Old Ironsides: US Tank Commander Male Reader x 'Mini' Crossover

Chapter 9

(F/N's POV)

The clock ticks to nine and the skies have turned from red to dark purple. I climb down the turret, close the hatch, then I look through the thermal scope. So far, nothing is seen besides distance oil fires. I see the Erbil airbase four-hundred fifty yards away, there's some activity happening on the front area. Luckily, they're Iraqi BTR-94s unloading some more troops and equipment to back up the defense. There's a new van up ahead, so I tell my driver to go around. Tyson follows my order and turns away from the parked vehicle. I climb out of the turret to see the scene unfolding. My fellow soldiers see our convoy, then they start cheering and crying with joy. I salute my comrades before telling my driver to stop. The 70-ton main battle tank halts in front of them. Lt. Paul, squad leader of J-Company, walks up to my vehicle.

Paul: Ah! Finally! Reinforcements have arrived! Oh, man!

Me: Lieutenant! How are you holding up?

Paul: We're running out of 155 mm howitzer rounds, TOW missiles, and small arms ammunition! I tried to call for some resupply from the air, but I keep getting rejected!

Me: What?! Why?!

Paul: They say it's too risky, so I asked them for airdrops! But... They didn't respond...

Me: Shit... Okay... *Looks at the convoy* Right now, we have a few ammunition crates in those Bradleys. However, I'm not sure if it's going to be enough.

Paul: Better than nothing! 

Me: Alright! I'll tell them to unload.

Paul: Thank you, sir! I owe you one!

Me: No problem!

I turn around to the Bradley vehicles, then I start giving hand gestures to them. Immediately, the infantry fighting vehicles lower their ramp doors and troops begin to exit the compartments with crates of equipment and ammo. As the Bradleys unload, I gesture the two Abrams tanks behind me to set up positions in destroyed buildings. 

Paul: Sarg! What's the plan?

Me: Hmm... Tell the Iraqi 9th Armoured Division to set up positions north of the airbase! If they could, set up landmines to slow down the insurgents' pace! Is that understood?

Paul: Yes sir!

Me: Good! Now go!

The Lieutenant jogs to the Iraqis, while I tell Tyson to park the tank between two ruined buildings. 

Tyson: Alright! The tank is parked!

Me: 10-4! *Looks at Rush* Gunner, MPAT!

The ammo compartment door opens, then Lucy loads the M830A1 MPAT round into the cannon within five and a half seconds. 

Lucy: Up!

Me: Tyson! Turn off the turbine and activate the auxiliary diesel generator!

Tyson: On it!

The 1,500 horsepower gas turbine shuts down, then the diesel generator on the back of the turret turns on. Our thermals and night vision optics are still working; I turn on the controls of the .50 caliber Browning machine gun then start moving it left to right. The moon lights the sandy ground, which helps with vision. Unfortunately, there's nothing to see at all, but then my stomach grumbles.

Me: Ah shit... Does anyone have a spare MRE? I'm fucking hungry.

Lucy: Negative!

Rush: Got no crayons...

Tyson: Yeah, sorry bro... Got nothin'.

Me: Fuck... Ugh... I'm going to get out and grab some MREs, you see anything, contact the other units.