Following the untimely demise of his Patton it was time for Luca to move on and acquire a new tank. The wait felt like an eternity as Luca sat idly by he failed to make any money but Kendrick succeeded in coming through for him when a desert tan M1070 tank transporter pulled into the base with a Leopard 2 sitting on the trailer. The tank was not painted in the typical woodland paint scheme of the Wyvernian Army but instead a unique winter camouflage paint scheme.
"This is it, Ken? This isn't exactly what we had agreed on unless the Challenger 2 comes with some kinda cloaking device that disguises it as a Leopard 2. Also what's with the winter paint scheme? Last I checked it's almost the end of May."
"Jesus Christ calm down you picky bastard" Kendrick chuckled, "Eshil wasn't letting any of their Challengers go for the budget you had. BUT Adlaria had a shit ton of Leopard 2s just sitting and waiting for new buyers. Some were earmarked for Merkuria because of their war with the Rufies and the rest were headed for Esknar until they decided to show off their wonderful human rights record during the protests in 2013 so they bought T-90s instead. Anyway this ain't just any Leopard 2, it's a Stridsvagn 122."
"The Challenger 2 is a badass tank but I do like myself a Leo." Luca smiled, "And I'm not even going to ask how the hell you smuggled it."
"It's one of the best tanks ever made and when it comes to the camo. You can always throw a camouflage net on it." Kendrick replied.
"And us Jaffrians are good with camouflage." Zoe added, pulling out her phone and showing a Jaffrian Merkava covered with a desert tan camouflage net.
"I know the Leopard fairly well! We will be like as you say... peas in a pod! After all, it is essentially a Leopard 2A5 with some modifications bespoke to the Wyvernian Army's tastes...for example it is intended to be able to fight effectively in woodland and urban environments and its fire control system can track multiple targets. Other than that it is just like a Leopard." Zoe explained.
"Well let's get to work on it then... also what engine is it packing?" Riko asked.
"Same engine from before but it is the 2JZ of the tank world." Kendrick replied before giving Riko a fist bump.
Riko climbed into the Leopard's driver's hatch and started the tank. With the ramp on the trailer lowered she slowly backed the tank down as Luca, Kendrick, and Zoe watched in suspense. Once the tank was on the ground she waited for Luca and the others to climb onto it and then drove to the parking spot where their old M60 used to be.
"Okay guys here she is!" Luca said, climbing down from the tank.
"What's first on the list?" Riko asked.
Luca took another look at the tank and admired the tank. The Leopard 2 had always been a beautiful machine but this Stridsvagn was truly something to behold. It was the perfect balance between beauty and total aggression.
"I'm thinking a basic tune... this big powerhouse of an engine is making about 1500hp. I bet Zoe here can get it up to 2000... then we break her in. Once she's broken in the real fun can begin..." Luca said to Riko.
"Holy hell." Peter gasped, "We'd have the fastest tank in the goddamn world Armata be damned. Shit, imagine this mo-fo doing SEVENTY miles an hour... doubt the tracks could handle it though."
Luca couldn't help but snicker. A tank going as fast as a semi-truck would be a true sight to behold but even to him, it was only something worthy of being just a fantasy in a video game.
"I wish man..." Was all Luca could say.
"You never know." Zoe said with a wink.
For the following week, Zoe was hard at work working on a tune for the Stridvagn's V12 turbo diesel engine. Once she had refined it she had the maintenance crew place the engine on the test stand so she could dyno it. She put on her headset and then started the engine. The roar of the engine caused the entire parking area to vibrate as it roared to life. When the engine was warm she gave it a few revs before applying power.
"Hmmm, it looks like I can increase the boost a small amount." Zoe said.
Zoe walked over to her laptop and tapped into the ECU. She increased the boost by two more pounds and then performed another pull with the engine. When all was said and done the engine was making 2,200 horsepower at 2,500 RPM and it was still well within its limits with no signs of overheating or fatigue she set the RPM limit for when the engine coolant reached a certain temperature and performed one last pull. Once everything checked out she disconnected her diagnostic equipment and gave the maintenance crew the okay the reinstall the engine into the Stridsvagn.
Luca and Peter were enjoying their lunch in the mess hall when Riko walked in with a big smile on her face. She set her laptop down and took a seat between them.
"So! Just finished tuning the engine for our wonderful tank and now it is making not just 2000 horsepower but a glorious 2,200 horsepower!"
"I think you means Hrsprs." Peter chuckled.
"Or Buff Horses." Luca added, high-fiving Peter.
