The Steel Girls

Chapter 11 : To the 64th! (2)


SM Tank Shed

Break time. Thursday, 11.24AM

"..." Alexa stared at the group of students stood firmly at the half-empty tank shed. The brunette tilts her eyebrow as she crossed get arms. "You guys are in the previous friendly match before, right?" None of them responded. "I know you, Toshihiro-san and Kishikawa-san."

"Can't help it, we're force-" *stomp* "Guh!"

"What's the matter, Kishikawa-san?"

"N-Nothing..." Nanashi seems holding her pain. "Nice stomp, Toshi... Ow..."

"Don't make us killed." Toshihiro whispered.

Shiro came to the scene with wide smile as she saw the girls lined and Alexa inspecting them carefully. "So, How's it? Enough for you?"

Alexa huffed. "You could just say it to me if you want to pick a girls from previous match."

"Ehh... Hahaha... Well..." The tankery team commander could only rubbed her hair. "Can't help it. Your requirement is just too high."

"I said if you could, right?" Alexa facepalmed. "Okay... Toshihiro, Kishikawa-"

"Call her Nanashi, Alexa-san." Suggest Toshihiro, Nanashi glanced at her.

"Okay... Toshihiro, Nanashi, Hastings, and... Wittenberg."

Henny raises her hand. "Yo."

"Um... How's your tank, Henny-san?" Ask Alexa with a friendly manner.

"Maintained by the MT, thank you very much for your concern." Henny speaks formally.

"Aye, that's so not Witty." A brunette British girl with glasses on Henny's back smirked.

"Piss off, teafag."

The brunette German tank commander rubs her chin as she look at the students appointed to be part of her "Special Troop". She also bit her lower lip. "Okay... My orders are absolute when I told you so. Understand?"

"Understandable, Ma'am!" Suddenly all the students putting a firm posture. Alexa slightly shocked.

"Um... who told you to do that?"

"Comrade Henny, ma'am!"

"YOU FRICKIN' DUMB-" Alexa looked at half angered Henny. "Ahem.. I mean, yes. It's pretty organized, right?" The heterochromic gun nuts put on a fake smile.

"Okay, but I don't really like formalities. So, You all could be at ease now."

Everyone sighed in relief and starting to disorganized. Henny and her crews putting their eyes on the walking away Alexa. "Looks like we're close enough now, Henny-dono."

"Indeed, Matsu...yeah, close enough."

3 hours After school...

Wilma's Apartment

Waiting for her mother to came home, Wilma layed down on the couch at the living room watching TV while munching a potato chip she found on the dining table. The living room is close to dining room and the kitchen so it is often known as LDK room due to one room's purpose combined.

Wilma watched an international news network channel which is now broadcasting a sport news. "Germany National Panzerfahren Team has won the friendly match against Romanian National Team on the friendly match as part of the warm up for the upcoming European Tankery Championship..." The blonde German stopped eating. "Team's ace, Eva von Graff is the motor of Germany's offensive sequence against the Romanian's ambush tactics as the German team won by losing 4 vehicles to 20 Romanian tanks..."

"Eva with her ruthless manner."

"It is a very nice match but I got to say that ambush is our greatest challenge. We do understand the opponent we're facing so I choose to field mediums and Panther to take the heavy tank role to fight them. I'm not afraid of the outcome and I'm always confident with my actions and decisions..." The interview goes on.

Wilma's cellphone rang from her room as she heard the iconic iPhone ringtone played. She take a step quickly to her room and grabbed the phone. Her face went sour by looking at the one who called. "What is it now, Eva?"

"Tut mir leid, Wilma... Umm... So... How's my sister? Is she doing well? And-"

"Schiss, Eva the answer would be GODDAMN OBVIOUS!" She yelled from her phone. "Ask her yourself, will you?!"

"I-I know but... I'm not ready! Besides, she hung up in instance if she saw my name on her contact."

"Curb your guilt and start a new line!"

"WHAT IF SHE HATES ME?!"

