We'll do it," Yukari then suggested. "It beats just sitting around eating for two hours."

"I'm with her," Erwin was saying after washing her face with some of the heated water that she had gotten with some help from the others. "Besides, Rommel won his battle by knowing where his enemy is and how strong they are."

"Alright," Anzu then said with a big smile. "I want you two as well as Sodoko and Remako to do some reconnaissance of the enemy's formation and strength before coming back here. Don't rush unless you're actually chased as we still have more than enough time before the ceasefire ends."

"Yes, Ma'am." Yukari said before heading out of the church with the others before going in different directions. "Let's go."

-oOo-

A few minutes later, the pair of Erwin and Guderian were walking along the snow as they headed east towards the right side of the town, singing Yuki No Shingun.

They had already scouted the upper right sector of the area before Erwin had stopped. Yukari had noticed that she was walking alone for a few steps.

"What's wrong?" The fluffy haired Anglerfish loader said as she had turned around.

"My feet are cold…" The blonde co-commander and radio operator of Hippo Team answered as she had looked down in defeat.

"Then…let's take a short break." Yukari said while looking around for danger. "We've already gotten a good distance away from the church anyway. Please show me your feet."

"Like this?" Erwin said while lifting her left foot above the snow.

"Not like that…please take off your shoes." Yukari then led her companion towards an uprooted tree.

Once there, the blonde had sat down before taking off both of her shoes. Yukari then pulled out some folded newspaper that she had placed underneath Erwin's sock covered feet to keep it warm and dry.

Not only that, but she had also put another page that she had stuffed into one of Erwin's boots just before she had placed red paper underneath one of Erwin's feet and placed cayenne peppers besides before doing it with the other.

"Cayenne pepper?"

Yukari then explained. "This way, your sweat won't freeze, and your feet won't be cold."

"I see…" Erwin said with a nod as she had learned something new. "Speaking of which, during the Battle of Moscow, the reason why German preparations had been delayed was because of their boots. Moreover, their boots were iron shod which caused problems in freezing temperatures."

After pausing for breath, she then continued. "On the other hand, the Russians had baggy boots with soles of cloth, so countering the cold was easier."

"Ah, it was not only the shoes," Yukari then added. "but the Portyanki were also made from cloth. It's still in use today."

After a moment, she then continued. "Recently, the ministry of defense gave an order to 'cut that out and wear some socks."

"Is that so?"

Yukari then said. "Aside from having heat-generating soles, my boots are also waterproofed."

Erwin could not help but be amazed at how this tank nut was so prepared for the situation. "That's amazing…you're well prepared."

This had gotten Yukari to be embarrassed as she admitted. "Actually, I bought these because I liked them; but since there was no appropriate place…this is actually the first time I had used them."

"Ah, I know. I know." Erwin had understood her companion's embarrassment. "I also have a lot of military outfits, which I bought but never used."

"Really?" Yukari had realized that she may have found a fellow kindred spirit had blurted. "My mom told me – 'You only have two feet so buying shoes like these is vanity!'. And that's even though I have a lot of diet-related fashion goods."

The blonde had to laugh at the given statement as she said. "Mothers are really like that. At our place, I have many vain things other than boots."

After a pause for breath, she added. "They just gave up and said – 'Just do what you want."

"Eh?" The fluffy brunette said in surprise. "How about high-laced boots or knee-high boots?"

"Those don't look good on me," Erwin replied simply.

"Huh?" Again, Yukari was just flabbergasted at the given reply. "But what do you wear during P.E.?"

"Of course, that's where my rubber-soled mountain boot replicas come in."

"Ah, Rommel was a member of the Wurttemberg Mountain Division, right?" The loader said in realization.

"That's right," Erwin was actually winking as she was liking the girl in front of her already. "He did ski training in the Alps and marched in the snow."

This had reminded Yukari of something thus she said. "Speaking of marching in the snow, did you know?"

"Know what?"

"There's this story during one of the joint exercises of the JGSF and the US Army in Alaska,"

"Nope, I haven't heard anything about it."

"Well then," Yukari then started her story. "The plan was to march in different directions towards the objective, but the end of season's cold wave came…"

The brunette paused for breath before continuing. "The Americans were apparently in a panic."

"How about the JGSDF?"

"Well, radio transmissions were interrupted, and they couldn't send out a helicopter." Yukari then continued. "Once the snow cleared up, they quickly went to the objective to behold…"

"What did they see?" Erwin was now curious at what had happened.

"The JGSDF having fun in a snowball fight," Yukari then finished.

"Ehh, it's a good thing they didn't freeze." The blonde added with relief.

"The pocket heater is a great invention," Yukari said in explanation as she had pulled out the said item out of her left blouse's pocket.

"Was it thanks to that?"

"Well, it was one of the reasons." Yukari then continued with happiness that she could tell someone about it. "But it was also due to the JGSDF's accustoming training in cold weather, enough provisions and equipment for each man, and heating techniques, which kept them safe."

"Hmm…that's amazing…" Erwin was surprised to hear things that she and her friends were not able to get.

"Well…I really don't know if it was a true story." Yukari then said with a slight hesitation. "I still have to check with both Miss Ami and Mister Zack if they had heard of it."

-oOo-

The pair then headed towards the right portion of the town, spotting the three T-34s just parked near some houses, all of them facing the square in front of the church.

"Hostiles spotted," the blonde member of the four-man recon team said as she had laid herself on her stomach with her binoculars on her hands. "Lay low."

"What's their formation?" Yukari then asked as she had duplicated her partner's actions.

"Wait a sec…" Erwin answered as she had used her binoculars to take a closer look.

"We won't know the formation with only these…" Yukari was saying as she too had used her own binoculars.

"The perimeter's terrain…" the co-commander and radio operator of Hippo Team was mumbling as she had studied the tank's positioning. "All right!"

Formulating a plan at the top of her head, she then said. "We'll go through the left and continue recon, passing by the enemy. Then, we slip by, head to the right and escape back to our comrades."

The fluffy brunette loader of Anglerfish had liked the plan and thus said. "Understood, Generalfeldmarschall."

'Very well," Erwin said in a monotone, although she was jumping for joy inside. "Let's get going."

"Yes, Sir." A smiling Yukari answered with a salute.

-oOo-

Again, the pair headed to the left, singing all the way. Their path they now took to the lower right section of the town and continuing on towards the bottom part of the town.

The sun was barely seen through the icy sleet as the snow continued to bare down on the battlefield until it completely disappeared in the clouds.

For the recon pair below, the wind was getting stronger and the snow was starting to blind them.

"I can't see the front," Erwin said as she was trying to use the visor of her replica peaked cap.

"This is a bit dangerous," Yukari added as trying to shield her eyes and face by means of her arms. "Let's take another break."

"In this snow?" Erwin said while looking incredulously at her partner.

"Yeah," Yukari said with a smile. "In times like these…"

She then pulled out a portable mini folding stainless-steel hand shovel from a hidden pocket in her back. Once she did, Yukari then made a snow cave that she and Erwin had hid during the snowstorm.

