Girls Und Panzer: Euro-League

Chapter 6: Two Worlds

We maybe some of the best teams on the continent, but I feel for some unknown reason they chose our teams was because of the weaknesses of our tanks. The years of our tanks manufacture did not seem to matter to the Japanese. It was the next morning, and the judges were coming by to inspect our tanks for the upcoming competition.

Our students stood at attention, "Are you Commander Wolfe?" asked the judge, I nodded, and the judge went to inspect our tanks, "hmmm...an Indien Panzer, this will be the first time this tank will get it's tracks muddy?" the judge joked. She was partly right. This is the first time this medium tank has been selected for an international match.

The judges did everything from measuring the gun caliber to inspecting the tracks for any faults or damage. Another group of judges was looking over the French. About an hour later, the judges faced us, "we approve your tanks for competition, may I remind you all that you're not allowed to be on the grounds for 72 hours prior to the match,"

We saluted the judges, and Noemi came to my side as the judges were leaving, "Wait, do you know who we are going to be facing?" Noemi asked, one of the judges stopped and turned to face us with a light smile. Most of the students are against us being in this competition, but this judge seemed different from all the students we met yesterday.

"You took those words out of my mouth," I whispered to her, Noemi lightly smirked a smile back to me.

"Sorry," She giggled, the judge then turned to us with a light smile like she was looking forward to us taking the field.

"You will be facing Pravda Girls High School, you will receive your ammunition on the day of the competition, good luck out there ladies," said the judge, we saluted the judges as they left the grounds. We were to face Soviet tanks, but we did not know what to expect seeing as the Soviets had many tanks during the war. We are still ready.

"And try to keep those tank destroyers on a leash," said the judge as her parting words,

"Yes, ma'am," we said in unison and looked at the heavy guns of our teams, the 'Jagermeister Panther' and the AMX 50 Foch.

The French looked as ready as us. Soviet tanks are formidable opponents. That evening, we shared a meal of RCIRs courtesy of Commandant Filion and her tank crews, "We have to work together, that is the key, we may have heavy guns, but Soviet armor is tough, so here is what we will do, one should expect this team to have T-34 tanks,"

"That is a given, you are right," said Noemi, "I can have my light tanks act as scouts, we can surround them, and harass them while your tank crews can come in for the kill shots on any heavy tanks they might have, if we miss any of the medium tanks, I think your crews will have no problem with them," I like how Noemi has faith in our skills.

"Do you think we can expect 7.6 cm guns or 8.5?" asked Cherie Rousseau, one of the crew commandants under Noemi's command.

"I would say a mix of both," Noemi guessed, "none the less we should keep our guard up, they are not going to like what they see,"

"None of that matters," said Commander Braun, "we stick to our plans, let them fight us in their style, and we will fight them with ours,"

"Well said, Elsa," I said in approval of her spirited words. Elsa saluted me, and was mixing the drink mix of her rations in the beverage bag. Even the French combat rations given to us are good to eat. The rations came in such varieties as sausage with lentils, duck cassoulet, 'Parisian Chicken', and ham with haricot beans as their main courses.

"Permission to speak?" asked Paula Krueger, the driver on my team. I nodded a single nod to grant her permission, "the team and I were wondering if we can take the Katzchen out and go see the Pravda team, they are camped a few miles down the trail from us," said Paula, but I shook my head 'no' to her request, and I had my reasons.

"Krueger, it is not very sporting to go and spy on our opponents, what are we, Russian?" I joked, Paula giggled back, and went back to finishing her dinner. I was taking my time with the biscuits, and the wild boar pate. I looked at one of the can that the rations came with. Then it hit me, "you ladies get chocolate cake? I swear NATO spoils you,"

"I could say the same about you, Wolfe," said Anne-Marie Joffre, the commandant of Team Faucon, "you ladies get half a loaf of canned bread and butter,"

"True, true, there is something for every palette in the rations," said Aurora, "I will trade you my bread and butter for your pork pate, Anne-Marie,"

"Very well, Snowflake," Anne-Marie agreed, and gave her the small tin of pork pate in exchange for her bread and salted butter. Even something as simple as food can help bring this team together. In the family, the family gathers at the dinner table. I guess it works the same way with crews. They are my family away from mine in Germany.

Noemi came, and sat down next to me at the table, "It warms my heart to see us getting along so well," said Noemi. I smiled back at her, and patted her on the shoulder, "our first match will be in three days, let us get our tanks out on the trails tomorrow and let them get their tracks dirty," Noemi suggested. I nodded in agreement with her.

"We best stay on the trails, and away from the battlefield," I pointed out to the French commandant. I looked at the teams both French and German, and gestured them to stand, "ladies, we will enter the field with our heads held high, and we will leave the field in the same manner, be it victory or defeat," I said with Noemi translating for them.

"Well said, Wolfe," said Noemi with a smile. I ordered everyone to carry on with their business. I should feel glad that our schools paid for our stay at the inn since our teams have taken all the rooms. Although with our rations, there were new things to try at the snack machines. When my meal settled down, I decided to go, and have a look-see.

"Hmm...Meiji Karl Cheese Snacks? I want to give those a try," I said putting a few yen into the machine for a late-night snack of sorts.

"I have tried them, they are better than most snacks you find in the Paris Metro," said Noemi, and I shared the bag with her. I approve of Japanese snacks.

"So tell me, Filion, how did you and Gabby become so close?" I asked, Noemi lightly smiled and sighed happily at my question.

"We have been a crew since we first started training in Primary School, it made it better when we got accepted to the same armored sporting school, it is her spirit during matches that makes her such a joy to work with, even when we are defeated in a match, her spirit is never defeated," Noemi explained, "she is an angel," she commented.

"She really is, and very smart too," I complimented to Noemi's driver. Noemi lightly chuckled, "I met my team when I first came to the Academy, I was going to one of the best armored combat school in Germany, I remember when I faced you and Gabby in the Western Euro-League Finals, you fought to the last tank, now we fight side by side,"

"That is really something," Noemi replied, and looked up at the ceiling, "come now, let us get some rest, Wolfe, tomorrow we take our tanks to the trails," Noemi pulled the covers over, and went to sleep. It was a small step having the judges approve our tanks in accordance with European Rules. Soon we are going to face some of Japan's best.