Girls Und Panzer: World Tournament!

Chapter 28: Thundering Assault!

Northwest of town, France

As the vibrations of the rocket barrage subsided, the shrieking shells of artillery dropped onto the town, or what was left of it. The girls hunkered down in their tanks as they hoped to not be under a falling shell. The hammering of the Earth continued for what seems eons before it subsided as well, their stunning explosions heading back into deafness.

Kay reopened her Jumbo's hatch to witness the scenery. Her whole sector was demolished, the buildings that stood tall before were now just bare crumbling walls. The roads were also totalled, the large caliber shells creating craters all over, hindering tank movement.

The scenery came to her mind first, then she got onto the radio. "All units, check in!" She cried, confirming those that have survived.

"YOU WANNA KNOW HOW YOU GET TINNITUS?! BECAUSE THIS IS HOW YOU GET TINNITUS!" Alisa screamed on top of her lungs; Kay could hear her at her tank's 11 o' clock direction.

"Seems we're fine too," Naomi replied back.

"I-I'm fine! Somehow!" The timid voice of Fukuda spoke through.

"Whew! We survived through an artillery barrage! That's one for the books!" Nishi relished over her tank's endurance.

Kay waited a few seconds more before she finalized, "Hoo kay… so five of us on this point, huh?" She looked at the road in front of her that her little task force was suppose to defend for the operation. "Well, we're not gonna let them get a jump on us! Everyone get to defensive positions!"


Northeast of town, France

Darjeeling stayed under her cupola as she inspected her tea cup for nicks and other discoloration. "Not a single drop spilled," she said with pride. She then observed through the cupola vision blocks for her overall situation. The Black Prince remained on the eastern road, showing its stiff upper lip to the threat from the air as it laid in the open. "Company, report status."

"You what?!" Rosehip shouted.

"Everything's steady here," Rukuriri in her Churchill tank said.

"Ow! My hair's all ruffled up he- Pepperoni get your hands off! They're real!" Anchovy commented in pain as stretches of keratin stretched and snapped with the shuffling.

"Oh… it's over?" Azusa said. During her radio, sounds of crying and screaming was still continuous in her radio feed.

"E-everything is u-under control…" Sodoko replied.

In a simple gesture of acknowledgement and endurance, Continuation's BT-42 moved out of the rubble into the open for Darjeeling to see.

"Anyone else?" Darjeeling asked for stragglers, but no more returned. "So all that remains is seven."

"A respectable number for a defensive line." Assam said.

"Right, reposition the tank towards the rear behind that building at our 7 o' clock," Darjeeling ordered looking towards the rear vision blocks. However, as the tank shifted, a terrible noise vibrated throughout the hull.

"What is that terrible noise?" Orange Pekoe said, briefly covering her ears.

"We must have thrown a track," Assam deduced. "Probably from the bombardment, should we repair it now?"

Diesel engines sounded in the outskirts of town, rumbling ever closer to their location.

"Negative. We'll hold here for now," Darjeeling said. "We've got 152 millimeter of armour that can take a beating. We just need a scout for us to understand the incoming force." Darjeeling got to the radio once more, "Any volunteers?"


Center of town, France

As the ominous sound of tanks come onto the town, Miho evaluated her new position inside the caved in building.

"Well at one hand, we're practically safe from anything else outside…" She postulated out loud. "On the other hand, we're useless and sitting ducks here." Miho quickly made her next decision, "Mako, do you think we can bulldoze our way through that wreckage?"

"Can't say. That's a lot of mass in front of us." Mako replied.

"Maybe climb over it?" Saori suggested.

"The inclination wouldn't allow it."

As they speculated, Miho got to the radio, "HQ is fine inside the church building, but we've been isolated by cave in. Requesting support!"

"I got just the thing," Katyusha said. "Nonna! Head on and help Miho-sha!"

"Affirmative, Ms. Katyusha," Nonna replied.

"Understood!" Miho confirmed. "Katyusha, set up the perimeter just as we planned on the south, and keep me up on the situation!"


South section of town, France

Turtle team's Jagdpanzer 38(t) shook as it rammed itself into what used to be an open window cafe, a mock cafe, that was torn apart from the Russian barrages. The ram buckled what little support was left of the cafe, with rubbles and dust falling all over the yellow-painted tank destroyer.

Its location was of tactical importance, as the Hetzer's position now gave it a good view of the entire south-eastern main road. The additional rubbles only coated the Hetzer to completely blend in the vehicle to its surrounding.

