A/N- Hi it's me again! Apologies for the delay on this one, but I've been extreamly busy preparing for various things in my real life, so this was once again put on the back burner. If anyone wants a scenario written, feel free to give me a prompt!
Rain pelted down from the sky, hammering off the turret armour of the Comet I like the fire of a machine gun. A shell landed in a deep, muddy, puddle coating the side of the Comet as the crew of the Three-Inch gun carrier dashed back to the safety of it's heavily armoured interior.
A Cromwell returned fire, the burst of light briefly illuminating the grey, misty field. The Shell visible as is flew through the air and bounced off it's targets armour into a tree, shattering it and sending splinters flying. The Three-Inch's treds attempting desperately to escape their muddy prison, to no avail. Another shell, then another flew into the St Gloriana lines, scattering the tanks as they scrambled for safety. Then, silence, just the rain continuing to patter off the armour of the tanks.
"URRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAA." Came an ear shattering roar from the other side of the mist shrouded field, the sounds of multiple engines revving and accelerating could be heard, and once more the crack of cannon fire as indirect shelling flew over the heads of the tankers.
"Bloody hell." Arthur loaded another shell home, sweat prickling down his back despite the cold day.
"Duchess come in, I repeat come in. We've found them, all of them. Do you copy?" Henry was greeted with static from the radio.
"Blasted weather, best we can do it hope the sound of fire draws them in." Switching back to his local channel he contacted his tanks.
"All crews this is Duke, scatter and head for cover. Norton do your best but there isn't anything we can do for you. "
Norton's reply came crackling through, "Not to worry Sir! Just like the Scot Greys at Waterloo, foiled by some Mud." He gave a brief chuckle, "We'll hold them off, give them hell."
"All tanks, split into pairs and get out, avoid that charge if you can. Best of luck chaps, we'll rendezvous at…..the clearing just south here, Duke out."
Henry tapped Richie on the shoulder, "Get us out of here if you would driver." He got a nod in response as the Comet revved up, pulling into reverse. The Three-Inch Gun carrier rotated itself the best it could to face the oncoming charge, which was appearing out of the mist. Five Bt-7s lead the charge, 45mm cannons firing on the move. The Three Inch replied in turn, cracking out a shell and as it wasn't moving took the lead BT-7 dead on.
"Let's go Richie." With one last look towards the Three Inch that they were sacrificing, the remainder of the men of St Gloriana fled the scene, hotly pursued by the approaching attack.
A Cromwell pulled up behind the Comet, accompanying them on the retreat. "Cromwell come in over."
"Roger that Sir, Davenport here."
"Oh excellent, how about we have a bit of fun with these Russian's?"
"Sounds like a brilliant idea Sir."
Behind the two fleeing St Gloriana tanks, the remaining BT-7s had ignored the beleaguered Three Inch Gun Carrier, leaving it up to their bigger guns to finish off to chase after the Comet, being the St Gloriana flag tank.
"Alright Davenport, swing to the right, turn yourself around and come to a halt, they're focused on us."
"Acknowledged, pulling to the right now."
"Tim man the machine gun. Richard, line your shot up. Arthur load HE shells and Richie, slow yourself down just a smidge." The Crew swung into action, as the Turret moved to face the pursuing tanks, Tim let out a hail of machine gun fire, green tracers carving a way through the mist as he let out a laugh of exhilaration.
"Shot ready!" More machine gun fire careened across the field, actually catching a BT in a weak point and causing smoke to emit for it's engine.
"Good hit Tim!" The Stricken BT careened to the left, causing another one to swerve to avoid crashing. "Now Richard!"
"On the way!", the HE round flew and exploded just in front of the turning BT, throwing up a large amount of mud and water, effectively blinding the driver.
"Davenport, your turn." Henry spoke into his mic as Arthur quickly removed the last casing and slammed home another HE shell.
"Firing." Somewhere to the right of the Comet, a Cromwell's 75mm roared and took another BT in the side it's engine spluttering.
"Good kil-"Henry started to speak then a round buzzed past the Cromwell, "Oh Bugger me, that wasn't a BT." A T-45 85 emerged out of the mist, barrel smoking.
"Can't penetrate that armour from this angle Sir!" Davenport's voice urgently came through the radio.
"Understood Matt, get out of there."
The Comet began to slow as the mud in front got thicker and thicker,
"Shit." Came the curse from the driver as he battled with the tanks controls.
"Easy Richie." The Comet's gun flashed a response to the T34, just landing short. The tank in question put on the breaks as the Comet slowly struggled through the ever grasping mud, Henry watched in trepidation as the Turret aimed itself properly, staring down the barrel of it's main gun, he closed his eyes in defeat…..
Then the sound of another gun echoed across the mist, as the Churchill came barrelling out of the woods to the left of the T34, slamming into it's side and unleashing a shell into it's weak side turret armour.
Henry clicked on the radio, "Excellent timing, cutting it a bit fine though."
Darjeeling's voice fluttered over the comms, "Consider this payback for the match against Saunders."
Henry rolled his eyes and chuckled, "Yes yes, one all, shall we send the bears packing?"
"I quite agree, moving up to support now. Might want to reel in your scattered hounds."
"All tanks, Duke here. Duchess and the Ladies have arrived, return to my position for a counter offensive."
The BT tanks, sensing defeat scattered back the way they came.
Silence descended on the field again, as the St Gloriana tanks slowly made their way back into line. Henry flicked on the radio again. "Ok Duchess, best change here is to play our strengths, we charge and you form a firing line."
"Risky, they do outnumber us."
"They won't be expecting a counter charge, if you provide overwatch and confuse them, we can get in amongst them and start killing."