"DON'T CARE! JUST APOLOGIZE TO HER! IS IT REALLY HARD TO DO SO?!" Wilma stood from her couch. "Gah! If you can't call her then how about this, come see her instead."

"You know I can't... I don't wanna feel the hate vibe directly and-"

"I thought you're a type of person that never affraid of the outcome of what you do." Alexa's sister paused on her phone. "I saw the interview on TV. I can't believe you're that cowardly in real life than from the screen."

"Umm..."

"Look. Come here and say it straight to her... Just adjust your time. She'll not return to Germany even during summer break."

"B-But..."

"Alles klaar, Herr Feldmarshall? If it so, then goodbye."

"Wait! Wait! We're not finis-" Alexa's Gunner put her phone to the couch and laid herself back again.

"I'm nobody at this stupid problem...why bother calling on me?" She's busy with the remote to change the channels. "Gott ... is there any good channel for me to watch? Ugh... Mom sure is late."


Next Day... Class II-B

Break time. Friday, 11.03 AM

As usual when the break time bell rang all the students went to separate places like cafeteria or their respective club rooms. For Alexa, she stayed at the classroom putting her head to the table.

"You look beat." Say Alexa's gyaru friend.

"Mmh..."

"What's up?"

Alexa rise her head. "I'm clueless of how would Black Scarlet gonna fight."

"You pull out an all-nighter to seek for their performance?" She nods. "Man... Do you even know that this is their first national competition like our school."

"This is gonna be tough... Ugh."

Not long after that, Helga and Wilma came to her class to check on their dear commander. They also bring some sort of handbooks with red cover on it. "Guten tag, Alexy!" Greet Wilma. "My... You're not looking well."

"Hm." Helga nods in agreement.

"Well, I've been pitied twice today haha..." The Prussian-decent girl lifts her head. "Hey, what book are those?"

"Oh that's right! Here's for you." The blonde German gives Alexa the handbook. "It's a Pantherfibel but modernized."

Alexa take the book. "Danke, Wilma..." The book's front cover consist of panther tank picture on the right and 'Pantherfibel' text written beside it. "I thought this manual book cover should've been a bit more attractive."

"No no no, Alexy... Don't judge the book from the cover."

"Where's mine?" Ask Erika.

"Oh yeah... Here!"

Alexa kept staring the book as two of them is having a good conversation. She flipped the cover of the book to the first page. "Mhm... interesting" The language is in German as described in the intro page. As she glanced each pages, she realized that the cartoon characters aren't exactly like in the original book. "Wow it's indeed modernized!"

"I know, right?" Wilma's eyes glowing. "This is the best handbook I ever had!"

"It's manga style characters..." Erika carefully read the book. "Is this okay?"

"Of course it's okay! SM Publishing Department approved this. And it's distributed here with various language. As for you it's in English-Japanese, right?"

"Yeah but how come yours is in English-Japanese, too? Aren't you a German?"

"Y-You have no rights to ask me that!" Wilma looks away from her friends.

"Sheesh... I'm just asking."

Meanwhile in Black Scarlet place...

"Il Capo, I have an information regarding the number of tank fielded."

The sisterly figure Ansaldo turned her chair towards her subordinate. "Ara... This should be interesting. What do you like to inform, Carcano-san?"

"The JSF sent us a notice..." The black haired fatalist gave her commander a letter. "It's about number of fielded vehicles against Stahlmädel."

"I see..." Ansaldo clasped her hands. "Let's field our best. Might as well battle prove our new equipments."

"Si, Il Capo!" The hair-intaked girl straightly stood as affirmation to Ansaldo's order.


The Next Day... SM Meeting Room

Friday, 13.08 PM

All commanders gathered on the meeting room as ordered by Shiro through the intercom. Alexa arrived to the meeting room along with Nanashi and Tajima.

"Neee, Nanashi... Your tank number is 402, right?" Ask Tajima.

"Yes. What about it?"

"Make it 420."

"Whatever."

Alexa enters the room while both of her mates still joking at each other. Inside the meeting room Shiro, Nikita, Henny, and Sadako is already inside talking about something. In front of the platinum blonde-haired commander there's a document that seems sealed. She sat next to Sadako followed by the others.

