Girls und Transformers ch4
Episode 4: We are here.
The Saunders aircraft carrier drifted calmly through the nightly ocean.
Within the air traffic control tower of Saunders air base were a group of girls on over night shift making sure the air was clear.
One of the girls with red burnt hair in a pony tail stared at the green circled radar screen while leaning her heavy exhausted head snuggly into her palm. Her eyes followed the green line as it went around... and around... and around. Like she were being memorized to fall asleep which seemed to be working as her eyelids flickered up and down in a fight to stay awake which after a few seconds ultimately failed.
*BEEP!*
"Hah!" the girl jolted up as a ping on the radar went off. Now awake her attention honed in on the green dot appearing on the far edge of the screen. The line circled back where the dot had appeared.
*BEEP!*
The green dot had appeared again, but was drastically closer.
"Ummm... mam!" she called over her superior, "We have a problem." she grew concerned.
A girl with a sharp face and a black neatly tied bun turned, "Hmm? Let me see." the upper classman and girl in higher authority leaned over the screen.
*BEEP!*
The dot was even closer to their position now. Only a few hundred yards out.
The tankery team was just finishing up their after school practice.
"Alright everyone, great practice today, great practice! We're sure to give Ooarai a run for their money in the next tournament! Huragh!" the ecstatic blonde commander pumped a fist in the air.
"HURAGH!" dozens of fists branched up in the air from several girls of the tankery club.
"Now let's tuck our babies to bed and call this practice a night!" she ordered.
The girls scrambled to their prospective tanks. There were M4 Shermans, Fireflies, and M22 Locusts. The sound of nightly crickets was canceled out by the roars of dozens of engines starting up. The american tanks began to make their way back to the garages.
The blonde commander turned to her two subordinates, "Nice work today Alisa and Naomi. Keep up the pressure, but not past their breaking point. That's how we become stronger!" she clenched her fist in a vice grip.
However neither of the girls seemed to be paying direct attention to her. Instead their gazes were fixed on something beyond their commander
"Umm, Kay… what's that?" Alisa pointed.
"Huh?" Kay turned to see what it is that had caught her friends so off guard.
Her curiosity brewed in her mind as well as she saw a distant light approaching the school.
"It's just a plane." Naomi shrugged it off looking at Alisa with little concern.
"No listen… I can hear propellers, it's definitely a helo." Alisa corrected, adjusting her ear towards the light, "And its descending towards us?" she questioned.
Naomi narrowed her gaze at the incoming unidentified aircraft, "You're right, I hear it too. Maybe it's the Shensa-Do Federation?" she guessed.
Kay brought up her binoculars to her blue eyes and zoomed in on the aircraft to see it was a Russian Hind with the Pravda insignia on it, "Pravda?!" she exclaimed in confusion. Why would Pravda bring their Russian Hind here at a time like this and with no call ahead?
Naomi got serious, "You mean Pravda brought their Hind here?! What do you think this means?!".
"We never planned a gathering with Katyusha today did we?" Alisa confirmed.
Kay continued to think as the Hind descended lower and closer. Suddenly her face bursted with joy as she gasped, "Maybe this is another test from our sponsors! They're always making sure their fundings is being used in the hands of well trained girls." she spoke nonchalantly.
Alisa tilted her head, "But we were never notified of any drills coming up?" she questioned her commander's hypothesis.
"It does seem a bit out of place, as there are many safety risks to running drills the school isn't notified of." Naomi agreed.
"Well maybe the school knows, but we don't! Surprise might be part of the test!" the tank commander radiated with joy as she turned to her friends, " All I'm saying is that we've drilled this scenario several times before, and we're putting it to use now!" Kay brought out a megaphone, "All personnel we've got an unidentified aircraft touching down! I repeat! An unidentified aircraft is making land on our deck! All tanks move in to intercept, now move it!" her voice was like cannon fire as all the tanks began to turn back towards the deck of their training area.
