Update: Hello again, it's good to be back.
It seems I may be keeping with the two-week upload schedule. However, I am aiming for 10-day updates rather than 14 days. I will see how this schedule works and hope to streamline the story more as this arc was more detail-heavy to show the interactions and feelings of the crews in combat. Thank you for taking the time to read and please enjoy.
Katyusha's forces were now dwindling and her position was compromised. She had assaulted the town with half their original forces and now only a quarter remained. Her crew's occasional glances between loads were missed by her. Enveloped in her thoughts she didn't realize the uneasy atmosphere she set by tightly gripping her cupola's ring and her canine digging into her lower lip.
They had advanced into the city to finish off their limping prey but instead found themselves caught in a debilitating maze, paralyzed and running in circles by yet another upstart school. Katyusha's canine was now biting down on her lip so hard she would've drawn blood if she wasn't so opposed to pain.
Clara was still at her side, holding off the enemy with impeccable accuracy yet still limited by their confined spacing and their enemy using the urban terrain to their full advantage. Katyusha's glare intensified as if it would melt through steel.
Then there was Nonna. Nonna, who for the first time, disregarded an order from Katyusha and rather than rejoin her position for a breakout had deemed another course of action as priority. There was no doubt in Katyusha's mind that Nonna had done it for her benefit, to protect her. She trusted Nonna as she always and kept faith. But there was always an if, What if she failed without Nonna? Katyusha began tapping her heel against her seat.
'She has never disregarded an order before. If she didn't agree then she would find a compromise that didn't go against Katyusha's plan.' Repeating what little she knew to herself only one thing became apparent. The small act had shaken her far more than her enemies had. Suddenly with a glare of determination and resilience, Katyusha snapped. Tired of feeling cornered and alone she lashed out as she once did as a freshman, seeing any action better than inaction.
Grabbing her mic Katyusha bellowed into the receiver. "All vehicles, charge! URA!"
-Transition-
The Tiger awaited with Kaiser in its cupola. It had trailed further north of the city center away from the battle undergoing in the south. He intended to make an obvious pass by Nonna and force her to choose to pursue him or risk aiding her companions and possibly expose themselves to a flank. There was strength in numbers but Nonna's motherly attitude wouldn't allow an extra danger go uninhibited. Kaiser had taken this into account.
The infatuation that Nonna held for Katyusha which led to her absolute loyalty and awareness of the possible danger he posed was well noted and duly exploited by him. She couldn't just leave to aid Katyusha knowing that his Tiger was anywhere and could further complicate their defense. Nonna would do anything for Katyusha, even disobeying an order and risking her disapproval.
"After all, the fear of failing Katyusha would be a larger motivator than the fear of disobeying," explained Kaiser in a sultry whisper to his crew. His driver and gunner were tense upon their controls as they peered through their sights and viewports. His RO and Loader tensed, ready to act and looking up at his explanation in awe.
Their tank had kept its advance within a reasonable speed and took varying turns to make it look as if they were trying to be covert. In reality, it was to keep Nonna's vehicle at a distance so she wouldn't realize they were drawing her away. After arriving in an area of the town that was largely under construction, they waited for Nonna and her IS-3 to appear.
Sitting in the middle of the open roadways between the construction equipment and material left out, the Tiger waited for its opponent. Its engine idled as if the soft purr of a hunter waiting to pounce on its large prey. Eventually, the IS-3's form came into view. it approached cautiously, the majority of its form hidden behind cover except for its barrel, raised high.
"Advance and raise the barrel," Kaiser ordered.
"S-sir?" responded West. "It seems she wants to have a chat" Kaiser answered, eyes affixed to his opponent's figure, now standing out of her hatch, tall and imposing.
The Tiger and IS-3 proceeded to inch out of their cover, stopping at a distance of ten meters. Facing each other with their barrels averted up and to the side. The silence of the night was deafening in their new battleground except for the distant combat.
