Anarchy from the UK!
By Jangocommando27
Chapter 7: They' ve settled their debts...
Student accommodation block 'York'
St. Gloriana School Ship 'HMS Ark Royal'
06:20
James loved this part.
It was Cambrai day, and it was the time honoured tradition that at this time, on this day, the officers and senior NCO's of the Royal Tank Regiment roused their troops and serve them gunfire tea. Normally they would be woken by a piper from the regimental band playing the RTR's march, 'My Boy Willie'. Unfortunately there was no regimental band to be had, so James made do with his phone, and a megaphone cracked up to full.
On the stroke of 6:20, the time that fighting began at the battle of Cambrai, James hit the music. The sounds of the regimental march bellowed from the loud speaker, waking everyone on the floor as well as the intended cadets. James went around their individual rooms knocking on the door before handing them a mug of piping hot gunfire tea and a bacon butty. Before telling them to get into their black coveralls and make ready.
It was going to be a long day.
St. Gloriana Tankery Shed
St. Gloriana School Ship 'HMS Ark Royal'
07:00
Many of the tankery team were grumbling at having been assembled before the sun was even fully up over the pacific. The overhead lights of the hanger were the only source of illumination and head, hence it was cold and why the team were upset about being out of bed early. Once the whole team was assembled. James climbed up on top of Achilles.
"ATTENTION!" he shouted as loud as he could. Any conversations or grumblings that were ongoing ceased and everyone listened to James. He continued;
"Today is Cambrai Day. For those of you who do not know what that means, let me explain. On the 20th November, 1917, the Royal Regiment, then the Tank Corps, the British army launched the first mass tank attack at the town of Cambrai. The attack was a tremendous success, and became the first battle honour of the Royal Tank Regiment. In memoriam to those who have fallen, then and since, we celebrate Cambrai day every year, wherever we are and what ever were doing. And this year, we invite you to celebrate with us."
John, Chris, Jay, Darjeeling and a few other commanders came forward each with large thermal container full of gunfire tea.
"And Celebrations begin, with gunfire tea! One mug each!"
The team made for the tea filled vessels and started receiving a plastic mug full. The team mates gratefully received the warm drink and it warmed them up, although they each detected the strange flavour in the tea. Eventually Darjeeling got herself a mug just before James took her aside.
"When everyone's finished their tea, could we have them formed up outside for the service please?" Asked James.
"Certainly." Replied Darjeeling, taking a taste of her tea. She too detected the strange taste in the tea and before James could retreat asked him,
"Sergeant? What exactly is gunfire tea?"
"Its regular English breakfast tea," said James, "laced with rum."
He tactically retreated before Darjeeling could yell at him for having given her team, some of whom were freshman, an alcohol spiked drink.
A while later the tankery team was assembled outside on the solid tarmac ground. Achilles had been parked at the front of the parade, the Union Jack and the regimental colors of the RTR had been attached to her radio antenna and fluttered gently in the breeze. As the sun began to rise, the cadets marched onto parade. James led the procession with Jay marching in step behind. John and Chris flanked the pair with bayoneted L98's on their shoulders. Caroline was following at the rear with a bugle in hand.
They were each dressed in their full ceremonial uniforms, the boys in their black coveralls, berets and boots, while Caroline was in her No.2: Service dress. They marched in formation to the front of the parade with Achilles to their back. Darjeeling almost didn't recognize them. She knew James and his crew as a laid back but professional crew and Caroline was similarly laid back if slightly more serious. Darjeeling could see none of that laid back attitude in the eyes of the cadets in front of her. Each was focused, silent and almost... cold.
"Today," announced James, "We remember our predecessors and the fallen, and celebrate their legacy. We shall commence proceedings with the reading of special order number 6 by Corporal Ackner. We shall then salute the memory of the fallen with the last post and ode of remembrance. We shall then disperse for the following festivities. Corporal Ackner you are detail. Detail! 2 paces step forwards! March!"
Jay marched forwards from the honor guard. He removed a piece of folded paper from his pocked and unfolded it. He cleared his throat before reading it.