"Hi, Alexa. How's your day?" Greet Shiro.

"I'm fine, thanks. So, what are we gonna talk about?"

Shiro put on a snicker. "You'll see."

The rest of tank ommanders are arrived to the meeting room. They seems having trouble to step out of the class for even a short while. Shiro scans at the attendance by her silver eyes slowly. "Seems like everyone's here..."

"Yes, everyone's here." Affirm Edna.

"Very well, good afternoon and thank you for your appearance to the forum. I apologize for the inconveniences, I know some of you are still enjoying your meal but this information I have will help us at least putting on a fight to this Italian Blackshirt-themed school..." Shiro paused while everyone is looking at her. "I have a dossier about our opponent right in this document in front of me. This precious data is successfully gathered by our "Intelligence Team" by risking their dignity or some sort, haha."

Henny covered her face with one of her hand. "Uhh..."

"What sensitive data do we got here, Shiro-senpai... Please be straight and make it quick." The dark oranged hair American fold her arms.

"Damn... Girls from SM America were like this?" Ask Tajima to Elle Hastings, the M24 commander.

"She's acting like she's doing a job. Don't bother her asshole-ness."

"Notable commanders they have and we must be aware of..." Henny pull out a pictures and a documents about certain person with black long hair featuring a hair intake. "Karin Nagano a.k.a Carcano, the prime bodyguard to the team's commander. Equipped with "Panzer Five", the same as what Alexandria-san has."

"Take note that to identify her vehicle, there's a yellow box symbol with single stripe on the middle placed on their turret's side. You'll see it clearly once we meet them." Add Henny.

"Next is the "Dynamic Duo", the Masane sisters, Hisano and Minako also known as Breda and Beretta..." She took another document from the folder. "Excels at speeding with their Carro Celere Sahariano and 47mm gun to finish their opponent. Get flanked means you're dead."

"I doubt that their gun is that strong." Toshihiro started to speak.

"Well, do not. Their 47mm are more than capable to take out almost any tank we field later." Warn the heterochromia-eyed girl. "Wish for some miracle if they engage yours from distance. Italian cannons weren't that good for long-range engagements."

"Henny's right. I think underestimation is never a good idea. Oh and, this will be the last. Their dear leader..." The team's commander pull out a file. "Francesca Minamoto, also known as Ansaldo or Il Capo. The team's leader with sharp sense of a strategist. Her track records with tanks are good by commanding the middle school all-star against the high school coalition back in Italy and won."

"H-Holy... W-Well we have a frickin' good Commander too, right?" Faye's hand gesture are slightly faster.

"Yeah, We're completely the same. At this situation, skill and tactic matters most." Sadako kept her calm demeanor.

"Alright, that's all that I have to say. Any question?"

"I have a question, actually..." Henny raised her hand. "What's gonna happen if we lose?" Everyone gasped and start talking to their sides.

Shiro exhaled. "We'll not gonna lose this one. Trust me. We're not favored, too... So there is no burden to carry on our shoulders."

"Well, that explains it."

"Okay, that's it for now. I want everyone in this room to inform what I told you to your crewmates. Thank you for your arrival and dismiss."

"W-Wait!" Tajima stood from her seat. "How about the venue. Who'll do the survey?"

"I leave that job to the experts... All of you please focus on the upcoming match. Intensify your training, that goes for me and my crews too..." Answer Shiro as she accidentally glanced at Alexa. "Earth to Alexa, hello?"

"Ah!"

"Train harder, and let's go back to class." Everyone stood from their chair and part ways.

Alexa did the same with silence covering her as she listened to the dossier. Her underlings are concerned with her current state. "Alexa-senpai, is there anything wrong? Are you okay?"

"Tajima..." Tajima's senior turned her body. "Do you know what does she mean by "the experts"?"

"Oh you mean the SM Air Division. They handle most of our sky-related stuff from transport to weather monitoring." Alexa's sukeban junior explained.

