Updates this time might be a bit more sporadic than last, I'm still working out the storyline here and rewatching Der Film to get things right.
For those of you just tuning in, recommend you to read The International Exhibition Tournament to introduce you to our story so far, as well as the characters and shipping cancer I have wrought upon this land.
As always Garupans are property of their respective creators, Hector Perkins is property of the Supreme Soviet and People's Union of Pravda High School (Note: Officially disputed by Saunders State Department)
The American T32 heavy tank was an experimental design, intended to replace the venerable Sherman Jumbo at the end of the second world war. Manufacturing of the M26 Pershing tank had already been underway, and the new heavy tank was designed to have the most parts compatability that was possible. To that end, the T32 was essentially an up armored, up armed version of the M26, featuring a lengthened hull which necessitated the addition of two additional road wheels to accommodate its newfound length.
The crew of this durable machine of war had to be top notch as well; To this end, the crewmen currently manning the beast were calm, cool, collected professionals, each one the victor in the previous years National Sensha-Dō Championship. Indeed, their skilled commander kept then sharp like the blade of a feared and seasoned warrior, maintained to perfect function like a German engine lovingly cared for by it's creators hand.
"uh... got any twos?"
"Go fish."
"Joshy! Josh! look! look I almost got the mittens done! Joshy look!"
"Zzzzzz...Zzzzzz..."
Yes, the crew of Sugar's Blues were operating at peak efficiency today. And all the better for it; Oorai had been tapped for a joint exercise with Chi-Ha-Tan Academy, and opposing them would be St. Gloriana's Girls College, and Pravda Women's Academy. They were directed to sit in reserve and cut off any enemy reinforcements as Miho and Commander Nishi of Chi-Ha-Tan cornered the last remaining pocket of St. Gloriana's resistance, before linking up with the remainder of their forces to destroy Pravdas armored elements.
It would be Defeat-in-detail, an outstanding move by the smart, cunning, beautiful, and capable Nishizumi commander.
Not that Joshua Whitman was biased, mind you.
No, not at all.
The aforementioned American tank commander sat with his head propped up against his elbow, waiting for the call to move out and help destroy the enemy team. If all went according to plan, then this match would be over inside of 10 minutes, and Oorai would finally rectify their defeat by St. Gloriana suffered earlier in the season, practice match it may have been.
"All teams, the commanders order has come through! We are to Charge immediately!"
Joshua whipped his head around; They'd do WHAT?!
"Sam! get on the horn and confirm that order, who sent that out!?"
The blonde began furiously fiddling with her dials, but it was no use; Chi-Ha-Tan tool over the radio waves, shouting war cries and charging at the enemy formation with abandon, all the while Saori's voice pleaded with them to stop
Within a minute it was over, Chi-Ha-Tan had been thoroughly defeated and St. Gloriana escaped from their pinned down position
"Kodiak, Anglerfish, regroup at the rally point! We've been routed from our position! We need to consolidate our forces before we're taken out completely!"
Cursing under his breath, Joshua shouted to his driver to get them moving. Soon the American heavy tank was rumbling down the dirt road, making best speed twords their entrapped teammates
"Target bearing one-five-eight, range four hundred meters!"
"Target acquired!"
"Fire!"
The round was sent flying, arcing the shirt distance twords it's target before the Crusader braked hard, causing the 90mm round to impact harmlessly against a flower shop. The crusader revved it's engine again, continuing on its path and disappearing into an alleyway
"Damn that Rosehip! Duck team, pursue! Flush em out!"
"WHOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOO!!"
The Volleyball girls sped past the heavy tank, tires screeching as they rounded the corner and revved to catch up to their former mentor-turned-enemy
"Should we follow boss?"
"Negative, we'll get surrounded in that city. Let Duck team do their jobs."
Several gun reports later, Duck team came speeding out of an adjacent street, it's turret turned rearward as the jocks retreated
"Kodiak, they're comin!"
"Gunner, get ready!"
Rachel Lee targeted the street that the Puma had run out of as Joshua popped the hatch, scanning for targets
"Cmon... where are you?"
His question was answered by the roar of a meteor engine, and four Crusaders made themselves known, with the lead one sporting an excitable redhead slapping her tanks turret
"Holy shit, they gave her a task force!?"