"Special Order Number 6." He began, "Tomorrow the Tank Corps will have the chance of which they have been waiting for many months – to operate on good going in the van of the battle. All that hard work and ingenuity can achieve has been done in the way of preparation. It remains for Unit Commanders and tank crews to complete the work by judgment and pluck in the battle itself. In the light of past experience, I leave the good name of the Corps with great confidence in their hands. I propose leading the attack of the center Division. General Hugh Ellis. 1917."
Jay folded the paper back up and stowed it in his pocket, before taking 2 paces back into his previous position within the honor guard. James then spoke with authority to the St. Gloriana crews.
"After the last post is played. I would ask you too bow your heads in respect to the fallen, and observe a minutes silence with us, in their memory." He then turned to the honor guard.
"Honor guard! General Salute! Present Arms!" In synchronized, well practiced movements, Chris and John un-shouldered their bayoneted rifles and presented arms. Caroline then raised her bugle and began to play the last post. James and Jay raised their right hand in a sharp, crisp salute.
A salute to the fallen.
Silence fell over the grounds. No one dared made a sound but listened to the bugle playing the almost universally known sound of the Last Post. The tune ended and Caroline lowered her bugle. Darjeeling and the girls bowed their heads in respect, while James and Jay maintained their rigid salute and John and Chris held their present arms, even under the weight of their rifles. After a minute, James dropped his salute.
"Honour guard! Shoulder arms!" he ordered, and Chris and John returned their rifles to their shoulders. James then turned back to the St. Gloriana girls. He cleared his throat and spoke clearly;
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them."
"We will remember them." The other cadets and a few members of the St. Gloriana girls murmured in response. James then gave a final speech.
"Thank you." He said, "I cannot overstate the importance of Cambrai day to the Royal Tank Regiment, and I thank you for your respectful participation. Now we shall move on to the more entertaining side of the day. Those of you whom we've asked to take part in certain events can go d get ready once you are dismissed. For the rest of you if you will hang around for a few minutes the first event shall begin shortly. Parade! Dismissed!"
07:45
Darjeeling watched as the various 'festivities' for the Cambrai day celebrations came together. Many of the tankery team who were also members of other clubs had offered to participate and were setting themselves up. The various martial arts clubs were setting up a sparing ring in the hanger with some foam panels on the floor to provide a soft landing. The cooking club were setting up barbeques to cook some lunch on and even a few members of the tea garden were rolling out their best tea sets for afternoon tea during the festivities.
After a few minutes, James, Jay and John stepped into the circle that the martial arts club had set up. They had all changed from their black coveralls into their fatigue trousers, boots and a T-shirt, and Jay and John were both carrying a massive padded bat on the end of a long pole. Hey entered the sparing ring and took up positions.
"Ladies and... other ladies!" cried James, "I welcome you to the first event in today's festivities! The first annual, St. Gloriana, Total Fencing Deluxe Championship! And don't worry... it's the clothed version!"
The crowd started to gather around the ring as James continued,
"For those of you new to the sport here are the rules. 10 points for the head, 5 for the body, both hands on the pole at all times, No kicking, No biting, and No peaking! In the red corner, we have the current raining highlander champion, Lance Corporal John Strongbow! In the blue corner, we have last year's runner up, Corporal Jay Ackner!"
"You're going down this time John!" Challenged Jay.
"That's what you said last time," replied John confidently, "and the time before that!"
"Yeah, but I mean it this time!"
"You said that too."
"Alright!" interrupted James, "Fighters to your corners. Blindfolds on!" Jay and John put on their blindfolds and a murmur of concern went around the crowd. James heard this and smiled,
"You might want to step back." He advised. Almost immediately everyone took a step back. Their blindfolds in place, John and Jay raised their padded poles together in the centre.
"Fighters ready?" asked James. They both nodded, "First to 30. Fight!"
James retreated as the fight began. The 2 fighters paused for a moment before Jay made a forward jab. John somehow predicted this and blocked with his own pole before jabbing with his own, hitting Jay square in the face.
"10 points Strongbow!" called James. The fighters reset before they went at it again. Jay swung his pole around in a wide horizontal sweep. John dodged before lunging forward, bringing his pole down like a battleaxe onto Jay's head. The pole impacted and the momentum caused Jay to collapse onto the padded floor.