Kaiser broke their silence. The night's air carried his voice loud and clear. "I was expecting to speak with you after the match," he said casually. Nonna no longer looked down her nose as she did with so many others. Rather she glared at him, her eyes unwavering as if she expected him to take advantage of her blinking to strike. He felt needlessly flattered by the dedicated gaze.
"I would have avoided it if possible" She responded sternly. "Clara told me of the possibility that you would be a thorn in lady Katyusha's side and so it has become unavoidable."
Kaiser took his cap off and laid it on his turret. He gave a flattering smirk in return. "I'm delighted that you two watched me as closely as I did you" He quipped. "Why else would you try to buy time for your dear 'Lady Katyusha' by speaking with me? Am I that threatening?" He sarcastically asked.
Unphased by his deduction Nonna countered. "I knew you were leading us away through this false chase, yet this is something I must do. You are too much an irregularity to our expectations and have caused too much damage to our beloved sport. For Katyusha's sake, you must be disposed of. Then I will return to her side and mop up your allies" Nonna declared resolutely.
"Oh?" Kaiser snickered. "Even if you do 'dispose' of me, I doubt she'll be waiting for you. It'll be over once it's all said and done".
The insinuation of her commander's defeat was the trigger for Nonna's poker face to falter first between them as she glowered with a new, deepened frown.
"I believe in lady Katyusha," she replied calmly.
"And I... have moderate faith in Virtanen. Kaser answered in kind. Unheard by Nonna, a couple of giggles and snorting came from below Kaiser. His team found his unintentional quip at his superior a nice break from the tension.
Kaiser remained steadfast, maintaining eye contact with Nonna as she responded. "Your weak bonds will be your downfall" she stated.
"I'd wager your obsession will be yours. Either way, idle talk means nothing. You'll have to defeat me first." he declared.
At the end of his sentence, his Tiger began reversing slowly with Nonna's IS-3 doing the same. As they backed away their cannons lowered into a forward position. Kaiser noticed the red light that once dyed the area red, decorating their environment in its eery glow had started fading to white. His loader, Laura spoke up to him jokingly. "Didn't quite charm her there huh sir?"
Keeping his eye on the enemy vehicle he responded. "She is attractive despite her attitude" he lamented. "But I'm not one to let that stop me". His comment surprised Laura who fidgeted before turning away awkwardly. He couldn't see as he cautiously watched their vehicles set in place as if in an old-time duel yet he still admired his adversary's devotion and conviction.
Thoughts and praise could wait as with the lurch of both vehicles to a stop, his mind snapped into focus. "Sir, I think you should get in for this one" recommended Katya from below.
His eyes steadfast, watching Nonna's form from afar, Kaiser quipped back, "Really? I just rappelled off an enemy tank as you fired on me and now you think is a good time to advise caution?" Katya stuttered before Westhoffen interrupted her.
"So, what are we waiting for? Am I supposed to rev the engine here?"
Kaiser shook his head mildly. "If you think it'll help." West, therefore, did as he suggested and revved the Tiger's engine. Disappointingly, Nonna's crew didn't break discipline.
"Worth a shot eh?" commented West.
Instead, the IS-3 followed the Tiger's movements until their bout began. Slowly both rotated their chassis clockwise. Then angled their guns to remain facing each other. Simultaneously both heavy tanks began to churn soil and stone beneath their tracks as they peeled forward.
-Transition-
Virtanen was astounded. Backed into a corner his small foe didn't curl up and panic nor stick it out for a prolonged defense. The madwoman and this may be the only time he referred to her as a woman, was conducting a desperate mass charge against him.
His team was firing down roads and alleyways any avenue of fire they could needle a shot through to inflict damage or deterrence on the Pravdan tanks who were digging through small sections of nearby streets. Their remaining three vehicles, the T-34-100, IS-2, and Kv-5 were pushing toward his Panther.
