Girls und Panzer: Battle Europa (IC, Closed)

[Wolfenium]

Rauschen, Samland, Regierungsbezirk Königsberg, Ostpreußen
Großdeutsches Reich
7th February, 1945

East Prussia, Winter 1945.

Blood had run red across the fields of Eastern Europe, and the browned, rusted grass that once laid trodded by German treads was doused once again with their blood. From the euphoria of victory that had swept Nazi Germany, a mood of despondence and sorrow had replaced the entire war effort. Everywhere, Germany was shrinking by the mile against the endless waves of Allied soldiers pushing against them. Tanks ran dry with fuel and munitions. Guns were left hungry for rounds at every turn. Every man felled left a gap for hundreds of Soviets to pour in. And yet, Germany fought on, no matter how abhorrent their regime had proved.

Because the alternative was extinction.

Trodding along the empty beach, a pair of dubious, black-clad armour ploughed its way through the sand, careful not to be devoured by the wet, salty ground. Its crew, or what was left, was down to a driver each, the rest either routed, dead or soon to be dead at the hands of Soviet beasts. No one wanted to fight anymore, not for victory, not for Hitler. But to lay down one's arms is to ask for a slow death, one the Reds were more than happy to give for every man, woman and child that had suffered in the hands of the Reich. But revenge did not explain their behaviour, nor did patriotism. Some, as the drivers knew too well, simply enjoyed casting aside their humanity. A Darwinian reflection of the animal humanity evolved from, some men, German or Russian, just want to stick it in as much as they liked.

As the tanks slowed to a halt in front of the scenic beaches, the hapless, spiky-haired driver forcing himself out of the rear vehicle could see for himself the outcome of their battle. What was once a thriving resort town had become abandoned, derelict, and what little was still around laid open for Soviet looters to cart off to their impoverished homes further east. Very soon, the green-clad tanks of the Red Army would bulldoze the town flat. Rauschen may not have any value in the greater scheme of things, but that did not make its destruction any less sickening.

Looking back at their own vehicles, the driver felt even more sickened at what they had turned to. The lead tank, a KV-1 model jury-rigged with a gun from a wrecked Panzer IV, was a gaudy example of the desperate lengths they had now gone through to hold off the Soviet onslaught. His own self-propelled gun, a Panzer III mounted with the KV-1's old gun and welded into a superstructure, was even more disturbing. The fact that they had copied the design from actual Soviet conversions of captured German panzers only grated at his nerves.

Watching as the driver of the lead tank struggled to lift himself out, the lad could only grimace at what his remaining companion had begun. Battered, ailing and covered in bloody bandages, the officer in the tattered uniform seemed to be fighting a losing battle against his own body, nearly tripping over as the black-haired man finally lifted himself out. Despite his fitness, the wounds had clearly done a number, forcing him to push even further than before at the risk of bleeding out. Even then, he appeared adamant at taking the time to smoke, slowly pulling his cigarette box out as he tried to take a puff. But his waning strength made even the flicker of a lighter difficult to handle, and it took a minute or two too long for him to finally get a light.

"Your orders, Colonel-no..." grumbled the lad, looking a bit miffed at his stubbornness, "Brigadier. The Reds have Königsberg surrounded. They will be upon us soon enough."

Taking a puff as he stared out at the open sea, the scowling officer clearly did not take kindly to his rank. Unlike previous occasions, the promotion was done purely to motivate him to push for a 'heroes' death'. In all admission, very much every promotion served that specific purpose in a way. It had been six years; six years of shit-eating from an uncooperative chief of staff, and an even more jealous SS. Not once would he contemplate becoming a martyr for the spindoctors to hail. However grim capture by the Soviets would be, that was no reason to pick death instead.

Heinrich loved life too much, and he was going to see it to the end.

"Prepare to disable the tanks," he ordered coldly, his hands running on the handiwork he had kit-bashing back to life, "you know what to do."

His lips tensing, the young corporal did not need any other word. There was no other reason for them to be on the exposed beach facing the Baltic, and with no explosives on hand, blowing their equipment up to deny the Soviets was impossible. For them, there was only one option. If the Soviets want their tanks back, they would have to dive for them.

Trailing close behind, the troopers of the 11th Guards Army were already closing in. Without resistance, swarms of riflemen were pushing through the streets, meeting nothing but empty homes and inns. Some were already stalling to pick up trinkets on the way. Hauling a couple of soldiers out of a smashed door, an incensed commissar barked orders at the two in anger.

"This is no time to enrich yourselves," hissed the albino woman, tense at the slow progress at hand as she brandished her Tokarev, "get moving! You can fatten yourselves all you want once we have our man! I will personally take this entire platoon to task if he is not taken alive!"

Gritting her teeth, the young woman had reason to dread the worst. Her target was not just a tank ace and expert guerrilla commander, but a genius engineer in tank construction and modification. Failure to bring him over to the Soviet cause would be a huge blow in the future standoff with the Western powers. She herself detested the idea, preferring to play executioner than to sweet-talk him into joining the communists. Many, including her own friends, had already died trying to hunt him and his elusive unit down, and many more might if he had somehow slipped to the West as an advisor. She was sure someone as pigheaded as he would have refused, a prideful baron unwilling to dispense with his titles for his pathetic life. But she had her orders, and whatever misgivings she had, she would follow it to the end. Even if it killed her.

"Where are you, you snake," she hissed under her breath, her eyes darting the entire down for any signs. Before long, a hail from some soldiers alerted her, as they waved in the distance for her to come. But by the time she had rushed to the scene, it was too little too late. The sound of rumbling engines churning in the distance, the tanks were already racing away. Into the sea.

Standing on the shores dumbstruck, the hapless soldiers could only watch as the Germans prepared to drown themselves, the tanks driving deeper below the water as the waves look set to devour them. Though armed with captured Panzerfausts to knock them out for good, the act seemed an exercise in futility, their enemies dooming themselves rather than suffer at the hands of their captors. Staring into the Baltic Sea, the bitter commissar could only bite her lips as the brigadier on the port hole face back. Spotting the girl in the crowd, the snide commander gave his last salute with a smirk. Shutting himself within his metal coffin, the conceited officer seemed content with writing his own eulogy, at the expense and dismay of his would-be captor.

Staring at the wave-swept sand, the girl growled at her charges, "what are you waiting for? Get the boats."

"But madam," one of the men blurted in confusion, "they're already sinking into the sea. We'll never catch them. They'd have drowned by then."

"Did I ask for your opinion," shot back the girl coldly, "get the boats. I don't believe he'd go down so easily. I know him too well. He has another escape planned, I know it-"

"But madam, we'll never catch up," the corporal implored, "by the time we set up some, they'd already be deep on the sea floor. We don't even have diving equipment. There's no way-"

"-are you disputing my orders, corporal," yelled the frustrated woman, glaring uncharacteristically at the hapless man as if ready to plant a shot through her head, "or should I replace you with someone else!? I will not turn a blind eye until I see his bloated corpse, you hear me-"

"Sveta!"

Interrupted by an abrupt call in the distance, the agitated young girl quickly picked out the heads among the crowd. Sifting through the gathering, a darker-skinned, Central Asian with long, partially concealing locks, appeared deeply concerned, as a similarly white-haired girl with golden eyes followed behind. Dressed in the same NKVD regalia, the duo felt apprehensive at her insistence. In all honesty, Sveta could not blame them. She was usually a lot more calm than this, if possessing a distinct lack of emotive expressions.

"Sveta, forget it," the man implored her, shaking his head a bit as he looked out at the vanishing tanks, "they're dead anyway. Let them be."

"Why," Sveta blurted indignantly, losing her self-control again, "why should I give the rat the pleasure to make his own bed of honour. After everything... How could I let him run again-"

"Then how are you going to go after him," her other superior questioned, "by the time you prepare the boats, the tanks would have been long underwater. You'll never find him, not without diving equipment and certainly not for a long time."

Biting her lip again, the young albino struggled to suppress her anger, her ruby eyes trembling as she tried to stifle her tongue from lashing out at them, her head turning away in frustration. She knew she was not making any sense. She knew that she would never reach him now. But still, why else would she pursue, if only to make sure he stayed dead? Was it fair to give him the end he wanted, when so many others were cut short. It did not seem fair, but then, nothing in life ever was.

"I don't think he's looking to kill himself," she denied solemnly, "I know him too well. He has an escape planned. He always does."

Sighing at her persistence, the fellow woman merely sighed, patting the child's head as she replied, "so what? Do you think you can do something about it? Even if he suddenly shows up in an American camp, it's already beyond our power to stop him. Just let him run. We already won this war. For us. For them."

For the two elders, watching Svetlana respond this way was disconcerting, and all the more heartbreaking. From a young pioneer cutting telephone lines in occupied soil, Svetlana had rarely responded in anything more than a few one-worded replies. She had feelings - they could all tell - but for the sake of the war, she chose to suppress it in her heart, playing the role of the model soldier for her homeland and comrades. They knew it was a conscious attempt to shield herself from loss, and yet they found it too cruel to let her be. And now that they had managed to get her to open up, she had proven to be a very fragile, vindictive young woman. Was it a mistake to have encouraged her to befriend them? They still did not believe so. But that did not make her reactions all the less painful. They had to speak to her more than ever. They just needed to know how.

Embracing the young girl, the woman assured her, "you're tired, Sveta. Don't worry too much about it. They won't blame you for this, I assure you. You've done more than enough. You should rest."

Her hands trembling as the surprised officer felt the warmth of her superior and friend, the hapless ex-partisan could only break into a mass of tears, her whimpers breaking into cries as she let out her guilt and remorse. It was always hard to see her cry. She was only thirteen when they first found her four years ago, and the image of the sleepy young girl remained seared in their minds. They found it hard to think what might happen to her hereafter. They had no idea how to help her... how to make up for the lost time...

"I'll report back to HQ, Olga," the lad informed the two girls, looking out at the seas that had now devoured the tanks, "you and Sveta take some time off for the moment. You're going to need it. The rest of you take positions in the town and wait for further orders. That's all."

The end of the war may be in sight, but many questions still remain on its aftermath. Could they honestly put the past behind them? Could they return to the lives that had long been shattered by the German invasion. For a nomad living in the safety of Kazakhstan his whole life, Captain Nurzhan Aitmukhambetov might have easily answered 'yes'. But he had no right to speak for Olga on that count, let alone Svetlana. Shaking his head, he was not sure if the latter might accept their proposal for adoption. It seemed very unreasonable, and he knew it.

"Almighty help us," he muttered under his breath, conscious of his own hypocrisy as an agent in an atheist organization as he began to pace away, "the young girl, he knew, was going to need every help she could get to adapt to society again. Perhaps, they were wrong to keep a gun on her hands. But trying times called for every hand, and sadly, they were not in the position to refuse, not when she herself was determined to fight.

---

Baltija Saule viesnīca, Раушен, Раушенский район, Самбийский область
Прусская Республика
Baltic Sun Inn, Rauschen, Rauschensky Raion
Republic of Prussia
4th September, 2016

Rauschen, Samland, Regierungsbezirk Königsberg, Ostpreußen
Großdeutsches Reich
7 February, 1945, later that night

...in the ink-black depths of the Sambian seabed, a desperate pair of divers, both in improvised scuba gear, emerged from the waters gasping for air, trying to clamour onto the deck of a submarine. At first sight, the submarine appeared to be one of the sinister U-boats, perhaps sent by command to retrieve their heroes in their daring escape from East Prussia. However, as the reckless Brigadier finally tore his snorkel off, he knew too well that Berlin would not waste such efforts to get him or anyone out. Others, however, might, as he looked up at the skippers who fished him out of the water.

"Have a nice dip there, boys," the captain of the vessel spoke in a distinct Scottish accept, stepping in among the men as he addressed the two German escapees, "where to?"

Giving a small, sarcastic chuckle, the hapless brigadier mused, "I don't know. Does Scapa Flow sound good this time of year?"

"Well, if you like diving for Reader's shite, you'll be in for some fun," remarked the candid, bemused captain, "let's get inside. Air's starting to freeze with the Russian chill."

Rauschen, Summer 2016

Seventy-one years since the last days of the Second World War, not much had changed in what was once a spa town of the Kingdom of Prussia and Germany. For much of its post-war period, it was known only as Svetlogorsk, a name that was admittedly far less unique owing to its replication in three other town in Russia. In the euphoria of independence, its residents wasted little time burning the old town signs to declare their spite towards the inept regime in Moscow. Now restored to its former name, its status as a resort town had, as always become valuable tourist revenue for its many residents.

But one matter had changed for Rauschen since Prussia's resurgence from the dustbin of history. Sitting in the dockyard overlooking the town, the massive academy ship that bore its name was set to make another continent-spanning tour for the coming school year in September. Part school, part cruise liner, Rauschen Girls High School served as a valuable training ground for many aspiring to join the hospitality and tourism industry, with state-funded internships with the many business and cruise sections on board the vessel for the girls to take part in. The third in the country after St. Elisabeth and Vernost, the school had long ran on the private interests of magnates in the trade, the ship itself gifted and fully restored by a cruise company chairman. Despite this, the ship, like its sisters from Kyonigsburg and Pillau, are subject to the regulations of the Maritime Education Authority under the Education and Defence ministries. As such, its existence, and the activities it is allowed to hold, are subject to the school's board and pencil-pushers in the capital.