"Amazing," Erwin was saying while inspecting the newly made cave while sitting Agura style. "To make this cave in such a short time…"

Yukari then explained as she sat Seiza style. "The snow is packed around here, just keep cool and the rest is easy."

"Nah, being prepared for anything is amazing."

"Ah, but this is also the first time I'm using this scoop too…" Yukari then said with a slight stutter. "I just thought that it would be useful."

"Is that so?"

Yukari then pulled out a rice ball from her pockets before realizing that it was… "Ah, it's frozen solid."

Erwin then gently took the rice ball and examined it with her gloved hands before saying as she had divided the said ball. "It's not that frozen... It's still okay."

"Thank goodness." Yukari then said as she had received the half of the rice ball. "I forgot to bring a cooling pack."

"Aren't cooling packs for storing cold things?" Erwin asked in confusion.

"They also block heat, so if you put in beside a pocket heater, the contents would stay hot." The loader said while poking her half of the rice ball with her gloved right pointer finger then taking a bite.

"So, it can be used to preserve heat…" the radio operator said in thought as she had marked yet another good idea coming from Yukari.

"I probably wouldn't find another chance to use it though…" the loader said as she had finished off her bitten off part of the rice ball.

Erwin had taken a bite of her own half of the rice ball and said. "That's not true. If you continue Sensha-do, you'll probably find yourself in a similar situation to this."

After taking a short pause to regain her breath, the blonde then continued as she had received a paper cup of cocoa from Yukari's brought silver thermos. "The Battle of the Bulge, Stalingrad, Honkaneimi, Balaton or you would know it as Operation Spring Awakening/Fruhlingserwachen, or something similar."

After a minute of silence, Erwin then added. "Truth to tell, I have some doubts regarding the methods of the Student Council…"

This had gotten Yukari to go through a series of emotions starting with surprise to confusion to realization. She then said in her best Momo voice impression. "Our main objective has yet to be reached. We will absolutely complete this recon."

"Two kilometers," Erwin answered tersely. "Our encampment is just two kilometers away. The path within those two kilometers…I think it's more than enough."

"What is snow?" Yukari then added.

A minute of silence was shared between the two girls before they erupted in full laughter. The pair then crawled out of their temporary shelter.

"The snow has settled," Yukari was saying before standing up and slipping and rolling at times down the slope, screaming all the way.

Miss Floof girl had ended up faceplanting on the snowy ground at the bottom of the slope.

"What are you doing?" Erwin then asked in confusion.

Yukari then pulled her face out of the snow while answering. "Well, doesn't this new snow make you want to fall over?"

She then looked in my direction before adding. "Don't answer that. By the way, I am not, nor I would ever be called floof girl as I'm not a dog or a cat."

Right, with your brown hair fluffier than cotton candy, I would not be surprised if that is your fan nickname. But still, let's just continue our tale and I will not call you floof girl anymore.

"Thank you." Yukari then added as she had gotten to her hands and knees.

"I was certain that our sweat would freeze once we got out of the cave…" Erwin then added, thinking about helping the other girl up. "Now that would be cold."

"That's it," Yukari then used the Hippo Team's catchphrase to make her point in her excitement. "Doesn't that make you want to do it?"

"I-is that so?" the blonde amateur historian had hesitated as the others may see that as childish. 'Then again, they probably think that Yukari is childish enough.'

-oOo-

Back in the church, Miho was looking at the window in front of her at the weather outside and asking Saori. "I wonder if the recon teams are alright?"

"I'm sure they are," the ginger-haired radio operator answered as she stood behind her commander. "Don't worry."

"Yes," Hana said as she had approached the two. "Mako is a cool-headed person."

"Yeah, but…" Miho was still worried about her teammates.

"Did you know?" The long-haired brunette gunner than added. "Yukari always carry a lot of implements."

"I know, I know." Saori then interjected excitedly. "She seems to be carrying anything anywhere. Even things like scissors, a sewing set, and band aids."

"I am thankful for that cocoa," Hana then said with relieved smile on her face. "It's surprising, right that she's worried about everything and thus had she had prepared the minimum number of tools that the Lieutenant had made an example of and thus we're ready for this situation."

"Yeah, she's like a female version of Bear Grylls or Macgyver."

"Then, I guess she's okay." Miho was glad that she did not send her teammates to disaster as they were smart enough and ready enough for anything.

-oOo-

Back with the two recon specialists, they had found the flag tank at the left part of the town.

"There it is," Erwin was telling Yukari as she had found the flag tank (a T-34/85) in her binoculars.

"So that's the flag tank, huh…" Yukari then said as she too had looked in the same direction as Erwin.

"I think we're already good with what we already have," the blonde then added. "We're already pushing our luck."

Yukari then found the Pravda's secret weapon or at least one of them – the Kliment Voroshilov 2 or just KV-2 with a young girl shoveling snow away from the large heavy tank.

Erwin then added while her partner was checking out the heavy tank. "Should we take a detour to the rear and head back to our comrades?"

"Or do you want to break through?" Yukari answered as she had continued to scope the area around the KV-2.

Erwin had by then put down her binoculars, having seen enough. "Eh?"

The loader only put down her own binoculars and smiled before looking at the direction of the nearby house where some Soviet dark brown sheepskin fur coat and ushankas (Russian fur caps) with Pravda symbols were hung.

-oOo-

The girl was taking a break with her right foot on the shovel and gloved hands on the handle.

She then heard a voice from behind her as well as the slushing sound of boots going through the snow saying. "Isn't it cold out here?"

The girl had turned around to see two unfamiliar faces wearing the school coats and fur caps approaching her. "Uhh…seniors?"

"Yeah," Yukari said happily, as her disguise was working.

"A-are we back in action?" The girl then asked as it was still too early to mobilize.

"Nah, I was thinking it was just cold…" the disguised loader said while pulling out a flask filled with hot cocoa. "I brought some cocoa."

"Ah, thank you." The girl said with relief as she wanted something to warm her up as she did her duty.

She then drank the cup full of needed hot cocoa and sighed in happiness as the hot liquid had warmed her innards, hot mist forming as she sighed.

Seeing the opportunity to get additional information, Yukari then said as she had turned around. "But I wonder…when will the battle resume?"

"Won't it be after our commander wakes up?" the girl said with a smile, grateful for the hot cocoa.

"Oh, Commander Katyusha is having her beauty sleep?" Erwin then spoke up.

The girl then looked at the silent blonde who was with them from the start. "And you are?"

It was at this point that we learn that Erwin has either watched Gundum Wing or Full Metal Panic or even both when she had answered with confident grin. "I'm nobody, don't mind me."

"Ahhhh," Yukari then said to keep the girl from getting suspicious. "I see, I see."

After a moment, she continued. "Sleeping at a time like this, that's Comrade Katyusha alright."

"Eat, slack off, and sleep." The girl added with a big smile. "She's like a child."

"But isn't 'unpreparedness, one's greatest enemy?'" the disguised Anglerfish loader then cautioned her young friend.

"We'll be fine," the girl answered with confidence. "After all, those midgets are our opponents."

"I know, right?" Yukari said with a big smile and a nervous laugh. 'That's definitely that imp's doing. I wonder how this kid would react if she had seen us especially the Lieutenant at full height.'

