Chapter 7

Johnathan, Davis, and Edward had sat down to discuss the most recent of events. Rivers was losing ground on Hoja City and refused any reinforcements. He was stubborn. And his stubbornness would cost them the City. The Washington Unit had called and reported their failure to hold the most recent CP. Now Kuromorimine had control of that spot. Edwards, Vice Commander Hans and his unit from Uncle Sam found a path to the mountain CP but were engaged by another school. That tiny Commander and her tanks are putting up a fight. Especially that IS-2 they have.

"Edward, when are you planning on leaving again?" Davis asked.

"Momentarily. I have to reinforce my guys at the mountain before we lose completely. We only hold two points and with the risk of the city falling from us we can't lose another." Edward said.

"You're taking the rest of your unit through the south end, right?" Johnathan asked.

"Yes. Its faster and we need to get up there quickly." Edward said.

"Then Davis, you go and reinforce Rivers. I don't care what he says, he's out voted. He will get reinforcements and he will comply." Johnathan said.

"Got it. And what about you?" Davis asked.

"I'll head north. Rendezvous with Texas, Los Angeles, and whatever's left of Washington. We'll try to make a counter offensive. Tell wellington to hold center and make sure Lincoln holds their position. If we lose Hoja city then we have to rely on the towns." Johnathan said.

"Right." Both Edward and Davis said.

The three left the room and went to their respective tanks. Edward hoped in his Hellcat and closed the hatch. Checking his map, he made sure he highlighted the route Hans and his guys found to the base of the mountain.

"Where we going boss?" Edwards driver PJ asked.

"Reinforce Hans and his band of misfits. Take the southern road and when we reach the Ravine Pass head north-west. There's a path there that will allow us to join with them." Edward said.

"Right." PJ said.

Edward got onto his comms and addressed the rest of his team. "Now listen up. Hans and his unit are currently going against Pravda. Their one of the strongest Federation schools and have won their high school tournament several times. Let's not underestimate them like Rivers does. He's an idiot, so we have to be better. Understood?" Edward said.

"Yes Sir." His team said.

"Right let's move." Edward ordered.

The remaining Uncle Sam column began moving and followed the directions accordingly. With luck the tanks will arrive in two hours.

Austin shook violently at the cold. Nighttime didn't help for the freezing air hit harder than in the day. The mountain was snowing and some of the tanks had frost on their hulls. Hans thought the weather wasn't so harsh otherwise they wouldn't have begun their assent so quickly. However once news arrived that Pravda had also arrived on the opposite side of the mountain Hans began a rush. Pravda's tanks are used to the heavy snow. A quick change of Uncle Sam's tanks to their winter calibration and Hans's Unit began their own assent.

They found the connected road that leads to the town on the mountain. However, Pravda arrived at the same time. It was a very unorganized battle. After it all the remains were so scattered and random that both sides agreed to a clean up truce. Both sides ceased any attacks until all tanks were cleaned off the road to give each side a fair chance.

"This is stupid. We should go on the offensive now. Strike those girls while they sleep." Mark said.

"Not now. We're down three tanks and Pravda have their entire unit with them. Edward and his guys stayed at base. Besides Pravda are used to the cold weather. Rivers and the Montana unit should be up here. Their also used to the cold." Austin said.

"But why are we waiting. One tank could make a be-line for the town." William said.

"Because comrade Hans knows that Pravda has some tanks lying in wait. If we send one of ours and they shoot it down, they will take the point before we can even mount up. Its also why they haven't done the same thing." Nikoli said.

"Try to freeze some of that fat off you Chubbs. You'll get girls way quicker if you get skinnier." Mark said.

"Trying to. But I sweat better than freeze." Chubbs said.

"He's lying Chubbs. The cold doesn't help with weight lose." Peter said.

"Oh, wow thanks Mark." Chubbs said.

Everyone laughed.

"You guys wonder why the girls chose to accept this match? I mean I know boys doing Tankery is against the rules where they come from, but there has to be a different reason." William asked.

"All I know is that our sport is on the line. If they want to get in my way, I'll crush them." Mark said.

"I think many of them don't really want to get rid of our sport, but they just don't have any other option. We only have one school less than the Federation team, but our tank numbers are closer than they could be and we're still getting kicked around." Peter said.

