Third person POV

With the formal portion of the morning briefing at the forward HQ of IGDF's Central Army over, the commanding general rose from his seat and walked over to the two maps that were displayed before him.

The large‑scale map displayed the overall situation facing Coalition forces through Japan. There was little progress except of the Iwakuni push that had broken the Chinese main attack with an advance to Kuga City led by British 1st Strike Brigade with an Italian battalion group attached, and a planned liberation of Shunan City. Up north in Hagi sector, most engagements were between light infantry with a more limited armor support due to the terrain factor even with Japanese tanks were generally engineered with the nation's mountainous terrain in mind.

No one managed a breakthrough, but the tank factor contributed to a small tilt in favor of the Coalition, added by the increasing amount of hostile casualties specifically from partisans behind enemy lines. In addition, already commanders in that sector had received extra manned and unmanned air assets, including US Air Force long range cruise missile armed bombers, as well as artillery and naval support mainly from Yamato-class cruiser HIJMS Yamato and aircraft carrier HIJMS Shoukaku in order to break up concentrations of Chinese and it's foreign volunteers that deemed to be threatening to Hagi.

A medium sized tourism dependent-town, Hagi was militarily important due to it's usage as a location of Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense system, an Army training ground, as well as a recently-built portable seaport used to quickly expand the existing infrastructure to ease supplies delivered by sea from eastern part of the country as well as Northern Pacific convoys from North America.

"First thing first" Facing his entire staff, Lieutenant General Asahi Terauchi went on. "Give me report on the logistics of the 1st Division, particularly their re-equipment program."

"Our ability to fight with two calibers simultaneously was enhanced as two more plants in Tohoku and Kanto region had delivered 6.8mm caliber ammo enough for at least two months of fighting as well as another batch from the Americans, and the 1st and 6th Division had began issuing Type 22 rifles alongside the 2nd Division and 7th in a slower rate, as well as increasing their number of Type 22 IFVs." reported the G-4, logistical officer, Brigadier General Yoshimitsu Takagaki.

"Very good"

After the conclusion of logistical matters, turning his head to the small‑scale real-time interactive map that depicted the corps' area of operation and current situation, Terauchi proceeded to run his finger along the front line trace of his units, stopping every so often to study People's Liberation Army forces that were opposing the corps and it's foreign allies. At one point, he stopped with his finger resting on a map symbol that represented a group of Chinese units and turned to his intelligence officer or "G‑2", Brigadier General Masaharu Fujii.

"Fujii, these people here, this Chinese heavy brigade, you said that they are fortifying Yamaguchi?"

"Yes, sir. The 18th Heavy Combined Arms Brigade. They are the strategic reserve of the occupation army as well as 11th Air Assault Combined Arms Brigade in Kitakyushu, while the 45th Light Combined Arms Brigade, a high-mobility motorized formation, was primarily geared for counter-insurgency against our partisans. We expect the first two to fight to the death if we commence any assault into Yamaguchi. Any air assets redirected to interdict any supply towards them shall be welcomed."

"Any units covering them? Who is going to be the first line of defense before Yamaguchi itself?"

"Well sir, as best we can tell, sketchy. There is one understrength International Anti Imperialism Brigade unit, the 109th IAIB, a light motorized unit possibly reinforced by what was left of the 3rd Medium and 9th Heavy Combined Arms Brigades with significant support forces here." the Corps G‑2 informed his commander as he pointed to the map symbol representing the Chinese PLA.

"But as of now, that's about it."

Without turning away from the map, and motioning with his hand as he spoke, the Central Army commander commanded to his operations officer or "G-3", Major General Aki Kobayashi. "Kobayashi, get your plans people to work on an attack centered around the 5th Brigade followed by Indian 47th Infantry Battle Group along the Southern Coast into Yamaguchi."

He continued. "The Americans want to deploy the rest of 25th Infantry Division; 1st and 2nd Stryker Brigades reinforced by their divisional light tanks. Shunan is quite big and extra infantry is something we need and those people are more than eager to fight. They will be in reserve along with the still combat capable 100th Foreign Regiment - while US 3rd IBCT of the 25th Division will be withdrawn and probably sent home or up north in Hokkaido for refitting."