Seated crosslegged in front of the TV as she snacked on rice crackers, Iveta Kovalenoka stared intently at the set, mystified by the dramatic portrayals of the show as the calls downstairs drifted over her head. The tales of the war, particularly the exploits of the aces in the show, had her attention glued, even as guest shuffled downstairs between the bathhouse and spas that dotted their humble establishment. As footsteps stormed up the room, the young girl felt a sudden tug at her arm as her teeth tried to grip on to a rice crack. Blurting a few muffled sounds of panic, she soon looked up at the assailant trying to nab her, bewildered by the towering figure above her.

"How long are you going to stare at the TV, Iveta," implored a young girl with braids, at least one or two years elder, "Mom needs help with the guests. Just because you spend most of the year at sea doesn't mean you get to turn into a slob in front of the television. Now get up!"

"MhMhmmHmhHm," Iveta tried to talk back in bewilderment, the cracker stifling her speech before she plucked it out of her mouth, "I'm not lazing around. I'm studying."

Glaring between the rolling credits and the dense look in the young schoolgirl's eyes, the skeptical sister griped, "'studying'? How is that counted as studies? Are you okay or something?"

"Of course," griped the girl, "I'm trying to determine the location of the Desert Wolf's lost tanks. They happen to be showing that episode from 'The Man with the Clipboard' on TV. Thought I might get some clues-waaaaaahhhhhh!"

"Enough already, Iveta," barked her sister, "get off your ass! We got work to do! Get to it!"

And then Iveta spent the rest of the day at work.

---

средней школы Раушенска девочек
Заход в Раушенске, Раушенский район, Самбийский область, Прусская Республика
Rauschen Girls' High School
Docked in Rauschen, Rauschensky Raion, Republic of Prussia
5th September, 2016

Orientation Day, a source of joy for many parents, and the agony of students

Marking the start of the Prussian school year, orientation day signalled the start of another year for students to slave out for their grades, and a better future in the workforce. For the students of Vernost and St. Elisabeth, it meant saying goodbye to their families for another year, venturing out of the Baltic into the wider continent and world to acquire new experiences and friends in their quest for knowledge.

Today, they would be joined by a third school, one that had only seen the open seas just a year prior. As returning second years and above prepare to return to the boarding school life, a new batch prepare for their inauguration into Prussia's newest academy ship.

At least, most students...

"So tired..." whined the hapless Iveta, slumping on her seat in the school hall as students, parents and staff began to gather. Even with the approaching school year, Iveta did not appear prepared to spend her final days slaving in the hospitality trade, though the spike in business caused by the edging demise of summer had made this an inevitable outcome. Poking her head with a pouting look, Kirke chastised, "don't complain. It's not like you have anything important to do. Besides, you need to buck up before you drop a year. You only just made it to high school. Maybe this time, you won't bury yourself in dirt looking for shinies like before-"

To her shock, the otherwise slumped Latvian stood up abruptly, a rush of energy fuelled by her newfound determination jolting her into action. Rummaging through her books as she pulled out her notes, she cried out, "of course! I've spent the past day studying, after all. Didn't get much done before Ieva hauled me downstairs, but I feel it's enough."

"Study," Astlik spoke, looking as surprised as the others, "I didn't know you do prep work for school."

Scowling a bit, however, Kirke clarified snidely, "she doesn't. She wants to go excavating again. Which is a pity, since we're going to depart for the sea this evening. Besides, this ship was only just launched a year ago, and refurbished. If there's anything historical about it, it's the ship itself."

Chuckling in mock amusement, Iveta grumbled, "you underestimate me, Kirke. You think I planned this at the last minute?"

"You always plan these at the last minute, Iveta," griped Kirke, "at the very least, you fail to inform us until the last minute. You don't think I know you?"

"How dare you," Iveta shot back with a cringe, looking quite offended by her insistence, "I'll have you know that I have a foolproof plan to get out of orientation day to find our lost relics. All we need is to... hold it as an official club recruitment event. If we can convince the student council that we're forming a club, we'll make the news in no time-"

Suddenly, the agitated Kirke started pulling at the girl's cheeks, growling in anger, "bullshit! You just want to skip school the entire day so you don't have to go for lessons! It's the first day, you stooge! It's not like we'll have much to learn at the first day-"

"I don wanna go for orientation," Iveta whined, "I won getta deg round in now that im on ah ship! Its unfair!"

"Calm down, the both of you," blurted the panicked Avelina, as the remaining trio tried to break up the two, "you're going to attract attention!"

Releasing her victim on their urges, Kirke could only rub her nose in exasperation, questioning, "you bloody... In any case, even if we go with your crazy plan, what club can you possibly suggest to justify your actions?"

"ふふふ、" Iveta cheekily answered, wagging her finger patronizingly with a smug pout, "you didn't think I haven't thought this through, haven't you?" Brandishing a club application form, she declared, "I got my form well and ready. I've checked the school club registry, and I'm frankly appalled by what I saw, so I thought I'd make my own. I even signed your names on it. And we'll call it-"

---

"Rejected."

Sitting on her desk as she pushed through the mounds of paperwork, student council president Henna Kärkkäinen was clearly not in any mood to attend to Iveta and co. As the entire student council was busy working on preparing the orientation, the hapless girl had had to contend with Terhikki's persistent friend as she tried to force her application through. Not that there was anything particularly wrong with the application in particular, but Iveta's intentions that brought her suspicions up, and she was in a hurry to get more important matters done.

"Why not," cried the agitated Iveta, aggravated by her attitude, "wasn't student club applications open until the end of the week!? Why are you refusing-"

"Because knowing you," Henna justified coldly, "you want me to approve of it right away for some harebrained scheme before leaving the club to rot. I don't dispute that objectively, an 'archaeology club' wouldn't be out of the ordinary for any school. What I doubt, however, is your capacity to run it. Without any official intent in participating in national or international competitions, or organization of events to raise awareness on your subject, I'm afraid I cannot approve of this. This is not a funhouse, Iveta. You'll be joining as one of only three student cohorts in the country to attend a seaborne-based school. Do you want us to be treated as a laughing stock? There's already gossip that the Maritime Education Administration wants to ground the vessel because it's too taxing for the defence and education ministries to run, never mind it's mostly privately funded anyway."

"N-No..." Iveta could only utter, biting her lips as she tried to hold back her tears, "I just though... I wanna..."

Peering over at Terhikki, the solemn president could only grimace at the hapless girl. She did not want this for Terhikki, but though she questioned her choice of friends, the fact that she had any at all ought to be a source for joy. Tapping her head, she asked the others, "what does she want?"

"She wants to excavate some tanks off Steel Island based on a show she watched yesterday," the annoyed Kirke stated, glaring at Iveta's incessant sobbing as she tried not to let her pity get to her, "you know, Milla's place? She thinks a German tank ace had a pair of specially modded IFVs scuttled there during the Second World War. A waste of time, but you know Iveta."

Unable to resist resting her palm on her face, Henna had even more reason to disapprove now. There was no way she was going to risk having a few incoming students get hurt on her watch, let alone missing departure trying to dig up buried tanks. From Iveta's pent up anger, it was obvious she knew from the start how she would react if she found out. That, however, did not stop Iveta from trying. Getting from her seat, Henna informed the rest, "keep an eye on her. I don't want any funny business. Iveta, my answer still stands. I'm sorry, but I need to attend to the ceremony preparations. Do not leave this ship if you do not wish to be expelled. Do you har me?"

And with that, she was on her way out, struggling to put her mind back on the task at hand as she tried to put the scene behind her. She did not want to have to resort to threats to gain her compliance, but something about Iveta's persistence required some measure of that. Iveta was not a born troublemaker, but trouble seemed to be attracted to her like bees anyway. Moreover, she was worried about Terhikki; what sister would she be if she let her get hurt.

Sobbing as the few reamining council members gave a few nervous glances, Iveta could only rush out for the nearest toilet, intent on drowning away her eyes over the chastisement. As her startled friends went after her, she rushed in front of the sink as she doused her face in chilling water. She felt uncomfortable, disgusted by Henna's attitude. She knew from the start she was going to be rejected, but she hated even more how effectively Henna took apart her argument, however flimsy Iveta's justification was at the start.

"I don't want to go on the ship..." she muttered, "it's boring here..."

Perhaps Iveta needed a better justification, but was there any at that point.

The answer, as it turned out, might right on screen.

"...now on to sports," the properly-dressed, mature female news announcer on the television set spoke at the corner of the room as the highlights caught their attention, "yesterday night, St. Elisabeth Catholic Girls Academy had scored yet a stunning victory over local rivals Vernost Stolypinska Girls High School in a hotly-anticipated friendly annihilation match in the capital's famed seven bridges. The visiting team from Pillau, despite fielding an intimidating array of T-34/85s, KVs and IS-2 heavy tanks for their twenty-tank squad, were taken out in quick succession, as the 'Teutons' pinned the heavies with faster light tanks to harass them, knocking them out with decisive shots from their tank destroyers and heavy tanks. Still, Vernost's infamous Soviet armour did no favours to them, shrugging off the barrage and striking out a grand total of fourteen tanks before being wiped out. Speaking after the match, St. Elisabeth's team captain, Aylin Sadik, commented on the teams' performance, stating that Vernost's Soviet lineup was 'quite threatening, but nothing unexpected,' maintaining the difficulty of fighting against armour-heavy opponents such as Vernost. Vernost's team captain, Mikaela Remitonova, has declined to comment..."

Lighting up almost instantly, Iveta blurted in an excited voice, "that's it," rushing out yet again to the shock of her waiting friends. Glaring with a dumbstruck look, Kirke had no idea how to react. For her and her friends, this could only be bad news. Question was, what idea had been planted into her head this time?...

[Sonitusia]

Rauschen Girl's Highschool Academy Ship
School Library

"Ah, St. Elisabeth won again."

Sunlight lit the library warmly, and it helped its occupants to conserve electricity sometimes, but lighting was available for use when the building was in active use. It was a wonderful design, something akin the Library of Congress in America, albeit minimalist and modern. It came in from all directions, not leaving a single shadow on the ground of the few visitors currently inside. Among them, sitting along a wide round table specifically set aside, was the school strategy club. A large map was laid out in the middle of the table, little figurines of soldiers, tanks, planes, and warships dotting various areas. Currently, ten members were in the match, but it seemed that the main focus was only upon four contestants, of whom gave off a rivalry that glowed as bright as the sun giving them enlightenment.

"Is that so?" their leader asked, a girl who was obviously from south-east Asia, moving a tank towards a hill area, "We did a study on their tactics the other day, yes? Very European, it's no wonder the Soviets got decimated."

Two infantry men were pushed towards the forest afterwards. "If Vernost had used a human wave, it would've been much more in their favor though," the girl opposite the leader muttered, her glasses gleaming slightly against the sun's rays.

"Preeeetty sure they're not allowed to do that in Tankery," the one who mentioned the victory chided, holding a smart phone as she pushed a plane towards the coastline, "It's an all-tank sport after all. Adding infantry would make things... Messy."

The last Asian shuddered, also having tropical skin but with an odd combination of silver hair, pulling a warship towards another spot off the coastline. "Imagine if Vernost went against that Japanese school... Chihatan? With infantry. Schrecklich"

The last six members simply nodded in agreement, and the game seemed to have paused for several moments before people caught on what just happened in the last few moves. The librarian had to come over to tell the group to quiet down, as everyone save for the Asians groaned audibly from their loss. And so they were left to spectate the rest of the match, as one by one each member was annihilated. It was indeed a tense battle, with the Russians, Japanese, British, and Germans all fighting one another. The skies were polluted, the ground littered with debris. It seemed the British Navy had complete control of the sea, having destroyed the entire Kreigsmarine and forcing the other fleets away from the shore.

"Too bad, 'Detta," the girl with silver hair snickered, rolling the dice and knocking out yet another strike of land-based planes before finishing off the Poltava, "Your Soviet torpedoes aren't effective against Royal vessels."

"Well neither are your entrenched infantrymen any good against my numbers, Fatimah," the brown-haired girl bashed, moving the entire 1st and 2nd Guards Airborne Division across the grassy plains, overwhelming the 8th Infantry Division. Despite their powerful clash however, a much stronger military passed by them like they were nothing but puffs of hot wind. The German Fifth Panzer Division and 504th Heavy Panzer Battalion were blitzing across the battlefield, the entire Luftwaffe knocking both planes and ships out of commission by each throw of the dice. It were as if this was all planned from the start, and both opponents capitalized at the same time. This didn't seem to make the Japanese intimidated in the slightest though. Their infantry, the 23rd, 25th, and 22nd Divisions, moved from forest to forest in the west, decimating strongholds and anti-vehicle weapons that were abandoned, while the Imperial Japanese Army Third and Fifth Tank Divisions were haunting the German infantry offense to the north.

"Aren't you going to counter with your Imperial Navy, Adelia?~" the bespectacled girl taunted, but the leader didn't say any words until pushing the 22nd Division forwards.

