Chapter 15 - Totsugeki!
[Team King - Castle Area - 18 Hours Left ]
"Okaeri Miho!"
"Tadaima onee-chan! How were things while I was away?"
"It's been quiet but we are expecting them to arrive soon"
"You think they'll hit us with another artillery barrage?"
"Yes I'm sure they will but now we are ready for it. Erika ordered that everyone be ready to move and take cover wherever they can if another barrage comes." said Maho
"Maho-san! Scouts said enemy tank formation is now closing in and will arrive momentarily!" Koume reported
"You heard her ladies! Mount up and brace for a possible artillery barrage!" Erika shouted
[Team Queen Tank Formation - 1000 Meters from Castle]
"Commence bombardment! Tank Platoon 1 Move forward" Darjeeling said
"All tanks...GO AHEAD!" Kay said
"I'm getting a strange feeling of deja-vu Naomi-san!" Takashi said
"Don't jinx it you idiot!" Naomi said
"We better make it to the gate this time!" Alisa said
"We will as long as everything goes according to plan!" Kay said
[Team King - Castle Area]
"INCOMING! TAKE COVER!" Maho shouted
(The sky rained with shells from the SU-100 artillery barrage but this time it was a bit different)
"Kommandant! The barrage isn't stopping! In fact it's moving!"
"Haaa?! How the hell is it moving?!" Erika shouted
"Itsumi-san! Yukari said that it's a creeping barrage!" Miho radioed
"A creeping what?!" Anchovy asked while shouting
"A creeping barrage! It's a slowly moving artillery attack acting as a defensive curtain while infantry or tanks follow behind it! But in our case it is acting as a sweeping mechanism to find our tanks hidden in cover!" Erwin said
"Then how the hell do we stop it?!" Momo shouted
"We have no choice but to destroy their artillery or it will slowly strangle us to death!" Maho said
"That's suicide! There must be another way!" Erika said
"Itsumi-taichou please let us go and find it!" Nishi said
"Are you crazy!? You won't last long out there!" Erika said
"It is the only way Itsumi-taichou!"
"..."
"Erika there is no time decide now ! The enemy is closing in 500 meters!" Maho shouted
"Alright! Nishi-san will go out and locate the artillery and silence them!"
"Thank you very much Taichou!"
"Take our Jagdtiger on the way out and use it as a shield! Panzer IIIs go with them as well and help them locate that artillery!"
"We will go as well!" Carpaccio said
"We will distract them along with the Jagdtiger and buy you some time!" Pepperoni said
"Thank you girls..your actions will not be in vain I promise you!" Erika said
[Viewing Platform #1 for VIPs]
"Look at that a British Style of Artillery performed by Russians, very interesting" Chouno said
"That Darjeeling is quite the talented commander" Shiho said
[Team King - Gate Entrance]
"Let's go comrades! Show them how Chi-Ha-Tan tanks do a real charge! Tostugeki!" Nishi said
(The Jagdtiger takes the lead with ten Chi-Ha-Tan tanks following it and the rest of the volunteers)
"Kay-san! Enemy tanks sighted exiting the castle and headed straight at us!" Takashi said
"Are they trying to breakthrough!?" Alisa shouted
"All tanks halt! Fire at that tank column! Stop it at all costs" Kay ordered
(A volley of shots were fired towards the Jagdtiger but all rounds either missed or bounced off due to it's heavy armor)
"Damn it it's too tough! He is going to ram the line!" Takashi shouted
(The Jagdtiger rammed through the tank formation and sent a sherman flying white flagging it when it slammed upside down. Now that the line was broken the ten Chi-Ha-Tan tanks and two panzer IIIs now broke from the column and punched out of the enemy tank formation)
"They broke through!" Erika said
"It's all in their hands now to stop this barrage.." Maho said
(As the ten tanks were about to be out of sight suddenly two shots were fired from two IS-2s and white flagged two of the Chi-Ha-Tan tanks)
"We were only able to get two Katyusha-nee san!" said Kal
"The rest were able to escape and probably headed to the SU-100s" Nonna said
"Let them go we have a reliable bodyguard there!" Katyusha replied
(The battle rages on with the Jagdtiger now isolated inside the enemy tank formation. It was taking hits on every side but still alive)
"Carpaccio let's show these guys how Anzio fights!" Pepperoni said
"Let's go! Distract them and lure them in front of the Jagdtiger!" Carpaccio radioed
(The CV 33s rode in circles in the battlefield and was able to dodge the incoming fire due to its mobility. When a T-34 tried to chase it was suddenly hit at the rear by Carpaccio's Semovente and white flagging it)
"That's how we do it nice shot!" Pepperoni shouted
(Another CV 33 was distracting a sherman by going in circle then the sherman got shot by the Jagdtiger's 128mm cannon white flagging it. Carpaccio now decided to take out the KV-2 of pravda)
"Nina that small tank is headed for us!" Said Alina
"Don't worry we will blow it away" Nina replied
(The KV-2 fired at the Semovente but Carpaccio skillfully dodged the shell and it drifted to the side of the KV-2 then fired. But the shell bounced off and the KV-2 was now aiming at Carpaccio again)
"We got you this time!" Nina shouted
"Stop! Don't turn the turret or else we will-"
(The KV-2 now started tilting to its side and the barrel buried deep in the soil and a white flag popped out of the KV-2)
"Ciao~" (Bye)
"Ughh..we flipped it again..Katyusha-sama will be angry at us.." Alina said
(Carpaccio now regrouped with Pepperoni for another run but suddenly both CV 33s got hit and flipped a couple of times before a white flag popped out.)