Knight's Pz IV and Natalya's IS-1 were adjacent to him and with their regulated fire, hampered the enemy's advance. Unfortunately, it seemed Katyusha had locked onto Virtanen's vehicle in the dim light. All at once, the T-34-100 with Katyusha's small head peering out was bearing down an open alleyway, barely fitting and scraping along the narrow walls towards him.
Knight was the first to respond amidst the crisis, his Pz IV speeding towards the front. Whether to deter the assault or sacrifice himself as wreckage and therefore block their advance was irrelevant as within a few seconds the clash of steel and rupture of canons resounded.
The Pz IV's fire at Katyusha had amounted to no more than a nuisance as its shot ricocheted off the moving target and once having closed the distance for a ram Katyusha's vehicle intuitively jerked into the side of a building, narrowly dodging Knight's valiant charge. As Katyusha ground into the brick and mortar slowing herself and receiving a shot from the Panther that was absorbed by the debris, the Pz IV lay open in the road, vulnerable to fire from the limping KV-5.
The KV-5's optical sight may have been rendered damaged but the crew had found a use for their vehicle's massive weight. The Pz IV was rammed, having been hit so hard it threatened to roll under the impact. The KV-5 did not stop, Instead, it continued turning and ramming the PZ IV into a wall opposite Katyusha's vehicle.
Katyusha's T-34 resumed its dash as it gained speed once more. The KV-5 kept its tracks churning forward as the Pz IV attempted to escape its entrapment. Both vehicles were now exposed and fighting for time as neither barrel could reach the other due to length.
Two separate shots resounded ceasing the sound of scraping steel. A flag erupted from the Pz IV and the KV-5. As smoke listed from both vehicles, the perpetrators slowly approached the wreckage.
The commanders of their vehicles made eye contact at distance. The Pravdan girl having a pale complexion in the moon's light and blonded threaded hair, The Transcendence girl held a head of fair brunette hair and a similar beauty. Both radiating a glow of elegance.
Clara and Natalya stared at each other in surprise through the shattered glass of the corner cafe that separated them. The IS-2 and IS-1 idly stood by, reloading as their most recent victims emitted gentle smoke and flags to the sky.
Natalya had been too late to intercept Katyusha's dash but she had instead caught another priority target. Initially taken aback by the sudden order from Katyusha a similar thought was in Clara's mind. An opportunity to redeem previous failure's as both flag tanks were dueling each other. If they had their way, they would win and help their leader secure victory.
Despite the temptation of redemption, there was a generously stretched pause as the two watched each other, seemingly tempting the other to move first. Clara however had a higher priority to assist Katyusha and moved her IS-2 first. In an attempt to pass the building's corner and free her barrel, she aimed to reinforce Katyusha.
Not allowing her any room to breathe, Natalya moved forward crossing and intercepting Clara's path. Her IS-2 received a sudden jolt and halted. Natalya's vehicle now lay as a physical obstacle in Clara's way. Forcing her opponent hand The two prodigious students exchanged fierce glares and sent their vehicles colliding with one another as if it were a martial art fight between vehicles.
Virtanen's Panther had left its former position drawing Katyusha with it further east. 'I never thought I would be so scared of a girl chasing after me' he joked to himself, attempting to ease his worry. In reality, he had been quite shaken seeing the fury on Katyusha's face as her tank screamed past him.
As the chase continued he did all he could think of to desperately buy time. Turning a corner onto a larger street he would send his Panther skidding into a 180 to scrape past an even more furious Katyusha who had just turned the corner. Referencing his map he would order his crew to fire through a brick wall separating streets to crash through only for Katyusha to careen through a small building to find him.
