A light breeze whispered across the Sensha-do training ground, fluttering the flag that rose above it, the Union Flag emblazoned in the corner, on a light blue field, with the St Gloriana's classic symbol in the middle. Just beneath the flag pole, which stood in the middle of the parade ground that was just in front of the tank storage facility was a podium upon which stood Henry and Darjeeling, it was dead silent on the grounds, the only sound was the scratching of leaves as the slowly swirled around along the concrete.
Both commanders were attired in full regalia, scarlet sashes across their sensha-do uniforms, Darjeeling had donned a beret that rested elegantly on her usual French braid, Henry also wore a beret, his was a dark red, in comparison to Darjeeling's light blue. Arrayed out in front of them was the full St Gloriana team, all similarly dressed minus the sashes. Also on the parade ground was the marching band, bagpipes and all.
Upon each tank commanders hip was a ceremonial sword, held out in front of them whilst the rest of the regular crew members simply stood to attention. Henry ran over the team once more with his eyes, turned his head ever so slightly and inclined it to Darjeeling who nodded in response.
"Parade will be dismissed, you have fifteen minutes to ready yourselves for training, I expect everyone in their tanks as quickly as possible"
Henry took over there "Parade…left face!"
The click of boots echoed across the otherwise empty ground, as the team turned in unison
"Pipe Major, if you will."
The commander of the marching band, the Pipe Major known was Peppermint, was a tall girl with short cropped red hair, she saluted the two commanders (British style of course), then twirling her staff around, called out
"Parade…QUICK MARCH!" and off they set to the tune of Highland Laddie, the bagpipes accompanied by the drums and fifes of the rest of the band, a mixture of both men and women from St Glorinia's various music clubs.
As the parade marched off, Henry let out a relieved sigh.
"Ah finally, ugh all this drill practice best be worth it"
Darjeeling took off her beret and folded it carefully "You know it will be, elegance and keeping our posture is key to our sensha-do, besides, next tournament we'll show up the rest of the schools at the opening parade"
He smiled wryly at her "You just want to show up Kuromarine after last year's defeat"
Darjeeling simply tapped her nose in response. Both of them made their way down off the podium, then she snaked her arm through his as they walked towards where their tanks were stored.
"I was thinking of making it a bit of a brawl today, think your girls are up for it?"
Normally such a quip would have earned him an earful, but since they had started seeing each other a few days ago, the two had become far more mellow in regards to each other.
"Well it'll be different to the usual, but they should really start learning to think of their feet, after all that's what won Oorai the tournament, we need subordinates who can take the initiative against our opponents, I fear my girls have become too reliant on me."
"Our country will, I believe, sooner forgive an officer for attacking an enemy than for letting it alone." Henry cheerfully said
"And here I thought, I was the one who made the eccentric quotations, Nelson?"
"Correct, we'll need to make sure our sub-commanders know that they won't face trouble for taking the initiative, our way has stagnated recently, and we need to adapt in order to win"
"I couldn't agree more"
The two walked in comfortable silence, Henry enjoying the warmth of having Darjeeling so close to him. When they reached the tanks, she un-looped her arm from his.
"I'll see you out there"
She stood on her tip-toes, and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, before making her way towards her Churchill. Henry watched her go, before shaking his head wryly and smirking, turning towards his Comet, where his crew members were watching him with cheeky grins.
Henry scowled at them as he clambered onto the Comet, "Damn your eyes, get ready to move out"
He slipped into his commanders seat, as the others took position, all business like now. Slipping on his throat mic, he activated it
"Attention all crews, this is Duke, today's training will be different all tanks shall move out onto the grounds and spread out, then upon my signal we shall commence fighting. This will be a free for all match, so think on your feet and don't do anything stupid. That is all, carry on"
"A free for all Sir? You do realise that we outclass virtually all of the other tanks, so they'll probably gang up on us" Perkins spoke up, echoing the thoughts of the rest of the crew.
"Well the odds in a real battle won't always be in our favour anyway, it'll be fun! Now, let's make our start shall we?"