"Pepperoni!"
"We're fine Carpaccio..avenge us!"
(Carpaccio saw that a Churchill and the Tortoise was aiming at her so she tried to dodge every shot and got close to the Tortoise)
"Fuoco!" (Fire)
(The 75mm hit the tracks of the tortoise forcing it to stop then Carpaccio headed for the Churchill)+
"Fire!" Darjeeling ordered
(The 17 pounder shell was shot by the Churchill aimed at Carpaccio's Semovente but was dodged magnificently and then drifted to the rear of the Churchill)
"Fuoco!"
*BOOM
(A big effort to try and take out the commander of the other team but to no avail her Semovente was shot by Naomi's firefly thus the white flag popped)
"I guess that's how far we can go..happy hunting Nishi-san.." Carpaccio said
"Thank you for the assist 17-pounder-san.." Darjeeling radioed
"Sure thing..can't have you taken out just yet, right?" Naomi replied
"Naomi-san how are we gonna kill that Jagdtiger?" Takashi asked
"Don't worry just get in a good position to shoot its back I'll do the rest" Naomi said
(The Jagdtiger aimed at another T-34 and then shot its 128mm hitting the T-34 straight on its frontal armor before a white flag emerges from the wreckage. Soon after it shot the suddenly a 17 pounder shell hit the tracks of the Jagdtiger and stopped it from moving)
"Now Takashi!" Naomi shouted
"Firing!" Takashi said
(The 90mm shell flew right into the Jagdtiger's rear armor and after the explosion a white flag was seen on top of the hunk of metal)
"Alright Jagdtiger is down all tanks forward to the gate now!" Darjeeling ordered
[Team King - Castle Area]
"I hope Nishi-san finds those guns fast or we won't have cover left!" Maho said
"I know she will find it onee-chan I trust her" Miho said
"Yes all we need to do is wai-"
*BOOM
(Erika was interrupted by an explosion above her cover and it showed signs of collapsing)
"Damn it! Driver forward we need to move and find a new hiding spot!" Erika ordered
"Yes Kommandant!"
(Just as there tank was about to reach a new safe spot a shell landed beside Erika's Panzer IV and destroyed the tracks)
"The tracks have been destroyed ma'am we can't move!"
"This is bad! We have to-"
"Itsumi-san!" a voice yelled behind her
(Suddenly her Panzer IV was pushed by another tank into the safe spot away from the barrage and Erika saw who did that. It was Gero and his White Tiger)
"Bakatora?!"
*BOOM
(But another explosion destroyed the Tiger's tracks also. She was so surprised and all she could do was watch him. Gero looked at her from his cupola with a relieved smile on his face that Erika was safe)
"GERO!" Erika shouted
(Gero and his crew awaited there doom in the form of an explosion and for a white flag to pop out of their tank but….)
"Uhmm...are we in heaven already Matsu-kun? I can't hear the explosion.."
"Don't say that Ken-kun! I didn't hear it also.." said Ono
"We are in one piece right boys?"
"Yes Taichou" said Hajime
"Good...cause I can't stand anymore.." Gero fell to his chair with wobbly legs
"Gero you alright?"
"Yeah I'm fine Ono..my life just flashed before my eyes as I stared into the sky expecting a shell to fall on us.."
