The Legends Still Live On
Bogen Neunzehn-komma-ein: Extras Fünf und Sechs
Kapitel Neun: Ein irrtümliches Aufbieten
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Oh-OH-oh!
Oh-Oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-OOOH-OH-oh!
Oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-Oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-OOOH-OH-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-OH-Oh!
Yet another day was in full swing aboard the Zuikaku, particularly over by the hangars, where it smelled of oil and gas no matter where one was. It was also possible to hear some Swedish power metal being blasted around the hangar via the speaker system usually used to broadcast school announcements. Such music had become rather liked by the Ooarai Jägermeistern Staffel.
Oh-Oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-OOOH-OH-oh!
Oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-Oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-OH-OH-oh-oh-oh-oh-oooooh!
"Okay, on three," Anton Silva cued. He and the rest of the Messer-Ein ground crew were working on the Bf 109 K-4 that was temporarily grounded for the moment, because a new DB 605DC engine had finally come in after some backstage negotiations between Ooarai and Schwarzwaldspitze. By 'backstage,' it was really just Miho and Erich trying to get a needed favor from their older siblings. The engine itself was mounted into its place already, and the group had begun reinstalling all the other parts that had to be taken out to install the engine, like the whole armament suite, the electricals, the propeller unit, and many other things, let alone the covers.
The wise woman said,
'Once you're hardened in battle
There's no coming back.'
Anton himself was getting some help from a couple of willing freshmen girls to hoist the MK 108 laying on the ground up and back into its mounting position just behind the engine, with the barrel meant to be in between the engine's cylinder banks.
(Fight or fall)
"One, two, three!" he cued.
And before the attack
Feel your blood start to boil in your veins as you charge
On three, Anton and the other girls that chose to help heaved up the 30 mm autocannon to its intended mounting point, which was partly below the cockpit, and they held it there. "Get it snugged in there, Herz," the blonde American ordered. "We'll hold it up!"
(Hundreds fallen)
Herz Benz, who was nearby, quickly obliged and ran down the bolts into their holes to mount the autocannon. He then got out a wrench and snugged them down until the gun's breech was rigidly mounted. He managed to create just enough space for himself, managing to work around those supporting the gun.
As the fire inside
Is ignited by bloodshed
In berserkers from North
"Alright, you can let go, girls," the blonde American relieved his helpers as they all backed away and let Herz and Nathan McBraun take over with mounting the gun tube back into its place, which led from the MK 108's barrel all the way to the edge of the propeller spinner. The girls that had asked to help, the more energetic Karina and Aya, were taking a moment to recover their breath. While the MK 108 wasn't very heavy compared to other weapons of similar caliber, it was still far from lightweight as far as a freshman girl was concerned.
Watching from elsewhere and overseeing the process of everything were a number of people, and everyone present, including the Messer-Ein ground crew, was wearing their normal school outfits. There was Erich-Dietrich Hartmann, who despite wishing to fly once more, didn't appear to be in any rush if his current state of sleeping in a lawn chair was anything to go by. There was Miho Nishizumi, who was standing behind the blond-haired German boy with her hands on his shoulders and more attentively watching everything go on in the hangars. She was more attentive simply because she knew that the blonde knight she was resting her hands on was a natural with slacking off, at least in everyday life, and as such, couldn't be relied on to uphold that responsibility himself.
Could it be as was said
When the serpent be woken
Fenrir howls
The light brunette Panzer ace watched on before turning her head to her right, as if preparing to address someone else beside her. "Hey, Azusa?" she began with her soft yet commanding demeanor. "Would you mind getting me a status update from those guys?" She nodded her head over to the folks working on the Bf 109.
Azusa Sawa had also been observing what was going on with regards to the Messer alongside the two Ooarai commanders, even if only one of said commanders was paying any attention. She shook her head to snap out of her state of watching, as she was actually quite curious about what working on aircraft was like in comparison to tanks. It just seemed so different from her first impressions of what it was like.
Swedish Pagans
Marching ashore
Forged in Valhalla by the hammer of Thor
"Oh, yes, of course, Captain!" she stuttered out, having been surprised by hearing Miho speak up. She then started over to the 109 to fulfill her current orders.
Throughout the area in and around the hangars, many people were watching what was going on with the Bf 109. Even some that weren't affiliated with the Arts of Warfare were observing. Why such a high level of attention was paid was because Ooarai's Arts of Warfare programs had earned great notoriety throughout the school's community: it was them who saved the whole school, after all, let alone doing it twice. And it was also made well-known that at the heart of the programs were Miho Nishizumi and Erich-Dietrich Hartmann. Hence, the entire school was understandably anxious to see the star fighter take back to the air.
Out from Asgard
Our Viking ship sails
Never to turn back again!