He had long since descended into his cupola to avoid the debris overhead as they destroyed multiple pieces of property yet he still felt as if that runt's eyes were on him. As long as he heard shells fly past and rarely impact his vehicle he recalled the fury that jostled his nerves slightly. Pleading a silent apology for the damage he was doing he could only say one thing to himself in defense. 'This isn't my preference, it's desperation! Kaiser told me to do it in an emergency! He's the one who doesn't care what he breaks!' he mentally reasoned, conflicted over the damage left behind by their chases wake. Despite the importance of the moment he had one personal and major worry. He could just hear his mother preparing a lecture on how he should respect public and private property.
-Transition-
The Tiger and IS-3 drove parallel to each other, their turrets swinging and failing to catch sight of each other in time to fire between the obstructions lined alongside them. Instead, the massive hulls of steel screeched as both swung tight ninety-degree turns and charged at each other. Both turrets began to straighten as their distance shortened.
Fire was exchanged, both shots glancing off turrets and their commanders doing little more than twitching at the reverberating impacts, ordering their vehicles to take sharp turn's once more to avoid ramming and damaging their cannons.
Their dance ensued once more. Both vehicles not wanting to lose speed continued their charges, taking long turns skidding at times from their weight and sharply drifting when necessary to avoid a collision. As the two scraped past each other the second time both shifted to their rights harshly, leaving the rear of both vehicles to collide. The intense impacts jostled the crews and altered their courses.
Both tanks weighed heavily and the collision left some damage as Kaiser looked down at his gunner who was disoriented worse than the others. Looking over his shoulder through his cupola he caught the cold glare of Nonna as her crew undoubtedly scrambled to regain their orientation as well.
The IS-3 was fearsome. Faster, lighter, smaller, and a 120mm cannon to boot. He may have had the advantage of a quicker reload and a new engine in his vehicle to offset the speed but he also knew face to face he would meet his demise at the hands of a dangerous adversary.
"West, push forward! we're relocating! Belle rotate the gun to 220 degrees! Laura load HE!" he demanded. Instantly his orders were followed with haste, even belle still hurting from hitting the sight instinctively rotated the turret. As his vehicle departed the IS-3's turret and chassis turned to pursue.
Like a predator, Nonna gave no respite as she pursued. She had thought little of this enemy before and bitterly paid for it. She could not let him besmirch Katyusha's nor Pravda's honor any further. Her IS-3 heard the Tiger fire but saw no round. Following the sound around the corner of a building in construction, an incoming shell sent sparks off the top of her turret. Wincing away from the bright sparks, Nonna glanced up to see the Tiger's turret facing them as it continued to retreat. Another round was sent as her vehicle built speed again and she heard an ominous creaking. Debris began to fall around her tank thudding against the hull. A quick look outside to assess the situation revealed a supporting column of the new structure blown and the outside walls falling outwards, collapsing onto her vehicle.
Quickly she descended into her hatch as the heavy debris began to fall atop them. Other than some excessive dust that coated her and the large amounts of debris that had engulfed her vehicle in a sea of broken drywall, concrete, steel, and other material. Ordering her crew to advance out from under the mess, Nonna peered through her viewports.
The dust had coated the glass and she could only imagine the filth on her gunner's sights. The moon's bright rays tracing down through the dust only aided in hampering their sight. With the skittering debris, steel and aluminum supports, hardly anything outside could be heard either. Covered in miscellaneous debris Nonna's IS-3 pushed out undeterred until a much larger crash hit them, releasing black smoke from their engine and slowing them.
With wide eye's Nonna's head snapped back. 'He couldn't have gotten behind us!' Surely enough it wasn't a shell that had hit their rear but instead, a crane of the construction site had been hit at a key joint, falling directly atop their engine. The heavily weighted hook struck their engine and presumably knocked a few things loose.
Nonna grimaced at the consecutive attacks while noting that the Tiger was no longer in sight. Essentially blinded, deaf, and now crippled, Nonna remembered that this enemy wasn't just prey but another predator. An opponent whom she had to admit had equal skill and terrifying cunning.
