A few days after the match against Anzio, the Oarai tankery team began preparations for their upcoming battle with the formidable Pravda team. Most members, including the foreign recruits, were well aware of Pravda's reputation and the formidable equipment they would be facing. Today, the mechanic club was hard at work, fine-tuning the tanks to ensure peak performance and reliability during the heat of battle.

In the garage, the mechanics had just finished installing the longer 75 mm gun on the Panzer IV, transforming it into the F2 model. With this upgrade, the tank could fire rounds at higher velocities, making it capable of engaging heavier targets like T-34s and Shermans effectively.

"Now we're getting somewhere," one of the Tiger crew members remarked, a sense of optimism in his voice.

"It'll definitely give us a fighting chance," Jackson added, glancing at the freshly upgraded tank.

"So we've got a new barrel and a new tank..." Yuzu began, her brow furrowing in thought.

"We've made some solid improvements to our fighting force," Momo chimed in, crossing her arms.

"Speaking of improvements, who's going to be using the Char tank?" Miho interjected, looking around.

Swan glanced over and noticed three new members entering the garage. "I think they'll be the ones manning it," he said, gesturing toward them.

Stepping into the garage was the public morals committee, led by Midoriko Sono, affectionately known as Sodoko to her friends.

"We'll be joining today," Sodoko announced, bowing along with her team. "I'm Sono Midoriko from the public morals committee. It's nice to meet you all."

Mako perked up at her presence, while Anzu moved closer to inform everyone that they needed to teach the newcomers how to drive and operate their tank.

"Sodoko will be taking the Char B1," Anzu declared confidently.

"President, please don't shorten my name!" Sodoko protested, but Anzu was already moving on.

"Captain, what should we call their team?" Anzu asked Miho, eager for input.

"Huh? Well, the B1 does resemble a Mallard, don't you think?" Miho suggested, a thoughtful look on her face.

"Then they'll be the Mallards!" Anzu proclaimed with finality.

"Mallards?!" Sodoko exclaimed, clearly taken aback.

"Reizei-san, please help them learn how to drive the tank," Yuzu said, a hint of concern in her voice.

"Do I really have to get help from Reizei?!" Sodoko added, exasperation creeping into her tone, while Mako looked unbothered.

Sodoko approached Mako. "You're not going to act arrogant just because you have good grades, are you?"

"Are you going to read the manual and practice on your own, then?" Mako challenged, crossing her arms defiantly.

"How irresponsible! You need to explain everything thoroughly and clearly!" Sodoko shot back, her determination evident.

"Right, right..." Mako replied, rolling her eyes.

"One 'right' is enough!" Sodoko insisted, her frustration mounting.

Swan leaned over to Jackson, whispering, "They seem to be getting along well."

"Yeah, I guess it's a start," Jackson agreed, watching the exchange with mild amusement.

"The semi-finals are next, and we're up against Pravda, last year's champions! We have to win this! Losing is not an option!" Momo declared, her voice rising with urgency.

A member of the Rabbit team hesitantly asked, "But why would that be such a big deal?"

"We'll have next year to try again," another added, trying to sound optimistic.

"But they won last year, too," yet another interjected, cutting them off sharply.

"Yeah, we can use this match to improve for next time—"

"That's not enough!" Momo snapped, leaving the group stunned into silence with her sudden outburst.

After a brief, tense pause, Anzu spoke up, her voice steady. "We have to win this."

"Nishizumi, your orders," Momo said, turning her attention to Miho.

"Oh, right. Okay, everyone, we'll start our practice today!" Miho announced, her voice filled with determination.

"Hai!" The girls scrambled to prepare their tanks, energy buzzing in the air.

"You heard her, everyone! Mount up!" McKay called, directing the crews to their vehicles for training.

As Voss prepared to climb onto his tank, he overheard one of the student council members calling for Miho. Curiosity piqued, he paused to listen, wondering if it was something important. However, he quickly reconsidered—if they were discussing something crucial, it would likely be away from the garage.

Shaking off the distraction, Voss mounted his tank shortly after.

"Anything interesting, boss?" Aldrich asked as Voss settled in.

Voss shook his head. "No, nothing worth noting." He adjusted his throat mic to communicate with his crew. "Deinhart, start the engine."

"10-4, Kommandant," Deinhart replied, and the engine roared to life, signaling the start of their training session.

After several hours of drills, the teams locked up their tanks and headed home for some much-needed rest. In their dorm aboard the ship, the Tiger team relaxed together, enjoying hot meals that Hess had cooked up.

By the time they finished eating, everyone but Voss had succumbed to sleep. He couldn't find rest, though. After checking in with friends online, he dove into a binge-watching session on YouTube, primarily focused on last year's tournament highlights. One match in particular caught his attention: Black Forest vs. Pravda.

Black Forest was known as an unofficial sister school to the Armored Corps Training Academy in Germany—strict, disciplined, and all-female, led by the legendary Nishizumi Shiho. Her name resonated throughout the Sensha-do community, both in Japan and internationally, cementing her status as an iconic figure in the sport. Not only was she a formidable tanker, but she was also the mother of Miho and Maho, a lineage that intrigued Voss. Being related to a legend was no small feat; Voss himself was the grandson of a renowned ace from WWII, but his father had been just a car mechanic. The weight of his heritage made him wonder about the pressure on Miho.

