Chapter 1
Practice Match
Soon, on the tank training grounds of Ooarai, the tanks were in position.
"Panzer vor!", Miho said, as the eight tanks moved out. The Type 3 Chi-Nu, Anteater team, had the flag.
"Vpered!", Kenn said. The six light Russian tanks immediately rolled out. Ano's BT-7 had the flag.
In the forest, the StuG and the Hetzer hid, both low profile tanks practically invisible to the others.
"This is Hippo and Turtle team. We're good to go.", Erwin said.
The Lee and the Type 89B were set up in an ambush on top of the hill.
"Rabbit and Duck team here. We're ready, over.", Azusa said.
The Char B1 was waiting in the open, as bait.
"Mallard team here, over.", Midoriko Sono said.
The Panzer IV, the Porsche Tiger, and the Chi-Nu were in the back.
"This is Anglerfish team with Leopon and Anteater team. We're in position.", Miho said.
Mallard team moved up over the hill, trying to get a better view at the terrain.
"I don't see anything.", Mallard team reported.
"Turtle team here. We're in the clear, so far.", Anzu said.
"Rabbit team here. Nothing.", Azusa said.
Miho ordered the tanks to stay put, as the Panzer IV moved up.
Suddenly, a shot ricocheted off the Panzer IV's Schürzen armor.
"What was that?!", Saori cried.
"Enemy tanks!", Hana said.
Suddenly, three BT-7 tanks charged past the hill. One of the three had the blue flag, also brought by painted in blue.
"This is Mallard team! We've been knocked out, I'm sorry!", Miho heard the radio.
"Don't worry, it's not your fault. We'll take over from here.", Miho said.
The three BT-7s all fired their 45mm cannons, all shots completely blowing off the left Schürzen armor of the Anglerfish team's tank.
"We have enemies on the rear! What do we do?!", Nekota cried.
"A BT-7 is heading toward us!", Piyotan cried.
"Take this!", Momoga cried. The Chi-Nu rolled towards a tank, firing a shot.
The BT-7 rolled out of the way, before firing a shot that took out the tank's treads.
"Miss Nishizumi! We're immobilized!", Nekota cried.
"Leopon team, hard back and assist Anteater team!", Miho said.
"We can't! We've been knocked out!", Leopon team responded.
Miho peeled outside, to see the Porsche Tiger on the left knocked out. The BT-7s were on the right, but their cannons weren't enough to take on a Porsche Tiger's armor.
"It's from a different direction!", Yukari said.
"The rest of the tanks are here!", Hoshino said.
The T-26 and the two BT-5s had arrived, and they had flushed out Rabbit and Duck team, currently chasing them back to the battle.
"How the hell did they flush us out so quickly?!", Shinobu cried, firing the rear machine gun.
Hippo and Turtle team had come back to help the others.
"They took out two of our strongest tanks, and the match hasn't even been ten minutes!", Saori cried.
"These are hardcore guys!", Momoga cried.
"Hah! Got one!", Piyotan said, firing the artillery mounted gun on the Chi-Nu.
A BT-7 had its tracks blown off, but it was still rolling, as light tanks didn't need treads. It was lightweight and the wheels didn't dig into the ground.
The trackless BT tank rolled around the Chi-Nu, blowing hits on the tank.
"Help us! We're gonna get knocked out!", Nekota cried.
Then the StuG fired a shot that blew the BT-7 on its side, finally eliminating it.
"Yes! Got one!", Kiyomi said.
That alone was enough to make the tanks fall back. The enemy flag tank was driving back towards the hill, accompanied by its four tanks.
"Fire!", Erwin yelled.
"Keep firing!", Momo cried. All remaining Ooarai tanks opened fire, trying to hit Ano.
"All tanks, circle back. We're going to do a maneuver we learned at Khalkhin Gol.", Kenn said.
"Roger!"
The flag tank started turning back, along with its comrades.
"Fire!", Momo yelled.