The Pravda Hind's spinning propellers kicked up dust as it descended closer to the ground until its wheels finally touched the ground now remaining stationary. In the time it took to make contact the entire Saunders tankery team had made a barricade of cannon equipped armor around the intruding vehicle.
Kay was in the front mounting her M4 Sherman as Alisa rode her M4A1 and Naomi in a Sherman Firefly at Kay's sides.
Kay brought up the megaphone, "Okay now you're surrounded. Didn't think we would have protocols for this type of situation? Tell our sponsors not to underestimate us and that their fundings are being put to extensive use. Go ahead and power down and step out please." her voice was projected.
The Hind had powered itself down as its propellers slowed before coming to an unnatural halt as if time had suddenly stopped.
"Good now ste-" Kay started to push her orders, but what happened next was something no one was preparing for.
The propellor hummed as it popped up and the blades chimed as they snapped back.
"What the?" Naomi questioned. This was highly unusual behavior for a helicopter of any kind.
But now was time for the main event.
The helicopter began to… come apart. But even then that wasn't the best way to explain it. The sound of shifting metal clanking against each other erupted from the aircraft as its form began to transform. Parts of the Hind began to take form as the metal pieced itself together into arms and legs while still keeping features of its original helicopter form.
If that even is its original form.
Kay's joyful color in her face drained to a pale shock as her gaze ascended with the height of the transforming helicopter.
The surrounding tank crews stared in absolute shock and awe at the display. Unable to move or formulate a scream.
Kay's grip on the megaphone fell weak and it bounced off the hull of the tank to the ground. Her hands fiddled with the radio before bringing it up, "All tanks…!".
The transformation of the Hind ended with a head with a fin like helmet shape and three circular red eyes aligned in an upright triangle. The mouth wasn't a mouth either, more so a speaker in the form of a face covering. A large white and red robot with helicopter features to bear as armor and the propeller blades behind its back like a cape stood with an aggressive stature.
"OPEN FIRE!" Kay screamed into the radio.
And like a plague the order spread throughout every tank as a storm of shells thundered in the night air.
The robot leapt over the first line of Shermans, using its propellers to let it glide.
All the shells missed, either being lost in the forest, or damaging the nearby garage. Machine gun fire seemed to only bounce off the toughness of its armor
The mech landed with an earth shaking thud. Bringing its massive fists down on two Shermans.
They exploded in a fiery glaze that swallowed the robot, but it didn't seem to faze him.
Kay gasped along with her two best friends in their own tanks. She covered her mouth at the stomach churning sight. Two of her tanks just got taken out, and not just knocked out like in the tournaments with white flags.
These tanks were destroyed. Along with the girls inside.
The robot raised its head. Its shoulders shifted and popped out several missiles which shot out.
One by one the missiles made contact with either pavement or another tank. Lighting them up into torches.
Several turrets rotated and fired.
The robot's side burst as the shells made impact, "AAAGH!" the metallic voice roared as the mech rolled to a knee. Its arm began to shift from a hand into a canon that began to glow red as it charged up and dispersed a wave of red energy that crackled and sizzled as it traveled with enough speed to pick the tanks off the ground and flip them.
"All tanks fall back!" Kay screamed into the radio, "Everyone retreat to the garages and use them as cover!" her tank fired a shot. The blonde turned to Naomi, "Naomi! Have you and the Fireflies draw its attention enough for everyone to get away!" she ordered.
"Roger!" Naomi saluted as she brought up her radio, "All Fireflies converge on my position and follow me, we're going to draw the enemies attention and buy everyone sometime!" she explained as her tank sped off. It stopped half way, took aim, and fired.
The shell struck the back of the mech. It roared in anger as it turned to see a Firefly aiming right at it before fleeing with several others in toe.
The robot charged with ferocity as its heavy strides uprooted the ground.
A Locust and other Shermans drove in front of it and began to open fire. Several shells were evaded while two hit the leg and shoulder.