As Voss watched the match compilation, he felt a pang of disappointment when Black Forest lost. It seemed unfair how the match was handled, especially when he witnessed a Panzer III slip down a muddy slope and plunge into a river. He admired Miho's bravery as she dove into the water to rescue the crew, disregarding the ongoing match. However, to his shock, the match wasn't immediately paused, allowing Pravda's tanks to score an easy kill on their flag tank, ultimately securing their victory.

Voss felt disgusted. It seemed the higher-ups had little regard for the girls' safety in a sport that involved live fire and heavy machinery. To make matters worse, after her heroic actions, Miho faced backlash at school. Voss had received insider information on her treatment post-match—an unfortunate consequence that likely led her to this less prestigious school, perhaps seeking an escape from the sport.

He empathized with her plight, having experienced the lingering effects of trauma himself. While he hadn't faced bullying directly, he understood the weight of past experiences. Voss contemplated speaking with Miho, needing to assess her mental state before they faced Pravda. They couldn't afford to have her freeze during a critical moment.

With his mind racing through potential strategies against Pravda, he began to simulate various scenarios. Yet he knew the outcomes could vary based on countless factors. Eventually, exhaustion overtook him, and he dozed off, lost in thought about the challenges that lay ahead.

The next day in the garage, the Oarai team prepared their winter gear for the upcoming match in Hokkaido, Japan's coldest region. Most WWII tanks lacked heating systems for the crew, so the team had to equip themselves with cold-weather gear. They made sure to pack proper clothing, extra fuel, a backup stove for cooking, and personal heaters, as snow was forecasted. The boys also brought ski masks and goggles for additional protection against the elements.

"Okay, checklist time. Let's see what you guys brought," McKay said, along with Voss and Blackmore, as they inspected the crew's personal gear for the match. So far, everything seemed standard and necessary. "Alright, pack it up, boys."

The crew hastily loaded their gear into the tank. Additional preparations included camouflaging the tank to fit the snowy environment. Unfortunately, white paint had not arrived in time, so they had to rely on their existing forest camouflage. Given that the match would take place at night, they decided to use camouflage netting to help break up the tank's outline.

"That's as good as it's going to get, sir," Christian reported to Blackmore, sipping his cup of tea.

"It'll have to do, good chap. We don't have white paint, so this is our best option," Blackmore replied.

"How's morale looking?" Voss asked Blackmore, concern in his voice.

"Well, Max, everyone seems pumped after our victory against Anzio. I believe we might have this one in the bag," he said, taking another sip.

"Just hoping this doesn't turn out to be our downfall," Voss replied, furrowing his brow.

"Oh, come on, let them have this! They haven't tasted victory in a while," Blackmore insisted.

"But we just fought Anzio and not too long ago we fought Saunders," Voss countered.

"I know, I know. I'm just saying," Blackmore said, shaking his head before walking away.

Later, they were at the staging area, making last-minute preparations. One of the British crews was seen hauling a gallon of water to their tank, clearly for their tea maker—typical behavior.

"It's pretty cold tonight, right?" Gordo said, rubbing his gloved hands together and blowing hot air onto them for warmth.

"Yeah, we're in northern Japan, and it's nighttime, too," McKay replied, glancing at the snow falling around them.

"Yup..." Gordo nodded.

Meanwhile, Voss sat on the turret with a cup of hot chocolate, grateful to Schultz for brewing it. It was just what he needed in the chilly conditions. The girls were busy building a snow sculpture of a samurai, inspired by the history club, while the Rabbit team engaged in an enthusiastic snowball fight.

"Schultz, any luck with that girl yet?" Hess asked the gunner, a teasing grin on his face.

"Shut up, man! Trust the process, okay?" Schultz replied, annoyance creeping into his voice.

"You still believe in that mentality BS? She's, like, waaaay out of your league, bro," Deinhart teased.

"Oh, come on! You're just jealous because I'm about to score big," Schultz shot back.

"Dude, I'm already taken," Deinhart said, rolling his eyes.

"Wait—what?" Voss nearly spat out his drink in surprise.

"When?! Why didn't you tell us?" Schultz asked, equally shocked.

"We like to keep it low-key, alright? Besides, I didn't know you guys were into this kind of gossip," Deinhart replied, shrugging.

"Still, when did you—"

"Heads up, incoming, 12 o'clock!" Hess called out, pointing toward a group approaching them.

"It seems our opponents have arrived," Blackmore said, dusting off his khaki winter overalls.

"Yeah, and they brought their Katyusha launcher, too," McKay added, noting the imposing vehicle.

"I thought artillery was outlawed here?" Swan wondered aloud.

"It is, but it's not loaded for the trip here," Jackson explained.

Voss jumped down from the tank and joined the other male commanders, watching as two girls dismounted from the Katyusha and walked toward them.

"Is that an elementary student?" Blackmore mused, squinting at the smaller girl.

"That's the commander and vice-commander of Pravda," Miho said as she approached.

"Snowdrift Katyusha and Blizzard Nonna, I see!" Yukari chimed in, recognizing their names.