"So that's why Shiro sent those peoples instead."

"Yup. They're a bit crazy sometimes but they did well in their tasks." Add Nanashi.

"Welp, thanks for the information. There are still lots of things I didn't know here."

Those 3 parts way to their respective classes and continue their activity.

SM Tank Maintenance Hangar

06.50PM

Maintenance Team students and several students from the Tech School are helping each other at turret machine gun installation for almost all tanks. Of course someone from Schulewehr with wide knowledge of small arms involved at this work — Henny Wittenberg.

She's working on the installation of MG131 on top of Edna's KV-1 which is quiet challenging due to the weight. She successfully installed an M2HB to every Shermans for the matchday, that also include hers.

"Hehe, I'm proud of what I did to these T-34s." The girl in glasses wiped the sweat on her forehead with her sleeve.

"Yup, nicely done!" The blonde, wavy-haired girl put on a thumbs up. "But, I heard that this T-34 are from lend-lease, right?"

"No problem, we'll dismantle all the modification before we return them."

"Okay, then."

Henny's friend Iris is setting up the MG mount at Alexa's Panther. As the mount firmly stood in front of the cupola, Lidya lifts the MG34 and put it on the mounting. "Steady..."

"Tighten the holder!" Iris quickly tighten the holder with the wrench. As the rotation getting heavier, she stopped as the bolt can't turn anymore. "Done!"

"The last bloke got their Christmas present already." The British girl jumped off from the tank with her equipments.

"You sure this is the last?"

"Yeah, mate. All the Mark IV got it already."

"Okay, then..." Lidya took a bubble gum from her skirt pocket. "Tovarisch, can we go home?"

"Yeah, I told Lenna to bring the car here." She answered.

"Okay."

Henny is waiting for Lenna while her mates are going somewhere to pick something. She's literally alone at that time. "Henny-dono."

"Christ... Stop popping out of nowhere you know my reflexes are bad, Matsuda."

"Sorry for the inconveniences but can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Are you sure we could defeat them? The Black Scarlet." Matsuda looked down to her feet as she crossed her arms.

"Of course..." Henny nods. "This is so not you by questioning things."

"Actually, I wasn't planning to ask you that which is not your field of intelligence..." The heterochromatic-eyed girl feels like being stabbed. "But, how long you'll keep your distance with Alexa-dono? The order is clear, right?"

"It's just "stick close" not "get closer" Matsu... Don't bother with such simple order." Henny looks away.

"General Graff wouldn't be that simple-minded when it comes to words, right?" The black haired Lenna shrugs. "You could at least be friend with her and-"

"How about you Matsu, huh?! Are you making friends now? How are they? What's the trend among youth today according to them, hmm? Any horoscope prediction you know from them? Any sex life tip from them? Huh? HUH?!"

"I'm making friends since the first day I'm here, they're nice to me, The trend nowaday is leather bracelet and fruit mix scent perfume, I heard that this month Libra gotta work harder because they're gonna get yelled, and their sex life tip is be confident and be proud of your certain body parts to cover the weakest one. Voila Henny-dono."

"..." Henny's eyes widened. "How come someone like you make friends?!"

"Because I read fashion magazine." Matsuda still putting a flat face. "Do you hate her?"

"No, Matsu... I... I'm not used to school life that's all..."

"Then this is your best moment to enjoy high school life, Henny-dono. Have fun with your comrades, talk about random stuff..."

"Yeah yeah shush! I get it!" The Austrian girl seems unpleased with all the advice. "Geez, I'm a fucking soldier." Not long, Lenna came with Iris and Lidya on the Kubelwagen. They stopped right in front of Matsuda and Henny. "AND HOW THE FUCK YOU TWO ALREADY IN THERE?!"

"I thought you might want to follow, haha."

"Arrgh!" Henny enters the car angrily. "Okay, let's go."

"You forgot about me." Matsu suddenly sit besides her making Henny is the one in the middle of the back seat.

"STOP BEING SO STEALTHY YOU DUMMY!"

"Please stop yelling Henny-dono it's not good for your throat."