"Oh yeah," Yukari then added. "I forgot all about it, but what was our arrangement again?"

"Ah yes," the girl said as she had taken yet another sip of their cocoa then looked at the vehicle behind her. "Our KV is the rear guard, with the flag tank is in front. The flank guard will be the 76mm."

"Man, the KV is a pain, isn't it?" the loader spoke up once again.

"You're entirely right," the girl agreed quickly. "Those shells are really heavy."

"So heavy that you have to charge the gunpowder separately, right?" Yukari was talking turkey with her new friend who is also knowledgeable with tanks.

"Not to mention the preparations needed to rotate that gigantic turret," the girl then added with a sigh. "It hurts my muscles every time."

"On top of that, you cannot rotate the turret if the tank is tilted." The girl finished with a sigh. "That thing's a tragedy. 'At least the chassis does not collapse easily,' isn't something I'd call thoughtful."

"It would be better if an adult handled it," the loader then said sagely.

"Yeah, that's true." The girl admitted with a shrug before looking back at the heavy tank. "But the KV-2 is commander Katyusha's favorite."

"Because it's tall?"

"Exactly," the girl said with her smile back as she looked back and forth at both the disguised loader and her ride. "'When I ride atop of this, I can see better.' She told me once."

"That's right."

After Erwin had nudged her in the side, Yukari then added while pretending to look at her watch at her right arm. "A-ah, we've got to get going. Sorry for taking your time."

"Oh no," the girl said as the pair had waved goodbye and walked away while waving back happily. "Thanks for the cocoa."

As the pair had disappeared behind the house near the KV-2, another young girl had popped out of the cupola of the heavy tank. "Who are they?"

"You don't know a basic thing," the first girl answered while still waving goodbye. "Of course, they're our seniors."

"Really?"

-oOo-

Of course, our intrepid recon experts had ditched their disguises and were now running for their lives back to the church.

"I thought our cover would be blown." Erwin was saying in between huffs.

"Yeah, that actually scared me for a second there." Yukari added also in between huffs.

"I want to get back early and take a hot bath," the blonde added with a stifled laugh.

"There won't be one though," the fluffy brunette pointed out.

The pair then continued their song as they walked back as soon as they knew that no one had seen them to complete the circle.

Miho and the others had heard the pair's singing and were on hand to receive them at the door.

"We have returned," Yukari said smartly as Erwin had given their commander and company a salute.

-oOo-

Just about the same time as Yukari and Erwin had left the church to do their reconnaissance, both Midoriko and Mako had also left to make their own reconnaissance mission.

"There's a T-34 and an 85 over there," the boss of the Public Morals Committee had told her partner – Mako.

Mako then noted on her carried notebook the given tanks. "85."

"There's a Molotov in the back over there," Midoriko added as she had spotted yet another tank.

"No tank with that name exists, Sodoko."

"I just made a small mistake, got it?" The said leader of the PMC testily answered, annoyed at the correction. "Anyway, it's not a Molotov, but a Stalin 2."

"A JS-2," Mako vocalized as she had made another note.

At this point, Midoriko was beginning to be annoyed with her partner. "Why do I have to recon with you anyway?"

"It's because we have 20/10 vision, Sodoko."

"Okay," Midoriko said with a raised tone as she finally had enough of the butchering of her own name. "If that's how you wanna play, I'll shorten Reizei Mako to Remako."

"Remako!" Sodoko said while throwing a snowball she had made just a minute earlier. "Take that."

The snowball was easily dodged and hit the tree behind the Anglerfish driver. The force from the Mallard Team's commander, 47mm gunner and loader, and radio operator's throw was more than enough to shake the tree enough for the snow on its leaves to fall. I have to admit, Midoriko's got quite an arm.

"Thank you," the said commander said in return. "At least someone here is appreciative of me and only called me Sodoko once."

"Enemy spotted," the pair had heard voices from the direction of the houses nearby as two Pravda sensha-do team members had spotted them. "Over there."

"Pat yourself on the back later, Sodoko." Mako said while the pair went running. "Let's just get out of here."

"Yes, Remako." Midoriko then added. "They found us. "Oh, there's a Cabbie-2."

"KV-2."

The pair later sought shelter as the blizzard had gotten worse in one of the houses that was thankfully far enough from the Pravda sensha-do team's tanks.

-oOo-

Even Nonna had noticed the now worsening storm as she said to herself. "Quite the blizzard."

She never left her commander's side however as the bonfire on the stone oven was still hot enough to ward off the cold from her and the sleeping Katyusha.

-oOo-

Back at the church, Miho was telling the others. "The tanks got a lot colder, so don't touch them with your bare hands."

Momo then added. "Keep yourself warm if you're not working."

"I'll be passing out some more soup and chocolate bars," Yuzu was saying after unboxing even more crates that they had brought in the tanks.

"The storm's getting worse by the minute," Miho was saying to herself as she had looked out the window before Emi had joined her holding a chocolate bar on her hands. "Thanks, Emi."

"Our scouts must be…" Miho was about to say when they had heard singing just outside.

"I guess they're already here," Emi said with a wink before leading Miho towards the front door as the latter was eating her chocolate bar. "Let's go meet them."

"They won't let us go home alive," both Erwin and Yukari had finished their song as they had stopped just in front of the door.

"We have returned," Yukari was saying when the other pair of recons had also arrived running.

"We have finished our reconnaissance as well," Midoriko reported to her commander.

-oOo-

A few minutes later, the recon teams had finished their debriefing and the planning committee (Miho and the whole Turtle Team) had updated their earlier drawing of the enemy tank's dispositions.

"It's amazing that you found out so much in this weather," Miho was thanking the recon teams for a job well done. "Forming a plan should be much easier now."

As it was, the drawing has the church at the top center of the crudely drawn map with a T-34/76 parked just a little to the right of the church itself along its front side.

At the left side near the center of town, two T-34/76s were parked close together nearly parallel with the one slightly behind being the flag tank itself. Behind both of them and further to the left was the KV-2.

To the right of the KV-2 was a line of T-34/85s at the southern side of the central plaza with four more tanks behind them from left to right they were: T-80, two T-34/76 (Katyusha's and Nonna's), and the JS-2.

"Thank you," Miho then added to her gratitude for the work done.

"Singing 'Marching in the Snow' was quite fun," Yukari then said with delight. "Unless you actually think about the lyrics."

"I agree with what Guderian said," Erwin then added.

"You should marry her then," Oryou then joked from the back of the Stug III where she had sat along with the others. "You'd make a cute couple."

"Shut up!" the blonde co-commander responded loudly that brought a certain warmth to both her and Yukari's cheeks. "I meant I agree with her statement."

"My bad."

"Getting spotted by the enemy and running around helped us find out more," Remako then added, amidst the laughter. "It helps Sodoko keep warm even faster too."

"What are you suggesting, Remako?!" Sodoko growled after sipping her cup of hot cocoa. "That was the plan from the start."

"Yeah, yeah."

-oOo-

Back with the audience, an announcement was made by the Japan Sensha-do Federation. "The officials are discussing on whether to continue the match or not due to inclement weather.

