Rill looked up, awaking from his dozing state at the sound of an engine. He turned his turret around and waited a moment for his sights to adjust to the falling darkness around him. The silhouette of a big tank was approaching him. He recognised the distinct shape of Eject's turret. The T29 had barely talked to him so far, so this visit came as somewhat of a surprise. Not enough of a surprise to baffle Rill, though. He looked at his team mate with an impassive expression. The other heavy was wearing his usual frown, not giving away any intent or hints of his current mood.

Eject only stopped as he was just a cannon's length away, not keeping the distance one would keep if he was about to discuss something that was of a public nature. Rill simply raised an optic ridge, but said nothing, waiting for the T29 to make the first move. Eject remained silent for several seconds as well, then slightly traversed his turret. He was probably checking what was going on behind him, which now raised a little spark of interest in Rill. His assumption that something secret was happening was seemingly affirmed. It took only another few moments of curious waiting until the intention of the visit was revealed to him.

"I agree with you," Eject said in a low — but neutral — voice. "The plane needs to go."

Rill blew a puff of air through his vents.

"I see," he rumbled.

The two heavies looked at each other for a couple of seconds, silent again, before Rill went on.

"I'm sure you have a plan."

"Cold-blooded scheming is not one of my expertises," Eject replied coolly.

"It's really not that complicated," Rill said.

An ever so slight change in Eject's expression gave away that he was the one who was curious now. He must have had a hunch, a justified suspicion that Rill had put some thought into this matter already.

"All we have to do is lead her away from the others," Rill went on matter-of-factly. "She might get suspicious if she's smart, after what we said today. But she will probably trust someone who doesn't even know himself yet that he'll be helping us."

Eject's frown became more intense. He didn't understand, that was obvious. Rill got more direct.

"The AT-2."

"Why would he help us?" Eject asked.

Rill shrugged.

"We'll need to figure that out. But he would not seem threatening, isn't blindly loyal to that Pershing, and easily influenced."

"How can you tell?"

"You seemed more observant to me."

"What does that say about you then?" Eject replied deadpan.

'Touché,' Rill thought, but didn't say it out loud.

Eject seemed to consider the meeting to be over, because he slowly started turning around. He trundled off. Rill directed his optics to the side as he heard more engines. Three tank destroyers had appeared, slowly rolling into his direction. They seemed oblivious to the presence of the heavy tanks, only noticing Rill as they passed him, but not saying anything to him and just continuing their own conversation. Rill looked at Eject again, who was just disappearing behind a building. A moment later he received a nonverbal message through his radio.

"He'll do it."

Rill silently waited for an elaboration, and he got it.

"The Jagdpanther would never go and tell the Pershing. We wouldn't need his help, but he can get the AT-2 to do it."

That didn't seem like a bad idea to Rill. Jack had been trying his best to get accepted and liked by the other tank destroyers, so he could definitely be peer pressured into helping with the heavies' plan. Rill hummed in approval.

"So who goes to talk to the Jagdpanther?" he asked.

"We are not on good terms," Eject replied simply.

Rill didn't answer and instead went to put the plan into motion.

###

There was one thing Arty had been planning to do since the battle, but hadn't had the chance to yet. Now that it was evening and everyone was settling down for the night, the Sturmpanzer was looking for the tank destroyer that had saved her life earlier that day. Not once, but twice. It wasn't something out of the ordinary that team mates saved each other during battles, but Arty felt an obligation to give thanks to him anyway. She always did that, as she still didn't take it for granted that someone was looking out for her.

Her artillery sights were aimlessly checking the area, but with little success. She spotted some of her other team mates, but the Jagdpanther she was looking for was nowhere to be seen. It took some straying from the makeshift base until she finally was able to make out Fang's prominent grey and red colours that stood out from the surroundings. She switched back to her normal sights and rolled towards him, but stopped when she was close enough to hear his voice. Or rather, not actually his, but the voice of someone else. Arty blinked and looked through her other sights again, and only now noticed a better camouflaged, second tank.