"Oh-kay! We're in!" Anzu brushed her hair as she examined through her periscope. She settled down and poked Momo's shoulder. "Momo, would you rather switch seats with me?"

"I g-got this, prez!" Momo nervously said.

"You sure?~" Anzu pressed on.

"We hope you get pin-point accuracy then!" Yuzu cheerfully said. "Or else there is a pun-ish-ment~"

"..." Momo was silent.

"Well?"

"Okay, fine! Prez, switch with me!"

"O-kay!" Anzu said as they effortless switched. Anzu got up to the Pak 39 gun. "Wow, we really do have a straight sight through there! You'd have to be a terrible shot to miss!"

"Poor Momo," Yuzu said with a teasing smile in amusement as Momo writhed, her past failings nagging on her.

Anzu snuggled up to the Hetzer's periscopic scope for the PaK 39 gun. The triangular reticle focused her eyesight to the direct center down the road.

On the south-western main road, Hippo team's StuG III rammed itself into a hiding slot that bore into a caved out building structure. Only their prominent muzzle brake and barrel length of the StuK 40 cannon stuck out. Saemonza aimed in the periscopic sights as the gun wiggled towards the direction down the road.

"This is just like the legend of Horatio at the bridge!" Caesar said as she viewed through the commander's periscope.

"Oryou will be avenged here!" Erwin said.

"No, no. That wouldn't fit the story's moral…"

"What about protecting this pathway against our friends behind us?" Saemonza said.

"That's it!" The girls said in unison, the usual cry slightly empty with one MIA.

"Keep an eye downrange Saemonza!" Erwin said. "I've got stocks of ammunition ready for you to use!"

Katyusha observed the tank destroyers set themselves up, her T-34-85 in a position also observing down the road. Her T-34-85 lined up down towards the south-west, with her tank hidden behind rubbage that exposes only the turret and the long gun. She observed through the cupola for a clean view, hoping that the enemy tank wouldn't notice her at the same time.

Klara on the other end did a similar move as she observed down with Turtle team.

As they position, Nonna was on the move towards the church building, where its trapped occupants.

"Miho Nishizumi, are you alright in there?" Nonna radioed in to the occupants.

"Oh boy! Nonna!" Saori's voice cried through the radio.

"Yes, we're fine!" Miho shouted.

"I think a 122 mm shell can help with this barricade, sit t-"

"Wait, Nonna! If you fire that shell, they'll know the IS-2 is down here!" Miho said. "Hold fire!"

"Ah, affirmative," Nonna replied.

"For now, let's see where the enemy is committed."


Northwest of town, France

"Careful here Viktor, do not dare tip the car again!"

"Christ sake's, commander. I get it!"

"And don't stop too suddenly, I do not want that bitch behind us to run us over!"

"Alright, alright!" Viktor exasperatedly cry out next to him. "Piss your pants so quick, why don't you!"

Egor scoffed as he went back to the map, the driver attended back to his duties with the BA-10 armored car, driving down the dirt road.

The radio in front of Egor echoed out, "Recon 1, this is Company 1 leader. Sit-rep, over."

Egor replied, "Company 1, this is Recon 1 leader. We're approaching the northwestern road. Will update as we enter. Over."

"Recon 1. Copy that. Proceed with the task. Out."

"You guys good up there?!" Egor cried out in the car interior.

"Can't wait to shoot up some Japs!" The gunner in the 45 mm gun turret shouted.

"Easy there, Misha. This is not like the simulations."

"Everything is like the training, commander!" The loader replied.

"In training, we don't get shot at by 88, Arthur!"

"What's the harm, commander? We drive in, we get shot at, we drive out. Simple as always."

"With Viktor's driving skills, I'm already surprised we're still here in one piece!" The gunner shouted out.

"What did I ever do to you guys?!" Viktor shouted.

"Quiet!" Egor ordered. "You bunch of bastards… Viktor turn right here. Misha, stay alert."

"Aye aye, sir," Misha said as Egor heard the turret mechanics whir with movement.

Egor got to the radio, "All Recon 1 units, this is Recon 1 leader. Report in."

"Recon 1-2, right behind you," Lenner in the T-70 light tank behind them replied.

"Recon 1-3, standing by," Marat, inside another BA-10 car behind the tank, replied.