"YAAAGH!" the robot roared as he swatted away a sherman. Its face suddenly lit up in sparks from a swarm of irritating machine gun rounds. However, a missile made quick work of the tank. Next was another Sherman and the Locust splitting in different directions as they fired their cannons.
The robot ducked and rolled as its left hand equipped the rear propellor which began spinning at a dangerous speed. The mech kicked its foot out to make contact with the Sherman as its propellor saw had sliced through the top of the Locust. Grabbing the barrel of the turret the mech used it to bat away the headless tank like a golf ball.
More cannon fire whizzed past it from Kay's retreating squadron. Red tracer rounds zipped and whistled like wasps as some either missed or exploded like firecrackers of his armor.
The alien robot picked up the Sherman it had kicked as the girls inside began screaming in terror as the red glowing eyes of death looked at them. It then threw the Sherman at the pack of American tanks and fired a missile.
"What the hell is this thing?!" Alsia shouted in terror as her tank fired another shell and she unleashed a flurry of caliber rounds.
"I don't know but- WATCH OUT!" Kay screamed as a Sherman was thrown at and exploded in front of their faces.
Kay's tank hit the brakes to avoid getting crushed by the roasting tank before the Sherman maneuvered around it. Kay snarled, "You bastard! YOU'RE GONNA PAY!" she barked with killer intent.
The mech charged its cannon, but a shell from behind hit it in the shoulder blade. It turned to see Naomi and other Fireflies firing at it.
*BOOM!*
*BANG!*
*BOOM!*
Shells were sent flying at breakneck speed and some hit true.
"YAAGH!" the alien attacked roared as a few pieces of it went flying off. Its cannon arm glowed red.
Naomi gasped, "Everyone move inside go!" she ordered.
The Fireflies retreated inside the garage and drove for the exit on the other side.
The mech fired an energy blast which blew up the entrance and a Firefly too slow to get inside. The alien then turned and released a barrage of rockets at the fleeing Shermans.
Trees of flames and smoke plumed from the ground and tanks that took direct hits.
"Commander we need to-! Gagh!" a rocket went off next to Alisa and chucked dirt in her face, "We gotta get to the C5M Super-Galaxy!" she screamed over the explosions and gunfire.
Kay turned burning rage in her blue eyes, "We're not abandoning the school!" she snarled.
"But commander-!" Alisa protested.
Kay cut her friend off with a building plan over the symphony of battle and death, "When we fall back enough we can have Naomi lure it in and surround it on the air way. It'll have nowhere to hide and we can use the hangers for cover!".
"We're going to die if we don't get out of here Kay!" Alis screamed to her, but not as a subordinate to her commander, rather as a friend.
Kay's chest clenched up at that word. DIE. It echoed in her mind sending pangs to her heart. The world seemed to slow down for everything except her. Her hearing was muffled aside for the ringing that stabbed at her ears. Looking around she saw her girls, friends, her teammates cry in fear or anger. She saw them fighting for their lives and the battlefield looked like something they would do for their Fourth of July parties. Shells shot off like fireworks. Tracer rounds and fifty cal's popped like firecrackers. And tanks burst into bushes of smoke and flames like cherry bombs.
Time resumed as normal, Kay clenched her teeth, "Radio the air control tower and have them prep the Super-Galaxy for take off!".
"Yes ma'am!" Alisa answered in relief.
Kay gripped her radio, "All tanks! We're going to load as many tanks as we can on the Super-Galaxy, we are abandoning Saunders!" she stated.
Naomi hearing this on the radio let a tear run free, "Damnit." she cursed under her breath.
The alien mech glared at the retreating Fireflies and casted a glance at the herd of Sherman's making their escape while firing at him.
"Follow them, and do not get caught." something detached from the back of the transformed hind.
The dispatched object took a humanoid like form, but only smaller with red glowing eyes. It landed on its feet and growled like a beast, "It will be done.".
The two alien machines went their separate ways.
The Russian Hind leapt into the air as it transformed into its vehicle form. Its propellers began chopping the air as it took flight.
