Author's Notes: Hello everyone. I'm Karl the Arty. So Das Finale happened and it kind of persuaded me to write GuP again in Tankery form.
Allow me to introduce you to this new GuP fic, which was inspired by an East German march of all things.
Anyway, I plan on including schools representing the following countries in this story, and here is a small sample size of them:
-Schools with a fixed cast and concluded research
1. Partizani Technical Institute (Yugoslavia)
2. Wilhelmina Girls Academy (Netherlands)
3. First of March High School (Indonesia)
4. East Kumamoto High School (East Germany)
That's all from me. I hope you enjoy this story, and I hope to see you in the next chapter.
Neue Anfänge
The clattering of tank treads echoed in the forest, disturbing the previously peaceful and tranquil environment. Birds took off from trees in alarm; the sky filled itself with the sounds of machines.
Three Renault NC2 Kegresse light tanks found themselves in the forest, their turrets rotating left and right in search of targets. One of the Kegresses stopped as its commander stuck her head out of the rear turret hatch. She scanned the area, obviously sensing something to not be right.
Suddenly, an explosion echoed through the forest as a 50mm armor piercing shell burrowed into the rear section of one of the Kegresses. The poor light tank's engine compartment exploded in a brilliant display of pyrotechnics before the tank's white flag popped out of the top of the turret.
"Dva!" one of the commanders exclaimed. "Are you alright!?"
"This is Dva! I'm sorry ma'am, but we're out of the fight!"
"Where did that even come from!?"
The commanders of the remaining Kegresses sighed in relief before nearly being thrown out of their positions. Two shots rang out in the quiet before striking the Kegresses, knocking them out of the fight.
Meanwhile, under the cover of the local bushes and shrubbery, a Panzer III Ausf. H and a T-34-85 continued to monitor the situation, their gun barrels still smoking from the shots they fired.
"Targets neutralized," the commander of the T-34-85 reported. "No further movement visible.
"Right," the commander of the Panzer III replied. "What do they have left?"
"A Hellcat, M36, and two T-34-85s. All of their Renaults and Panzer IIs have been dealt with."
"By 'Renaults' I assume you're also including their R35s and FT-17s, as well as every single Kegresse we destroyed?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Which one is their flag tank?"
"The Hellcat."
"Good," the Panzer III's commander adjusted her cap before signalling her driver to start the engines.
"Let's rendezvous with the main force," she continued. "Hopefully they did not get wiped out."
"Is that wise, Itsumi?" the T-34-85 commander asked. "We might be able to flank them from here."
The commander of the Panzer III H, Monika Itsumi, shook her head at the suggestion.
"I just have a feeling," she said. The Panzer III and T-34 backed out of their ambush area before moving to their next location.
"Knowing our commander, she won't want to stay in place."
"Verdammt! How did it come to this!?"
Shells whizzed past two columns of tanks, both taking cover behind opposite ridgelines just enough to fire shots at each other. A Panther Ausf. F managed to back just in time behind the ridge as a 76mm shell whizzed overhead, while a nearby Panzer IV exploded into a pyrotechnics show as a 90mm shell struck its hull.
A T-34-85 soon rolled up to the Panther, which also barely dodged a few shells from the enemy tanks. The T-34's commander popped her head out of the turret.
"Did we seriously just lose four tanks to them!?" she exclaimed in disbelief. "This is your fault!"
"How was I supposed to know we will be ambushed!?"
"It's the most OBVIOUS place for an ambush!"
The two commanders gritted their teeth at each other, before a third voice cut through the chatter.
"Um, everyone?" the voice said. "Can we please stop shouting at each other?"
"What else do you suggest we do, Itsumi!?"
"Hold out as long as you can," Monika replied. "We're flanking around right now."
Upon not receiving a satisfactory reply, Monika pointed out their current predicament, which also happened to be their advantage.
"The School is closing anyway, regardless of what we do," she said. "We've got nothing to lose, so let's make sure we leave a mark in history."
The faces of both tank commanders brightened.
"You got it!" the Panther commander exclaimed. "You heard her, Kameraden! Keep the enemy's attention on us! We're going out with the biggest bang ever! Hurra!"
"Hurra!"
The Hellcat fired another shell at the enemy as the commander of the tank-destroyer observed the situation through her binoculars. Suddenly, a transmission interrupted her concentration.
"Komandant društva," the transmission said. "We have lost contact with the rest of our Kegresses. I don't think reinforcements will be coming."
The Hellcat commander scoffed upon hearing the news.
"It matters not," said she. "With the way things are going, we are going to win this anyway."
She opened one of the hatches, one required by the rules to be installed, and peered across no-man's land. An 85mm shell whistled past her, but she paid no heed to the noise.
"Enemy T-34," said she. "One o'clock. Distance, 717 meters. Pucaj."
The Hellcat's 76mm spoke again.
Meanwhile, a T-34-85 and Panzer III H drove as fast as they could towards the rear of the enemy lines. The T-34's commander poked her head out of the turret to say something.
"Itsumi!" said she. "I don't think we will make it in time!"
Monika remained silent as she listened to the endless radio chatter through her headset. Panicked voices and gunfire echoed into her ears as she silently directed the Panzer III to its destination.
She sighed, before a melody began to escape her lips.
"Dort wo der Morgenwind Träume verweht…"
The T-34's commander soon caught on.