"Hoy Bakatora! You guys alright?" Erika yelled
"Yes Itsumi-san..looks like Nishi-san did it.."
"Yeah she really did..All units up the wall now and rain hell on the enemy tank formation!" Erika said
"Yes Kommandant!" all of them replied
[Team Queen Tank Formation - 500 Meters from the Gate]
"Kay-san we are almost there!" Takashi said
"Yeah we will finally reach-"
*BOOOM *BLAAAM
"INCOMING!" Naomi shouted
(A barrage of shells came raining down the tank formation halting their advance. Some tanks got their gun barrels destroyed from the barrage. They tried to fire back but the castle tanks were too well defended in their position for them to get a decent hit)
"Looks like this is it for now..all units pull back..we won't survive the barrage in this open field!" Darjeeling ordered
"Damn it! We were so close!" Kal said
"We will get another chance Kal-kun pull back for now" Nonna said
"Yes Nonna-sama" Kal replied
*BOOM
(Just as they were pulling back a shell landed at Kal's IS-2 tracks and made him stop. Kal looked out his cupola and saw that the White Tiger was the culprit for this shot and made Kal furious)
"It's that bastard again! That White Tiger!" Kal shouted
(The Gero shot again at Kal's IS-2 to white flag it but suddenly the Super Pershing blocked the round so it bounced off. Takashi then placed his tank behind the IS-2 and started to push it out of the area.)
"Sorry Tiger-kun not gonna happen.." Takashi said with a smile
"Aww Pershing-kun blocked my shot no fair!"
"Ahaha Gero you can be such a kid sometimes" Ono said
(The tank formation of Team Queen were able to pull out without other casualties. Kal's tank was now being pulled by Takashi's Pershing back to base)
"Yo redhead you hurt?" Takashi asked
"Why did you do that? Why did you protect me?" Kal asked
"Why? Cause we're comrades redhead" Takashi said with a smile
"I see...and it's not redhead my name is Kal..and thanks Takashi-kun" Kal said
"Sure thing buddy!" Takashi said
[Team King - Radio Room - 17 Hours Left]
"Nishi-san do you copy? What's your status?" Erika asked
"Itsumi-Taichou are you guys alright?! We were able to destroy the enemy artillery" Nishi said
"Yeah we noticed when the artillery stopped! Thanks to you we were able to repel the enemy's attack!"
"That's good..those artillery where two SU-100s just like Akiyama-san mentioned"
"Well then I have to trust that girls senses more now..anyways, what's your time of arrival back in the castle?" Erika asked
"Please forgive us Itsumi-taichou..we won't be able to to come back.."
"Why Nishi-san? Are you guys alright?!"
"Yes we are fine..but all eight Chi-Ha-Tan tanks and both Panzer IIIs are now taken out.."
"How?! What happened?!" Erika asked
"When we reached the artillery units we were ambushed by two tanks guarding it..we were able to destroy the other tank but all 10 of us were destroyed by a single tank from Jatkosota High School.."
"I see..I'm sorry Nishi-san.."
"Itsumi-Taichou don't say that! We wanted to do it and we really enjoyed the plan so please don't apologize!" Nishi said
(Erika froze and clenched her fists at what she heard. knowing she gave a suicidal mission to Nishi-san and started regretting her decisions)
"Thank you for your hard work..Nishi-san..rest up and please cheer for us..over and out"
(Erika walked away in silence and started to doubt her commanding capabilities. She walked towards the castle walls and as the sun starts to set down it started to rain. Erika still in thought is now drenched from the rain)
"What are you doing here? You're gonna catch cold.." a voice called out to Erika
"Bakatora…nothing...just enjoying the sunset"
"In the freezing rain? Weird way to enjoy the sunset.."
"Leave me alone.."
"Nope I won't.."
"You're getting drenched in the rain as well you idiot.."
"I just felt like watching the sunset as well while under the rain.."
"Weirdo.."
(The two continued to watch the beautiful sunset under the rain and not saying a word)
"Bakatora…"
"Yes Itsumi-san?.."
"Nishi-san...won't be coming back…"
"..."
"They got ambushed while destroying the artillery…"
"I see..so that's what happened.."
"Because of me...they won't be coming back.."
"No..It's not your fault.."
"Yes it is..I ordered them to go on that suicide mission.."
"If you they hadn't gone out we would have lost at that moment.."
"..."