The sound didn't go unnoticed by the Firefly tank crews.
"MOVE!" Naomi ordered.
The Fireflies moved in a pack as they raced for the exit.
"Turn the turret forty-five degrees left!" Naomi ordered to her gunner.
The gunner looked up with a blended expression of surprise and confusion, "What!? But-".
"Now!" Naomi screamed.
"EK!" the gunner squeaked as she adjusted the gun as told.
The Hind above turned and pointed at the roof of the warehouse. It's eighty millimeter S8 rockets lit up one after another as a shower of missiles rained down on the warehouse.
The roof above the Fireflies caved in as the Hind's rockets punched through and went off in blossoming flowers of heated destruction. The tank squad were chased by the growing reach of the explosion that went off like roman candles.
The Hind continued to fly towards the other side where the exit was and transformed midair. Landing on his feet and a fist which cracked the pavement beneath. Its head raised up with blood lust in its red vibrant eyes, "RAAAGH!" it growled at the on coming tanks as it raised its anti-tank missiles cannon.
"FIRE!" Naomi barked the order.
The Firefly shot a shell which obliterated the wall to their left up ahead.
Naomi turned to her pack, "Everyone on me!" she directed as the train of tanks turned left to fit through the hole.
The Hind fired his rockets which made impact with two Fireflies, sending them up in flames.
The tanks were swallowed in the burning breath of death along with their crews.
The Hind growled again as it looked at the last remaining Fireflies treading onto the airway where the rest of the American tanks were. It scanned them and found no sign of an Autobot signature, but it would at least finish what it started.
The Super-Galaxy hummed as the jumbo jets whirled to a blur on the runway. The rear cargo door had been lowered and the Shermans were piling in.
"Commander, we can't fit every tank! We already have six Shermans and two Locusts on board, we need to leave room for what Fireflies we can take!" Alisa reported as she exited her tank.
Kay ran to the back door of the plane, "Everyone leave your tanks and get on board! We are-!".
Suddenly several explosives went off around the crowd of Saunder students. A few tanks went up as bonfires and several girls were caught in the explosions.
The last four Fireflies were being chased by the predatory Hind in its helicopter form.
"Commander, we're coming in with the enemy hot on our tail!" Naomi screamed in the radio.
Kay snapped from her shock of terror and hopped into the closest Sherman, "Alisa!" Kay called out.
Alisa nodded as she opened the drivers hatch and hopped in. Crawling her way up into the gunner position and began turning the turret.
"Alisa today!" Kay barked with urgency.
"This thing won't go any faster!" Alisa howler back. She gritted her teeth as she bit down on the burn from her aching arm and the drops of sweat that seeped into her small cuts.
The Hind zoomed in on the commotion ahead to see a few tanks obliterated from its misfire along with several bodies. However, everyone was abandoning their only means of safety for hopes of survival on the massive plane.
That hope would be in vain as the Hind's YakB machine gun hissed. Several whistling bullets spewed into invisible lines too fast to be seen by the naked eye.
Several girls suddenly collapsed as the bullets tore through the crowd of girls and turned the ground to rubble.
"NO!" Naomi cried in horror.
The turret on the Sherman had finally turned for Alisa to see the traumatizing scene would forever be seared into her brain. Alisa gasped as her jaw hung open and tears welled up.
The Hind's vision zoomed in on the inside of the jumbo jet to see one of the tanks aiming right at it.
"FIRE!" Kay screamed.
Alisa's brain was able to partially register the order based on instinct and constant conditioning. Her trembling finger itched the trigger before squeezing it.
The Sherman thundered as it sent the shell hurling like a comet.
The Hind swerved right, but was struck in the wing, "GRAAAGH!" it howled in anger. Transforming upon its fall it rolled on its side before halting to a knee and aiming its canon at the closest Firefly. A rocket whistled out and caught up to the tank in a matter of seconds before sending it out of commission permanently.
