January 5th

Black Pines

So far, the trip had gone swimmingly with the Jagdpanther running into almost zero patrols and checkpoints. The patrols they passed simply let them pass, couldn't have stopped them anyway either lacking the conviction to or the firepower to back it up. They had probably been reported missing by now though if anyone cared was a different story, apathy and indifference had been growing steadily. Most had stopped caring about war long ago, becoming more interested in escaping what was coming from that red horizon. Like the snowstorm that devastated them on New Year's Eve, the Soviets had been pounding and pushing throughout the holiday season. Alongside the news of a halted offensive to the west gave a bleak outlook at best.

Though the night's previous storm apparently wasn't the only storm that showed up with multiple storms ripping through the countryside and constantly burying the tank in snow. The first night was the worst, as after setting up camp and finally falling asleep or at least trying, their tent collapsed due to a combination of snow and wind causing a large ruckus, leading to a wet uniform and a uncomfortable cold chill that lasted through the night and into the next day, honestly it was a miracle no one had developed pneumonia. After that it was decided that sleeping in the tank and dealing with the smell was preferable to sleeping outside and contending with blizzards.

Though the further they drew south the more hostile the terrain became increasingly more mountainous. The forest that the Tank had entered yesterday had also refused to let up, becoming ever denser, in combination with the heavy snowfall it created a monochromatic feel to whole place with the only colour being the large red numbers plastered on the side of the tank.

Rudolf so far had spent most of his time outside the tank, either enjoying what little sun there was or just escaping the noxious fumes that were fuel containers that they had stored inside. Gunther and Lutz spent either their reading inside or sitting on the engine deck soaking up the warmth that was coming out of it. Deinhart though had to always remain inside the tank being the driver, however he did have access to the heater that the Tank had newly installed weeks prior, so it wasn't all bad for him. The Jagdpanther continued southwards towards the Sudetes Mountain range, powering through the deep snow that lay ahead, there were a few times where Rudolf feared that even the tracked behemoth would either slip off the road to become a victim of poorly maintained guttering or simply become bogged down in the large snowdrifts that lay about. But either due to Deinhart's expert driving or the wide tracks they kept moving.

This routine would continue, with them setting up camp occasionally complaining about the weather and or the snow. Then waking up in the morning, making sure that the roadwheels hadn't frozen together or some got some sort of rock wedged between them, once all clear was given they would start the tank and then repeat the process, occasionally making conversation between each other on a range of topics, from 'what to do after the war' to 'how was the family going'. Other than this the journey started to become fairly monotonous with much of the view being either forest or small clearings and the occasional dilapidated structure.

Though after a few more hours something in the air began to change, though nothing Rudolf could really put his finger on,

"You guys' smell that" Gunther asked, raising his head from his magazine. Perking his ears Claus demeanor changed in an instant, "Driver, halt!" Claus ordered, the Jagdpanther stopped almost immediately leaving large tears in the road and throwing Lutz and Rudolf forward. The tank sat there for a moment before a smell wafted into Rudolf's senses. A smell of burning rubber, oil, and flesh. Claus with a pair of binoculars began scanning further up the road, the road bared no remarkable features being just a dirt path the led further into the trees before disappearing behind a rightwards bend.

"Possibly partisans" Claus said in a robotic fashion "Or maybe the soviets have crushed the south worse than we thought". He sat in silence for a while seemingly contemplating his upcoming decision, "Alright, button up and be ready for anything. Deinhart, move around that corner slowly but be ready to pick up the pace if need be. Lutz be ready with high explosive and Gunther you are to fire only on my command" Claus ordered in a soulless fashion. Like a well-oiled machine the men readied themselves in battle positions, the soft whine, and hisses of hydraulics as Gunther moved the gun into position, brass clattering as Lutz grabbed a round out of the rack and soft purr of the Maybach as Deinhart brought the machine up to speed. The smoothness of the crew always astounded Rudolf, being somewhat new to the crew he still hadn't achieved their levels of professionalism. Though his role was of little use to the crew at this time as radio contact with anyone is all but pointless. Though he did get to use the only machine gun on the tank, excluding the personal weapons that the crew had. Shouldering the MG34 he began scanning the tree line for movement, waiting, expecting that someone would be hiding just beyond his field of vision.

The Tank slowly started making its way around the corner, its large 88mm alongside the smaller 7.92mm were swinging from side-to-side scanning for targets. Rounding the bend, the source of the smell had been found. A burning wreck of a staff car was strewn all over the road, whatever had happened only occurred in the last hours. Alongside the wreck of the car were four bodies all in various states of damage, one lay slumped out of the car with his uniform alight, the other three were scattered about the car all facing different directions.

"Looks like partisans, keep a look out they may still be here" Claus said keeping his head just peeking out of the hull.

The tank continued creeping forward the anticipation of something became palpable, yet nothing happened. Through the scope of the ball mount the wreckage grew closer little details became clearer. The staff car was travelling the opposite way of the tank when it was attacked and up close it looked like the rear of the vehicle had been eviscerated by an explosion and the bodies had been thrown from the car. The scene was reminiscent of some things Claus had told him about ambushes during his first weeks with the tank, burning vehicles and strewn bodies. Continuing his scanning of the forest is when he saw it, not even 100 meters away sitting in the shadow of the pines sat a large gun facing their direction, its white gun shield ominously staring at them.

"He- Pak! Pak! Pak!" Rudolf screamed.

"Halt, where!?" Claus shouted in return.

The tank immediately stopped rocking forward slightly.

"300 meters, Front, uh, 11 o'clock!" Rudolf said.

"Sighted, ready" Gunther said, his finger hovering dangerously close to the trigger.

"Hold" Claus responded, the perspiration becoming evident on his face.

