Anarchy from the UK!
By Jangocommando27
Chapter 10: Frozen tundra is cold…
Japanese Northern Sensha-dō Arena, Hokkaido
Semi final match: Kuromorimine/ St. Gloriana
08:52
"Jesus Christ its cold!" muttered Chris.
James was inclined to agree. It was still early January and the semi final battle area was in northern Hokkaido, the ground was covered with a foot off deep snow and the sky was black. Due to the freezing cold, James had ordered all 15 of St. Gloriana's tanks, (His Centurion, 4 Comets, 8 Cromwells and 2 Crusaders) to keep their engines idling and not to shut down, for fear of the engines seizing up and being rendered inoperable.
James picked up his mug of coco from where it sat in Achilles' turret, taking a sip of the warm liquid. This was another example of their preparedness. James had ordered all tanks to be fitted with battery powered heaters with back up batteries separate from the engines, so the crews would remain warm even if their tanks engines' failed. He'd also seen that all the tanks were fitted with boiling vessels and each crew was issued with a healthy supply of tea, coco, coffee, ration packs, and warm clothing, as well as an excess of arctic survival kit. He'd also ordered that everyone were to wear gloves and for each tank to go into battle with their towing cables already hitched up, just in case. Finally he'd had a number of tanks, including the flag tank (one of the comets,) and his own centurion, fitted with snow ploughs, so they could move through the deep snow.
He looked out of his cupola's periscopes, he could see a figure running towards them.
It was Jay, back from recon.
James popped open his hatch and jumped out, allowing his gunner to jump into his seat before following him back inside. Once inside and buttoned up, Jay gave his report;
"They've got 2 Tiger 1's with one of them being the flag tank, 5 JagdPanzer IV's and 7 Panzer IV ausf H's and a Panzer II. All painted up for arctic warfare. Thermal camera shows they've got their engine's running too."
"Good work mate." Said James, he turned to John. "Get him a cup of coffee." John set to brewing another cup of coffee for Jay while James got on the radio to his platoon commanders to relay Kuromorimine's team composition and relay the updated plan. The team would split into 3 forces. Katana force, which would consist of James' Centurion and 5 Cromwells, and Nagitana force which would consist of the 2 Comets and 4 Cromwells. The final 3 tanks would be the flag tank and its escort, crown force. Consisting of the Churchill under Assam's command escorted by 2 Crusaders.
The battlefield was, to all intensive purposes, large rectangle, with 2 snowy planes on either side of a large central forest. The plan, would be that katana and Nagitana forces would advance in 2 single columns until they got to the forest, where they would fan out into single lines and advance slowly to avoid being out flanked and use coordinated fire to take out their targets. Crown force would remain behind the main line of thanks
"MATCH START!"
"All tanks, forward!"
Kuromorimine starting area
"MATCH START!"
"All tanks, advance." Ordered Maho calmly. Her 60 ton Tiger tank's engine roared as the lumbering heavy tank moved into motion. Despite the cold, Maho elected to stand in the open cupola of her tank, affording her a better view of her surroundings. Her plan was to move her tanks as a single group, with the flag tank (the second tiger on the team) to be at the center of their formation with the rest of the tanks forming a defensive perimeter around it. The only exception to this was the teams panzer II, which Maho had sent to scout ahead. She could see it speeding away into the forest, kicking up a wake of snow behind it.
She had a lot riding on this battle. Since she had spoken to Sergeant Hunter at the Sensha-dō commanders feast, Maho's mother had been going on almost none-stop about the male commanders. However, of the 3, only Sergeant Hunter remained. The German transfer to Ōarai had been knocked out by Sergeant Hunter in the first round and the Italian student had been knocked out along with Anzio in the second round by Pravda, who themselves had been knocked out by Saunders in the previous semi-final round. It also severely vexed her mother, that as well as having proved himself as an adept tank commander, Sergeant Hunter had taken command of the St. Gloriana tankery team in light of Darjeeling's injury.
Despite her mother's belief that the only thing that mattered in Sensha-dō was strength above all, Maho had overtime cultivated a close friendship with Darjeeling and the other team commanders, seeing in them what she often lacked in herself. Darjeeling, for example, was both respected and liked by her subordinates as well as being the poster girl for chivalry and grace. While Maho was respected by her comrades, it was because of her name and the weight it carried, less because of her as a person.