Naomi's dinner plate sized eyes looked in horror as her usual cheery day with her friends turned into a bloodbath scene from some horror movie, or even one of her worst nightmares taking form in real life in a matter of seconds. She looked to the jumbo jet where all the girls lay dead or screaming in equal terror. Where their mighty machines of war meant to be able to deliver destructive potential lay wasted. She saw Kay screaming down to who she assumed was Alisa to load another round. Her friends were staying behind to save her… they would die… to save her.
Naomi looked back at the massive machine take a stand with the look of rage on its face.
This thing, this unknown entity had come to her school, killed dozens of her friends, and now it was threatening the life of her best friends she considered to be sisters.
"Naomi…" one of the crew members cried from within, "A-are we gonna d-die?" she choked on a sob.
Naomi closed her eyes tightly to seal off the flow of tears and she gulped down a sob, "We need to stay back." she mummbled through caged teeth.
"What was that comma-?".
"We need to stay back!" Naomi growled, making her crew flinch.
The cres fear sooned turned into shocking horror at what their commander had proposed.
"What!?".
"But we'll die!".
"That's suicide!".
They each voiced their concerns.
Naomi could not handle it anymore, "I KNOW! I know we'll die! I know it's suicide! But our friends! Our SISTERS are dying!..." she snapped, "Even if we were to get on the plane that thing will just shoot us down and then we'd be dead either way!".
The crew looked at each other scared not only by the clutches of death, but because it was true. Everyone would die on that plane… but they could stop it.
"I know it's unfair of me to push such a demand on you girls, b-but I need you girls…" hot streaks of tears flowed done Naomi's face, "I-I need you if we're… if we're to make sure the others make it out safe… please…" she broke into a sob but quickly covered her mouth.
"FIRE NOW!" Kay screamed.
The Sherman cracked the air as it fired another shell.
The mech stepped out of the way as it raised its charging cannon for a shot to take them all out in one shot.
Suddenly a force punched the alien in the chest with a burst of shrapnel, sending it falling back with a groan. Its cannon went off and sent a burst of energy sizzling in the air before dissipating.
Red tracer bullets pinged and chipped at the alien's armor plating.
"YAAAAAAAAGH!" Naomi roared as the Sherman Firefly trained full speed at the alien.
"Get on lets go!" Kay waved the last two Fireflies as they boarded. Kay's blue eyes darted around in worry, "Wait, where's Naomi!" her heart began to pound harder in fear.
The drumming sound of the fifty cals bolt action going to work caught Kay's attention. At a distance further down was Naomi going mano y mano with the mech.
Kay's skin chilled as goose bumps cascaded her neck. What was she thinking!? "No… NO!" the blonde scurried to handle the radio as she yanked it up to her mouth, "Naomi what the hell are you doing!" she screamed in anger.
"Commander-!".
*BOOM!*
The radio user was cut off as the tank fired a round.
"Commander Kay wants to- AH!" she yelped as Naomi snatched the radio.
The gargantuan robot rolled forward as she shell howled over it. Finishing the roll the armored shoulders popped open and more rockets stuck out.
"Commander you need to get out of here while we- *gasp!*. HARD TURN LEFT!" Naomi screamed.
The Sherman turned sharply, causing the tank crew to jolt right.
Rockets soared inches from the hull and sent hot specs of rubble flying. The shocks of the explosions shook the tank.
"Don't you DARE! Get your asses on this plane, that's an ORDER!" Kay's voice box tightened after that. Her eyes became watery and blurry.
The driver of the Firefly tried to straighten out the war machine and ended up drifting the tank to the right instead as several explosions went off where they were at seconds ago in the drift. The turret spat out a shell which struck the alien in the side, throwing the trajectory of its missiles off.
"I guess this is a court martial then... " Naomi chuckled.
"Seriously!? You pick now to start cracking jokes!" Kay bantered her friend's poor timing.
"But really though, if you don't leave now then none of you are getting out! Please take this chance to escape!" Naomi returned to being serious.
"Commander Kay, we need to take off now!" one of the Saunders girl's announced.