"If Nishi-san had went out a second later...I would've probably been dead right now.."
"You shouldn't have saved me Bakatora..it would've been better if Maho-san or Miho-san took command.."
"Don't say things like that please.."
"We should've thought of another way.."
"There wasn't any other way Itsumi-san...you made the right decision-"
(Erika suddenly grabbed Gero by the collar and looked at him with rage. Gero just stood there in silence and was ready to hear out what she was about to say)
"IF SENDING MY COMRADES TO THEIR DOOM IS THE RIGHT DECISION THEN I DON'T WANT TO BE A COMMANDER ANYMORE!" Erika shouted with all her might
"They volunteered for it..they wanted to-"
"SHUT THE HELL UP! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW!? YOUR JUST A GUY THAT HAD JUST JOINED SENSHADO!"
"YOU SHOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HERE!? YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT IT FEELS TO TELL SOMEONE TO SACRIFICE THEMSELVES FOR YOU!"
"WHY DID YOU MAKE ME THE COMMANDER?! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO PUT ME IN A SITUATION WHERE I CAN'T BE HONEST!? WHY DO I HAVE TO PUT A STRAIGHT FACE ON WHEN I ORDER SOMEONE TO GET HURT IN MY PLACE!?"
"WHY?! WHY?! WHY DOES IT HURT SO MUCH EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE THE ONES OUT OF THE GAME WHILE I'M STILL HERE!?"
(Erika screamed with all her lungs to Gero when suddenly Gero hugged her tightly. Erika was completely caught off guard and struggled to get free)
"LET ME GO BAKATORA! I SAID LET GO DAMN YOU!
(Erika accidentally hit Gero in the face with a punch making his lips bleed but Gero still wouldn't let go but held even tighter)
"I WON'T LET GO!" Gero shouted
"WHY THE HELL WON'T YOU LET GO?!"
"BECAUSE IF I HOLD YOU TIGHT LIKE THIS YOU CAN BE HONEST RIGHT!?"
(Erika was surprised when Gero said those words then she just gave up and stopped struggling. She suddenly started to hug Gero as well and started crying softly)
"It's alright Itsumi-san..you're going to be fine..if you can't be honest as a commander then you can be honest as a normal girl..as Erika Itsumi.."
"Would it be alright...to stay like this for a while..Bakatora?"
"Yes Itsumi-san...I'll never let go.."
"T-Thank-"
(Erika wasn't able to hold it in anymore and shouted all her pent up frustrations and cries that she can never show as a commander. Her cries were dampened by the rain as if the sky was crying with her and only Gero could hear all of it. The screams of normal high school girl with a large burden on her shoulders trembled in the freezing rain. The thick mask that hid Erika's emotions have been finally taken off by Gero)
"Have you calmed down Itsumi-san?"
(Erika nodded while still hugging Gero and Erika was thinking while her face was buried on Gero's chest..)
"I wonder why..even though we are in the freezing rain...I can only feel the warmth from him" Erika said in her mind
(They stayed in this position for another 5 minutes then Erika finally stepped back to look at Gero)
"Why..why do you go so far for me..even to get hurt like this…" Erika touched Gero's wounded lip
"I never want to see you sad..it pains me to see you like that Itsumi-san.."
"You even saved me like a hero in the afternoon..you could've gotten seriously injured..even though you're just a Bakatora.."
"A white Bakatora to be exact.."
"Hehe..what the heck are you saying..so stupid.." Erika laughed and smiled
"I'd endure any amount of pain to see you smile like that Itsumi-san.."
"Bakatora…" Erika blushed and looked at Gero's eyes
"Itsumi-san..I..I'm..."
(Gero was about to say the words he wanted to tell Erika for a long time when suddenly..)
*BZZZZZ *BUZZING SOUND
(Something came into both of their vision and it was a surveillance drone of the event that had been watching this whole time they were having their moment in the rain and broadcasting it to the audience)
"Uhmm..is that what I think it is?"
"I think so..has it been there this whole time?"
"I don't know...but I think it was.."
(Erika noticed what they look like and remembered all the steamy cuddling they had done in the rain. Erika's face suddenly went red as a tomato and pushed Gero very hard and he fell down on his butt)
"O-Oh! I'm so sorry..bakatora are you alright?!"
"I-I'm fine Itsumi-san"
"Sorry I was just surprised by that stupid drone.."
"Well looks like it's gone now.."
