Chapter 2
Prologue: Panzer Rush
Momo and Anzu talked with Kenn and a couple commanders, while Yuzu was cleaning the Hetzer.
Nekota and her new friend were talking about their tanks online.
Ano was sleeping on his BT-7, snoring on his DShK and leaning on the hatch.
Miho was leaning against the Panzer IV, as she checked her phone. She looked over at Ano, and smiled. She couldn't help but think Ano looked cute while sleeping.
"Miss Nishizumi?"
Miho jumped and turned to see Yuuki, who was on Rabbit team.
"Call me Miho. And what seems to be the matter?", Miho asked.
Yuuki was blushing, twirling her hair. "Umm, have you ever been on a date before?", she asked.
"No, why?", Miho asked.
"Nothing, I was just...wondering.", Yuuki said. The Panzer IV commander turned to see the first-year was looking at a boy on a T-26, juggling repair tools.
Miho looked at Yuuki, who had a dreamy look on her face.
"Just talk to him.", Miho said. Yuuki squeaked and turned to Miho.
"W-what? Excuse me?", Yuuki asked, confused.
"Just talk. Say hi, invite him for yogurt, take him to the tank shop.", Miho said.
Yuuki blinked, before grinning and looking away.
"T-thank you, commander.", she said, shyly.
"Miss Nishizumi!"
Miho turned to see one of the boys walking towards her. He wore a helmet, with goggles and a mask, Miho being unable to see his face. All three head accessories were covered in soot. Like Ano's tank helmet, it was lined blue.
"Lieutenant Ano's been wondering if you'd like to have a private match.", the boy said, his voice slightly altered and muffled from the mask.
Miho remembered the layout of the BT-7, and could only guess that he was the team's loader, the engine being open near the ammo supply, making that area of the tank damn near unbreathable.
Then again, the BT-7's turret was very cramped, being a two-man turret. The chassis was also a two-man compartment. If she remembered Yukari's tests on the BT series, the chassis held the driver and the loader, while the turret held the commander and the gunner.
The BT series was unique, the loading system connected to the main gun, as to save space, without having to put the loader and gunner in the turret with the commander in a two-man turret, which was quite impressive on the Soviet's part.
"Miss Nishizumi?"
Miho blinked, breaking out of her tactical combat stupor.
"Oh, yes. Thank you.", Miho said, a bit flustered that she took several minutes to answer.
The boy gave a mock salute and left. Miho looked at a BT-5, and saw Yukari and Erwin talking with a tank commander, who was wearing a commissar's cap.
"Miho!"
Saori playfully tackled Miho on the Anglerfish tank. "I got a date!", she said.
"Wow, congratulations.", Miho said, smiling to her team's radio operator.
"We're going to the edge of the carrier, to watch the water and sunset.", Saori said. "I'm just so anxious!"
"You'll be fine.", Miho reassured.
"As long as no one shows him that anglerfish dance.", Mako said.
"Or as long as he doesn't recognize you.", Hana said.
"Don't jinx me!", Saori wailed. Miho giggled, until a rumble filled the air.
Ano sat on his BT-7, as the blue cavalry tank rolled by.
Ano pulled to his glasses. He smiled as he pounded the turret. "I'll be waiting.", he said, before the tank pulled away.
Miho blushed. Hana blinked. "What was that?", she asked.
"Umm, Ano invited us to a private match, just the Anglerfish and his tank.", Miho said.
"The Shchelevaya Gorlo."
Everyone turned to Mako.
"He calls it the Schhelevaya Gorlo.", Mako said.
"That sounds cool.", Yukari said.
"Yeah, like a cool Russian song.", Saori said.
Hana and Miho just stared awkwardly at them.
"...what?", Saori asked.
"You know that's a Russian translation to 'Slit Throat', right?", Hana asked.
Saori and Yukari sweat dropped.
Later, the Panzer IV was alongside the BT-7, as Ano and Miho smiled at each other from their turrets.
