27 Defend! - Base Trupriv is under attack! (2/2)

Suzuka, Haruki, and Alice were about to return to their stations when Alice heard a scream upstairs. ”A-Ah... Did you hear that?” Alice asked the two. ”Y-Yeah... Was it them?” Haruki asked. They listened for a few seconds just in case, but nothing came out. ”I...I'm going to check them out!” Alice hurried back upstairs and went storming in the room. ”Are you-!” Alice was about to shout but the scene made her stop. ”Eeeww...!!!” Chiho was standing in the middle, topless. She was holding her shirt. ”I-I'm sorry...” Mariko, who's still crying, keeps apologizing to Chiho. ”...H-Hey there, Alice-san. Don't worry” Shu Fang waved from the bed. ”W-What...” Alice stared at them.

Morning came and Alice came knocking the door of their room. Chiho jumped up and rushed towards the door and hurriedly opened. ”Chiho-sa...” Alice got interrupted by how Chiho looked like. ”D-Did I scare you or something? A soldier came here to wake you up. He said you should go back to T...Tr...Trupriv base” Alice said. ”Tr...What base? You mean the one we got yesterday?” Chiho asked. ”I think so, yes. He said that there is currently a battle happening there, they think they wanted the base back” Alice nodded. ”I see...” Chiho nodded and about the turn back, only to be surprised as Mariko was standing behind her. ”Y-You're awake... We have to go, now!” Chiho said to Mariko. ”A-Alright...” Mariko responded and went to wake up the two.

The girls hurried downstairs. They waved at Suzuka and Haruki before leaving the Inn. ”Girls!” A soldier riding a carriage called for them. ”In here! Trupriv Base is under siege!” He shouted. ”R-Right!” Chiho responded and they ran and went inside the carriage. They immediately head off. ”It's nice to have a good night's sleep, eh? I wish I was able to sleep at a soft bed yesterday too! Instead of having the guard the night and able to sleep for only what? Two fucking hours?” The soldier beside Mariko complained. She glared at him. ”You can always retire and get your fucking good night's sleep” She said. The other soldiers snickered. ”W-Whatever...” The soldier looked away in embarrassment. ”Anyway, we have named that place what Mariko-san had named it” The soldier driving the carriage said. Hearing that made Mariko happy. ”Can I name the other bases as well? I would love to create a name from their language and use it for those bases” She asked. ”Well... Ask Gentaro-sama about it” The driver responded. Mariko was visibly happy. ”Also, have you noticed? They stopped using their guns. Instead, they use their blades from their arms” The soldier in front of them said. ”Yeah. It's like, still bad news. We're no longer getting killed from long distances, but they are great at close combat. They are swift and agile. Hell, they are scarier if they don't use their guns” The soldier beside him responded.

”I think I remember when they stopped using their guns” Chiho spoke and all of the attentions are on her. ”They were called by...uh...Radios? When the soldier responded, they immediately hid their guns and let out their blades. I thought it was only for that certain time, but maybe I'm wrong” She continued. ”Huh... What the hell are they thinking?” The soldier in front of them got annoyed. ”Are they playing with us or something?” He asked. ”Most likely. I've heard their story and the answer is not far from yours” Mariko answered with a somehow serious tone. ”They are not doing so they can gain more territory and resources, nope. They're doing something I can't exactly figure out. But If I really have to give an answer? I guess I would say they're playing with us too...” She continued. ”...Or they just wanted to hurt, rob, and kill people?” Shu Fang asked. ”That could be possible... And if so, what the hell... No, no. Takumi-idiot never said anything like that” Mariko still remembered everything Takumi told her. ”...She might be lying” Shu Fang said. ”I...Think not... I know it when a person lies. There's nothing suspicious on her voice back then...” Mariko disagreed. ”...You don't know that” Shu Fang insisted. ”C'mon! Don't be a turndown! I have my own skills and one of them is knowing when people lie! Don't underestimate me just because I was born in the North!” Mariko glared at Shu Fang.

