As soon as coach Beauregard dismissed everyone, a voice thundered over the crowd of people.
"Wallace, Augustine's, you and your crews with me." huffed the man referred to as Albrecht.
A large group of people walked out of the practice gym. This left two crews of the Locusts, Zeke's group was in front of the M1917A1, and Coach Beauregard.
"What's with him?" Zeke asked his two soon to be crewmates.
"Logan's always been like that." David shrugged, "He's thought the commandership should be his and his alone."
"Didn't you mention he was a senior?" James asked David.
"Yeah, he was a junior and was expected to be one of the sub commanders last year, but Liam our former commander kept the levers of power close to himself along with his two sub commanders, Dwayne, and Carlos. The three of us in the M1917 were a tight ship and he ran us hard, but we were rewarded with a trip to the tankathalon US tournament. It's like the tankery world tournament but only the best in the region." David said.
"I see, but still no tournament trophy." James said, as David glared at him in response to this.
After a long silence following the exchange between the cousins, Zeke began to speak once more. "So, do you two want to go and strategize for tomorrow? Or how do you two normally handle things?"
James shook his head, saying, "Don't look at me Zeke, I'm just a freshman like you. However, what I do know is this; we need to eat".
"True that!" David added, "Besides, we can plan some strategy over a pizza or some form of supper. Though, I'm never really one for strategizing." He chuckled.
"So, pizza it is, I'll go and get it. Where do you two want to go for strategy?" Zeke asked the pair.
"Well, my dorm room is in Luby, so we can meet there, any objections?" James asked, to which Zeke and David shook their heads.
"All settled then, see you there in a few minutes." Zeke said with eagerness.
—-
Along side Zeke and his crew, the trio of new, but experienced ladies were also formulating a strategy.
"Any suggestions for our strategy?" Kat asked Terra, as they were all in the tank, getting acclimated with the M22 Locust. By now everyone minus themselves and coach Beauregard had left.
"I say we just go out there and blow them all up!" Terra said with glee, getting adjusted to the gun on the tank.
"Knowing you Terra, I bet you would've wanted some pigeons to carry the competition away." Allie said, chuckling lightly. Terra huffed in annoyance as she got back to her tasks.
"Well, I told you ladies I would give you 15 minutes and that time is up. I would encourage you three to get to your tank early and practice some movements." Coach Beauregard said.
"We shall take this under advisement." Kat said in response and nodded, as she got out of the tank, the other two girls followed Kat as she left the practice gym.
—-
"So, do you four get it now?" Logan Albrecht said angrily, standing in front of a table with four of the maps on it, all with arrows and strategy plans drawn all over them.
"Yeah, yeah, we got it. Take out the fresh meat and you two will handle the other newcomers." Javier Augustine, a Hispanic male said, his arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair.
"If you two can take out the new blood, we'll reward you with a possible sub commandership" the man named Wallace said as to sweeten the deal.
"Do you two even know if the old man came through on the deal to get those big tanks?" Jose Augustine, Javier's brother asked. Wallace and Albrecht exchanged a glance of worry.
"No, we do not, but that old hag for a coach swears we have some big tanks," Albrecht said.
"We'll do your dirty work" Jose said, "but you had better ensure we get something in return".
"You'll be rewarded with what you achieve," Wallace said, forcing his authority over the two brothers.
"So, even if we beat those new girls. How are we supposed to defeat both of you with only machine guns on our 4TA's" Javier said, not having bought into the plan.
"Your tanks have been upgraded with 20mm anti-tank rifles." Wallace said.
Jose raised an eyebrow at this. "So our tanks have been upgraded? Then don't be surprised if we come at you both at full force."
"Fine, come at us, this tryout battle is dumb anyways." Albrecht said in annoyance, he began to speak once more. "You four are dismissed, gunners, drivers you too, be at your tanks and ready to go into battle."
"You too, it would be sad to see you lose what you claim is rightfully yours." Javier said, Albrecht glared at the two tank commander brothers and their single crewmates.
Once they all left, with Logan Albrecht's tank driver closing the door, it was just Albrecht and Wallace in the room.
"This tryout is dumb, and I should rightfully be given what is mine." Logan said.
"Indeed, it's as if Liam and his goons intentionally left this school in disarray." Wallace said.
Albrecht slammed his fist into the table in anger and frustration. Concerned, Wallace began to speak once more.
"Calm down man." Wallace said. "Save your energy for tomorrow, take out the ex-commander's tank, I'll take Chelsea's Locust down for you."
"So, we can have it out between the four of us." Logan said with a grin.
"And you can put those Mexicans in their place?" Wallace said, attempting to gain more favor with his best friend.
"Yes, and I can establish myself as the rightful commander of this school!" Logan Albrecht said with glee.
—-
Zeke meanwhile had returned to his dorm room, laying down on the bed, it was now 10pm and after a filling pizza, his mind was left to wander, thinking about the match tomorrow. Everything was set, an alarm, clothes for in the morning, a full tank of gas in his Dodge Dakota pickup. All that he would need for a successful battle plan.