Richie nodded and pushed the Comet into gear, the engine revving as it rolled forwards, the rest of the tanks followed suit. Henry opened up the turret hatch and stood up in his chair, glancing backwards across as the tanks rumbled across the parade ground, he caught Darjeeling's eye as her Churchill made it's way in front of the Matildas. He gave a cheeky salute and if he had been close enough he would have seen her eyes roll up to the heavens.
Dropping back down into the tank proper and closing the hatch, Henry pulled out a map of the training ground
"What do you think Tim? We're more manoeuvrable and faster than the others"
Perkins leaned over, glancing across the map. The St Gloriana training grounds contained forests, a couple of rivers winding their way through the vegetation, some open fields and a couple of hilly sections. "Our gun depression is quite good, so I'd suggest we take up some of the hills, that way we can get a vantage spot and use our 76mm to snipe anyone cross below, plus we can use the hills as cover to retreat if we need to"
"Very good Tim, the hills it is. Richie if you will"
The Comet splintered off from the rest of the tanks, heading its own separate direction, the others followed suit.
Half an hour later
Henry peered through his binoculars over the ridge of the hill the Comet was parked on, there were trees on either side which provided cover, a shallow river behind it and an open field in front, creating a perfect kill box.
The still air was shattered by a large boom, and the crackling of a shell that flew over the Comet and exploded in the river, Henry flinched as it passed by, before attempting to find their attacker.
From the tree line came another flash and a crack as another shell sailed through the air towards them "FULL REVERSE NOW!"
The Comet just made it back in time before the incoming shell landed smack bang where they had been previously, sending dirt, stones and grass flying past Henry. He felt a sharp burning pain strike his right cheek as he had failed to duck down into the turret in time.
Letting out a soft hiss as his right hand made contact with the sticky blood that was now dripping from the slice across his cheek, Henry brought his binoculars back up, locating their enemy. The 3 Inch Gun carrier sat on the tree line, barrel smoking.
"It's the carrier, position north, line it up if you will, sabot round."
"Ready!"
"Fire."
The whumph sound, and clang of the empty shell casing hitting the floor of the tank indicated that the 76mm of the Comet was unleashing it's revenge on the Gun Carrier. A second that seemed like an hour passed as the round from the Comet flew cleanly across the plain and scored a direct hit on the Carrier, knocking it out, the white flag popping out of the top.
Henry grinned, despite the pain that muscle movement caused, "Good shot, reload and lets move the others would've heard that"
More explosions could be heard in the distance where other tanks had started to engage each other. "Head for the nearest sounds, we'll see if we can clear up the victor"
Making their way through the forest to the right, the smoking remains of one of the Matildas came into view, following the sound of the explosions the Comet soon came across a group of tanks all engaged in a furious engagement.
A Crusader sped across the clearing in an attempt to flank around an Avenger, which fired off a reflex shot, missing and taking a shot from the Crusader in the flank causing it's flag to pop. The Crusader in turn was flipped by a shot from a Cromwell causing it to land on its back from the momentum of its charge.
Henry tapped Richie with his foot, indicating for the Comet to stop. Pulling up, the gun was sighted on the Cromwell, "Fire when ready"
"ON THE WAY"
The shell casing was spat out as the Comet fired yet again, but the Cromwell commander had quick reactions and the tank sped out of harms way leaving the shell to crash into a tree just behind, sending it toppling over.
"Miss, with those reactions that must be Davenport – SHIT"
A shell clipped off the side of Comet, grazing the St Gloriana emblem, henry battened down the hatch, frowning as the cut on his cheek kept bleeding.
"Tim, give me a cloth"
Perkins passed him a white handkerchief, which he then folded into a square and pressed it against his cheek, instantly staining it red.
"I'll be fine, head wounds bleed like the devil, it's nothing. Now where did that shot come from?"
Peering out of the Commanders eye slit, Henry found the culprit, the Churchill was sitting just to their right, barrel pointed directly at them.