Rachel wasted no time, sending a round speeding twords the lead tank. Not to be outdone, Rosehips tank swerved out of the way, narrowly dodging the shot
Unfortunately, her comrade behind her was less fortunate, eating the round in the front glacis and spinning out of control
"Goddamnit, Duck team assist!"
The 50mm German gun answered, missing the Crusaders but causing them to scatter. The british armor responded, two round ricocheting off the American tank as they closed the distance.
Suddenly, the Crusaders broke off their attack, turning twords the city once more
"The hell? Sam, sitrep!"
"The main force has engaged in a stalemate in the city, Rabbit team's been taken out! Miho is isolated and trying to run, those Crusaders are probably gonna go try and pursue!"
"Then that's our dinner date, Mike, get us there! Tell Duck to go ahead without us, we'll link up in the city after we've covered the flag tank!"
"Mike, halt here! Gunner, targets are gonna come out on this highway!"
The T32 lurched to a stop, it's barrel swaying before settling into the highway
"Joshua!"
"Go ahead Miho"
"You hit the one on the left, we've got the right!"
"One on the left, copy that!"
Moments later, the Panzer IV came around the buildings, two crusaders trailing it
"They're gonna hit her Joshy!"
"Oh ye of little faith!"
Just as the Crusaders fired, Anglerfish stopped, causing the Brits to overshoot on either side
"Now!"
Rachel fired at the same time Hana did, sending a round into the crusader...
... unfortunately, the same crusader had just been hit by the flower girl, wasting a shot as Rosehip made her escape
"Joshua, I said the left!"
"That was the left!"
"No- oh, darn it! I meant MY left!"
"Your left is my right!"
"I know, but now there's one crusader left!"
"WE ALREADY HIT THE LEFT CRUSADER!"
"Right, but the one on the left-"
"Left or right!?"
"AGGHHHHH!"
The Americans couldn't hold in their snickers at the miscommunication; Joshua just threw his head in his hands
"Damnit! Rosehip's still left, link up with Anglerfish!"
"Wait, I thought Rosehip was right?" Hector added helpfully
"Don't you start with me! Follow her!"
The German and American tank set off, following the Cruiser tank through the streets.
Suddenly, Rosehip banked right, taking cover behind a green wall
"The hell...?"
The green wall fired, bouncing off the Americans Glacis plate
"IS-3, IS-3!! KLARA'S BACK!"
The Soviet tank advanced, with Katyusha in tow behind her, and several more tanks in pursuit
"I thought they had then pinned!?"
"I guess they got routed! Return fire, Miho break off!"
The Panzer moved left into a smaller side street, the Soviet tanks and the Crusader following her
"Engage that IS!"
The Americans revved to pursue, placing themselves between Klara and Rosehip on one side with Katyusha behind them
"We gotta hit them before they get Miho! Target the Crusader!"
Rachel struggled to comply, firing several rounds and missing as the T-34-85's tried to clear the American blockade as they all ran and fired
Rachel got a lucky hit just as Klara rammed into the side of a shop; Her round hit the side armor of the Crusader, sending it spinning out of control and into the side of the Soviet tank, before the external fuel tank went up in a massive explosion
"Hell yeah! Gun past them Mike! Let's move!"
"Boss, you sure we can do this?"
Joshua gulped; Driving a tank down stairs was famously difficult. Mako seemed to have no trouble, but the heavy American tank wouldn't fare so well.
"Miho, I don't know if we can follow!"
"That's ok Joshua, keep going and find another way to the beach!"
"Copy that, good luck!"
As Miho descended the stairs, the Americans rumbled past, leaving their commander to fend for herself until the team could link up.
"... You hear that?"
"All I hear are birds, Sam."
The blonde hmmd at that, settling back into her seat. Nonna and Katyusha had followed Miho, leaving the American tank to find it's way through the trees next to the beach. Michael was doing a commendable job, and the trees soon gave way to sand
"There it is again!"
"there's what, Sam?"
"I swear I head it! It's like... Music."
"... what kind of music?"
"Uhm... It's... classical... wait, it's... is that The British Grenadiers?"