Kaiser's crew were silent and stiff as he whispered to his gunner. Belle shrunk at his words as the anxiety threatened to distract her. His words were of little comfort.
"Just listen to me and it'll be okay," he instructed.
Belle slowly nodded with held breath. Kaiser slowly straightened his back and gazed over his cupola. Gently he placed his hand on her head. Her body tensed as his fingers touched her silver locks. Then he carefully tapped her head.
The Tiger's 88 ripped into the side of the unsuspecting IS-3 leaving no remarkable damage. The Tiger had waited behind a large pile of concrete tubes laid atop another. Once the Tiger had positioned its barrel aiming straight down one of the tubes a large tarp was draped over to help conceal the vehicle's silhouette.
Unfortunately, the tubes blocked his gunner's view leaving him to become her eyes as she awaited his command. The result was his failed ambush as the IS-3 was suddenly more cautious and approached at an angle. Without delay, the Tiger fled its position as the IS-3 retaliated.
The IS-3's 120m gun ripped through the concrete without regard for its resistance and past the Tiger. Giving chase the IS-3 was surprised as The Tiger turned 180 degrees and faced them, prepared for a head-on collision.
The two chassis collided and neither gave way as they adamantly ground at their terrain. Kaiser stood out of his hatch now that the barrels couldn't fire at each other and looked at the IS's cupola. Nonna saw his defiant eyes and emerged to face him once more.
"You are more stubborn than imagined" she commented as the vehicles continued their struggle for dominance, stressing their engines to force the other back.
"It's one of my charms," Kaiser quipped with a snicker.
The comment came off as odd. Nonna could easily see his change in demeanor. No longer was he cynical and reserved as once perceived. He had an ongoing sheen of sweat from the battle's intensity as anyone else yet instead of maintaining his calm he had seemingly lost himself to combat.
A sarcastic smile and intense gaze. It was bewildering that she couldn't cow him as she had others and even more, he was enjoying it.
His sarcasm interrupted her bewilderment. "I have to admit Miss Nonna, in this moonlight you are still quite catching even when bathed in cement and sweat."
Unreasonably, even to herself, Nonna felt agitated at his prod. She did not show it yet she would seek to make him suffer.
What he had intended as a subtle reference to just how far he was driving her, breaking her rumored invincibility and even mocking her drew an unexpected response. "Yes, you seem to be full of surprises as even I am having trouble dispatching you. It will be certainly rewarding once Katyusha uses you as a stepping stone for her success."
Kaiser's smirk ceased at her claim. "I wish you'd drop the servant act. There is no Katyusha here! Supporting your leader is one thing but coddle them and they'll face a far harsher failure in the future. Think for yourself! It's just me and you here!" His words were even more unexpected. Just who was he to speak so assuredly? To be constantly catching her off guard and dragging her at his pace?
Seeing her silence Kaiser's smirk returned as a ray of moonlight illuminated them. "Well then let's continue our game and enjoy ourselves". Nonna looked up from her vehicle's lower-positioned cupola. The moon's light glowing around them had rescinded into a pinkish glow and his words reignited her intent to finish their battle. Both knew that they were too far now to intervene in the final result of the match. It was finishing without them and true to his word, it was just them here, two foes and an undecided victor.
-Transition-
Clara had long lost sight of Katyusha and was failing to bypass her current obstacle. The first opportunity that presented itself, Clara escaped combat and began adamantly searching for Katyusha while trying to lose the pursuing IS-1.
The attempt was useless as a shell from her left flew past her turret. Looking back, Clara could see the enemy student with a fervent stare bearing down on her as the IS-1 increased its speed in an attempt to forcibly change Clara's course by ramming into her left side.
Steel groaned as the speeding masses of armor ran parallel to each other, colliding every so often to trip up their foe. Clara locked eyes with the girl. Clara had never felt the need to glare as Nonna did before meeting Transcendence yet these stubborn 'cadets' fought to the end and drove her mad.