Henny doesn't bother what Matsu's saying."Lenna, chop chop! I have a homework to do."

"Since when you have a passion to do a homework?"

"MEIN GOTT, SCHNELLLENNA! SCHNELL! UNDERSTAND?"


Time Skip, H-2 To the Competition

Tokyo Mainland, Next Friday, 04.12PM

The first day of tournament will be held the day after tomorrow on sunday. In case of latenesses, the team decided to depart early to Nara where the competition will be held. Unfortunately, the exact venue for the competition is not yet announced.

Maintenance Team and some tank crews are currently on the mainland Tokyo to load several tanks to the train's flatcar, 2 tanks are loaded to each flatcar while the rest will be transported by 2 "Franziska" heavy-duty trucks.

"Don't worry, Alexa-san! We'll keep an eye on the tanks!" Chiyo yelled from the flatcar.

"Yes, thank You Chiyo-san!" The train's honked indicating that it's about to depart. The girl in glasses quickly ran to the passenger car as Alexa's eyes following her. When the train departs, the ruby-eyed Prussian girl walks away from the station.

As Alexa exit the station, a black coupé car parked as if it waits for her. A gyaru with white framed glasses and 3 piercings on her ear leaves leaned onto the engine bay with SM uniform. "I know that you'll be here."

"Huh?" Alexa a tilted her head, still approaching her. "Who?"

"Oh, this is your first time seeing me with glasses, right?"

"Hey I barely noticed you, Erika!"

Erika removes her glasses. "Funny, huh? A glasses could make you look different in instant."

Alexa scratched her hair. "I thought your eyes are normal."

"Not really. I'm wearing contact lens all this time."

"I see..." The Prussian girl glanced to the car behind her friend. "Is this car yours?"

"Nah... It's my sister's. I borrowed it to run around the city." Alexa slowly nods in comprehension. "Anyway, let's go back. Aika-san rely on me to keep an eye on you."

Erika gets in the car followed by Alexa. "Are we gonna return the car first?" Ask Alexa.

"Yup." Once Erika starts the engine, she revv the car bit by bit. "Oh man I love the revving sound of an RB." They left the train station and head to Erika's sister place to return the car and get back to the school carrier.

Matchday

Wakakusa Mountain, Nara.

Sunday, 06.00AM

Sensha-do and Maintenance team members are arrived at Nara — the venue for a match between Stahlmädel Girls High School and Black Scarlet Academy. They went to Nara by Shinkansen to make sure all the members have increased resting time. The decision itself was right to be taken.

The matchday comes and everyone is busy preparing their best for their tanks. A shock market full of street food sellers are all around the spectator point. At Stahlmädel preparation camp, the maintenance team in cooperation with some students from Hagane Tech School are examining the tanks previously given the red label such as Faye's M4A1 and Henny's M4A2 Sherman.

The ARV carried by the Hagane Tech doing their job here as the Sherman-based M76 ARV is lifting Faye's Continental engine from the engine bay. "Okay, lower the engine!" Instruct Chiyo to the ARV operator. The crane decreased their height bit by bit until it's enough to be seen entirely. "Looks like the oil leak is gone. No other leaks spotted, right?" Ask Chiyo to Hagane Tech student who examined the engine.

"Yes, Chiyo-san. None is spotted...for now."

"Okay then you must check it again kiddo"

"No problem"

When the maintenance team doing their job, all attendance who happens to pass through SM tents are watching the examination process in amazement.

"Those are recovery vehicles, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Is it just my feeling or I saw some sort of Leopard I-ish hull on that ARV?"

"Well it is a Leopard 1, but as a Bergepanzer 2."

"Whoa! I knew it!"

"Cool... They have cold war items!"

The one who caught their interest more is the usage of an ARVs. SM maintenance crews getting all fidgety by their atitude. "Dang it, I'd never thought that we'll be this stand out."

"Haha! Don't worry, guys... It means you have a signature now. Everyone gonna notice your school cuz of those ARVs." One of Hagane Tech tried to loosen up her friends.