"Wo sich der junge Tag zögernd erhebt!"
Through the radio, Monika heard some of the other commanders join in.
"Hört man von Ferne her uns're Division, tonen die Panzer schwer und grollt ihr Ton!"
The two tanks soon burst out of the shrubbery, taking a few potshots at the enemy tanks while closing the distance.
A 50mm shell found itself striking the hull of one of the T-34s, before bouncing harmlessly off. The other T-34 was not so lucky, for an 85mm shell struck it square on, popping the tanks white flag into the air.
"Dort wo der Panzeralarm plötzlich zerbricht…"
The Panther F jumped out of its hiding place, firing a shot at the enemy tanks before rushing forward. The other remaining tanks soon followed.
"Zeichnet der harte Tag jedes Gesicht!"
A volley of shells instantly tore the remaining enemy T-34 apart, its corpse now displaying its white flag.
"Dies gab den Anblick uns, freude übermannt..."
Monika's Panzer III then knocked out the enemy M36 before switching her attention to the Hellcat.
"Ja Freude, sondern tont das "Hurra!" weit in das Land!"
The Panzer III's 50mm spoke once, and the Hellcat's white flag popped into the air.
And then, an announcement.
"Partizani Technical Institute's Flag Tank has been immobilized! East Kumamoto High School wins!"
"...And then Pravda, of all places, screwed us over."
Monika, holding a bottle of Fanta in her hand, took a sip of the drink before leaning back in her seat.
"So East Kumamoto is still closing regardless?"
The boy sitting in front of Monika, black hair, blue eyes, also took a sip from a bottle of Fanta.
The two found themselves in a cafe, a fairly typical one at that, doing some last-minute homework before they left.
Monika sighed, brushing some of her white hair away from her eyes with her hand as she did so.
"Kuromorimine is buying up most of our equipment," she continued. "I don't know if we will be fully integrated or just replaced."
"Well, at least you get to see your cousin," the boy replied. "Right?"
Monika chuckled at the statement.
"I know, Len, but I don't want to get in Erika's way," she replied. "She has enough on her shoulders already."
Len Kazakiri shrugged in response, taking another swing from his Fanta as he did so.
"Fair enough," he replied. "Is Kuromorimine buying that as well?"
Monika raised an eyebrow in confusion, before letting out an "Oh," in understanding.
"You mean that T-54 that's been sitting in our hanger for some time?" she said. "No, that one is going to America."
Len nearly spat his Fanta out.
"What!?" he exclaimed. "Why?"
"You didn't hear?" Monika asked. "The US League decided to change some rules for their tournaments."
She paused for dramatic effect, because why not?
"Tanks need to have been designed during or before the year 1945," she continued. "But upgrades can be from the year 1954 or before. This allows for people to operate vehicles like the T-54-3, simply by replacing a few parts."
"More like a complete overhaul," Len muttered to himself, while Monika brushed off the comment.
"This also allows for the usage of tanks like the M46 Patton, since it's technically an upgraded M26 Pershing, as well as early model Centurions, T-34/100s, and M50 Super Shermans," Monika finished, to which Len raised a hand.
"Question," said he. "I don't think the M50 counts because that came about in 1955, not '54."
"The M50 prototype was designed in '54."
"Well, fair enough then."
"On a different note," Monika said. "The Panzer III and its crew are going with me."
"To where?"
"Ooarai."
Len nearly spat out his Fanta.
"Are you serious!?" he exclaimed. "That's awesome!"
He reached across the table to pat Monika on the shoulder.
"Good luck over there," said he.
"You too," Monika replied. "Where are you headed this time?"
"Saudi Arabia," Len said. "Tensions are rising a little too high apparently."
"Will the UN intervene?" Monika asked.
"Possibly," Len replied. "You know how it is with Monarchies and succession problems."
Monika sighed at the comment before getting out of her seat.
"Good point," she replied. "I need to start packing. See you tomorrow."
Len simply waved in reply.
The next day, Monika found herself staring at a Kuromorimine Me 323 Gigant being
loaded up with her Panzer III. She found the sight to be quite surreal, as almost every other aircraft seemed to be recent Boeing or Airbus designs.
Voices echoed behind her.
Monika turned around to find four girls walking up to her, each dressed in their old East Kumamoto uniforms.
"Hey guys!" said she. "Glad to see you guys made it."
The lead girl grinned at the comment, before looking back at the others.
"Soldaten!" she called. "Gruß!"
The girls immediately snapped to attention before saluting Monika. Monika returned the salute before smiling at the girls again.
"At ease," she said. "I assume you all are done packing?"
The girls nodded in reply.
"Good," Monika said. "We will now prepare to board our flight to our new home. I know it has been a tough time for all of us, fighting even though we knew it to be for nothing. But just because Kuromorimine did not accept you does not mean you are 'inferior' to any of your former classmates."
Monika glanced at the girl on the furthest right.
"That includes you, Rina."
Rina, brown hair, emerald eyes, and some freckles on her face, nodded in response.
"Yes ma'am!" she replied, to which Monika smiled.
"Ooarai seems to be the Ministry of Education's primary target when it comes to closing schools due to lack of budget," Monika continued. "Let's make sure they don't end up like we do."
The four girls nodded.
Monika took a deep breath.
"Right, let's do this one last time," she concluded. "Sieg Ostkumamoto!"
"Hurra!"