Girls Und Panzer: Fellow English From Abroad

VII

Anthony frowned. He was doing that a lot recently Darjeeling noted.

The duo were walking the streets of the school ship, which she perceived to be steadily tilting.

"The ship is tilting... isn't it..." Anthony's voice was firm in the night. Darjeeling stopped, looking at him.

"It is... I thought it was just me..."

"How..." His eyes widened. "I know the pilot of the helicopter, he would never crash in that land unless something happened to him or the ship... Weren't the Koreans threatening to sink a school ship as a show of force..."

"... oh no.. you think...

"Its the only possible conclusion of all of the facts.."

"Well we need to start evacuating people then.."

"Ill go to the bridge, order the general evacuation. Darjeeling call anyone you know on the Ark Royal, get them to help with the evacuation. Here, take this, its my number, call me if something goes wrong." Anthony handed her a hastily scrawled phone number, running off into the dusk

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The news sent everyone reeling, world wide. The Japanese government was struggling top handle the situation, the Americans could barely comprehend the situation, and the British?

They saw it as an act of war.

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The Glorious was tilting precariously, heavy metal cables spider webbing between the Ark Royal and her older counterpart. The Glorious regularly groaned as the engineers of both the carriers attempted to save the Old Carrier, pumping out water, the like.

Anthony was running about the ship, trying to get as many people off the ship as possible. He had overseen the removal of the ships arsenal of tanks, loaded onto the proving ground of the Ark Royal.

Darjeeling, on the other hand, was standing on the deck of the Ark Royal. Her blonde hair tied up behind her head a recognisable sight, which lead Assam and Rosehip to her location.

"Lady Darjeeling.. What is going on.." Assam's cool tone permeated the air, her blonde mane whipping in the heavy breeze. "Are you okay?... I heard that you were in a helicopter... accident..."

"I am fine Assam... Your worry should be for those of the Glorious..." Darjeeling stared at the listing carrier. "I do not understand the reasoning behind attacking a school ship."

Assam briefly paused at the language change, opening her mouth to talk. "Well it is not exactly a... knock out blow... more so a.. psychological one.. I wo... oh my god... oh my god. Oh My God!"

A glowing shape hurtled closer, the slick grey metal of a missile glinting in the bright moon light.

It would be Assam's keen gaze that saved them

Assam grabbed the back of Darjeeling's coat, swinging her towards the Ark Royal's amidships, pressing her between Rosehip and herself as they all fell towards the deck.

An ear shattering explosion tore through the night, a great fireball engulfing the Glorious's fore deck, severing the cables connecting the ships bows and sending a shock wave over both ships that tore up trees and houses.

A strong shock wave tore over them, ripping Assam and Darjeeling's hair braids apart. The Ark Royal lurched as she rocked to port, away from the Glorious.

Loud pings filled the air as the metal cables broke, the two carriers sliding away from each other.

Darjeeling struggled to her feet, pulling a twig from her hair and looking hurriedly at where the Glorious was. The old carrier, illuminated by the raging fires on the deck, began to rapidly capsize, slipping under the waves, where upon the fires faded, leaving only people in the water and an oil slick behind to show that it was ever there.

Darjeeling wretched, feeling ill at the enormous loss of life she just saw.

The Ark Royal began to list.

It would ultimately prove to be a slight one, but it was still a serious issue. Flooding could cause major damage to the ships internal systems (get some flex tape for that) and could effect the ships seagoing capabilities. However the order was given to remain and dispatch anything that the Ark Royal could muster to aid in the rescue effort.

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Anthony awoke, coughing, laying on the cool grass, staring into the nights sky. Immediately he felt his stomach twist, the paramedics rolling him onto his side as he vomited up seawater. He lay there, steadily removing the seawater from his body as he felt more and more ill. He just lost everything he owned.

His eyes flashed open. Not everything... my Comet.. I just need to...

He attempted to sit up, waving off the paramedics. "Tanks... The Comet.. Where.."

"Relax Anthony. Your tanks are on the tankery field.. Jesus, whats so important about them..?" One of the Paramedics spoke, one who knew him from the Glorious, who had been employed at the hospital aboard the Glorious.

"Thank god... Thank.." Anthony's stomach tightened once more and his vision faded into darkness.

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It was inside that Anthony awoke, sitting upright inside an unfamiliar room. Glancing about, he eventually found the window, drawing the curtain open and wincing immediately, his eyes assaulted by the bright light entering the dark room. 

Anthony looked out into the rose garden of St. Gloriana, looking at the blue clad students of the school walking around the school as they attended their classes. Anthony was relegated to sitting there, watching the students go about their day as he just.. sat there.

And in an odd sort of way.. He was happy with that.. he just needed some rest.. Then, after that.. he'd go to the tanks..