A/N: If you're wondering why this update is a bit delayed, it's because I've been on vacation the past week. Even so, here it is!
On the downside, because I was far away from home, I lacked access to a full-fledged repair facility.
On the upside, though, my repair and metallurgy skills were sufficiently advanced that I could carry out enough repairs in the field to get Goliath going again.
Problem is, I didn't know how long it was going to be before any more tanks arrived, so I had to stay alert.
So, I got to work immediately.
To carry out my repairs, I took some scrap metal and other useable parts from the other blown up tanks.
It wasn't easy to find parts that fit well, but I managed to get the stuff I needed.
To reduce the chances of being spotted, I assembled an ersatz tent and spread branches & leaves over it as camouflage.
Repairs were going well, but during the repairs, I heard what sounded like an engine in the distance.
I left my tent, looked around, and it wasn't long before I spotted another Panzer IV.
"You're mine, you fool!"
I hid in some nearby bushes, and when the timing was right, I jumped on the tank and ripped open the driver's hatch.
I drew my Tokarev pistol and killed the driver.
Next, I ripped open the turret hatch and killed the commander, loader and gunner.
The radio operator wasn't so easy to kill, because when he heard the first shot, he must've hidden somewhere.
I was surprised when he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me into the turret.
I dropped my gun upon hitting the floor.
He attempted to grab my gun, but I pushed him away and got back on my feet.
Ordinarily, all that steel would've just weighed me down, but I was used to the weight of it all by now.
In fact, I think I may be getting to that point where I move around better when I'm wearing my armor than when I'm not.
Regardless, I grabbed the radio operator and started slamming his head against the turret wall.
When he was unconscious, I picked my gun back up and took command of the tank.
I spotted additional tanks coming my way, so I got ready to fight.
While I tried to eliminate all enemy tanks in the vicinity, I also tried to stay within range of Goliath.
Unfortunately, this tank was quite a shock to me after driving the KV series tanks for so long.
Because its armor and firepower were not so good, I was forced to be crafty.
Also, the controls weren't the same, which, compounded by the fact that all the labels were in German, made things difficult for me.
Sure, I knew quite a bit of German, but some things were still not understandable.
Luckily, this specimen had a few things going for it.
For one, it was faster than Goliath was.
Also, the gun was more accurate.
Speaking of the gun, it was a 75mm cannon, a KwK 40 if I'm correct.
Good enough for me.
It should have been good enough, because I detected a mix of American, German, French and Russian tanks emerging from the forest.
However, they didn't appear to be grouped up as a tank company.
True, members of the same tank company often split up and mixed in with the unwashed masses for a number of battles, and it did happen that company men might end up battling their fellow company men.
However, I got the feeling that most of these folks were your average, run-of-the-mill tankers.
Easy pickings.
First, I moved to a new position, hoping to stay out of sight.
Next, I pointed the Panzer's cannon at a Sherman tank and opened fire.
BOOM!
The shot didn't kill the Sherman, but it did set it on fire, which did end up destroying the tank.
I fell back to another new position, hoping to avoid the wrath of the group.
Most of them proceeded through the city, hoping to eliminate their opponents.
However, one T-34 broke off and started pursuing me, thinking that I was an enemy tank.
Well, I was an enemy, but not necessarily the one he was looking for.
With a fresh round in the chamber, I pointed the cannon right at the driver's compartment and fired.
BOOM!
The tank stopped, its driver apparently dead.
In the meantime, the tank took a shot at me, which missed.
It got going again, but its movement was slowed and somewhat jerky.
I suspected that another crewman had been ordered to fill the driver's seat.
Regardless, I aimed the gun at the turret this time and fired.
BOOM!
The round didn't appear to penetrate, but there was plenty of smoke and flames emanating from the tank.
For some reason, the surviving crewmen decided to abandon the tank and flee.
Before the Dark Times, they would have been shot in accordance with Order No. 227
This was different.
Without policy – without formal commanders – they could do what they liked.
Rather than killing them, I let them flee.
The way I figured it, they were dead anyways.
As for their comrades, they were deep within the city of Ensk.
Judging by all the guns going off, I was right – they had found an enemy.
Rather than joining the fray, though, I used this break in the action to get back to Goliath.
When I heard the cannons subsiding, I stopped what I was doing and got back to the Panzer.
I picked a position in a nearby railyard to hole up and await survivors.
Judging by the direction that a T2 medium tank and an AMX-40 were coming from, it appeared that the opposing forces had won the day.
"Appeared" being a relative word.
Without question, I fired at the T2.
BOOM!
The T2 was no more.
Naturally, the AMX spotted me and attempted to fire upon me.
That shot bounced off, but when I fired upon the AMX, mine bounced off as well.
I cursed at myself.
I was so used to the firepower of the 75mm cannon that I expected it would be more than a match for this machine.
Our next volley of shots bounced as well.
Then, I remembered another trick from before the Dark Times:
When in doubt, aim for the flat parts.
I located one on the front of the AMX, fired, and…
BOOM!
That's the last of them!
Or…so I thought.
Coming back to Goliath, I felt a round strike the Panzer from an unknown position.
Checking the general area, I chanced upon an SU-76 tank destroyer.
The next round struck my gun mantlet, missing the ammo rack by a few centimeters.
In the end, though, the Panzer proved its superiority, reducing the SU-76 to scrap metal.
Now that the field was clear, I returned to where Goliath was located and finished up my makeshift repairs.
There was just one more issue to solve:
I attached one of my anti-tank grenades to the ammo rack of the Panzer, pulled the pin and got away as far as I could.
BOOM!
The tank went up in flames.
I was a little sad that I had to destroy it. After all, it did prove its worth when I needed a temporary tank and it was interesting to drive.
However, I had to make sure that no one else could get their hands on it and potentially do harm to Goliath.
Speaking of Goliath, I took down that tent, hopped in and drove it home safely, where I could give it some proper repairs.
The T-34?
I left it alone.
After all, who's going to take such a crippled tank?
As for me, I decided to spend a little time studying German and French.
Criticism is gold. Negativity and nitpicking are pyrite.