Dust Devils - A Girls Und Panzer Story

Chapter 29

Saturday, April 20th 2013

Norfolk, Virginia

Old Dominion High School

Two girls decked out in woodland-camouflaged uniforms were alone, walking in a large garage, with each of their footsteps producing loud echos throughout the building. The vehicles stored within were all parked in an orderly fashion. One of the girls was a wavy blonde, walking with a determined step. Her companion followed meekly right behind, a shorter girl with short brown curly hair. The curly-haired girl had a clipboard in hand, writing down whatever the blonde girl told her to write.

"For our upcoming match, I want as much of our heavy-caliber vehicles in play." the blonde said.

The girl fidgeted with her pen.

"Of course. Let's see...I've written down two IS-2s, five Shermans with the 105mm howitzer, and three STuH 42 Gs." she reported with a Southern drawl.

"Good. And I want that one in the match too!" the blond ordered, pointing at a Churchill.

The curly-haired girl felt a wave of apprehension.

"You...want the Churchill AVRE? Geez, Cassandra, don't you think we already have enough firepower? Not to mention that the AVRE's mortar has a maximum range of two hundred and ten meters. Maximum range! You also got to consider all the other tanks locked in to be in the match too, so, what we have is enough."

"Ellie...Ellie...since when were you the one making decisions?" Cassandra said sternly.

"I...I, uh..."

"Are you in charge around here?"

"Um..."

"Are you!?"

"N-no...I'm not" Ellie responded quietly.

"That's what I thought. I'm just making sure you understand your place in this team. You follow orders from either me or the captain. The only shred of god-damn authority you have around here is with your own crew and you better be thankful because it was me who made you the commander of the Panzer III."

"I'm...I'm thankful...always."

"Good. And now, I'm ORDERING you to put the Churchill AVRE on the list. God help you if I don't see the damn thing at the starting area in Montana."

"It'll be there! It'll be there! I'll make sure of it!"

"It better. There's a lot at stake with this match. Not only is it the quarter-finals of the tournament, but the very sanctity of tankery is at risk. If those boys from Mojave Rose are allowed to proceed in the competition, then this sport is irreparably ruined. Already did they inflict serious damage by getting this far, so it is up to us to save the sport."

"Wait, are all the vehicles on this list just to combat their IS-3? Ellie asked worryingly.

"Yes. It's not enough to just knock-out the IS-3. It needs to be so thoroughly destroyed to the point where Mojave Rose will have no choice but to scrap the thing."

"But, even one well-placed shot from the AVRE's mortar won't do the damage you want to happen."

"Then we all just keep firing until our barrels glow red. Maybe...those boys get hurt in the process...oh well sucks to be them."

Ellie was astonished.

"You...we can't shoot at a knocked-out tank! It's against the rules!"

"And males shouldn't be in tankery but here we are. I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to get them out of this sport."