Chapter 31
Lake Bor was once a beautiful vacation spot for hikers, fishermen, campers, and families. Its local fauna and wildlife were a perfect serene and relaxing atmosphere. Now, with Federation intervention, it was one of the most terribly terrifying places in existence. A mass of Tanks surrounded the local town and even covered the lake area. The Federation would normally occupy themselves in town hall, but ever since the escape of the High Schoolers back in Mishima Akari wanted something more secure. So the Federation, at least here at Lake Bor, took control of the local Police Station and Jails. This made security over any captives much more efficient. Now all that was to do was get information.
Rivers screamed in pain for the umpteenth time. He had lost all perception of time inside this dimly lit room. Akari had been the one to personally handle every waking moment of his time into torturing him. Her favorite method was the use of the taser she used on him back when she ambushed him. Suffice to say Rivers wasn't having a good time.
Rivers laid sprawled over the floor, his body sweating from the endless abuse. His skin burned for added pain effect. Yet however Rivers had remained uncooperative. Akari had asked the same question since he was first brought in for questioning. Where is Maho Nishizumi? That was the question. Rivers figured Akari would know but since she was so stickle for information, however Akari only knew one thing. Three large groups of High Schoolers left Hoja City and Akari knew not where Maho could have gone. Luckily for Rivers, Akari never paid attention to details of the Japanese schools that much or else she would have figured out where Maho was. Now Rivers just needed to keep his mouth shut until he could think of an escape plan, though it wouldn't be easy since they didn't have outside help this time. Right?
Several miles away, standing atop an M6 Heavy Tank Ark looked at the detail of the Federation defense of Lake Bor. It was strong and strategically placed. The heavy points and garrisoned troops were perfectly placed away from each other to not just hold the vital points but could send reinforcements to wherever they needed it. Akari had grown some.
"This is hopeless, we're never going to break them out of there." Fuka said from one of the hatches. The four had opted to take Donovan's M6 for its Heavy Tank classification. Though the girls would have preferred their Sherman they knew the M6 could withstand more.
"Maybe but we cant leave them in there." Ark said. He knew he was right. Akari was most likely torturing any number of them right now.
"I'm not saying we have to leave them but how can the four of us take out all of those tanks? Those are standard Japanese Military and there's got to be more than a hundred of them out there." Fuka said.
"Two hundred most likely." Hina added.
"Doesn't matter how many of them there are we just got to break through destroy everything we can get close to. That'll get us started." Terrance said.
"That's not going to work, we need something more efficient then just blowing everything up." Hina said.
"She's right, if we waste this chance we have then we're as good as caught ourselves." Ark said lowering his binoculars.
"So what, we just sit here till we find a plan? That's not exactly something I'm looking forward to." Terrance said.
"Better patient then dead Terrance." Fuka said.
"Patience sucks. I'd rather be running around doing some schoolyard bullshit then just waiting up here." Terrance said.
Ark felt his eyes focus on Terrance's words. 'Schoolyard bullshit? Wait. A schoolyard frenzy? Or maybe even… that could work' Ark thought. "I have a plan."
The three others looked at him, he had the look of a crazy person. Or at least his plan was crazy. He described his plan to the three and their faces all had different looks. Terrance was smiling liking the plan already, Hina was thinking of the plan herself and wondering if it was a plausible solution, and Fuka gave a deadpan look telling all one needed to know.
"That is the stupidest and craziest plan I have ever heard of." Fuka said.
"Yeah, but you forget we're Americans. Stupid and Crazy are our specialties." Ark said. He knew she was right. This was so ludicrous that it couldn't possibly work, but Ark wasn't completely sure of that. An old friend of his fathers once fought against American soldiers, and he was once told by a superior, find the most unlikely way an American would attack you for that will definitely be the way they will attack you. Ark wasn't going to disappoint that little known 'Fact'.
Catching a loud noise the four looked over and saw that possibly half of the Tanks stationed at the town were forming up and looked like they were leaving soon. Ark and co waited and inevitably the gathered Type 10s left the town and began moving eastward. Ark gave off a grin. "Looks like fate has a soft spot for us, lets get this plan underway and cause some chaos." Ark said.
Kay grasped her stomach as it rumbled from the lack of food. The fact she was sitting in a jail cell was one thing but to be hardly fed since they were captured was another. Because of this Kay's mind often wondered back to when she and Maho found out Akari had been neglecting to care for the boys back in Mishima. Now she knew how they felt about all this. Kay managed to stand from her seated position and make it to the cell bars. She looked around and saw what amount of her team as she could. They were all miserable. Some of them clutched their stomachs as well. This was terrible.