"20 points Strongbow!" This time John went on the attack, he swung his pole low at Jay's feet, catching them and sweeping them out from under Jay and bringing him crashing to the padded floor. Jay was stunned long enough for John to bring his pole overhead for what appeared to be a death blow, the crowd breathed deeply in shock as John brought his pole down. He stopped it, hovering it about an inch or so from Jay's face. He then lightly dropped it, tapping him on the face.
"30 Points Strongbow! Match, Strongbow!" Announced James. A momentary celebration followed before the festivities resumed.
"Next match! Sergeant Hunter vs Lance Corporal Strongbow!"
Student accommodation block 'Cambridge'
St. Gloriana School Ship 'HMS Ark Royal'
21:00
Darjeeling relax as she settled into one of the large, comfortable leather arm chairs that furnished the joint drawing room she shared with Pekoe. Of all the student accommodation blocks on the ship, Cambridge block was the most comfortable and well furnished, and almost exclusively reserved for scholarship students and members of the tea garden. Each of the wings had 4 bedrooms with a shared drawing room and kitchen and each of the rooms had an en-suite bathroom. Tonight she was due to entertain her dorm's latest tenant, Caroline Smith.
Since her arrival Caroline had largely kept to herself outside of the tankery team. Darjeeling had spoken with the members of her new repair crew and they described her as both inspirational and kind, but terrifying at the same time. Since Darjeeling hadn't had a chance to properly talk to her yet, she decided now was as good as tomorrow. There was a knock at the door,
"Come in." Said Darjeeling. The door opened and Caroline stepped in. Darjeeling was slightly taken aback by her nightwear. While Darjeeling was wearing a dressing gown over her own nightwear, Caroline was going around in nothing much more than a pair of shorts and a tank top. Regardless she pressed on.
"Welcome Caroline, have a seat." She motioned toward one of the other leather arm chairs. Caroline cautiously yet confidently approached. She sat in the chair and relaxed, it'd been a long day of fixing up the Cromwells after their crews had been tearing up the maneuvering course.
"Tea?" offered Darjeeling.
"Thanks." Accepted Caroline, taking the offered cup of tea. "So what did you want to talk about?"
"I wanted to get to know the latest member of my team outside of the tankery team." Replied Darjeeling, "So how are you settling in?"
"Good." Replied Caroline, "I've got all my stuff sorted and in, although I'm annoyed that I had to leave Harley behind."
"Who's Harley?" asked Darjeeling. Caroline Scoffed.
"Harley is the name of my Triumph motorbike." She replied, "I had hoped to bring it over to use but the school's insurance policy said it wouldn't stretch to cover it."
"That's... unfortunate." Said Darjeeling trying to find the right word while trying to work out why a teenage girl would want a motor bike.
"I know," continued Caroline, "you'd think that because they let us drive and operate tanks they'd have no problem with a motorbike but meh, that's the way it is. So... you made a move on James yet?" Darjeeling almost choked on her tea. While she recovered Caroline scoffed again,
"Guess that answers that question." Darjeeling recovered and gave Caroline a look that was almost a death glare. Caroline just shrugged it off and took a sip of her tea.
"What makes you think I..." began Darjeeling before Caroline interrupted her.
"What makes me think you've got the hots for James? Easy. I've seen it before and been there myself." Darjeeling had not expected that. Caroline continued, "I saw the way you look at him, you want to go out with him. And he wants to go out with you."
"How do you know?" asked Darjeeling, suddenly listening intently.
"You heard that James turned down Green on a date offer right?" Darjeeling nodded. "That speaks volumes."
"How so?"
"Start with the fact that he and his boys are the only male students on a school ship of over 50,000 students and he is the only one without a girlfriend. Take away the couple of thousand girls that he hasn't interacted with and you've got about a few dozen girls left. Subtract those who he's only on a 'pass in the hallway greeting' or 'what was the homework?' basis with then you've got maybe a dozen left. Of those you can take away Assam and Pekoe because they're taken. Then you've got about 10 left. Take away Green because he rejected her and that's 9. Of those 9, how many has he asked out?"
"None."
"Exactly, combined with his rejection of Green that suggests he has his eye on someone in particular. Aside from the boys who are the people he spends the most time with here?"
"Me, Assam and Pekoe." Said Darjeeling, cottoning on to what she was getting at. "But if he is interested, which I'm sure he isn't, why hasn't he made a move?"