"Hmpf, alright we'll do it your way for once." Darjeeling began to relay orders to her commanders, the Churchill and Matilda's forming one line along with the Avengers. The Cromwells and Valentines formed a wedge shape behind the Comet.
"Why do I get the feeling we're about to participate in a mass purge of Pravda's team…" Arthur muttered to the others.
"A bit ironic considering they are based off the Soviet Union and all" Henry responded as he peered out his commanders viewing hatch
"What?"
"You know Stalin's purges and all that?"
He was met with silence from the rest of the crew,
"Uneducated Oiks."
"Nerd."
He rolled his eyes, before activating his throat mic again. "Ok Duchess, operation rolling fire please."
"Understood."
A brief moment of quiet, as no tanks moved just the quiet rumble of engines standing by and the light pitter patter of the rain that had slowed down in it's descent from the heavens. It was the quiet before the storm.
Then like a thunderstorm as it breaks, flashes of light and loud cracks burst from the St Gloriana battle line shattering the mist apart as a mixture of AP and HE shells flew threw the air.
Henry waited patiently, allowing the bombardment to continue for a while. The tanks were shooting blind into the mist, but given the tendency of Pravda to group up and charge in a horde, they were almost 100% guaranteed a hit or two.
Answering shells soon began to return across the field, flashes of light indicating the location of Pravda.
"The prey have been sniffed out gentlemen, let's hunt!" Henry tapped Richie on the shoulder once with his foot indicating the advance. The Comet surged forward, free of the entrapping mud, followed by the Cromwells and the slower Valentines.
"Wedge formation if you will chaps, Duchess keep the bombardment until we disappear from sight"
The following tanks split into a loose wedge, two of each tank on either side of the Comet as they flew through the mist. The sound of shelling ceased after a minute.
"Duke, this is Duchess. We have ceased shelling and are advancing afterwards….Leave some for us Hal" Darjeeling remarked over the radio.
Henry smirked, tuning the radio off and focusing on his Commanders view port. Pravda tanks suddenly loomed out of the mist and Henry let out a whoop, retuning the radio
"Prey found! Into them chaps!"
A series of accompanying laughs and cheers echoed through the tank as the strike force from St Gloriana opened fire, spreading out and causing chaos amongst the amassed Pravda force. A t34-85 attempted to challenge the Comet, but Richie aptly slid the tank around allowing Richard to get the shot off first.
"Good kill!" Henry yelled down into the compartment over the cacophony of battle. St Gloriana tanks mixed with Pravda tanks, explosions ringing and machine guns chattering as the close quarters combat intensified. Two BT-5s shot at the Comet, and two shells pinged off the turret's armour causing Henry to clutch his head as the vibrations caused an unbearable ringing sound.
One of the BTs then blew over as a Cromwell took it out with a well placed shot into the engine. The Cromwell then flew past the Comet and sprayed the other BT with machine gun fire, causing it to take off in the other direction.
The Radio chattered, but Henry couldn't make out what was coming through with the ringing in his head. He vaguely noticed Tim picking up the radio and replying, but still couldn't make out what was being said as the pain slowly ebbed away.
As Henry's head cleared, he peered out of the viewport. Spotting the Churchill and it's accompanying force clearing a path through the mass brawl that had broken out in the muddy field. Then a rather large shadow threw itself into the path of the Comet.
Henry stared down the barrel of the IS-2 for a brief second, then decided discretion was the better part of valour.
"Shit! Riche get us out of here-"The IS-2 fired and as luck would have it, just scraped the side of the Comet, the shell flying past and taking a Valentine in the side instead as Richie had automatically thrown the Comet to the side.
"Shit, Shit. Tim give me the radio quickly." The Operator handed Henry the radio.
"Duchess do you read?!"
"Go ahead Duke." Darjeeling's reply came clear over the battle that was raging around them.
"I need you to hunt their flag tank down now! They've put the IS-2 on me!"
"Understood Henry, stay alive."
"Richie, evasive action as best you can. Richard, try and find a damn weak spot in that thing. Arthur load Sabot rounds."
"We've only got 5 stocked boss!"
"Then make them bloody well count."
As the Comet engaged with a do or die duel with the IS-2, battle continue to rage around them. St Gloriana's initial surprise had worn off and Pravda were pushing back. Darjeeling's attack had pushed through a bit, but had been slowed down by the firepower Pravda could bring to bear.
Rosehip's Crusaders, having yet been unused then burst out of the tree line. Their small guns couldn't do much against the T34s on their own, but their target was the flag tank.
Henry however, was unaware of this new development. As the Comet's crew sweated with anticipation as they fired round after round into the IS-2. Neither tank could quite finish off the other, but for the Comet it was like they were throwing eggs at the IS-2, nothing was working.
Richie then made a mistake and attempted to slide around in the wrong direction, putting him directly in front of the IS-2's barrel.
"Well, this is it." The entire crew braced when suddenly a loudspeaker was heard
"ST GLORIANA WIN'S, PRAVADA'S FLAG TANK IS ELIMINATED"
The sounds of combat diminished as various tank crews heard the information. Henry slumped down in his commanders' seat and let out a long sigh, closing his eyes and leaning against the cool metal of the turret, blood pumping through his veins as the adrenaline surge slowly left him.
Seized by a brief momentary madness, his eyes flickered back open and he then threw open the turret hatch. Identifying the location of the Churchill, he leapt from the Comet. Ignoring the queries from his crew and made a dash for the Churchill. Clambering on the parked up tank, he heard Assam's tsk as he left muddy prints over the armour on the hull, before reaching the top of the turret where Darjeeling was just popping up to see who was walking all over her tank.
Without giving her chance to speak, Henry pulled her close by her shirt collar and kissed her hard to the whoops and cheers of the surrounding crews.