”...And what does YOU being born at the North, got a connection with our argument?” Shu Fang asked. ”You think that I'm nothing but a crazy person who only thinks of slaughter! I have many more talents than you think!” Mariko shouted. ”...Fine, fine...” Shu Fang sighed. ”Can you tell me one of your talents or skills? Mariko?” Chiho asked. ”Ah? Ah... Well, the one I was very proud of is I can easily remember foreign languages!” Mariko happily told her about being able to learn foreign languages. ”You remember? The reason why I left my village? To explore the world? I wanted to know more about the cultures and shit existing in this world. So I was able to develop such talent!” Mariko reminded them. ”Oooh... That's cool!” Ayumi was fascinated. ”I know right?! That's why, when Takumi arrives, I will ask her to teach me some Russians!” She became excited. ”Good! When you do, you'll be taking a huge part in the war. You'll be able to translate what they're saying and such!” The driver's happy hearing about it. ”Yeah!” Mariko nodded.

On the field, they can already hear the chaos from a distance. ”Damn, how bad was it when you went back to Saiju to get us?” Chiho asked. ”Not too bad. Especially when we had them tasting their own medicines” The soldier in front of them responded. ”Hah... Can't wait to be able to use a gun again...” Mariko pretended to hold a rifle and aimed. ”Yeah, they left quite a good amount of guns there. If that counts as their 'play' then let's take advantage of it!” The soldier beside Mariko said. Upon getting closer, they saw enemy soldiers going around the base, attempting for a flank. They immediately knew what they are up to. ”These guys are planning to attack from behind!” The driver shouted. ”Let's get them!” He shouted as he stopped the carriage. ”Let's do this!” Mariko shouted as they all left the carriage. They charged towards the flanking enemy soldiers. They stopped as soon as they saw them charging. ”Блядь! (Blyad!)” The enemy soldier leading the group shouted in Russian. ”Убей тех гадов! Двигай! (Ubey tekh gadov! Dvigay!)” He shouted before they charge with their war cry. ”Here they come! Kill them!” The soldiers charged once again. ”Let's fuck them up!” Mariko shortly followed the soldiers. ”...Yes” Shu Fang nodded and became a black shade and went into the enemies with incredible speed. ”Let's go, Onee-chan!” Ayumi summoned her chained sickle and went in the battle.

”Heh, here we go...” Chiho raised her right hand up and opened her palm. Then a white silhouette of her long axe appeared after her hand and shortly replaced by the actual axe, then she carried it with two hands. Then she ran ahead. As they expected, the Prohorovkans didn't use their guns and fought with their blades instead. The clash didn't last long, thanks to the girls' powers. They lost one of them though. It became quiet but there were two more enemies Ayumi's currently facing. She was panting heavily. ”Держись рядом! (Derzhis ryadom!)” The male enemy soldier shouted to his friend. ”Мы должны вернуться на базу!” The female soldier shouted something to his friend, Mariko couldn't follow her words. ”Нет (Nyet), I will have to handle this” The male started speaking Japanese. ”You go, Sagiri. Call out our troops. We have suffered casualties, we have to step back. I knew Mark would mess up this simple task... Go, I will cover your retreat because these guys are troublesome...” He stared at Chiho. 'Sagiri' looked at the girls and to the soldiers, before turning back to his friend. ”Thank you. Удачи(Udachi)” She thanked his friend and nodded before running away. Mariko saw the girl run. ”Like hell she'll be able to run away!” She shouted. ”...I got her!” Shu Fang stood beside her and became a black shade and quickly chased after the girl.

”I'm not gonna let you!” The male soldier jumped like the speed of the light to block Shu Fang. ”...!” His speed surprised her. ”...To be able to match my speed...” She said as the black shades fade away, exposing her again. ”You're quite unlucky, you have to face me!” The male soldier shouted at them. ”Heh... I'm not gonna let you live!” He added as he withdrew his left blade. Then He swings his right arm and made a stance. ”What's that?! Only one blade?! Come on! Let's take him out!” One of the friendly soldiers charged with his sword raised in the air. ”Take this!” He shouted as he swings his sword down. The enemy soldier raised his arm over his head as soon as the sword reached him and quickly took a step forward, making a very loud scraping noise. As he got closer to the friendly soldier, he immediately thrusts his arm towards his neck, stabbing him. ”No!” His friends shouted from behind him. The enemy soldier swings his arm to the right to throw the body away. ”Screw you!” The soldier who shouted now charged wielding a dual short sword. ”Hrah!” He attacked with his right sword, but the enemy soldier swiftly stopped his attack with his left arm. ”Guh...!” The friendly soldier got surprised and quickly thrusts his left arm, but it was caught again.