"It's alright, Hermione," she replied, allowing the girl to sink in what movements she had made, "I'm pretty sure the death of several high-ranking leaders is enough to end this. You Germans don't usually fight well without people telling you what to do after all." Shocking as it was, the defeat was too sudden for anyone to comprehend. They looked at the map, wondering what had happened as the Dutch-born Indonesian dropped a plane she was about to use to crush the Japanese armored offense. Putting her hands up, she just sighed. Nobody knew what to say at all, but it seemed that Adelia had once more defeated everyone, with the least casualties of the match.

"How do you always know who to beat?!" Fatimah groaned, cleaning up the table as they prepared a different map, "Last time it was Odetta's American armored corps, now Hermione's joint blitz attacks... Gah, whatever... I wish we could practice these things for real... Maybe we'd be able to figure out how to beat you, Ms. Nasution."

Smirking, the leader stood up, and began to redraw her entire battle plan on the whiteboard behind her, the squeaking of the marker grabbing everyone's attention. "In due time, Ms. Toha. For now, we just have to keep studying."

[Mefpan]

Rauschen Harbor, Rauschensky Raion, Republic of Prussia
5th September, 2016

It was the fifth of September, and it was a good day. Edita would get to see her friends again soon - after all, they'd attend this year of school together. And she'd make certain that everything went just perfectly. And if everthing did, then that'd mean the return of an extra interesting club activity! Sensha-do, or tankery, depending on your preference. Official support, from what she had been told, was on the lower end of the scale. Waste of money, little chance of success, whatever else they could think of.

What nonsense! Tankery was an awesome sport, and probably the only one that caught her attention. Of course there was bound to be tons of interest! She wouldn't even be surprised if people came from afar just to help bring the fledgling tankery club to life. After all, that's what her friends did, right? Certainly. People would come, just for the opportunity to jumpstart the school's sensha-do club, and to participate, of course. This was what people usually called 'hype', and she'd be lying if she said she wasn't excited! In fact, she was positively vibrating with excitement.

"You're wasting fuel. Did you really drive out here just to collect us?"

Oh, yeah. Perhaps her tank's idling engine was the one doing the vibrating. But that voice sounded an awful lot like... Edita lifted her head to greet a pair of cold, dead, unfeeling eyes staring into her soul, a scaled monstrosity just a scant few centimeters away from her innocent, vulnerable face, ready to-

A few meters away, a flock of birds abandoned the power line they had occupied as an ear-splitting shriek monentarily shattered the non-silence of the harbor, droning out the tank and the sounds of work in the distance. Edita scrambled away, away, away from the carp held at head-height for her. Someone was laughing.

"Oh my god, Edith, calm down! It's okay! It's just me! And dinner. Or lunch. But, really. How have you been since last summer?"

She glared at the person in question. The person who'd snuck up on her, climbed her tank, walked right up to her, a blonde-haired girl she knew to be three years her junior...and she was holding a carp, braced at hip-height like one would imagine people to hold a submachine gun. A fish that she'd all but shoved into Edita's face.

"Did you have to do that?! I was thinking!", she snapped back with the petulance more becoming of a young child, before catching herself and muttering "sorry, Suse".

"So I noticed. You didn't hear me when I called you the last eight times, so I figured I should make sure you're not actually asleep", her friend replied, still smiling at her, quite obviously unfazed by Edita's outburst.

"Yeah, sorry. I can't help but be excited for the year. But...wait a minute. Where the hell did you get a fish that size?", Edita asked her friend.

A shrug was her answer. "Caught it. It's called a carp Wasn't too difficult", Suse responded, fondly patting the fish.

Edita got back to her feet and climbed back onto the tank. "Wait a minute, didn't you tell me carp were freshwater fish? How'd you catch one in the Baltic?"

Suse just shrugged again and slung the damnable fish over her shoulder in the same motion. "Dunno. Caught it. Edith, do you know when Mimmi and Kirsi are going to arrive?"

And that was a good way to avoid thinking too hard about Suse's achievements. "I think they're supp-" Edita was about to answer when, in the distance-

"Heeeeey! Editaaaa! Suseeeee! Heeeeeeeey! Over heeeeeereeeee! How are yooouu?"

That would be Mimmi, then, both realized, and turned towards the Baltic. Sure enough, a ferry was approaching the pier, just a couple meters away, and at the very front stood the other half of their quartet, a short, blonde Swede glued-by-way-of-embrace to the side of a quite a bit taller, pale, black-haired girl, the flormer waving her one free arm with as much cheer and enthusiasm as could be managed without accidentally hitting other passengers on deck (too much), the latter just tilting one lifted hand slightly from side to side, smiling at Edita and Suse.

Edita and Suse ran towards the pier to welcome their friends, arriving just as the ferry docked and the first passengers disembarked. One obligatory exchange of greetings and hugs later, Mimmi pointed at Suse's catch, "You know that's a freshwater fi-"

"Don't. Pondering that too long will just give you a headache", Edita interjected before another fish-related discussion could break out. Unsuccessfully.

"Oh. Okay. It's no problem. I've got my own with me."

Three out of four faces noticeably soured. "Gott im Himmel." - "Perkele." - "My mom's going to banish us into the garden shed again."

"Eh? What's wrong?"

If they all were honest, nothing was wrong. This was how it always was, and always went, every summer.

Except this once, their time together would last a lot longer.

[Krajstali]

Rauschen Girls' Highschool
5th September, 2016 Anno Domini

"Deszcze niespokojne
potargały sad,
a my na tej wojnie
ładnych parę lat."

Contrary to the first line of the song,being about rain, the day weather was quite enjoyable as the sun was up high above the Academy Ship of Rauschen Girls' Highschool as the wind of the seas had breezed through.While most students would be inside the faculties of the school, the exception would be a group of three girls whom had all sat on a bench under the cool shade of a tree while another short haired girl had leaned on the thick tree.The grey haired girl who seemed to be singing had her leg rested on her thigh which was a position comfortable to her as her fingers had gently pressed the keys while stretching out and retracting together the box shaped instrument known as the accordion, playing the tune that the group as a whole knew.

"It's not a rainy day though Lidia." pointed out one of the girls from the bench whom was wearing a headband.Despite being Georgian, she had known her friends long enough to the point she was able to fluently speak their language. There wasn't that much use for her own native language, other than conversing with her family. "Perhaps that song can be saved for another day."

A hand was laid on the Georgian's lap from the blond Pole who had her back and head relaxed onto the bench as her eyes had stuck onto the green leaves and red apples suspended from branches above her. "Rainy day or not, let her do her thing. It's adding to the mood anyways." the blond hair girl replied, looking up at the bright red fruit that was dangling meters above her was quite tempting while Lidia had continued.

"Do domu wrócimy,
w piecu napalimy,"

The idea of eating the apple itself gave her a faint taste for it as she raised a hand for the round fruit, but to no avail was she able to reach it. Tilting her head back further gave her an upside down sight of the silver short haired girl who leaned on the tree with her arms crossed and her eyes closed.

"Hey Bogumiła, mind getting me the red one?" the blond girl asked as she pointed to the apple above her. The short haired girl had nodded and slowly opened her eyes."One pomaceous fruit comin' right up Krystyna."Bogumiła called out as she freed an arm before picking up a rock that seemed to be nearby,gathering her strength within her right arm and flung it towards the apple as it snapped the stem that had suspended the fruit and brought it falling down to the ground.

Before Krystyna could catch it however, it ended up in gloved hands that certainly did not belong to Lidia but the third occupant of the bench whom had brought it to herself as she proceeded to wipe the fruit gently with a cloth. "C'mon Jozefa, that was my fruit, I didn't ask Bogumiła to punch the tree for no reason." Krystyna whined as she looked towards the brown haired girl,although most of her hair was covered by a distinctive military hat known as a Rogatywka which had accompanied her Uhlan jacket. No response came from Jozefa, instead the sound of a sabre that was unsheathed from it's scabbard was heard. Accompanying the sound was the bright gleam of the blade as it left it's sheath, Jozefa stood up and with a gentle toss of the fruit upwards into the air swiftly followed by once swing of the sabre had left the apple split into her opposite palm as she gently handed the other piece to Krystyna, to which the two other girls on the bench had applauded.

"Didn't know you were able to do that Jozefa, you sure do have tricks up your sleeve." Smiled Krystyna as she took a bite into her fruit,looking up at Jozefa who sat down and begun on her piece,quietly and slowly. "A good commander always has one,otherwise what kind of commander would one be without such a thing?"Jozefa replied in response to her friend.

"Nakarmimy psa.
Przed nocą zdążymy,"

Lidia having continued singing the lines had reminded Jozefa of both the dog whom the group had collectively owned as well as the person whom the dog would've most likely been with currently.Gently pulling up her sleeve, revealing a trench watch that was around her sleeve,she flipped open the shrapnel guard as she looked into it.Turning her attention away as she pulled her sleeve back
down and looked around for the fifth member of the group.

"Status report on Endeleza?" Jozefa demanded as she looked at the girls who were currently present, just before anyone was about to answer, the presence of a German Shepard had charged into the group before it ended up on Krystyna's lap as it licked her face, to which in response the girl had giggled and tickled the dog on her lap. "Well there's your answer." Lidia replied as the girl whom Jozefa had asked for had appeared as she arrived to reunite with the group. "Cześć everyone, was just taking Szarik here for a walk." greeted Endeleza as the dog returned to her, stroking him gently before joining the three on the bench. With the whole group together, something was missing and it certainly wasn't a sixth member or a second pet. It was their love for their favorite black and white Soviet-era TV program. Back at home, within the grounds of the deteriorating mansion of the Pilsudskis, the group had built together a wooden recreation of their beloved Rudy 102 tank from the show. All five of them were able to fit in, but a structure of wood wasn't the same as one of steel,especially Kharkiv Morozov steel.

"Tylko zwyciężymy,
a to ważna gra."

The mention of games had reminded Endeleza of the news that's been spreading around recently, being that the St. Elisabeth Catholic Girls Academy had yet won a fierce match with their local rivals being Vernost Stolypinska. "So, it seems that the wannabe Szkops had won against that Ruskie school." Endeleza brought up, "Opposition had a T-34/85 as well as the other soviet beasts being the Kliment Vorshilov and the Stalin tanks. Quite the determination those "Krauts" have."

That one word had struck a thought deep within Jozefa, who had been silent for most of the time. The T-34/85 being the same armored vehicle that was featured in the show. The thought of commanding a crew, modeled after that of the show and manning the tank had always been her dream. Commanding her very own "Rudy 102" was simply a delightful thought. She certainly has the crew, but not the vehicle to man. But outside of her thoughts were the conversations regarding the recent match, realizing that the school was Catholic, she turned towards her best friend whom was deep in thought.

"Hey Jozefa, I've just been wondering this whole time. Since you certainly have the money, as well as the background. Why didn't you end up in St.Elizabeth?" wondered her friend. Compared to the rest of the group, Jozefa came from a noble background and what was expected that she would end up in some posh school with a costly education. However, Jozefa instead had ended up in the same school as her childhood friend Krystyna when they had finished elementary. Rather than an answer, much like the previous question asked, Jozefa kept quiet and stood up.
"Krystyna,do you still cling onto your dreams?" asked Jozefa as she turned to her, rather than a verbal response, what came instead was a nod while quietly gulping. Seeing as to how Jozefa had changed the track of the train of conversation, she'd rather go with it, and it has been that way since the two were in elementary.

"Very well then, I think it's time that our dreams should be realized." announced Jozefa as she looked onto the rest of the group, before turning out onto the horizion with the cape of her uniform fluttering in the breeze.All had their attention towards her,with the exception of Lidia, who was still focused on her accordion and the song that she was playing through the whole time,bringing it to an end.

"My czterej pancerni,
"Rudy" i nasz pies.
My czterej pancerni
powrócimy wierni,
po wiosenny bez."

[Ardavia]

Rauschen Harbor, Rauschensky Raion, Republic of Prussia
September 5th, 2016

Jossi tapped her fingers against her upper arm, glancing at the clock occasionally. The ferry would be here soon, she knew that intellectually, but she was bored and hadn't thought to bring her laptop while she waited for the ferry to bring her friends. A mistake she wouldn't repeat, that was for sure.

Just as that thought went through her head, an earsplitting shriek reached her ears, which prompted her to direct a curious stare at the direction it had came from. Two girls were stood on top of what appeared to be a light tank cosplaying as a boat, with one of them holding a... fish? Jossi shrugged. Whatever weird things those people were up to, she really didn't want to know.

At least the weather was nice, she figured. Sunny day, but not too hot, with a nice breeze in from the sea. It was a nice day to start off the school year, indeed. A great beginning for what would certainly be an interesting year. Well, interesting if the Rauschen tankery club managed to get off the ground, she supposed. But there was no reason it wouldn't. No one would turn down the chance to participate in such a riveting sport as tankery, would they? No matter what the adults said about it being a waste of money or whatever.

Oh, but she had so many plans, if only her friends would get here so she could tell them-

"... Jossi, what are you wearing and why are you jumping on the spot?"

If one had a way to listen in on the train of thought inside Josseline's head at that moment, the sound one would hear would be remarkably similar to the screech of metal grinding against metal. On the outside, her head slowly pivoted to face the speaker, Sofia with one eyebrow minutely raised flanked by Maria, who looked bored as she hefted the three's luggage, and Mari, who was fiddling with her cell phone.

