Author's Note: And here it is! Chapter 3! I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far and staying safe during the pandemic sweeping across the world! Critiques or praise is very much appreciated.

The golden rays of the sun slowly crept up the walls of the Noble Sisters' dormitory, splashing yellow light across "Keep Calm and Carry On" posters, tea sets, and racks of uniforms, both for school and Sensha-Do. Most of the Ark Royal was still asleep at this hour, but soon that was to change.

A low rumbling began to shake the dormitory buildings, rattling the teacups in the Sisters' tea sets and shaking the windows. The rumbling got more and more violent until it felt like an earthquake was occurring on the ship. Finally, Darjeeling was shaken out from her dreams and shot bolt upright, both terrified and miffed from being denied further rest.

"Everyone, up! NOW!" She screamed over the din of clattering china and rattling glass. Assam was up in two seconds, eyes wide and frantic, her hair fanning out behind her. All those 007 movies really had molded her into something close to a soldier in the way she reacted. Pekoe stumbled to her feet, still a bit groggy and sleepy, but scared and clinging desperately to Darjeeling's arm.

Earl Gray crashed through the door to the dormitory, already dressed in her Sensha-Do uniform. Her eyes were twinkling with excitement. The always-energetic Rosehip was also right behind her.

"Darjeeling! Get the team to the practice field, now!" Earl Gray bellowed over the ever-increasing noise.

"What?! Now?! Are you crazy!? What's going on?"

Earl Gray pointed at the ceiling. "They're here."

The noise built to one final crescendo before a massive, four-engined plane burst into view of the Sisters. Assam practically screamed into Darjeeling's ear. "Airbus A-400M, heavy lift turboprop cargo plane. Used by multiple air forces across the world."

Another A-400M roared low over the Tea Garden, then another, then another. Soon five of the enormous turboprops were circling Ark Royal, their massive propellers thrashing the air into submission and setting off car alarms all across the ship. Darjeeling threw herself into action.

"Earl Gray, you go assemble the team and tell them to meet at the practice field! Rosehip, get the recovery crews and mechanics and tell them to bring every ARV we have! Assam, go with Rosehip after you finish getting ready, copy the blueprints and give the necessary ones to them. Pekoe and I will get ready and meet you at the field! Dismissed!"

With that, Earl Gray and Rosehip dashed down the stairs and out of the Tea Garden House, where Earl Gray's Cromwell was already waiting. Practically diving into the hatches, Earl Gray and Rosehip situated themselves inside before they roared off at a fantastic pace towards the field. By the time Darjeeling and Pekoe had gotten dressed and presentable, and their Churchill VII had lumbered its way to the field, the five Airbuses were on the ground already, their engines spooling down to a stop.

Situated around a hundred meters away from the planes was the entire St Gloriana Sensha-Do team, lines of sand-yellow Matilda IIs and light blue Crusaders arranged neatly in formation, and behind those were the fleet of Churchill Armored Recovery Vehicles that were the backbone of their operations. Their cranes loomed at the ready, hooks swaying slightly in the wind. Assam was talking to one of the RAF crewmembers, blueprints and diagrams in hand.

"ARV crews, get 'er done!" Earl Gray waved at them. With a grinding lurch, the ARVs moved into action, the RAF crews swiftly hooking the ropes to the cargo inside the A-400s. Presently, Assam and one of the Britons in charge came over to Darjeeling and Earl Gray.

"Madam." He began in a rich Welsh accent. "Manifest is here, all five vehicles accounted for in the condition they were in when they left the UK. Upon signing here you agree to be totally responsible for any and all Sensha-Do modifications and damage you may cause to the vehicles. The Tank Museum at Bovington will relinquish control of the vehicles to you and St Gloriana Girls College will be the lawful owner of the vehicles. Is that clear?"

Earl Gray and Darjeeling nodded. A clipboard was passed to them. Earl Gray produced her signature fountain pen. With two flourishes of purple ink, it was done. Darjeeling handed the clipboard back.

"Pleasure doing business with you."

The first tank was being tugged out of its plane by an ARV. Its tracks clicked gently as it slowly rolled off the ramp and onto the ground. Sand-yellow paint gleamed in the light as the ARV crew began examining and preparing the tank for transport back to the maintenance bay. Assam seemed to materialize next to the pair, a laptop nestled in the crook of her arm like it always belonged there.

"Charioteer. Constructed on the Cromwell Chassis, new turret and enlarged turret ring fitting a 20-pounder gun, 84mm caliber. Poor armor, good speed and maneuverability." Her fingers flew across the keys.

The next tank was dragged out, and upon seeing it Darjeeling's jaw went slack in shock as the ARV lugged it slowly down the ramp. "An FV4202!" She exclaimed in amazement. "Isn't there only one?"

Earl Gray chuckled. "Perceptive as always, Darjeeling. Yes. It's the only one in the world."

Everyone clustered round the 4202, touching its armor plating as if unsure whether or not it was actually real. One of the Churchill ARV crewmembers ran up to the two commanders, huffing slightly.

"Miss Darjeeling, the third tank is too heavy for one ARV to pull. Can we use a tandem pull of two to do the job?" Earl Gray nodded slightly, and off the girl went, running back to her tank. The two ARVs drove up to the third Airbus perfectly in line. Their tow cables were attached and their engines revved up, treads grinding into the dirt. The familiar barrel of a 20-pounder emerged into the light, but attached to a very angled turret and a larger hull with sloped armor.

"Caernarvon Action X. Twenty pounder type B barrel ordinance. Only one in the world." Assam rattled off, entering the vehicle details into her log.

The next tank was so heavy three of the ARVs had to be used to drag it out of the plane. The first thing that emerged was a colossal barrel. Then a turret. Then an enormous heavy hull. Darjeeling could barely speak at this point. "Is that a…..a…..a…"

Earl Gray raised an eyebrow. "Spit it out, Darjeeling."

Her voice barely a whisper, Darjeeling peeped out, "That's a Super Conqueror, isn't it."

Assam was suddenly examining the tank from every angle. "Super Conqueror. Four built in the 1950s to test the Dallara and Dart anti tank guided missiles. Basic underpinnings are a Conqueror Mk II, fitted with the 120mm rifled L1A1 cannon. Turret, sides, and upper glacis upgraded with spaced armor for more protection against HEAT shells." Her voice was measured yet giddy with excitement.

Earl Gray leaned in to whisper in Darjeeling's ear. "That's your new tank."

Darjeeling's blood pressure shot through the ceiling and she immediately became light-headed before forcing herself to calm down. Her hands balled into fists hard enough for her nails to dig into her palms and her face turned beet-red. Just one more tank…..

Try as she might, the sight of the last tank was too much for poor Darjeeling. Upon seeing it on the deck of the Ark Royal for the first time, she sank to the ground, a blubbering, sobbing mess before her consciousness slowly drifted off.

The last thing she heard was Earl Gray's smug voice saying "With this, we can't lose."