"Those ARVs are yours, right? We have no pride on using someone's equipment to get famous."

"Doesn't matter! Hagane is part of SM too, though we're more localized and co-ed...I guess."

"CO-ED SCHOOL?!"

"Ey chill... Don't shout."

At some food stands

07.31AM

While the commanders are on briefing, the crews are having a good time stroll around the food stand. Wilma and Ai are busy to decide what snack they will choose. They're still with their school uniform. "Wilma... You say you grabbed the Taiyaki, right?"

"Yes. You?"

"I'll take Takoyaki, but I also want Okonomiyaki. If I eat both..." Ai paused. "Eat both... I take both, then."

The Germanic-looking girl eyes widened. "Wha- seriously? That ain't snacking! That's a feast!"

"But I'm confused..."

"You should've understand how to limit yourself!"

Helga came checking on those two while eating a croquet. "..."

"W-Wait... Where did you get that?"

"No time to talk. Alexa is looking for you both." Helga showed her phone screen. "She's near the Panther now."

"W-Whaaat?"

As three of them went straight to where the Panther tank parked, they saw Erika and Alexa lean on the tank's sloped hull — eating an ice cream. "There you are, guys!"

"Alexy du doof! I'm about to buy myself a mouth-watering takoyaki and then you called us as if it's emergency!" Wilma talked loudly.

"I'm still confused with the choice though so I'm cool with the call."

"YOU'RE NOT HELPING AT ALL!"

"S-Sorry... But I want to tell you guys this earlier..." Alexa slightly looks down. "To win this, we need an intensive cooperation."

"Well, we know that already. We need to work together as a team for the bigger form of team, right?"

"The point is, why are you assemble here? Are you losing your confidence after the finals back then?"

Wilma's word shook Alexa. "W-Well..."

"If you think we're not prepared then you're wrong today..." The natural blonde girl put her hands to her uniform pocket. "I guess, it should be us who asked you."

"O-Of course I'm ready... This is my first time commanding in Japan..." Alexa's fidgeting. "Are you guys really ready?"

"Hell yeah we are!" Ai's tone are slightly higher.

"Right!" Wilma pumped her fist.

"You know I'm always on your back, Alexa." Erika brushed her front hair.

"Hm." Helga nods.

"Thank God..." The brunette clasped her fingers. "Very well then, do what you guys like until 8 o'clock. We'll go to the ceremonal field to greet them."

"Yay!" Alexa's crews dispersed as she finished with her speech. "There's still much time to have fun."

"Indeed."

"You're not going with them, Erika?"

"Maybe later. I need to do some warm up before doing an intensive lifting." Erika started to take off her feldgrau uniform. She wore a grey long sleeve shirt underneath her uniform all this time.

"Very well. Take your time..." The Prussian girl left her tanned friend as she went somewhere. Smile formed in her face as she went further. "It is time to fix my existence."

SM Area, tank shed

7.35 AM

"Okay load those ammo and shells into the Sherman, fast!"

"Hey! Don't forget about the supplies!"

"Marry! Over here and help me wrap tight this boxes!"

"Check again the Jagdpanther's track, just in case something bad occurs!"

"Verstanden! "

As Alexa looking at SM tank shed's atmosphere, she realizes that nobody needs a moral boost, which makes her more confident than before. "They're really firing-up, guess nobody needs any of 'that' to begin with" then she walk to the changing room to wear her tankery uniform. "Yo, commander!"

The brunette-Prussian girl looking back at the caller, "Hmm? Ahh Henny-san...what's the matter?" The blonde-wavy haired girl get closer

"You know this is my...umm first...I guess? Fighting inside a tank, so uhh umm..would you mind to guide us even though you saw us as a seasoned tankers, I mean I know where we are going but...please don't hesitate to giving an order to us!" Henny fidgeting while talking to her commander

"Sure, thank you very much Henny-san" She reply it with smile

Then she continue proceed to the changing room, on the way there she have been greeted by the other camaradaries that hoping she can lead them with firms stand and eyes full of hope.