'Ah …' she thought and was about to turn around. She didn't want to interrupt the conversation, as it was probably private. After all, why else would it be held so secludedly? She decided to just postpone her thanks to the next day, but froze as she heard a fragment of a sentence.

"… but wouldn't that be teamkilling?" the second tank asked. Arty figured that it had to be Jack, even though she wasn't too familiar with his voice. But more importantly, she was dumbstruck by his words. Teamkilling, that word would have instantly made almost every tank alarmed at least, but Arty all the more. She tried to tell herself that this was probably a harmless conversation, and she was just too sensitive about the subject. She anxiously waited to hear more context, and it seemed like an eternity to her until Fang's raspy voice replied.

"So what if it is?" he said dismissively.

"It's a crime …!" Jack replied. He didn't sound upset, although concerned.

"Where there's no plaintiff, there's no judge. No one will find out. The others will give us an alibi."

Arty was still clinging to the belief that this wasn't what it sounded like. For a moment, she considered just doing what she had wanted to do: leave. And pretend that she hadn't heard anything. But if they were really talking about what she feared they were talking about, she wouldn't have been able to reconcile it with her conscience if she just did that. She needed to stay and find out more. Fang went on, still in the same dismissive tone.

"And I thought you wanted to hang out with us? We don't hang out with wimps who are too coward to do what has to be done. She's scum. We're doing everyone a favour."

He paused for a moment, probably waiting for an answer. As none came, he spoke again.

"But it's up to you," he said, audibly shrugging. "I'm not forcing you."

It felt like his voice was getting closer at the last sentence and Arty quickly looked left and right in search of something to hide behind.

"Wait, I'll do it!" Jack said, louder than his previous words.

Before the Sturmpanzer could roll even a meter, Fang was suddenly standing before her. Her optics grew wide, and he mirrored the expression for a moment before a deep frown took over his features. Jack appeared at his side, looking shocked at the sight of the SPG.

"Well, well, well …" Fang murmured.

Arty suddenly felt terrified of him and inched backwards.

"Oh … hey …" she stammered, trying to act as if she had just arrived here. "What's up?"

She couldn't help but suddenly realize that they might have been talking about her. If that was the case, would they decide to get rid of her right away? After all this seemed like a convenient moment she had been caught in, away from the others; a good moment to be murdered.

"You heard everything, didn't you?" Fang asked, closing in on her slowly.

"I-I won't tell anybody!" Arty chirped, frightened into dropping her attempt to play dumb.

Fang's expression remained dark.

"You'll just run straight to her and warn her …"

"I don't know who …! I really don't," Arty said in despair. She didn't know how convincing it sounded, but also didn't know how to make them believe her. "I didn't hear everything …" At least this meant that she herself wasn't the one who would get killed, but that only left two other possible targets.

For a moment, Fang just glared at her, but then he started turning his hull. He drove past her at a leisurely speed.

"If she finds out, we'll know it was you who told her," he said. There was an unspoken threat, and Arty only managed to give a small nod. Her gaze fell on Jack, who looked at her pensively, but then turned to follow the Jagdpanther without saying a word.

Only as they had already disappeared into the darkness, Arty finally dared to turn back towards the base. She slowly started driving towards it, absolutely clueless what she should do. Either Sky or Goggles were about to get killed, and she couldn't do anything at all about it if she didn't want to share that fate. If she had known who else was involved in this plan, she would have told the rest and maybe they could have foiled it together. But those "others" Fang had mentioned, who were they? If Arty told anyone, who could she even trust? What if they were the majority?

"Ugh," she groaned, slumping down on her suspension as she made her way past the little houses that marked the borders of the base. She flinched as one of the houses turned out to actually be a tank, which she only noticed as it moved. Eject's cannon was pointed at her for a moment, then he turned his turret back around to face the opposite direction of his hull.

