Girls Und Panzer: Euro League
Chapter 9: In this Moment
Nothing is going to stop us now. We have earned our first victory against a strong school, but some schools still have their panties in a bunch. That evening after supper, I gathered all of our French and German tank commanders in my room over apple cider to discuss our plan of action for our next opponent, both St. Gloriana and Saunders.
A local die-cast toy company made some models of our tanks as a good luck gift against Japan. These little tanks were the size of Hot Wheels cars and have moving parts like the tracks and turrets, "Thank you all for coming this evening, I have brought you all here to discuss our tactics for our next match," I said laying out the map of the field.
"Here, this time let us the Germans in the first wave like so," I said moving the Indien Panzer models into position on the map, "we will have the Panzers attack in a wedge like we used against Pravda, but this time as they are closing in, you ladies are going to close in around them like so," I moved the tanks from a wedge to a crescent shape.
"What about our scouts and the tank destroyers, Filion?" asked Commander Spear,
"The scouts will be here and here, Rousseau and I will attack the flanks, and Joffre will attack alongside the tank destroyers in the rear, they will not know what hit them," I explained to the commanders, "we worked well together against Pravda, that first victory gave us confidence, now it is time to build on it, and we will win this competition,"
I rolled up the map, and put the toy tanks back in the little cloth pouch they came in, "Let us get some rest now, the match is in 72 hours," I said, we all saluted each other and went our separate ways. I felt now was the time to tell Gabrielle how I feel about her. She has been my loyal driver for years. I have met anyone as beautiful as her.
"Good evening," I said to her seeing her sitting down on the hill, looking up at the stars. Gabby looked over at me, and smiled as I sat down next to her. I sighed trying to build myself up, 'here goes nothing' I thought to myself, "Gabrielle, I have been working with you for a long time...years, and I want to let you know how I feel about you,"
"Don't worry I already know," Gabrielle said with a smile and a wink, and moved closer,
"How did you know?" I asked, not that it really mattered, Gabrielle lightly giggled a cute giggle.
"My nana once told me that if you wait, the one you are looking for will come to you" Gabrielle explained, "so, in a sense, I was waiting for you to come forward to me about your feelings," she placed a gentle hand on mine, "now that you have, I say to you that the feeling is mutual," I put a hand around her, and she put her head on my shoulder.
Her blond hair was so soft as was her clean alabaster skin, "We are already a good team, this bond we share...will make us even better," I said as a whisper into her ear, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. It was something I always wanted to do for a very long time, "I love you, Gabrielle Rouchet, and I always will," I vowed to her for the first time.
"And for that I love you, Noemi Filion," Gabrielle said back in a hushed tone. She did one better than me, and kissed me on the lips, "and I will always be there for you, in and away from our tank," I stood up, and held my hand out to her. She took it, and I gave her a hand up. Under the full moon light, Gabrielle and I shared our first deep kiss.
"When this is over, I am going to give you everything," I said after the kiss,
"Including a trip to the beach? I am going to hold you to that," Gabby said with a wink, and we headed inside as it was getting cold outside. I felt relieved that Gabrielle feels the same way about me as I feel about her. I stroked her soft, blond hair and her single braid. We went inside hand in hand, and headed back our room on the second level.
I was already for the evening in my baggy black basketball shorts and a simple white t-shirt. Gabrielle came back from changing out of her uniform in a grey spaghetti strap top, and blue soffe shorts. I went up, and laid down with my arms hugging her from behind in a loving embrace, "Big butt," I teased feeling her smooth bum touch my legs.
Gabby lightly giggled, and we soon fell asleep together under the covers. The next morning brought a nice sunny day, "Good morning, Beautiful," I said to Gabrielle, and lightly touching her cheek. Gabrielle smiled up at me as she was waking up. I am a lady of my word, and I let Gabrielle shower first before me. Then we got in our school uniforms.
"Ready to go?" asked Gabby holding a Nike duffle bag. I nodded 'yes' as I was ready with my bag as well.
Our tank had some scuffs from the match against Pravda, but still battle ready. Gabrielle and I decided to go to the pool to swim some laps. It felt good to have some alone time with Gabrielle away from the other tank crews. When it comes to swimsuits, our school does not have a big requirement as long as it is one piece, and competition style.
Neither me nor Gabby swim competitively. We swim for fun, and to keep in shape. I came out of the locker of the local indoor aquatic center in my blue Speedo Vortex Super Pro Back, and holding my old goggles and a grey swimcap. Gabrielle came out in a blue Speedo Aquablade Leaderback swimsuit with her black goggles, and a black swimcap.
When I finished putting on my cap and goggles, I waited on Gabby as she pinned back her hair, and put on her swimcap for the our exercises, "50 laps, freestyle," I said to her with a smile. Gabby pulled down my goggles and placed a kiss on my lips. She smiled at me, and pulled down her goggles. We went underwater, and pushed off the wall.
Thousands of paced strokes, kicks, and one hundred flip-turns later, we were done, "You've still got it, Noemi," said Gabrielle pulling up her goggles,
"So do you, Gabby," I replied, taking off my cap and goggles, we got out of the pool, and headed to the showers to clean up for the day's training with the crews. With our swimsuits wrapped in our towels in our duffle bags, we exited the facility and headed to our tank. There was a big field of rolling hills where our next match will take place.
Our crews used this day to ready the tanks for our match against St. Gloriana and Saunders. We watched a highlight reel of their match against Oarai to know what we are up against, "Hmm...They have heavy armor in those Churchill and Matilida tanks, and they have cruiser tanks, that 17 pounder is going to be troublesome," said Claramond
"Nothing we cannot handle with our guns, don't you think?" I asked, walking up to her holding hands with Gabby. We both saluted the commander of the German Teams. I gave Commander Wolfe a wink to tell her that Gabby and I were a couple. Claramond smiled, saluting me back. It was a very happy moment for both me and the one I love.
"We will be having our match on those rolling hills, that means we can use our tactics to our advantage," noted Claramond, winking at me back.
"All the schools here have very formidable tanks, we best be prepared, Wolfe," I said saluting Commander Wolfe. Claramond saluted back with a light smile, and we went to our tanks to roam around the forest trails to keep our machines in running order. When we face St. Gloriana and Saunders, it will be the Germans who will be first into action.