"Kay, how much longer are we going to be here?" Rosehip said. Kay had been lucky enough to get a cell with her. she would like Rosehip's impute on any escape plan she had, however now it looked like an escape was far from reality. Kay knew what was going on. The Federation was keeping the girls fed just enough to make sure they lived. If they were hungry enough they wouldn't have the energy to escape. This was a troublesome situation.
"Hopefully not much longer then needed. We just have to find a way to get control of some part of the station. Then we can call Davis and Darjeeling for assistance." Kay said. The police station had a large radio antenna on the roof. Kay guessed that there was a radio somewhere inside the station. All she needed to do was get out of this cell, find said radio and call Davis for help. He'd formulate the perfect plan to get a successful breakout.
"I just want something to eat. Its been how long now?" Rosehip asked for she had forgotten the last time she ate.
"I think its been twelve hours." Kay said. Even she wasn't sure. "Hey Donovan, you have anything on these cells yet!?" Kay called out. Donovan had guessed as to how strong the cells would be and he tried to exploit any weakness he may have had.
"Nothing! These things are tighter than anything I've ever seen." Donovan said. Kay sighed at this. They knew the cells were wired to an electricity junction. However with the possibility of the radio being on the same junction Kay didn't want to try to fry or overload the electricity for fear of rendering the radio unusable. Kay would have fallen onto the ground defeated had it not been for a very loud noise.
"What was that!?" Rosehip asked. The sound was an explosion. It seemed like the type from one of Virginia's M6's. had Davis arrived? No, he wouldn't know of their predicament. Another explosion rocked the jail.
"Whats going on out there?" Kay wondered.
"Good shot, next one!" Ark yelled as he glanced through the commanders hatch of the M6. Terrance was shooting the main cannon as Fuka was reloading the shells. Hina, being a tank commander, had some driving experience and was behind the wheel.
The M6 moved its way through a mosh pit of Type 10 main battle tanks, the type 10 may be faster but the M6 had one special advantage. That was the specked out American Tankery modifications. The M6 was not the fastest tank but it was easier to maneuver and with that advantage the type 10's couldn't keep the M6 in their sights long enough to get a shot on it. Actually some of the disabled type 10's were from friendly fire to which greatly amused the high schoolers.
"Break right!" Ark yelled. Hina moved the M6 in the indicated direction as a type 10 fired and hit one of its own.
"Make for the smaller group ahead of us! Terrance hit the turret and body connector, its small but that would nearly destroy the thing!" Ark yelled.
"Roger!" Terrance responded. His aim wasn't as good as most of Montana's team, but his aim was true when need be. With that Terrance took his aim and when he fired the shell hit right in its intended spot. The type 10 turret flared up and the 'Thunk Pu-tunk' of the white surrender flag popped out of the tank.
"Left! Left!" Ark yelled. The M6 moved and barely dodged a hit. This plan had to go on until he found their target. He had to. And that's when he saw it. On the back of the police station was a large junction box. "Terrance, back of the police station! Large blue junction! Shoot it!" Ark yelled.
Terrance said nothing as Fuka finished loading and he took aim once again. He spotted the electrical box and fired.
Akari felt the ground shack as she just finished pumping another 10k volts into Rivers. She was confused as to who was shooting what. She held her hand out to her 'aid' and she was handed a radio.
"Whats going on? Who's shooting?" Akari ordered.
"American forces are in the vicinity; they've infiltrated our perimeter are causing chaos in town!" Someone said.
"WHAT! Get any and all reserves out there now! I want these American Dogs captured by any means necessary!" Akari screamed into the radio.
Before Akari could do anything else another explosion hit the building causing all the lights to go out. The confusion on Akari's face was replaced by shock as she realized the target. The Power Junction. 'But if they took that out then.' Akari's thoughts were interrupted by the radio.
"The captives have gotten lose, any and all hands to the jails!" A frantic voice yelled through the radio. Akari's anger sky rocketed and in her rage she threw the radio onto the ground breaking it.
"What have you done Rivers!" Akari screamed. Rivers, though in pain, managed to look up at Akari and grinned smugly.
"I don't know what your talking about." He said with a laugh. Akari grunted and kicked Rivers in his stomach before leaving the room. Rivers truthfully had no idea who or what was shooting the place up, but he did know that seeing Akari mad made his day.