"Because he's a bloke." Replied Caroline, "Because you're his boss, because he's afraid of the consequences if he fuck's up. I could go on. But the point is that he's not going to do anything for the foreseeable, so you need to make a move." Darjeeling processed this for a moment.
"If I was interested," she asked, "how would I go about 'making a move'?" She'd never had a boyfriend before and wasn't sure how it worked, despite having read several romantic novels. Caroline just shook her head in despair.
"Just ask him out for a drink, shopping, anything." She replied, "Have you never asked out someone before?" Darjeeling shook her head. Caroline's despair intensified.
'This is going to be a long night.' She thought.
St. Gloriana School Ship 'HMS Ark Royal'
17:00
"You guys want to get something to eat?" asked James. The general reply from the boys and Caroline was agreeable to the proposition. They'd finished school for the day earlier and had decided to at last take Caroline around the ship for the tour that they'd continually promised her yet always belayed due to some constraint or another. They'd been walking for a while and they were all hungry they found a bustling fast food restaurant. As they ordered their meals at the counter, James spotted an unwelcome sight.
"Shoko."
Shoko and a few of his cronies were sitting in a corner booth enjoying themselves. James could sense the mounting frustration among the boys and actually had to block an advance by John.
"Let it go mate." He cautioned. "We don't want to start something here." Shoko then looked up and saw the boys with James and rose to the occasion.
"Well if it isn't James and his lady Boy tankery friends!" he said, getting up from his seat and advancing on them with his cronies following. "Word on the street is you guys did a panty raid, couldn't get any yourself could ya?"
"We had an airtight alibi." Replied James, half trying to keep himself in check and half trying to keep his crew from doing something they'd regret. "Although I am curious as too what you were doing that night."
"We were out with some of our women weren't we boys?" His cronies agreed.
"Well its just that your group and ours are the only male teenagers on the ship." Said James, "but if we didn't do it, kind of paints you as the guilty party."
"Are you threatening me?" demanded Shoto, getting up in James' face.
"A friendly warning." Replied James, "People might get the wrong idea otherwise, and we wouldn't want that." He then turned his attention to his crew,
"Come on guys, our order's ready." James and his crew backed off. It was only then that James realized that the restaurant staff and its patrons had gone quiet during their exchange. The conversation returned as the 2 groups separated and James and co got their food and sat down while Shoko and company went back to their burgers.
"Why didn't you let us clock him?!" demanded John after they'd sat down.
"Because I need you lot in my tank fighting! Not in lock up for breaking his jaw." Replied James.
"If he was lucky." Mumbled Jay.
"Somehow I think you don't like this guy." Ventured Caroline.
"That would be putting it mildly." Replied Chris. "He and his group are the supposed 'alpha males' of the ship and framed us for a panty raid we didn't do!"
"Probably framed us." Added James. "But he is an asshole." They moved away from the subject of Shoko and his cronies.
Meanwhile
"He's on to us Shoko." Said Haruko, slightly panicked at the thought of the police knocking on his door.
"He's got nothing." Replied Shoko, "Although that raven haired beauty should not be with him.
"Yeah wouldn't mind some of that ass." Added Kojiro. Eying up Caroline from across the room. All of their eyes tracked her as she got up from the table and went towards the door marked as the toilet.
"See you in a bit guys." Said Shoko as he too went towards the toilet after Caroline.
James spotted the associated movement by Shoto and smiled.
He was going to regret that...
Caroline came out of the toilets refreshed but her return to James and co was barred by a waiting Shoto. She'd gotten a sense from what she'd heard from James that he was a twat and a 'Ladies man'.
"Hi there." He said casually. Caroline could see what he was up to but decided to play along. After all, she couldn't shoot the son of a bitch but she could have some fun with him.
"Well hello there." She replied, "And you are?"
"Shoto Tange. You must be new here; I'd have seen a pretty face like yours before."
"Wow." She replied, pretending to be flattered, "You really think I'm pretty?" Shoto took her faked flattery as a sign to move in just as Caroline had intended.
"Sure." He said as he got a little too close for comfort and reached around to cop a feel of her ass. That was what Caroline was waiting for.
"I didn't catch your name." He said, while casually groping and undressing her with his lecherous eyes.