"So, uh. How long have you three been here...?"

"We just got off the ferry. Now please explain why you're wearing," Sofia waved a hand to indicate her, "that thing."

"Uh... you mean this? Well, you see, since this outfit weighs less, the StuG's engine will have to propel less mass. The result: it goes faster. Ideally, I would reduce mass as much as possible, but it really wouldn't be professional or compliant with school rules to walk around naked.”

"... you realize that a kilogram here or there doesn't really matter when the engine already has to move twenty-four tonnes, yes? Actually, don't answer that, let's just go." Sofia's tone was incredulous, to say the least. As she spoke, she started walking, the others loosely falling in behind her.

"... Every drop matters. Oh, and I got you all matching outfits, they're up at the dorm."

The other three froze mid-stride, slowly turned on the spot and, in an eerily synchronized manner, gave Josseline a look before resuming their walk.

As they walked, Sofia spoke up again without looking at the others.

"The StuG will be here in a few days, it's coming by cargo train. There's a lot of repair work to be done, which isn't surprising considering it's lain buried in a swamp for 70 years, but it's better than it could have been. We'll need to completely rebuild the engine and powertrain, and probably replace the running gear in its entirety too, since the tracks are gone and the suspension is badly rusted. The hull itself is in good shape, though, and at least we won't have to repair an entire turret assembly in addition to everything else."

A chorus of affirmative noises greeted that announcement.

[Republic of Hasgriu]

Rauschen Girls' High School Academy Ship, Rauschensky Raion, Republic of Prussia
5^th September 2016

A feminine figure sat a little ways away from the school hall, on a generic oak-brown wooden bench. From the pair of earphones attached to her head poured out a piece of classical music with the distinctive musical quality of an organ. Specifically, the recording Liliya was listening to was one of Widor's renown Toccata, someone more musically-inclined, or simply knowledgeable, might note. A composition that is often played in wedding ceremonies, to the point where it has become a staple of such occasions.

The reason why Liliya was seated outside the hall, though, and not within it, was that she was currently waiting for her friends. Perhaps arriving at six-twenty in the morning was a bit too early? The raven-haired sophomore glanced down at her phone. Still two pieces left in the playlist.

Oh well. Nothing to be done about it. Liliya resumed gazing aimlessly at the waves lapping away at the coast. The beaches were empty at this time of day, not to mention the fact that it was a weekday. Only the occasional crustacean, skittering about on the sands, interrupted the landscape.

Or, in this case, the face of Yekaterina Yevgenyevna, eating a Toblerone.

"Lilichka! What're you listening to?"

In reply, Liliya raised her phone and showed the screen to the ever-bubbly girl.

Now Playing

12 of 14

Toccata in F major
Charles-Marie Widor
Symphony for Organ No. 5
in F minor, Op. 42, No. 1

4:11

-6:24

Now Maya and Hanna were entering her view as well, though the disruption did not bother her. After all, it meant she would no longer need to linger outside. The former was overdressed as per normal, even for the cooling weather; with a hooded jacket, thigh-high socks, and gloves on, one would have thought it was nearing winter.

While she hardly conversed with the trio, their presence was rather comfortable, oddly. Even if there was no difference between waiting inside or outside, she still felt compelled to wait for them. They seemed so charming together, to the point where she could easily call them friends.

"Widor? Dunno who that is. D'you like it?"

A shake of the head. Liliya removed the earphones, taking care not to damage them or yank them too hard. "Too muddy. Not crisp, sharp," she explained.

Disbelief filled Yekaterina's voice, as she cried out, "Eh?! Lilichka not liking classical music? What have you done to her?" While the brunette was almost certainly greatly exaggerating her reaction, her surprise was still genuine, and Maya and Hanna could not help but giggle and smile at that.

Hanna interjected, "Not everyone has to enjoy everything related to their favourite works. Bookworms might like Sherlock Holmes but not Shakespeare; pop lovers might adore certain bands or songs at the expense of others."

Without giving any sign of listening to her blond Polish friend, Yekaterina switched the subject faster than Italy did sides, declaring, with a glance at her wristwatch, "Oh! Let's go inside, it's nearly time!"

With that, the quartet made their way into the school hall and seated themselves, awaiting the orientation ceremony's initiation. What would the new school year bring? What adventures and misadventures lay in wait? All four of them wandered curiously. Maybe the new club that was supposedly forming, one for the motor sport of sensha-dō, or so the grapevine said, would occupy them for the following semesters.

[Lunas Legion]

Rauschen Girls' High School Academy Ship, Rauschensky Raion, Republic of Prussia
5th September 2016

"Was it really necessary to get Sara to wake me up, sis?" Aras whined as Justina finally picked somewhere to sit down, a small stone bench near to the hall. "There's unnecessary pain, and there's that."

"You'd been lying in bed, fully awake, for a whole half-hour." Justine shrugged. "What else was I supposed to do, throw a brick in through the window?"

"I said I'd get up in five minutes. And you already tried that once, you missed the window."

"You'd said that six times before. And please don't remind me."

"Plus your reactions are bloody funny Aras." Sara added as she sat. "Must remember to do that you more often."

"Please don't." Aras growled, while Sara just chuckled. "Besides, where are the others? Raya was bringing Sabine, wasn't she?"

"I think so?" Sara shrugged. Justine nodded in confirmation.

"Yeah, she was. I wonder where they got t-" Justine paused, squinting. "And there they are. Sara, go get 'em. They're over there." Justine waved a finger vaguely off to her left before Sara jogged off in that direction, returning a short while later with Raya and Sabine in tow.

"I see you hauled Aras out in time." Sabine remarked. "How does it feel to be up at a normal time?"

"Horrible." Aras snapped back. "I just wanted a lie-in damnit."

"You didn't need one though. We all managed."

"That's because you people are odd. Anyways..." Aras stood, stretching her arms. "It's probably time to head over. Any ideas for clubs, people?"

Sara sighed as the group began to move in the vague direction of the hall. "Sod all. Everything's boring, needs work, needs fitness or all three. Maybe you'll have another strange plan again, eh Aras?"

"Maybe, maybe. If we get lucky, or I get some inspiration."

[Naganasu]

Rauschen Girls' Highschool
5th September 2016

Seiko Ayumi sat down at the Library letting out a sigh of exhaustion as she opened the book about Senshado she had with her. She fixed her hair before reading her book flipping it to Page 22 where she left off and started to read about the origins of the sport. A few minutes later, Mayu Aikawa opened the Library door.

"There you are! I've been looking all over for you!" She said and Seiko Ayumi Looked up at her with a confused look

"You wanted to see me?" Seiko asked looking confused

"Yeah! Get this we found an old Type 97 Chi-Ha in the woods while having a picnic. It's dusty bit works! Come on let's go!" She said excitedly pulling her hand. Seiko smiled and returned the book to the shelf before following her just to see this tank. She didn't mind as it was great have friends

Meanwhile in the woods outside the school

Nagisa and Aiko were inspecting the tank. Aiko decided to open the hatch

"It smells horrible in there!" She said covering her nose as she saw that despite the terrible smell and some dust, the tank was in surprisingly well preserved . Nagisa Akaza just sat outside watching the tank while eating a rice cracker she brought along with her.

"Hey Everyone!" Mayu Aikawa waved as they both approached the tank. Seiko Ayumi looked amazed

"Woah! I wonder how that got in here." she said

[Minroz]

Rauschen Girls' High School Academy Ship, Rauschensky Raion, Republic of Prussia
5^th September 2016

Pacing through the school corridor was the group of ten girls, happily chatting and giggling among themselves about fashion, family and boys. Like their Russian ancestry, they’re conversing in the language of their grandparents. Dressed in their school uniforms, they’re undoubtedly students of the Rauschen Girls’ Highschool Academy, apart from the fact they’re your average girls at heart. They all living their normal lives with their loving families, hanging out, studying in classes and for them, it’s another day at school. Now, they’re heading over to the school hall for the start of the year ceremony.

“What are you girls will be doing after school?” Tatiana Pogodova asked her friends.

“Well Tatiana, I have homework to do. I can’t say I have much free time tonight.” Nina Kozakova replied like a bleated sheep. But her voice is clear enough to listen to.

“…just sleeping, I don’t feel like doing anything much.” Tamara Serova replied with the yawn, sounding bored.

“Oi Tamara! We have chores at home to do. I can’t have you slacking off on everything all the time.” Raina, Tamara’s twin older sister scolded her.

“Da, da.” The younger twin waved it off lazily.

“Err, I don’t know really. I was planning to do another round of jogging to keep my mind straight after the stupid studies. Being an egghead isn’t for me.” Mira Zherdeva said with the big grin. More like she’s boasting like an happy lion.

“Jesus, I swear you girls didn’t have many things to do today.” Tatiana made a coy smile at her friends.

“Ooh ohh, I know! Why don’t we go to this awesome café down by the road?~ I’ve heard the food there tasted awesome.” Sofia Shirmanova chirped.

“Oh yeah, let’s hang out over there when we have time together, it would be wonderful.” The bespectacled blonde suggested. “What says you, girls?”

“Da.” They replied in agreement.

At the other side of the school corridor are the group of five girls, their appearance are of Central Asian features, dressed in their Rauschen Highschool uniform. They’re also heading to the school hall for the ceremony.

“Alhamdulillah, I’m looking forward to the next year~. Today is another great day~. Did you all have plans after school?” Aliya Temirova asked her friends.

“Yeah, I’m going for gym exercises with your cousin, Aliya. Both of us wanted to stay fit and strong.” Umida Makhmudova replied. Inkar, Aliya’s taller and muscular cousin, just gave a nod. “We can’t afford ourselves to be slouches.”

“Hooray for healthy lifestyle~. I might ask you two for tips on exercises. I was thinking of losing weight right now.” Gulnara Taalayova quipped.

“You’re slim. Why you must go on the diet?” Aliya pointed out, teasing her Tajik-Prussian friend.

“A lady should stay beautiful from outside and within her soul.” Gulnara made a mock puff.

“Erm…I have homework to finish. Maybe we…hang out together some other time?” Firuza Abdullova said meekly.

“Ok.”

“It’s alright, Firuza.”

“Very well, let’s organised our girls’ going out plan after school, there’s plenty of time to talk.” The Kazakh-Prussian girl recommended.

Now, the girls, both Russian and Central Asian descent, have arrived at the school hall in anticipation for the start of year ceremony. Eventually the girls helped themselves to their seats in one of the rows of chairs.

“I can’t wait for the ceremony~.” Sofia quipped, brimming with excitement.

“Slow down sister, it’s getting started.” Mira gently ushered her down.

“But it’ll be boring.” Tamara yawned.

“Tamara!” Raina chided her to which the younger Serova ignored.

“I wonder how this year goes. I hope it’ll be fun.” Tatiana questioned off her musings.

Back to the Central Asian-descent Prussians, they have chats of their own.

“Ever since Saint Elisabeth won, everyone is getting crazy about the upcoming Tankery matches lately. Don’t you girls find it strange?” Aliya spoke.

“I find it strange too. Then again the principal is the strangest man himself.” Umida stated out her thoughts.

“Never mind that, did Rauschen ever won the Tankery tournament? I don’t remember.”

“Erm…apparently none because Rauschen High never participated in the tournament ever. It’s because of budgetary reasons and lack of interests in the Tankery club.” Firuza explained.

“Woah, that was a big letdown.” Umida remarked.

“Hey, I’ve heard rumours say that our school is bringing the Tankery Club back. Wouldn’t be awesome!?” Gulnara chirped.

“Yeah, it will be.” Aliya smiled. The girls have sat comfortably in their seats. However, what comes next are probably they didn’t expect to see.

[Monfrox]

Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility, Pittsfield Township, Michigan, United States of America
September 3rd, 2016

It was the usual shit she'd gotten before. Same room, same officer, same attitude. Only difference was that this meeting had some actual substance to it rather than the usual "I'm in charge, do as I say, and maybe you won't find life so hard here" speech. The Corrections officer didn't lie it anymore than she did, but then the officer sitting in uniform across a vary barren metal table in a room with one light and a one-way mirror got to go to bed and had hot meals and hot showers everyday. Rebecca didn't like her. Not one bit.

"Look, it's been a few weeks, and your cronies," Nice choice of words, bitch "haven't been making any trouble since you first got here, though we do have Miss Decker in custody. We're willing to write them off as merely accessories to the crimes to give them a lighter sentence, but your case is a hard one to plead. Robbery, vandalism, assault and battery, at least one count of something that could be listed as attempted premeditated murder if we were being real about this, and not to mention resisting a police officer arrest."

The woman, a dark brunette of about her mid-thirties with as much of a care for the girl across from her as she had for the ground she stepped on, tossed the file on Rebecce she was holding onto the table, breaking up the grayish monotony with it's manila color.

"So why go through it. Why subject yourself to losing so many years of your life to being cooped up in a place like this." Her tone hinted that she very much didn't care what was said, but was asking merely to get things out there for the other officers doubtlessly watching from behind the one-way. "You were a bright kid in school, had a loving mother who cared for you, and were even on track to be an acceptable member of society. So why?"

"Because people needed to be taught lessons."

"Grudges."

"Call them what you want. No one fucks with me anymore."

"Because you're stuck here where no one can get you."