As the smaller blonde girl, Katyusha, and the tall, dark-haired girl, Nonna, reached them, Katyusha burst into laughter. "You prepared these tanks just to make Katyusha laugh, didn't you?"

It got even more amusing when Anzu and the student council walked over to greet the enemy commander. Anzu had to bend down slightly to shake hands with Katyusha, highlighting her petite stature. "Hey there, Katyusha. I'm the president of the student council, Kadotani," Anzu said, extending her hand for a shake.

Katyusha did not accept the suggestion. Instead, she called her vice-commander, Nonna, who immediately knew what to do and gave Katyusha a piggyback ride, confusing everyone at Oarai.

Katyusha, now on Nonna's shoulders with her arms crossed, declared, "Now all of you are below Katyusha. Your tanks, your technology, and your height."

"You're just on her shoulders..." Momo muttered.

"I heard that! How dare you insult Katyusha! I'll destroy all of you! Let's go, Nonna," Katyusha said.

Before they left, Katyusha noticed Miho. "Oh, it's the Nishizumi girl... Thanks for the win last year. We were able to win because of you. Work your magic with your talent again for us this year. See you, pirozhki~"

"That brat..." Voss clenched his fist.

"Leave it, man. It ain't worth the energy," McKay told him. Voss sighed and let his anger go.

"Let's finish up."

"Copy that," McKay acknowledged as everyone prepared for the match.

Before it began, everyone gathered around Miho to discuss their plan of action.

"At any rate, don't be overwhelmed by the number of tanks they have. Instead, act calmly. We'll advance slowly while protecting our flag tank and see what they're up to first," Miho explained.

"Attacking slowly is fine, but why not attack all at once?" Caesar suggested, with her team agreeing.

"I understand how you feel, but the risk is..."

"I think we'll be fine!" Noriko said enthusiastically, followed by her crew. Soon, all the girls were confident enough to take the fight to the enemy.

"Should we tell them they're getting complacent, sir?" Ian asked Blackmore.

"No, we'll let them figure it out," he said.

Much to their surprise, Miho gave in and agreed with attacking first. Her crew initially questioned her decision to go reckless, but she explained that if they prolonged the fight, the enemy would soon gain the upper hand. They weren't in a position for attritional warfare. Even with the assistance of trained professionals with better gear, they could only do so much. Yes, they were being complacent, but being too careful would mean little progress. So, they would go in head-on.

The decision was made. They would now commence, and everyone mounted up. After the announcement of the match starting, they began to drive to meet the enemy.

At first, everything was going smoothly. The tank commanders peeked out of their hatches, binoculars in hand, scanning the horizon for any sign of enemy activity. But then, a voice crackled over the radio.

"205, be advised, you're lagging behind formation. Over." McKay's voice was steady, but there was an edge of concern.

"Uh, roger that," Voss responded, trying to sound calm. "We'll do our best to keep up, but there's an issue with our transmission."

McKay frowned, glancing back at the sluggish tank. "Copy that. Keep us updated. We can't afford any gaps in our line."

Voss's voice came back, a hint of frustration creeping in. "Understood. We're on it, but it's not looking good."

As McKay continued scanning the area, the tension in the air thickened.

[In 205]

"Deinhart, what's going on?" Voss asked sternly, his eyes narrowing.

"The transmission isn't responding properly. I'm not sure why. I performed the maintenance, topped off the fluids, but nothing seems to be working..." Deinhart replied, frustration creeping into his voice.

"Did you ensure it was tuned for the harsh winter conditions?" Voss pressed.

"Ja, ja, I did!" Deinhart insisted.

"And what about its life expectancy? Is it past its service limit?" Voss continued, his tone sharp.

Deinhart hesitated, then fell silent.

"You didn't check, did you?"

"...I... think not... sorry, kommandant."

Voss sighed, the weight of the situation settling in. "I don't think we'll be in this match much longer—" But before he could finish, the engine suddenly erupted into flames. "Fire! Fire on the engine deck!"

"What was that?!" Schultz shouted, panic rising in his voice.

"Shit, it must be the faulty fuel line! I thought I fixed that!" Deinhart exclaimed, frustration boiling over. "C'mon, girl, don't fail us now!"

"Engage the fire extinguishers!" Voss commanded, urgency in his voice.

"Affirmative, engaging now," Deinhart replied, scrambling to activate the fire suppression system in the engine compartment, praying it would be enough to douse the flames before it was too late.

[At Ironside]

"Jesus Christ, 205 is on fire," McKay reported, his voice tense.

"What's their status?" Miho asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

"They're trying to control it... wait, I see Aldrich coming out of the turret with a fire extinguisher!" McKay replied, his eyes trained on the struggling tank.

"Aldrich is trying to put it out himself?" Miho exclaimed, her heart racing. "They need to get that under control before it spreads!"

"Yeah, but the flames are intense. It's going to be a tough battle just to keep it from worsening," McKay observed, shifting his binoculars for a better view.

[Back at 205]

"Fire's not stopping. I'm cutting the fuel lines and shutting off the engines!" Deinhart executed the emergency procedures with urgency, his hands steady despite the chaos.

