Weaponized White Rose had decent fortifications. Decent, but not perfect. They were good against personnel, but when a dozen tanks rolled up and opened fire, they were no match. In a matter of minutes, their trenches were overrun and their surviving troops dispersed. The tanks continued until they climbed a ridge on the other side of the destroyed lines.

The lead tank opened a hatch, and a man stood up. "There it is," said Sword Michigan, general of Yang Bang, as he looked through his binoculars. "The heart of Rubyland." He gazed upon the fortress of Ray of Sunshine. But soon, it would belong to Yang Bang, along with the rest of the Subreddit.

"All right, crusaders!" he shouted to the other tank commanders. "Today we roll in and take what is ours. The Infinite Army of Yangs will crush all resistance. All will join us or be rolled over by the awesome power of Yang Bang! The Subreddit will become the Yang Bang Appreciation Network and Group! Long live YBANG!"

"Huzzah!" shouted the other tank commanders. They all sat back down and closed the hatches, and soon the formation of tanks was rolling down the hillside towards RUBES headquarters.

Down in RUBES headquarters

"Celtic and Branwen were there the whole time, and they did nothing to help?" Peter asked.

JMHS Rowing nodded. "There must have been thousands of avoidable casualties."

"Jannis is just as guilty," said MacGregor. "He consistently refused to send any help."

"There's a difference between not wanting to fight for an incestous ship," said Jannis, "and refusing to help survivors struggling in the water after the battle is over. I would have helped with the latter, had it not been for that hurricane."

"We'll have to deal with Branwen and Celtic later," said Peter. "Do you know what happened to Blue Whale King? I realized that no one responded to his messages. There has been nothing new from him."

"Eyewitnesses in the trenches say he was shot down," said MacGregor. "I sent Rosey to investigate the crash site, but she hasn't returned yet. From what we heard from the soldiers it was pretty bad, though. He may not have survived."

"He's tougher than that," said Tanya's voice in his head. "I'm sure he survived and wouldn't give up." She didn't should as sure as she said.

"Damn," Peter said, putting his face in his hand. "That's unfortunate. I was looking forward to working with him and the other Arkosians."

"We'll have to focus on what's next," said Rowing.

"Austin should be here any minute," said Peter, "with news on the Sugar Overcharge situation."

"Commanders, we have a new threat," said Venom Ahab, walking into the room. "A dozen tanks approaching from Yang Bang. They'll roll over our trenches in less than half an hour."

"Damn, that means they got through Weaponized White Rose," said Jannis.

"Then Sugar Overcharge will have to wait," said Austin, walking in next with a group of soldiers. Link was among them, still in disguise.

"Can our lines hold?" Peter asked.

"It doesn't look like it," said Venom. "The tanks are built to drive over trenches and smash through barbed wire and fortifications. We'll have to use a lot of manpower and explosives to destroy them. Unfortunately, we haven't gotten to laying the anti-tank mines yet."

"And in this anomaly field HEAT rounds haven't been invented yet," said MacGregor. "That makes things difficult."

"we're running out of time, then," said Peter. "Venom, go order all of artillery to fire on the tanks, if they haven't already. But that won't be precise enough to get all of them. The next part will be more dangerous. We need someone to lay down anti-tank mines while others hold them off with anti-tank rifles and form a barricade so they don't see the mine laying."

"I will help protect the mine-layers," said Taco Lord. "I cannot let the Rubyland fall."

"Very good," said Peter. "Any volunteers to lay the mines?"

Link raised his hand, but said nothing.

They went out to the trenches, gathered more troops, and soon had the forces they needed.

"The tanks are almost here," said Taco Lord. "Attention soldiers! Concentrate all fire on the tanks!" The hundred or so soldiers with anti-tank rifles standing outside the trenches opened fire on Yang Bang's forces, which were less than fifty yards away now. The artillery was also firing on the tanks, but had destroyed only one. Many hundreds more soldiers fired on the tanks from the trenches with regular rifles and the occasional machine gun.

Back in the tanks

"Why are they standing up outside the trenches?" General Michigan asked. "They're sitting ducks!"