"Are we gonna to sit there and play twenty questions or are we done?"

"Listen you brat. You're only here because someone took pity on your miserable and wretched life and decided you deserved a second chance."

"Lucky me."

"You're being sent to an all girl's school with a pre-selected extracurricular club out of the states, but you will be closely monitored should you think that you can get away with whatever now that you're going overseas."

"What the fuck? What gives!"

"Oh, you want to spend your life up until about 45 in here?"

Rebecca clicked her tongue in annoyance. No, truth be told, she didn't feel like growing up a bird in a cage like this. But what the hell was this all about?

"When do I leave?"

"Tomorrow."

"And Charlie?"

"What about her?"

"She comes with me."

"Listen here, you-"

"Or I can stay here and make your life as hard as I can. I think it's only fair, really. Being sent to an entirely new school without anyone there that I know may bring back old habits, and that damages me as much as it does you for showing how much of a failure as a correctional officer you are."

The woman slammed her hands on the table, losing her cool. "You listen up, you little fuckin' bitch. You are not in any position to negotiate anything, and I will see to it that you regret staying here if this is how you're gonna go."

"Charlie's only an accessory. Shouldn't be too hard to set up. Are you done, now?" Rebecca took a mocking tone of indifference, confident that she had the upper hand on this one. The officer left the room, clearly fed up and visibly fuming. Well, she'd see how far she pushed her luck this time, but then again she didn't care. What else did she have left to lose anyway?

---

Rauschen Girls' High School Academy Ship, Rauschensky Raion, Republic of Prussia
September 5th, 2016

Rebecca found out just how hard she pushed her luck as she got off the boat with all the things she own in a duffel bag on her back. But, despite being ordered to join the school's Tankery club, which was no doubt the most dangerous one, she was not a fish-out-of-water in it, nor alone. Charlie Decker, and her green hair that had a tint in between dull and neon, followed Rebecca through the campus. They had been given a short tour the other day, and now they were heading to spruce up their dormitory. Well, spruce up was a relative term as they intended to just make it more homey. Simple things to bring the place together, like wall posters and a small radio and a few other odds and ends that Charlie had no doubt used her five finger discount to obtain from back home.

The school uniform bit did not sit well with her. Instead, she defied it by wearing her old, worn out and faded jeans and a white t-shirt underneath a cheap black leather jacket that had seen better days. She wore a camouflage bandana around her neck like a scarf, while Charlie had one around her right bicep. It was a symbol of their old gang back home, and they wore it with pride. Rebecca stepped out once more into the school grounds from her dorm room and flicked out her zippo after she took a cigarette from her pack.

"I thought you quit." Charlie observed, deadpan tone still unrelenting in her speech. Her style of dress was smiliar, only she had a black zip-up hoodie and red shirt, both of which looked like they had their threads being stretched by her rather generously large bust.

"Yeah. Thought I did too. C'mon, let's go see what this orientation shit is about. Can't believe they put me in "Tankery" as a club. What kind of sports club uses tanks?"

"Didn't you like history in school, though?"

"Yeah. I wonder if that's why they put me in it. Or maybe they wanna see me croak and never have to deal with me again."

Charlie shrugged at her companion as the two walked together towards the proper school buildings. Being 19 years old made her quite taller than a lot of the other girls, and with her personal appearance giving her that vibe, she found the walk around school grounds mainly uninterrupted. She didn't expect trouble here, but after living in such a bad neighborhood, she learned to go beyond just "resting bitch-face" to a level of a scowl and cold eyes that was the look of someone that you didn't talk to unless you felt like getting smacked around that day. She was already tired of not finding the area in this huge-ass campus.

Well, she'd been wandering the campus for the better half of the orientation ceremony, and eventually found it. After a few minutes, she and Charlie were sufficiently bored, and they both quickly snuck out. Both of them had experience dodging cops during their time, so it wasn't anything new to get out of the school campus now. Well, at least onto the sports field where she and Charlie could share a cigarette under a tree, relishing in the first actual fresh air they'd had in a while.

[Wolfenium]

Assembly Hall, Rauschen Girls' High School Academy Ship
Later that day

Gathered in the middle of the assembly hall in neat ranks, the students and staff of Rauschen Girls' High were prepared to mark the start of their new year. Small murmurs still radiate the room as anxious parents watched at the back. Particularly for the fifteen-sixteen year old first years, this was a start of a new life in high school, and a unique journey into the open seas and rivers of Europe as they poised themselves to become future leaders of hospitality. At the front, honoured guests, including the board, awaited commencement dressed only in their smartest suits. The only exception, a hapless Asiatic fool with a straw-hat, was hastily fumbling with his white captain's uniform as his mate pestered him with every adjustment of detail.

"Alright, alright, I can fix it myself," the hapless captain blabbed in a struggle, his arms flailing as if in a fit, "just let me handle this."

"Shut up, bumpkin," snapped his aide, "you got the buttons wrong! Come on, it's not like it's your first time wearing this!"

"It feels so warm wearing this," whined the child-like captain, "how could anyone survive wearing this in summer!?"

Growing fed up with his incessant noise, all the mate griped was, "everyone in this damn room."

Seated with the board members in a well, a short-haired blonde, dressed in a neatly pressed black suit and office skirt, with a stockings over her legs, also stood out from the line of adults, not the least due to her appearance. With a chest and figure easily putting the students and female staff to shame, she exuded a ladylike appearance the contrasted her attractiveness with her professionalism. But she was not a board member, far more than that. Between the choice of Vernost's Red Square marches and St. Elisabeth's Latin chorus medley, Rauschen's modest and somewhat generic opening ceremony provided a welcome change to the official, Minister for Education, Fiona Wilhelmina Julia von Augsburg

"Not the same as the others, is it," she remarked to her butler, seated beside to tend to her, "nothing grand, but this takes me back."

"'Keep it simple', you say, Madam," agreed the curtly-dressed servant, "I suppose so. Vernost's start-of-year ceremonies tend to be too grandiose for my taste. Nothing but parades."

As the remaining guests and students begin to gather at the hall, a small hush fell over as the first announcements for silence. Stepping onto the podium, Henna tried hard to focus on the task at hand. Adjusting her collar, she tried to put the insanity of the morning behind her, her eyes peering over the crowd discreetly for any sign of Iveta and her gang.

"Please rise for the national anthem," she spoke into the mic, clearing her throat a bit as another student brought the flags to the center of the stage. Standing beside the school flag, the black-white-blue tricolour of the Prussian Republic hung on its staff in front of a standing audience. Silence quickly enveloped the room, as the students awaited in attention for the melody to play. As the song of the Ostpreußenlied finally played, the entire hall, save for its foreign students and staff, began to sing in unison.

Tīmran meddin tāuta, waīsnan azzaran
Kīrša plattun laūkan swāiksti pāitaran

Kīrša pelkins, teīnan āustra jāu etskīt
Tīt pagaūni dēinan, skīstan swāikstan, tīt.

Treppa spārtai būrai, pas plūgan dei ēit
Be en dāngui dūrai pippalka jāu skreīt.

Jūris tenna grīmuns iz deiwūtiskwan
Braīdis enklausīwuns en prābutiskwan.

The Prussian Hymn, like many symbols of the modern Prussian nation-state, was but another product borrowed and adapted from its pre-Soviet past, but it was one its people swear by on a daily basis. But while the rest were busy taking the pledge and listening to the medley of dull, almost repetitive speeches to follow, Iveta was nowhere to be found.

---

Sound Room, Assembly Hall

"Excuse me," blurted a surprised girl from the SFV (Sound, Flash and Video) club as she and her colleagues worked on the sound system for the hall, "you want us to what?"

Holding out a thumbdrive with an eager look, Iveta chimed excitedly, "well, they are going to air recruitment videos for the clubs soon, right? We just happened to be one of those clubs."

"Which one," mused the confused stagehand, accepting the thumbdrive. Giving a cheeky smile, Iveta curtly gave her answer, as the speech by the elderly principal was coming to an end.

---

Assembly Hall

"...and so, as we look back at the achievements of our elders, we hope that your generation would strive forward for the future of your families and your homelands. Thank you."

As thunderous applause greeted the end of the horrendous ear drubbing, the quartet quickly saw Iveta slipping back beside them, a devious grin on her face that spelt trouble for all of them." Eyeing her suspiciously, Kirke narrowed her eyes as she whispered, "you're up to something."

"What're you talking about," Iveta denied devious, "I wasn't doing anything."

"It's an awfully long time to be in the bathroom, you know," Avelina questioned, "you didn't sneak out of school, did you?"

"Of course not," the Latvian defiantly chimed, sticking her tongue out, "I don't need to. Computer labs are a go, you know."

"Y-You what," spat Kirke, trying to restrain her voice, "what for!?"

Coyly, the confident lass merely wagged her finger as she crooned, "you'll see."

Watching the student emcee stepped up again to address the audience, Iveta appeared dubiously eager, something that bothers her less patient friend to no end. Before Kirke could probe, the emcee's voice quickly drowned her out in quickly succession. Forced to put her attention back on stage, Kirke and her friends could only watch Iveta's plans put into action.

"...next up," the emcee announced, "we'll be featuring the various clubs and societies that will be available for new students to join in the coming fortnight. Each have a unique showcase of talents that will be sure to amaze you. First up, we have the uniformed groups starting with the- hold on."

As the emcee paused to hear her instructions in her earpiece, Iveta twiddled her thumbs in mock innocence, trying to avoid Kirke's probing eyes as she waited on in excitement. Finally, as the emcee spoke again, she announced in a noticeably chirpier tone, "we have a very special video presentation lined up just for everyone this morning. Word has it that someone in the crowd is putting together a very special club here in Rauschen! Can you guess? Well, here's a hint. Hard as steel, fast as the wind, and hits like a flying rock? Ok, maybe that's not a good analogy. Here's the tankery club's very first recruitment video!"

Freezing at the mention, Kirke had no idea what Iveta had done. Mouth agape, her head creaked in Iveta's direction in horror as the grinning Latvian watched her work at play. Henna was sure to kill her for this. She was going to kill them. If forming an archaeological club was difficult enough, forming a tankery club would be a whole new challenge. Shrinking on her seat as the rest of the audience watched in amazement, she could only imagine Henna's reaction in the backstage right now.

*Video*

Splicing together highlights of the past European tournament for a recruitment video in a matter of minutes, Iveta's workmanship, if anything, was shockingly brilliant. In a flurry of fast-paced action, the armoured combat was flashing past the screen to the sound of an adrenaline pumping guitar bass. Using only just the school computer and the primitive movie maker supplied by the OS developer, the girl was eager to pull no punches with her recruitment video. Sadly, that sort of focus and hard work was rarely seen where it mattered most - her studies.

"Iveta, are you crazy," hissed Kirke nervously as she could hear the rejoicing of the students at the end of the video, "you can't just declare to the entire school that you want to make a tankery club. That's crazy."

"Why not," Iveta stated daftly, " I got another form ready just for the occassion. I just need Henna to approve and we'll be on our way to get our tanks."

"It's not that easy, you braindead husk," Kirke blurted dramatically, tugging at the girl's shirt as she tried to dissuade her, "do you know why there's only two schools in Prussia who has tankery clubs? The same ones that kept reaching the final stages!? They. Have. Money!!! And tankery clubs cost the school a fortune. Why'd you think so many were shut down after the Cold War!?"

"Pfff..." Iveta scoffed, "it's not like Terhikki's parents can't afford it. They own the school."

"Iveta," Terhikki blurted indignantly, "it's not that simple! If Sister finds out who was behind it, she'll-"

"Too late," Ivelina cried out, pointing at overhead as an air of murderous intent began to fill their presence. Looming over them with bloodshot eyes, Henna, flanked by a pair of student council prefects, looked as if they were going to haul her off for questioning. It did not help that Iveta had elected to plaster her name in the video credits, knowing fully well it would raise her ire. But Henna herself appeared struggling to retain some restraint, and for good reason. Not only was the confused school board present, but the guest of honour as well.

"Iveta Kovalenoka," Henna stated in a professional tone, trying hard not to let the blood rush to her head in a fit of rage, "can you come with me."

"What's with that tone, Henna," barked Iveta angrily, quite fed up with the girl's attitude as the school watched the brewing confrontation, "I did nothing wrong. I already filed my application in the office, and recruitment drives by the clubs starts today, isn't it? Is there anything wrong with starting a new one!? I'm sure plenty of students in the school would like a tankery club."

Henna, she appeared, was at her limit. Part of her felt simply like lashing out at the fool in public, or hauling her off for questioning over her abject rule breaking. Another was conscious of the brewing trouble ahead, having to explain to the startled school board and their guest about the sudden announcement of a tankery club. There were many reasons for her to be mad, not the least because Iveta took her own initiative to declare its creation. Unlike other clubs in the school, a tankery club required not just the approval of the student council president, the headmaster and the board, but the Maritime Education Authority and the two ministries it was answerable to, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Defence.

Iveta was plunging her and the school in hot water.

---

• Credits to Neoteros for the flag, and the translators for the Prussian Hymn for the Baltic Prussian rendition (and translations). Original German version.