"I'm getting out!" Aldrich shouted, clambering out of the turret with a fire extinguisher, desperately trying to douse the flames.

"Transmission failure! No response from the gearbox!" Deinhart reported, panic creeping into his voice.

"That's it, we're done for!" Hess exclaimed, his face pale with fear.

"There's no saving this..." Voss said grimly as he climbed out of the turret with Schultz, rushing to assist Aldrich in battling the fire. They fought against the blaze, but it was clear that the engine was beyond help.

With a heavy heart, Deinhart hesitated before activating the surrender switch. A white flag popped up from the turret roof, signaling their defeat—a stark reminder of the Tiger's storied but troubled legacy from World War II that still haunted its crews.

"Oarai's Tiger tank has been knocked out! Seven tanks remaining!" the announcement echoed over the battlefield, sealing their fate in the match. The weight of their loss hung heavy in the air as the team processed the bitter reality of defeat.

[Ironside]

"Voss is out; we're on our own now," McKay announced as the team pressed on. Losing a tank like that stung, but they still had a few heavy hitters left, and morale remained steady.

"Over-engineering became their downfall..." Swan observed, shaking his head.

"Yeah," Gordo agreed, glancing back at the struggling tank.

"Swordfish reporting no enemy activity on our right flank," Blackmore updated, his focus unwavering.

"This is Ironside, same here," McKay replied, his eyes scanning the snowy expanse.

Their progress soon stalled as the Mallard team struggled to maneuver through the snowy mounds.

"Sodoko, what are you doing?" Momo called out, eager for a status report.

"Mallard team, fall in now," Miho ordered, her voice firm.

"They're really having a tough time with that snow..." Swan noted, peering out of the turret. Just then, he spotted Mako climbing out of their tank and hurrying over to the B1, ready to take over driving duties. With her skills, she expertly navigated the tank out of the mound. Once they were free, Mako returned to the Panzer IV, reclaiming her driver's position as the formation continued.

The Panzer IV fired an HE shell at the snowy wall blocking their path, blasting a hole for everyone to drive through. For a moment, everything seemed to be going too smoothly.

As they rolled onward, Miho and her crew spotted three enemy T-34 tanks perched on a hill by the treeline. "Eleven o'clock! Enemy tanks! All tanks on alert!"

"Here we go, boys," McKay announced, adrenaline kicking in.

"AP indexed!" Jackson called out, selecting the appropriate round.

"AP loaded!" Swan chimed in, readying himself.

"Roger, we have eyes on the enemy T-34s, range 400," Blackmore confirmed, his voice steady.

The Panzer IV and the StuG engaged, taking out two of the enemy tanks under Miho's command.

"Confirmed, two enemy tanks knocked out," McKay verified through his binoculars, a grin spreading across his face. Just as the girls began to celebrate their quick victory, the third T-34 fired a shot, missing wildly before retreating.

"Third enemy tank is running away," Blackmore reported, his tank firing a shot that also went wide.

"All tanks, advance! We're pursuing!" Miho ordered, determination in her voice as they charged after the fleeing enemy tank, eager to maintain their momentum.

[Swordfish]

"I've got a bad feeling about this, sir," the Scottish driver, Christian, voiced his concern, glancing around uneasily.

"Me too, Christian. Everything's going too smoothly for my comfort. Stay alert," Blackmore replied, keeping a watchful eye on their flank for any signs of an ambush.

Suddenly, Azusa's voice broke through the chatter. "We spotted their enemy flag tank!"

As the tank they were chasing led them toward a cluster of Pravda tanks, Blackmore frowned. "Strange... they're all lined up. Unless..." His instincts screamed ruse. Oarai moved into position, targeting the line of enemy tanks. "Ian, target tank, 11 o'clock, 300 meters."

"Identified!"

"AP up!" the loader confirmed, readying the shell.

"Fire!"

"On the way!" Ian pressed the trigger, and the 77mm gun roared to life, taking out one of the enemy tanks. Almost simultaneously, the Pershing's 90mm gun fired, knocking out another.

"Target! Hit the next one! Traverse right!" Blackmore commanded.

"Identified!"

"Fire!"

"On the way!"

The tank fired but missed, the shot sailing over its target.

"Over! Adjust down!" Blackmore called out, his heart racing.

"Up!" the loader replied, as they prepared to fire again.

"Hey, where are they going?!" McKay's voice crackled over the radio as the rest of Oarai's tanks pursued the retreating enemy group. Miho's tank led the charge, staying cautious in case they encountered an ambush.

"Christian, follow them," Blackmore instructed, his tone urgent.

"Affirmative!" Christian replied, maneuvering the tank to keep pace.

The three tanks rolled into a village, but the two tanks not from Oarai lagged behind without informing Miho. Initially, it didn't seem like a problem—they would catch up. But as they arrived, it quickly became apparent that it was a grave mistake. The two tanks found Oarai on the brink of being encircled.

Their hunch had been right; they had been lured into a trap. The tension mounted as the realization set in, and the urgency to react surged within them.

McKay spotted two T-34s closing in behind the Panzer IV and quickly ordered Jackson, "Take out one of those tanks!" With a steady aim, Jackson fired, scoring a hit and knocking out the enemy.