”Дура! (Dura!)” The enemy soldier shouted as he throws him to the right to lose his balance. Then the enemy soldier quickly slashed his neck, then immediately swings back to cut his right arm and then proceeded for his left arm before kicking him away. The armless body went flying in front of the last soldier. ”Ah...Ah!... H-Hey! What are you standing there for?!” The soldier got mad at the girls, who were surprised by the enemy's strength. ”S-Sorry! Let's help him out!” Chiho shouted, making the enemy soldier look back. ”Haah...!” The last soldier shouted, his sword already on the air, it was about to cut the enemy soldier's head into half until the enemy heard him and turned back at him and disappeared from his position. All of a sudden, the soldier spun 160 degrees and immediately drops on the ground, dead. The enemy soldier was standing a few feet away from him. He slowly faced the girls. ”What? Just gonna watch there?” He said. ”A-Are you a...Commander or something?” Ayumi asked, confusing him. ”Huh? What do you mean?” He asked. ”I mean... You have this power and all...” Ayumi said.

The enemy soldier was led to thoughts for a few seconds. ”Ah, you mean I'm a higher rank? Because I appear strong? Is that right?” He made sure. ”Y-Yeah...” Ayumi nodded. Her response made him laugh. ”Haha! No! I'm just a... let's say, a common soldier. I'm not bearing a high rank” His response surprised the girls. ”We infantries have powers too! Not all of us but most of us were able to obtain powers!” He added. ”D-Damn...” Mariko imagined a thousand of Prohorovkan foot soldiers with powers almost as good as their higher-ups. ”Enough talk! Let's do thi-!” ”Такуми из красный мосин! (Takumi iz krasnyy mosin!)” The enemy soldier's shout was interrupted by a voice from his radio. ”Что? (Chto?)” He was visibly annoyed by the interruption and answered in an angered tone. ”Я вижу врагов, они в поле!” The person from the radio responded. The girls recognized the voice. ”Дерьмо...! (Der'mo...!)” The enemy soldier quickly looked behind him and saw the incoming reinforcement. It was the Northern warriors. They were running alongside with some terrifying-designed carriages. ”Who are these guys?” He asked the girls. ”It's the crazy guys!” Mariko shouted with a relieved tone. ”Are those...Vikings?” The enemy soldier looked closer. ”Vi...what?” Chiho heard him and got curious.

”So they exist here! This world's interesting!” He grinned, then turned back to look at Mariko. ”I take it you're one of them? You look like them, given how you're dressed up and your weapon” He asked, they noticed his hostile aura gone. ”Huh... Ah...” ”Осторожный! Дружественный самолёти приближается к мишеней! (Ostorozhnyy! ...)” Mariko was about to respond until Takumi shouted something from the radio. It made the enemy soldier focus back and respond to the radio. ”Х-Хорошо! (K-Khorosho!)”. Then he went back to his stance. ”I'm still not gonna-” ”You know what?! Whatever! Chiho-san! Mariko-san! I see you down there! I'm going to help you out!” The enemy soldier got interrupted by Takumi's shout from the radio followed by the loud sirens of the two Stukas approaching the battlefield. ”Shit! Takumi!” He shouted at his radio. ”Sorry, pal. I ain't siding with you this time...” Takumi said over the radio. ”Hah! Yeah! She's with us!” Mariko shouted. ”Tch... Fucking cowards... Hey...” The enemy soldier called out for Chiho as the Stukas flew past above them. ”Takumi Saito might be a good person after all, but she prioritizes her loyalty first. How did you convinced that person?” He asked.

”We didn't do anything nor we said anything. She did it on her own will” Chiho answered. ”Is that so? Then...” He looked like he's in deep thoughts and looked at the approaching reinforcement. Then he looked back at Chiho. ”Then, I'll go with Takumi. With my friend Sagiri” His declaration surprised and excites the girls. ”...But not when we just saw you kill one of ours...” Shu Fang said. ”Oh? Didn't Takumi join the bombings of the Tsuchiya? Unlike me, this is my first battle here in this world. I was stationed inside that village at the time you raided this base and Mark's bullshit raid on the other one. These three idiots were my only kills so far” He responded. ”...Then revive them!” Shu Fang ordered. ”Takumi has a reviving skill, I guess. You bring them back to your place and let her handle it” He answered. Shu Fang was surprised to know that they actually have the power to bring back the dead. ”Hey! Tanaka! I heard that! You've finally decided, huh?!” Takumi laughingly shouted from the radio. ”You're gonna pay for making me, fucker...” His annoyed respond made Takumi laugh. ”Not so loyal now, eh?!” Takumi proceeded to annoy him. ”C'mon! I hope Shichiro doesn't mind! He can kill us all without a sweat anyway!” ”Hey! That's not funny...” Her words terrified him a bit. ”Pussy...” ”Заткнись! (Zatknis'!)” Tanaka immediately turned off his radio. ”W-Why is she calling you a pussy?” Mariko asked.

