Rivalry

Mission two: Arras

The platoon plunged into the city of Arras, which was swarming with tanks by the time Maria arrived. The journey, unlike the trip to Paris, had taken several hours at full speed across the french countryside. This was because they did not have Rommel's army to contend with yet.

She leaped out of the tank as it rolled to a halt on the outskirts of town. The soldiers made to do the same, but she turned around and said:

"Where do you think you're going? These tanks need a good cleaning before battle." They groaned.

"But sir! We've been on the move all day!" Pleaded ben maverick. Clifford clouted him in the head for answering back.

"Alright then. Tank squads one and two go get some grub, you have thirty minutes. Then come back and clean your tanks, at which point squads three and four can go. Is that fair?" They nodded affirmation. "Good. I expect those tanks to be sparkling, and if i hear about any slacking from the other officers, there will be hell to pay!" The squads either left or tiredly got out their cleaning kits, and Maria departed with Her corporals to find the colonel, and what the bloody hell was going on.

She found him studying a map and some additional papers on a desk in an office building she had been directed to by an unpleasant looking officer. She saluted him on sight.

"Colonel sir!"

"At ease, Lieutenant. Oh and how many ranks above you am i now?" He asked smugly.  She glared  at him.

"Four sir."

"Well you're due a promotion to captain as well you subaltern!" He said affectionately, ruffling her hair and dislodging her beret. Scowling she picked it up off of the floor, and once again, jammed it back on.  " But with the shambolic nature of the front right now, we haven't been able to process anything." He said gravely, and returned to his chair behind the desk.

"Which is why i'm here sir. The Boche are already hammering their way through France. At this rate, they'll reach the coast and we'll be trapped between them and the channel!"

"Your foresight is ever accurate Maria. But i can assure you that the situation is well in hand." He took his hat off, placing it on his desk, and began signing more documents. Maria narrowed her striking purple eyes.

"That's exactly what you said when you sent us to the ardennes, and look how it turned out."

" a decision i am coming to regret.  Clearly you weren't up to the task!" He snapped, irritated. Had she not been a girl, and for the fact that Tristan knew her personally, this upstart insubordinate would be facing severe consequences.

"The Captain and I did our best with the resources we had. If anything, the blame for our situation rests solely on  the shoulders of yourself and Lord Gort!"

"How-"

"It matters because my men have died buying time on your orders. So for god's sake sir." She slammed both palms on Tristan's desk, and leant down until her face was inches away from his. "Use it wisely." She ground out, and subsequently dismissed herself. Tristan dropped his pen in shock.

The lads had been scrubbing away at the tanks for what seemed like hours, just wanting it to be over so they could rest for a bit. Private weston was scrubbing gently at a bit of rust, coaxing it away from the metal of the nose plate, when suddenly, the lieutenant slammed a wet cloth against the side of her tank and started dragging it feverishly across the turret. Realising that the cuffs of her jacket were getting filthier by the second, she threw the rag on the ground and roughly shoved them up her arms. A look of black fury was etched upon her face.