"Akuma- chan." Replied Caroline with a evil grin She then reached behind her with her left hand and grabbed Shoto's right groping arm, she brought it to her side and reached under his right arm with her own. In a seamless motion she threw Shoto across her in what she called her 'bridal throw' and into a wall. He collapsed at the floor in a heap, dazed from the sudden and unexpected move. Caroline came up to him and grabbed him by his collar.
"If you hurt my friends or grope me again you perverted little shit," she threatened, "I'll punch your teeth in." She let him go and then turned and left the corridor. Shoto was still in a pile when James came in a moment later, finding him in a pile. He crouched down to Shoto and said,
"Word of advice mate. Don't piss off a grade 3 Krav Maga fighter." James then stood up and left Shoto on the ground. Shoto eventually picked himself up from the ground and stood up. His leg and back were hurting and he made his way back to his crew, throwing an evil glare at Caroline at her place at the boy's table.
"What the hell happened?!" demanded Kojiro. "You look like you got thrown or something!"
"I want those boys gone! Asserted Shoto, "And that bitch too!"
St. Gloriana Women's academy School Ship
Tankery Team Clubhouse
17:00
The St. Gloriana tankery commanders gathered in the clubhouse for their second round briefing. Once they got the traditional cups of tea distributed, Darjeeling began the meeting.
"Following their defeat of Maple High school," Began Darjeeling, "Our opponent for the second round match next week will be Koala Forest High School. As you know their tankery team is consistent with the armored forces used or developed by the Australian armored forces, and their commander is a veteran and a former student of St. Gloriana, my cousin Yodo Honda." James raised an eyebrow, she didn't know that Darjeeling had a cousin that was a tankery commander. Darjeeling continued,
"During the first round, Koala used a force of; 2 M3 Stuart Light Tanks, 5 Matilda Hedgehogs converted from the Matilda's we sold them, as well as a pair of Sentinel AC4's and a single AC3. Over to James for the battle plan." James stepped forward to the front of the room.
"The battleground for the second round is for lack of a better term a muddy wasteland, reminds me of home actually." He said, clicking a handhold projector control. A projector came on and put a topographical map on the wall behind him. "We've got large open plains with dotted forests and some very steep drops and inclines, 30 degrees in some cases. Basically were talking a cold, wet and horrible battleground fit for neither man nor beast but it is ideal for open mobile armored warfare."
"How will we deploy?" asked a commander.
"We'll deploy in 3 groups like we did with against Ōarai." Said James. "Only difference is we're not going with Matilda's this time. To make maximum use of the battlefield's open ground were going with the following; 1 Churchill VII, 1 Centurion I, 2 A34 Comet's, 3 A27m Cromwells, 3 A15 Crusaders. We'll deploy with the following squadrons; Spear, Lance and Anvil Squadrons. Spear will consist of the 3 crusades and act as a recon unit. Lance will be the 3 Cromwells and act as the main strike force. Anvil squadron will consist of the Churchill, Centurion and 2 Comets and will act as fire support as well as protecting the flag tank, the Churchill VII. Any Questions?"
"Who will command the squadrons?" Asked another commander.
"Green will command Lance Squadron, Camomile will command Spear squadrons and I will command Anvil Squadron. As usual Darjeeling will have overall command." Replied James. "Darjeeling will now give you the battle plan." James withdrew back and Darjeeling took his place.
"During the first round Koala deployed their M3 Stuarts as scouts and spotters, while using their Matilda's as both an armored fist and mobile artillery. Their Sentinel AC4's were deployed as Snipers while the AC3 was used as a close defense tank for the flag tank, which last time was one of the AC4s."
"Do we have any Intel on which tank is the flag tank?"
"Alas we do not." Replied Darjeeling. "However we can assume their deployment will be in a medium range standoff style deployment like the first Round. Our starting position is here in the north. Spear squadron will deploy to the north and Lance Squadron to the south. Advance with caution and engage targets on site. Anvil squadron will advance up the middle to this forest and hold position. We'll hold down the center while the other squadrons harass the flanks. Any Questions?"
There were none.
"Very well. Sergeant please Stay behind. I have a matter to discuss with you. Everyone else is excused." The commanders filed left the room, leaving James and Darjeeling alone. James took a seat one of the chairs opposite Darjeeling's desk.
"So what did you want to talk about?" he asked.