"Oh, bravo Darling, very well done. Richie into the clearing please, Arthur load smoke, Dick lay down the smoke just in front of the Churchill"
Just as Dick had aimed the smoke, another shot took the Comet in the side, rattling the inhabitants causing the shot to go wild.
"Blast, forgot about Davenport, Richie full ahead for the Churchill, get around it's back we can drive faster than it's turret can rotate."
"Oh, Assam is going to murder me later…" Richard murmured
"You think you're going to get it bad? I'm pretty sure that was Rosehip who got hit earlier, and she really likes taking out her frustrations on me"
"You sure that's a bad thing?" The crew burst into laughter at Arthur's quip at the driver's expense.
Henry smiled, aggravating the still open cut on his cheek, causing him to wince. Richie pushed the Comet forward, zipping over the uneven ground which in turn threw its occupants who weren't the driver around like rag dolls that had their strings cut. The Churchill snapped off another shot, landing just in front of the Comet spraying it with dirt and roots from the nearby trees. Henry gritted his teeth, Come on. The Comet sped past the Churchill, Assam attempting to rotate the turret fast enough to follow, Richie turned jerking the Comet to the right skidding across the ground, Richard aligned the gun and Arthur slammed home a shell whilst Tim peppered the turret of the Churchill with machine gun fire to keep Darjeeling's head down.
Time slowed as the green tracer rounds pinged off the armour of the Churchill, Richard's finger tightened on the trigger of the main gun, waiting for his command
Henry paused – "Finish it" he nodded at Richard
Without a word Richard squeezed the trigger and the shell was spat out on its destructive path, colliding with the Churchill with an almighty bang. The men of the Comet did not have time to celebrate their victory over their female compatriots as the next minute a shell slammed into their rear armour, causing smoke to fill the turret as the engine gave up and the white flag pinged out
Coughing and spluttering the crew abandoned ship, as the Cromwell that had taken them out roared by. Seeing as there were no other active tanks in the area, it was deemed safe enough for them to dismount, Tim retched violently on the floor attempting to clear the smoke from his lungs, Arthur had bruised his leg badly and was being supported by his brother, whereas Riche was fine having been at the very front of the tank. Henry's cut had stopped bleeding at this point, leaving tracks of dry blood across his face, his uniform was also ruined, covered in soot and blood stains which left dark patches across his scarlet tunic.
He shook his head to clear it from the ringing that was echoing in his ears from the shot the Comet had taken, moving over towards where Tim was doubled over he knelt down next to him and wrapped his arm over his shoulder, the retching stopped and Tim looked at his commander who was staring down at him with worried eyes
"I'm Cough fine Sir, just a bit of smoke" hes said as tears streamed down his face.
"Alright, but make sure you get some water down you as soon as possible, don't need you dying of smoke inhalation, Pekoe will murder me"
Tim chuckled before breaking out into another coughing fit as Henry eased himself back to his feet, wincing at a dull throbbing pain in his lower back indicating the formation of a very large bruise. He glanced over his crew, who were more or less fine now and then crunched his way over to the Churchill, clambering over the front armour he hauled himself and opened the commanders hatch, to be met by a very serene pair of eyes, with eyebrows slightly furrowed at the state of him
"You look terrible" Darjeeling's French braid was coming undone, loose strands of hair covering her face and a few scratches but nothing too bad.
"You should see the other guy" Henry dryly quipped, offering his hand down to help her up, which she took despite the grime covering it.
"I believe in this case, I am the other guy" Henry went to brush the stray strands off her face but she caught his hand, "Not here, later"
"Is that a promise?"
She just winked at him, before turning to help Pekoe out of the tank, Assam clambered out of the driver's hatch, followed by the other two crew members who Henry couldn't remember for the life of him.
Pekoe gasped at seeing Tim still kneeled over on the floor so and jumped down from the Churchill and ran to his side, helping him stand. The diminutive Pekoe never ceased to surprise Henry with her strength, Assam merely cocked an eyebrow at Richard, who rubbed the back of his head abashedly.
"How long do you reckon it'll take the recovery vehicles to get out here"
"Long enough for you to stop bleeding all over by tank"
Henry huffed in response.