Dein Weg ist Mein Weg

Chapter 25: The Others

The world was black and darkness. The air was cold and humid. In the distance there were rumbles and explosions. The firing of cannons, the rumble of treads, a final last-ditch attempt at a counter-attack, and all of it utterly uninteresting.

Then, with a final blast of cannonfire ringing out over the woods, it all stopped. Silence fell over the dark world.

"It is done, Commander," a voice reported over the radio. A moment later, the same information was announced to the crowds. Not that there was any need. Anyone who gave the situation even a cursory glance could have told you the same information a month ago.

"Type 97 Ha-Go, Chi-Ha-Tan Academy's flag tank, is no longer operable. Kuromorimine's Girls Academy wins the match, and advances to the next round!"

Miho Nishizumi opened her eyes, and placed a hand against her throat, speaking into her microphone.

"You have failed me, Erika." It was the simple truth. The match had gone on far longer than necessary. Erika was supposed to end Chi-Ha-Tan's pathetic attempt at battle in at most half an hour, and should easily have been able to do so with the plan and two tanks of support Miho had given her. Instead, she had been forced to wait in their staging area for nearly an hour. "Report to my quarters at 1600 hours. Understood?"

"Y-yes, Commander..."

She lowered her hand again, placing it firmly on the roof of her Tiger II as she gazed at the dark clouds overhead. This had all been a formality, nothing but a waste of her time. She herself would have easily dealt with these charging upstarts in less than a third of the time even without support, but her mother's words, and the wisdom found within, echoed in her mind.

"A tiger bares not its fangs to common beasts..." she repeated lowly to herself, before returning her attention to the drab and uninteresting world before her. What need or purpose was there for her to show off her skills against a lowly opponent like Chi-Ha-Tan? Her superiority was already obvious, and there was no need in giving those beneath her more opportunities to witness her skill than necessary.

"She's finally done. Get me out of here," she ordered her driver. The heavy tank began to rumble back to Kuromorimine's camp, and the needless ceremony to end the match and certify her victory. Another hassle that only furthered the complete waste of time the day had been. If there was any point at all in her being here, it was to see the wild animals that called themselves 'Chi-Ha-Tan' grovel before their betters and brought to heel. Thankfully, their laughable adherence to 'honor' would compel them to recognize her obvious superiority.

It would also serve as a stark reminder to pawns below her as to why they followed her command. The Federation's overturning the results of Saunders v. Ooarai had set the world of Japanese Sensha-Do alight, and over what? A fluke of chance, overshadowing the humiliating and pathetic failure by her mother's heir to deal with even the simplest of foes. Regardless of this fire's lack of importance, the common fool had been drawn to the story like moths, and hushed whispers speaking of the previous commander's return had even found their way inside Kuromorimine's walls.

Miho had no patience for seditious thinking. Any who followed her command were to be nothing but a piece on the board, moving and firing at her whim. Any failure to do so, or any other errant or treasonous thoughts taking the place that was intended for her orders, was reason enough to be cast out and shunned.

And yet, despite all this, an undetectable smirk insisted on forming itself across Miho's lips. Kuromorimine would stand victorious in the finals again regardless of who dared face them, that much was already obvious. But her thoughts betrayed her. Fun was not a factor to consider in Sensha-Do. But the possibility that she would be allowed to crush Maho, regardless of how impossibly unlikely it was, did bring a smile to her face.