"Regardless," she thought to herself, "I will fight with the full power of the Nishizumi style, and defeat St. Gloriana."
Achilles
"3 German officers in a tank! 1 to drive and 2 to wank! 3 German officers in a tank! Taboo! Taboo!"
James and his crew laughed as they sang the old soldiers song as the tank Centurion cruised through the forest. James kept a scanning for movement through the forest, not wanting to get jumped by an ambush, or come nose to nose with a tiger out of now where.
"So did you guy's hear the rumors?" asked John on the tanks intercom. Chris was the first to speak up, slightly annoyed.
"I swear to god if this is about that bloody curry again…"
"Nah," John interrupted. "This is about our esteemed gunner… and is girlfriend."
"Oi! Piss off!" Jay shot back. This had James' attention, he had not heard any rumors of what happened while his colleagues were away for Christmas.
"What's the rumor?" asked James.
"Well, according to a reliable source…"
"Meaning Assam…"
"He was kicked out of a nightclub for drunken disorderly conduct…"
"I was never!"
"What did you do Jay?"
"Nothing!"
"According to the rumor, he was feeling Assam up in public."
"She asked me too!" Jay shouted over the intercom, then immediately realized what he said. There was silence, before the lads started laughing hysterically. James, Chris and John immediately started singing.
"Assam and Jay! Up a tree! W-A-N-K-I-N-G-H-I-M-O-F-F!"
"SCREW ALL OF YOU!" Shouted Jay, the guys kept laughing at their gunner for a moment, When James spotted something in the forest.
"Oi lads! shut it!" He called down. "Possible contact, load AP. Traverse left 10 degrees."
The laughter immediately died and was replaced by the whine of the turret traverse motors and by John slamming a round into the breach.
"All tanks. Possible contact at grid 267,542." Reported James. About 50 meters either side of his Centurion was a Cromwell, they would be able to provide fire support if needed. As they inched closer, they discovered it was a tank… just not as they'd expected.
It was Kuromorimine's panzer II, but it looked as if it had dropped into a large hole as the tank was buried up to the front of the turret with its engine deck in the air. To make matters worse for the crew, who were freezing in a tank with no engine turning over, there was a bear who was taking swipes at the tank's amour to no avail. As the centurion entered the equation, the bear turned and roared at it.
"Jay, put a shot into the engine deck of the panzer II, hopefully that'll scare the bear off. " Ordered James
"Rog'"
The Centurion's 20mm polsten fired a short burst of 3 rounds into the light tank, its engine deck exploded in a small fireball before smoking. The KO flag deployed almost immediately and the bear took off. The announcer reported the loss of the Panzer II over the radios.
"Alright guys." Said James, "Keep an eye out for more bears, I'm gonna check on the panzer II crew."
"Got it boss." Acknowledged John as James unhooked himself from the tank's intercom and climbed down from the tank. He walked over to the panzer II and rapped is knuckles on the commander's hatch.
"Hello? Everyone alright in there?" he called. He heard movement inside the tank and stepped back as the commander's hatch opened. A teenage girl dressed in a Kuromorimine uniform appeared in the open hatch. She looked somewhat disheveled (Somewhat understandably if her tank had crashed and then attacked by a bear.)
"Are you alright?" asked James.
"THANK YOU!" the girl shouted as she leapt out of the turret and jumped on James. James caught her and held her as the she started crying into his chest.
'Sure hope Darj ain't watching.' He though, knowing that she would probably go through some kind of phase if she saw this. He managed to peel her off "It's all right. You're safe now. The recovery crews will be here soon."
"Right…" said the girl, getting herself back together and reforming into a typical Kuromorimine student, albeit an embarrassed one. "Thank you for your assistance."
"You ok for food and medical supplies?"
"We should be fine."
James turned to Achilles and waved at it. John opened the loaders hatch and appeared to see what his commander wanted.
"Toss us a spare tranger would ya?"
"Sure boss." Called back the loader as he ducked back into the tank. James turned back to the commander.
"Just to be sure." He said. John reappeared and in the hatch and threw the metal tranger set out of the turret. James picked it up and gave it to the panzer II commander, before returning to his tank, and resuming the advance.
09:18
"This is Katana 4. Contact front at the tree line."