"British 1st Strike Brigade with an Italian regiment as attachment can also deploy one of its battlegroups to Shunan as well. Meanwhile, Ground Command had ordered Narashino Separate Airborne Brigade to jump on hill areas on the direction to Shimonoseki-Kitakyushu area to cut off the occupiers' routes and reinforce our partisans in the area."

"I want this operation to commence in two days. Have your people prepared to present me a decision briefing by 1800 hours tonight. What are your questions?"

The operations officer studied the map for a moment, then turned to the general. "Sir, what about the 10th Division's 24th Brigade?"

"In our northern sector, 24th Brigade has been stripped from their most effective unit before being withdrawn, leaving a regimental combat team centered on the 37th Infantry Regiment for area security. Replacing the said brigade is the Free Chinese 548th Brigade (Mechanized) and Nerima Division's 1st Brigade (Mechanized). For planning purposes you will consider our axis of advance from Masuda, Hagi and ending in Yamaguchi."

"The lead unit will be from 1st (Mechanized) Infantry Battalion from the Free Chinese 548th Brigade with their own tanks followed by the the 1st Brigade and separate 200th Foreign Regiment. In reserve in Masuda area will be Canadian 5th Brigade Group and 12th Brigade (Separate, Air Assault), the latter will be ready to reinforce their Airborne brothers and sisters in any given time.

"Their objective is to link up with our Southern Force in Yamaguchi whose axis of advance will be along the southern coast to Shunan, Hofu, and finally Yamaguchi led by 31st Infantry Regiment of Nerima Division's 5th Brigade. If I can convince the folks of J-CENTEASTCOM (Japan Central and Eastern Command), I intend to go for broke and make so much sorrow inside their black hearts! Until our boys and girls in the G‑3 Plans section comes up with a better name, we're calling this operation Loveless World! (1)"

Having grown used to their commanding general's aggressive nature and willingness to take risks, the briefing broke up without further ado. With all the initial planning guidance they needed in hand, the staff officers scattered to prepare for the evening briefing.

1/LT. Kousei Arima

As time passed, things began to get clearer about how our higher leaders were doing when we're fighting for our life; our executive officer 1st Lieutenant Numakura was wounded in the shoulder. It was minor, a dislocated shoulder that was easily tended to without his needing to go any further than 11th Regiment's aid station where the regiment physician's assistant had popped it back into place while the cut on Captain Kawashima's face was being cleaned and dressed at the same time.

Despite a recommendation that Numakura be allowed to spend a few days in a field hospital in order to give his arm a chance to heal properly, he refused, citing that there are many people who need longer time in the field hospital than me, quoted him. Kawashima did not object, either, allowing him to stay with the Team as long as he could perform his duties.

He quickly returned to his good natured self, something that we loved, however it quickly gave way to a different demeanor for he was now unable to tolerate even the slightest error or any action that was not up to his standard, whether it concerned training or carrying out routine maintenance on the company team's vehicles. When drilling his crew, he would turn on them with a vengeance if their times or actions were not to his liking.

Neither my platoon got spared either, I remember how Watari was nearly got slapped due to his personal weapon being dirty to the point that even the strict Kawashima was concerned.

The certain thing was that everyone who had started out with the Team and had made it this far had changed, including me. The problem was, in our professional opinion as officers, Numakura had not been for the better.

On the other side, the first good news was the return of Sergeant Hanazono and her crew, that posed some problem on how to return them back to their proficiency. In addition, some of my crewmembers merely acknowledged their presence with expressionless nod or other equivalents before turning their attention to matters at hand, necessitating my interventions at times, or even the Captain's.

Other than returning crewmembers, the second good news was on the afternoon of the third day after we took Yuu, First Sergeant Kashiwagi returned to the Team's assembly area from a scavenging foray with 2nd Lt. Yuu Toyosaki in tow. As he was hauling his gear out, including the newer Type 22 assault rifle chambered in 6.8x51mm from the first sergeant's armored truck, he noticed me, going through a sand table exercise with my platoon's tank commanders.

As we had both been in the same armor officer basic course at Fuji School despite his different path to the force, him being an alumni of 3-year regular course in National Defense Academy in Yokosuka and a year in Ground Forces Officer Candidate School before the war, he was clearly thrilled to see a familiar face in the sea of strangers he been swept up in.

Eager to let him know he was there. "Arima Kousei-kun!"