"Anglerfish team, this is Ironside! You have an enemy approaching at your 6 o'clock! I say again, you have a hostile tank behind you!" McKay warned urgently.

Miho caught sight of the approaching threat. "All tanks, move to the east!"

"Disregard that! You've got two hostiles coming in from the east!" McKay added, prompting Miho to pivot her orders again.

"Move to south-southwest!" she commanded.

"IS-2 coming from that direction, Anglerfish," Blackmore warned, alerting her to the new threat.

The siege had begun. With their trap set, Pravda commenced their harassment of Oarai's tanks.

"Miho, head southwest to that structure that looks like a church. It should be sturdy enough to withstand bombardment," McKay advised, peering through his binoculars.

"Are you sure?" Miho asked, uncertainty in her voice.

"It's your only chance—now move!" he urged, and she relayed the information to her team.

"All tanks, move towards the large building in the southwest!" Miho ordered.

"Oarai's moving to take shelter at the church! Give them covering fire!" McKay commanded his crew and notified Swordfish team. The gunners of the M26 Pershing and Comet quickly selected targets, firing at the advancing enemy while their machine guns unleashed a hail of tracers, deliberately drawing enemy fire away from Oarai. They boldly targeted the heavy tanks, diverting the focus of the 122mm and 152mm guns toward themselves.

"Stay cool, gentlemen! Keep up the fire!" Blackmore encouraged his crew, watching Oarai scramble for shelter in the church.

"Talk to me, Blackmore, are they in?" McKay asked, his voice tense.

"Yes, they're inside!" Blackmore confirmed.

"Okay, pop smoke and disengage now!"

"Right!"

The two tanks fired their smoke launchers, creating a thick screen to cover their retreat. They reversed under the protective veil of smoke before turning and speeding into the woods. Once safely concealed, the two commanders leaped out of their tanks to discuss their next move.

"We just bloody left them, mate," Blackmore said, frustration evident in his tone.

"I know, but we don't exactly have the firepower to take them on yet," McKay replied, his mind racing.

"Fuck... what do we do, man?" Blackmore asked, his voice heavy with worry.

"What would Voss do..." McKay pondered, searching for a glimmer of inspiration amidst the chaos.

[With 205 crew]

The crew of the knocked-out Tiger was transported on a tank transporter, their vehicle perched atop as they watched the match unfold on a large screen mounted on a repurposed Gustav railway gun platform. It was surreal to think about a replica platform now serving as a live viewing area for the audience.

Voss intently observed the screen, which displayed a live map of the tournament. If he hadn't been knocked out, he knew exactly what he would do: adapt. That was always the key.

"What do you think the outcome will be?" Schultz asked, anxiety creeping into his voice.

"It's a dire situation, but we have to win, right?" Hess replied, trying to maintain a sense of hope.

"Why?" Deinhart interjected, puzzled.

"Didn't you get the memo? We're here to help these girls fight for their school. If they lose this match, it's game over—they'll lose their home, everything. That's why they have to fight, even if the odds are stacked against them," Hess explained, turning to their driver.

"From what I heard, they sold their best gear to keep afloat," Aldrich added, a somber note in his voice. "It's a shame, because we don't even know what they sold."

"Damn..." Deinhart cursed, the weight of their situation sinking in as they watched the unfolding battle.

[Back with Swordfish and Ironside]

The crews were hard at work, brainstorming how Oarai could fight back, but they needed more intel to make a solid plan.

"We should send out some of our guys to scout enemy positions. Once we know where Pravda is, we can finalize our execution strategy," McKay proposed, laying out the plan for the team.

"Sounds good," Gideon agreed, nodding.

"I concur. The more we know about their tank placements, the better our chances. We'll get a clearer picture of what we're up against," Blackmore added.

"Who will be the scouting party?" Jackson asked, looking around.

"Horvath and Jackson for Team One and Ian and Swordfish's bow gunner for Team Two. The rest of you can relax for a bit—heat up some chow if you need to, got it?" McKay instructed.

"Yup, you got it!" Jackson and Horvath acknowledged.

"Understood, sir," Ian saluted crisply.

"Now get to it, you tossers," Blackmore said, waving them off as the scouting party gathered their observation tools and set out to locate enemy positions.

"Now, onto our part..." McKay began.

"What's your idea?" Blackmore asked, intrigued.

"I'm thinking that once they start their breakout, we provide covering fire to help Oarai escape smoothly. We'll draw enemy fire away from them, then retreat to where we came from. From there, we'll let Miho decide what to do next," McKay explained.

"Not the best plan, but it's better than nothing," Blackmore conceded.

"Yup." Just then, the wind picked up, and the snowfall worsened. "Looks like the weather's turning," McKay noted, glancing outside.

"Guess they might have to dig in for a bit, huh?" Blackmore replied.

"Yeah, it's looking that way."

[Recon Team 1]

Recon Team 1, consisting of Horvath and Jackson, was deep into the process of scouting the enemy's positions on the east side. They focused on capturing detailed illustrations of where the tanks were positioned and noted their current postures.

"Thank God they picked you, Horvath. I'd hate to be the one drawing these things," Jackson remarked, peering over at their target while Horvath sketched in the snow.