In the hangar proper, Azusa was closing in on the 109 and the folks working on it. "Hey, Uncle!" she called out with a hand slightly raised, but she immediately realized what she said with a look to match that stunned realization. "Ah, no, I mean… Anton…"
Anton had heard the call and turned around from running the ammo belt through the belt guide of the left-hand MG 131 to look over to who had called out for him. He found Azusa to be the one to call, and he blinked as it registered in his mind that she had actually called him 'Uncle,' a nickname he had gained from how he was so caring to all of the Rabbit Team's girls. He was much like an uncle, the girls had figured, and the name stuck. It wasn't said in public, though, for fear of embarrassment on the girls' part.
Oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-Oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-OOOH-OH-oh!
And embarrassed was exactly how the young brunette girl felt at the moment as her face flushed red and she started fidgeting nervously while looking anywhere but directly at the blonde American. Several seconds of silence passed as both comprehended the situation. "… I-I'm so sorry…" Azusa stuttered out eventually with a highly embarrassed smile. "Oh God, this is so embarrassing…" she continued more quietly.
Oh-OH-oh!
Oh-Oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-OH-OH-oh-oh-oh-oh-oooooh!
'Aw, what a cutie…' Anton thought to himself as he grew a gentle smile. He thought such a thing because Azusa, along with the rest of the freshmen girls, often reminded him of his younger sister, and the current scenario was no exception. "Hey," he beckoned as he reached forth and put a hand on her shoulder. The action got her to look up at him. "It's alright. No need to worry about that." He reassured her with a gentle voice that almost instantly made her relax.
Where brothers have passed
Is where we will be proven on ground stained by blood
Azusa soon lit up, though, when she remembered why she had called out to him in the first place. "Oh, right! Anton!" she beckoned with her voice. Anton raised an eyebrow at her, silently asking her to continue. "Captain Nishizumi wanted to know what the current status was for the Messer."
(Standing tall)
And we know if we fall
"Ah, well tell her that we're nearly finished up," the blonde American informed in a more casual manner. "We just have to get a few basic things tied up and then it'll be ready for a shakedown flight."
"Okay," Azusa nodded in acceptance. "Thanks." The brunette girl then chose to walk off and inform Miho of what she learned. She walked off at a rather hasty pace while looking down a bit, suggesting she was still somewhat ashamed of herself for her verbal slip-up.
Our comrades await in the hall
(Odin's calling)
As the fire inside
Is ignited by bloodshed
In berserkers from North
From his spot where he had reattached the oil cooler under the nose of the 109, David Faul's lips twisted up ever so slightly. He had been watching the interaction between Azusa and Anton, and he grew an idea from it. "Hey!" he called out, aiming his call in Anton's direction. "Brother!"
Could it be as was said
When the serpent be woken
Fenrir howls!
Anton froze at the callout as a huge amount of annoyance started sinking into his grin. He then whirled around and started for David at a brisk walk, having been able to quickly deduce why his best friend was calling him that.
Swedish Pagans
Marching ashore
Forged in Valhalla by the hammer of Thor
Out from Asgard
Our Viking ship sails
Never to turn back again!
David, in response, started walking away backwards, yet he held a somewhat amused grin with a tinge of deviousness. "Sorry about that, my mistake, bro," he mock-apologized. After a few seconds, Anton chose to start running after the black-haired American. In response, David turned around and broke into a run, and he was lightly laughing all the while. "My bad, bro!"
(First to the battle
First to the feast)
"Oh, I'm gonna kill you for saying that!" Anton yelled, yet his tone was that of mock-anger. "I know you heard what happened earlier, so don't try and play it off!" The blonde American knew that his friend was just having some usual fun in messing with him, so a part of him wasn't truly mad with him, but he still had a wish to make him pay for his call-out. He just decided he would partake in the little friendly rivalry David had just instigated.
(Destiny waiting
No retreat)
(Retreat)
Elsewhere on her way to Miho's location, Azusa had heard what was happening back at the Bf 109, and she decided to take a curious look back over her shoulder. She grew a slightly panicked look when she saw Anton running around the Messer chasing after David, but she started giggling in amusement when she saw their faces held no hard feelings. She could see that they were quite close friends, such that they could do things such as having fights between them that ended up in them getting some true fun from it, since they knew each other so well that they didn't hold anything against each other. After taking in the sight, she chose to turn her head back forward and continue on, but she was in a lighter mood now from seeing the two Americans' actions.
Back where Miho was at, nothing had really changed from earlier. Erich was still doing his thing, what with being sprawled out in the lawn chair he was sleeping in, and Miho was still standing behind him. The only real change was that Miho was absently playing with the blonde's face using her hands.
She continued doing that action even after spotting Azusa approaching them. The light brunette German girl offered a kind smile as her rumored Doppelgänger returned. Miho had heard that some people had honestly mistaken Azusa for her, which she didn't blame on anyone in particular; she had noted that the two of them did have surprisingly similar appearances. "Hey, Azusa," Miho greeted as the other brunette girl came and stood beside her. "So, what did they say?"