To his surprise, I merely acknowledged his presence by greeting and shaking his hand briefly as well as Horokeu's before we turned our full attention back to what we are currently doing with our crewmembers. I can say that he was taken aback. In addition, the similar reception he got from the Captain further reinforced his apprehensions on this matter.

Later on, Kawashima called us to his quarter.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is 2nd Lt. Toyosaki." he began. "He's assigned here in this team," he informed Toyosaki in an even tone of voice.

"Lieutenant Horokeu"

"Yes, sir!" the Ainu stood in attention.

"You will be reassigned to 32nd Infantry's Team Taro to replace Kusunoki's."

"Will do sir"

When there are meetings, there shall be separation as well...

Then, I was given a chance to gave him a parting encouragement. "I believe that you will fare better than Lieutenant Kusunoki like what the Captain had told you. Horokeu."

"Thank you" he replied. "I'm proud to serve with you and your wife, Kousei. But trust me... one day, we'll be on the same team again."

Meanwhile Toyosaki kept his silence, allowing the grim thought of death and destruction to linger in the young officer's mind a moment.

The captain continued, we're still on attention. "Your platoon sergeant is Sergeant First Class Enomoto Taki. You will meet him after we're finished with this. He's been running the platoon since Lieutenant Kusunoki was killed with his entire crew (the driver and gunner had died from their wounds). Your only hope of surviving this hell is to listen to what that man says and tells you what you need to do. Since I haven't got any clue as to how much time we'll have before we move out and head off back into the meat grinder, my advice to you, lieutenant, is not to waste a second of it. Is that clear?"

Taken aback by this cheerless how‑do‑you‑do, Toyosaki simply replied, "Yes, sir," and waited for the next shock.

All in all, we officers showed proper greetings to him, but various case of the enlisted men; particularly tank crews, my eyes found that said fellow were given greetings that ranged from dry but proper, indifferent, to almost hostile.

It was made painfully clear for the crews assigned to him; the just-arrived gunner of Tank number 21, Sergeant Takei Hiromachi, a transferee from 17th Tank Brigade of the 7th Division (Armored) along with the driver, Leading Private Ren Tsumugi. They were clearly less than happy to see the fresh-faced TC and made little effort to hide it. Even the tank was not what he had expected, I heard it had seen combat in Korea in opening days of the war within the 17th Brigade, got damaged, repaired, and then reissued. I've also seen that inside the turret, there were still burn marks and blackened areas. The welds to repair the damage had been done quickly, crudely, and had not been painted in favor of restoring it's Seki active protection system' and the modular armor's integrity, drilling the harsh reality to our new peer's even deeper.

At dinner, he told us officers on how both Sergeant Hiromachi and Leading Private Tsumugi made a special effort to show their new TC the stains where the former TC had bled all over the tank commander's seat back in Korea. Whenever Toyosaki asked his platoon sergeant about the war and his thoughts on it, Enomoto would give simple, short answers, such as, "It's hard" or "It's not at all like our training at Fuji."

It slowly dawned upon him that since his arrival in the Team, no one had talked about what they had done in the war. Every time he asked questions about the engagements the Team had been in when talking to his platoon sergeant and even other officer including me and Horokeu between the preparations for his platoon's reassignment, we would move on to another subject. When the CO, XO, and Kaori took to discussing lessons learned thus far in the war with a gathering of the officers and NCOs, they went over it in a very impersonal and academic manner. At times, it struck him that they were talking about another unit, not the one he had joined. It was as if there was a secret fellowship that only those members of the Team that had been in combat could belong to.

By the end of the day, Yuu Toyosaki was feeling alone, confused, and very apprehensive even to Kaori and I, sometimes.

...........................................

1/LT. Arima Kaori

It took time for our new friend to understand that what he received was not meant to be personal, All the newly assigned personnel that had been fed into the Team had received the same treatment. When he first mentioned this at me, I thought about it for a moment before I answered.

"Honestly, I had no idea what you were talking about." I went on to tell the new guy that as far as he was concerned, everyone in the Team got along exceptionally well.

"I asked your husband first, 1st tank platoon leader, and he answered the same." came the reply of Toyosaki. I smiled upon his revelation on how he figure out things about Kousei and I.

"You're being overly sensitive," I added. "This isn't a fraternity or a social club. My advice to you is to settle down and get on with the business at hand to earn your stripes. Your crew had experience that you have to be grateful. Also, those Occupied Areas won't liberate itself. I am asking you this; Do you have families down there?"

