"Anyways, high command will land us at Ariake point, just like Normandy, there's names for the beaches. We have three we'll take out, Austin, Buick and Cadillac." Tommy explained.
"We'll be staying on the ships for a while until the navy finishes up their naval bombardment, expect enemy air attacks.".
"Classic, leaving the suicide missions to us.". Kay groaned.
They were to take the southern tip of the Island of Kyushu to seize airbases for further operations in land.
"It's getting late so I'm taking my leave, you guys have the night off.". Tommy yawned as he walked to his quarters.
Kay yawned, and retreated to her own place.
"… U.S troops seize vital objective in the Pacific, Philippines islands secured.". Naomi read.
Kay silently observed as Naomi was reading to Alisa from a newspaper, they were both huddled in Naomi's bunk.
Kay smiled.
Naomi soon stopped reading, realizing Alisa had fallen asleep, she turned off the lamp and snuggled in with Alisa.
Yukari was asleep, with a collection of Army tank manuals.
Kay smiled before sneaking into her own bunk.
Every passing minute, their transport ships sailed closer to Japan with the dozens of others.
Kay awoke, sunlight breaking in.
And then, anti aircraft fire.
"GENERAL QUARTERS! ALL HANDS TO BATTLE STATIONS!".
Kay hastily threw on clothing and headed out.
Dozens of sailors hurried around, transporting ammunition, medical supplies and wounded.
"What the hell is going on?". Kay shouted.
"Kamikazes! Thousands of them!". Tommy shouted in reply as he rushed down the halls.
"The Japanese launched thousands of these fuckers from their existing bases in Kyushu, our AA and aircraft are keeping them away, but it's not enough!".
The two stormed on deck, the sky was darkened and rainy as waves of enemy aircraft thundered towards the American fleet.
Two Battleships, several destroyers and cruisers circled defensively around the transports.
"SHIT! EIGHT O CLOCK! GET DOWN!".
Kay and Tommy threw themselves down as aircraft debris showered the deck.
"Let's try to find the rest of the squad!". Kay yelled.
They ran through the sailors and anti aircraft batteries.
"Can't see them in this shit, Kay, I'll hoist you up and you'll try to spot em Alright?". Tommy declared.
Kay allowed herself to be lifted up and placed on Tommy's shoulders which allowed her a clear view.
"Looks like they're at that AA battery on the other end of the ship.". Kay reported.
Tommy put Kay down and they hurried over.
The deck was awash with body parts, blood, aviation fuel and aircraft parts, typical of a Japanese kamikaze attack.
"HEY GUYS! WE'RE HERE!". Kay and Tommy yelled over the carnage.
"CHRIST! AIN'T IT GOOD TO SEE YA TWO!". Naomi shouted back.
"WHAT THE HELL YOU GUYS BEEN DOIN SINCE THEY STARTED ATTACKING?". Tommy asked.
"TRIPLE A RESUPPLY, KEEPS THE KAMIKAZES AWAY!". Naomi answered. "I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A MASSIVE ATTACK, THEY MUST BE REALLY DESPERATE!".
"THAT ONE'S GETTING A LITTLE CLOSE!". Alisa shouted pointing at a rapidly growing white speck.
Meanwhile, far up in the sky.
"Duty before dishonor… Duty before dishonor."….
"Sinking these American ships will save Japan from invasion.".
With a deep breath, the pilot pushed down on the stick, nosing the a6m zero into a dive, the gun sight normally used for aiming the aircraft's machine guns at the transport ship below.
He breathed in deeply.
"TENNO HEIKA BANZAI!".
The aircraft grew larger as it drew closer.
"KAY! YOU WANNA DO THIS?!". Tommy screamed as he dashed towards an oerlikon 20mm anti air gun.
Kay dashed in and assisted Tommy as he tore off the canvas covering and stuffed in a drum magazine.
Tommy unleashed tracer fire as Kay adjusted the aim.
"Cmon motherfucker… Go down…. Go down…".
Tommy got his wish as the zero burst aflame and missed its mark, plunging into the ocean.
A loud explosion shook the ship and seawater showered the deck moments after the zero hit the water.
"That zero must've had a bomb or something.". Kay commented.
Suddenly, the drone of more engines.
"SHIT! MORE BOGEYS!". Tommy alerted.
"Hold up! Friendlies!". Naomi assured.
Navy Blue Fm2 wildcats broke through the swirling but depleting mass of kamikazes.
"GIVE EM HELL BOYS! WHOOOP!". Kay shouted.
Many more kamikazes plunged into the sea.
"We're all clear, let's head back below deck, we've still got an invasion to carry out.". Tommy panted.
"Dumb fools, they train thousands of young men to what, die for an attack that might not be successful? I won't be surprised if some of the pilots were school girls.". Alisa spouted.
"Hell, even the banzai charges aren't this bad cause the Japanese only do that when they're out of options.". Kay replied.
"These fuckers are fanatical I tell you, they can only be matched by the SS, but the SS were just one group, the entire Japanese military and I bet the population is fanatical!". Tommy spoke.
"Thank God for ol fluffy Yukari, she saved us a whole lotta lives when she convinced several Squads of Japs to surrender back at Saipan.". Kay laughed giving Yukari a firm pat on the back.
Meanwhile, on the island of Kyushu.
"We have received news from Tokyo that several days ago, the Soviet Union has launched a full scale invasion of Manchuria." Kinuyo glumly announced.
The girls sat with their heads bowed.
"May the heavens bless it's brave defenders.". Kinuyo finished.
With that, they began to start the lesson.
"Between you and me, we both know it's not gonna end well over there.". Mako whispered to Miho.
As much as Miho wished to accuse Mako of being a defeatist, she was right. After all, the Russians had crushed the Germans in Europe.
Still though, Miho realized this small ragtag squad was rather lucky, they had some of the best tanks within Japan, and daresay in the world.
"Today, we will be on a basic run with our senshas!". Kinuyo announced.
They were greeted with an enthusiastic Hai!
"Alright, it seems we have to leave the radio operator position empty.". Tamada spoke.
"Saori, you seem to be good with heavy objects, so practice loading the gun. Hana of course you want to be gunner, but Miho and Mako, you two have to prove yourselves of either being the panzer iv's driver or gunner." Tamada spoke.
Just as Tamada finished, the panzer iv's engine started.
"What?!". Tamada exclaimed.
Mako popped out of the drivers hatch.
"Saori San gave me sugary tea so I could wake up early, I spent the entire morning translating the manuals from German and I just figured out the basics of driving this thing." Mako explained.
"Well, you are a Nishizumi…". Tamada nudged Miho.
Miho sighed as she stepped up to become the panzer iv's commander.
Meanwhile, the other tanks were receiving their crews.
"Hmm… what would you call this?". Caesar spoke, examining the stug. "It's like an artillery piece on wheels.".
"Why do I keep thinking someone will just come along and provide us with a solution.". Saemonza spoke.
"I give up, let's just get in the tank, we're supposed to go to war in this thing anyways.". Oryou piped up.
"GUTS! LISTEN UP! IF WE ARE TO FIGHT THE AMERICANS WE NEED GUTS!". Noriko shouted.
"Those guys are batshit insane..". Mako groaned as she drove the panzer IV along.
The panzer IV spat out a high velocity shell into the dirt.
"Yep, it works alright!". Hana yelled.
Saori hurriedly reloaded another dummy round.
The crews rapidly trained in the operation of their vehicles.