"Roger that. All Recon 1 units, we are entering the town's interior. Stay alert for combat. Recon all units. Out." Egor finished.

The three recon units turned into the town, and Egor listened in the back as the T-70 light tank trailing them manipulated its tracks to follow.

"Artillery messed the place up!" Viktor cried out as he swerved the car around large pieces of rubbles. As he did, the crew hanged onto dear life.

"Hey hey hey hey! Careful Viktor! We're top heavy! Don't do the Emcha here!"

"Oh shut up!"

Egor saw something in the horizon on the road and squinted.

"Tank!"

"Where?!"

"Down there! It's hiding in that crater there! Viktor, turn god damn it!"

Viktor swerved as machine gun rounds riddled off the metal plates of their armored car. The inertia involved went with the car's new direction and the car soon lifted off its two right wheels as the force overcame the balance. The crew reacted quickly, with the three crew attempting their best to force some weight onto the right side as Viktor braked the car. The stopped vehicle wobbled, then crashed back down on all four wheels, positioned behind a building.

The trailing T-70 was not as lucky, after blasting off a 45 mm shell, a high-velocity shot sliced into the front armour. That was the end of that light tank.

Egor quickly got on the radio as the turret pointed the 45 mm towards the street, "Company 1! This is Recon 1 leader! Contact! Lost Recon 1-2! We've got engagement at this grid-!"

Suddenly, a heavy orchestral THUM-THUM-THUM of a heavy machine gun blasted through the street, down as they struck heavily on pieces of metal. A resulting crash and sputter followed as Egor speculated that Recon 1-3 was taken out by the fire. Heavy machine guns were no joke.

"Lost Recon 1-3! Requesting fire mission on this grid!"

Loud diesel engine noises blasted in front as two tanks in brown, green, and yellow color drove out from around the corner in front of the armored car. Two gun barrels towards them.

"What was that, Arthur?" Viktor spoke loudly in the car. "'Simple as always?'"

"Shut up!"

*BLAM BLAM*


As soon as the white flag popped out of the armored car, the girls transmitted enthusiastic messages.

"One armored car down!"

"We did it!"

The girls from Chi-Ha-Tan celebrated their small victory.

Kay listened in with satisfaction whilst behind the M2 Browning behind the turret. Finally, we're getting somewhere with this, she thought as the action returns in the match.

"Looks like a reconnaissance group," Alisa responded over the radio from her position on the road. "Recon by fire now, if anything."

"Yeah, gotcha and-" Kay spoke and is interrupted by the hatches of the downed T-70 opening, the two man crew struggled to escape their predicatment.

"Hey hey! They're getting away!" Nishi shouted on the radio. Similarly, the armored car crew are also leaving their downed car. "What should we do?!"

Kay looked as the crew made it out with their boots on the ground, they started to make a mad dash out of the area.

"Should we engage?!" Alisa shouted. Her M4A1 (76) W turret already turning to towards the running personnel.

"No, leave them."

"But they'll report our positions," Naomi chipped in.

"Yeah… but it doesn't feel right," Kay admitted. "Besides, if there is anyone behind them, they kinda get the idea that we're waiting to ambush them already. Get to your secondary positions and await for my signal!"

"Yes ma'am!"

Kay leaned outside her turret as she looked at the carnage. Suvorov conducted their little recon and met heavy resistance on the north side, now how will they react at the south?


Northeast of town at the outskirts, France

The three girls from Continuation peered out of their tank, concealed in the foliage outside the town.

With binoculars at hand, Aki kept an eye out towards the road on the town border roads. Tanks emerged from the south side as they rolled on the roads over towards the main road from the east of the town. Aki counted out the tanks… one, two, three. So about a platoon, Aki thought. "You girls seeing the same thing I am?"

"Oh yeah," Mikko replied, peering out the opened driver's hatch. "That's three KV-1 right there."

"What's that on their back? Isn't anything I've seen before?" Aki took a closer look with her binos.

"They look like...pipes. They're pipers, right?"

"More like rebars."

"Katyusha."

"Her? What does she have to do with it?" Aki asked Mika as she peered out the commander's hatch.

"Ei… Katyusha rocket racks… empty Katyusha racks."

"Ehh? I'd figure those were on trucks!" Aki exclaimed. "Why put them on the KV tank?"