The screen was showing the positions of all the Pravda and Ooarai-Bellwall tanks with the Pravda tanks in red and the Ooarai-Bellwall in Blue. As it stands, the Pravda tanks had completely surrounded the Ooarai-Bellwall team within the church.

Orange Pekoe had vocalized her concern for their once opponent by saying. "Thing's aren't going Ooarai's way."

After Darjeerling had looked in her direction, she continued. "Surrounded on all sides and the weather is quite nasty as of late. Their morale must be very low too."

"I'm not so sure about that," the blonde commander of St. Gloriana then opined. "Ooarai has made a miracle before and I'm sure they'll be able to do it again."

-oOo-

Back in the battlefield, the Pravda students had enjoyed their free time by chatting around the bonfire and their tanks.

As for the Ooarai students, the work was already finished, and everyone had huddled in their chosen places for shared warmth.

"How much time do we have left?" Ayumi then asked her teammates as they had shared a blanket to keep themselves warm.

"About an hour," Aya had answered after taking a peek at her watch.

"So, we going to wait like this for another hour?" the brunette gunner of the M3's 75mm gun then added.

"I wonder how long it will take for the snowstorm to blow over," Aya's tone had made clear her worry as long as the weather had gotten colder, their chances of winning were much slimmer.

"It's pretty cold," Yuuki complained softly.

"Yeah," Karina added with a nod.

"I'm still hungry," Ayumi then added with a groan. "I think there's still some candy lying around in the stash at the back."

"Sure," Azusa the said as she stood up. "Let me get a few."

In front of the Abrams, the four members of Hippo Team were standing as they braved the cold.

Oryou then commented out of the blue. "This is the second Hakkoda."

Caesar had complained in despair. "The gods had abandoned us."

As for Saemonza, she had quoted a line from the book about the Hakkoda mountain incident that led to the death of 193 young men with six more following two months after being rescued while pointing in the distance. "Captain, I remember seeing that tree before."

Only Erwin had remained silent as someone had to keep the hope alive.

At one of the walls near the Type 89, the four members of the Duck Team had sat down with their backs to the wall also braving the cold with their guts as they only had their uniforms on.

Shinobu then told her teammates. "I've thought of a good idea."

"What?" Noriko then replied just to keep their minds of their present predicament.

"Instead of beach volleyball, we'll play snow volleyball." The Type 89's driver continued.

"Why not?" the team captain said sadly. "Not sure how would that work though."

Behind the Abrams, the trio of Public Moral Committee members had shared a single blanket to keep themselves warm.

Despite the worsening conditions, Midoriko still maintained order as she told her subordinate. "No sleeping, Pazomi."

"Any more food?" Momo then asked Yuzu as they had discussed the plan that Miho had made earlier.

"Well, thanks to the lieutenant, we have packed up a lot of food in our tanks before we came here." The dark brunette driver of the Hetzer answered. "We've already used up the delicious rations that both Miss Yukari has provided along with those sent to Mister Zack by his platoon as a joke, weeks ago and now we're down to mostly chocolate bars, some soup, and crackers. Not only that we don't have as many gas cans available for the lieutenant himself if he were to fight with his heater on."

"When I was out scouting with Erwin a little while ago, I saw the Pravda girls eating borscht." Yukari then added from her position beside Saori and Hana.

Outside, some of the Pravda girls had done the Cossack dance around the bonfire for some fun while being cheered by the others.

"That looks good," Mako said laconically at one of the scenes just outside their window.

"And warm," Hana then added with a bit of envy.

"Well, their school has a lot of tanks and thus their bringing of a lot of food is no surprise." Yukari then commented.

"I wonder if we'll lose our school," Saori then said softly to herself.

"I don't want that," the fluffy haired loader answered. "I want to stay with this school. I want to be with you girls."

"I know that, but…" Saori trailed off.

"I wonder why they're shutting the school down," Hana then spoke up. "Some flowers can only bloom in our school."

Mako had only hardened her expression at the hopelessness of their cause.

Miho had noticed her own team just looking outside while feeling miserable. "What's wrong, everyone? Cheer up and let's do this."

"Sure," Saori said for all of them.

At the right of the Tiger I, both Tiger and Panda teams were discussing what had happened before.

"I remember like it was yesterday when we fought against Viking High and we had gotten trapped since our girls had gotten much too overconfident," Neko had told the first years. "Then the senior pussies held our commander – Jinko Yoshinaga in contempt for not bringing them an easy victory. I guess both Chifuyu and I wasn't able to see the signs and we suffered for it greatly."

"So, you didn't like what happened to our school thus we have joined with Ooarai?" Youko then asked her senior.

"Of course not," the tough looking senior said with snort. "If not for Ooarai, we wouldn't have met Miss Nishizumi and her friends who were able to pull us out of tough situations. I haven't had this much fun since Jinko was our commander."

As for Anteater Team, they had discussed the time they had played Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games where they had problems with a powerful boss monster before they had gotten help from their guild mates.

"I'm glad that Tarius and the others had heard our call and helped us deal with that Dark Lord character-nya," Nekonya was telling her teammates. "Thanks for that, Momoga-nya."

"No problem, Nekonya-momo." The pink-haired driver of the Type 3 Chi-Nu said. "Which is why it's not too late for us to make a comeback-momo."

-oOo-

Seeing that nearly everyone's morale was still pretty low, Miho did contemplate on dancing the Anglerfish dance. She then noticed that Chihiro had brought out a few things from the Abram's interior.

One of the things she had brought out was a 3-D video projector, two wireless Bluetooth speakers, and an MP3 player. She then set it up before the 3-D image of the Lieutenant was standing in front of the table was seen.

"You know what?" Zack said with a groan. "Since morale isn't as high as I would have thought, I think I'm gonna just sing for the heck of it. Give me a minute."

The three-dimensional image then climbed up the Abrams and asked Chihiro to play the song. From there, he then belted out Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" in Japanese.

Once upon a time not so long ago

Tommy used to work on the docks,

union's been on strike.

He's down on his luck,

it's tough, so tough.

Gina works the diner all day,

working for her man.

She brings home her pay,

for love, for love

Duck, Tiger, Anteater, and Panda had heard the lieutenant's edgy voice as he sang his heart out in the hopes that the team would feel his own pain and maybe get the courage to continue with the match.

She says, "We've gotta hold on to what we got

It doesn't make a difference if we make or not.

We've got each other and that's a lot.

For love, we'll give it a shot.

Mallard, Anglerfish, Turtle, and Hippo had joined Hawk Team in watching the impromptu concert, their hearts feeling the pain of their instructor's lesson in song form. Midoriko was heard to be saying. "It may be a delinquent's song, but I like it."

Whoa, we're halfway there.

Whoa, livin' on a prayer

Take my hand, we'll make it, I swear!

Whoa, livin' on a prayer

Rabbit Team had also stood up from their shared blanket as they had could tell that their own instructor was hurting, and it was their fault. Leopon had also joined as they had loved the song and understood what Zack was trying to say.

Tommy's got his six string in hoc

Now he's holding in

What he has to make it talk

So tough, it's tough.

Outside the church, the Pravda students were puzzled on what was happening as they had heard someone singing in an amplified voice. At first, it was the crew of the T-34/76 next to the church followed by the ones in the left of the church and finally, the ones at the bottom of the town.