"Fair match?", Ano asked.
"Yes, fair match.", Miho agreed. She turned to the front. "Panzer Vor!"
"Forward!", Ano said, and the BT-7 disappeared into the woods.
The Panzer IV drove through the forest, the turret on a swivel.
"I don't see anyone.", Miho said.
"Neither do I.", Yukari said, who was sticking her head out the side of the tank turret.
"Keep an eye on our blind spot.", Saori said. "Most tanks we fight will go for that."
"But This isn't most tanks.", Mako said. Everyone looked to Mako.
"He rushes headfirst. He trained his own driver on how to attack with the surprise on his side. Trust me, he'll attack the front.", Mako said.
"OK...I'll take your word for it.", Miho said. She knew this was plausible, but she also knew her thinking could be at times predictable. The overthinking might end up in a lost match.
"I'm detecting movement a few dozen meters to the left!", Saori said.
Suddenly, Slit Throat charged out of the forest, firing its main gun at the Panzer's tracks.
The Schürzen managed to deflect the shot, but the armor chunk fell off and wedged itself into a wheel, resulting in immobilization.
"We're stuck!", Yukari cried.
"Mako, can we move at all?", Miho asked.
"We can rotate the tank.", Mako said, deadpan as ever.
"OK, then. When I give the signal, turn.", Miho said, also remaining calm. She turned to see the turret spinning towards where the Russian tank was heading.
"Fire!", Miho yelled.
"On the way!", Hana yelled. The shell grazed the BT-7's rear armor, before the light tank swerved around, the gun aiming at the Anglerfish tank's rear armor.
"Turn!", Miho ordered. The tank turned just in time. The shot deflected off the rear, resulting in a dent nearly deep enough to count as an elimination.
"Now!", Miho said, firing a shot that hit the BT-7 in the side, immobilizing its turret.
The BT-7 drove back, and Hana fired. The tank shell pierced the front of the tank, blowing off all the right wheels of the tank. The momentum of the blast was enough to topple the tank several times over.
Miho cringed as the BT-7 kept crashing down the forest path.
The BT-7 landed on its side when it struck a rock, and one of the tank crew members flew out of the hatch, before landing face first on the dirt. Miho noted how the hatch shot off, as if it wouldn't have opened in the first place.
The Panzer IV rolled towards the BT-7, as the crew member slowly got up. He ran towards the tank, as Ano himself got out of the tank.
He and the crew member pushed the tank, which was at an angle, back on its tracks, before jumping back on. The damaged tank tried to roll backwards, only proceeding to spin around, as there was traction on only one side.
"Aim...fire!", Miho said, once the rear of the tank was facing the panzer.
The angle however worked in the Slit Throat's favor. The tank spun around due to the force of the shot, leaving the 45mm gun to face the Panzer IV's front.
The gun fired, and the shot pierced the turret of the Panzer IV, eliminating it. The white flag popped out of the tank, thus ending the match.
Miho stepped out of the tank, a bit wobbly, as Ano himself got out.
"Congratulations. You win, again.", Miho said.
"You did good.", Ano said. "That was close, you almost beat me."
"Yes, we did.", Saori said.
"Good thing we turned when we could.", the driver said. "The damn window couldn't open."
"Wait, your window wasn't open?", Yukari asked.
"Yeah, we had to use our gunner to know which direction to go.", Ano said. Said gunner waved. He wore the Tankery helmet with a mask, but no goggles.
"You were practically driving blind and you still won!", Saori cried. "That's amazing!"
"Yup.", the driver said. "Even we were surprised."
"That was a nice streak of luck you guys have.", Miho said.
"Anyway, I'd like to repay you for the match. I never had so much fun with a one on one.", Ano said.
"Oh, what were you thinking?", Miho asked, as Saori was ready to squeal.
"Umm...would dinner tonight be good?", Ano asked, shyly.
Then Saori squealed.
Author's note: BTW, updates will be slow