It's been a couple of weeks now. All the crews are getting used to their tanks with them be maintained created a bond between their crews and with their tanks, Sarah as well bonded well with the crew, beating them all in chess, before returning to fix the tank after every meeting. All the systems had been checked the engine had run sweet as a nut and could easily move on its own weight for Sarah's tank at least, there was a little problem with one of the Sherman's gearbox. So now it was time to go to the shooting range to test fire the guns. Beth had to hire out the school field to get a decent range of 500 meters for practice shots.
Sarah was in the commanders seat with the hatch open, Alex had her drivers viewpoint opened up so she could see out very clearly.
"Ok Alex, when you're ready slowly, drives us out." Sarah said over the intercom set.
"Will do, moving out." Alex responded.
The tank's engine revved and slowly moved, once they got clear of the garage door Beth lead them to their spot on the field where they would take shots at a tank sized target. The tank stopped Oliva loaded the gun, Grace using her shoulder elevated the 2 pounder anti-tank gun.
"Ok everyone good." Sarah said over the intercom set with her head out of the turret with binoculars around her neck.
"Alex here parking brake is on!"
"Olivia here gun is loaded!"
"Ok, Grace when you're ready you may fire." Sarah spoken in a controlled but with a very noticeable hint of excitement. Grace looked through the sight and took a deep breath and she gripped the handle with the trigger and fired the shot was a little short.
"Not too bad, with how bad the sight is." Sarah said looking through her binoculars "about 5 meters short, let's have another go."
"Loaded!" Oliva shouted grace fired again this shot hit the top of the target.
"Hit. Good shot Grace. Let's have a couple more to get our eye in and we will change it up." Sarah said joyfully.
2 pounder shells where hitting the target nearly every time with the reload speed, firing it seemed every 3 seconds. Beth liked what she was seeing. They then practised what James taught her at the GBC with moving and stopping shots. These shots were a little less accurate, but they were doing exceedingly better than the other cruiser tank. Who struggled to get there eye in, even when stationary. After about 20 minutes Beth was on the radio to all the tanks. "Ok great job today ladies, we're a little rusty but it will come in time let's get these tanks back in the garage I'll help direct the drivers reversing back in."
The teams got their tank back in the garage with no major incidence apart from a couple of stalls. Sarah and her crew jumped out of there cruiser and discussed today's performance.
"Grace great shooting, Oliva that reload speed was amazing and Alex the gear changes were so smooth I thought we were in a Rolls Royce." Sarah said looking at each person individually. "let's hope we can continue this in training next time."
"Thank you, Sarah" they all said.
"Well who do I have to beat in chess now?" Sarah said jokingly.
"You won't beat me again Sarah." Alex said.
They started walking off together, Beth then shouted over "Just before you go can I have a word Sarah."
"Yes sure." She responded "I'll catch you guys up in a bit." Talking to her crew.
"That sure was amazing what you did with that tank." Beth said.
"Oh that was nothing it's just I have an amazing crew. I'm just there to talk." Sarah said a bit embarrassed.
"I want you to be my vice Commander." Beth said looking into Sarah's eyes.
"Are you sure only after one training session? But I haven't got the right tactical awareness." Sarah said spluttering.
"I've seen you play chess, you're thinking 4 steps ahead and that's what we need. I have 100% faith in you. And think about it like this you're basically my sidekick so there is no real pressure, I can take the flak." Beth smiled "And anyway I have it all sorted, you're tank will be queen, mine King, Ashley's Sherman Bishop, Emma's Sherman Knight, and Isabella cruiser rook."
"What about the pawns?" Sarah said.
"Ummmmm they can be the targets down at the other end of the field" she and Sarah laughed.
The weeks flew by and everyone was improving leaps and bounds, however driving was an issue so as there was not enough room so they asked the ship's council to practice driving on the roads. The council were more than happy they closed off some roads so the tanks could get to their top speeds, and make formations on the move.
However time was against them and the day of the draw had arrived there was a mix of emotions from the team of commanders of each tank some were excited and some filled with dreed, Sarah and Beth where both on edge as this was going to be Beth's first time as commander and Sarah as vice commander, they got onto Boston Highs Vosper 70 ft Motor Torpedo Boat which dropped them off at the local most port which was Southend in the far east of London. They got off a little seasick from the choppy waters and were happy to be on solid land.
"Well think of it like this Sarah on D-day the surf was a lot rougher." said Beth in a humorous way
Sarah smiled back.
They caught the train into the centre of London to the Tankery HQ known as the ETA the English Tankery Association, talking about tactics and playing chess, with Beth winning every game against each commander. When they arrived at the ETA which was a grand old looking gothic looking building with orange bricks and also spire's at each corner with a Chieftain as a Gate Guardian, which was on a ramp in a dull down position.
"Beth, how could they get that there with the engine being so unreliable?" Sarah said jokingly.
"Probably with some very exhausted crew members pushing it" she replied.
They showed there passes to the reception and a member of staff showed them to the grand hall with seats allocated for them. They were at the far left of the hall out of the way of everyone else with the standard levels of talking, 10 minutes later everything went quite, as a girl followed by 20 others walked in, everyone turned their heads to see Racheal Blacksmith. She was wearing a her battle dress a khaki coloured shirt and skirt with a dark green tie on her shirt she had 2 small golden MK 4 tank badges on her chest. Her hair was black and had hazel eyes and thin face. She walked in not looking at anyone not speaking just looking straight and the podium. She sat in right at the front in the middle.
Sarah and Beth looked at each other and nodded, she was the commander of Bovington alright.
"say, Beth what where those Badges she has on?" she whispered.
"Only player of the GBC tournament for being the best commander, so basically she was given them for free for just showing up as they always win" she mumbled back.
"James didn't even get one of those. I've heard it's her last year as commander isn't it?" responded Sarah.
"Yep and good riddance! Hopefully, there might be another English team that wins it this year, as it's no fair with Bovington having all the best tanks and arguably crews as well that's why they have won the English tournament 15 years in a row and the GBC 7 years in a row. Anyway, what did your brother do anyway? "
"He didn't do much really he…." She responded.
The head of the ETA walked onto the stage and gave his welcoming address and reiterated the rules of the tournament which stated the first match would have a maximum of 10 tanks and then go up in 5s with 3 rounds until the final where it was a maximum of 30, all battles would be flag battles and that at the end of each round, there would be another random draw so it was unpredictable who anyone would get, the next round draws would take place on the 23rd October, the other rules everyone knew about. After the long-winded speech was done, it was time for the draw to begin. So Beth walked put with the other commanders onto the stage, with the bowl with numbers on black balls, from 1-16 each number written in white corresponded to a school based on the schools name alphabetically so Boston High was number 1 Bovington number 2 etc.
The ETA head put his hand in the pot he drew out number 7 Southampton college, he put his hand in again 13 Tilbury sixth form, the commanders walked over to each other and shook hands, again his hand went into the bowl number 1 Sarah felt the butterflies in her stomach and time now slowed as his hand spun the balls in the bowl and out came number 2 the middle section erupted in cheers. Beth walked over to Racheal Blacksmith and gave out her hand Racheal Blacksmith took a strong grasp and lent into Beth's ear and whispered."Don't worry the match will only be about 15 minutes long, I personally would concede now."
Taken aback Beth couldn't even speak she was filled with so much anger, she could only watch as Racheal calmly walked off the stage to seat with her team.
"It's going to last 15 minutes alright." Beth said under her breath.
A/N as I'm a little ahead of time here is a bonus chapter for this week.