[Sonitusia]

Assembly Hall, Rauschen Girls' High School Academy Ship
Side of Stage

The strategy club was preparing, as were the other clubs of Rauschen's. The four representatives wore uniforms of Germanic generals from different eras; Odetta in Old Prussian army garb, Fadillah in a World War 1 era uniform of the Second Reich, Hermione in a Second World War era Luftwaffe uniform (no swastikas in sight due to heavy restrictions), and finally Adelia in her Bundeswehr dress uniform. They were well prepared, with a cinematic video ready to be played as they presented their club to the hundreds of new students who were to attend the academy ship this year. Not that many people joined the strategy club, probably preferring something more oriented towards sports or home economics, but the team was passionate about what they did, and their budget began to raise steadily as the last year's effort proved great.

"Resort town academy topples three time champion!"

"Asian beauties bring academy strategic gaming team to a whole new level!"

It wasn't any wonder that they would be one of the first clubs to go up after the school organization groups were finished. There must have been a few students who were interested in what they could accomplish with such a club, with members only being the size of half a class. But as they all finished singing the anthem of East Prussia, nobody expected that the first to go would be using a video presentation.

"Isn't it supposed to be the school council that goes up first?" Hermione whispered, but the club leader shrugged as they watched the presentation unfurl. The opening words already gave a hint as to what would happen, but the video spoke for itself. Tanks, tanks destroying other tanks. Of course, it looked similar to a game, perhaps considering that Rauschen had yet to have its own tankery club. But now, that might very well just happen. Fadillah expressed great interest, Odetta rather curious as to how it would turn out. Hermione, of course, was skeptical, but all the more as excited as her leader.

"Tankery?" Adelia muttered, a smile spreading across her face as memories of her middle school life came rushing back. The roar of battle as the Stuarts charged forth, every single minute being crucial for the guerilla of a captain that their team had. Not even the Australian guest tankery team could hold them back, with their Sentinals and Fireflies.

"Now isn't this an interesting turn of events!"

---

Assembly Hall, Rauschen Girls' High School Academy Ship
Audience

Fauna Pool

"I didn't know they had this sort of club," the red-head said under her breath, eyes and mouth wide open as she enjoyed the video presentation. It was simple, crude, but it brought the message; there's tanks to be had this year!

Fauna had just transferred in, already a second year, but was still readjusting to the school life once more. She was used to waking up to the sound of bugles, not an alarm clock preset the night before. She found herself alone in the morning, with no other students already in the building when the gates had just opened. She lacked any sense of laying back when compared to a normal high school girl. But in her own defense, it was very Prussian. And she prided herself in being able to even get into a Prussian school, despite having skipped her second year for military training.

While I admit that St. Elisabeth or Vernost would've been better schools, it looks like this is going to be a very good year nonetheless...

---

Albert(a) Walker

Albert was confused.

This was his first day being in Rauschen, having never stepped foot upon the academy ship, nor read anything about it online. He was busier studying for his first year of high school, wanting to prove himself worthy in the eyes of the Prussians. He didn't know what they were like, save for the stereotypical discipline and the history of conquest that the old empire had succeeded in. He also didn't know one other thing.

Rauschen was an all-girl's highschool.

Confused when he had finally opened the uniform given to him by his older sister, Albert learned that his life had changed by 180 degrees. Looking out the window of his small apartment gave him a view of all the academy's girls, not a single male save for teachers, walking to school. While it did relieve him that he didn't need to cut his hair to military standards, it did make him flustered to step outside, wearing the uniform and trying not to show off any sense of fear in his heart. He knew that days like this were coming, and that he'd be assimilated into a lifestyle that he himself had started. There wasn't any turning back from here.

And now here he was, a beautiful Belgian brunette, watching a presentation of a sport he had watched dutifully since he was a child, even if it wasn't popular in Europe. Known first to him as Senshadou from the far east, he knew of the European tankery league several years ago and also enjoyed it on the same level as its Asian counterpart. He often watched it with his father, who always made puns about how back in his day, only Russian girls would be caught dead in those beasts.

The memory pained him a little, but as the presentation came to a close, he couldn't help but find himself clapping alone, not too hard, but enough to catch the attention of those around him, who giggled from the 'girl's' antics. Embarrassed, he put his hands down, but ended up giggling as well until a nearby teacher hushed them.

Tankery...

---

Theodora Mills

"Bloody 'ell, couldn't it be a bit more realistic?" the Aussie grumbled, adjusting the goggles on her head for a few moments before picturing every single scene of the video in a real life situation. The Covenanter would've broken down, the Waffentraeger wouldn't even have moved, and there was no way that the turrets turned that fast. It all annoyed her, as if the footage had come from a game, which, it pretty much did.

"I'll join 'em, give a piece of my mind," she added, getting pumped up already. She could already imagine fixing up a monster like the Tiger, or maybe test driving a BT tank or similar Christie suspension-using vehicles. "They'd better have an automotive club as well, don't know what the hell these Prussies got..." she muttered to herself.

---

Luisa Chiavallati and Mentari Nachtmann

"Nachtmann."

The Italian girl poked the Asian several times to pry her away from the schematics laid out on her phone, before Mentari finally gave in and looked up to the screen. She was fascinated to say the least, though the presentation could've been better. Perhaps without the HUD? It was too obvious it had come from WoT, a game she had played several times in the past, but it wasn't something she'd had expected to show up in the middle of a club advertising.

"Is that for the gaming club?" Mentari asked, putting away her smartphone. Luisa shook her head in contradiction. "No, it's for the... Tankery club? Si, that's what it's for."

The two had met beforehand during the first year, with the Asian greeting herself like the diplomatic girl she was to a rather lonesome Chiavallati. This wasn't to say Luisa was shy, but she wasn't the type to engage in a conversation without any basis, and the first year of school tended to do that. Although they weren't the best of friends back then, they weren't strangers to each other, and would regularly say hello in the hallways whenever they met. But if one saw how both lived, it would be apparent that they came from different worlds, at least, that's what society tells us.

Luisa lived by herself in a meager apartment, its rent paid off by the school as long as she continued to excel academically, which she did so with full responsibility. Meanwhile, Mentari lived in a two story house, on one of the better parts of the ship, and with shipments of the latest gadgets always arriving on the front doorstep. She lived with healthy food of good quality ingredients, while Luisa had to make sure her monthly salary was enough before each trip to the grocery store. Mentari's uniform was crisply ironed by her mother, while Luisa's was done by hand to her full ability.

Yet, despite the difference in economy, the two were very similar. Their rooms were a mess of work, prototypes and scrap littering the floor while they built their final creation. It wasn't until that was finished was there any sense of cleanliness, as they are both very organized as well.

"Should we join?" Luisa asked, "We didn't exactly participate in many club activities last year..."

Mentari nodded, stretching her arms into the air. "We definitely should. I think they'll need the manpower."

[Mefpan]

Assembly Hall, Rauschen Girls' High School Academy Ship

Tankery. Tankery. Tankery! The announcement had been made! The gate's been opened! The ramp's been lowered! The cat's out of the bag, she was right and everything went

"Just...as...planned!", Edita shouted as her legs practically catapulted her off- and onto her seat for an incredibly visible fist-pump. Tanks, driving tanks, shooting at other tanks! And what's more, she was practically ensured a place! With her tank and her friends, the team would be unstoppable! Sure, it might not be the most powerful in terms of armament, but its amphibious capacities were not to be underestimated to be sure and...someone was tugging at her skirt.

Edita looked back down to see Kirsi, pointing back down at her seat. Seat? Sit...oh. No getting too jumpy in public, right. She coughed, assumed a vaguely properly elegant posture, and lowered herself down on her chair.

"Besides, Edith, you didn't really plan for this", Suse interjected to which she just replied with a vaguely indignant "Well, I could have!"

"You did prod the school regarding this topic a couple times but they did say no-"

Mimmi, having kept her eyes on the stage with the constant watchfulness of someone who knew the telltale signs of people realizing they've been played like France in 1940, "Girls, I think there's a trouble brewing over there. Doesn't seem like people were planning for this announcement."

All of them turned their heads back to the stage, where an argument seemed to be brewing rather more rapidly than they'd seen anywhere else so far - yep, this definitely was a lone wolf announcement for what pretty much amounted to the most expensive club activity one could think of. A grin spread across Edita's face. Of course. Of course, there was an opportunity if it'd ever reveal itself. Besides, wouldn't want to have it snuffed out now. No matter how she looked at it, there was only one way this could end.

"Girls, I'm going to volunteer here and now. Can't just leave her hanging out to dry after what she's doing for us, can we?" - "Edith, you're wha-"

Again, she stood up, climbed onto her chair, and raised her hand, "I am Edita Maruska, and you have my tank!"

Her friends glanced at each other, and then at her with varying expressions - Suse, her face approaching that of a condemned woman; Mimmi, a slowly expanding grin; Kirsi, a face.

"Gott im Himmel. I am Suse Kron, and I am her loader", the blonde German said as she, too, stood up.

Then Kirsi and Mimmi stood up, the latter leaping into the former's arms to be seen more easily - the chair being insufficient at making her seen easily.

"My name's Mimmi Strand, and I'll be her captain!", Edita's Swedish friend shouted, flashing a distinctly Churchill hand gesture.

The blonde German coughed. "Mimmi, captains are for larger vessels. Our tank is small. You're more like a skipper."

"EVEN BETTER! Skipper sounds faster! I'm her skipper!"

Kirsi, finally, simply lifted the short blonde Swede up a little for emphasis and wordlessly nodded her assent.

[Lunas Legion]

Rauschen Girls' High School Academy Ship, Rauschensky Raion, Republic of Prussia
5th September 2016

Aras knew enough about entrance ceremonies, opening ceremonies or whatever variant was used to last a lifetime. They were dull, boring things, and also extremely difficult to get out of. That did not, however, mean that you couldn't simply daydream your way through them, which was what she normally did. It was a good idea. The others would brief her on clubs afterwards anyways, not that there were any they ever agreed on doing.

And so that was what Aras did. She had Justine to her left and Sara on her right, Sabine and Raya having sat somewhere in front of them by a few rows. She stood and sung the national anthem along with everyone else in the room, and when the speeches began, she drifted off into the world of daydreams, content to ignore everything around her.

And then Sara jabbed her inbetween the ribs.

"The fuck was-" Aras hissed angrily, trying to keep her voice as low as possible.

"Watch." Sara interrupted, pointing towards the front of the hall.

So Aras watched. After watching... Whatever this video was, she simply turned to Sara and whispered "What did I just watch?"

Sara grinned widely. "That's apparently called 'tankery', and they're making a club for it. Are you thinking what I think you are?"

Aras snorted. "You know me too well. I guess luck paid off this time. Justine?"

"Uh..." Justine blinked, thinking. She'd been caught completely off-guard for once, actually having to think on the spot. "I guess? I mean, if only to make sure you actually do it."

"Aw, leave me alone sis." Aras ran a hand through her sister's hair, ruffling it. "It'll be fun. Who doesn't like explosions and violence?"

"I don't know much about tanks, but I don't think we could have a good one with only a crew of three." Sara interrupted, staring up towards the ceiling. "Think we can get Raya and Sabine in?"

Aras shrugged. "Shouldn't be hard. There's a reason they're friends with us, right?"

Sara's grin returned. "Right. Oh, and I'm calling driver."

"You drive like a maniac." Justine winced at the memory.

"That's the point."

[Ardavia]

Assembly Hall, Rauschen Girls' High School Academy Ship

"Ahahahaha. Yes." Sofia coughed a little, then glanced at Mari, who was seated silently beside her.

"Remind me to call my parents and ask for money later. We're going to need to install a working gun on the StuG while we restore it, so we can use it for tankery."

Mari simply nodded, taking out a notepad and pen and scribbling something down in her nearly illegible handwriting. Not that Sofia was able to read it anyway, considering it was written in Finnish.

On Sofia's other side, Jossi glanced up from her phone and looked briefly at the four people seated to her left, before directing her attention back to Sofia, who was excitedly voicing ideas in a low tone to the silent audience of Mari and Maria, the latter of whom was fiddling with her phone. Hm, wonder what she was talking about-

That was when her ears caught a single word. "Tankery".

Tankery? A tankery club? She was going to get to drive the StuG in actual (well, simulated) combat, instead of just taking it for test laps occasionally?

And that was the point where Jossi very nearly got up and started doing a happy dance in the aisle.

Nearly, because she did have some self-control and could in fact resist embarrassing herself in public. Very nearly, because she didn't have all that much self control in the end.

Over on the right, not that Jossi was directing her attention that way absorbed as she was with keeping herself from embarrassing herself, Sofia had gone silent and was looking contemplative as she gazed at the phone Maria had thrust at her face. Finally, she nodded. "Yes, that's not a bad idea, we can get started once they get my StuG shipped up from Courland." Then she rose quietly from her seat. "MY NAME IS SOFIA FLEMING! SIGN ME AND MY FRIENDS UP FOR THE TANKERY CLUB!", Sofia shouted, raising her hand into the air before turning to indicate Jossi, then turning to point at Maria, who was looking stoic as ever even with Mari suddenly on her back, and finally Mari herself. Jossi didn't react to the sudden shout, only nodding absently when Sofia indicated her, while Maria nodded her assent silently and Mari shouted her agreement almost as loudly as Sofia had.

And then a single word shouted by one of the strangers next to her reached Jossi's ears.