Despite her glare, the girl didn't back down. Instead, Natalya showed an increased intensity akin to Nonna herself. Amid their contest of might and intimidation, nothing came to either's mind on how to win the confrontation. The two vehicles continued on colliding parallel, Claras IS-2 trying to get past and push northeast to Katyusha, and Natalya desperately trying to keep her in place if not disable her.
Clara trapped within the deadlock shouted at her opponent. "Why are you fighting so hard?" She paused as the two vehicles drifted apart before colliding again. "The outcome is clear, Lady Katyusha surpasses your commander in all ways!" She declared.
Natalya reached her arm outward. In vain she seemingly tried to grab Clara by the collar of her jacket and drag her out of her vehicle. Settling for pointing she shouted back. "If that's so then why are you trying so hard to run without facing me!? Both girls grit their teeth in annoyance as the vehicles collided once more.
"Why are you so adamant in this fight?!" Clara asked, glancing around in the night's ever-whitening gloom she saw the next intersection. "Even that Kaiser, your ace, is fighting for nothing. He'll fall by Nonna's hand!" Clara stated cautiously watching the approaching turn. The taunt worked surprisingly well. At the mention of his name, Natlaya's eyes grew wide and her body tensed
As if offended by the mere thought, Natalya hastily responded. "What do you know-". Clara took the opportunity and tapped her driver with her foot to slow and pull right. Natalya was preoccupied with her rebuttal and left her driver without a timely command. Natalya's IS-1 continued forward as Clara's IS-2 pulled left and fired simultaneously. Its barrel had been adjusted to its turn to fire as the entire chassis shifted landing an impact on the IS-1's turret.
Natalya gave instant orders, her intensive training kicking in. Her IS-1 pulled right immediately, just enough of a turn for its front end to collide with the corner of the intersection and jerk its front towards Clara's IS-2. As the IS-1 jostled into place it fired, hitting the still-turning IS-2's left track and forcing its path into a nearby wall.
Clara shook her golden head of hair as she regained her sense and looked up to see Natalya gaining her bearings as well with a vicious stare protruding from under her disheveled hair in defiance. "Kaiser won't lose and neither will I!"
With her words, the IS-1's shell left its barrel delivered at the IS-2's side.
-Transition-
Virtanen couldn't help but laugh nervously as his Panther once again dodged Katyusha's wrath by a hair. Said wrath being delivered by a 100 mm projectile scraping the paint off his chassis that is. Their chase had led them into what was essentially a zigzagging route that passed eastward only changing course when Katyusha wisened up and attempted to head them off.
His barrel was too long for him to traverse in the narrow streets. The danger of damaging it as they sped away was also high and they couldn't afford the time to stop and turn it. Instead, he carefully chose his battleground on his map. A large traffic circle in the city's eastern quarter presented itself as the most opportune position.
"Alright everyone" he nervously chuckled to his crew. "This is it. Just perform how I instructed and we may just make it. A couple of nervous giggles followed him halfheartedly.
"You could do with Lieutenant Colonel Kaiser's conviction sir. Encouragement like that will only make us more nervous." Quipped his Loader who was practically vibrating with anxiety.
Virtanen looked away from his viewport at the girl. "I don't think the world needs two Kaiser's here" He retorted. "Besides I doubt he'd say what I'm about to, I'm sorry to put so much on you all. I really am"
"No problem's here boss" His driver responded voice cracking slightly. "We signed up for this when we became the commander's crew. Just make sure those two up there don't miss or fumble the reload." A short session of bickering ensued between the gunner, loader, and driver, easing the tension as Virtanen prepared to give the order.
"Everyone ready!" The moons brightening rays made sight clearer than ever before this night showing his destination in the distance. The traffic circle was ahead with shops lining the outer circle and a fountain in its center, providing a plethora of room for him to engage in combat.