"Heavy tank bringing heavy power…" Mika analyzed as she got onto the radio to report, "Darjeeling, three visitors coming in the road. Grid…"

Aki took this moment to get into the turret and nudge for Mikko's attention with her left feet. As soon as she got Mikko's attention, she lurched forward inside the BT-42 turret to within inches from Mikko.

"You feel Mika has been… different for a while now?" Aki asked.

"Hmm?" Mikko said as she glanced at Mika, then back to Aki. "She seems fine to me."

"Yeah, but… she feels more focused and…" Aki's sentence trailed as she got even closer. "She's put down the kantele."

Mikko took on a concerned look as the two look over at Mika again, still attentive to the radio.

"Well she's gotta put that thing some times y'know?" Mikko dismissed it.

"Maybe..." Aki replied, but that funny feeling remain.


Northeast of town, France

The Suvorov heavy tanks turned the corner as they ran right into the 17-pounder cross reticle.

"So those are the Katyusha KVs…" Assam commented as she relaxed on the optics.

"Three incoming," Orange Pekoe said as she cradled a round in her arms. "Distance approximately less than 400 meters."

Darjeeling sipped from her tea cup, "Hold fire until you can see the black of the gun barrel."

"Affirmative," Assam said as she finely adjusted the gun. The KV-1K undoubtedly saw their Black Prince immobile in the middle of the road with its torn tracks. The first one stopped and fired a shot, the round flew onto the Black Prince with a *CLANG* and the tank vibrated slightly.

"Is that the 76 mm?" Orange Pekoe asked. "Not a lot of firepower in there."

"As the saying goes, 'If it isn't broken, don't fix it'," Darjeeling said rather proudly as another Russian round came in and vibrated the metal all-around.

The three KV-1K made their turn and stopped in a V-formation. The three tanks lined up in Darjeeling's point of view, but it was more akin to a staggered formation with the lead tank front and center, the tank to the left trailing slightly behind, and a tank to the right in the rear of the formation. These tanks slowly approached, only stopping to fire a shot.

*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* The rounds ricochet off as the tanks approached.

"Now Ms. Darjeeling?" Assam asked rather calmly.

"Hold," Darjeeling said.

"Closing in 300 meters…" Orange Pekoe estimated, now fidgeting with the ammunition on her lap.

*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* The sound continued in a pattern.

"200 meters..."

"Steady now girls…" Darjeeling said as she placed the tea cup down and grabbed the talk piece of the radio.

*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG*

"150 meters!"

"Ms. Darjeeling? Permission to engage?" Assam asked once more.

Darjeeling took her radio and pressed the talk piece, "Spring it."

From the far end of the road that the KV-1K passed by as they approached the immobile Black Prince, Darjeeling's old Churchill and Mallard Team's Char B1 bis crawled out of a branching road and positioned itself on an angle behind the KV-1 tanks.

"All units, fire!" Darjeeling said calmly.

"Roger that," Assam said as she pressed the trigger. The 17-pounder rang out as the shot etched on the top edge of the lead KV-1 front plate, ricocheting off into the air. As the recoiling breech returned and threw out the spent case, Orange Pekoe swung in a round before the casing fell to the turret floor.

Assam's eyes did not waver from the telescopic scope as she saw the ambush carry out. The rear Char B1 bis and Churchill fired their shots to the KV-1s rear, and the side armor also sparked with shots flying around, the Cromwell, M3 Lee, and P40 firing from the branching roads, hidden among the rubbles.

The three KV-1 tanks stopped firing as their armor lit up from the firepower being poured on them. No white flags shot up, a testament of the KV-1 armor against the tanks. However, tracks and wheels were being shot off, with a KV-1 starting to lean as the remaining wheels could no longer support the weight. One KV-1 gun barrel was also smashed off from the firing. Their turrets turn erratically trying to engage this situation. The rear machine guns on the turrets trying to harass the tanks behind them while the guns continue facing the Black Prince.

The Black Prince with its 17-pounder remain the only powerful weapon to deal with these KV-1s. In the short time the chaos in front has started in, Orange Pekoe finished loading the gun. "Up!"

"Firing!" Assam shouted after a fine elevation adjustment and the 76.2 mm shot flied once more, this time landing straight into the front plate of the KV-1 tank. This shot sent up the white flag on that tank.

Orange Pekoe quickly upped and grabbed the next round for the 17-pounder and slid it into the open breech. "Up!"

Assam quickly adjusted the gun towards the tank on the left, linking up the sights onto the front plate. "On th-"

Abruptly, white powder burst all over the vehicle, bits of sparkling shards flew all over the tank, covering it in a dense cloud.