The Russian light tanks zig zagged through the shell fire, before they started increasing speed.
"What're they doing?!", Aya cried.
"We're gonna die!", Yuzu cried.
"Now!", Kenn yelled.
Then the light tanks rammed into the medium tanks.
A BT-7 smashed and rolled over the StuG, crushing its cannon and knocking out Hippo team.
"What the hell?!", Caesar said.
The T-26 tumbled over the Hetzer, knocking both of them out.
"They're crazy!", Momo said.
"An effective way of fighting, though.", Anzu said, a sweet drier potato strip in her mouth.
Kenn swerved and hit Duck team, as the Lee fired its hull mounted Howitzer. The 75mm round hit the Type 89B by accident, and Duck team was knocked out.
"Oh! S-sorry!", Ayumi cried, before Ano took out the Lee.
Soon, it was four light tanks versus two medium tanks, and one was immobilized.
"Fall back to Anteater team.", Miho said, still shocked at how the light tanks took out four tanks with only one casualty.
"Now.", Kenn said.
All tanks opened fire, and struck the Panzer IV.
Hana managed to fire off a shot that took out Kenn, but the Panzer was taken out.
"Anteater team, it's up to you now.", Miho said.
Ano rushed forward, and aimed at the Chi-Nu. But Piyotan had already loaded the next shot.
"Fire!", Ano said.
"Fire!", Nekota cried. Both tanks shot each other, a thick cloud of smoke in the air.
Both teams were watching closely, waiting to see what happens next.
When the smoke cleared, they saw both the BT-7 and the Chi-Nu knocked out. And because of the smoke, it was impossible to tell who knocked out who first.
"Whoa…", Yukari said. She looked back to see the crews of tanks from both sides staring.
Nekota and Ano peeked our of their tanks and smiled.
Anzu looked at her watch. "That match took less than ten minutes.", she said. "Impressive."
"These guys are awesome.", Azusa said.
"Hmm, that tactic was used several times by the Russian near the Chinese Front.", Erwin said.
Miho smiled as she saw Ano shaking hands with Nekota.
"Who won?", Miho asked.
Ano shrugged. "I dunno, that's why I'm voting it as a tie.", he said.
Nekota smiled. "Me too.", she said.
"Congratulations. That was a very good match.", Kenn said.
"How?", Saori asked. "You still had at least half your tanks left."
"One, no one had ever inflicted casualties on us until now, and twice we almost got caught by those two turret-less tanks over there.", a tank commander said, pointing to the StuG and the Hetze. "Our tanks don't have low profiles."
"Ah.", Anzu said, munching on a dried potato.
"We are honored to join you. And we would be happy to help you in your Sensha-dō matches.", Kenn said.
"We share that honor with you.", Erwin said, as she smiled.
"We agree, nyaaa.", Nekota said.
"Plus we can use some more practice, now that we learned that other schools are using light tanks.", Momo said.
"What?!", all the girls cried.
"Yes, Kuromormine is now using Panzer I and II tanks, and Saunders is using M8 Greyhounds.", Yuzu said.
"Greyhounds are armored cars!", Yukari said.
"But they reach tank armor requirements, which is 25mm. They also reach the weapon requirements as well, a 37mm gun.", Anzu said. "And it doesn't need caterpillar tracks. Remember the BT-42?"
The girls giggled at remembering Mikko's insane driving at a track-less tank, in their last match.
"Saunders will be seeking artillery as well, like how the Karl Gerät was added in our last big match.", Momo added. "I'm not sure if we have any artillery around the carrier, but we can look for them if we can."
"Alright. We're also hosting a camping party here, so go ask your parent's permission to attend! You are all dismissed!", Anzu said.
A BT-5 commander walked up to Nekota. "That was a good match.", he said, timidly.
"Thank you, nyaaa.", Nekota purred.
"Why do you do that? The 'nyaaa' thing?", the boy asked. "People find it weird, no offense. It's just a bit..."
