Private Nathaniel POV

We have been retreating for a week now. We had orders to destroy everything that we can't carry that is to be used by the enemy. The plus side is that there is no civilians in this battle so we can destroy everything and no one else has to suffer because of it. I was about to light the fuse for a bridge that separates the desert and our bases peninsula when an officer approached me.

???: Are you Private Nathaniel Banard?

Nathaniel: Yes sir.

Benedict: Good, my name is Major Benedict Hannibal Johnson, I am gathering volunteers for a very special task. Will you join my battalion?

Nathaniel: Yes sir!

Benedict: Good, now after you light the fuse, I need you to meet us at HQ at 1000 hours. Understood?

Nathaniel: Sir yes sir!

I waited until he left then I light the fuse. I quickly ran off the bridge and ducked down as the bridge turned into a smoldering ruin. I then quickly ran to HQ so I can be there in time.

1000 hours HQ

Third Person POV

Nathaniel was inside HQ just in time, he came in dirty, sweaty, and exhausted but he made it. He was greeted by Benedict and 30 other boys. They all sat down and started to listen to the task that Benedict proposed to them.

Benedict: As you all know we are digging new fortifications along the hills that separates our HQ and the enemy forces. We will be digging a very strong defensive position which as you all know is not my liking. So with approval of high command we will change our defenses into a grave yard. Does anyone know how?

No one raised their hand but so of the men begin imagining the carnage that could happen.

Benidict: Ok, the answer is a tunnel. According to our intelligence the enemy is bringing everything they have. This includes all the schools tanks and most of the Fed's commanders. They think that since there is no other outcrops of land they can't cover that they are safe. I beg to differ. We have hills but we also have thick vegetation. What i propose is we dig a tunnel under the defenses of the girls and when they set up all nice and cozy we create a new defensive line and we box them in, just like the Gauls did to the Romans during the Battle of Alesia, except this time we are more prepared. We have some of our artillery disassembled and ready to move so boys let's start digging!

The entire room applauded and they got their tools. As Benedict's men start digging the other Union commanders set up another operation of mass proportions.

Benjamin: This is Supreme Commander Benjamin Patton, Operation Fortitude is a go.

The Americans began making fake tanks and artillery to cover up the real ones and fake storage units that look like the mines that the boys start digging they also deceived there own men in making defenses further back as a type of fallback line. They did this while the men of the newly christened "Hannibal's legion" dug their way to the forest. They dug a tunnel large enough for 3 boys to stand shoulder to shoulder and tall enough to have a 6 foot person stand up straight with 2 inches of space. As they continue the other boys behind them clean up the tunnel and made it so that it is safe for even super heavy tanks can pass above.

As they continue to work the boys started to sing Battle Hymn of the Republic and they continue to work inch by inch, hour by hour.

https://youtu.be/irshiU70SnA

Timeskip brought to you by me listing to Sabaton as I am writing this story.

As they continue to work a message came to HQ, there has been a hold up at one of the last bridges they haven't blown up. The men there under the command of Major Chris Chamberlain number 40 men have a slight traffic jam and had to hold off the explosion of the bridge in order to get all the cars across the bridge as well as there own cars full of ammunition, fuel, food, and water. They can only hope that the Fed's don't find them.

At the Fed's lines.

Third Person POV

All the commanders meet up with their teams and they consolidated their forces into one camp. They had too, with the scorched earth tactics the American's are pulling off they have to stay together so that they can share supplies. They already have to leave behind most of their heavy equipment due to their supply line being stretched. Their commanders argue among themselves who should be in charge but most of the school commanders knew that they are being drawn to their limits. However even among the girl commanders a certain tension is felt between them.

Miho: Maho?

Maho: Yes Miho?

Miho: Is it true that you used tear gas on the Americans and shot the ones still conscience from the gas?

The other commanders looked at her with questioning looks on their faces. They would also like to know.

Kay: Yeah, I was with you but you said that you should go first.

Maho: I am more of a battlefield commander, I lead from the front.

Darjeeling: Still those poor boys, I might be on the opposite side but this is not a proper or elegant way to do senshado.

Anchovy: Peperoni was livid when she heard the news, I guess that is to be expected when her boyfriend is part of their team.

Katyusha: We need to focus on other issues regarding this battle.