Joshua scrunched his face in confusion, before his eyes widened.
"DRIVER, HALT!"
No sooner had the tank stopped than the loud report of a gun rang out, a shell zipping past them and cutting a tree in half
Joshua scanned the forest, seeing the displaced foliage off to their left
"SHIT, FORWARDS! TARGET LEFT, CENTURION!"
Rachel struggled to bring the turret around before another shot rang out, ringing the turret like a bell
"MARIGOLD WILKINSON I SWEAR TO GOD!"
Rachel lined her shot up, but as she pressed the trigger her aim was thrown off by a massive explosion from further down the beach, causing the shell to miss
"Holy crap, the hell was that!?"
"Nevermind that, get on the beach, get on the beach!"
The heavy tank rumbled out of the tree line, seeing the Oorai tanks making their way twords them
"They're walking into an ambush, rotate tank left and charge those fuckers!"
Michael threw the vehicle in gear, the engine straining as it made it's way twords where the Centurion was hiding. It fired once, then twice, every time bouncing off the thick armor plate of the American tank as Oorai's main force sped past them from behind
"Keep her occupied! If she gets a clear shot on Miho we're done!"
The American tank didn't stop its charge, and too late Marigold realized their intent. The Centurion tried to reverse, but was far too slow
"Give her the Blümelein Special!"
The American tank erupted in Machine gun fire, each one targeting the view ports of the enemy tank before ramming it head on
"Reverse!"
The American tank seperated, aiming it's gun at the Universal tank and firing point blank.
As the smoke cleared, Joshua was greeted to the sight of a very sooty Marigold opening her hatch, looking at him in bewilderment
"O-oh..."
Joshua grinned, giving her a two finger salute
"I'd love to stay for tea, dear, but I'm afraid I've got an appointment to keep!"
The British girl narrowed her eyes, before smiling and grabbing her tea cup
"Oh, I'm not sure you'll make it..."
"Eh?"
Joshua looked at her in apprehension; Her tank was disabled, he had a clear shot to regroup with his team!
So why was she so smug?
Why wasnt she afraid?
... Why was her engine still running?
He slowly turned twords the sound of an idling tank engine, rotating his head to the rear...
... and staring down 122mm of Soviet steel, a blackened and soot covered Klara, and the Soviet IS-3
The White Russian gave him a sweet smile, before her voice gently carried over the air
"Извиняюсь за опоздание."
Joshua not-so-subtly kicked his loader, who grumbled and emerged from the hatch next to him
"The hell is going on...? Oh. Uh... Hey, Klara."
Klara's eyes lit up at the sight of the Ushanka-wearing American
"Доброе утро, Гектор! Все еще в шляпе?"
"U-uh, yeah..."
"Cmon Man-whore of Oorai, work your magic!"
Hector cleared his throat, trying his best to give the Russian a smoldering look
"I uh... don't suppose I can convince you to let us go?"
The girl giggled, before shaking her head
"Вы можете быть сексуальным, но не НАСТОЛЬКО сексуальным!"
Hector's eyes widened
"Wait, we can work somethin' out, how about-"
"огонь!"
Whatever arguments he had in store were silenced by the sound of the gun speaking over them, throwing Joshua back in his turret and ensuring his clothes and face had a nice coat of carbon on them
Coughing once, he slowly turned twords Marigold as Klara moved off, who was trying her best to suppress laughter
"I-ill, uh... take that tea now."
"Splendid! Earl grey to your liking?"
Joshua sighed inwardly; But it didn't matter. Miho and the team were far enough away that the slower Soviet tank wouldn't cath up to them. They had this match in the bag.
Right?
I HAVE RETURNED.Sorry if this is a little hard to follow; I tried to stick to the basic order of battle of the first match, but it's hard to describe with so much happening on screen at once. I figured if Rosehip survived the explosion, Klara probably did too, and what better way to make sure the T32 couldn't interfere with the final showdown than to have her take them out (again)?
As always read and review, I'll be rewatching Der Film it seems to try and get everything down again. It'll be a challenge, with alot of filler chapters, because essentially there's only two real battles in the movie, and both of them are pretty long and drawn out. Besides, I want to get to some characters I haven't had the chance to flesh out again anyway.