"All tank's form firing line on Katana 4." Ordered James. The Gloriana tanks halted short of the tree line. Kuromorimine's tanks were holing position in the open field with some of the crews dismounted and crawling all over one of the tigers and a few other tanks.
James smiled. As he'd expected, some of the tanks had had trouble in the deep snow and one of the tigers had become stuck, frozen and broken down. And it appeared that, unwilling to abandon one of their precious heavy tanks alone, Kuromorimine had been so kind as to set up all their tanks in defensive positions around the stricken tanks, out in the open.
'Sitting ducks.' Said James.
Still, James knew Maho Nishizumi was a smart commander. Eventually she would give up on the stuck tiger and move on, and moving targets were harder to hit than stationary ones. If the spectators were hoping for a long, pitched battle, they were to be disappointed.
"All tanks, load armor piercing." Ordered James.
"Target the flag tank boss?" asked Jay.
"Fire on my command." Replied James. He didn't even need to tell Jay, he knew what he was thinking.
Had it been another school or another commander, James was sure they would have put it into a pitched battle of some sort. But James had fought and lost enough tankery battles in Europe to know that it wasn't often the best way to do it. Sometimes you needed a scalpel, not a battleaxe. Besides, it was bloody cold in the frozen tundra. The sooner both commanders had their crews in the warmth the sooner they'd be happier.
"Loading complete." Announced John. James heard over the radio the other tanks confirming that they were loaded and ready to fire on their selected targets. He took one last look at the target. The tank crew were still in the open and at risk from injury when they fired.
'Time for some chivalry.' Thought James. He picked up his mouth mic for the radio and turned the set to an all wavelength setting. No matter what radio channel they were on, Kuromorimine would hear this.
"Attention Kuromorimine tankery team. This is Sergeant James Hunter, acting commander St. Gloriana tankery team. I have your flag tank in my sights and my gunner is itching to blow it sky high. Your crews have 10 seconds to take cover or button up before we end this match. Out."
James switched the radio back to his team channel and watched the second hand on his watch.
"All tanks fire on my command." He said into the radio, watching the seconds count down.
"Fire."
Along the tree line the St. Gloriana tank opened up with a volley of 6 pounder, 77mm and 17 pounder armor piercing rounds.
"Kuromorimine flag tank has been immobilized. St. Gloriana women's academy wins!"
James didn't waste time as his crew celebrated.
"All tanks advance to the Kuromorimine positions and pick up those crews. Let's get them out of here before they freeze! Let's go go go!"
Kuromorimine Assembly area
09:30
Achilles and a few of the other St. Gloriana tanks rolled into the Kuromorimine assembly area, their engine decks and hulls populated with their former opponents.
"Here you are guys." Said James as the tanks came to a halt. Riding on his tank was Maho Nishizumi, who aside from checking that all was well with her crews, had said nothing during the ride over. She nodded her thanks and dismounted the tank. James thought nothing more of it and was about to order his tanks back to their own assembly area when he saw Mrs. Nishizumi walking towards Maho, and she did not look happy.
"Time to make some sparks fly." Said James. He climbed out of the tank and jumped down, jogging up towards Maho.
"Nishizumi!" he called. Maho stopped and looked back at her British counterpart. He stopped just short of her. "It was a good battle. I hope we can battle again someday." He offered a hand to her.
"I would hardly call that a battle, boy." Said Shino who loomed over her daughter. "You disgraced yourself tankery with that performance."
"How?" Challenged James. "I won didn't I? Against a seasoned and able battle commander I might add."
"You did not even give Maho a chance to engage…" growled Shino
"If you're in combat against an enemy, you don't typically give your opponent a chance to attack first." Shot back James. "And before you get all high horse about allowing your opponent to defend themselves, I watched the footage of the finals last year. Had that Type 3 Chi-nu not got in the way, your king tiger would have knocked out Ōarai's panzer IV before they fired a shot back. And I dare say that had that shot connected, you would have congratulated the crew on a good kill and the team on an easy victory."
"That is beside the point." Snarled Shino. "You do not fight with honor."
"Really?" Asked James "I stopped to help your panzer II crew when I didn't have to. I gave your crews a chance to take cover. I would say that was the honorable thing to do. Anyway I did not come here to debate this with you, and you and I have better things to do." He looked back to Maho, and snapped a salute to her, before heading back to Achilles, mounting up and driving on.