The tank sat in silence for several moments before Claus spoke again

"Radio, check the damn radio."

Rudolf began scanning different channels, each one being random static. Until the radio crackled to life and the voice of a very angry person screaming emerged from the tinny speakers.

"-his is your last warning, identify yourself or you will be fired upon!"

Being momentarily shocked, Rudolf quickly responded in kind.

"This is heavy Jagdpanzer 121 from the…" Pausing for a moment Rudolf turned towards Claus.

"Where do you want to say we are from."

"Um, ah, tell them we're from 512th and…. tell them we are redeploying from the west…. to assist the 2nd SS Panzer division."

The radio crackled to life again, "Say again your last, you cut out there".

"This is heavy Jagdpanzer 121 from the 512th, currently redeploying to assist the 2nd SS panzer division, who are we speaking to currently" Rudolf said, hopeful that the shakiness of his voice didn't come through the radio.

The radio crackled with static for a moment before voices in the background could be heard as mumbles and harsh whispers permeated the speakers, this continued for a while before the voice returned, sounding a little more friendly.

"Understood, proceed to the staging area and await further instruction… though for your information a response is required when entering a secured area, you almost got yourselves killed".

"Understood, apologies, out".

Rudolf let a sigh of relief escape his lips as he relaxed the tensed muscles, he began rubbing his sides as if to comfort himself.

"Holy fucking shit, we're good… we're good" Rudolf said in an exasperated voice.

A collective sigh spread throughout the hull, relaxing the tension that had built up amongst them.

"Lutz" Claus said in relieved tone, "unload that shell, Deinhart take us forward. Who needs a smoke?"

The metallic jaws of the breach slammed open ejecting the brass case in its entirety, at the same the tank lurched forward as the idling engine began wake up again. This prompted Rudolf to assume the position he was in previously, opening his hatch he was met with a with a much closer scene of the carnage he had seen through his vision block. The bodies appeared to be wearing German uniforms, with one being of some high rank hinting at this was the extra bling and the staff cap that had been riddled with holes. The other one was of far lesser rank, being simply a guard for whoever that guy was, the final body was already too far gone with the fire consuming much of his body already, leaving the horrendous smell of burning flesh. The vehicle that the bodies had been traveling in had been peppered with bullets leaving much of the exterior looking a bit like some French cheese, though whatever had happened the men had all died rather unceremonious deaths being gunned down in a lonely wood. Rumbling along past the burning machine the snow began to move as trench lines and foxholes became more prevalent as they drove by. MG42's and a couple of FLAK 88s littered the small clearing, being deeply entrenched with sandbags and concrete pillboxes, with white uniforms ever so often waving at him.

It was Deinhart who broke the silence within the tank "Why were there dead bodies in the middle of that clearing" his gruff voice huffed over the intercom.

That certainly had confused Rudolf, those dead bodies were Germans; or at least looked German. Perhaps partisans he thought, no couldn't be, they were generally shot by firing squad, and then promptly dragged away or strung up in town centres not a lonely clearing. Spies maybe, no what's the point of a spy here, infiltrating a what was probably just a battalion headquarters, spies in Rudolf opinion were often sent to cities for secret missions, not the middle of nowhere such as the southern part of Poland. Also, the Gestapo would probably cart them off and do God knows what.

"Any ideas?" Deinhart asked.

"I don't know Deinhart, maybe you should go ask them" Claus responded, his sarcasm obviously annoying Deinhart who grumbled something under his breath. Sighing Claus finished "In all seriousness, I don't know why they are there, but does anyone really want to stay and find out, I mean that Lieutenant was on edge already."

Claus was right Rudolf thought; the guy was ready to fire on a friendly vehicle for whatever reason.

"Do we look like Soviets, or did they have their heads up their asses" Gunther said lifting his head from his book.

"Even if we didn't, didn't stop them firing on that staff car did it" said lutz who had started nibbling on one of the few crackers left.

"Maybe a warning of some sorts or some feud that happened higher up" Rudolf added.

"Mmm, maybe Rudolf, but officers don't tend to shoot each other in the back, at least not like that or a literal as that, however we can dwell on it all we like once we make it to Switzerland!" Claus said as he eagerly rubbed his hands together thinking only of the goal that lay ahead.

This filled the tank with a positive air, though they were traveling slowly they were still making headway. Even as far away as Poland their optimism was palpable, as was the hope of something better lay beyond the steel confines of the hull.

"Rudolf, want a cigarette" a voice from behind him said.

"No thanks, I'll pass" Rudolf responded.

"Ah well, your loss" Claus said before taking a long drag, subsequently coughing up a lung.

"Shi- *Cough* Cough* it's hardly even tobacco at this point."

Rudolf never liked smoking, or well he thought he wouldn't. Maybe it was something his mother instilled in him or the fact he never liked the smell of them he couldn't tell either way he had yet to touch the stuff, the propaganda only really reinforced his opinion on it.

After a moment the hatch on the other side swung open and the scarred face of Gunther appeared.

"Offering cigs sir?" Gunther asked, as a melted grin began to grow on his face.

"No fuck off Gunther, I'm not feeding another one of your addictions.'' Claus spat.

"What, playing favorites are we, anyways" Gunther said as he took a large swig from his hip flask.

"Jesus, didn't I tell you no day drinking."

"You did, but this isn't alcohol."

"Bullshit."

"No, It's grape juice."

Pulling himself out of his hatch, Claus lent over and smacked the back of Gunther head before snatching the bottle from the now startled pirate's hand as Claus then took a swig.

"Fucking liar its not even wine, its gin. God how can you stand the taste of this." Claus exclaimed wiping the remaining gin from his lips.

"Wha-, I swear its grape juice." Gunter said his eyes now transfixed on the bottle.

"."

"Fine,