Gina dreams of running away

When she cries at night

Tommy whispers

"Baby, it's okay someday."

Nonna had noticed the exodus of the Pravda students and was about to follow them when she heard the whine of the T-80's newly started engine as it had left its own position before the Russian main battle tank told her. "I'll go… just keep Leila safe."

We've gotta hold on to what we've got.

It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not.

We've got each other and that's a lot.

For love, we'll give it a shot.

The Pravda students had asked for permission to join their opponents in watching Zack's mini-impromptu concert after entering the church itself, sitting on the tanks or just standing beside them. Of course, two of our spies had hidden themselves lest be recognized.

Whoa, we're halfway there!

Whoa, livin' on a prayer

Take my hand and we'll make it, I swear!

Whoa, livin' on a prayer

Livin' on a prayer

The T-80 itself had gone through the center of the town before parking itself on the front of the church, its digital soul content with watching the concert from the back of its students with its cameras as the drone carrying the camera for the JSF had also gotten in at around the same time.

We gotta hold on ready or not

You live to fight when it's all that you've got.

'And there it is,' Darjeerling, Shiho, and Maho had thought at about the same time. 'He didn't even sugarcoat it at all.'

Whoa, we're halfway there!

Whoa, livin' on a prayer

Take my hand and we'll make it, I swear.

Whoa, livin' on a prayer

'Thanks, Mister Zack." Miho herself thought as she had watched the concert with tears in her eyes while she held Emi's gloved hand with her own. 'At least, I don't have to do the Anglerfish Dance to get them this worked up.'

Whoa, we're halfway there!

Whoa, livin' on a prayer

Take my hand and we'll make it, I swear.

Whoa, livin' on a prayer.

It was only after singing that Zack had opened his eyes as he always sang with his eyes closed to spare himself the humiliation of being watched by his students. "Wait, how come there's more of you here?"

"The same reason I myself am parked in front of you so to speak," Mikhail then said in his speakers. "You have a talent in singing."

"Yeah, but I rarely sing sober and out of the shower." Zack then turned to the other tank. "Also, I am using a hologram to project myself in my human form to join the others in planning or well, this performance."

"Encore, encore." The students at both schools repeatedly chanted before a shrill cry had broken through.

"Ah, it's our senpais." One of the students said shrilly as Erwin and Yukari had tried to sneak out of their hiding place in the StuG III. "Wait, why are you wearing Oorai uniforms?"

A sense of foreboding was felt by both part time spies as they were approached by both Miho and Momo as well as feeling the glare from their armored instructor's projected image.

"Um, I think you confused us with someone else." Yukari was saying before she felt a gloved hand on her left shoulder. "We're actually Ooarai students."

"Maybe we can talk about it over there," Miho then said with an unreadable expression as she had pointed to a spot behind the Tiger (P).

She then turned to the two freshmen and asked. "Um, what are your names please?"

"I'm Nina and this is my friend – Alina," one of the freshmen answered with a bit of fear. "Please don't punish them too much as it was my fault as well."

"Don't worry, we won't." Momo said in a deeper voice than usual. "But don't tell your commander anything about this and I meant all of you. If she wants to know how we knew your positions, we just did some reconnaissance. We won't tell anyone either."

"We promise," the rest of the Pravda students said with nods all around.

"I won't tell them anything either," Mikhail then added. "I mean, fair is fair, and we would do the same if we were in your shoes."

"Well, since we have a little more than a half hour left to go." Anzu then spoke up as they had ignored the sniffling of both spies who were sure they would be punished. "Let's continue the concert, Lieutenant."

"Alright, alright." The US Army officer said with a shake of his head. He then turned to Chihiro who was in charge of the Mp3 player and added. "Ok, Chihiro. Let's go with the second song I asked you about."

The short-haired Abrams gunner smiled even wider upon hearing the request since it was one of her favorites and it would certainly double as a morale booster.

Soon, the guitar chords of the song – Blaze of Glory was heard and some of the girls who had recognized the chords started squealing.

Wake up in the morning

And I raise my weary head

I got an old coat for a pillow

And the Earth was last night's bed

Tears were shed by the students and even by Nonna who could hear the song faintly from where she was that she had recognized from her younger days. 'I knew the Lieutenant won't back down and neither will they. This battle is surely going to be down to the wire.'

I don't know where I'm going.

Only God knows where I've been.

I'm a devil on the run.

A six-gun lover

A candle in the wind, yeah!

Neko and the rest of Tiger team had smiled sadly at hearing these stanzas as they had felt the same once their sensha-do team was disbanded. This has renewed their drive to save their school by going for the gold.

When you were born in this world

They say you're born in sin.

Well, at least they gave me something

I didn't have to steal or have to win.

Hana had felt slightly affected as the lyrics did say something about her and her mother since she was groomed to be the heir of the Isuzu style of flower arranging that had left her empty for some reason.

Well, they tell me that I'm wanted!

Yeah, I'm a wanted man.

I'm a colt in your stable

I'm what Cain was to Able.

Mister catch me if you can.

This time, it was Miho's turn to feel a constricting feeling in her chest as this had reminded her of the time in Kuromorimine after the 62nd Sensha-do Tournament. 'This time, I'll do my best to get the championship flag.'

Both Yukari and Emi had remembered their own stunts in Saunders especially in the last stanza.

I'm going down in a blaze of glory.

Take me now, but know the truth

I'm going out in a blaze of glory.

Lord, I never drew first

But I drew first blood

I'm no one's son.

Call me young gun!

Missus Reizei could not help but smile at the balls of the team to come out fighting to the last man or girl. 'With that spirit, they may be able to duplicate the former team's winnability.'

You ask about my conscience

And I offer you my soul

You ask if I grow to be a wise man

When I ask if I'll grow old

This had gotten Shiho thinking as she had thought about the stanza sung since most people had only feared her and not truly respected her for her knowledge and skills. 'Maybe this is why Chi-chan has more students than I.'

You ask me if I've known love.

And what's it like to sing a song in the rain.

Well, I've seen love come.

I've seen it shot down.

I've seen it die in vain.

This had gotten Saori and most of the Rabbit Team to gasp as this whole stanza was certainly true of the Lieutenant himself judging from his advices to them about love and romance.

'I wish he and Miss Ami would hook up,' Saori then thought. 'She may be the one who could show him what love truly is.'

Shot down in a blaze of glory

Take me now but know the truth

'Cause I'm going down in a blaze of glory

Lord I never drew first

But I drew first blood

I'm the devil's son.

Call me young gun.

Yeah!

Zack then thought to just ham it up by making an air guitar in time to the guitar solo. 'I may look like a fool doing this, but since it's for the team, then it'll be worth it.'

Each night I go to bed

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

No, I ain't looking for forgiveness

But before I'm six foot deep

This time, both Mako and Midorko had looked at each other then looked away with their cheeks heating up. Their friendship may not be the strongest, but that does not mean that they would leave the other to die in loneliness.

Lord, I got to ask a favor

And I'll hope you understand.

'Cause I've lived life to the fullest.

Let this boy die like a man!