Kay and Rosehip rushed up the stairs with renewed conviction. The surprise of one of Davis's M6's was a welcome blessing, one that Kay had every intent on using. While Donovan held off any and all Federation members down stairs Kay had taken Rosehip and headed straight for the radio antenna. Wherever Davis and Darjeeling are they would hear the message they send out and would come running to the rescue.
Smashing through the roof entrance Kay quickly scanned the roof and found the antenna near the east side of the building. She ran over to the main panel and unhooked the cover. Rosehip stayed by the door with intent to hold off anyone wanting to stop Kay. Grabbing the radio she took from one of the guards Kay opened its back panel as well and exposed the wires. She took the wires from both the radio and the antenna and intertwined then giving the radio more range. As luck would have it the radio still had connection with the buildings junction box destroyed. Luck was on their side today.
After juggling through the channels Kay found the one Davis would be on. It was now or never.
"Davis do you copy? Its me Kay respond please! Hello!?" Kay frantically called into the radio.
"Kay is that you?" a familiar voice said over the radio.
"Dar!? Mine and Rivers team got captured, we're at Lake Bor, please hurry we our little riot won't last long! Please hurry!" Kay said into the radio.
"Kay there coming!" Rosehip yelled. Kay turned and saw Rosehip desperately trying to hold the door closed as Federation members pushed to open it.
"Repeat Kay, did you say Lake Bor?" Darjeeling asked.
"Yes, please hurry!" Kay managed to say before the door busted open nocking Rosehip to the ground. Kay turned back to the radio and undid the wires before tossing it off the roof of the building, only to get tackled by the Federation member and restrained.
After nearly half an hour of fighting Ark, Terrance, Hina, and Fuka's M6 was knocked out and the four were captured. With that Akari got some order and stability back to the area, but some of the High Schoolers managed to elude recapture. Donovan green, Vice Commander of Virginia, being one of them. Akari had already sent out some of her girls to find him and any others before he managed to mount any sort of resistance.
When the M6 was finally secure Akari had the four chaotic members and the two Commanders brought to her outside of the Police station. There she would firmly exact her authority.
"You lot have been a thorn in my side for long enough. Especially you Americans." Akari spued. She gave Rivers, Ark, and Terrance a long hatred filled look.
Ark and Terrance were unsure how to react remembering their time in the stockade, but Rivers held his head high and glared right back at Akari. He would not be easily swayed into submission.
"Now I know you all have gone through a lot but now I have one simple question. Anyone of you who answers will be treated like family. Even you boys, so tell me. Where is Maho Nishizumi?" Akari asked the four tankers. The four said nothing, while their hands were still bound they imagined their hands were held by each other giving the strength to resist Akari's demeanor.
Akari's face grew more and more angry. After three whole minutes of silence she finally yelled. "Where is Maho Nishizumi!" again silence.
"Fine. If that's how you want to play it." Akari nodded her head to one of her girls and she stepped towards Rivers. The woman lunged her taser right into his gut giving him the whole taste of ten thousand volts. Rivers screamed in pain, he had been tased several times in the last two hours and been able to hold strong, but now he was beginning to fade.
"Rivers!" the two boys yelled. Rivers could only scream in agony. Akari's face seemed so sadistic, while her Federation lackies looked either neutral or even disturbed by the scene. Yet while Rivers was screaming both Ark and Terrance could only think of one thing to do, and for the first time since coming to this island, the boys of Montana physically attacked the Federation women.
The two boys yelled in rage and jumped to their feet. Though both their hands were bound they found other means to go against Akari. Ark lunged straight for her and kicked her in her stomach causing Akari to, not just gasped, but gain a look of pure shock. She never really expected them to get physical.
Terrance moved to the one shocking Rivers and with his whole body he slammed into her, knocking her onto the ground, and landing on top of her. the surrounding girls either stayed dumbfounded or moved in to apprehend the two boys. One of them took her own taser and jabbed it into Arks shoulder. He yelled, not out of pain, but out in fury. He again lifted his leg and kicked the one shocking him back. she stumbled and fell onto her back clutching her side. Terrance was doing the same thing, he got up from the ground and body slammed another girls into the ground as he turned to charge at another one.