St. Gloriana assembly area
09:30
"Alright then! Let's get these tanks ready and prepped for transport home! We all got things to do so let's get it done before we freeze our… something off."
"They're girls James." Called Caroline coyly. "They don't have balls."
"I'm fully aware Caroline." James snarked in reply.
"Yeah I bet you are." She mumbled. James brushed the insult off as he saw Darjeeling walking into the hanger.
"All present and accounted for commander." Announced James with a smile. "And all without a scratch."
"Kuromorimine didn't get off a shot." Remarked Darjeeling. "Most impressive."
"Hey, the supreme art of war is to subdue your enemy without fighting." Replied James. Darjeeling processed the quote before nodding.
"Sun Tzu. You've read the art of war?"
"I've read a lot of things." James smiled. "Any chance I could convince you to join me to discuss some books over some brunch? One scholar to another?"
"I could be so persuaded." Replied Darjeeling coyly. "but since when are you a scholar?"
James shrugged happily as he headed off to deal with his tank. "I'm a scholar when it comes to shooting stuff!"
Darjeeling shook her head despairingly, she knew that certainly to be true. Though it would be nice to spend some alone time in port with her boyfriend and she could show off the thermal combat smock he'd got her for Christmas which she'd worn over her school uniform to the match.
"Looks like your boyfriend did good." Said a familiar voice from behind. Darjeeling smiled, she recognized Kay's voice anywhere. Despite being very different people and friendly rivals, they were very good friends. "I haven't seen anyone beat Kuromorimine before they could even fire a shot."
"The Nishizumi's underestimated him." Replied Darjeeling. "We take part in tankery as a martial art. Like a kendo student would a sparing match. They treat it as if they were training for war. Kuromorimine came expecting to fight against St. Gloriana as if I were in command. Instead they had to fight a seasoned commander trained by the British army. As Alexander the Great said, 'I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion."
"Guess we better be on our toes for the finals then." Said Kay. "So which one is going to be leading those sheep? The Lion? Or the Lioness?"
Darjeeling smiled at the compliment. "I'm getting my cast taken off tomorrow. I should be back in command within a week. Then we'll see you in the finals Kay."
Kay laughed. "The lioness better bring her A game. Coz we intend to win through the use of superior firepower."
"You will try Kay." Replied Darjeeling. Darjeeling knew that despite St. Gloriana's new tanks and James' Centurion, they had little to no chance in a level fight with Saunders. She still remembered the sight of her Matilda's being knocked out one after another by long range fire from M26 Pershing's and T29 heavy tanks, and the Matlida had substantially more armour than a Cromwell.
"I'll see you around girl." Said Kay as she departed. Darjeeling paid her farewells to her friend and rival, before setting about talking to members of her team.
Student accommodation block 'York'
St. Gloriana School Ship 'HMS Ark Royal'
19:23
When Darjeeling had imagined the state of the boy's dorm area, she had imagined that she would find the place covered in used clothing, unwashed dishes and dead beer cans. But while the area had signs that it had been lived in, it was most certainly not the pig sty that she expected. She had invited herself down to the block for 2 reasons; firstly to see James and show him her, as of 10 minutes prior, now cast-less arm. And also, to give him and the other boy's come news.
However, she deduced that due to the relative silence of the dorm area, that the boy's were not in occupancy. For a moment Darjeeling debated whether or not to go away and come back, but then decided against it, as this would provide a chance for a bit of unique reconnaissance. Specifically into the relationship status of Christopher and Pekoe.
She boldly walked towards Christopher's room, and tried the door, only to find it locked. She shrugged and simply pulled out her master key (something she had 'acquired' a few years prior) and used it to unlock the door. Much to her surprise, Christopher's room was rather straight and tidy. The bed was made, the desk was tidy, but the air did still accommodate a certain odor that she associated with teenage boys.
Commencing her investigation, she started poking around through some of the desk and cupboard draws, careful not to upset anything so that Chris would be none the wiser to her investigation. Finding nothing out of the ordinary in his desk, she moved on to his cupboard and chest of draws, determined to find something.