"Say... what's the progress between you and that Anzio girl?" Horvath asked, glancing up from his drawing.

"Amaretto? Yeah, we're cool. She's fun to talk to," Jackson replied, keeping an eye on the enemy.

"Yeah? Any future plans?" Horvath pressed, a teasing tone in his voice.

"After we kick Pravda's ass, we might hang out," Jackson said with a grin.

"Oh really?" Horvath's interest piqued. "There's only one way that'll end, my Californian friend, and it's going to be one night to remember, I'll tell you that."

"What do you mean?" Jackson raised an eyebrow.

"It's going to be a wet, wild, dirty night, eh?" Horvath laughed.

"What the hell, man? It ain't like that... yet," Jackson shot back, feeling flustered.

"Oh? So you have a plan, huh?" Horvath smirked.

"Would you just shut up and draw the damn IS-2 that's right there?" Jackson snapped, pointing at their target.

"Whatever you say, bear," Horvath teased as he focused on drawing the IS-2's location.

"Alright... I don't see anything else. I bet the Brits have noted theirs as well."

"Should we withdraw?" Horvath suggested.

"Yeah, let's get back to camp."

The scout team crawled away carefully before jogging back to the campsite, where they pieced together their findings on Pravda's positions.

"So what do you think, mate?" Blackmore asked, eyeing McKay as he finished analyzing the map they'd drawn.

"Looks like it might be possible to pull this off," McKay concluded, folding up the map and tucking it into his canvas messenger bag.

"Where are you going?" the British commander inquired.

"To inform Miho and the others about the plan! You stay here and take over while I'm gone!" McKay said, already moving toward the exit.

Using the snowfall as cover, he remained undetected by the dismounted Pravda crews, who were slacking off. He reflected that, despite being just teenagers, if this were a match back in Europe, they would have been armed and on high alert. Thankfully, Japan's environment was more relaxed. After evading detection, McKay reached their position just in time, ready to share the crucial intel.

"Friendly coming in! Friendly coming in!" McKay announced as he entered the building, catching everyone off guard.

"McKay-kun?" Miho looked up, surprised.

"Ah, McKay-san! We thought you'd run off and kicked the bucket," Momo chimed in.

"Urusai!" McKay retorted, setting his messenger bag down on the table. "While you were under siege, we were busy scouting the enemy's positions from our side." He surveyed the room, spotting Yukari, Erwin, Sodoko, and Mako resting after their own recon mission. "Looks like you all had the same idea about scouting Pravda."

"Hai," Miho nodded, unfurling her own map. It matched the positions McKay had gathered. "It's incredible you managed to get such detailed intel in the snow. This will make it much easier to formulate a plan. Thank you!" She beamed at her teammates.

"Singing 'Marching in the Snow' was quite fun!" Yukari exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Indeed. Quite fun," Erwin added, nodding in agreement.

"I'm really glad we got spotted by the enemy and had to make a run for it," Mako said, her tone mixed with sarcasm.

"What are you saying?! That was part of the plan!" Sodoko replied, crossing her arms.

"Whatever you say," Mako shrugged with her hot choco, a grin breaking through her feigned annoyance.

McKay chuckled, the camaraderie in the room lifting their spirits as they prepared for the challenges ahead.

[With 205 team]

The crew had been watching the match for nearly an hour and a half with no progress, the tension in the air thickening. As they waited, an announcement crackled over the intercom.

"There is currently a conference taking place discussing whether or not the match should continue. Repeating... There is currently a conference taking place discussing whether or not the match should continue."

"This is getting real bad for us," Schultz pointed out, glancing at Hess, who was absorbed in his phone.

"Are you—"

"Yeah, I'm giving them a heads-up now," Hess replied without looking up.

"Stalingrad treatment, damn it," Voss muttered, frustration creeping into his voice.

"They have to find a way out of there," Aldrich said, his concern evident as he watched the match unfold.

[Back to the team]

"How long until our surrender is demanded?" someone asked, breaking the heavy silence.

"One hour," another voice replied, resigned.

"So we're just going to sit here for an hour like this..."

The mood was grim. Most of the girls, exhausted and demoralized from the siege, had run out of warm food and were beginning to feel the weight of the psychological toll. McKay was busy integrating their plans with whatever ideas the girls had come up with, but it wasn't enough to lift spirits.

"What's wrong, everyone? Cheer up! We've got this!" Miho tried to rally her team, but her words fell flat. "We decided we would fight until the end, not surrender."

"Yeah, we know..." came the disheartened chorus.

Momo shot Miho a concerned look. "Oi, you need to raise their spirits more than that."

"Huh?"

"At this rate, they won't be able to fight. Do something! You're the commander, right?" Momo urged.

"Right..." Miho's mind raced as she searched for a way to lift everyone's spirits. Then an idea struck her. She began to dance and sing.

Her crew exchanged bewildered glances, thinking she'd finally lost her mind. But Miho pressed on. "Everyone, sing with me! I'll dance!"

Momo rushed over, alarmed. "Hey, that's going to have the opposite effect!"

"Miho-san gets easily embarrassed, but..." Hana pointed out.

"She's trying to cheer everyone up," Yukari chimed in.

