Soon as the Green Reaper started up the rest were moving out and split up. All the troops were split up far enough to not be spotted but close enough to beal a full salvo of rounds. Pretty soon they saw them or rather just the panzer mk4 so to be safe Matt sent Watcher to scope the area were the tank was headed. After about twenty minutes after the crew departed there came a cradle over the intercom. Turns out that if we followed or shot the rest of the crews would open fire from a ridge opposite the boys. Then came a order that was never used before. Matt ordered that the boys drop all tactics and move out by themselves. This was to stop any predictions and therefore deal out more destruction. For all this time they were communicating in German. Time was dripping away and it was nearly night. Matt opened his hatch and as the last light faded away to black he raised a flare gun loaded with a bright green flare to let the girls know that they were going to stop.
Then as if on que a second flare shot out through the dark. It was green letting the boy know that they agreed. Before they left the girls were kind enough to show a town were they were going to set up camp. That was were they were headed. After another hour of driving they came to the town. The girls rattled in not five minutes after. On their trip they had the chance to see dead trees and were towing them behind their tanks. Soon the axes were off the tanks and the chopping began. After twenty more minutes the trees were chopped up and the pieces were stacked up in the same warehouse that the girls took refuge in that last year. The boys then began to set up a mound of branches with twigs underneath. Then a flamethrower puffed out an bright stream of orange and yellow fire which ignited the mound. MREs were heated and handed out to all the contestants.
It was quiet for a period of time except the crackling of the fire so the boys lined up in a seven by five block. Then they started to stamp their boots against the cement. This created a sound that resembled a company of men marching off. Then they sang. In a deep coir they sang a marching song solely in German. Matt began the first line and then the rest followed.
Ob's stürmt oder schneit,
Ob die Sonne uns lacht,
Der Tag glühend heiß
Oder eiskalt die Nacht.
Bestaubt sind die Gesichter,
Doch froh ist unser Sinn,
Ist unser Sinn;
Es braust unser Panzer
Im Sturmwind dahin.
Mit donnernden Motoren,
Geschwind wie der Blitz,
Dem Feinde entgegen,
Im Panzer geschützt.
Voraus den Kameraden,
Im Kampf steh'n wir allein,
Steh'n wir allein,
So stoßen wir tief
In die feindlichen Reihn.
Wenn vor uns ein feindliches
Heer dann erscheint,
Wird Vollgas gegeben
Und ran an den Feind!
Was gilt denn unser Leben
Für unsres Reiches Heer?
Ja Reiches Heer?
Für Deutschland zu sterben
Ist uns höchste Ehr.
Mit Sperren und Minen
Hält der Gegner uns auf,
Wir lachen darüber
Und fahren nicht drauf.
Und droh'n vor uns Geschütze,
Versteckt im gelben Sand,
Im gelben Sand,
Wir suchen uns Wege,
Die keiner sonst fand.
Und läßt uns im Stich
Einst das treulose Glück,
Und kehren wir nicht mehr
Zur Heimat zurück,
Trifft uns die Todeskugel,
Ruft uns das Schicksal ab,
Ja Schicksal ab,
Dann wird uns der Panzer
Ein ehernes Grab.
The girls who had stood up were looking on in awe as the boys finished their song. Then the president began to clap and the rest followed. Then the guys bowed and began a new song this one was from a age ago but it was still with them. They wore the lyrics like a badge. This song was a happy one unlike the serious tone the other had.
When Johnny comes marching home again
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give him a hearty welcome then
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The men will cheer and the boys will shout
The ladies they will all turn out
And we'll all feel joy
When Johnny comes marching home.
The old church bell will peal with joys
Hurrah! Hurrah!
To welcome home our darling boy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way,
And we'll all feel joy
When Johnny comes marching home.
Get ready for the Jubilee,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
We'll give the hero three times three,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The laurel wreath is ready now
To place upon his loyal brow
And we'll all feel joy
When Johnny comes marching home.
Let love and friendship on that day,
Hurrah, hurrah!
Their choicest pleasures then display,
Hurrah, hurrah!
And let each one perform some part,
To fill with joy the warrior's heart,
And we'll all feel joy
When Johnny comes marching home.
This was the case several time over when the boys came back with a medal or tank shell in their hands. After coming home the crew's parents would throw a large party for them all as they came home. The returning champs would receive a wreath and they would wear them as crowns. If they lost they would come back with their helmets off and at their chest as they would tell the story of the battle from first blood to last shot. But these songs and many others would keep them going in hard times. But now they needed to keep focused on keeping the fire going and everyone warm. But as of now they were the entertainment for the other team. After a bow the hall erupted with claps and whistles. After a few minutes they settled down and the next song played. It was the British Grenadier's march. The instruments came out and the flutes began. Those who did not have an instrument whistled out the tunes. Then the drums started out with a snare and a fast beat. After one or two turns a violin played a soft melody and the lyrics came out with from Matt and Jason. Matt started out since he admittedly has the deepest and loudest voice out of the rest.
Some talk of Alexander, and some of Hercules
Of Hector and Lysander, and such great names as these.
But of all the world's great heroes, there's none that can compare.
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, to the British Grenadiers.
That is when Jason started his verses.
Those heroes of antiquity ne'er saw a cannon ball,
Or knew the force of powder to slay their foes withal.
But our brave boys do know it, and banish all their fears,
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers.
Whene'er we are commanded to storm the palisades,
Our leaders march with fusees, and we with hand grenades.
We throw them from the glacis, about the enemies' ears.
Sing tow, row, row, row, row, row, the British Grenadiers.
Then they both started together and those who had no melody to play joined with happy voices.
And when the siege is over, we to the town repair.
The townsmen cry, "Hurrah, boys, here comes a Grenadier!
Here come the Grenadiers, my boys, who know no doubts or fears!
Then sing tow, row, row, row, row, row, the British Grenadiers.
Then let us fill a bumper, and drink a health of those
Who carry caps and pouches, and wear the loupèd clothes.
May they and their commanders live happy all their years.
With a tow, row, row, row, row, row, for the British Grenadiers." They chanted with a joyous chorus to finish the hymn.
As Matt checked his watch for the time he was surprised by how late it was. It was 11:45 on the dot by that time and he noticed he was tired.
"Boys get ready for a freezing night with your friends! Because we all need to sleep. We start at four thirty tomorrow!" Matt yelled causing the whole group to break out sleeping bags. As they closed their eyes the cracklings of the fire lulled the crews of both ships to sleep. All Matt could hope was that they were all well rested for tomorrow. Then he finally closed his own eyes and drifted off to sleep land.