For Anzu, this was something that she knew from the beginning of the year. She did her best for the past two years. She then thought. 'Yeah, as crazy as this plan was for saving the school, it would certainly be our ticket to graduate with a bang!'

Staring down the bullet

Let me make the final stand…

This had brought Emi's thoughts to back when they were defeated by St. Gloriana as Hawk had gone one on one with the Challenger who they later learned had the soul of Darjeerling's cousin – Donald Sakurai, who was a pro-World of SPG player.

'We sure did our final stand back then despite seeing the barrel of that Brit tank,' she added mentally with a chuckle. 'Not our finest hour sure, but at least, we didn't run.'

Shot down in a blaze of glory

Take me now, but know the truth

I'm going out in a blaze of glory.

Lord I never drew first.

But I drew first blood.

This had gotten Panda Team's leader – Youko Minami to just smile as she and her team certainly did in the first half of this match and the same in the Anzio match as well.

I'm no one's son.

Call me young gun

I'm a young gun, yeah!

Young gun, yeah

Young gun…

"Well done, Mister Wycoco." Mister Akiyama said to himself. "You understand what your own students are feeling and would make them smile even if you yourself would be ridiculed."

-oOo-

Once the song was done, everyone had returned to their own positions. But not before thanking the Lieutenant for brightening up their day.

After the opposing team had left, Zack then jumped down from his turret to talk to Turtle team and Miho about their new plan.

"How about a contingency plan if the usual guards around the Type 89 is taken out?" The hologram soldier then asked the other planners. "I would volunteer myself and my team if not for the T-80."

"Well, I can get Anglerfish to meet with Duck if it comes to that." Miho then suggested. "The T-80 and the IS-2 are our biggest headaches since the KV-2 has a longer reloading and thus easy to evade its shells."

"That and from what we had gotten from recon, it would be the flag tank's bodyguard or at least one of them." Yuzu then added. "Come to think of it, that would make sense."

"Um, excuse me." A timid voice then called out. "Our commander Katyusha wanted to know what your decision is regarding your surrender."

"Well…" Miho then said as she had looked at the same girls who had carried the surrender message earlier. "Tell your commander that we won't surrender this fight as we have a very good reason not to."

"Considering the second song that your instructor just sang, even I won't surrender either." The student said before giving Miho a salute then smartly turning around to join her bespectacled companion who already left to report to their commander. "See you in the battlefield."

-oOo-

Fifteen minutes later, Katyusha had woken up from her short nap and asked. "So, will they bow down?"

Nonna answered quickly. "No, it seems that they won't surrender."

"I see…" the Pravda commander said as she had turned around. "Waiting was a waste of time then."

While rubbing her eyes, she then added. "Anyway, let's quickly mop the floor with them and go home."

"Yes," the vice-commander then approached their team's instructor tank. "That would be best."

-oOo-

Back in the church, everyone had gotten into their tanks to warm them up and prepare for battle once again.

As Miho was getting inside the Panzer IV's command hatch, she then asked Turtle Team. "Are you sure about this?"

"Yeah," Anzu answered as she was given a boost by Momo.

"Leave it to us," Yuzu then added.

"But…" Miho was about to say something when Anzu interrupted her.

"Anyway, let's go."

Miho was about to get in her tank when she heard Anzu's call for her.

"Miss Nishizumi," the red-headed SC president then said with a soft voice. "Thanks for getting us this far along with the others."

"It's our pleasure," Miho replied with a smile.

-oOo-

Outside, the Pravda sensha-do teams had also gotten themselves ready for a battle, all of them raring to head home.

Inside the Panzer IV, Miho then pinched her throat mike to talk to everyone by radio. "Everyone, we'll break through the enemy siege straight away using Operation Jelly Jingle."

After a pause for breath, she then added her favorite battle cry. "Panzer Vor."

-oOo-

Outside, Katyusha then revealed her plan to her comrades. "I have purposely left an opening in our siege. I'm sure that's where they would be headed."

After a pause of breath, she continued. "Once there, we'll sandwich them and it's game over for them."

"I hope your plan succeeds," Nonna then told her commander.

"All my plans are perfect and always work," the Pravda commander whined in return. "I just needed help in the last one since I never thought that they would advance that slowly. Besides, I have a backup plan, just in case."

Seeing that both Nonna and the T-80's cameras were on her, she then explained. "Should they somehow get close to our flag tank, my little hidden KV-tan will take care of them right away."

If the KV-tan is little, then King Kong has to be a normal-sized chimpanzee.

"Not funny nor needed, Mister Author." Katyusha then yelled at the sky, making the others except for her brother wonder on who she was talking to and whose voice they had heard. "Now where was I. Oh yes, I can already see their faces with tears streaming down their cheeks, when they realize how wonderful my plan was."

She then looked up into the sky and added. "What do you think about that, Mister Author?"

No comment.

-oOo-

In the now-warmed up Abrams, Zack then told his crew in the radio. "Everyone, it's game time."

"Yes, Boss."

Emi then twisted the handle to engage the first gear as the Abrams had moved forward out of the church despite being under fire. To save on ammo, the modern battle tank did not fire back as it had fired smoke grenades instead to cover its fellow tanks' movements.

Even then, like the other tank crews, the guns were loaded with APBC or M829A3 rounds.

"Panzer Vor." Miho then said in the radio as they had followed the Abram's lead. "Follow the Lieutenant's lead."

The line of tanks had first gone to the left, making Katyusha gloat. "Like lambs to the slaughter."

"I'm so awesome," the great commander added as she was only waiting for the enemy team to turn left before giving the signal for her team to complete the trap.

Then suddenly, the Abrams had turned right and fired at the tanks in front of it while the rest had gotten into formation behind it.

"They're coming this way," Katyusha said in surprise as the T-80 had its right track loosened in the first salvo of the lead tank with the Char B1 bis and M3 Lee firing their guns at the other tanks in their way. "Are they stupid? Diving into the maw of the beast."

She had grabbed her hat and buttoned up as the Ooarai tanks had broken through the first line of defense and were now heading towards her own line. "Return fire, you fools."

In the Hetzer, Anzu had said. "Kawashima, let's switch."

Anzu then selected her target. "Unlike the Panzer 38 (t)'s 37mm gun, this one can engage even a T-34/85 as far as two kilometers. Let's teach Pravda a lesson they'll never forget."

The T-34 had fired first, but thanks to Anzu's warning, it was evaded and answered as the 75mm Pak 39 L/48 had fired its APCBC shell. Scratch one more T-34 since the first four T-34/85s were taken out earlier, giving a total of seven Pravda tanks out of action.

They then left the town in a south-easterly direction.

After the Ooarai tanks had passed them by, Katyusha had popped out of her tank's turret and grabbed a radio. "Now they've done it."

Once pushing the talk button, she then ordered her team. "After them; we'll stop them no matter what."

By that time, the Ooarai tanks had temporarily formed up. Miho then said. "Everyone turn to ten o' clock while maintaining formation."

"Well, Miho." Anzu then said over the radio. "We'll come back to take their attention. Once we're done, let's meet up."