Switching faction POV again

The riflemen and the tanks were exchanging fire. The soldiers crouched lower to the ground, but still stood high enough to cover the mine layers behind them. They were taking heavy losses, but whenever one fell, another soldier climbed out of the trenches to take up the anti-tank rifle. Together with the artillery, they were able to destroy three more tanks.

Link carried a large stack of mines. Weighing over ten pounds each, the weight strained his arms. It was a relief to get them all in the ground, but he only had moments to rest before going and getting more. Bullets whizzed overhead, and occasionally close enough to the ground to hit someone. The line of riflemen was not airtight. He noticed that the artillery had stopped, the tanks were too close for them to fire at.

"Not much longer," he said to himself, though he kept his voice low enough that no one would recognize him. The tanks would reach the trenches any moment now.

"Retreat!" shouted Taco Lord. The line of soldiers broke and scattered. Some dove into the trenches to the sides of the tanks, some walked backwards or to the sides as fast as they could, and others turned around and ran. The mine layers joined them, having finally placed all the bombs, their groups blending together. To those in the tanks, it would look like there had only been one group outside the trenches.

In the tanks

Yang Bang's eight remaining tanks rolled over the trenches with little difficulty, entering Ray of Sunshine territory. Sword Michigan was pleased. "Good work, everyone," he said over the radio. "We've broken through the enemy lines. All that's left is to surround their fortress and force their surrender."

He decided to take up the rear, which turned out to be a wise choice. Less than a minute after crossing the trenches, two tanks exploded with no warning. Before anyone realized what was going on, three more rolled over the mines, reducing them to flaming wrecks surrounded by scattered debris.

"Stop!" Michigan shouted over the radio to the other two surviving tanks. "Reverse engines and do not deviate from your tracks. We will have to go around to avoid any more mines."

So that was why the line of riflemen had stood up outside the trenches. It was so obvious now! But laying the minefield at the last second would prove to be their undoing. From where the line was, he knew where the minefield ended.

Back with the "good guys"

"We did it," said Taco Lord. "They're retreating, we've won!"

The soldiers watched as the tanks rolled backwards into no man's land. They started cheering, but it was premature. Soon, the tanks stopped and continued forward again, this time turning to avoid the minefield.

"Oh shit," said Taco Lord and quite a few others. "Everybody, fire on the last three tanks with everything you have!" The soldiers complied, but many of the anti-tank rifles were out of ammo, and regular bullets took dozens if not hundreds of hits to do any real damage.

They managed to destroy one of the tanks, but the other two made it past the minefield and were heading to the fortress of Ray of Sunshine.

"Use grenades, anything you have," said Taco. "Dig up the anti-tank mines and stick them in front of their treads if you have to. We must pro-"

A bullet hit him in the arm. As he fell to his knees from the impact, a tank aimed its main cannons at him.

"Lookout!" Link shouted, tackling him and pulling him out of the line of fire. He fired at the tank with his rifle and threw a grenade at it.

Taco Lord crawled back to the trenches for safety, but Link didn't stick around. Venom Ahab was approaching with anti-tank mines to stick under the treads, but another tank had its sights set on him. Link ran over, also pushing Venom out of harm's way. He grabbed two of the mines, ran up to the tank, and stuck it underneath one of the front treads.

The tank moved backwards, but Link had stuck a mine behind it first. The rear end of the tank exploded, setting the rest of it ablaze. Only two remained.

In the haste of his attack and retreat from the explosion, Link's mask fell off. Everyone could see his face. The face of the man who had caused the whole mess in the first place. Still, there were more important things to worry about.

Taking up an anti-tank rifle that still had ammo, Link joined the other soldiers in destroying another tank.

At last, Sword Michigan's tank rolled up to Ray of Sunshine, and began blasting at the fortified walls. The surrounding soldiers were out of grenades and anti-tank bullets.

"I will conquer the Rubyland," he said. "Even if I have to do it alone!"

"And with us," said another tank crewman.

"Right, you know what I mean."

The tank was almost through the wall.

"No, I can't let it end like this!" Link shouted. He had one last desperate idea. He ran into the base, looking for a supply room. Other soldiers recognized and tried to stop him, but he shoved them aside and kept running.

At last, Link found what he was looking for, and ran back outside with it.