"I see you watch the crazy man too." Zoe giggled, "He is quite funny."
If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
While the group continued to chat, Diedrich walked into the mess hall and with him, he brought an aura of intimidation among the members of the KBD and the Kesalian soldiers. When he spotted Luca he grabbed his tray of food and tossed it in the trash before sitting down in front of him.
"Hope you enjoyed your lunch... now you're gonna listen to me." Diedrich commanded.
"Bitch please I'm not even under your command anymore. Stop trying to compensate..." Luca replied.
"Why are you like this to him? He is just minding his own business." Zoe added in Luca's defense.
"Instead of talking why don't you go and make me a sandwich?" Diedrich replied smugly.
"How about I put my foot up your ass?" Riko threatened.
"Okay, Diedrich I'm sensing something here..." Luca chuckled, "You're jelly... jelly that I got a Leopard 2 and that my gunner happens to be a bonafide badass. Hell, you're jealous that my entire crew is putting your sorry ass to shame and taking all your glory. You're earmarked for Lieutenant Colonel and because I'm here you just can't progress and it's pissing you off. You know what... if it helps you sleep at night how's about a mock battle? My Leopard 2 and my crew against your Abrams and your crew?"
"I'll handle the bets! $5 minimum!", Elson said before pulling a chair to sit on their table. "No dirty tactics, all fair. Winner takes all. Are you in, Diedrich? Or you're too good for this shit?", Mocked him.
"Oh you KBD pricks are really a bunch of misfits... I swear to god if only the King would have the competence to disband your asses and let us take over." Diedrich said.
Diedrich pulled out his wallet and grabbed a hundred dollar bill and placed it on the table betting in favor of himself while Luca placed another hundred dollar bill and Zoe placed five hundred dollars all on the Leo.
"What about you, Kendrick?" Riko asked as she placed three twenty dollar bills down.
"I ain't much of a betting man but fuck it. Twenty down... on the Leo."
"Ten bucks on Diedrich and the Abrams! There's a reason why the Army picked him up after the Marines ditched their tanks." Added a Kesalian soldier.
"Me too! Fifty on the Abrams!" Said another soldier.
"We've got our commander's back... we're going all-in on our tank and Diedrich." Added Diedrich's crew as they placed down their bets.
"Since I started this shit, it's only fair I throw some coin in it too...to the Adlarian master.", Elson chuckled as he pulled out a grand from his pocket, meaning he just put $1,000 in the pot! "You better not disappoint me, Riko...I got money on you guys!", He warned his friend.
"Let's do this.." Luca said.
Luca and his crew stared down Diedrich and his crew. They then left the mess hall and headed out to the parking area where their tanks were standing by. Upon arrival, a soldier from the maintenance crew was standing by to brief them on their equipment before sending them off.
"Okay... Major Diedrich, Sergeant Alessio... or Mercenary whatever the hell your rank is now. Anyway, your tanks have been fitted with Hoffman gunfire simulators for the main guns on your tanks as well as MILES transmitters on the tanks themselves to register any hits." Said the maintenance crewman, "As Crickett said... no dirty tactics and keep it fair. May the best crew win."
With the soldier's briefing concluded. The crews mounted their tanks and everyone who had placed their bets gathered around as they witnessed them start up their machines. The M1A2 sounded like a jet plane as it whirred to life whereas the Stridsvagn in comparison sounded like a roaring animal when its diesel engine started and the whistle of the turbochargers further added to the drama as the engine belched out a little black smoke from the exhaust.
"Time for some music to get the blood flowing!" Luca laughed,
"Don't wanna screw Elson over now do we?" Riko said over the comms.
"Do it!" Luca ordered.
Riko nodded and put This is Deutsch by Eisbrecher to play on the crew's headsets as Peter loaded a training round with a paint shell into the breach.
"Up!" Peter confirmed
"Elson are you reading us? On your command, we get this party started." Luca said.
While Luca waited for Elson to give the go-ahead, Diedrich began showing off by ordering his driver to turn the Abrams in circles while keeping the main gun locked onto his Stridsvagn which only served to annoy him further.
"Hmm...", Elson looked at Diedrich going around in circles and thought it was a good opportunity to mock him even more: when the tank was facing backwards, meaning the hull was opposite to Luca's position, he gave the order. "NOW! GO GO GO, IT HAS BEGUN!!", He shouted on the radio for both teams.
"Driver full throttle, full throttle!" Luca ordered.