"...Faster..."

And before that even reached Jossi's conscious mind, her head had swivelled around, eyes locking onto the short blonde girl currently held in the air by a taller brunette and mouth twisting into a toothy smile.

Then she moved. If anyone had been looking in that moment, all they'd been able to see was the blonde girl nearly instantaneously moving from her position to appear next to the suspended other blonde, a shark-like grin on her face and eyes sparkling ominously as she breathlessly spoke.

"So, I hear you like things that go fast...?"

[Krajstali]

Assembly Hall, Rauschen Girls' High School Academy Ship

Another year of high school was about to officially begin with the opening ceremony.For most of the girls of Jozefa's bunch,with the exception of Lidia Wiśniewska who was a freshman that they accepted due to her Polish background not to mention her knowledge of their beloved television show,they had went through the annual occasion twice.To the veteran girls however, they were quite interested on the new clubs that would be introduced to them.

The only one who seemed to be paying actual attention was Jozefa, standing out of the crowd with her Polish Uhlan get up which obviously had seemed to catch the attention of most of the students in the Assembly Hall. Having been in the same outfit for years, it really didn't mind her as the outfit made her feel protected and supreme, as evident by her elegant and upper class posture along with her serious expression, but not as serious as Bogumila who had her arms crossed and really wanted the event to be over as Lidia who was bored of the aspect of ceremonies had resorted to leaning onto the stronger girl. As the tricolour of the Prussian Republic unfurled, the five girls stood to attention and begun joining along with the rest of the hall, except rather than singing in Baltic Prussian in which only half of them knew, they sung it in it's Polish rendition in contrast to the rest of those whom were singing.

To Lidia, it was nothing like Mazurek Dabrowskiego otherwise known as Dabrowski's Marzuka. In comparison, the Polish anthem was far more faster paced and catchy whereas the Ostpreußenlied was more slower. Nevertheless she joined in with her comrades in singing the anthem with it's Polish lyrics.

As the many words of those who gave the speeches passed by their ears,the event moved on to the various clubs and activities that were going to be on display.The mention of the word "Tankery" had certainly caught the attention of Jozefa and Krystyna who had their eyes stuck onto the screen with energy building up within Krystyna as every second of the clip had passed.

"You were right, our dreams were going to be realized!" squealed Krystyna as she grabbed hold of Jozefa and shook her in excitement much to her annoyance, doing nothing other than sighing and closing her eyes as a response. "Call it coincidence or luck but I certainly didn't foresee this." Jozefa cleared up as she returned her focus to the stage. No longer were the days of playing Four Tankmen in a wooden recreation of a T-34/85 back at the Pilsudski residence or doing it virtually, now it was the time to drive real deathtraps of steel, furthermore with a dog. Although it would seem mostly likely that they wouldn't be able to include the dog in their adventures.

Jozefa couldn't wait for the event to be over and immediately sign up for the event, as well as ring up her parents to acquire a required vehicle for the Tankery club in preparation. Krystyna had noticed that other students in the hall begun rising and announcing their allegiance to the Tankery club, missing out certainly wasn't the idea that she had in mind. She tried forcing Jozefa up, to which he resisted strongly.

"Krystyna, I urge you to calm yourself you gopnik. You are certainly going to make a fool out of all of us." Jozefa calmly urged as she tried shrugging her best friend off. The commotion was certainly gathering attention as an exchange of curse words, both from a posh accent and a more rougher city dweller one was being carried out until Krystyna had simply decided to announce it rather than letting her friend to do the honor.

"Blin!...Uh..Krystyna Kowalska's the name and consider our gang in the Tankery club!" Loudly chimed in cKrystyna as she released Jozefa and quickly did a two finger salute. She then sat down, joining her friends once again as Jozefa's face softly began filling up with a faint red in embarrassment while Bogumila had further tilted her head downwards. But Krystyna had simply smiled, looking up at the ceiling as her hands had rested her head.

[Naganasu]

Forest outside Rauschen Highschool

"Wait, Aren't we supposed to be in the opening ceremony?" Seiko asked and the rest of the gang panicked. "How could we forget?!" Exclaimed Aiko as they both ran to the assembly hall led by Mayu and Nagisa just walking calmly behind them. They eventually made it and snuck in sitting next to each other. Nagisa Akaza went in minutes later and calmly sat next to them. Seiko, Mayu and Aiko let out a sigh of relief.

[Monfrox]

Assembly Hall, Rauschen Girls' High School Academy Ship, Rauschensky Raion, Republic of Prussia

Mary Shields, cunning and clever as she was, managed to rope together the other two American foreign exchange students to stick with during the opening ceremony. In a sea of Prussian and European accents, their voices stuck out even at the lowest whisper. Most of it was the same thing over and over, and Riley was very much unimpressed and bored. She looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here. Olivia was in a similar boat, but she was more well-behaved about it.

"Shit's boring the hell out of me. Can't we just go?" Parker groaned.

"Now now, Miss Parker. It's important to be here. Besides, don't want to get in trouble with school authorities on the first day, do we?" Mary said back in her sickly sweet voice.

Riley scoffed and Olivia merely took the air of indifference as they continued to endure the ceremony. As things went, they showed the Tankery club. Well, Riley certainly got interested. Mary noticed she couldn't take her eyes off the screen.

"Did we find your sweet spot?" Shields whispered to her.

Riley turned to Mary and raised her eyebrow before scowling. "Yeah, right."

"Aww c'mon. We're already going to be together for the year, why not have fun with it? Besides it could be worse. What about you, Miss Callaway?"

"I think it's barbaric."

"Oh don't be a spoil sport. It'll be sure to please! Besides, I hear there's two other Americans around here. If we wanted, five people is just enough for to crew a tank of considerable size."

"If I say yes, will you stop bugging me about it?"

"Maybe~"

Olivia sighed and Riley too. There was no getting out of it now, but at least they'd be able to make the most of it. Mary looked positively tickled at the prospect though.

[Minroz]

Assembly Hall, Rauschen Girls' High School Academy Ship

Widened their eyes like saucer plates, the Russian-Prussian girls are taken aback. Needless to say, they are dumbfounded by what they’ve just saw. They didn’t really expect a club advertisement or rather an unorthodox one to happen in the ceremony. The girls can only make out one word.

“Chto!?” they said in unison altogether.

“Jesus Christ, just what’s going on here?” Sofia uttered. “Is this a fair or something!?”

“I don’t know, your guess is good as mine.” Raina griped.

“I want to sleep after this.” Tamara yawns.

“Good lord, Tamara of all times. You had say that after the ceremony?” Mira said with amusement with her sleepy friend.

For Tatiana and Nina, the situation have became a grave matter, especially when the student council themselves are involved.

“I hope the poor girl is alright.” Nina said with concern.

“Same here, Nina. But by the looks of the school president, I can’t say she’ll be left off the hook for pulling off the stunt of hers.” The bespectacled blonde spoke, looking apprehensive. “Just what this girl is getting at for the tankery, I wonder?”

“Ooh ooh, how about we joined the club!? I’m sure it’ll be fun.” Sofia chirped.

“Seriously!?” Her more expressive friends gaped in response.

The Russians aren’t the only one. Meanwhile to the astounded Central Asian-Prussians, they made a response in their respective ancestral language in order.

“Ne? (What?)” Aliya yelped.

“Cī? (What?)” Firuza bleated.

“Nima (What?)” Umida blurted.

“…” Inkar is the only being silent. Though, she was apparently surprised as much as her classmates.

“Emne? (What?)” Gulnara gasped.

“By Allah, I thought we didn’t have any surprises today. This is the time of the school ceremony.” Aliya said.

“You’re not the only one, sister.” Umida stated. “But that girl is definitely in trouble. Still none of us expected or see that coming.”

Firuza, being a shy girl, kept her silence. Same goes for Inkar, being stoic lass as usual.

“I think the video looks awesome. I’m wonder what it feels like driving a tank.” Gulnara quipped.

“You don’t know unless you’ve tried. Maybe we should check it out.” Aliya replied to her Kyrgyz friend.

Regardless of what the girls are thinking, they have a lot of free time and nothing else to do afterwards, perhaps they may be interested in joining the ‘Tankery’ Club. If only it’s to sate their curiosity and adventurism. And besides they don’t have their own clubs to attend to.

[Republic of Hasgriu]

Assemby Hall, Rauschen Girls' High School Academy Ship

"So, who's signing up?"

The question left Yekaterina's mouth the second the video compliation concluded. Considering how visibly enthralled she had been by all the shooting, it was certainly not unexpected of her to ask.

When only Hanna, who, ever the maths geek, was already enthusiastically starting to look up ballistics, raised her hand, Yekaterina pouted, and tried to rope the other half of the group in, saying, "Aw, Mayunya, Lilichka (hey, that rhymes), you've got to join too! No tank can run with just two of us! We can talk to each other, and there'll be explosions and bombs and stuff. We can all team up!" OOC: I need the Commaholics Anonymous number, send help.

Nonchalant shrugs from both of them. "Maybe, if we're all going. I haven't got any plans anyways," Maya spoke, "That is, of course, assuming it actually gets past the bureaucracy." She was referring to the fact that one of the students was being dragged off by a trio of student council members, along with the apparent lack of advance notification for the screening of the video.

If the puzzled and infuriated looks on various student and adult figures were anything to go by, someone had neglected to run her plans by the council, and was going to pay dearly for it. Hopefully the extent of her punishment would be minimal, Maya thought. Prussian schools were notorious for their harshness, and she had gone to an infamously authoritarian school in an country frequently regarded as strict and could truthfully claim to have witnessed caning before. While saying that she can vividly recall the cries of the boy with each sharp stroke and crack of the rattan would be hyperbole, that was not to say it was not painful-sounding.

"Eh, who cares? We'll prove our worth and ability and potential to them, and so long as we preservere enough, they can't possibly deny us! Anyways, I'm claiming commander. Hanna, you can be my gunner, since you're really good at maths!" Yekaterina continued her planning, less audibly muttering tactics and tank choices to herself. Nothing was going to stop her from sensha-dō and a first-hand look at explosions. Not the student council, not even the MOE itself.

"I must get in one of those tanks."

[Wolfenium]

A brief look around the hall, the increasing hails in support of Iveta's motion was already getting on Henna's nerves. Had she been in any normal school assembly, she would have already railed at her for her insubordination. But this was no ordinary assembly. The board - her parents included - were watching; not to mwntion a minister of the cabinet as well. It was hard enough to convince any top official to attend Rauschen's inauguration. She could not just make a scene.

But Iveta had left her little patience to spare, she dreaded greatly the agonizing task of explaining to the board why the approval for the tankery club had not been notified. Someone had to be the fall guy... anyone... She hated to make an enemy out of Terhikki, but what option was she left?

"Let me explain to the school board," Iveta suddenly spoke to her, giving a confident smile, "and Minister what's-her-name. You just put the stamp on. After all, the head of the club has to take responsibility, right?"

Her frown twisting to a grimace, Henna was not sure whether to be glad or irked by Iveta's words. While this apparently saved Henna the trouble of being her scapegoat, she had little confidence in Iveta's leadership skills. 'Easier said than done' was how she wpuld have put it. Sadly, it was already too late to stop her.

Sulking, Henna simply stated, "I'll see to the arrangements. Just tell me when you're available today."

"Cafeteria, high noon," she stated immediately, standing on her seat as she repeated the call to the entire hall, "same for the rest of you! 12pm! You want to beat St. Elisa, we're going to need some sparkling new tanks! Be there! Oh, and don't forget your PT clothes! You'll be sweating out the whole day for this!"

As if on cue, the eager young girl hopped off her seat, grabbing Kirke's hand as she began shuttling her friends out. Biting her lips as she simply stood aside for the quintet, Henna could only brace for the worst. She hated to see Terhikki dragged off in another of her harebrained schemes, but matters had already gotten way out of hand. Looking back at the bewildered, perhaps bemused expression of the guests, she dreaded how they were going to react. No doubt, her position as student council president was in jeopardy. And nothing the brat claims could hope to deflect criticism off her.

Patting her shoulder, her aide, a dull black-haired girl with the ponytail, told her, "just calm down. Who knows. Maybe it might all work out."

"The hell would you know, Milla," she grunted, "you don't even know what they're up to."

"Well, can't you guess," Milla teased playfully, "her first app is for an archaeology club. Now she wants to go for tankery for no apparent reason. Isn't it obvious? They want to dig up a tank."

"Crazy girl," griped the president, "where the hell are they going to dig up a damn tank- wait... Don't tell me-"

"'The Graveyard of Steel'," Milla confirmed, "looks like they'll be paying Grandpa a visit."

Hearing Milla's guess was cold comfort for the president at this point. She hated to think what Iveta had in store. Knowing her, it might as well be a disaster. But as she pondered over the circumstances, another thought quickly struck her. Introductory classes at the first hour were mandatory for all students, even those preparing the club booths and recruitment. Pushing off after the hapless quintet, the annoyed president could only rue her mistake.

"Tankery club..." the blonde minister at the front muttered to herself, watching the scene unfold, "that's a surprise..."