"No."

I replied. "Neither Kousei and I. However, there are many of us here have. So think about them just like if those people in the Occupied Areas are your own family. You do not need to answer this right now." Then without so much as a see you later, I turned and walked away to my quarter. He would learn his difference soon.

I didn't take me very long to be back to my platoon that were given time to unwind after a hard training day particularly with the newly issued Type 22 assault rifle chambered in US 6.8x51mm. Some were playing sports like soccer and basketball, others turned to reading, others turned to religion, and others turned to music; and as icing of the cake, no day without drone swarm alerts.

Private Daigo Kurosaki, one rifleman of Sgt. Takami's squad, was playing the violin he somehow brought in at the common recreation tent. However, what caught my attention was that he played an old but popular Western song, Imagine. I let him finish, before he snapped to attention and saluted upon recognizing my presence.

"Banzai, Lieutenant."

"Banzai, Private. At ease... As a violin teacher, let me say that you have a potential. By chance you took up lessons in your childhood?"

"Yes ma'am. Even with the fact of my education was nothing to do with music - I was in a technical school in Yokosuka and had just graduated before the draft came - but my parents once told me that one of the sign of being cultured is to master an instrument."

"Interesting."

Then he asked me back. "What's in store for me, ma'am? About my playing. You know better than me. Please give me your feedback."

"Private, I just want to tell you an inconvenient truth; John Lennon was a communist. My husband and I despise him and his wife, no matter that the world thought of them as activists of peace. This is not meant to be personal, but something that you must know as a soldier related to what our enemy's believe."

"Oh, I see, ma'am..." A huge surprise was all across his face. Then after a couple of music related discussion and then a short goodbye, I left him to look after the others before another scheduled strategy meeting with the rest of the regimental combat team's officers and NCOs, which means that I will be back with my husband. That's where I learned that we got change of mission.

Major Hikawa gave us the quick summary about the situation of the 31st Infantry. It was beyond our expectation with the unit had managed to cause panic within occupation army by reaching Hikari City, the outskirts of Shunan, added with the fleet blockade on it's ports and extensive support by local partisans, and the elated brigade command had decided that more heavy armor should be introduced immediately to exploit the breakthrough and to strengthen the 31st against any counterattack means that 11th Tanks would be committed followed by the 32nd Infantry.

"Let's see if I can guess who is leading." Kawashima mused without taking his eyes off the map. "Team Janken?"

"Goto" Okazaki started. "You know too well who's going to lead the attack, at least initially. Team Kirin is the best company we have. It would be beyond stupid to put anyone else in the lead."

Our company commander took a moment mull his response over in his mind before responding. "Sir, are you attempting to win me over with logic, or butter me up flattery?"

"A little of both, I guess."

The specifics of the operation were rather straightforward. According to the Army level plan, the 5th Brigade were supposed to lead the assault along the southern coast. The regiment's scheme of maneuver had called for one company team to lead the attack, the other two companies will follow. What we're going to do was the second phase mentioned before.

Upon it's conclusion, and back in my quarter, I unslung the Type 22 rifle.

"You have to be grateful to the National Guard and foreigners that were once in logistics." said the sergeant in charge of one of the trucks delivering the new guns to us in that moment that I would never forget. In addition, during training everyone had been familiarized with the 22 as well as it's predecessor Type 20 that were produced in parallel.

Then, I retrace the step to disassemble as well as to look at it's cleanliness.

"Kaori."

That too familiar voice called just as I am finished with the gun.

"You got it too?" Kousei's eyes focused on the Type 22.

"Of course. But honestly I still wish for the new track" My husband nodded on the reference to the new troop carrier that carried the same designation; to avoid confusion, troopers added the word "Sento-sha" or Armored Combat Vehicle. "The Type 20 is still so new to me, yet we got this."

He smiled, and to my surprise lunged at me.

"Kou-sei?"

"Let me be with you for just a moment, okay? Remember... this can be our last."

The same old Kousei. I thought to myself, as his hug became tighter, the once soft pianist hands had been since transformed to a coarser and rougher ones of a tank soldier... But that's what I love from him...

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A/N: I hope you enjoy!

(1). Loveless World is a song from Love Live! franchise.