The T-34-100 soon joined them on the same road and was seeking to close the gap. The match had reached its concluding phase. The Panthers turret began to turn preemptively in anticipation of the tight drift-like turn oncoming while the T-34 leveled its barrel as its speed maxed out and sent two carefully aimed shots at the Panther's rear.
The Panther entered the turn following the road before pulling hard left. Katyusha, anticipating trickery, was prepared to intercept her foe before its barrel would face her.
Both commanders received unexpected results. The Panther's turn had been too tight and its tonnage forced too much pressure on its tracks. The front left track then separated and sent the Panther grinding to an early stop into the fountain with its turret too far to its left.
Katyusha had expected a wider turn and aimed to ram where she expected them to be. She found herself overshooting her enemy and circling clockwise before they exited the traffic circle. Both commanders looked at each other in passing, astounded by the fluke before both came screeching to a halt.
An awkward pause overcame the two vehicles, both scrambled to face off once more. The Panther down a track rotated its turret hoping to gain its enemy in their sight while the T-34 sought to turn around.
Virtanen knew that the T-34's turn outpaced his turret rotation a familiar figure smashed through a building behind his enemy.
-Transition-
Sokolov had followed his orders impeccably throughout the match. No matter the situation he had placed his trust in Kaiser even when guilt had tempted him otherwise. Although fledgling relationships with others outside his crew, he still felt sympathy for those Kaiser had nearly abandoned. Seemingly lethargic and despondent, he was surprisingly emotional at times.
This match itself had made his emotions fluctuate far more than any other experience in his life yet. The initial lines breaking, a detachment of peers being cut off, one even injured, the division of the team amidst a match, having to choose a side, and the ensuing chaos of Kaiser and Virtanen trying to pick up the pieces. His low stamina led to him being emotionally drained even if he did hide it well.
The only real uplifting news to him was his crew's performance. The minor inconvenience of staying consistently hidden was troublesome but much preferred to the chaotic clashes of force he had seen from a distance.
Surprisingly his part to play was the most vital to the epitome of these clashes.
His crew performed as ordered and flawlessly. Having hidden in a one-way alley in the east as instructed by Kaiser, they awaited their moment. Patiently they waited in the darkness listening to the far-off sounds of combat encroach and their radio operator switching through frequencies to get updates from other RO's in combat.
Then their time came. The sound of tracks rattling on cement called their attention. They enclosed onto the origin where they heard the screeching of steel followed by a pregnant pause. An awkward silence ensued as they watched the two vehicles skitter to a stop and as quickly as they could scurry to face each other.
"Left" Sokolov shortly ordered.
"Yes" came the equally short reply, the usual exchange of orders within his crew. The Stug IV then barged through a corner shop's thin glass walls crushing displays underneath it as their barrel smashed through the windows from behind their enemy.
Sokolov emerged from his hatch and saw Virtanen and Katyusha, the latter not noticing his presence. From afar he could see Virtanen nod with hope. The Panther, void of a left track reversed into the T-34, ignoring the damage to its suspension and stopping the 100 mm gun from lowering at them by running its chassis underneath and diverting its aim. Seeing Virtanen's enthusiastic glare Katyusha followed his eyes, looking over her shoulder as she ordered her crew to gain distance and fire. A cold sweat ensued as her eyes widened, dilating in the dark.
Sokolov took his opportunity before fate could intervene and gave his order. "Fire". The 75mm ripped into the side of Katyusha's vehicle. As the smoke began to erupt the infamous white flag shot up and its commander, forlorn, slunk into her cupola without a word. The previously demanding and furious girl was silenced.
-Transition-
The Tiger tank had been cornered between two incomplete building structures. Fortunately or not depending on the contracting companies' insurance policies, they did not remain incomplete.
Kaiser ordered the Tiger to fire all of its smoke canisters. The projectiles rocketed out in a 180-degree arc in front of it smashing into open window frames and filling the buildings and road before them with smoke. The Tiger then Fired its machine gun's in a wide arc spraying the lower windows down to release more of the thick smoke onto the road.