"Inhumane?", Nekota asked. "Don't worry, I know."
"It's cute, though. I was just asking.", the commander said. Nekota blushed at her compliment.
"T-thank you.", she said. "What's your n-name?"
"Hon.", the commander said. "Hon Jenn."
"Umm...have you ever heard of online tank games?", Nekota said, nervously.
"Yeah, there's one I play online...my username is JennGunner77.", Hon said.
"Really? What tank do you use?", Nekota asked, more interested, and not slouching as much.
"I use the Marder III.", Hon said, as he and Nekota walked towards the Chi-Nu.
Ano walked towards Miho. "You knocked out Kenn's tank. No one has managed to do that in months.", he said.
"Really? When was the last time he was knocked out?", Miho asked.
"One time, a T-26 was the flag tank. He was in the line of fire, so Kenn took the hit. We won that match...", Ano said.
"Your commander sounds like a great guy.", Miho said.
"Yeah...we look up to him.", Ano said, taking off his tanker helmet.
Miho's eyes widened when she saw Ano's black windswept hair, and green eyes. She froze, before she recuperated from what just happened.
"Anyway, I like your panzer. The Schürzen is such a good idea.", Ano said. He smiled at Miho as her cheeks reddened.
"Yeah...Yeah, it used to be a regular Panzer IV, and we had it upgraded.", Miho said. "W-we only lost o-one battle, and..."
Ano raised an eyebrow. "Are...are you OK?", he asked.
"Y-Yes! I'm fine!", Miho blurted out, startling Ano a little.
"OK...I'm going to catch up to you later. I have a tank to fix.", Ano said. He walked away, as Miho buried her hands in her face.
"Why...", she groaned.
She looked to see the Russian tank crews talking with Ooarai, and Saori flirting with a couple of guys. Mako was sleeping peacefully, as was Saki and another tank guy.
Miho smiled. "Ah well…", she said.
The next day was the weekend, and Yukari, Erwin, and Miho were at a tank shop, looking at models.
"The Schwerer Gustav. The Germans were planning on putting that thing on tracks.", Yukari said.
"They say at Stalingrad, the Gustav fires over 300 shells.", Erwin said. "Those 300 shells wiped out Russian reinforcements from every direction."
"Good thing it's not a tank.", Miho said.
"Miho?"
Miho turned to see Ano at the store, two or so aisles away. He wore black jeans and a red shirt, with a white jacket.
"Whatcha you doing?", Ano asked.
"We're looking at tanks. What're you doing here?", Erwin asked.
"Buying DShK rounds.", Ano said. He held up two boxes of ammunition. "Machine guns can pack more of a punch against tanks than you think."
"That DShK will throw your tank off balance, you know.", Yukari said. "They're good machine guns, but they're a hassle."
"I know, but despite that, that heavy MG has a kill count of seven tanks in the past month.", Ano said.
"Really?", Miho asked.
"Yeah. The rear of a tank is weaker than you think.", Ano said. "Especially if you pound that same area."
"Ah.", Erwin said. "In the Battle of the Bulge, Brownings did a lot to immobilize Tigers and Panthers."
"Right. And the DShK may have a slower firing rate, but it has proven accuracy with an explosive caliber.", Ano said. "Unfortunately, those explosive rounds never reached battle."
Miho smiled. "Would you like to get frozen yogurt with us?", she asked.
"I can help carry your boxes. I'm the loader of the Panzer IV.", Yukari offered.
"I'm grateful. As long as I get to carry one box.", Ano said.
"Of course.", Yukari said. Ano paid for the ammo and the four walked out of the building.
"Oh, uh...about yesterday. I didn't freak you out, did I?", Miho asked.
"No, you were normal. Why?", Ano asked.
"Oh, nothing…nothing.", Miho said. She looked at Erwin and Yukari, who were smirking suggestively at Miho.
Miho squeaked and buried her blushing face in her hands.