"Alright but be careful." Miho then said as the Hetzer, Abrams, and T-44 had peeled off to deal with the remaining seven tanks. "We'll head back to the center and hopefully loose them there."

The rest of the tanks then headed off towards the massive snowbank that Hana had cleared earlier, tracers lighting up the dark sky.

-oOo-

Back in the stands, the crowd was cheering for Ooarai as they had now gotten the slight numerical advantage and yet continued to keep themselves as far away as Pravda just to be sure.

"Everyone is cheering for Ooarai," Orange Pekoe had commented upon seeing the crowd going wild as Ooarai had escaped from Pravda's trap and was now split up to keep them away.

"I think it's called rooting for the underdog," Darjeerling then said with a slight smirk. "Although in this case, the underdog is the one with the bigger bite."

-oOo-

The Hetzer had led its platoon of three tanks back towards the town in the hopes that they would keep the rest of the Pravda team away just enough for Miho to make a counterattack.

"Even though they're only half their initial strength, we still need to ensure that they won't knock out the rest of our team especially Duck." Anzu then said in the radio. "Once we've disabled at least three tanks overall, let's leave them hanging."

"Ok," Kita said in reply. "Panda Team acknowledges."

"Same here with Hawk," Zack replied. "I guess we get one each."

Even more tracers were seen, this time machine gun rounds were seen in the air as the ground had exploded in front of the Hetzer.

"It's the T-80," Zack then said as his infrared could see the massive heat signature from where the round had originated. "We'll take care of them. Just seek the other two and rejoin the others quickly."

"Good luck, Lieutenant." Both Kita and Anzu said as the Abrams had turned abruptly to the right while firing a round at where the T-80 would be according to Zack's computations.

That left the Katyusha's T-34/76 and Nonna's T-34/85, plus the T-34/76 flag tank, the KV-2, and one T-34/76s and the IS-2 heavy tank that were too far to engage the escaping Ooarai tanks, other than firing at them from range.

"Let's take 'em, Panda." Anzu then added as they had spotted four of the six tanks in pursuit of the others. "We don't need to take out two, just one would do."

Unfortunately, they were spotted, and explosions blossomed around both charging tanks.

Katyusha even told her remaining tanks. "Stop struggling and shoot those heaps of junk."

The tank destroyer and medium tank had the advantage of being nimble and showing their front profiles only thus not giving much to shoot at while being able to shoot back.

"Now!" Anzu had managed to de-track the IS-2 before taking out one of the T-34/76 that had turned to engage them.

Unfortunately, Nonna's own tank was just behind the stricken tank and her own tank's gun had belched a BR-350P APCR round that knocked out the Hetzer.

"Well, at least we got one." Anzu had told her crewmembers. "That's good enough."

"Yeah," Momo said with a warm smile. "Let's hope that Panda and Hawk would do better."

-oOo-

"Miss Youko," Kita then reported to her commander – Youko Minami. "Turtle Team was taken out by one of the T-34/85. But the IS-2 is de-tracked and one more of the 76s were taken out."

"In that case, seek the other 76s or 85 and get out of here as fast as you can." Youko then told her driver – Takami.

Turning to her gunner, she then added. "Make your sister proud, Nagisa. Take out the 85."

"Yes, Ma'am." The blonde gunner answered automatically. 'I wonder how she knew about that.'

The said tank was later seen beginning to move and thus its crew was surprised to see the other Russian tank bearing down on them from the darkness. One 85mm/L52 (D-5T) round was enough to take it out.

"Alright, let's get out of here." Youko then yelled in glee. "We've already done our job. That's enough."

No sooner that she had spoken that the T-44 was taken out by the IS-2 that had gotten the drop on them as Katyusha's own T-34/76 had fired on them while on the run.

Both tanks then continued the chase despite now being outnumbered as the heavy tank in Nonna's hand would be enough to take out the enemy tanks from range with Katyusha covering the heavier tank.

"Commander, this is the flag tank." A voice was heard from the radio. "Do you want us to go too?"

"Did your brain freeze?" the Pravda commander yelled in response. "You need to stay quiet like a bear hibernating through winter."

-oOo-

Back with Miho and the others, they had gotten the report that T-80 was being engaged by the Abrams and that their own pursuers were now down to only two with neither of them being the flag tank or its escort.

"Once we've passed the hill, Hippo." Miho then said in the radio. "Hide and double back with us to hunt down the flag tank back in the town. Everyone else, please continue going south."

"Roger."

Everyone had followed orders and thus both the IS-2 and once the T-34/76 had passed, both the Panzer IV and the StuG III had doubled back.

-oOo-

With the modern battle tanks, the pair had made the frozen plain their own battleground as they had used the snow as their temporary heat shields to keep themselves from being detected by the other's infrared sensors used by their commanders.

That did not mean that they had fired once as soon as they were undetected. As such, their firing was intermittent to keep themselves from being tracked and spotted.

"This sure is tiring," Emi was telling the others in the inter-tank radio as the Abrams had hidden itself behind one of the snow mounds, so its driver could steal a few minutes of rest. "I wonder is this how a real battle feels like."

"From what I've heard from my cousin and his crew, almost since it is always companies of tanks going around the place." Zack then said. "While in some inter-country competitions, it is more of two tanks fighting in a field much like this one to prove which country has the better armored fighting vehicle."

"I see him," Chihiro suddenly said as she had spotted something in her sensors. "Hii-chan, load me an M289A3 round quick."

"Ok, Chi-chan." Hitomi said as she had loaded the said round quickly. "Get him."

The Rheinmetall 120mm gun had barked and the T-80's own turbine engine was hit, leading to a mobility kill. A white flag had emerged near the now smoking engine with Mikhail had congratulated his Ooarai counterpart for making a kill.

"Well done, Lieutenant." Mikhail's voice was heard in the team's headphones. "I never thought that you would just shoot us like that out of the blue."

"Actually, Mister Matsui." Zack answered after a beat. "My gunner did that on her own accord. I didn't even spot you since you were using the snow as a cover to your own turbines from my own infrared sensors."

"I guess the Mk 1 eyeball still beats our own sensors sometimes," the former cadet said with a bit of humor in his voice. "Right now, I congratulate you in a possible win unless my little sister cooks up a miracle herself."

"Well, we'll try and stop her then." Zack said with mirth. "Goodbye."

"Dasvidania."

Switching to the local frequency, Zack then said. "Ready to roll, Emi?"

"Yeah, let's find Pravda's flag tank and finish this match." Emi answered with a grin as the Abrams had started up and headed back to town. "Hold on to your seats, girls."

-oOo-

Speaking of the town, the Panzer IV had taken the lead with Miho actually standing up and balancing herself on the cupola to get a better view. She was told by Saori of the Abrams also coming back to help out in the search.

Seeing nothing, she came back inside the tank as it had continued on its way back to the town. Turning to her loader, she then said. "Miss Yukari, can you go out and provide reconnaissance again?"

"I'd love to," an excited Yukari answered before coming out and leaping out of the tank to tumble out into the snow and wave at her commander as the tank had moved away.

Once the Panzer IV had gone away to patrol, Yukari had said to herself. "I need to get a higher vantage point."

-oOo-

Back in the spectator area, the Dragon Warrior had carried the disabled Hetzer towards Ooarai's shed.

