Crossover Shipgirls: Building a Dimensional Empire from Scratch

At that moment, outside the arena, the tankery match commentator was diligently introducing the event to the spectators.

With Kuromorimine, Saunders, and Pravda now on the field, she was confident this would be an exciting match and enthusiastically began her commentary.

”Ladies and gentlemen, this is a direct confrontation between the Nishizumi and Shimada tankery schools—in a way, a battle that represents the highest level of tankery in our nation.”

”Representing the Nishizumi school is Miho Nishizumi. Their tank force includes... Representing the Shimada school is the tank prodigy Arisu Shimada. The university selection team has fielded...”

”Both teams have now entered combat formation. Let’s first take a look at the Shimada school’s strategy.”

Click—

The camera shifted to the university selection team.

Arisu Shimada’s Centurion tank was positioned on high ground, while the other 29 Pershings were divided into smaller squads, using their mobility to secure advantageous terrain.

They weaved through the forest, quickly partitioning the battlefield.

”Hmm, the Shimada school emphasizes fluid maneuver warfare, relying on ambushes and repositioning to create favorable encounters.”

”It seems Arisu Shimada has a deep understanding and excellent execution of Shimada-style tankery.”

The commentator praised Arisu’s tactical deployment.

Off-site, Chiyo Shimada nodded in satisfaction, pleased with her daughter’s formation.

”Now let’s look at Ōarai Girls’ Academy’s tactics. How will they deal with the formidable Pershings...”

Snap—

The feed switched to Ōarai Girls’ Academy.

”The Nishizumi school focuses on terrain control and overwhelming firepower to achieve swift, decisive battles. It’s a straightforward yet powerful tactic...”

The commentator stopped mid-sentence.

She rubbed her eyes, wondering if she hadn’t gotten enough sleep the night before.

Then, in a shrill and panicked voice, she cried out:

”Ōarai’s tanks are taking off! The Panzer IV is airborne!!!”

”Unbelievable!!! It’s accelerating!”

”The Panzer IV, Jagdpanzer, and StuG III are forming an aerial formation, flying toward the university team!!”

”Is this the new Nishizumi tactic?! Absolutely unprecedented!!!”

”??!!”

Even Shiho Nishizumi and Chiyo Shimada, along with every spectator, stared in utter disbelief.

Unprecedented.

After decades of watching tankery, they’d seen wheeled tanks, super-heavy tanks, but never flying ones.

”???”

Shiho Nishizumi leaned forward slightly, frowning at the broadcast screen.

She certainly didn’t remember teaching her daughter anything like this.

BOOM—

The modified flying tanks—or rather, mini-shuttles—moved at blinding speed.

Within minutes, as Arisu was still coordinating a pincer maneuver...

She suddenly looked up and noticed several dark specks on the far end of the horizon.

”What is that?... A tankery alliance broadcast helicopter?”

The black dots grew larger.

Finally, when she saw the Panzer IV trailing jet flames through the air, emblazoned with the Ōarai Girls’ Academy crest, her pupils shrank.

”What the hell?!”

”Why are Ōarai’s tanks flying?!”

The Pershing team on the ground descended into chaos.

Despite the shock, Arisu quickly regained composure, demonstrating her combat instincts.

”Aim and fire!”

”No matter what kind of enemy they are, in the air they’re just targets!”

BOOM BOOM BOOM—

From mid-slope positions, tanks adjusted their angles using rocks and hills to fire at the airborne Ōarai units.

BOOM—

But the shells exploded about ten meters short, stopped by a faint blue shield that erupted in fiery bursts on impact.

[Klein Field Saturation: 0.0021%]

The onboard AI calmly reported the tank’s shield status.

”???”

”What the heck is that supposed to be?!”

The university team had never seen anything like this kind of advanced tech. Even Miho Nishizumi, Mako Reizei, and the rest inside the tank were utterly dumbfounded.

”Hmm... let me think. How do you operate the Panzer IV’s main cannon again...”

Gunner Hana Isuzu flipped through the manual while tapping around the holographic interface.

[Targeting Radar Activated.]

Beep—

A terrain scan lit up on the screen, with red squares highlighting over a dozen nearby Pershing tanks.

[Guided Missile Strike Ready.]

The AI’s flat voice delivered the prompt.

”Huh? What? Guided missiles?”

The Panzer IV crew blinked. This was the first time they’d even heard of such a thing on a tank.

Clack—

Two missile racks extended from the Panzer IV’s side skirts, each fitted with custom-built mini-guided missiles by the Bulins.