Some of the girls watching were starting to get scared. These two boys had knocked almost half a dozen of them onto the ground and with their insane war cry it felt as if these two men were monsters. It terrified one of the younger girls so much she fled screaming in terror. This caused others to do the same. Ark wanted to follow them and terrify them to the point of soiling themselves, but he had to make sure the others were ok. Instantly his foot was both stabbed and shocked as the one woman who tased him was doing it again. Ark's anger skyrocketed and reared his foot back, only to lunge it forward catching the woman in the jaw rendering her unconscious.
"Rivers!" Terrance yelled. Ark turned and saw Kay and the girls managed to get themselves untied and were now checking on their Commander. He rushed over and kneeled down besides them. Rivers was in to good shape. He was sweating profusely, and had several burns all around his body, whilst trying to remain awake. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a tank cannon was fired. The group turned to see no Federation tanks around them but out of the woods came a familiar sight of Donovan Green riding on a familiar M6 heavy tank alongside a Mk VII Churchill.
"Rivers! Kay!" Darjeeling yelled from her perch. Kay waved her arms into the air.
"Dar! Over here!" She yelled. The two tanks came to a stop allowing Donovan, Davis, and Darjeeling to get besides the four and check on Rivers condition.
"What happened?" Davis asked. He then saw the bodies of the Federation women on the floor either writhing in pain or unconscious.
"Akari has been torturing him for hours, she hadn't stopped since we got here." Kay said.
"We should probably hide this from Naomi, lord knows how she'll react." Davis said however futile the words became.
"Rivers!" the group heard Naomi yell as she ran over and kneeled right besides the young man. She took his head from Kay and placed it in her lap softly caressing his face. tears started to pour from her eyes, and she sniffled at the sight. "Why would they go this far?"
The group had no answer. There was no explainable one for this. What would drive Akari to go this far? Why treat the Americans so inhumanely? Nothing made sense.
"There's another problem." Kay said gaining the new comers attention. "That guy Gary something, he's Akari's sister. She sent him and who knows how many other tanks to Homedale. They're going to attack Glendale and end the match." Kay said. What was no shocker was that Akari had gained more illegal reinforcements. What was shocking was that the Association guy they thought they were helping turned out to be not just a spy, but the bait for a trap.
"We need to get back to Hoja City and tell Ed. Glendale is practically defenseless, the Association and Johnathan's team wont be able to hold out for long. How many are there?" Davis asked.
"Several hundreds. More than all of our joint forces combined." Kay said. This shocked the group. That many was an army.
"uh, Kuromorimine, Pravda, Saunders, and Virginia all brought fifty tanks per the limit. Uncle Sam and Montana brought less than that, Ooarai, and St. Gloriana have the smallest numbers but make around fifty combined. That's got to be over six maybe seven hundred tanks!" Donovan explained.
"Get everyone onto the vehicles, we'll take you guys back to your tanks and return to Hoja City. We call Miho, Katyusha, and Hans to tell them the information and get as many reinforcements to Hoja City as possible." Davis laid out the plan.
Everyone agreed. After slowly getting Rivers settled into his the M6, with Naomi refusing to leave his side, the group headed back to the checkpoint. They could reach Hoja maybe late tomorrow if they hurried. Many questions without answers came from this predicament. However everyone knew one thing, that this game had turned into a war.
The sun had barely risen over the crest of the earth when Miho walked into the command room at the Homedale Water and Power Management. Once the rest of the team got to the plant Hans immediately wanted an update on Austin. Katyusha was in a similar state demanding to see Nonna. However it said that the two had fallen asleep. Who could blame them. getting chased by the very same bear they ran into all those months ago back on the mountain must have been exhausting.
When Miho entered the command room, followed by Hans and Katyusha, she saw Alice sitting at a desk smiling warmly at seeing the arrival of old friends. Also in the room were her chief lieutenants. Azumi, Megumi, and Rumi. Alice got up from her seat and moved over to Miho with arms extended. Miho returned the gesture and the two gave a quick hug hello.
"Its wonderful to see you again Alice. I'm sorry we couldn't get together earlier, but with things the way they are I couldn't find time. Nor could I find you as a matter of fact." Miho said.
Alice giggled. "As always, it's a pleasure to see you again to Miho, I'm glad everything is going well for you." Alice said.
"Well. Well, is not the word I would use. We were told by some association guy to find you and if possible capture you." Miho said. Alice's eyebrow lifted in confusion.
"Capture me? I haven't left this place for some time now. In fact my team hasn't been doing anything for a while. A question does accompany my confusion. Was this man brown hair, black eyes, strangely friendly?" Alice asked.
