Chapter 27

A small mass of Challenger tanks rolled to a stop at the indicated Checkpoint. The Federation had used this area for several months now. A good place to catalogue all Federation units moving eastward to fight against the Association. The squadron Captain exits through the commanders hatch of her tank and looks down at the checkpoint guards. There are twelve guards on the checkpoint, considering the three Challenger 1's parked not thirty meters away. The captain hops off her tank and onto the ground meeting a checkpoint guard to present themselves.

"Hey, on your way to Homedale?" the guard asked.

"Yep, reinforcing Haru's unit." The Captain said.

"Orders!?" the guard said holding her hand out. The Captain reached into her back pouch on her belt and pulled out some neatly folded papers. She then unfolded them and handed them to the guard. "So whats the big hullabaloo with the Commander pulling so many of our resources east?"

"Akari is planning a final engagement on Glendale. She's pulling everyone she can spare. Mostly those from Mishima and the remaining guard details. However our forces in the south are staying behind. Those high schoolers have been causing more trouble then we thought." The Captain said.

"Little brats! Don't they have any honor? Siding with those miserable Americans." The guard then refolded the papers and gave them back to the Captain. "Alright, looks like you're the last ones to come through today. Better get going."

"Right." The Captain nodded and hoped back onto her tank before turning back to the guard. "Oh, Akari wanted me to warn you. Our spy is coming through here later tonight."

"Our spy? Why, whats happened?" The guard asked.

"The high schoolers are going after the Shimada girl. Don't worry we have a plan for them." The Captain said.

"How will we notice our spy? It could be one of the high schoolers." The guard said. The Captain merely gave a grin.

"There's no need to worry about that. Our spy is a man. He'll be through here later tonight so stay vigilant." The Captain then entered her tank and the guard signaled the raising of the metal beam to let the tanks through. Once the Challengers were passed and gone from sight the guard then took off her helmet reveling a young woman with brown hair. She gave one last look before calling out behind her.

"Alright, coast is clear!" from one of the small booths came out Kay, Rivers, Donovan, and Rosehip. The others appearing from the woods.

"So that's her plan? A full-scale assault of Glendale!?" Rivers said.

"With the current layouts of the Federation reinforcements, the total tally of Federation tanks massing in Homedale is, about six hundred and forty-three." Donovan said. Everyone was quiet. The numbers were staggering. But one thing didn't match up.

"But the Challenger tanks all around the island haven't been moving to Homedale. That number cant be right." Rosehip said. She was right. The Challenger tanks still around the island wouldn't add up. There had to be something else.

"It's entirely possible that Akari petitioned for more reinforcements. That could give her the maneuverability she needs." Kay said.

"But how many did she get?" Rivers asked. It was a problem, but he was also worried about what that Captain said. The Federation had a spy? A man no less. What man would work for them.

"What about this spy? If it is a man then we could be in trouble. It means Akari has sympathizes within Association ranks." Donovan said.

"Impossible. The men of the Association wouldn't align themselves with someone trying to tear down their own sport. Many of them are Tankery veterans." Rivers said.

"But the Anti-Armor Corporation would definitely try something like this." Donovan said. This aroused curiosity between the Saunders and Saint Gloriana girls.

"Who are the Anti-Armor Corporation?" Kay asked. Rivers answered.

"A group of people who think Tankery is too dangerous to be played by high schoolers. They think we're not mature enough to be galivanting around in tanks." Rivers than sighs and runs his hand down his face. this is getting to complicated.

"Why don't we wait for this spy to arrive. We can figure out who he is and where he's going. Then we can send the news to Glendale about the attack and spy all at once." Rosehip said.

"why not? Lets gather up the girls and get them back into guard position. The suns going down soon, the rest of us will scatter within the woods." Rivers said. The rest nodded and followed along. The girls dressed as guards got back into their roles and the rest of the team wavered their way back into the trees, to coincide with the tied and gagged federation girls hidden as well.

Ark lay silent next to Terrance as they watched the girls. They had been laying silent for two hours now, it was becoming unbearable. The strain on their backs, the dirt on the ground, and not to mention the fact that both Hina and Fuka lay not five yards away. It was something of either bad luck or Rivers putting it together that led the four to be next to each other. Well, both are In the same category so thinking both wasn't far off.

"Why, of all people, must we be besides you? Cant you girls go somewhere else?" Terrance asked annoyingly.

"Oh, I beg your pardon, but I don't quite care if you think I should be here or not." Fuka responded.

"Shut up or else Rivers will be on our asses. I don't like this much more then you three but for the sake of it all be quiet." Ark said.