"Do you find me attractive sergeant?" she asked simply, keeping a straight face and staring at James with deep penetrating eyes.
It took James' brain a second to process the question, before it clicked... and he mentally shat himself. How the fuck do you answer a question like that?! Especially out of the blue?!
"There's no way out of this. Is there?" he groaned, already knowing the answer.
"No." Replied Darjeeling, still waiting for an answer. James sighed. He'd been caught out and now was stuck with no way out but to tell the truth.
"Simple answer is, yes." Answered James, "I do find you attractive, and any other guy with half a brain would too."
"Then why haven't you asked me out?" asked Darjeeling firmly, yet also somewhat suggestively.
"Because," replied James, "I'm afraid of making a mistake and buggering up a perfectly good friendship." Darjeeling was surprised,
"You're afraid? Of that?" She asked disbelievingly.
"It's what every male teenager fears. That and we are afraid to care too much; for fear that the other person does not care at all."
Darjeeling was speechless. He had practically just signed a confession to having feelings for her, but he hadn't pursued them because of her. She processed the thought for a moment before giggling, perplexing James even further.
"If you're going to start using relationship quotes then how about this one," she said, "I want to be close to someone I respect and admire and have somebody who feels the same way about me." James again stopped to decrypt the quote,
"So..." he ventured, "D'ya want to go out sometime?"
St. Gloriana Tankery training area
17:15
James walked out of the Tankery office a lot happier than he'd been when he walked in. As he came out into the view of the other tankers he cleared all sign of happiness or that something was afoot from his face and headed back towards Achilles and the boys. As he walked towards the hanger door a familiar ground shaking roar signaled the arrival of a new tank. Far bigger than even his centurion. He turned around to see the massive hulking form of Titan approaching with Caroline in the driver's seat. As it passed, Assam came up to James.
"See Titan arrived in one piece." Commented James.
"What exactly is Titan?" Asked Assam.
"Titan is a Chieftain Armored Recovery & Repair Vehicle." Said James, "And Caroline's ride of choice, when there aren't any single guys around."
"So does Darjeeling have to watch out?" quipped Assam. James was hardly surprised, he half suspected that it was either her or Caroline that encouraged Darjeeling to 'talk' to him.
"Nah," replied James, "Caroline and I got that over years ago."
"Right..." commented Assam, "Could you do me a favour?"
"Name it."
"Can you cover for Jay tonight? He's going to be helping me with something."
"Sure. I'll let him slip away so you and he can have sex." Assam almost immediately turned deep crimson in embarrassment and was looking around to see if anyone had heard what James had said. Thankfully it seemed no one had.
"How did you..."
"I wasn't born yesterday and I've known Jay longer than anyone here Assam. I can read him like a book... that and I nicked his phone and saw your text to him." Assam hit him in the side which James admitted he kind of deserved.
"Not to sound like your mum or anything, but if you have second thoughts about doing it, just say and he'll stop. Or I'll kick his arse back to Britian. Anyway, tatty bye." James took off towards his crew to get on with the evenings tankery practice. Tonight's training included manoeuvres and 'live' firing on the range. James gathered his crew and headed towards the ammo bunker to get the ammo they were going to use.
The ammo bunker was just that. It was a partially underground bunker that the team used for storing their ammunition on for both training and matches. John and James decided into the bunker and headed for the section where their 17 pounder ammo was stored. There were another tankery crews engaged in the same activity of retrieving shells for their tanks. James and John arrived at their shells and went over their load out. Just as John was hefting the first shell onto the trolley there was a huge Clang.
James and John spun around to see one of the crewmen had dropped a red capped shell, a high explosive shell. The shell had bounced and somehow not gone off. The tension in the air could have been cut with a knife as the bunker's occupants stared at the shell, wondering if it was going to go off. It then dawned on James, even though it was a tankery round, it still had military grade propellant, and was currently sitting in the middle of a bunker full of other tankery grade shells.
In other words... they were standing in the middle of a fucking big bomb.
"Everyone out! Now!" ordered James. Everyone downed tools and ran for the exit, with James hanging back to clear everyone out and John to inspect the damaged shell. Once everyone was out James paused at john.