"Remember to the Japanese Tankery is a cultural thing. It's supposed to be very feminine and helps a young woman gain individuality and maturity." Austin said.

Nikoli scoffed. "Whats so feminine about a tank. It's a vehicle that's meant to blow things up."

Some of the guys shared Nikoli's sentiment. To them a Tank was a massive dangerous weapon. Not some feminine brioche that you could look pretty in. but apparently in Japan it was a very attractive thing.

"I'm going to take leek." Austin said standing up.

"Don't take to long. You'll freeze your junk off." Mark joked. Nikoli laughed as Austin hit Mark in the shoulder.

Austin walked out of the camp and made his way passed some trees. Once he seemed he was seventy yards out he stopped at one tree and unzipped his pants. Austin sighed as he felt relief. As he stood there, he heard a snap. It sounded like a twig snapping. However, it would be muffled by the snow. Austin heard crunching and then heard a gasp.

Turning around to glance Austin saw a girl standing behind him. Austin was confused until he recognized her uniform. She was from Pravda. Austin gasped as well and quickly zipped his pants up and ran for his team.

"Hey. Pravda are here." He yelled.

Glancing behind him he saw the girl was chasing him. She was going to stop him from blowing her cover. Austin continued to run until he saw small fires.

"Pravda!" He shouted loud just as the girl tackled him. Turning around the girl was getting on top of him. Austin began wrestling with the girl trying to remain free of movement. He heard a tank coming from behind him and saw his unit had heard him and most likely saw what happened.

However, a boom rang out. Pravda's tanks had closed in and began opening fire upon the American tanks. To which had also returned fire. Austin wriggled one of his hands free and wrapped it around the girl's waist. He pulled with it and sent her off him. He then jumped onto her grabbing her arms in an attempt to restrain her. She also put up a good fight.

Inevitably Austin won, managing to subdue the girl and hold her down. She was breathing heavily and had lost her strength. Austin was also breathing heavily. The somewhat seventy-yard dash and the small wrestling match proved straining. Getting a chance to rest Austin looked at the girl he had bested and was taken aback by her beauty. She had long black hair and light blue eyes. Her composure, even on the ground, showed she had elegance to her. Austin also took notice of her quite womanly physique.

Nonna looked up at the boy who had bested her. She was sure she would manage to take him easily. He wasn't that strong looking but then again, neither was she herself. She should've just fallen back like Katusha said but her instincts got ahead of her. Gazing at the guy atop her she studied him. Under his hat was Dirty Blonde hair, his eyes were ocean blue and he had some freckles on his noise. She noticed the strength in his arms while he held her down, he felt quite masculine under his coat. His grasp felt both weird and comforting in a way.

Both had become completely oblivious to the action around them that they failed to see a T-34 come to a stop some yards away.

"Nonna! What are you doing!?" Katusha yelled.

This got both Nonna's and Austin's attention. "It seems I was bested Katusha." Nonna said still out of breath.

"Get off her you Pervert!" Katusha yelled.

Nonna thought her words were wasted thinking the guy couldn't understand them but he surprised her by speaking Japanese back.

"Pervert!? Listen here tiny she jumped me while I was taking a piss, I find that perverted!" Austin yelled back. That made Nonna blush at the embarrassing memory. Though she wondered how he came to learn Japanese she guessed he visited Japan at one point or knew someone who did. Nonna herself learned English from her mother so she was fluent enough to understand it, to which was also the main reason she went to scout out the American camp.

"Get off her!" Katusha said turning the tanks turret towards him.

Austin stood his ground and continued to hold Nonna down. He knew she wouldn't shoot. Nonna was in the way as well. He just needed to delay this girl as long as possible. Austin's prayers were answered as Peters Panzer 38 hit the girls T-34. However, the explosion was to close for comfort and Austin considered making a break for the Tiger, but he failed to see it anywhere.

Another tank shell his even closer to their position and Austin gave up. His stood up and dragged Nonna with him. The way she went along with it meant she also knew the danger they were currently in. one of Austin's units tank drove right in front of them and fired above their heads at Katusha forcing the two to veer right. Unfortunately, they failed to see the cliff side and slid to a stop right before they went over. They backed up and misfortune hit them again. A shell from another Pravda tank hit the ground near them causing the snow to move. The push and all the movement caused the snow to start a small avalanche, and Nonna and Austin were right in the middle of it.