"And why should we listen to you? You're the one that started that whole shenanigan back in Hoja City. Saying that we're the ones with the problem while you boys don't have any trust." Hina said. Ark just growled and glared at her. she wasn't affected at all; she knew he wouldn't do anything or else risk Rivers punishing him. However Hina also didn't want to start something for fear of her own Commander. Kay was very openly friendly, however when she needed to be serious, she was serious. Another twenty minutes and nothing happened. Just the boredom and anticipation.

"Oh man my butt itches." Terrance said as he rolled to his side to scratch and give him some relief. The two girls looked quite disgusted by his actions.

"How can you do that in public? Don't you have any shame?" Fuka asked.

"No." was all Terrance said. Rivers had heard all of this and shook his head. He was starting to regret putting those four together, but it needed to be done. He looked around at some of the other groups and saw the boys and girls of Montana and Saunders. They all had uncomfortable looks on their faces and were casting watching eyes on each other. They didn't trust one another as far as they could throw them.

A noise broke Rivers out of his trance. It was an engine. Still to far off for him to recognize but he hazard a guess and said maybe a Honeywell AGT1500. However it sounded modified. Though seemed wrong to classify it as such if it was the Honeywell. His thought was broken again when he saw them. he was shocked by his sight. A long column of Type 10 Main battle tanks had rolled up to the checkpoint.

The lead tank however was what was shocking. It was an M1 Abrams. Or at least it looked exactly like one. And out of the hatch came another surprise. The man that came out of the hatch was none other than Gary Ramirez, the Association member who had warned them about the University team and petitioned for help. Rivers couldn't believe his eyes. One of the association members was willingly helping the Federation? No. there had to be a viable excuse.

"Excuse me, you are the checkpoint guards correct?" Gary asked the girls.

"Yes, why are you asking?" she said confused. Gary only grinned.

"Because the one that is supposed to meet me tonight was Misaki. Not some high schooler playing dress up." Gary said. Rivers gasped hearing that. How did he know? There was no way they could have known about them. it was virtually improbable. "Round them up!"

Gary gave the order to the Federation girls as they exited their tanks, Batons and Tasers in hand. Rivers was to scuffle away and get to his E-75 when a foot tapped him on the side. He turned to see none other than Akari herself grinning devilishly at him. She held her hand up revealing a taser and Rivers jumped trying to get away. However she rammed her hand down and shoved the taser into his stomach. 50,000 volts ran through Rivers body as he screamed in pain and desperately reached out for anything that could help him, only to find nothing.

After several seconds of the pain Rivers felt it stop and slumped to the ground. His breathing was hard and sporadic, it pained him to move. However he forced himself to do so only to see his boys receiving the same treatment, and all he could do was lay there and watch.

Federation girls took hold of Rivers arms and started dragging him forwards until they reached the open checkpoint area. Both Rivers and Kay were planted away from the rest of their team, however it seemed that the Saunders girls were spared the 50k volt attack. Rivers was glad the girls didn't have to go through that; however he knew that Akari was planning something, and he feared what it could be.

"Well that couldn't have gone better. Thank you all so much for making your capture so easy. We all have a lot to catch up on, I can't wait for you to tell me all about Hoja City and how I can break it down to the ground. And Rivers." Akari said looking at him. She had on a most sadistic grin. "I have a special date in mind for you and I."

Rivers was in to much pain to show any fear. But even if he wasn't he wouldn't show any at all. He had nothing but contempt for this woman. But he had even more for the traitor standing before him.

"You traitor. Your selling out your own countrymen." Rivers said to Gary. The accused man just smirked nodded.

"If only that were true. My name is really Kai Adachi. And I'm sure I shouldn't have to introduce my sister." The now revealed Kai said looking at Akari, who gave off a proud smirk. All Rivers could do is gap his mouth In shock and let a small set of tears fall from his eyes. He felt betrayed. Because he had been betrayed. In fact Rivers just laid his head on the floor and gave up.

"Get these brats loaded up and get them back to Lake Bor." Akari ordered. Lake Bor was one of the Capture Points that the Federation had been in control of for the longest time. No doubt it was secure. Escaping would be nigh improbable. As the Federation loaded the high schoolers onto the tanks they started shifting them away. With what luck they had left the Federation couldn't find their tanks, as they had chosen to hide them very well. The Federation also freed the tied-up girls that had been captured by the high schoolers earlier. Now the high schoolers were being hauled off to another prison. Something Rivers dreaded and showed actual fear towards.

Raising his head from the bushes Ark watched the last of the Type 10s leave, finally giving silence its existence back to the checkpoint. Within the minute Ark rose from his position and went to the rode. He continued to watch the tanks drive away feeling a sense of dread himself. Coming up behind him were Terrance, Hina, and Fuka. All of which had similar faces of sorrow. They didn't say anything, they just stand there watching their friends getting hauled away.

"W-what do we do now?" Hina asked tears in her eyes. Ark shook his head still unable to speak, only watching as the final tank rounded a bend disappearing from sight.