"What the…" Assam stared in surprise while this cloud filled her view.

Darjeeling got on the radio, "Who fired smoke?"

"Sorry! Sorry!" The young voices of Rabbit team apologized. "That was us!"

"I can't see anything now!" Rosehip shouted in the comms.

"Sorry!"

"Assam, take the shot."

"Right, Ms. Darjeeling," Assam said as she got back into the sights. Outside the smoke wavered in density as she saw glimpse of the KV-1 tank.

The driver hatch then opened in the midst, bringing Assam's attention to it as a man pulled himself out of the tank. He coughed as he fell out and onto the armor bed; another man, the assistant driver, also came out in the same condition. The hatch was soon emitting the same white smoke as the outside.

"Ms. Darjeeling, are you seeing this?" Assam said.

"I see it, the smoke must be quite arid…" Darjeeling said as she watched. "Make a clean shot when possible.

"Yes," Assam said as she raised the reticles to the turret. The hatches on top was also opening as the crew bailed out of their smoke-filled tank. Leveling the reticle right on the turret front, Assam shouted, "Firing!" and fired the 17-pounder, it flew into the KV-1 and sent it out of commission as its crew tried to find the air to breathe. "I do not have sights on the last KV tank," Assam told Darjeeling.

"Understood," Darjeeling noted as she got onto the radio. "All units, the smoke is concealing our vision. Do not allow the last tank to get away."

"R-roger! Fire!" Azusa shouted as the dual-gun on the M3 Lee fired.

"Adjust gun traverse about 10 degrees to the right," Mika said.

"Mika, can you see their position?" Darjeeling asked.

"I can, adjust gun traverse 10 degrees to the right. The tank is reversing as we speak."

"Assam, traverse turret, 10 degrees to the right," Darjeeling ordered.

"You have more visitors coming in, medium tanks."

"Got it, Mika."

Assam slowly traversed the turret as she kept an eye on the azimuth. A short moment, she gauged the gun in its correct position. "Gun in position."

"Mika, gun correction?" Darjeeling asked.

"Gun on target."

"Assam, fire."

"On the way," Assam said and she fired a round through the smoke, the muzzle blast sending an impressive wave through the dense cloud. A sudden *CLACK* sounded with an impact, then with a small mechanical sound of the white flag erupting.

"That's the end of that," Darjeeling said in relief. Assam also breathed a sigh as she relaxed. Darjeeling returned to the radio, "Kay, we've dealt with an enemy force here, what's your status?"

"Darjeeling! We've wiped out a recon unit up front here! Suvorov's conducting reconnaissance before committing, and we've shown them we're tough up here!"

"Well, I could say we've met our own reconnaissance. But I don't recall any reconnaissance doctrine calling for heavy tanks to be used in that role."

"Heavy tanks?"

"Yes, Kliment Voroshilovs, with Katyusha rockets on the sides."

"Sounds a bit hefty for testing our sectors."

"We'll see," Darjeeling said and she adjusted the radio. "Ms. Nishizumi, both sectors on the north have encountered enemies and dealt with them accordingly."

"That's good!" Miho replied. "Sounds like part of Operation Stalagmite is going well."

"Be careful, they'll most likely send a recon unit down south before smashing through with all their might.

"We'll keep an eye out for them."

"We can start sending down units from the north to reinforce the south! Give you an extra boost!" Kay said.

"That's alright Kay. Keep your tanks up there and make sure no one tries to get around towards us from the north! We'll handle the south!" Miho affirmed.

"Understood. Good luck, Miho," Darjeeling said.

Orange Pekoe piped up "Ah! Ms. Darjeeling! There are Suvorov crews running towards us!"

"Hmm?"

The girls looked out towards the front and from the smoke, the five coughing crew from the second KV-1 tank in the row were running out towards them.

"Well, what do you suppose…?" Darjeeling wondered. Assam instinctively trained the gun onto them, her hands double check to make sure they were on the machine gun.

The crew ran forwards, their hands bare of anything as they came up to the lead KV tank.

In a moment of curiosity, the hatches on the lead KV tank then opened. The outside crew then climbed into the lead KV, with the original KV crew inside encouraging them in.

"What are they doing?" Orange Pekoe asked.

"Well there's certainly better times than this to see if you can fit ten men inside a KV tank…" Assam said.

"Yeah, but why?"