”You don't need to know... S-She likes calling everyone whatever animal she can think of” He answered. ”Oh?” Mariko doubted him but ignored it. After a few seconds, the Northern armies flooded the base and the area became even noisier. Then after that, they saw one of the Stukas directly aiming at them. ”Um... That doesn't look good!” Ayumi pointed at the Stuka. Tanaka immediately turned on his radio and quickly shouted. ”Hey! What are you doing?!” As soon as he was heard, the stuka moved up its nose away from them. ”Just want you to get your radio back up... Mark's forces are retreating, I bet these Vikings' are disappointed” Takumi said, followed by the cheers of the soldiers from the base. ”Did you made them retreat?” She added. ”Y-Yeah! I told them! I'm also with Mark's T-26!” A girl happily responded from the radio. ”Sagiri?! They're with us?!” Tanaka got excited, and so does the girls. ”Of course! I heard everything and decided to tell the 26's crews! I thought I'll have to get rid of them and steal the tank, but they've agreed!” She responded. ”Y-You have one of the tanks too?!” Mariko shouted. ”Excited to see inside a tank, Mariko-san?” Takumi asked from the radio. ”Damn right I am!” Mariko shoutingly responded.

It didn't take long before the T-26 appeared from the corner of the base. ”W-Whoa! Here she fucking is!” Mariko scanned the tank from turret to tracks. ”Hah! We saw a bigger one from Tsuchiya!” Ayumi bragged. ”I don't care. You just saw one but I'll be riding one!” Mariko argued back, making Ayumi pout. ”Haah... Everything is happening so fast...” Chiho let out a big sigh. ”I don't get everything anymore...” She added. The T-26 stopped before them and the crews popped out from their hatches. ”Sagiri!” ”Nii-chan!” The two ran to catch each other. ”N-Nii-chan? They're siblings?” Ayumi asked. ”...As you can see” Shu Fang nodded. ”Well, Tanaka-kun? Sick of Mark already? I mean It's just his first time leading an army so I thought you'd understand” A girl with a red half-trim glasses from the Commander hatch spoke. ”Not a chance, this is the second time he failed” Tanaka answered. ”But I thought it was always the third time?” The girl asked. ”Not in my dictionary, fuck no” He replied. ”I'm also surprised that he still had the tanks deployed if he wants us to fight with blades alone” The girl from the driver's hatch said. ”Yeah, He's full of bullshit” Tanaka said, this made the Commander laughed. ”So? Is this the Chiho Hasegawa I've been hearing about?” She scanned Chiho. Then she went back to her face. ”Feeling anxious about being known? You're the 'Daughter of the Hero' after all” She asked. ”A bit, yeah. But it doesn't matter” Chiho let out a sigh.

”Then. Let's not hang around here anymore. Let's go back to Saiju” The Commander went inside her hatch and closed it. ”Let's ride a carriage!” Sagiri told her brother. ”You want to ride one? How about the Viking one?” Tanaka asked. His suggestion made her frown. ”They're scary. Don't wanna” She said. ”Fine... Let's get going then...” He looked at the girls and they nodded. ”I'm sorry, brothers...” He turned to the dead Prohorovkans and turned away. ”Wow, so cool... Sorry, brothers. You're lost, but not forgotten” Ayumi repeated his words and added more. ”O-Oh, what the... that quote seems familiar... Angels of War book?” Mariko asked and Ayumi nodded. After that, Tanaka radioed Takumi and told her to rendezvous at Saiju. The girls carried the three unfortunate soldiers back with them. Explained to the soldiers of the base about their changing sides and rode with Tanaka and his sister on a carriage. Together, they cruised back to Saiju.