Once they had seen the large screen TV, Anzu could not say out loud. "I wonder if Nishizumi could really do it."

"I'm sure she can, Anzu." Yuzu then said. "I mean, Pravda is now down to four tanks and we're still almost complete."

-oOo-

Back in the village, Yukari had made her way towards the church's bell tower. Once there, she had looked at whole town in search of her target.

Upon seeing both the red flag as well as the rear of the T-34/76, she happily reported on the radio. "I found them."

-oOo-

At around the same time, Nonna had found Ooarai's flag tank and its own posse running south. She then thought to give them her greeting card by firing at the Tiger I tank at the rear. She had gotten at a safe distance of three kilometers before pulling the trigger.

The Tiger team was caught completely by surprise as they had felt the sudden push to their rear before it had stopped, as a white flag had popped out near its engine that was busted.

"Sorry, girls." Neko said in apology to the others. "It seems that the IS-2 is still operational and is now crewed by an ace gunner. Leopon Team, try to knock it out of the match."

"Will do, Tiger." Sakajima said as the Tiger (P)'s turret along with the Type 3 Chi-Nu, the Type 89, the Char B1 bis, and the M3 Lee had also followed.

Multiple instances of thunder were heard as the tank platoon had opened up thus making its pursuing tanks swerve from right to left and vice-versa with snow either pierced or exploding.

Nonna then targeted the Tiger (P) next only for it to suddenly turn to the left as the Chi-Nu had slowed down enough to get a better shot. Annoyed, she then targeted the annoying medium tank and fired again thus the Chi Nu was disabled.

Katyusha then found herself going against the Char B1 bis that had also slowed down to let the other tanks get away while it would engage the two Pravda tanks in close combat.

As it was, the T-34/76 was taken out with the French tank following via the next salvo of the Soviet heavy tank.

The Ooarai audience and even the other teams were shocked to hear that three of their tanks were taken out at the cost of only one tank, never mind it being the command tank.

"Duck and Rabbit, stay in front of us and try to confuse the IS-2 with concentrated fire." Sakaijima had gotten herself a plan. "She can't take us all down at the same time."

"Ok," Yuuki and Taeko then answered.

-oOo-

Meanwhile in town, the Panzer IV and StuG III were spotted and thus both the flag tank (a T-34/76) and its escort – the KV-2 were started up and readied for action.

They then reported to Nonna. "Vice-commander Nonna, flag tank here. We've been discovered by the enemy."

After a pause, the commander of the flag tank then added. "Should we meet up with you? Please let us come to you."

"Nyet," Nonna calmly answered as she was getting the Tiger (P) or the Type 89 in her gun sights. "Continue hiding in the buildings as the Abrams is still functional and may find you out in the open. I may be able to take out their flag tank shortly. Also, remember that you have the KV-2 as your bodyguard."

"Roger, Vice-commander."

-oOo-

The flag tank did as it was told and soon both the StuG III and the Panzer IV had met the monster of Raseiniai.

"There it is," Saemonza was practically yelling at the radio. "The Giganto."

"It's fine," Miho was saying while having half of her leaning out of the tank. "We can take it."

As soon as Miho had broadcasted, the monster had belched its HE shells…that missed by about 500 meters behind the charging tanks.

"All stop," Miho then commanded as both tanks had come to a stop. "We have time until the KV-2 loads its next shot so calm down."

"Right," Hana replied as she had aimed her tank's gun at the weak point of the enemy heavy tank, just between the turret and the hull.

"Fire."

Both tanks had belched their own APCB rounds and the KV-2 had lost its tracks at the left and got enough damage for the white flag to pop up.

From there, the chase was on.

-oOo-

With the others, both Duck and Rabbit had stuck close to the Tiger (P) that was trading fire with the IS-2 at a range of 2.5 kilometers.

Unfortunately for Rabbit, the M3 Lee was hit by the IS-2's APHE shells and was out of the fight.

Hoshino had tried to knock out the chasing Soviet heavy tank, but it had proven just as elusive as they were.

-oOo-

Saori then reported to her commander that only Duck and Leopon Teams were left along with Hawk that had changed course to intercept the IS-2 as well.

"They're just running around town," Miho was saying to herself as she tried to figure out what was the flag tank really up to. "In that case…"

In the StuG III, Erwin was cursing as the enemy flag tank had turned away, so they could not fire at it.

They then heard Miho's voice on the radio saying. "Hippo Team, stop your pursuit."

-oOo-

With the others, the IS -2 was now forced to turn left as the Abrams had now joined the party with its lights on, daring the older heavy tank to take it on as well while joining the other two and firing its own main gun.

Inside the Type 89, Akebi was staring to cry despite now having two heavy tanks with the second a modern battle tank joining them as their own tank was now the one being bombarded from afar. "We just can't lose them."

"Don't cry," Noriko told her blocker. "Save those tears for the day we get our volleyball team back."

"Right."

"Don't you worry," Taeko then added. "This bombardment is nothing compared to the killer spikes of a tough opponent."

"Exactly," Shinobou said with a smile. "Right now, this arena is now our 'Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium' or even our 'Yoyogi National Gymnasium'."

"Let's go," all of them yelled as shells continued to bombard them despite the efforts of the other tanks to knockout the IS-2.

-oOo-

In the town, Oryou had slammed on the breaks and manipulated the levers for the StuG III to make a bootlegger's reverse and thus burying it under the snow. At the same time, the flag tank was still being pursued by the Panzer IV.

It was a fact that was not lost on the T-34/76's commander as she surmised. "Huh? Only the Panzer IV is chasing us."

The tank's driver then speculated. "Maybe the other tank broke down?"

Yukari had seen the enemy tank make another turn and reported. "They're closing in."

Again, the flag tank made another right turn past another house making the Anglerfish loader add. "Just one more right turn."

"Got it," Miho then said in the radio. "Thank you."

Switching frequencies, she then asked Hana if she could use the machine gun to force the enemy tank to make another right turn.

"I'll try."

As it was machine gun fire that had forced the flag tank to take the right turn that Yukari had also reported. "Fifty meters to point H43."

Miho then told Hippo Team. "Prepare to fire."

At the other side, Nonna had centered the Type 89 in her gun sights once more and fired her borrowed tank's gun. This time, it was answered in kind by the Tiger (P).

The T-34/76 flag tank's commander was thinking it was now in the clear when a sudden boom as well as their own tank lurching to a stop was heard and felt by the whole crew.

As it was, three tanks with two of them being the flag tanks were hit. And due to the weather and the smoke, no one was sure which one of the three tanks would be the one taken out.

---

Ok, so I ended this chapter with a cliffhanger. The episode where I got this ended in a cliffhanger too so I just followed canon. Next chapter would finally reveal who will win as well as who would go head to head with Kuromorimine Girls Academy in the finals.

Also, I would like to apologize in replacing the Anglerfish Dance in the match itself so as to be original. Then again, Bon Jovi rocks!

For now, Ranma and company would have to deal with two figure skaters/martial artists and even have three more students from another ward in Tokyo. Which one? You'll find out when you read the next chapter of Together in Spirit that's coming next.