*DOOM* *DOOM* *DOOM* Blasts echoed in the background.

"You don't think…"

"Artillery!" Darjeeling exclaimed. "All units! Incoming artillery, spread out!"

Darjeeling went up and made sure her cupola hatch was secured as the girls braced.

*SHRIIIEEEEEEKKKKK* A round fell towards them.

Here it comes! Darjeeling thought as she held onto her tea ware. The first blast rippled the tank with its shockwave. That was awfully close! The second shriek came and the blast landed even closer to their tank. They're aiming right for us! "Can we get this moving at all?"

"Negative!"

*SHRRAAAEEEEKKKKK* The sound was louder than ever. Then suddenly *CRRAASSH* and all sense of sound became null as the Black Prince violently shook. Darjeeling and the girls were thrown off their seats as the machine vibrated. The interior safety devices were ringing alarms on broken systems as the girls recovered. Assam looked up at her fire control system.

"We're out…" Assam said as another artillery shell blasted right outside.

"A shame…" Orange Pekoe murmured as she picked herself up, making sure the 17-pounder shells were still locked in-place.

"Oh dear… oh dear…"

"Is something wrong, Ms. Darjeeling?" Orange Pekoe attended to her commander, when she sat up from the turret basket floor to show the problem.

"I broke my tea set… and all the tea spilled."


Northwest of town, France

The sound echoed through the air as the blasts occurred on the east side.

Is that artillery? Kay thought as she listened. I hope Darjeeling's alright. No, no, gotta focus.

It has only been a few moments since she's knocked out the reconnaissance group, and activity on the north side is rather active. So far, nothing has been noted at the south.

I hope this is going how Miho expected… Kay thought. Rethinking the whole plan, there's a lot of room for failure if Suvorov does not follow up with their expectations.

Was she basing all this on a chance? Is that what they've only got running for? A chance that maybe Suvorov will play into their hand given their actions before the cease-fire? If this was all that Miho had to bank on, Ōarai's situation is in a very precarious position for this match.

And for Miho to win… for her-

*WHEEEEEEEEOOOOoooo*

Kay heard this and swiftly dove back into her cupola and closed the hatch. "Rain's coming girls, hang tight!"

The first blast erupted on the rubble of a demolished building, where shards of matter scattered all around. The particle impacted on the tank's armor, clattering all around the skin.

*WHEEEEEEEEOOOOoooo* A second one was coming in.

This is gonna be rough… Kay thought as the blast came in.

*BOOOOM!*


Center of town, France

The north end of the town blasted away as what seemed to be the tidal wave of the Suvorov's team clashing with the force in the rear.

"Looks like it's going according to plan," Katyusha said. "They went right for the rear area as we predicted."

"Something went right today," Miho said. "Let's hope they can keep them back though!"

"It's strange though…" Katyusha started. "Normally, you would still send recon units in all projected avenue of attacks to probe the enemy on their strength before sending the bulk of your force. We have nothing here."

"You're right…" Miho thought. So far, there has been zero contact with the enemy in the south. All focus has been on the North, right where the majority of the team is. Surely they know by now that maybe the South was more sparse in its defenses? But… they haven't send anyone to check it and…

"GAH!"

There it is, "Hippo team, what's up?!"

"Y-you're not going to believe this! It's…"

"What?!"

"It's the IS-3!"


South section of town, France

"What?!" Miho's voice return in shock as well.

"Yes, Miho! The IS-3! It's barreling down this road right now and we've got tungsten loaded!" Caeser shouted. "We can end this right here, he's about to pass right by us and we'll nail his side!"

The heavy IS-3 tank rolled towards their position carelessly as the StuK 40 gun pointed eagerly for a sweet spot.

"C'mon ya little… I got you… I got you… just drive a little closer," Saemonza observed."

"We can end this in one shot!" Caesar said through.

Miho's response was delayed, as though she cannot believe such an opportunity was upon them. Then she returned "Okay… do it."

"Saemonza, nail that mewling quim!" Caesar eagerly patted Saemonza's back as she stared through the sight. The pyramid reticle inched as the tip of the pike went in… then the front idler wheel. Saemonza's grip jiggled about as she waited for the hull sides to be in full view.

Then the IS-3 stopped and reversed. Faster than a snap, the IS-3 swerved in reverse as its front armour swung towards the right, and its front piked armor and front facing turret turned to stare at the StuG III in its little hidey hole.