Miho: Right, as you all know the scorch earth tactics that the Americans are deploying is taking its toll on us. We are losing most of our heavy equipment and we have to leave it behind because our trucks that can bring them back can't carry enough fuel to tow all of them back. Even our light tanks are having a shortage of fuel and ammunition.

Maho: All we know about the Americans is that they built a huge defensive line near their capital/HQ. It is a formidable obstacle especially without our super heavy tanks.

Kinuyo: If we attack we will be in a very deadly crossfire. Also most of the tanks we have left are medium and light tanks. The plus is that we have a lot of infantry that can fill up the gaps in formation if we charge.

Miho: This isn't the Eastern Front. I am pretty sure that they have enough bullets to take out all of us. But I don't feel safe about leaving such a small garrison back at our capital.

Fed. Commander 2: Don'y worry about it, we have them cornered and we have the advantage.

The school commanders turn and looked at the door way of the tent. They saw the 3 Fed commanders and their vice commander, all of them have a cocky smile on their faces.

Kay: That is what you said back at the first attack and they held fast.

Fed. Commander 3: What do you know, we still won did't we?

Maho: We didn't win...

Fed Commander 1: What do you mean, you lead the charge and now we are almost at the wars end.

Maho: I regret following those damn orders you gave us on that day. I don't care if we won, those weapons have no place in senshado.

The entire tent was in silence at what she just said, then Miho spoke up.

Miho: Speaking of which, how come we have to leave so little of our troops back at our territory.

Fed. Commander 1: We need all the tanks we could get in order to crush those Americans fortifications.

Marie: We just heard that the Americans fortifications are heavy and near impossible to break through.

Fed. Vice Commander 1: They are just American's how hard can it be?

Miho: How can you say that!?

The tent turns to her.

Miho: Every time you say that we get the living sh*t kicked out of us. From the first attack to the hill battle and even in their retreat their still creating a nuisance. So why after all that are you so adamant that they are nothing?

She points at the Fed. Commander and her Vice Commander that commands her.

Miho: You two were literally shot right in front of me back at camp. How can you two be so confident after that.

Fed. Commander 1: It was just a lucky shot.

Miho: They shot you between your eyes.

Fed. Commander 1: Just a lucky shot.

Miho: You were the reason why my team is down two tank teams and why our infantry is cut by a third of its members. We were literally named the "suicide battalion" by the other soldiers.

Fed. Commander 1: Why are you blaming me, if we pushed forwards we could o-

Miho: Are we really going back to this argument, if we went forwards we would have lost more soldiers. They would of all been captured.

Fed. Vice Commander 1: You are out stepping your boundaries as a combat commander.

Miho: Why, because I actually care about my soldiers?!

Maho: That is enough.

Miho: Sister you actually can't be serous right now.

Maho: We need to focus on the task at hand, believe me I agree with you but we need to win this first.

Miho: Alright...

Fed Commander 3: Good now let's go over the plan. We have several tanks make a siege line were we can bombard them out of their fortifications. We will be withholding a charge until we have an opening. Then once we do have an opening, we will exploit it.

Kay: And if we don't find an opening?

Fed. Vice Commander 3: We will find an opening. It will just be in due time.

Darjeeling: It is already the beginning of November and we aren't even close to their line. By the time we get there it will already be almost the end of this month. This will be giving them all the time in the world to prepare.

Fed. Commander 2: We will crush them with our artillery and then there lines will break in due time.

Then a messenger came running in and quickly stands at attention.

Messenger: Commander, enemy spotted on a hill not to far from a bridge that leads to the peninsula that the boys are defending. They are also warehouses full of supplies that the boys seem to be loading up onto the trucks.  It seems that they are ready to blow it all up once they leave.

Fed. Commander 3: Well than attack it, make sure that they capture the bridge and disarm the bombs as well as capture the supplies. 

Messenger: Yes mam.

Fed. Commander 3: Alright I want Ooarai, Kuromine, and St. Gloriana to help provide armor support for the infantry. If you see any Americans capture them and bring them to me.  Come on lets get moving.

Miho: I hope this is a better plan than the one your compatriot came up with.

The combined forces quickly made there way to the bridge as fast as they can in hope that they can seize the supplies they need and the last bridge to the American's HQ.