After a brief rummage through his desk, she found something. Buried at the back of the draw, was an item which most certainly didn't belong to Christopher. She held the bright pink bra up against her frame and looked in the mirror. There was no doubt that it was Pekoe's, judging by the size relative to herself. Quickly she tidied away the underwear draw and retreated from Christopher's room, and retreated to James' where she deposited the bra on his desk. It would do as a safe space until she could extract it and question Pekoe on the subject. Darjeeling, then sat at James's desk and choose a book from his shelf, and indulged herself for a few chapters, until she heard the sound of approaching boots. She replaced the book and waited patiently for James to enter the room.
Sure enough, a moment or two later, James entered the room, still clad in his camouflage uniform which was covered in mud and grass stains, signs that he had been doing field craft with his squad. He was surprised to see her, but also slightly confused, he thought he'd locked the door before he left.
"Hello Dar." He said as he dropped his patrol bag and stepped into hug her. "how was your hospital appointment?"
"It went well." She said warmly, excepting her boyfriends hug. As he embraced her, she was overwhelmed by the smell of sweat, mud and gunpowder. She gently pushed him away. "You need a shower. Now." James snapped of a jaunty salute.
"Ma'am yes Ma'am!" he said proudly as he grabbed a pair of civvies and retreated into the en-suite shower. Once she heard the water start flowing, Darjeeling was slightly tempted to try and sneak a peek at her boyfriend, in an attempt to embarrass him. She was just creeping to the door, when it dawned on her that he may have anticipated her move, and waiting for her in ambush. Normally she would have continued with her endeavour, hoping for a romantic encounter such as the ones she'd read about in her latest book, but with her arm still mending, she decided against it.
A few minutes later, James emerged from the shower, dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, and smelling a lot fresher than he did.
"Now then," he said as he sat down on the bed, "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Well," said Darjeeling. "Lady Grey gave me something to tell you. Apparently your school is coming."
"Highlander is coming here?" James repeated in surprise. "When do they get here?"
"About 2 weeks time." Said Darjeeling. "I also just wanted you to let you know that, as you can see I'm now 'de-casted' so I will be taking my team back thank you very much!"
James chuckled at her fake retort, but then saw that there was something else bugging her.
"I'm glad you're arms better and the team will be happy to have you back. Now what else is bugging you?" Darjeeling sighed. She pivoted her chair around and picked up the bra she'd recovered from Chris' room. She'd kept it out of James' sight until now
"Bit small for you don't you think?" asked James, observing the bra as she held it up in front of her. Darjeeling blushed slightly.
"It's not mine." She said, "It's one of Pekoe's."
"Ok..." said James not following.
"I found it in Chris' room." Darjeeling stated. James nodded, now he understood.
"Ok..." he replied. "Let me guess , you're worried that they're moving a bit fast, considering that it's Pekoe's first relationship?"
"Well yes..." Darjeeling replied, "Wait, how did you know it was her first relationship?"
"During the tankfest convention, she came and spoke to me about Chris and what to get him for his birthday." Replied James, "She initially suggested herself, which I quickly shot out of the sky, telling her to talk to you or Assam about sexual relationships."
Darjeeling nodded. Pekoe had never spoken to her about any boy related issues so she must have spoken to Assam about it. James continued.
"I also nearly walked in on them just before Christmas." He said, surprising Darjeeling. "But I'm not worried. They know what they're doing and Chris won't push her into anything."
"Are you sure?" asked Darjeeling worriedly. "I don't want anything to happen to Pekoe."
"She'll be fine." Reaffirmed James. "Now then. Can in interest you in a cup of tea?"
St. Gloriana Tankery Training Grounds
St. Gloriana School Ship 'HMS Ark Royal'
11:00
James brushed a piece of dust off his uniform as he stood by waiting. He, along with his boys, Caroline, Darjeeling, Assam, Orange and Lady Grey were all waiting patiently for their guests to arrive. When James had told the boys that highlander was coming this way, it was met with mixed results; they were happy because it would mean a taste of home and they could see their friends again. But also with apprehension, because it would mean that they would be all subject to 'tradition' because they had all entered relationships.
James glanced down at his watch and confirmed the time. He removed a flare gun the turret of Achilles, which they had brought out to the meeting point, and fired the flare into the field. A moment after the flare landed, Achilles radio chattered, and then a loud drone began to Echo through the air. Everyone looked up as the source came into view, a single RAF C-130 Hercules. As the transport flew over, 2 streams of black dots appeared out of its rear doors, followed by a parachute deploying from each dot.
"They couldn't have just waited to land?" asked Darjeeling. James shrugged.