"We were about to call you," he said. "What are you doing driving around alone at this hour?"

A few moments passed before Arty replied.

"Nothing," she said, tension in her voice.

Eject either didn't notice it or he didn't care. But his next words sounded strangely like a warning.

"Go join the others. I'm keeping guard tonight and I don't want to see you outside the base."

Arty quickly lowered her cannon and drove past him. She had to think about Fang's words again. The others would give them an alibi. What better way was there than letting one of them be the guard?

'No …' she thought. Eject wasn't like that. He wouldn't help with the murder of a team mate. She refused to believe that he was a bad guy. Maybe she should turn around and just tell him what she knew? But then again, did she really know what the heavy tank was capable of? She hesitated, and then discarded the idea of asking him for help.

Reaching the populated part of the base eventually, she was received by Sky. The Pershing tilted her cannon with a chiding expression.

"Where have you been?" Sky asked.

Arty just mumbled a soft "Sorry". She couldn't even look at the other tank right now.

Sky seemed suspicious, but instead of asking for further explanations, she spoke into her radio.

"Eject, are we complete?"

She was quiet for a moment, then nodded to herself.

"Good," she said, then turned to Arty again. "Come on, let's get some sleep. I really can't wait for this fucking day to end already."

Arty nodded enthusiastically. She hoped that as long as she didn't leave Sky's side, their leader would be safe. Which left one more team mate to worry about, however.

Driving along next to each other, they quickly reached a little group of tanks that were in different stages of going to sleep. Arty greeted back as Awol waved his cannon at her, but then she sheepishly squinted at Sky.

"And … Goggles is …?" the Sturmpanzer asked, trailing off.

Sky blinked at her.

"Sleeping by herself, … like she always is," she replied.

Arty averted her gaze again, hiding a pained expression. She tried to think of something to say, which took her a moment.

"You know, I was thinking," she then said, "Isn't it kinda unfair that we're excluding her like that? I mean, isn't it … dangerous for her?" She forced herself to stop right there before she could give away anything she definitely shouldn't give away. Sky made a confused "Hm?", prompting Arty to go on anyway. "Just … I think it would be better if we could keep an eye on her," she said quickly.

Sky shook her cannon and got ready to sleep as well.

"If some enemies show up, she'll just fly away. What's with the sudden concern for her wellbeing?" she asked. Her expression turned almost grim. "I would be more worried about us."

Arty thought she knew what the other tank meant, but then Sky went on, her voice only barely above a whisper.

"We're more dangerous to each other right now than any enemy."

'You have no idea,' Arty cried inwardly. She remained silent.

"Anyway," Sky then said, "Sleep well."

"You too …" Arty replied, but knew that she definitely wouldn't.

###

The clouds that were hiding the moon parted for a moment, allowing its light to shine through. Rill looked at it for a moment. It had barely risen above the mountain tops yet, but it was late enough for his intentions. By now, everyone who should be asleep most likely was asleep. The heavy tank slowly set himself into motion, leaving his secluded position. He was purposefully heading for the spot that Fang and the Ferdinand, Tate, had claimed.

Upon noticing Rill approaching them, they looked up. Only Tate's expression showed mild confusion.

"Come with me," Rill said to Fang as soon as he reached them.

"Why?" Tate asked immediately.

"Sky's orders," Rill said gruffly. He nodded his cannon to the side. "Now come on."

Tate frowned warily.

"Where are you taking him?" he asked.

The KV-4 gave him a cool glance.

"That's none of your business," he replied.

Fang turned towards his brother, raising his cannon placatingly.

"It's fine, Tate. Let's not make a scene," he said. Tate looked surprised, although Rill could only assume about what.

"… Fine," the Ferdinand said eventually.

