Girls Und Panzer: Tricolore

Chapter 3: Bon Voyage (Off To Japan)

Do take it from a native. There is more to France than just Paris. Honestly, Paris is overrated, and full of rude people and horrible traffic. Lille is regarded as one of the friendliest in France along with other cities like Rouen, Argentat, Aix-en-Provence, and Colmar. Our tanks were loaded onto a train bound for Nice where the 'Charles De Gaulle' was docked

"And so...our journey begins" I thought to myself, looking out at the sea

Once they were loaded onto the aircraft carrier, we enjoyed the sunny weather in bikinis as we gave our tanks a wash down, and polish to make them look their very best for the Japanese. Each team has a symbol on the sides of the turret. As my crew and I are 'Team Faucon', Jeanette painted an angry gyrfalcon with red boxing gloves and ready to fight

"Good work, Jeannie," I said to her

"It is...rather cute," said Claudette

Julie's team, Team Aigle, has a Haast's Eagle carrying a tank shell in it's talons. Jeannie giggled as I gave her a ruffle on the top of her head for a job well done. Team Buse has a buzzard dressed up as a crusader, and swinging above it's head a two-handed battle axe. Team Épervier has a sparrowhawk dressed as a cuirassier with a sword pointed forward

"We will surely earn points for creativity," said Adelaide, "I have news from our dean, it says that according to Miss Shimada, we are not going to be allowed to face the Japanese in competition matches, but rather, she calls them 'exhibition matches' where Japanese Teams can sign up for wanting to take a crack at us" she explained, I nodded to the news

"Are there any teams for us to face?" I asked

"So far, about four teams," she replied

"I like how there is no reward at stake, it is just us going out to another country, showing what we can do, and just having fun..." I explained, Adelaide chuckled as I felt two big 'pillows' in my back as I was hugged from behind, "kind of like this one," I jested, knowing that it is Julie being a 'Teddy Bear' in a light blue bikini compared to my cerulean blue.

"Well, I am happy to be 'that one' as your friend," said Julie, and let me go before giving me a giggle with her patented 'tickle-scratches' on my shoulders, "I really don't want to say this because you look so cute in a bikini, but fun's over, we set off in an hour, and we need to be dressed for the crowds," I nodded, and relayed the order to the other teams

"How is your team?" I asked Julie

"Eager, yours?" Julie asked back

"Same, they are ready for Japan," I replied, and put on my uniform with her. I helped Julie clip her bra in the back. Once we are crisp and sharp in our uniforms, we adjusted our swords, and our berets. Our team stood at attention, and saluted the cheering crowds in Nice as we were setting off to Japan. Even our tanks had French flags on the radio wires

"Look at this, according to our route, we have a rest stop in San Francisco, California, that sounds like fun for all of us," I said to Julie while we were setting off for the Strait of Gibraltar. It may take about a week, or more to sail across the Atlantic Ocean with an eight to ten hour stop at the Panama Canal. When we got to Gibraltar, it was suppertime

"Farmer Hotpot!" I cheered with my RCIR

"I got the Paella!" replied Claudette

Everyday on deck, we commanders make sure our crews are in the good health, and working order like our tanks and tank hunters. Each morning, we would jog our mile around the flight deck in our school issue workout clothes. We would do pushups, sit-ups, and crunches. We also use the barrel of a tank gun for pull ups and inverted sit-ups and squats

We have another session in the afternoon around two o'clock after lunch, and we repeat the routines. The evenings are when the girls are left to their own free time to socialize, get a meal, and even watch a movie. Our last movie was 'Fury'. Of course, it was dubbed in French. That scene where a commander got his head blown off gives me the shivers.

"I see San Francisco!" said Claudette

"Right, time for some fun," I replied

Now we are a bunch of tourists in San Francisco while the ship was getting refueled. We got to see the Golden Gate Bridge, and tried the famous chocolate at Ghirardelli. Most Europeans don't like American chocolate, mostly the Hershey's brand, but this is good. We also got to visit Chinatown, and had lunch at some of the best Chinese I've ever had

We even got our pictures taken at the world famous Golden Gate Bridge, and we had to walk across the bridge and then jog back as our exercise before had a spot of supper at the famous Fisherman's Wharf. Well worth the hard work in the end. It is like being on holiday in Nice mixed in with our daily exercise routines for both ourselves, and our tanks

"I wonder what the Japanese will think of us?" Chrissy questioned to us

We had dinner at a restaurant called 'Fog Harbor'. Their 'Seared Scallop and Crab Risotto' is topnotch. I am confident in the skill of all the tank crews present. Would they not have been chosen if our committee felt the same way? "It really doesn't matter, we have our tanks and tank hunters, if they don't like it then they can cry to their mothers for all I care"