"Whu...what?!" Saemonza gasped as her one-in-a-million opportunity was snatched away so quickly. From a perfect side shot to staring down the pike armor of a Soviet heavy tank with its 122 mm gun, pointing right at the StuG III in the building.

"MEHERCULE SAEMONZA, JUST FIRE!" Caesar replied appropriately to this turn of event and Saemonza reacted.

The ammunition shot out of the StuK 40 gun at a velocity of about 930 meters per second. That round zipped and bounced right off the IS-3 lower glacis armour down to the earth.

Then, as if waiting for the StuG III to fire its futile shot, the IS-3 fired its gun, and it was over for Hippo team.


Center of town, France

The gun blast shook Miho and her crew.

"I'm not that good with these guns thing…" Saori said worryingly, "but… that's the sound of that Soviet 120 mm gun… right?"

"Yeah…, right after the StuG's 75 mm…" Yukari said. "And it's a 122 mm…"

Miho listened into Hippo's rambling.

" ?!"

"Something happened there… everything was perfect for them," Hana said.

Miho returned to her usual sitting position. The Katukovs have an uncanny ability to maneuver that IS tank across the battlefield, she remembered. "An uncanny ability, huh?"

"Never mind that!" Katyusha said, "Our left flank is now open and that IS-3 is still there! We need to respond now! We'll swarm it with numbers!"

Miho weighed the options.

"First, get us out of this church," Miho said. "Nonna, I could use some demolition assistance."

"Affirmative Ms. Nishizumi. High-explosive charge on point. Danger-close," Nonna spoke. The Panzer IV reversed from the entrance, right as the rubble exploded violently, the shockwave cleared the loose rocks and shook the building dangerously. The interior wobbled.

However, the coast was now clear, "Mako, full speed out!" Miho instinctively said.

Mako put the pedal to the metal and the Panzer IV lurched forwards.

"With this dust, I can't see!"

"It doesn't matter!" Miho shouted as the surrounding continued to shake. "Drive faster!"

The Panzer IV pushed on and its front tracks caught on the rubble, low enough now for the tank to climb the incline. Behind them, the building fell apart as the interior filled with stones. The whole tank rumbled as the girls make their hasty escape while the whole building fell around them.

Soon, light! And the Panzer IV threw itself out of the church right as it collapsed behind them. The Panzer IV continued some distance before skidding to a stop as the dust and wreckage slowed behind them.

A distance from them was Nonna's IS-2 tank. Miho sheepishly waved back, which Nonna returned.

"Man! That was dangerous!" Saori shouted.

"That 122 mm got quite a punch alright," Mako said.

"We're out at least," Miho said, focusing st the task at hand. "That IS-3 would surely have heard that! Let's reposition and prepare to engage!"


South section of town, France

The diesel engine whined inside the tank interior as Naydenov adjusted the gear.

"Up!" The loader cried inside the Iosef Stalin-3 heavy tank.

Up… Naydenov felt the breech of the 122 mm D-25T gun close with the mark. The 122 mm brimmed with power of the BR-471 armor-piercing round. Unleash it towards destruction, he felt the tank's eminence urge him towards it.

The metal armor tapped from within the turret, its rhythm sending a message towards Naydenov. Driver Forwards, Naydenov could feel Erik Katukov order. Naydenov, without a word, pressed the pedal for the power. The harmonics of the tank heightened as the Kharkiv engine revved up the power. The transmission swelled with power as the tracks crawled forwards. The crick and cracks of the 48 ton of weight on the concrete floor, each extrinsically noted to the track impressions as they made their mark.

The hydraulics of the turret pushed about as the gunner traversed the dome turret back towards front, the 122 mm pointing forwards above the piked nose armor of the hull. Naydenov watched the front through the sole periscope in his hatch as the clicks and clacks from the turret resonated, especially from the cold hands of Erik as he watched from outside the open cupola. The commander may have more vision than Naydenov's periscope in front; though the light peering through showed so little of the world, the tank tells him everything. There's rubble 35 meters on your left… a wooden beam 20 meters to your right. Naydenov feel the warning come in as he adjusts the driving gear to the terrain.

Four tanks beyond this corner. An ominous warning sounded in his head.

"Commander!" Naydenov shouted. "Four tanks past that corner towards the town center…" Naydenov listened once more in his mind. "Three mediums and a heavy!"