"Uh, yes I believe so." Miho said. Alice nodded.
"Figures. That man was Kai Adachi. He is Akari's brother." Alice said.
"What!" Hans yelled. "That's impossible."
"Probable, if you please. Akari wanted to plan a certain attack on a city but she needed a problem out of the way." Alice started.
"Us." Miho deducted. Alice nodded.
"Correct. You all have caused Akari so much trouble that she wanted to get as many of you as possible away from Hoja City, so you'd be at an ineffective range to give support." Alice said.
"Wait. Give support? Hoja City wasn't the target?" Hans said. Alice shook her head.
"No. Akari is massing as many forces as she can and is targeting Glendale. They attack next week." Alice said.
This came as a shocker to the three High Schoolers.
Akari had amassed a huge army in order to end the game and wipe American Tankery off the map. They needed to get word to Ed as fast as possible. He'd have to recall the team he sent after the Cannon.
"That's insane. The Association forces aren't strong right now but they aren't push overs." Katyusha said.
"Unfortunately for them Akari's force numbers almost eight-hundred." Alice said.
"Ei-eight hundred!?" Hans asked. "That's impossible, there's not that many tanks on either side."
"Unless Akari brought more illegal reinforcements." Miho said. Alice nodded again.
"Correct. Akari has broken just about every rule in the book. She contacted the outside for one." Alice said.
"She organized illegal supplies and help to be transported to the island to bolster her forces." Megumi said.
"Not to mention the abuse and harassment of the Americans. I've seen the scars on your friends back. he's lucky that's all he got." Azumi said that last part to Hans.
"Austin's a tough S.O.B. it'll take worse then that to break him." Hans said.
"This brings me to why I really came to see you. Alice I hope you see what Akari's doing is wrong, we could use your help. Join our side so we can stop Akari from hurting more people." Miho said. Alice smiled softly.
"I imagined you would ask that Miho and quite honestly I have thought about this a lot. However I cannot join you." She said. Miho and Katyusha were shocked.
"Why, is there something we did that makes you not want to join us?" Katyusha asked.
"On the contrary, its me who has the 'problem' as it might be said. In light of Akari's illegal actions I still believe Sensha Do should strictly be a female sport. The Americans say they made there own version but its based heavily off ours and holds no respect to the original cores and values. I'm sorry Miho, but I cant join you." Alice said. Miho went silent. In all that had happened she had forgotten that that was the reason the match was started in the first place.
"Maybe if you just spend time with the Americans you'll see they aren't so bad." Miho said. Alice shook her head.
"I'm not saying their bad people Miho. I do not like their sport, and I wish to see it dismantled. Its as simple as that." Alice's eyes went somber. "Akari ordered me to detain you should you come here. I refuse to do that because we're friends. But until this match ends we are enemies. I'm sorry Miho."
Miho looked down trodden. Her knew having Alice's strategical skills would be invaluable, yet Miho knew Alice's choice was clear. She nodded and turned to walk away.
"Miho, I will give you this. Akari has placed all her hopes in this attack. Should it be repelled, Akari's might will crumble and she will have nothing left to stop a spear head straight for Mishima." Alice said.
Miho nodded again and bid farewell. The three high schoolers stepped outside of the command room and walked back to their team.
"What do we do now? Ed needs to know about this, he'll send what he can, and we could go right now and give the news to Johnathan. He'll get the defenses set up and we can hold off until Davis and Ed get there." Hans said.
"I agree. With numbers almost numbering A thousand the defenses already there wont be enough. We need to reinforce them. Mihosha, we must go help." Katyusha said.
Miho nodded. "Get everyone rested and ready. Once Austin and Nonna wake up we'll leave for Glendale and warn them. get on the radio and tell Ed whats happening. Tell him to send who he can to meet us there." Miho looked down in thought and for the first time anyone has maybe seen, Miho gained a furious look. "If Akari wants a fight then I'll make sure she begs for mercy while groveling at my feet." Miho said angerly.
Katyusha was a little frightened, she had never seen Miho like this before. Hans on the other hand was smiling like a kid at Christmas, he was all aboard with giving Akari a taste of her own medicine. However, even if the three didn't know how the fight would go down, they knew that this was no longer a game. It was War.
End Part Two:
A/N: this story has taken a bit of a tole on me. I'm taking a small break to refresh and recuperate. Don't worry I'll be back soon with more action. Thank you for all the support and thank you for reading Girls Und Panzer Tankery's End.