The Legends Still Live On

Bogen Neunzehn-komma-ein: Extras Fünf und Sechs

Kapitel Drei: Achten Sie auf Erich

XXXXXXXXXX

"Let's not worry about him for now," Miho addressed everyone in the Arts of Warfare programs one day in front of the hangar. All were in their combat outfits, but one noticeable absence was Erich. He usually stood directly next to Miho and addressed everyone alongside her, but now he wasn't even present amongst the crowd. But Miho chose to not wait up for him and just trust, or more like hope, that he would show up. "Now, let's get to practicing!" she ended with the great determination she possessed in her commander persona.

"Roger!" all of the others responded affirmative. They all then moved to get to their vehicles, whether it was a Panzer or a fighter. All of them were outside in front of the hangars. The Panzer crews began to enter their vehicles with the exception of Miho's crew, who had no need to rush considering the light brunette German girl that commanded them was standing around and observing for the moment. The others among the Anglerfish Team were all standing around the Bf 109 K-4 that was parked out front of the hangars with the typical ground crew for it.

"So, considering Bubi's not here now…" Anton began as he looked around idly. He noticed that the other ground crews were already setting up their respective aircraft while he and the rest of the crew for the 109 was standing around and doing nothing. "Does that mean we're out of work?"

"Sleep…" David went as he leaned against one of the splayed-out landing gear legs. Leaning against the other landing gear leg already asleep was Mako. They were seemingly using the reason of having to stand around as being their excuse for sleeping.

In response to Anton's inquiry, Herz shook his head. "No, I don't think so," he voiced. He then looked on at the Panzer crews mounting their armored fully-tracked steeds. "Taking into consideration Miho's past suggestions that we participate in the Panzerkraft practices to challenge the other teams, I can only guess that we'll be taking everyone on again with the Acht-Acht."

"Ah," Anton went as he grew a look of realization. It soon transformed to a somewhat predatory look aimed at the girls of the group. "Well, it's always fun destroying hordes of tanks using a lowly halftrack that can carry around Big Bertha."

"You do realize that the term 'Big Bertha' actually refers to a German 420 mm siege mortar from World War One, right?" Yukari retorted with a look of disgruntlement at the common English understanding and usage of Big Bertha. "Plus, it's technically called 'Dicke Bertha,' literally thick Bertha."

Anton shrugged dismissively. "Hey, it's still a great fucking gun either way," he offered back.

"I agree," Herz nodded. "It is definitely great. But I think it may be a good idea to get the Messer up and ready so Erich doesn't have to wait on us. Should we?"

Anton processed Herz's idea rather quickly and nodded resolutely.

"Definitely," Miho confirmed just as Anton nodded. Those by the 109 turned to her and found her approaching the Messer with her usual graceful smile and attitude. She looked over to Anton with a look of agreement. "He definitely wouldn't want to waste time waiting around for his plane to be readied up. See to it that it's prepared, Anton."

"Yes, ma'am," the blonde American nodded in confirmation. He then addressed the other guys. "Alright, let's get moving! You all know what to do!"

"Understood!" the other three guys replied affirmative, and they set out to ready up the Bf 109 K-4.

Nathan chose to load up the guns, as he did most of the time anyway. After hopping up on the wing root to reach the cowl, he opened one of the access hatches for the two 13 mm MG 131s. But he was greeted with a startling surprise from within it.

"Ah!" he went with a start as he stumbled back on instinct. At the same time, a small dachshund, evidently a stray judging by its non-tidy appearance, quickly jumped out through the access hatch and scampered away.

"What?" Anton quickly reacted as he turned to the source of the noise. "What happened?"

"Oh, damn, that was scary, eh," Nathan said with a notably more relaxed tone as he regained his breath. "There was some kind of dog in the cowl."

"… Huh?" Anton went as he tilted his head a lot with a great look of confusion.

"Ah, well it's nothing to worry about, eh," Nathan dismissed as he jumped down from the wing root. "Those critters like getting into whatever spaces they can if they can avoid the elements that way. We just have to watch out for them."

Anton nodded, still completely lost on what just happened. "Alright, if you say so…" he granted. But he stopped as soon as he heard the distinctive sound of snoring. "… Wait, what's that?" he whispered.

The other boys and girls there looked confused, but after they strained their ears, they could all hear the snoring sounds again.

"There's nothing there, there's nothing there, there's nothing there…" Saori repeatedly told herself as she trembled in fear of the possibility of more animals within the Messer.

Miho, however, was processing the snoring sounds as she focused on listening to them. She noted that they had a rhythm to them, and she also faintly recognized the particular sound as being familiar. "Wait a minute…" she muttered to herself as she approached the Bf 109. She climbed up to the wing root and fiddled with the canopy's handle. She then opened the canopy and swung it open to the side. As she took a look inside, the others that were there gathered to behind the plane's left wing to watch.

After taking a short look inside, Miho smacked a palm to her forehead in disbelief and annoyance. "Oh, you're kidding me…" she said with a resigned tone. "Why didn't I think to check here earlier?"

Why she said such a thing was because she found the source of the snoring sounds: one Erich-Dietrich Hartmann. The blond-haired German ultra-ace was lying asleep in a very odd position within the cockpit. He was upside down in his seat, with his head in the footwell and his feet at the headrest. He was sleeping away without a care in the world in his own combat outfit, which wasn't very different from his usual clothes. All he had to do was remove the green tie and he could fulfill the rest with his own clothes.

But even still, as Miho looked at him, she couldn't help but grow a dreamy smile as she leaned on the cockpit sill with her arms. 'Ah, he looks so handsome when he sleeps,' she thought in a similar dreamy tone. 'He's just so… enigmatic… and I love him for it and so much more.'

As she continued staring at the blond-haired German, the others behind her and on the ground were looking at her fall into her dreamy state.

"Yeah, she's a goner," Saori stated rather bluntly.

Anton nodded in agreement. "Waaay gone," he verbally agreed.

All the others nodded in agreement. They knew Miho wouldn't snap out of her entranced state anytime soon, so they just let her be with her blonde knight.

XXXXXXXXXX

Part of Projekt Jägermeistern.

XXXXXXXXXX

The author doesn't claim to own "Girls und Panzer," the music used, or any other references made. "Girls und Panzer" belongs to Actas. Any references made belong to their respective owners.

Feel free to ask any questions if you have them. Please note, however, that questions asked without being signed in will not be answered. The author would prefer to address questions outside of the story, and leaving questions while signed in provides that ability.