Cafeteria, Rauschen Girls High School
Lunchtime

Greeting the students with a panoramic view of the town landscape, the cafeteria had all the furnishing of a modest cruise liner restaurant. With bright lamp lighting, cushioned seats and neatly arranged tables along the terraced floor, the board apparently spared no expense for such luxuries. But what most students did not realize was that the furnishings were simply hand-me-downs from another Poseidon Cruise ship that had underwent refurbishing. Deemed costly to dispose and still in relatively good quality, the furniture was simply donated to the academy ship for use. As the spread of foods, halal, kosher, vegetarian and main, were being prepared and laid on the buffet aisle, throngs of students waited in the lines for their first meal on board in the entire semester. From local favourites such as the kartoffelpuffer to more international treats like the butter paneer curry, the rich spread seemed designed more to impress the board than a genuine welcome for the depressed girls coming back to school. In a way, it was a bit of both, but the school catering had always been decent fare anyway, and girls here need not have to dread any infamous 'meat' surprises that might come their way.

Sitting at a table with a badly scrawled namecard saying 'reserved', Iveta eagerly twiddled her thumbs as her hapless friends looked on with grim anticipation. The banner 'Tankery Club', written in English and Russian, was left overstretched between a pair of poles, clearly intent on attracting the attention of would-be members to their club. Her eyes shifted at the orange-haired lass, Kirke had no idea what was going through her mind. If her intent was simply for a labour force to dig up her tanks, then her venture was doomed to fail. They had attracted too much attention with their announcement. If Iveta believed she could just call it quits once she had what she wanted, she would be chased down by an angry mob. Too many among their cohort turned out to possess a grave obsession for tankery. For a Japanese martial art centered around driving and battling with antique armoured vehicles, the reception this far west seemed all too astounding.

"Ok, Iveta, Kirke," Avelina spoke to the two as she, Terhikki and Astlik returned with their dishes, "you should get your food. We'll watch the stand from here."

Returning with kotlety meatballs with side dishes of pelmeni dumplings and meaty borscht, Avelina's plate seemed heavily stocked with protein, not unusual for a fitness junkie. By comparison, Terhikki's exotic Ethiopian injera with several wat stews, and Astlik's sliced Pastirma and lentil salad looked like vegan fare by comparison. Marvelling over at the disturbingly meat-laden dishes, Iveta blurted, "ah... What're are you, some bodybuilder? Guys don't like she-hulks, you know... Anyway, it's fine, I'll stay. I don't want the poor souls get lost finding us, do we?"

"There'a a huge banner scribbled 'Tankery Club' above our heads," sulked Kirke, "I don't think they'll be spending too much time searching. Besides, you'll be complaining about food later if you don't eat now. Let's go! Rest of you go ahead and eat. If anyone comes, just be friendly, ok? We'll be right back."

Hauling the hapless girl up, Kirke appeared resigned to playing along with Iveta. Still, last thing she needed was to hear her whine about being hungry later. Somehow, despite her misgivings, she could not help but feel compelled to help her out. Watching the brown-haired Balt drag off the self-professed leader to the buffet aisle, the remaining girls were now left to tend to their 'booth'. None of them were sure how to react, exchanging a few awkward glances.

"I wonder how Sis is doing," Terhikki muttered, worried about the sudden workload Henna was thrust upon thanks to Iveta's flagarant violations. Was she going to rail at them, or shut down their little pet project? So far, none of them had any clue which would be the case.

[Mefpan]

Cafeteria, Rauschen Girls High School
Lunchtime

Edita and her three friends entered the cafeteria, having survived their first lessons unscathed (mostly, anyway - the very first one had resulted in a tense staring contest between Kirsi and the teacher) and they'd wanted to sign up properly for the Tankery club anyway.

"Let's go, girls! They've got to be around here somewhere!"

And that was their goal, more or less. Given previous experiences, they'd brought along food of their own anyway ("Socialism has collapsed! Standing in line for food should be verboten!", Suse had said) and thus had most of the break to themselves. Given that most students were standing in line like proper stage props, the vast majority of the tables were still empty and, going off the way Edita was waving her friends along, she'd spotted the one reserved for the prospective tankery club.

Yes, sure enough, there was one table with a large, if rather simplistic banner reading "Tankery Club" hanging above it. So, heedless of the food line at the counter, they moved over.

"Mind if we take a seat?", Edita asked the girls present, though more to attract attention than to be properly polite, as she sat down before anyone could answer her. "I'm Edita; from the assembly hall. I'd like to apply me, my friends and our Panzerkampfwagen 38(t). With Sck...Czwi...Chw..."

"Edith, It's not that difficult. Schwimmkörper. It's the German word for 'float'. What she's trying to say is, the tank is amphibious", Sanne interjected, slightly grimacing at the fact that her friend still stumbled over a word she should have long mastered by now.
"Hey, give it back!"
Edith coughed. "Yes, well. I do know that competition is hard, but I promise to you that our top-of-the-line tank will be an invaluable addition to the club."

"It's armed with a 37mm gun", her German friend deadpanned, clearly objecting to Edita's own tank-related opinions.

"That may be true, but its speed and maneuverability are unparalleled."

"Edith, it has a road speed of 42 km/h and we can count ourselves lucky to get a third of that cross-country! "
"Kirsi, that's not fair! I'm hungry!"
"Mimmi's our driver-" "it's 'skipper' now!" "-and she has no problems forcing the thing past its limits, as you've learned."

Suse shrugged it off, not really convinced, but regardless, "Conceded, with respect to the suspension that always seems to suffer under it. The tank's not really meant for that."

"OKAY! It can swim, as I've said before!"

"Much as I enjoy that feature, the usefulness of that will be situational at best."

"...it's an 38(t) chassis, and can be refitted into a Jagdpanzer 38(t) if needed...?", Edita finally conceded, looking almost a little dejected (when in truth, she looked very dejected at being forced to admit that her tank did have a downside or two).

"Gah!" Crash!

While Edita and Suse were busy arguing back and forth the merits of their team's tank, Mimmi and Kirsi had in the meantime apparently gone over to lunch already. The normally stoic Finn was standing on her chair, arms raised and hands clutching a rather suspicious-looking yellow-red tin can that somehow managed to glint ominously in the artificial light of the cafeteria. The short, blonde Swede, on the other hand, was seated on the floor next to a toppled chair, wincing slightly - apparently having landed quite roughly on her rump. Edita and Suse seemed to recognize the can, and the former paled on the spot.

Suse, meanwhile, just grinned smugly. "If you'll have us, you'll get a Finn with a sixth sense for danger on the team. See, Edith, that's a selling point you'll want to make!"

[Sonitusia]

Cafeteria, Rauschen Girls' High School
Lunch Hour

"Adelia, of all things on the menu, why did you have to select tempeh?" Hermione asked, her plate adorned with Germanic dishes, "You have a fine variety of foods from around Prussia, even Turkish cuisine! But you decided that a plate of rice, beef teriyaki, and that fried soybean would be enough to sate your hunger." The strategy club ate lunch together most of the time, and indeed, the table was filled with all 10 members attending, a small standing sign notifying any potential new recruits for the team that they were sitting there, and there was enough room for more to come and chat. As it was, they were already speaking to several freshmen about what they did, when the Tankery Club's banner caught Adelia's eye.

"Well you see, Herm," she began, stuffing another spoonful of rice and her side dishes inside her mouth, "Ish good for the brain, keepsh you *gulp* healthier than whatever European dishes there are available." They continued to eat, even signing one rather fanatic girl's notebook, one who was clearly interested in joining the steadily growing club. It made Adelia wonder if she should continue running the group, or if she should hand over the reigns to one of the other members. I can still be in two clubs at once, right? Though admittedly, tankery is a sport that requires much more attention than strategic gaming...

Excusing herself after finishing her last bite, Adelia walked over to the Tankery Club's table. Nobody save for her Indonesian friends really took it as anything serious, but their commander was intent on joining one of the more... questionable clubs now founded. "I wonder if she plans on joining," Fatimah said in Indonesian, picking at her food as she watched the commander disappear, "But if she does, so am I. What say you two?" Hermione just gave an accepting sigh, with Odetta nodding her head several times.

"How are you two doing?" Adelia greeted casually in Russian upon arriving at the table, then taking a seat, "Adelia Nasution, current head of the strategy club. Where's your enthusiastic friend, Iveta? I'd like to have a word with her."

---

With a plate of rather foreign foods on her plate, Fauna was confused as to where she would sit. The entire cafeteria seemed to be split into several sections, one for each club, as if they were inviting promising new members for their cohorts. It made the girl confused, as she'd never had to go through something like this back in Britain, but she had made up her mind anyways, heading towards the table set aside for the tankery club. It wasn't hard to find, and she took a seat as an Asian had done. She looked rather familiar, but Fauna couldn't put her finger on it.

"Fauna Pool, maschinenbaubranche," she said awkwardly, using the one of the words she had studied for a few nights so she would be able to give a proper greeting in the new language, "You don't happen to have any empty teams like you have empty seats, do you?"

As she said that, another student had joined the table. "Same question 'ere," Theodora said, her Australian accent prominently defined, "Don't want to be huddled together with a bunch of scrubbers. Theodora Mills by the way, pleased to meet ya wankers." Fauna's brows furrowed, displeased with the Aussie's brash entrance, but she was equally glad that she wasn't the only English-native speaker currently taking a seat. Not giving any answer save for a slight nod, she awaited for more people to join them. She didn't notice that there was a rather reserved girl off to the side who had been sitting for quiet sometime though, as if she didn't have anywhere else to sit but one of the more less-populated tables in the cafeteria.

Albert didn't know what to say, and if things went bad, he might have to be grouped together with the soldier and the cussing Australian. He hoped in his heart that they were actually good people. He decided to keep silent for the time being, only saying "go ahead" to the two next entrees. One was clearly Asian, while the other was a Southern European. "Mentari Nachtmann and Luisa Chiavallanti, we'd like to sign our names on wherever our names go," Mentari greeted cheerfully as Luisa just sat down, not in the mood for saying any words. This club was clearly not going to be one of the more popular ones, and the Italian could feel some dirty looks coming from some of the other students. But she also felt those of interest from others, as if giving their support, and she began to eat peacefully.

---

Maschinenbaubranche - Engineering branch

[Wolfenium]

-wut-

"A-Ah..." Terhikki blurted absentmindedly, bewildered by their request and idle chatter. In all honesty, their words simply went over them like the wind, incomprehensible to those who were not well-versed in the technical details of historical military hardware. While someone like Iveta might have no problems deciphering, ordinary people like them could only hem and haw in agreement. Gesturing for them to take a seat, they felt very hardpressed not to look stupid and say something wrong.

"We're kind of new, so we have no problems taking you in," Avelina told the girls, "details-wise, it's best to wait for our club leader to come back. She's lining up for food."

-oh no is stink fish-

Before they could continue, however, the girls saw Kirsi holding on to the can of fermented fish on the table. Puffing her cheeks as if anticipating a blast of mustard gas, Terhikki seemed unusually repulsed. Her friends, however, did not seem to understand the dangers yet. Glaring at the can, the Finn had a lot to protest against.

"Misses, if it's not too much to ask," Terhikki pleaded awkwardly, "why the surströmming? The buffet isn't that bad... Not the least compared to... this."

"Is something wrong," Astlik asked, noticing a green tinge on Terhikki's face, "you look ill."

"I don't like surströmming," she admitted, "it taste icky. Dad doesn't agree, though, and we've had this every other meal for as long as I remember."

-snip-

Peering over as Adelia, the hapless girls waved as they exchanged some curious gazes. They had no idea what she was here for, and joining tankery seemed like a remote possibility given her position in her own club. As more began to gather, the hapless trio was starting to get overwhelmed. They did not have anything prepared, from signup papers to even simple explanation of their goals. Everything was locked in Iveta's labyrinthine head, and they were just there for the ride

"W-Welcome, everyone," Avelina explained, "my name is Avelina. Avelina Grebennikova. The redhead is Terhikki Kärkkäinen and the last girl is Astlik Margaryan. You're going to have to wait a bit until our leader Iveta comes back. She needs food too. If it's not too much to ask, Ms Adelia. For what business do you have with Iveta?"

[Sonitusia]

"Mortal danger is an effective antidote for fixed ideas," Adelia replied smoothly, "Let's just say that I have an idea that could benefit the both of us."

Albert looked up in wonder after the Asian, no, Indonesian, had spoken, and his mind flew back to a memory of a book he once read of a certain Desert Fox. "Menschliche Gefahr ist ein wirksames Gegenmittel für feste Entscheidungen..." he muttered, but it was noticeable for everyone around the table. When he noticed that Adelia had put her eyes on him, as if severely studying him, he sheepishly squirmed in his seat, but the girl's expression turned to a smile.

"Exactly," Adelia said, curiosity gleaming in her eyes, "What's your name?"

"A-Alberta," he replied nervously, "Alberta Walker."

"Well Alberta, if you're ever interested in the strategy club, the door's wide open. Same goes to you, Insinyur Pool, having an actual soldier among us would give some insight on what the infantry need."

Fauna scratched the back of her head, grinning. "Well I'm only a private, no combat experience either," she said, "But hey, that's a nice offer." Theodora scoffed, tossing a kartoffelpuffer into her mouth.

"Going to go and switch groups now, eh?" she taunted. Pool just glared at her again, and moved a seat away to avoid further negativity.