They both slipped and slid with the snow off the edge of the cliff side. It wasn't a big fall, in fact it wasn't even a cliff, just a steep hillside. However, this hillside was going all the way down and could hit the Ravine at the bottom. More and more snow began to fall and both Austin and Nonna were going right along with it.

Austin managed to stable himself and take a look at the incoming surroundings. His eyes widened as a giant bolder was sitting between the rest of the hill and the both of them. Instinct took over. He reached over and grabbed Nonna's arm and pulled her to him. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and felt her bracing herself cause of the action. He then used his body to roll them to the side. Once they were out of the boulders way and pasted it Austin focused on the ahead again. It seemed most was clear given the few trees and bushes ahead. Austin let out a sigh and continued to hold Nonna. After another minute He saw a snow mound. His eyes widened again. This would send them flying. He tightened his grip around Nonna's body and turn his own. His back was facing the incoming mound now and when they hit it into the air they went.

A few seconds in the air with the screaming coming from the both of them wore off when Austin crashed into the ground. His back taking most of the blow. It felt more like pure ground then snow. After some more seconds they slid to a stop. Austin Relaxed and let his arms fall to the ground. He was breathing heavily again and finally felt the shock and pain from the fall.

"Gahh!" Austin shouted in pain.

Nonna got off him and kneeled besides him. "Oh my god, are you ok?" Nonna asked franticly.

Tears shed in Austin's eyes. "Oh god that hurts." He said.

Nonna was frantically trying to figure out what to do. She figured he was in more pain than she thought considering he was swearing in English. This had never really happened before. At least not to her. Night was a long way from ending and the cold air still blew around them. He would not make it till daybreak like this. Nonna than saw an opening in the mountain side and left for a moment. Austin however grasped Nonna's hand tightly. She looked into his eyes. They were stricken with fear. He thought she was going to leave him.

"I think I see a cave. I promise I will be right back. I'm not going anywhere." Nonna said stroking his cheek.

He let her go and she trotted over to the supposed cave entrance. It was indeed a cave. It was deep to, and most likely warm. Nonna went back to Austin and knelt beside him.

"I need to move you out of the open. It might hurt for a bit but inside that cave you will feel warmer. Trust me please." Nonna said.

Austin nodded his head and braced himself. Nonna grabbed his shoulders and began moving him. Austin immediately screamed in pain. After a minute Nonna reached the cave and brought Austin inside. This time she laid him on his stomach.

"I'm going to check for anything broken ok." Nonna said.

She didn't wait for an answer. She lifted the back of his jacket up and saw massive bruises. It looked like it did hurt. However, from what Nonna could tell there was nothing broken nor any internal bleeding. She sighed a relief.

"Nothing is broken and there's no internal bleeding. Rest is all you can do. The pain should subside by morning." Nonna told the boy.

He nodded again and Nonna then pulled a cloth from her pocket. she walked deeper into the cave and quickly found what she was looking for. It was a small bit of warm water from the roof of the cave. Nonna saw a puddle on the floor and dampened her cloth. She returned and placed he cloth on Austin's back.

Austin felt some relief. "Here." He heard. He opened his eyes and saw she took off her jacket and began lifting his head up. She placed the jacket under his head to give him comfort. "This is the best I can do, I'm sorry." Nonna said.

Nonna sat next to him and closed her eyes. Tears threatened to escape them. This boy had gotten hurt protecting her. And she couldn't even help him properly. Nonna gasped when she felt his hand grasp hers. She looked at him and saw his eyes gazing at her.

"T-Thank y-you." He said weakly.

Nonna gasped again and began rubbing her fingers on his hair trying to sooth him. She could tell it felt good to him. He felt safe as she did in his arms going down that hill. Soon after wards he fell asleep. Nonna to feel the weight of her eyes heavy as she let out a yawn. The cave had insolent heating, so she was warm enough. But now she worried about the boy next to her. Nonna yawned again and this time leaded back next to the boy closing her eyes and falling asleep as well.