They were only slightly larger than tank shells, but far more advanced, equipped with autonomous targeting and tracking.

Whoosh—

Twelve missiles streaked through the air in elegant arcs, striking their locked targets dead-on.

BOOM—

After a series of fierce explosions, twelve Pershings raised their white flags.

Thanks to their modified payloads, the missiles were non-lethal, but powerful enough to disable the tanks.

”Whoa?! It’s that powerful?!”

Miho was stunned.

She had never seen a weapon that could wipe out a dozen tanks in one strike—and it was so easy to use. Just lock targets on radar.

The other Ōarai crews followed suit.

Clumsily but excitedly, they began using their new weapons.

Boom—

The Jagdpanzer broke through the atmosphere, now surrounded by a field of stars.

Anzu Kadotani tapped an option on her screen.

[Activating Orbital Strike Mode.]

Zzzzt—

A high-energy beam pierced the sky, descending from orbit and carving a deep trench into the battlefield.

The university team’s formation was utterly shattered. Even the terrain itself was permanently altered.

The StuG III fired its main gun and precisely hit a Karl railway gun hidden in the forest, setting off a small mushroom cloud.

The shockwave flipped friend and foe alike hundreds of meters away.

”???”

The commentator’s mind had gone blank—none of her prepared lines were usable anymore.

She could only babble incoherently based on the madness unfolding on screen.

”Guided missiles!!! Ōarai Girls’ Academy’s tanks are using guided missiles mid-air to attack the university team!!”

”Energy weapons—oooooh!!! The Jagdpanzer deployed an energy weapon never before seen! Is this new Ōarai tech?!”

”The StuG III is executing a diving strike on the enemy!!”

”The M3 Lee... the M3 Lee has transformed!!!...”

”Ōarai Girls’ Academy has brought us a whole new understanding of tankery!!! The Nishizumi-style has claimed a crushing victory!!!”

BOOM BOOM BOOM—

BOOM—

Under the relentless aerial bombardment and overwhelming firepower of Ōarai Girls’ Academy, Arisu Shimada’s university team was utterly wiped out in under five minutes.

Even Arisu’s own Centurion was hit by the Panzer IV, raising a white flag.

The little girl poked her head out of the hatch, clutching her teddy bear, eyes wide as she stared in a daze at the scene before her.

”So this is the Nishizumi style?!”

Arisu looked up at Miho.

She had never seen a tankery battle like this in her entire life.

”Uhh...”

Miho was still in shock over the flying tanks, Klein fields, and orbital strikes.

She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Did... did we win?

They had probably won, though the method was far from what anyone had imagined.

Was this what that older sister meant by ”Starshipery” instead of Tankery? It was just too advanced.

So this is the kind of technology girls in the interstellar age study?

”Where is Sister Formidable right now?...”

Miho looked up at the sky, full of questions she wanted to ask those otherworldly shipgirls.

Unfortunately, they had said they were busy today and wouldn’t be attending the match.

At the judges’ panel—

The Ministry of Education official who had insisted on shutting down Ōarai was now furious.

”Violation! Ōarai has violated the rules!! They illegally modified their tanks!!!”

”The Tankery Federation will never recognize this result!!!”

Ōarai had deployed technology so outrageous that it shattered everyone’s expectations.

He whipped out his phone, preparing to report to his superiors.

Beep—beep—

The other end of the line was busy. No one answered.

Then, as he casually opened a news app, he froze on the spot.

[Three hours ago, the Japanese government, Eagle Union, and Royal Navy announced surrender to the Starsea Empire.]

[From now on, the United Nations will fall under the jurisdiction of the Starsea Empire. The Tankery Federation is officially dissolved. All girls’ academies will convert to Starshipery programs. Outstanding students will be given the opportunity to study at the Starsea Empire’s Starfleet Academy.]

[Details below...]

The image showed a majestic starship fleet and uniformed Formidable and Victorious signing treaties with top government officials.

To pre-space era civilizations, conquest came effortlessly. A minor display of advanced tech was all it took for nations to realize the hopeless gap in power.

”???”

The official was completely dumbstruck.

He had just watched a match—and in the meantime, Japan and the entire Tankery Federation had ceased to exist?!

Wait, the UN was gone too?!

Were they now a vassal state?!

”ehhhhhh?!”

The girls who had just finished the match also saw the breaking news.

”What?! The new criteria for Yamato Nadeshiko includes flower arranging, tea ceremony, and starship dogfighting now?!”

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