"Do your bloody ATO stuff later! Move! NOW!" John reluctantly abandoned the shell and headed out the door with James hot on his heels. They rushed up the stairs and out the door, James stopping to seal the armored door before continuing to sprint across the grounds back towards the tank shed. Some of the other tankery team had gathered to find out what was happened and Darjeeling came to find out what had happened.
"What happened?" she asked worriedly at the panicked expressions of her teammates.
"Umari-chan dropped a high ex round!" replied a crewmen as she fought to catch her breath. "It could have exploded and taken us all with it!"
"It still might." Announced John. All eyes turned towards him. "I briefly examined the shell during the evacuation from the bunker. The procession cap is cracked, that thing is most probably going to go off. And likely take the rest of the bunker with it."
"There are over 15 tonnes of ordinance in that bunker." Said Darjeeling. "If it goes off..."
"A large amount of lives on this ship will be in danger." Finished James.
"Agreed." Said Darjeeling. "Sergeant, will you please summon the police and explain the situation. I shall alert Lady Grey. Assam, see to it that everyone is moved away from the bunker but keep them here and keep them calm. We don't want a panic."
The assigned people went off to their tasks. James pulled out his phone and was dialing the number for the police when John stopped him.
"You know I could go down there and disarm it right?" he said, "I have the training."
"I know." Replied James, "but your still running the risk of it going off in your face. If the police have a bomb squad then risk them over you any day mate."
"Jey you going to tell me you love me and get down and suck me off next?" joked John. James snickered,
"Nah." He replied as he brought his phone to his ear. "It's just more paperwork if you get misted." He then spoke into the phone.
"Hello operator? I need police and bomb disposal at the St. Gloriana tankery training area. We've got a, situation..."
Within minutes, police cars were arriving and Lady Grey arrived with them. A female police sergeant, Lady Grey and a retinue of other cops marched through the hanger towards Darjeeling, James and John who were still talking amongst themselves.
"Darjeeling -chan." Called Lady Grey. The group looked towards the approaching retinue of cops and their headmistress. They bowed to the approaching adults.
"Lady Grey –Sensei." Replied Darjeeling respectfully.
"This is Sergeant Fuschida from the Ark Royal Police department."
"Sergeant." Greeted James with an offered hand, she shook it. "I'm Sergeant Hunter, this is Corporal Strongbow."
"Pleasure." Replied Fuschida. Formalities over, they got down to business. "So i got a basic run down but I'd like a firsthand account of what happened. So start talking."
"Corporal Strongbow and I went down to the ammo bunker to retrieve some ammo for gunnery practice on the range. While we were in there retrieving ammo another member of the tankery team dropped a high explosive tankery round. We immediately evacuated and once everyone was out I sealed the bunker."
"While the Sarge was getting everyone out I examined the round." Said John, "It's a tankery grade 75mm HE M46 Shell with a M48 fuse. The problem with it is the procession cap is cracked. Could ignite the propellant and then set off every other shell in the bunker. Around 15 tonnes of explosives. " The police and Lady Grey stared at John as if he'd just told them he'd straight up murdered someone.
"You stayed to examine a shell that might explode long enough to get that level of detail?!" asked Lady Grey disbelievingly, "Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
"Actually ma'am," said James, "John is a fully qualified British Army ammunition technical officer. He's done training in how to disarm and make safe unexploded bombs and IED's. I can't think of anyone more qualified to be poking at a massive bomb."
"Ok." Said an astounded Fuschida. "Well we may need to put your skills to use. We don't have a bomb squad on board and the one in Nagoya is dealing with another bomb threat. It'll take about 4 hours for the nearest EOD team to get here."
"We don't have that long." Said James.
"Exactly why I'm going down there." Said John. Lady grey protested but was put down by the Fuschida who said they had no choice.
"So how do we deal with it?" asked Fuschida. John thought for a moment before answering.
"Well we can't blow it in situ for obvious reasons. I'd say I try and remove the procession cap and them put it in the middle of a field, then pop it."
"And just how are we going to 'pop it'?" asked Fuschida. James then answered.
"Jay's a trained Royal Marine sniper. A well placed .338 Lapua Magnum round or a .50 would blow it."
"Go get him and one of the rifles from the range." Instructed Lady Grey. One of the girls ran off to find Jay and get the required equipment.
"Right." Said John, "I need a radio, a screwdriver and some mints."