The last tank was damaged and smoking. Good, that made things easier. Link held up a large tin canister of gasoline, and with the last of his strength, hurled it onto his target. The container ruptured on impact, spilling its contents all over the tank. A few seconds later, the fuel ignited, and the tank was engulfed in flames and the screams of those inside.

The hatch opened, and Sword Michigan climbed out as fast as humanly possible. After rolling in the dirt to extinguish the fire on his clothing, he stood up and drew a pistol.

"No!" he shouted. "Yang Bang must not end! The Subreddit will become YBANG! I will-"

Venom shot him before Sword Michigan could fire his pistol. His body fell to the ground, and there was silence for a moment.

"Link," said Venom, "come inside. We have a lot to talk about."

At Tragic Solitude's private island

"So, when the Dust Alliance attacked your home, I couldn't just stay here and do nothing," said Tragic. "I did everything I could, but they still won the battle. At least I was able to bring you to safety, but you still lost your ship nation and your memory. I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry," said Strike Freedom. "I'm very grateful to you. I don't understand though, why do so much for me?"

Tragic smiled. "Do you really not know? You've done so much for the Subreddit. You rebuilt Arkos, helped give so many people a new home and a new chance at hope and happiness. You risked your life and fought on the front lines against Almea and her Dark Hive when they invaded from the Tumblr Galaxy during Ship Wars 4. You fought the Dust Alliance until you were the last one in the air, and never gave up. I couldn't let anything happen to you, you deserve better than that."

"I really did all those things? I guess I remember bits and pieces of it, but it might as well be a dream."

"It's true, I can show you."

Though the anomaly field didn't allow video technology, Tragic was able to show Strike many photos of him in combat. Not just from recent events, but Ship Wars 3 and even from both Ship Survivors. (Which were originally drawings, but turned into photos when the Anomaly Surge ended)

"I can't believe it," said Strike.

"Do believe it," Tragic replied. "What I can't believe is that someone as heroic, kind, skilled, brave, and amazing as you hasn't found a wife or even a girlfriend yet."

Strike blushed. "But I'm not that-"

Tragic put a finger to his lips. "Stop doubting yourself, yes you are. Any woman would be lucky to have you. Especially me."

"Are you sure? You really want to date me?"

"More than anything, Strikey." She kissed him.

And thus followed many days of bliss. Strike and Tragic explored the island, shared stories, (though this was mostly from Tragic), trained for combat and made out.

But whenever Tragic wanted to do something lewd, Strike wasn't quite ready. He wasn't sure why. He wasn't puritanical or anything, and his hormones were screaming for it. It was so confusing. He should be happy, and most of the time, he was, but in the back of his mind, something felt deeply wrong.

In the Rubyland

Metas M. Petivero and the Porcupine looked down at the fortress of Ray of Sunshine.

"Looks like Sword took a lot of them down with him," said Metas. "This will make our job a lot easier."

"We may be able to do this in one attack," said the Porcupine.

"Really? I thought it would take a war of attrition to bring them down."

"You underestimate our strength. With the collapse of civilization, many of the food caches were left unguarded. The number of rodents has doubled. I have over a hundred thousand each combat ready mice and rats at your command."

"Excellent," said Exspiro V. Cremantam, as he joined them. Though horribly burned, he had survived.

Yes! The forces of evil shall prevail!

At the Black Order headquarters

Generix sat in a velvet-lined chair in the command tent, reading "The Prince" by Niccolo Machiavelli.

"Yes, what a delightful guide to villainy! I can't wait to use that one."

"You're reading that all wrong," said a voice. "He knew Republics are far superior. That's just a guide of what not to do, except in dire situations."

"What?"

Generix turned around, to see Generic standing behind him. His head was bandaged, but he was alive. Before he could react. Generic swung Melanie Antiqua's key into Generix's head, knocking him out.

Generic heard footsteps approaching, and shoved Generix under the desk just before the Black Sphinx walked in.

"Generix, is everything all right?" Sphinx asked. "I heard a noise. And now you look different? What's going on?"

"Everything's okay," said Generic. "I, uh, decided to get a new look. You can't always expect the same brand of evil. Mua ha ha!"

"Well, all right," said Sphinx. "Just remember our plans." He left the tent.

Generic sighed and sat down. The desk was covered in papers showing the movements of slaves and plans of conquest and destruction.

"What a mess to sort out…"