Kay's entire form began to tremble in fear, anger, and desperation to get her friend to safety. But the truth hit like a tank shell, her red face began to streak with hot tears, "Damnit Naomi why are you doing this!" she sobbed.
"It's okay Kay. As long as you and the rest of our sisters make it out… then it wasn't for nothing." Naomi's tone had calmed from accepting the fate that would soon be bestowed.
One really lucky missile struck the treads of the Sherman causing it to spin out as pieces of tread and metal wheels went flying. The tank halted, unfortunately facing the opposite direction of the alien.
The pilots of the Super-Galaxy flipped switches and pressed buttons as the the time till take off grew thinner.
"Closing rear door, please stand clear of rear door." one of the pilots announced on the intercom.
Kay's eyes grew into saucers, "NOO!" she leaped out from the Sherman and made a break for the rising door.
"Comma- Kay stop!" Alisa ran after her.
Two other cadets popped out and hooked their commander by the arms.
"Commander you can't!".
"NO LET ME GO! NAOMI!" Hot tears trickled and were sent flying as Kay thrashed in desperation to free herself.
Alisa soon caught up to assist, "Commander please! Pull yourself together!" right hand of the blonde commander roared, but even she had wet streaks stretching from her red eyes.
Naomi held her throbbing head as she composed herself. A loud clanky stomp grabbed her attention. Snapping back into focus she turned around to see the triple eyed metallic beast stare at her soul. Its metal arm shifted back into its canon form as it approached.
Naomi clenched her teeth and growled as she took hold of the 50 cal and aimed, "DAMN YOU! RAAAAAAWW!" she pulled back on the bolt and let loose a hail storm of white hot lead.
The alien towering mech simply raised the palm of its other hand to absorb the oncoming assault as if they were meer spit balls.
Naomi didn't let up until the chain of bullets slouched empty and shells were sprawled around like there had been a confetti party which left the gun glowing red smoky hot. The Firefly commander sighed as she ducked into the tank housing the trembling girls, "... I'm sorry." was all she could say.
"I-I… I'm scared!" the loader broke into a fit of sobs.
Naomi didn't shout at her or even glance in annoyance. Instead, she simply nodded, "Me to, but…".
The girls looked up to their commander to hear her final piece.
The alien helicopter growled as its canon glowed a vibrant blood red and sparked with building energy.
Naomi then looked up with budding tears and a warm comforting smile, "Whatever hope there is for the future of Saunders and killing the damn monster… is getting out alive on that plane because of us… and that's something to die happy about.".
All the way from the plane Kay's eyes fixated and the explosion that flowered from the signature Firefly. The thunder of the explosion ruptured her heart like glass as she went cold still, "NAOMI!" she shrieked a bloodcurdling scream.
The rear door had just closed and the plane began its acceleration, and within a few seconds the giant bird was in the air.
Down below the alien Hind zoomed in on the enormous air vessel where an energon signal was detected, "Treader… you're on reckon duty now… find out what you can and report everything you find not a second later of knowing." the metallic low voice of the mech grumbled, "These humans are dangerous in numbers, do not make yourself known unless you have found her.".
"Understood. And what will you do sir?" another metallic voice responded.
The Hind's propellers spun causing it to levitate in the air and made its way to the air traffic control tower stood with several frantic looking girls gazed in shock at what they were seeing. The chest of the alien began to shift, clank and transform into a large short barreled cannon that had already begun to glow with pulsing red energy, "Leave no witnesses…" suddenly his chest shot out an electrifying orb of red energy that burst its way through the window of the tower and exploded.
Aside from the flames a bubble of red shimmering energy grew out from the point of impact which disintegrated everything it began touching like an army of hungry ants began eating away at everything and not leaving a trace. The bubble froze before imploding on itself only to exloped again as the bubble of destructive power expanded at an alarming rate turning everything in its path into molecules. The airway, the garages, the training grounds, and eventually everything to the entire highschool and even parts of the inside of the aircraft carrier were destroyed, dissolved glowing hot ash. Everyone and everything within the perimeters of Saunders highschool… was vaporized. A massive glowing, smoldering crater was the only memory of the proud school it once was
The Hind veered off into the night as if nothing had happened.
