Dust Devils - A Girls Und Panzer Story

Chapter 49

They were on all sides. Escape cut off. Backs to the wall. She couldn't hear the individual shots, no one could. The firepower upon them was so heavy that it was like a downpour of a hellish rain. A cacophony of chaotic firing. The environment around them was brutalized under this bombardment. The soil was charred, the grass burned, and the air filled with thick smoke. Visibility was steadily dropping, adding to the confusion and a panic was growing. Around her, return fire was dwindling as tanks on the team were immobilized one-by-one. From what she saw, the VK went down, then the Super Pershing, the IS-3, and couldn't see more because of the rising smoke. The radio was out, damaged earlier when this battle started. She didn't know how everyone else was faring but knew that the end was forthcoming. Then, the firing ceased, ushering in a gaunt quiet. She peaked out of her hatch, remaining as still as she can be. Is her tank the last one standing or has the team pulled of a magnificent come back? A silhouette emerging from the smoke answered her question and plunged her mood into despair. The approaching figure was a tank, a familiar one. Before she could spend much time contemplating everything that led the her to this moment, the enemy tank let loose a shell, bringing it all to an end.

.

.

.

When Valarie woke up, her eyes were wide and heart beating as if it was about to burst out of her chest. She threw off her blanket as she was in a sweat and sat up in her bed to think. Before starting tankery, her having dreams would be an absolute rarity, but since then, they were increasingly becoming common and none of them could be described as pleasant. Instead, each dream was becoming more of a nightmare. Of a worse cast scenario.

"Why can't I dream of something cool?" she spoke with herself. "Like saving the world or something?"

After some deep breathes that calmed her down, her then noticed the bed was more emptier than usual. Emma's spot was vacant. On a nightstand next to Emma's side of the bed, laid a note, which Valarie took. It read,

"Taking care of some errands. See you very soon! 3"

Setting it aside, she let out an exhaustive sigh. She grabbed her phone to check the date.

July 10th, 2013

Getting up, she then grabbed a towel. A shower will get her in a good mood, no doubt.

The errands was just a ruse, but by no means malicious. Earlier in the morning, Emma was awoken by a text from Madison who wanted to see her and only her. Confused, but more intrigued, Emma quietly got ready and departed the apartment to where Madison had told her to meet. It led to her to Catalina's campus, to the student council room. Ascending some stairs and traversing a hallway, Emma entered the room finding Madison sat at a table, busy before a computer.

"Hey," Emma greeted. "Watcha doing here?"

"As part of my responsibilities as president of the student council, they are to ensure that orientation be as smooth and stressfree for all involved."

"When is this all happening?"

"August 2nd is when this ship will return to the Port of Long Beach. Students will arrive the following Monday and by Wednesday the same week, orientation is to begin. Classes formally begin the Monday after, August 12th. Keep in mind, that is when you and the rest of the Mojave Rose team also start classes."

"Right. Though, I doubt you called me here to help out with organizing orientation, hmm?"

Madison shot her a smile. "Nope. I have a question but if I ask Valarie, it would spoil things."

"And what question is that?"

"When is her birthday?"

"April 16th."