To Miho's surprise, Yukari was the first to join her, followed by Hana, Saori, and eventually Mako. Soon, the student council joined in, and before long, all the girls were dancing and singing the anglerfish dance.

"What the hell?" McKay, the only male present, stood dumbfounded as he watched the girls dance in the middle of a match. This would surely go viral—no doubt it would become a meme before the day was done.

Just as the energy in the room began to shift, they were rudely interrupted by a Pravda envoy announcing her presence. Miho approached to hear what she had to say.

"The time limit has almost expired. Will you surrender?"

"We will not. We will fight until the end," Miho declared, determination in her voice.

The Pravda student sighed and nodded, accepting Miho's decision before leaving to report back to her commanders.

With a renewed sense of purpose, the team reorganized and prepared to execute their combined plan. McKay sprinted back to his tank, urging his crew to mount up quickly.

"Alright, crew, this will be a risky move, so let's stick to the plan, and we'll get through this," McKay said as the two tanks rolled into position. "This is Ironside; we're in position."

"Blackmore here. Swordfish is ready," Blackmore reported.

"Okay, we're going to break through the enemy siege and initiate our 'all on the table' plan," Miho relayed over the radio. "Panzer Vor!"

"AP loaded!" Swan confirmed.

"Gideon, we're facing heavy tanks, and our AP shells won't cut it. Put the sabot shells in the ready rack," McKay ordered.

"Yes, sir!" Gideon quickly restocked the ready bins with sabot AP shells, giving them a fighting chance against the Soviet heavies.

"Okay, they're on the move," McKay said, eyes fixed on Oarai as they emerged from the building. Almost immediately, Pravda began firing at them. "Wait until they get to a certain distance, then we'll engage."

The gunners kept their sights trained, watching Oarai close in on Pravda's main blocking unit. As they spread out and got within range, the commanders signaled their gunners to lay down a base of fire to cover Oarai's breakout. With the distraction from the British and American tanks, the Soviet forces were caught off guard, unsure of where to focus their fire. This gave the student council a crucial opportunity to eliminate a center T-34 with their 85mm gun, allowing Oarai to breach the first line.

"They've broken through the first line. Shift your fire to the second and cover them from there."

"Solid copy, commander. Shifting fire now."

"Target, T-34, range 330," McKay called out, his voice steady.

"Identified!"

"AP up!"

"Fire!" McKay commanded.

"On the way!" Jackson replied, squeezing the trigger and sending an AP round downrange, destroying another T-34.

"Target clear!"

"Reloading!" Swan quickly prepared the next shell.

"The student council will handle the tanks we're engaging. Disengage and move to the next waypoint. We'll hold our ground from there and buy Miho some time."

"Understood," the British commander affirmed.

"Roger, advancing," Gordo said as he maneuvered the tank toward the next waypoint alongside the Comet.

The plan was straightforward: distract the second-line tanks long enough for the student council to harass them, then Ironside and Swordfish would consolidate their positions and provide cover from there, taking the brunt of Pravda's offensive.

As they approached, the commanders received an update from Anzu, who reported that they had only managed to take out two enemy tanks before being taken down themselves. They all wished Miho good luck.

"I'm getting us out of this valley. All tanks follow Anglerfish," Miho instructed.

"Right!" the crew responded in unison.

"This is Ironside; we're at waypoint Delta and in position to assist. Bring them all in."

"Anglerfish, turn to 2 o'clock. We're going to feint. It's going to be difficult, but try your best to follow!" Saori relayed Miho's orders to the rest of the team.

Everyone acknowledged, nerves and determination blending as they prepared to execute the plan. Just as planned.

"Get ready, crew. We're about to take a lot of heat here, so strap in," McKay said, his voice steady despite the tension.

"Jesus, I can see where they're all coming from," Swan replied, watching the streams of tracers fired by Pravda.

McKay monitored the radio traffic as Miho updated Hippo team on their next move. She and the history club would split off from the main force to hunt down the flag tank while the rest of the group continued to draw enemy fire toward Ironside and Swordfish. McKay noticed Oarai's tanks moving past them, but the Panzer IV and the StuG were notably absent.

"Here they come. Let's go to work," McKay said as Oarai's tanks drove by. "Target, T-34, 1 o'clock, 500 yards."

"Identified!"

"Round loaded!"

"Fire!"

"On the way!" Jackson pulled the trigger, and the round struck true, knocking out another T-34.

"Jackson, fire at will," McKay ordered.

"This is Swordfish; we've knocked out one enemy tank but are taking effective fire. Over."

"Solid copy, Swordfish. Hold your ground," McKay replied as a shell ricocheted off their front plate. "That was a ricochet."

The 90mm gun attempted to take out another T-34, but its angled front turret armor deflected the shot. In retaliation, an enemy round struck their turret, damaging the traverse mechanism.

"We're hit!"

"Status?" McKay asked urgently.

"We've lost powered traverse! Switching to manual!" Jackson said, quickly adjusting his position.

"Come on, stay on them!" Swan urged, loading another round.

"Alright, reverse! Keep your distance!" McKay commanded.

The tanks began to pull back, returning fire while maneuvering away from incoming threats.

