Girls Und Panzer: Iron Dragon
Chapter 6: The Past and The Present
In the past, it was the cavalry that would ride bravely into battle brandishing swords and lances as they charged into the enemy lines. Though the time period for that style of battle is long over, the cavalry have changed from using purpose bred stallions to the tank and tank hunter. Yet we still remember them in the way of our standard issue uniform.
The uniforms we wear are based off the Beiyang Army during the Warlords Era. The difference being that we are schoolgirls and we wear skirts with the option of having navy blue pantyhose. Schoolgirls from the Tank Hunter School in the Hunan Province wear the tan uniforms with army green pantyhose. We all wear tank goggles on our peaked caps.
I will be honest. I would think the old Warlords are turning in their graves seeing what their uniforms have become, and are now being worn by schoolgirls driving and operating tanks. Tank commanders like myself are issued the Type 65 sword to signify our rank, though we officers are trained in how to use it. It does make me proud to have this sword.
"I should've known these Chinese Cows would cheat!" said a young girl in a most annoying voice,
Nails on a chalkboard would have been much more preferable, "晚上好 (Wǎnshàng hǎo)," I replied,
Putting that blond midget in the breech to fertilize the landscape is tempting, but I will digress. She seemed offended by my words as the taller one named 'Nonna' was holding her back. All I said was good evening. I offered her a cup of tea only to have her slap it away, "You and your knock-off tanks will be nothing but scrap metal!" she boasted to us,
It is time to go full Chinese, and I am not holding back any of my words, "小孩子没有规矩, 很没有礼貌, 那样会显得很没教养!" (xiǎo háizi méiyǒu guīju, hěn méiyǒu lǐmào, nàyàng huì xiǎnde hěn méi jiàoyǎng!)," I said to the Commander of the Pravda Girls High School, and gave her a piece of my mind. I am not her mother. If I was, I would give her 'the cane'
The other members of our tank units stood by my side. I had Han Hui Yin on my left, and Xia Li Yu on my right. I can always count on them. I placed a hand on the pommel of my sword, and my crew crossed their arms. As arrogant as Katyusha is, I have to admire the fire in her eyes. She wants to face us, and is eager for battle. Still, we must all wait
"Soon you Stupid Chinese Cows will see what real tankery is!" that 'walking tank shell' proclaimed,
"It's amazing how that little girl can harbor such a big ego," Ying Yue commented watching them leave,
"How appropriate, a big ego to go with that big head of hers," Hui Yin joked, earning herself some laughs.
"Well, little dogs bark the loudest, and loud voices belay a weak cause," I replied as words of wisdom to the crews. They saluted, and went to rest in our quarters as we went back to the quarters so kindly provided by the Japanese. It seems the Japanese come to us with curiosity like the girls from Ooarai, or they want to crush us like Pravda does.
It was the day before the match, and it seemed like any other day. We were going about our daily exercises in our gym uniforms until we saw that our ammunition had come for the match. There were 10cm and 12.2cm shells for our medium tanks and tank hunters. We bowed thankfully to them. Looking forward to our first, I felt inside that we can win.
Our crews worked hard to get to these moments. We have faced greater and better teams from the Euro League, and I feel we can take on the best the Japanese have to offer. Now it would soon be time to prove it. From the way they exercise to the runs we have in the woods to how we take care of our tanks, I have the utmost faith in all of our crews.
The day of our match arrived, and I placed my sword on the top drawer, "It is time," I said to my crew,
"We are all with you, Commander Shen, now lead us," said Hui Yin as all the tank crews stood and saluted,
All of us were in our uniforms worn properly with respected to our tanks, to our schools, and to our country. I saluted back to the crews, and we went to the middle of the field to meet the judges and the opposing crews of Pravda. There was a confidence in the step of the one called Katyusha as she and Nonna met me and the other tank commanders.
There is Commander Rushi of Team Mountain Leopard, Commander Ling Fa of Team White Tiger, Commander Li Ming of Team Soaring Eagle, and Commander Da Xia of Team Jade Fox. Being that the judges are authority figures in a match, we gave them a salute before shaking hands with them. We looked at and studied our opponent before bowing.
"Now then, I want a nice clean match, from all of you, this is an elimination match, the teams that knock out all the opponent's tanks wins," explained one of the overseers. As rude as Katyusha was last night, we will give her crews a fair match. This is an open field. There is no where to hide. The commanders and I left the field and went to our tanks.
I lightly grinned as we shared a salute between all our tank crew members, "Are we ready?" I asked,
Commander Da Xia smirked a grin, "It is passed that little girl's bedtime, let us do the honor of tucking her in,"
We all climbed into our tanks and tank hunters. Hui Yin was in the driver's seat. I took my place with Ying Yue and Li Yu in the turret. With a turn of the key, our tanks came to life. Our 'Stone Lion' roared as a lion would with a diesel engine. The magazine was loaded, and our crews were primed and ready. We waited for the signal for the match to start
(Please read and review kindly. Watch out Pravda, here comes Iron Dragon)