"Well, they said that it should be-" Azusa began, but she was cut off by a loud Canadian voice.
"Done, eh!" Nathan McBraun proclaimed to the entire hangar. He was loud enough to be heard even by those outside the hangers, which, predictably, drew everyone's attention to the 109 and the crew working on it.
A brief flicker of time passed before Miho felt her hands get pulled forward quickly. That was caused by Erich snapping awake and making a dash out of his girlfriend's hands and to his Bf 109 K-4, now ready to fly again with all of its covers installed.
"Scheiß!" Miho briefly yelped when she began getting forced forward, but she recovered her balance and stood straight, which allowed her to process what just happened. "Hey, calm down, Bubi!" she yelled after the blond-haired German ultra-ace, much like how a mother would yell after her children. Ironically enough, it was times like these that Miho honestly felt like she had to act as Erich's mother due to just how childish he was in day-to-day life.
"Well, that was quick…" Azusa observed. She had originally meant to refer to the ground crew finishing up with their work, but she held her tongue when she spotted Erich seemingly jump up from his sleep and dash over to the 109. She then said her statement upon realizing it could apply to both scenarios.
"Ich werde wiederfliegen!" Erich's voice radiated with excitement at being able to finally fly again. He quickly jumped up and climbed into the cockpit of the Messer. He instinctively flicked the starter switch, and after a couple of seconds of cranking, the large DB 605 engine roared to life and began turning the three-bladed broad-blade VDM propeller.
Swedish Pagans
Marching ashore
Forged in Valhalla by the hammer of Thor
Out from Asgard
Our Viking ship sails
Never to turn back again!
The inverted V12 completely filled the hangar up with its burbling idle, and everyone instinctively moved everything out of the path to the hangar doors. The ground crew for the Bf 109 instead moved toward the fighter. They helped to position the aircraft so as to allow a straight exit. The sound of Swedish Pagans playing over the speakers wasn't entirely overruled, though.
Oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-Oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-OH-Oh!
"Did he always do this?" Anzu leaned over and curiously asked Miho, who stood beside her. She and the light brunette German girl had ended up near each other during the shuffling to clear out of the 109's path.
Oh-OOOH-OH-Oh!
Oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-Oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-OOOH-OH-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-OH-Oh!
Miho simply shook her head exasperatedly with a smile, knowing that this was indeed something entirely like what Erich would do. "He lives in the sky," she returned. "I think it's only natural that he would act this way after not being able to fly for a week."
Oh-Oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-OOOH-OH-Oh!
Anzu grew a knowing grin at her assumption. "You must have quite a high tolerance of silliness if you can deal with him every day," she responded with a teasing tone.
Miho grew a soft smile at those words as she reminisced briefly, looking back on the decade she had known Erich. She agreed without a doubt that the blonde was quite immature by comparison to everyone else, but she didn't necessarily see that as a flaw. Instead, she saw it as something that made each and every day with him interesting.
Oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-Oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-OOOH-OH-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-OH-Oh!
At the same time, the Bf 109 K-4, bearing the black tulip nose paint job and knife insignia on the tail, lowered its flaps. Immediately after they locked into their take-off setting, Erich threw the throttle lever forward in the cockpit, eager to get into the air again.
Oh-Oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-OH-Oh!
"He's truly one-of-a-kind," Miho finally responded to Anzu's statement with a smile. The short twin-tailed girl didn't bother responding verbally, for two reasons. One was because she fully agreed with the notion that Erich had no equal in terms of personality, and the second was that, even if she had something to say, the extremely loud noise of the Bf 109 K-4's DB 605DC engine spinning up to unleash its take-off power would've drowned everything out.
With 2,000 PS propelling it forward, the Kurfürst quickly accelerated forward and out of the hangar, and Erich skillfully controlled the plane, avoiding the 109's tricky take-off characteristics. A couple of seconds after exiting, the German fighter became airborne once again, and its flaps and landing gear were retracted into their respective places in the wings. The 109 then went into a left-hand horizontal turn, completely exposing its semi-elliptical wing planform and currently extended automatic leading edge slats to the crowd that had gathered at the hangar doors to watch the infamous German fighter in the Ooarai markings fly again. Everyone down on the ground looked up at the Messer with a sense of accomplishment and relief that the blond-haired German ultra-ace was back and ready to fight again.
Oh-OOOH-OH-Oh!
Oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-Oh-oooh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-OH-Oh!
Oh-OOOH-OH-oh-oh-oh-oh-ooooooh!
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Part of Projekt Jägermeistern.
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The author doesn't claim to own "Girls und Panzer," the music used, or any other references made. "Girls und Panzer" belongs to Actas. The music belongs to Sabaton. Any references made belong to their respective owners.
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