After changing, Alexa move towards a mirror and fix her battle dress. "I can do this, they're believing on me, I must prove that...no matter what." Then she leave the room and walk to her tank.

Every tankers gather around their tanks, including her crews who are standing in front of the Panther. "Okay everyone! May I have your attention?" Shiro called, while holding a megaphone. "Just relax and keep loose. This is our first also theirs, But keep in minds that we can't take a high price if you all disorganized and undisciplined. Follow orders from each of your group leaders. If it's unclear, forget it! If it's not and understandable, follow it!" As everyone listening to Shiro's speech, Alexa discussing the real plan with her crews.

"Okay, I hope every tank commanders understand the consequences, they'll also splitting their group's commander same like us, guarded by their elites." Alexa informing another useful information. "But to where exactly, we don't know it yet. Best guess they'll move to the northern side of the map, that's on our objective too. It would be a helluva heavy clashes." Then Alexa pause a bit. "So, I want you all keep in one piece until the last... we're their last hope to win the game, So how about it?"

"YES MA'AM!" Everyone in Alexa's group giving a firm gesture and suddenly makes Shiro's speech stop for awhile. "Uhh hello over there, I have something to say here, please be quiet"

Alexa reply with smile and salute. "Well, don't get excited yet girls, this is just the beginning."

CEREMONIAL FIELD

08.00 AM

Both team gathered on the field to attend the opening of 64th National, the left side. Black Scarlett High form a lineup to greet their opponent, on the right side Stahlmädel does the same thing. Every sides have mixed feelings after they saw into each others.

"Wow...is that our real opponent? Who are they, a Military Academy member?"

"They have lots of foreigners...damn, one of them must be battle hardened!"

"That's Stahlmädel, I heard they operating tankery again. After training with Schwarzwald and win... I don't think we can win against them"

"Hey stop it, this is their first battle and so does ours..."

Every Stahmädel girls does the same as their counterparts, except Alexa who put nothing but expressionless, she observe every hot shots on the other sides and stop at a certain girl, And looking at her sharply.

"Eepp!" The girl from the other side surprised

"She look alike Erika from here...wow." Alexa talking to herself

From there, Alexa saw their deputies and their commanders which is make her feel a bit uneasy with their appearances. "That's their commander, Ansaldo." Cut off by Wilma. "Oh you also spot her?" Ask Alexa. "Yeah, a girl like that ain't bitching around, we need to be careful." Worried Wilma as the opening about to start. "See that black-straight haired girl over there? That's Carcano, Ansaldo's gun-runner. Harsh girl in wrong neighborhood, also watch for her." Erika enter the conversation, "Yeah I know that... stay calm, it makes us like watching a criminal family." Alexa tried to calm both. "Yes ma'am." both stop worrying as the MC stop on the middle of the field.

"Stahlmädel and Black Scarlett commanders, please step forward to the center."

Both commanders step forward to the front where the referee stands waiting for them. It's Ansaldo and Shiro who went to the front. A head judge come toward them and stop on the middle, "Commanders from both side, please bow down to each other for respecting the fairness and happiness in this tournament!" Both commanders bow down followed by the other tankers

The other judge inspecting the rows and ended the call. "HAVE A GOOD MATCH LADIES!"

Fireworks spark on the sky, accompanying with horn sounds glaring the atmosphere.

Support girls also cheers on each representatives, the quiet situation break into euphoria and cheerful.

Each tankers move to designated location, Alexa's is on the right wing position.

"Hey yo Prussian girl!" Alexa glanced at the sound source. "Good luck!" Shiro continues her sentence as Alexa about to embark her tank.

"You too!" she replied as she give a hand to Erika

"Come on you big-"

"Hey don't lose your grip!"

"I'm trying!" Erika reached the engine deck and then entered the tank from the turret together.

Every tankers entering their tanks, and make themselves ready. Same as the other side, Black Scarlett's commander order everyone to button up the turret.


A/N

it's actually 10k+ if its finished so I decide to upload the first half and the next one as part of this. Sorry, real life is sucks y'know :(