It soon vanished into the smoke from the IS-3 was on its heels. The action was so fast Nonna had barely been able to react, landing a glancing blow on the Tiger's cupola before it disappeared. The Tiger had not stopped far into the smoke and allowed the still speeding IS-3, who didn't have time to halt before the smoke to push past them.
Even with no sight the Tiger fired attempting to strike the small lip underneath the rear of the IS-3's turret. There was no effect other than Nonna's crew having a scare and she herself, clicking her tongue. Before a second shot could be fired in the same direction, Nonna ordered her vehicle to decrease turn hard and reverse to turn around. The Tiger, which had been stalking it closely attempted to circumvent the IS-3 yet its front right track caught the IS-3's rear left, sending both into incomplete turns and halting.
Nonna increased her turn width while Kaiser shortened his. Both stopped face-to-face, firing as the smoke began to dissipate and charge each other. It was a show of skill that both crews remained unfaltering amidst the chaos, collisions, noise, and vibrations. It could be said the two were the embodiments of both schools.
Whatever the audience saw, mattered not to the crews, enemy's who were feeling the thrill of tense combat. To them, none of it mattered. Only their tasks and for the commanders the battle itself. Neither took their eyes off the other even in the thickest of debris or smoke, daring the other to blink first.
The two raced toward each other and fired once more. The IS-3 no longer had Nonna operating the gun as she was preoccupied with commanding. The loader became gunner and the RO the loader, as such it's 120mm missed. Nonna had never imagined she would've been pressed so hard and brought into close range.
The Tiger meanwhile had Belle, sharp as ever, who landed a hit that unfortunately bounced off the angled armor.
The tanks collided once more with barrels interlocked as if a noble duel between goliaths were taking place. Reversing then pushing again to not let their foe gain an advantage. Barrels interlocked, their lengths impeding each other and preventing direct fire as the clash ensued.
Suddenly both vehicles came to a halt. Kaiser and Nonna looked at each other confused, glancing down to their crews with agitation, their faces demanding to know why they had stopped.
Both of their Radio operators would answer in kind. "The match is over!" with not a word more. Both had hopes but didn't allow their RO to tell who the victor was. They would wait until they returned to the stage.
Kaiser and Nonna looked back up at each other in silence. Neither spoke as a gust of air passed them. The moon's light now shone a brilliant white, endowing their surroundings with its glow. The IS-3 and Tiger remained still, barrels locked and crossed. The Tiger's paint was scratched and slightly warped from some hits. The IS-3 held fewer close calls but deep, telling wounds showed along with the dust and debris decorating it.
"Alright everyone, up and out" Kaiser instructed as he took off his cap and exited his vehicle. Nonna watched from her cupola as her team did so from filthy viewports as his team propped themselves out their hatches and he walked to the front of his tank, dragging his hand down the length of his tank's still warm barrel.
Kaiser stopped at the front of his vehicle's chassis. "I won't insist on friendship but let's not remain enemies." He said removing his glove and extending a hand. Nonna seemed perplexed. She quietly spoke to her crew and surprising even him, they followed suit.
"I will admit, it would be unfortunate to keep you as an enemy" conceded Nonna as she shook his hand once. No emotion was portrayed on her face but Kaiser caught it. The adrenaline, the worry, the challenge. It all glistened in her large cerulean eyes.
"I agree and personally, whatever happened outside of the two of us doesn't matter to me. This, you, were far more interesting" said Kaiser quiet enough for her to hear with a captivating grin.
With one more solid shake and a surprised look from Nonna, they returned to their crews who conversely shed their professionalism. Smiling while waving to their former foes from minutes ago in relief at the end of hostilities. The match was over and although neither Vice commander had achieved their personal victory over the other they were satisfied with the thrilling experience. Whoever won would certainly be the cherry on top however
-Chapter end-