After another stressful sleep, Zeke woke up in a sweat, with his alarm blaring a bluegrass tune full volume to wake him up. Zeke thought to himself as he wiped the sweat from his brow, "It's the same god-awful nightmare."
He began to go through a morning routine to get ready. A shower, brushing teeth, and getting clothes ready were part of this routine as Zeke sleepily meandered his way through this.
By now, it was 8:00 AM and although the coach told him to be there at 9:30, he did not want to be late or hungry either. With a turn of the key, his Dodge Dakota pickup came alive and was ready for the short trip to breakfast and to the starting point of the match. Maneuvering his way through campus, he then took an exit that led towards the highway.
The highway was the northern border for the match today. It climbed and fell, matching the soft rolling hills of the piedmont region. As Zeke crested the hill, a lady could be seen walking beside the road. This lady had on a purple jacket and black jeans, and her long black hair into a ponytail.
Zeke slowed down and pulled off the road beside her, rolling down and then leaning out the window, "Hey, where are you going?"
"My tank, where else?" Said the lady.
"Oh, isn't your team starting in town?" Zeke asked.
"Yes, could you get me to town?" The lady asked, before it hit her. "Zeke, right? What are you even doing here?" she said just short of a shout, "You're supposed to be putting in at the airport, why are you going into town?"
"I can get food before my match you know; would you want some?" Zeke said, a bit annoyed at her reaction.
"Oh, thank you, yes I would please" she replied sheepishly, climbing into the truck.
"Your name is Kat, isn't it?" Zeke asked as he picked up to highway speed heading towards town.
"Yes, and your's was Zeke, right?" Kat asked, to which he nodded.
"Thank you by the way," Kat acknowledged as they came into town.
"Don't mention it, we may be fighting for commandership, but we are still teammates." Zeke said.
"That is absolutely true, and may the best tank crew win." Kat agreed.
From there the two went through a McDonald's drive through, having some biscuits and sharing a pleasant time before Zeke had to drop off Kat at her starting point. Her crewmates: Terra and Allie, were already there. As Zeke hurried away in his truck back to his tank's starting point, the other girls waved at Kat.
"You're cutting it kinda close you know." Terra said as their commander walked to them.
"And more importantly, who was that boy you were with?" Allie said with a grin.
"Ooh la la- do you now have a boyfriend?" Terra said, teasingly.
"Oh, hush you too, he just saved me from needing to walk here was all." Kat said at first, "and maybe buy me some breakfast and talk strategy." she rebutted quietly.
Terra and Allie gasped in shock, with Terra adding onto the teasing once again. "Well, someone is surely winning the hearts of the teammates."
Kat blushed bright red at this, as she hopped into the tank and got herself acclimated to the tank.
—-
Zeke passed the locust of Logan Albrecht and company as he arrived at the airport. Logan and his crewmates eyed the red pickup truck with suspicion as Zeke drove by. Zeke then parked before making the trek down to the tank.
It seemed to take forever for Zeke to get down to his tank, it was nearly time for him to be there when he arrived.
"Nice to see you show up before noon, where were you?" James huffed seeing the tardiness of his crewmate.
"The coach has been on the radio, asking where you are!" David Christian said, opening a couple of hatches in the front of the tank with a relieved expression on his face seeing his crewmate arrive.
"Truth be told, this is a two-person tank, we were about ready to just leave you behind since all you do is command the tank, but the previous school commander had a similar arrangement, thus why I agreed to this." David added.
"Well lads, I'm sorry that I was long, I had gotten some breakfast at McDonald's in town and picked up that girl Kat in one of the locusts for today." Zeke said with a shamed face.
"Ooh, flirting with the competition, are we?" James teased.
Zeke blushed bright red at this, "I-It's not like that!" He said in response.
David broke up the light bickering with the two. "Let's get settled and acclimated. I want to go ahead and get ready, because I think Albrecht will want to get us first."
"Alright, I'll hop in the gunner's spot, Zeke, there's a hatch in the back I showed you last night, you'll be right there sitting on it. We did bring you something to sit on, and some binoculars." James said, as he got items out of a backpack.
"We'll need you at your best, doubling as a lookout and a guide for us." David said with enthusiasm.
All three members moved to get in the tank, Zeke, sitting on the back of the tank behind the turret and on the engine cover. James in the gunner's seat and finally, David Christian, in the driver's seat, with all the hatches open to keep air circulating.
"Oh, and if you need water or a towel to cool off, let me know, David normally packs a small, insulated bag with some ice packs in it for the crew." James said, pointing to a bag in between himself and David.
"Thanks David," Zeke said.
"You're welcome, I'll go ahead and radio coach Beauregard about being ready." David said. Zeke sighed and leaned back on the tank to relax and maybe doze a little bit.
As the crew dozed in their tank, a certain feeling began to brew in Zeke's stomach; a feeling of uncertainty and concern. A rumble was going to begin, and it would decide who would become the new commander of ICBM.