"Why the mints?" asked Lady Grey. James chuckled before answering.
"Every ATO has their ritual before they make the 1000 yard walk to the bomb." Said James. "I had a mate who used to cop a feel of his number 2's ass."
"I'll stick with the mints." Said John. A policeman arrived with a flat and cross head screwdriver, a radio and some mints. John popped a mint in his mouth.
"Right then." He said, "Tatty bye."
He then started the walk out to the bunker. James watched his friend go, all the while thinking how he was going to explain it to John's parents if it went up.
"So," mused Fuschida, sensing James' need for a distraction, "one friend is a EOD specialist, another a sniper... What are you? A pilot?" James laughed.
"Nah." He replied.
"Paratrooper."
Ammo bunker
John entered the abandoned ammo bunker. Sealing the door behind him, it did not escape him that he'd just walked into what could well be his tomb. With concentrated casualness, he walked into the section where the damaged shell was still lying on the floor.
"Hello there." Said John, talking to the shell, "I'm John and I shall be your ATO for the afternoon." He approached the shell and went prone behind it, examining the damaged procession cap. Fortunately the cap had cracked in such a way that there was one of each of the attaching screws on either side of the crack, making it easier to remove. He backed away and headed back to the door so he could radio back to the group at the tankery hanger.
"Right guys I'm going to remove the damaged cap then move it out carefully."
"Ok mate." Replied James. John was about to head back in when he thought of some black humor to use.
"Oh and James? If this does go up, can you say at my funeral that I went out with a bloody big bang?"
"Ha! Trying to avoid that mate. Be careful."
"Ah yes. Being careful. Good plan. Out."
John returned to the shell and pulled out the cross head screwdriver. With all deliberate care he started unscrewing the first bolt. As he did it suddenly dawned on him that if this was to explode and paste him... who would take care of his guinea pig back home? Other thoughts of those he would leave started to come it...'No' he though as he squashed those thoughts to the back of his mind and continued about his careful work.
Tankery Shed
"So then Mike and I then boot the door in on his quarters, thinking someone was hurt because of the screaming. We storm in and find these 2 going at it like a pair or rabbits in heat. They look at us and we look at them and then he just said... 'Dude, knock first?'"
The cops and some of the students laughed where as Fuschida shook her head and Lady Grey remained stoic. The radio then crackled as John's voice came through.
"Right I've removed the percussion cap and am bringing it out now."
"Got it mate." Said James. He glanced over to see Jay perched nearby with an L115A3 sniper rifle in hand. James nodded and Jay went prone on a nearby table got ready.
"Jay is ready to take the shot."
"Tell him to wait till I'm back before he start's popping off rounds."
"Will do."
A moment later John reappeared with the shell in his arms, moving slowly and purposely. The banter was now gone and all eyes were on John. He carefully placed the round on the ground and started walking back. He calmly walked into the hanger and said,
"Job done. Piece of piss."
"Alright." Said James, "Pop it." Jay fired once and the shell exploded. With the Job done, James made a suggestion.
"So then... Pub?"
there we go chapter 7.
For those of you who have seen it, a Major influence for this chapter in particular was the BBC comedy Bluestone 42, if you haven't watched it go see it, its on YouTube.
From your feedback I've been getting the general consensus that the Oarai match could have been better.
I am contemplating re-doing it but this would put progress on chapter 8 to a halt and mean I have to go rewrite quite a bit. furthermore I've got a local job now so I won't be able to write as much.
basically the frequency of which the chapters come out will drop... rapidly...
So with your review... and you WILL review please... tell me if you want me to redo the Oarai match and I might do it.
One question to answer... to the guest in the reviews section... yeah this takes place the year after the anime, I know characters should have graduated but that's true of a load of stories on here. Lets write it up to Artistic license ok? Ok.
So yeah... review... suggestions welcome (seriously I got writers block last week and I need ideas!)
tatty bye
30/07/15,
On a personal note.
If any members of the Royal Tank Regiment happens to be reading this story. I can only hope that I have done justice to your fallen through my own interpretation of your regiment's day of remembrance. You have my ever lasting respect and if you ever at all feel disrespected or the fallen dishonored or otherwise upset at this story, PM me and I shall take it down immediately.
From Jangocommando27