"Copy that comrade!" Erik shouted enthusiastically. "Focus on that heavy! Location?!"

Naydenov listened. "Behind the depression of the crater that artillery number 3 created! 53 degrees current angle of attack to that corner!"

Erik processed that information. "Gunner! Heavy tank in hull-down position. Turn turret at hull azimuth about 30 degrees! Right!"

"Roger!" The gunner heeded the command as the turret whirred towards the right.

"Loader! AP next!"

The loader nodded as he reached towards the turret rear where all the shells are stored and held out for another solid round for the gun.

"I'm going to drive out and halt at the angle!" Naydenov shouted towards the gunner.

"Roger!"

Naydenov pedalled it as the IS-3 rumped up speed as it reached towards the edge of the corner. His eyes showed the crumpled center building that had been recently demolished, dust still floating around. However, the tank screamed towards the four tanks that were still out of his sights.

But not out of the sights of the gunner. Naydenov swiftly braked and that lurched the IS-3 shape forwards. Showing only its front profile across the corner, two puny shots came, one hitting high and the other crashed onto the sloped pike armor to little avail. Right as the IS-3 relaxed from the inertia and came to a full stop, the gunner fired. The 122 mm blasted beautifully, like a cry of joy and release as the tank delivers its share of power with its armor. The mood quickly took a downward spiral as Naydenov felt a chill fro the end result.

"Ricochet! Gunner, adjust right!" Erik shouted.

Naydenov sighed. As much as he was one with the tank and the tank is with him, the function of the tank is still in the hands of those clumsier than his.


"How did they do that?!" Katyusha cried out. "Nonna?! Are you alright?!"

The 122 mm shot had grazed the top of the gunner's side of the gun mantlet, while also clipping itself off the IS-2 cupola. "I am alright, Ms. Katyusha."

"All tanks, relocate!" Miho shouted as the her, Klara, Katyusha, and Nonna relocated from their positions. That reaction time! That's not natural at all!

"Eh? What's going on?" Anzu said.

"Incoming Russian heavy from the center!" Saori shouted. "It's some….something to it and staying in place isn't helping anyone!"

"Shame, this was a great position too!" Anzu said as the Jagdpanzer 38(t) dislodged from their ambush position to follow the group.

"What do we do Nishizumi-dono?" Yukari asked. "That IS-3… I've never seen anything with such a fast reaction time. It's as if they knew we were there already!"

"Something's definitely strange with their situational awareness…" Miho said.

"Should we get the others to help?" Hana asked.

"No, we got our problems and they've got theirs. We can handle this ourselves."

"But Miporin! How are we going to take that out?! That tank… I haven't seen anything move like that since University!"

"Yeah, it's strange," Miho commented. Then decided to talk to the Suvorov expert in Ōarai, "Klara, what do you suggest?"

Klara's T-34-85 moved with them, but no response came.

"Klara? You there?" Miho asked again.

"Oh! I'm sorry, what was it?" Klara came back to her senses.

"What can we do against that IS-3?"

"Well… there's still the side and rear armor. That's our chance." Klara stated.

"Mmhhmm, okay. Now how are we gonna hit that?" Mako said as she steered the tank through the ruins. "Ambushes aren't working so far."

"We'll just have to be a bit more creative then. We've got to make this work!" Miho exclaimed.


Yep, another chapter in Girls Und Panzer: World Tournament. Not a drill.

University and other real life assignments had been taxing on my priorities! So I apologize for the lack of updates the last few months!

Lots of thing happened since the last update, eh? Das Finale came out and I got a chance to watch it. Seems promising, but I'm dreading the wait time between each part release. I think it would've sufficed if they just made a dedicated second episodic season, but I guess this is the direction Actas wants to take it.

In personal life, university goes on. One bummed out thing was that one of the tank museum closest to my area officially closed its doors now as their inventory is moved. Can't get up close to the tanks anymore, but I took lots of photos and videos so I got lots of references and experience at hand still.

Special thanks to user Lightarc for reading through this chapter draft and helping me with a character's development! Some of the past chapters will be edited, but I will put in an edit footnote below when I'm done so you are aware which chapters had been edited. Thank you all for your interest and readership! If you like the story, feel free to to Favorite and Follow the story to keep up with it. I look forward to seeing you all on my next upload!

Edit 5/7: Chapters 7, 11, 14, 24, and 27 have been modified, mainly in interactions with the German characters. Also, a small edit was done to this chapter as well.