*Achoo *Achoo
(Both of them sneezed as they felt the freezing cold take effect on their bodies)
"How about we go inside and dry up before we both catch a cold?"
"Y-yeah..good idea bakatora..let's go"
"By the way, when are you gonna call me Gero again?"
"Haaa?! What do you mean again? I never called you that!"
"You don't remember? This afternoon when I saved you at the barrage..you screamed out my name very loud"
(Erika suddenly remembered the events in the afternoon and realized that she really did call him by his name by accident)
"I-I don't think so..you must have misheard me bakatora.."
"Ehh, I was pretty sure that you called me-"
"Shut up! Bakatora is Bakatora!"
[Team King - Inner Castle Room]
"Ohh Gero-kun...Erika..I see you both got caught in the rain.." Maho said
"Yes Maho-san it just started pouring down.."
"Here some towels Matsu-kun.."
"Thanks Ken..here you go Itsumi-san.."
"T-thank you..bakatora.."
"Hey what happened to your lip its bleeding?!" Maho said
"Oh this it's nothing..might have gotten it in the afternoon..haha"
(Erika was still as red as a tomato because she remembered the cuddling events outside)
"This is bad..very bad..how could I have done those things with Bakatora..we were hugging..like..really tight! We even got filmed! I hope nobody I know saw that.." Erika said in her thought
(Erika was starting to blush bright red even more as she thought about it and steam was exiting her ears)
"What's wrong Erika? Your face is all red..fever?" Maho asked
"That would be bad! Hang on let me check.."
"N-no need I'm fine really.."
"Just to be sure.."
(Gero suddenly placed his forehead on Erika's forehead to check if she has a fever. But this act actually made Erika heat up in a different way than what she had expected. Maho and Ken was surprised at what Gero had just did)
"Hmm..you seem to be a little warm..we did stay out in the rain long.."
"Ba..
"You should get a hot bath to be sure..we collected some firewood so a hot bath is doable"
"Ba..
"Uhm Itsumi-san are you listening?"
"BAKATORA!" Erika shouted
*HIT *PUNCH *KICK *FALL
(In two seconds Gero was lying face first on the floor from Erika's beating while said girl walked away towards the bathing rooms)
"Hey Gero-kun you still alive?" Maho asked
"Y-Yeah..I think so…"
"Matsu-kun there are a lot of ways to check for a fever and you just had to do the most embarrassing way..and to our commander as well.." Ken said
"I used to do that to my sisters when they were sick so I just acted out of reflex.."
(Maho suddenly stopped what she was doing after she heard this. Gero had no memory of them so Maho was surprised because she remembers when they were still kids Gero did do that to them when they were sick)
"S-Sisters?" Maho asked
"Huh? I didn't know you had sisters Matsu-kun.."
"Oh..yeah..that's right I don't..weird why did I say that?"
"Looks like commander's beating really did a number on you.."
"She can hit hard surprisingly.."
(Maho was still thinking and staring. She knows that somewhere in Gero's memories both her and Miho are still in there and Gero still remembers them from time to gave Maho hope and wanted to tell Miho right away so she left to take a bath as well cause Miho was there)
"Well see you boys later I'll have a bath myself and no peeking." Maho said with a serious face
"We don't want to die yet Maho-san so we won't"
"Good boys.." Maho said smiling
[Team Queen - Command Post - 16 Hours Left ]
"Wow it's really pouring out there..we won't be able to mobilize right away.." Kay said
"Not to worry...we won't have to mobilize.."
"Why is that Darjeeling-san?" Kal asked
(As Darjeeling finished sipping from her tea she gave a smile to her sub-commanders)
"Let's just say that..someone will be giving the Ō-sama a surprise visit.." Darjeeling with the devilish smile
[300 Meters from the Castle - 15 Hours Left]
(Under the cover of darkness and rain, a group of tanks slowly approach the castle gate, without making a sound and using the wreckage from this afternoon's battle as cover. A predator lurking in the shadows clothed in camouflage using leaves, twigs, and nets. They wait for the perfect moment to pounce on its prey)
"..."
"...Tulta!.." (Fire)
Coming up Next: Chapter 16 - Night Raid
Author's
Note:
Hi guys! Here is chapter 15! Enjoy!
As always if you like what you see leave a Favorite, if you want to see a notification as I post a new chapter please Follow! If you have comments and suggestions please don't be shy and leave a review for me to read! Thank you again and have a nice day!