Chapter 30: Morning conversation.

March 22, 5:30 am

When Kay woke up the next morning, she sat up in bed and yawned loudly.

What a beautiful sleep!

She thought, stretching.

Standing up, she looked around.

Today officially begins my new life as tank commander of the Yorktown Division… I hope everything goes smoothly. At Saunders I was the commander in chief and the students idolized me, here instead I will be a simple subordinate of Dwight and I will have to work hard to win the trust of the other girls, both colleagues and subordinates.

Most concerned about the girl named Samantha Houston, the Texan… a tough one, from what little she had seen. The others, on the other hand, had been quite friendly towards her. Looking at the alarm clock resting on the bedside table, he saw that it was half past five. At that moment someone knocked on the door.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Sebastian, Frau Johnson. Fräulein Breisgau and your friend await you downstairs in the dining room." A male voice answered her, that of Hilda's butler.

"I'll be right back!" She reply.

"Ok."

After a few seconds the blonde girl heard footsteps, a sign that the servant was leaving.

I better hurry before I'm left with nothing but crumbs.

She told herself.

When she reached her destination, she saw that Hilda and El were each having a bowl of milk and cereal for breakfast. A third bowl had been prepared for her.

"Guten Morgen, Patton. Did you sleep well?" The landlady asked her.

She nodded.

"Very good."

The German girl smiled.

"Come on, eat, or the milk will get cold." She invited her.

Of course, Kay didn't have to repeat it: she sat down and began to eat. When all three had finished, Hilda asked:

"So, today you will begin your… Let's say your job as tank commanders. I guess you're excited at the idea, right?"

"I do! And then the Rodrigo girls are so friendly and nice!" El replied.

"Me too… However, it will take time to gain the trust of Dwight and, above all, of Samantha." Kay said.

"You will get it, I assure you. They are a bit strict, I admit, but if you prove yourself worthy of their trust they turn out to be great friends." Hilda reassured her.

Having said that, she put her hand on her Smartphone, connecting to Facebook.

"I'll tell Eva to take you in the car."

Kay looked at her puzzled.

"We don't want to disturb…" She declared.

"No trouble. You are guests of the student council, ergo you will enjoy some privileges."

"OK then." The former Saunders commander said.

I hope this doesn't make me pass for privileged in front of the others!

She thought.

"We should train right now, right?" El asked.

"Exact. There are five days left until the final of the European tournament, and I don't intend to arrive unprepared. Also because the Kursk girls are tough bones, they have put us in difficulty several times in the past."

"But they have never defeated you."

"Not in the last 9 tournaments. But some setbacks in the previous ones have given us."

Kay nodded.

"Well, victory and defeat are never certain in a battle. Luck decides who wins." She stated.

"Wise phrase, Patton… Who said it? Oda Nobunaga? Tokugawa Ieyasu?" Hilda asked, interested.

"Darjeeling, commander of the St. Gloriana." The blonde girl replied.

Interesting…

"A good commander, I bet."

"That's right, she's one of the big five: her, me, Maho, Katyusha and Miho!"

"I understand…"

Hilda scratched her head lightly, putting on an interested expression.

I am more and more determined to follow the Japanese panzerfahren championship.

She thought.