"What do you mean the tank is gone!?".
"I mean it's not in the garage!" Saori yelled back in panic.
Hana quickly appeared at the ginger's side, "Easy Saori, calm yourself." she rubbed her friends back.
Saori whipped head at her with big small pupiled eyes, "Calm! How can I be calm when even Mako is freaking out!".
Mako stood behind Miho pale and trembling, "G-g-ghosts!" she hitched.
Yukari hummed, studying the ground,, "Guys… doesn't it seem strange how there are no tread marks on the ground?" she asked.
Miho walked up to her with a stone tense face, "You're right. What are you thinking?".
"Well…" Yukari turned to where the forest was, "There is an abnormal trail of prints leading into the training grounds. I can't make it out, but they are distinctively big." she pointed out.
Hana's eyes darted over each peculiar figure before following them without a word or a shred of fear.
Saori gasped, "Wait! Hana where are you going!?".
"To find the tank." she replied without looking back.
"Not alone you're not." Miho stepped in sync with the flower arranger.
Yukari gasped, "Commander, I'm coming with you!" she declared in determination as the tank lover jogged up to them.
"You guys can stay here if you wish, this could be dangerous after all." Miho's tone sent a chill that made the cool night air seem warm.
"All the more reason to report this." Mako timidly voiced.
Saori sighed, "Like they would actually believe that we lost a tank." she then began to pace towards the growing group of girls.
"Eh!" Mako gapped at Saori taking her spot with the other girls, yet her feet seemed heavy. Glued to the floor even as her mind and heart battled for the right decision. Suddenly a gust of wind pushed through Mako and howled into the air for her to hear, "GAH!" Mako yelped as she ran to join her friends.
The alien mech stepped into the rock quarry where the battle this morning had taken place. The interstellar traveler did not quite understand the meaning behind such games with machines of war, but at the same time it seemed oddly entertaining to be able to fight and not have to worry about taking lives. To be able to shake the hand of your opponent in good sportsmanship to a match. The pink eyes looked up and shimmered with the stars, this planet was not like theirs in the slightest. This planet was smaller, more frail, primitive compared to Cybertronians, and yet it was still alive and well.
Its thoughts while looking up at the captivating stars had almost lead the alien off its initial reason for coming out here. Static began erupting in its ears. Bits a voice were caught until it was flushed out from the grainy signal.
The alien's perimeter sensors suddenly caught movement. Its eyes widened in awareness as several figures converged on its position.
The girls burst through the dark brush of the forest.
"The rocks don't carry the trail anymore. Well have to search without much clues." Yukari stated.
Hana sniffed the air, "I can smell the scent of iron and oil... its close by.".
Miho scanned over the terrain and spotted a structure cloaked in the darkness of a looming shadow, "There!" she pointed.
"Where, I don't see it?" Hana squinted where her commander was pointing.
"Trust me it's there." Miho began running with the other girls in tow.
The girls arrived at the lonely Panzer IV.
"No one seems to be around?" Yukari stated as she scanned the perimeter.
"Even the tank is empty, and all our stuff is still untouched." Hana popped out from the side hatch.
Saori's teeth and fists clenched, "Okay seriously what is going on! Things like this have never happened before, so why now!" she cried out.
"The only logical explanation is paranormal!" Mako's low voice raised timidly.
"Girls!" Miho snapped. All eyes now being on the commander, "Panicking now won't get us closer to answers. Let's get the tank back before discussing this matter further." she climbed up into the tank.
Yukari's expression beamed with delight as she saluted before following orders.
Everyone was silent, the cold night was out matched by the heat of tension within the group. No one knew what was happening or why. They wanted answers, but felt too scared to receive them.
Whatever the case, there was definitely more to this tank than meets the eye.