"The Para's need an excuse to show off every once in a while." He replied. In the field, the paratroopers started to land, collecting their chutes together and piling them together for later collection before forming up and jogging in towards their waiting hosts. The about 30 or so teenage cadet paratroopers formed up into a squad of 3 ranks just short of their hosts, before a tall, handsome teenage boy stepped forward. His rank slides bore the crown of warrant officer and his nametag read Healy. He snapped off a salute to Lady Grey as he introduced himself.
"Cadet Warrant Officer Healy. Collins Highlander Cadet Force. It's a pleasure to meet you Ma'am."
"Headmistress Lady Grey." Replied Lady Grey, extending a hand to Healy. "Welcome to St. Gloriana." She paused as she gestured to Darjeeling and her girls.
"This is Darjeeling, our tankery team commander, and this is Assam and Orange Pekoe, her gunner and loader respectively."
"A pleasure to meet you." Said Heely as he bowed to Darjeeling. He then turned to James. "It's been a while Sergeant Hunter."
"Likewise CWO." Replied James. "Still driving the Para recruits ragged around bottom field?"
"You know it." Healy replied with a smile. "And you are all overdue for assessment."
James and his crew groaned, no one but the clinically insane enjoyed running the bottom field assault course when CWO Healy was running it.
"But before that," Healy continued, he turned back so he was addressing Lady Grey and Darjeeling. "My CO asked me to convey an invitation from The Collins Highlander Cadet Force Tankery Team to the St. Gloriana Tankery team, inviting them to a ball aboard our school ship, HMSS Prince of Wales."
"HMSS?" whispered Darjeeling to James."
"Her Majesties School Ship." Replied James at a whisper.
"We would be delighted." Replied Lady Grey. She, of course already knew about the ball as she had helped organize it, so while she knew this part of the visit was just a formality, she knew there was another reason why Highlander had sent a full platoon of Para cadets.
"Now then." Said Lady Grey. " I believe you and Mr. Hunter have some business to attend to, so I shall take my leave. Girls, I believe you may wish to withdraw to a safe distance."
As Darjeeling and Co retreated, she noted that James and his boys were busy donning boxing gloves, gum shields and padded helmets, as were the Para cadets.
"Remember." Called Healy. "No excessive force and no strikes below the belt. Both side's ready?"
The 2 sides of cadets shouted an affirmative but otherwise none understandable war cry at each other.
"Begin." Said Healy.
The 2 sides hurled their war cries as they charged each other. Descending into a massive fight with both sides lasing out at the other with padded punches and kicks lashing out at each other. From a safe distance, Darjeeling, Assam and Orange watched on.
"What is it with our boyfriends and punching people?" asked Orange despairingly. Assam just shrugged while Darjeeling smiled.
Collins Highlander Cadet training area
Collins Highlander School Ship 'HMSS Prince of Wales.'
15:00
James sat behind the wheel of his Land Rover, speeding down towards the cadet training area with Darjeeling in the passenger seat beside him. With the mid-Pacific spring sun beating down overhead, James was unusually glad for the Land Rover's lack of a roof. He had learnt the hard way in exercises, that it a firefight, the stripped down design made it a dangerous ride, given the lack of protection from the stinging Tactical Training Rounds (TTR) that they used in exercises. But when the only enemy you faced was the sweat cling of his school uniform, the open-air passenger compartment was a blessing.
After the Ark Royal and the Prince of Wales had rendezvoused in the pacific, James had promised Darjeeling he'd show her around the training grounds that he often talked about on their dates. As James drove, he stole a sidewise glance at Darjeeling. Her blond hair was platted in its usual fashion, and her blue eyes and pale skin glistened beautifully in the sunlight. The only thing that tore his vision away from her beautiful form, was the horn of a car in the oncoming lane, letting him know he was drifting lanes slightly.
"Eye's on the road." She said with a smile, knowing full well what he had been looking at. She glanced upwards as a pair of Fleet Air Arm cadet F4 Phantoms screeched overhead, returning to base from patrol. Darjeeling was surprised. "I didn't know you had jets."