"Round incoming! Jink right!" Blackmore called to his driver, narrowly dodging a shell before returning fire.

"IS-2 incoming!" Ian warned.

"Brew one for me, yeah?" Blackmore ordered as the gunner fired a shell, but it bounced harmlessly off the IS-2's formidable front armor. Unbeknownst to them, the heavy tank was now under the command of Nonna, who had taken over recently. With deadly accuracy, the IS-2 fired back, neutralizing the British A34 Comet.

"We're out!"

"Shit's about to hit the fan! Pop smoke and pull back!" McKay ordered, and the tank launched a salvo of smoke grenades, creating a dense cover. He quickly turned the hull 180 degrees and initiated the retreat. "Ironside here—we can't hold our ground. There are too many of them, and the IS-2 just took out Swordfish!"

From his position, Gordo watched in horror as a round skipped by and knocked out the M3 Lee tank. "There goes Rabbit team!" he exclaimed, speeding up to catch the others, only to see the B1 tank go down next.

"Ah, they're kicking our ass!" Horvath shouted, panic creeping into his voice.

"Mallard team was taken out! Duck team, I pray for your success," Sodoko added grimly.

"Gordo, position us at Duck team's 5 o'clock," McKay ordered, his voice steady.

"Got it!" Gordo replied, maneuvering the tank into position. "What now?"

"When I say 'hard left,' you go hard left. Got it?"

"Roger!" Gordo gripped the left stick, ready for the signal.

"What are we doing?!" Horvath asked, anxiety evident in his tone.

"Standby... standby..." McKay's eyes narrowed as he scanned the battlefield. Just then, he spotted a shell hurtling toward them. "Gordo, now! Hard left!"

"Gah!" Gordo yanked the left stick, bringing the left track to a halt. The tank whipped its tail and drifted left, intercepting the incoming 122mm AP shell. The impact struck the weak side armor of their Pershing, knocking Ironside out of action.

"Is everyone good?!" McKay shouted, concern lacing his voice.

"We're good!" Jackson confirmed, giving a thumbs-up.

"Damn it, Vincent! You could've told us it was a sacrifice!" Gordo exclaimed, still reeling from the sudden movement.

"There wasn't time..." McKay groaned, pain radiating through him. His helmet had absorbed most of the concussion. "Duck team, you've got one more chance to live... make it count!" he said through the radio before signing off.

[With 205]

"God damn, did they just do that?"

"Duck team's in trouble..."

"C'mon, guys..." the crew of Tiger 205 murmured, tension palpable as they watched the match unfold on the live screen. Two feeds showed the enemy's flag tank in pursuit while their own flag tank faced relentless opposition.

Suddenly, the IS-2 fired, striking Duck team while the history team's StuG III, hidden under the snow, scored a direct hit on the T-34. The audience fell silent, anticipation thick in the air. Voss's grip on the commander's cupola loosened as dread washed over him—could it really be over?

But then, with a second glance at the screen, his eyes widened in disbelief. Duck team's tank was still moving, albeit limping from extensive damage, while the enemy flag tank suddenly waved a white flag. This could only mean one thing...

"Holy shit..." Voss exclaimed, clutching the cupola once more in shock.

"Oarai Girls Academy wins!" Instructor Chouno Ami announced, her voice ringing out triumphantly.

The crew of the Tiger tank erupted in cheers. Even though they weren't the official team, the victory felt like a collective triumph, especially as they fought to help keep their school afloat. Other teams from Oarai joined in, celebrating their hard-fought win with shouts and laughter, their spirits soaring high after the intense battle.

[Back with the team]

Ironside and Swordfish teams rushed over to congratulate the girls on their hard-fought victory.

"I have to admit, that almost gave us a heart attack," McKay said, catching his breath.

"Too right. That was a close call. Good work on that ambush," Blackmore added, clapping Miho on the shoulder.

"That was the shiznit, girls! Outstanding!" Swan cheered, grinning widely.

"Aye, that was mighty work you lasses put up out there," Ian said, tipping his beret.

"Caesar, that was some fine shooting! Outstanding patience," Jackson complimented her, nodding in approval.

"Ey, Hippo team, Anglerfish, girls of Oarai—you all did amazing! That was some mighty fine work. Our bad for not providing better support," McKay admitted, looking genuinely appreciative.

The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as everyone praised Miho and expressed their gratitude for her leadership in getting them this far. Just then, Katyusha and Nonna approached, checking in on the teams.

"I weakened part of the blockade to pull you into that section, hoping to catch you off guard. I never thought you'd break through head-on," Katyusha said, a hint of admiration in her voice.

"Neither did I. We might have lost if we were hit all at once," Miho replied thoughtfully.

"I don't think so. Just maybe..." Katyusha countered, glancing away to hide her embarrassment. "Anyway, you guys are pretty good." She turned to Nonna, who had been holding her shoulders. "I'm not frustrated by this loss at all! Right, Nonna?"

"Yes," Nonna confirmed with a nod.

Katyusha stepped forward and offered Miho a handshake. Without hesitation, Miho took her hand firmly.

"I'll be watching the finals. Don't disappoint Katyusha," she promised, determination in her eyes.

"I won't!" Miho responded with a smile, filled with newfound resolve.