Fang rolled forward and Rill turned around to lead him away. They drove towards the centre of the base until Tate was out of sight, then changed direction to travel along the border instead of actually driving to where Sky was. Passing the houses and a silent Eject, Rill eventually halted. Fang simply drove on and left the base alone to take his position; he had agreed upon a location with Jack, who would lead the oblivious Goggles there. Rill looked after him for a moment, then turned back to return to his spot.

As he went back to dozing, he mused that it was quite convenient that he wouldn't have to get his own tracks dirty.

###

Jack was nervous, to say the least. His cannon darted from one side to the other as he snuck out of the base, steering clear of the spot where his team mates were sleeping. No one had noticed that he hadn't gone to sleep, as he didn't sleep in the same place as Sky's clique. Despite his efforts to make friends with them, he was somewhat of an outsider. Only the other tank destroyers were really paying attention to him, even if that night it seemed to him like this attention came at a quite high price.

As he had almost reached the base's border, the silhouette of his team's Stuka was already looming ahead. He got closer and heard quiet music, something that sounded like a love song. It was turned off the moment she noticed him. Her ailerons twitched before she lowered them, giving her a defensive appearance. She didn't seem happy about having a visitor, but didn't say anything yet.

Stopping at a respectful distance, Jack decided to skip the small talk and get to the point straight away. He felt bad already, no need to make himself feel worse by dragging this out.

"Sky said you need to move to a different spot," he said, trying to sound as casual as possible.

Goggles just stared at him - or maybe she was actually showing some sort of expression, but she was a plane - for a good ten seconds before she replied.

"She did?" she asked, her voice sounding distrustful.

Jack nodded quickly.

"You are too visible here. I'll show you a spot where you can hide better."

He had been told beforehand what to say to her, words that had been carefully chosen by the heavy tanks that were the masterminds behind this whole plan. And it seemed like it was working.

"Lead the way, then," Goggles said with a shrug.

Jack started driving towards the farm that was visible in the distance. He went slowly enough for Goggles to be able to keep up. They reached the houses just outside the base as well, and drove alongside them. Jack nodded his cannon at Eject as they passed him. Goggles didn't seem to acknowledge the T29's presence at all, just driving on silently.

There was a sudden doubt on Jack's mind, and he looked back at Eject for a moment, then sent him a nonverbal message.

"Aren't they going to hear the shot?" he asked. But it seemed like the heavies had thought of everything indeed.

"I'll be faking a shot at the same time," Eject replied. "It will cover up the noise, and I'll just tell them I was startled by an animal."

Jack lowered his gaze to the ground for a moment. He couldn't help but be impressed in a morbid way by the amount of calculation that had gone into this plan.

The silence between him and Goggles seemed heavy to him as they rolled towards the farm at an excruciatingly slow pace, but he didn't know what to say.

He was glad when the drive was finally over. They reached the farm and drove up to a barn. Jack stopped in front of it, turning around to face Goggles. The Stuka was looking at the barn's doors.

"I'm not gonna fit in there, genius," she said sourly.

"That's unfortunate …" a voice suddenly said from behind Jack.

One of the doors was pushed open and Fang appeared from inside the building. Jack could see the other tank destroyer's cynical grin in his peripheral vision. Goggles didn't move, but her propeller blades twitched as the sound of a shell being loaded could be heard.

"Any last words, wing-scum?" Fang asked.

Goggles backed up ever so slightly, remaining silent. It was probably dawning on her that her end was imminent.

She began to say something, but before she could even finish the first word, Fang fired. The high explosive shell detonated on impact, the explosion swallowing the Stuka's whole fuselage and tearing it to shreds, the little glass shards from the cockpit pelting down on the two tank destroyers like hail. Jack kept his optics shut tightly and only opened them again as the deafening bang had made way for a quiet sizzle. He looked at what little was left of his team mate, splattered across the surrounding area. Then he turned to Fang.

"Bummer. I wanted to know what she was gonna say …" he pouted.

"I had already started counting down," Fang replied with a shrug.