"We have our own air base that the 3 flying cadet units use." Explained James. "You've got the RAF Cadet who have some light trainers, Helicopters, Harriers and Hurcs. The Fleet Air arm who fly Phantoms like those ones and Nimrod Martine patrol aircraft and finally the Army Air corps, who fly choppers and the like. All of them are kept on alert, ready to go to defend the ship in the event of war or respond to a natural disaster if needs be. "
"I didn't know you had to do that." Admitted Darjeeling. James nodded and explained.
"All of the cadets stand ready to defend the ship if needs be. A few years ago, while we were in the south Atlantic, the argentine military got a bit angry that we were sailing to the Falkland islands and sent up a couple of Jets to challenge us. They nearly got their asses blown out of the sky by our Phantoms and Harriers. But most of the time we just train. Ah, here we are."
James turned the Land Rover off the main highway and onto a gravel path and came to a stop outside the manned guard room. James flashed his cadet ID to the Corporal, before the barrier was raised and they were permitted inside.
The base, was like nothing Darjeeling had really seen before. As they continued along the drive, Darjeeling saw firing ranges, assault courses, cadets practicing drill and even a few armoured vehicles that looked large enough to even dwarf her Churchill. As they continued down the road, they passed a Chieftain, which was stopped at the side of the road, with its engine covers open.
"Looks like another one's gone." Muttered James.
"What do you mean?" asked Darjeeling.
"Didn't you know?" asked James surprised. She shook her head so he explained. "We have 30 chieftain Mk 5's here. On a normal day, how may do you think are operational?"
"27?" replied Darjeeling.
"No."
"25?"
"Nope."
"Surely no less than 20?"
"9."
Darjeeling was aghast. "9!"
"9." Replied James, grinning at her reaction.
"Why so few?" Asked Darjeeling.
"It's that goddamn Leyland L60 engine." Replied Jason. "It was conceived as a multi-fuel engine back in the cold war, when fuel supplies to the British Army of the Rhine couldn't be guaranteed in the event of a nuclear exchange with the Soviet Union. The Army wanted their new tank, the Chieftain, to be able to run on any fuel they could get their hands on. Good idea, only problem was they got British Leyland to build the damn thing, and it doesn't run particularly well on anything. Shame really, Spectacular gun, great armour... crap engine. I've had old Ajax break down on me more than a few times in battle."
"Ajax?" asked Darjeeling.
"My old Chieftain." Replied Jason. "All the Chieftains are named after Royal Navy battleships. The centurions after cruisers, the Conquerors after Carriers and the Scorpions are named after destroyers."
Darjeeling nodded in understanding. She watched as they passed a group of hangers, and came to a stop outside one of them. James powered down the land rover and bounded out, running around to open Darjeeling's door for her.
"This way my lady." He said, "I've got a surprise for you."
Darjeeling smiled at his gentlemanly display, taking his hand as he lead her towards the hanger. Inside the hanger, work crews dressed in the same oil stained dark green coveralls that she's seen Caroline ware when working on their tanks, were running to and from, working on a line of centurion tanks. She glanced them over, and noticed that each one bore the same half and half emblem of the St. Gloriana shield and the eagle clutching a lightning bolt of Highlander, that adorned James' tank.
"You see," James explained, "I don't really think that M26 Perishing tanks against Cromwells is really much of a fair fight. So I called in some favours, explained the situation, and negotiated the lending of some centurion Mk 1s from the J14 team to St. Gloriana. To be crewed by Gloriana crews of course but none the less, they should go part way to evening up the odds."
Darjeeling didn't know what to say. With the new centurion's and their 17 pounders, it would most certainly even up the odds. Then she noticed that by each tank was a trolley, each with 5 rounds of ammo sitting on them, but they were distinctly odd looking. James noticed and explained.
"Tankery Grade, 17 pounder, fin stabilized discarding Sabot rounds. These things will go through the front of a Maus like a hot knife through butter, should work Saunders T95's and T29's. We've got enough for 5 per Centurion."
"I.. I don't know what to say." Said Darjeeling in awe. James had just given her and her team a real fighting chance against Saunders. James shrugged happily.
"Well a thank you would be a start." He said. "Followed by dinner and a movie?"
Darjeeling chuckled. "I think I owe you a bit more than that." James laughed slightly.
"Promises promises." He replied.
Hello guys! I'm back!
sorry for the near 5 month hiatus, but I'm back... and I have the chapter after this one finished... ish
I hope you enjoyed the chapter, next one will be out next week... probably
review and let me know what you think.
Jango