"Let's see what 2200 horsepower and 4600 foot pounds of torque feels like!" Riko said.
Riko put the transmission into drive and slammed on the gas. The Stridsvagn 122 lurched forward and quickly accelerated to thirty miles an hour and climbed to its governed top speed of 44 miles an hour. Even then the tank still felt like it had more to give.
"What the fuck! Drive forward, jackass!" Diedrich ordered.
"Copy that!" the driver replied.
The gunner of Diedrich's Abrams realigned the turret with the chassis and gave chase with Luca's Stridsvagn. Luca looked through his commander's sight and spotted Diedrich trailing behind them trying to catch up.
"Gunner traverse 360 degrees and prepare to fire on my command!"
"Roger!" Zoe replied.
Zoe traversed the gun and took aim. Once she had Diedrich's Abrams in her sights she pressed the trigger and the laser round headed for the Abrams scoring their first hit.
"Hit confirmed!" Luca cheered.
"Son of a bitch!" Diedrich roared, "Pay attention you lazy bastard and shoot back! "
The gunner quickly acquired Luca's tank and shot back with a laser round scoring a hit on the tank, impacting the turret cheeks.
"We're hit!" Zoe shouted.
"Tis but a scratch! Popping smoke!" Luca said.
Luca deployed the Stridsvagn 122's smoke grenades and used the smokescreen to find a hiding place. Riko turned out of the driver's hatch and looked around until she found some bushes she could reverse the tank into. The trees and bushes were dense enough to conceal the tank and give them a decent advantage.
"Okay Tatsuya... shut down the engine and switch on the APU. We don't want our thermal signature exposing us."
"Copy that, boss!" Riko replied, shutting down the engine and turning on the APU.
While the crew laid in wait for Diedrich. His voice crackled over the radio, laughing as he hunted for his prey.
"Come out come out wherever you are!" Diedrich said.
Luca switched on his thermal sight and started searching for Diedrich's Abrams via its massive heat signature. When he zoomed in the sight he detected a plume of smoke coming out from nearly a thousand meters away.
"Zoe traverse thirty degrees left... let's send our friend a little gift once he shows us his weak spot."
"Understood." Zoe replied.
Zoe did as instructed and traversed turret to take aim at Langely's Abrams. Once he had exposed his rear flank in an attempt to search for Luca she opened fire with another laser round hitting the tank from the rear.
"Another one!" Luca ordered.
Peter grabbed another training round from the hull rack and placed it into the breech, "Up!"
Zoe pressed the trigger once more and fired a second shot at the Abrams finally scoring a virtual kill and finishing it off for good.
"Tank destroyed!" Zoe said.
"Good job, girl!" Peter cheered, patting Zoe's back.
"Excellent work, Zoe... Riko take us on back to base."
"Copy that, boss."
Riko put the Stridvagn's transmission into drive and drove out of cover and began the short drive back to the compound.
With the mock battle over, Luca and his crew returned to the base and parked their tank in the parking area. When they dismounted they were greeted by a very happy Elson who was now two thousand five hundred dollars richer.
"So did we do good?" Riko asked.
"Well according to the telemetry, Diedrich only managed to score one hit on you guys. It was enough to damage your tank but not disable or destroy it but you guys hit him three times. Once in the front which would've caused some damage and the hits to the rear were enough to wreck his tank completely if this were a real battle." Said a KBD soldier who showed them the data on the computer.
During the telemetry evaluation. Diedrich arrived a few minutes later and dismounted from his Abrams with his crew. Upon receiving the bad news his rage began to rapidly build. In a fit of anger, he threw off his helmet and shoved Luca before Emilia stepped in between them.
"You fuckers cheated!"
Emilia quickly stepped in between the two men and Luca let out a hearty laugh as he watched Diedrich's face turn beet red with anger. For as long as he had known him the man could never take losing.
"They delivered like bosses...deal with it, Diedrich!" Elson said as he continued to count his money.
"We'll see how you pricks do on the real battlefield then..." Diedrich said.
"We've already survived our first big encounter, Diedrich." Luca replied with a smug expression on his face, "Even destroyed a few Ruvanian tanks using their own weapons against them in order to save some Kesalian troops while you sat on your ass eating bonbons."
"Oh that was easy... it's gonna get much harder. You mark my words, Alessio." Diedrich replied, his tone sounding ever so threatening before he walked away.
"What a sore loser." Zoe added, "Is the guy's ego that fragile that he can't take losing for once?"
"He graduated from East Point what do you expect?" Luca chuckled.