:: Dear Diary..... The Dwarf Clerk lady with glasses who calls herself Cogez is helping me to adjust my character scoring. So far, I think we’re making progress and possibly breaking new ground in this custom class we’re developing. It’s based on both the aspects of Ranger so I coud still use my Stealth Skill, but applied many traits borrowed from the Musketeer class that allows me to acquire abilities involving firearms. I’m excited. Once I’ve finished my character sheet, I’ll be able to use this new strength to defend myself. As much as I appreciate Nello protecting me like a big fluffy guard dog, I still have to put in my two cents and fight just as hard. It wouln’t be fair if I leave all the hard work onto him, regardless if he is a tank…. By the way, I wonder if he’s alright. I’ve been gone for a while… I hope he didn’t doze off. Poor boy...tank, will catch a cold. ::
----------------------------------------
“THERE’S NO MORE LAND BEHIND THE VOLGA! I SAY AGAIN! THERE IS NO MORE LAND BEHIND THE VOLGA—GUAAAAAAH!”
“COMMANDER! THE COMMANDER'S BEEN HIT! QUICK, PULL HIM BACK INTO THE TANK AND STOP THE BLEEDING!”
“……………..”
Several men had quickly climbed out of the armored tank they were driving, only to grab a limp body hanging over the hatch of the main turret. With some heaving and tugging, they were able to pull their commanding officer down inside.
They spoke in various harsh tones and shaking voices. Each and everyone of them speaking in a language that was foreign to a regular Elf, Dwarf, or any other otherworldly being.
Russian. These soldiers were speaking in Russian.
“We have to escape! There is no way we can hold back the d*mn Germans at this rate!”
“There’s a shortcut in the city where we could use the rubble as cover, but we have to move fast or else the whole Panzer platoon will overrun this sector!”
“Nyet! Nyet! No one is to run away! This is our motherland that is being invaded! Even with only 100 men against the thousand, we must laid down our lives and drive the Germans out of our lands! Those traitorous b*stards!”
“…………………………………”
January 12, 1943. The Battle of Stalingrad.
In the middle of another reality’s Second World War, there was a certain armored vehicle that was trapped in the middle of a city square that was bombarded by high velocity artillery and explosives dropped by shrieking German Stuka bombers in the sky.
Left, right, forward, back. There was nothing but fire, destruction, and bodies that carpeted the floor. The corpes on the stone roads were either a dark brown color or a snow-white coat. One pile had a mixture of men with helmets painted with different symbols.
One was the scratched Red Star. The other was a dull Iron Cross.
As if to keep the sole vehicle company, there were a number of burning wrecks that used to be proud tanks who were now slumped dead in their own bonfire of gasoline and shredded incendiary rounds.
“…………………………………..”
“Sh*t! The Commander is dead! What do we do?”
“Escape!! That’s a no brainer, you idiot!”
“Both of you, shut it. We may be losing the war, but there is no way I will let those German take away our home from our fingers!”
“What do you suggest!? We’re not professional tank masters like the higher ranking members in the Red Army Tank Divisions! You, driver, you were a sheep farmer who cut wool for a living. And you, gunner, a simple telegraph operator of a local post office. And me, pfft, I used to wash toilets in a local school! I've seen too much sh*t in there to have zero respect for our younger generation!”
“But we’re here! All of us, regardless where we came from! We have to make our stand. Either you’re with me, or you’re not.”
“Dasvidaniya (Good-bye) and good riddance!”
“………………….”
The lonely armored vehicle had its top hatch pop open. A man with a torn-up coat and uniform bearing the Red Star was trying to climb out. Only for two pair of hands to grab him by the collar and drag him back inside. As if to help its crew, the tank teetered forward as to close the hatch on the one escaping.
“Are you mad, tub cleaner!? Even if you want to abandon the army now, we’re still in the middle of enemy territory!”
“Our gunner’s right. We were supposed to break the German Defenses with a major charge, but we failed to keep in mind the anti-tank mines they’ve laid out. Not to mention the snipers that took out our commander. Think man, if you want to live!”
“I’m thinking. And there is only one option.”
“Wh-what?”
“Run to the Volga River and swim.”
“………………………..”
The lone armored vehicle rocked back and forth, feeling the recoil of two hands slapping the back of one head.
“We have no other choice.”
“I think I’ve came to the same conclusion with the driver. We have to fight them in order to live. Dah?”
“Tch. You are both crazy nimrods, you know that? I only joined the war to smooch off free Vodka and rations for my sister back in Moscow…F**k. If this goes side ways and I see a chance to run away, I’m taking it.”
“We need three people to operate this vehicle. Without the commander, you have to be our spotter, toilet scrubber.”
“Gaaah! I regret telling you my origin! Come on, the Germans are advancing!”
“Right…Alright tovarisch (friend)…let’s do this together.”
“……………………..*Creack*”
The lonely armored vehicle teetered again, this time mimicking the motions of nodding. All of a sudden its V12 Diesel engines revved up and it started to rattle to life. The vehicle began to move forward, shedding off slabs of dead concrete, snow, and rebar from its surface.
One by one, the layers fell off to reveal itself to be a full-class tank, carrying battered armor and the engine coughing pitch black smoke from the exhaust. The turret twisted around to align with its front, revealing a 3 meter long barrel that looked like it had been firing for five days straight.
A T-34-85 Soviet Medium Tank.
With a brave, If not shuddering gesture, it was marching down the empty roads of Stalingrad. Alone. No back up. No one alive but the three-man crew inside its belly.
“……………………….”
“Hey, did you hear something?”
“You haven’t had any food and water for the last two days, driver. Of course you’re hallucinating.”
“Wait, no I hear it too tub scrubber.”
“Bathroom—F**K!”
“…D-driver! Up ahead, I see movement!”
“Bathroom cleaner, grab the machine gun! Gunner, ready the cannon it's all yours from now on!”
"Tch. Dah!"
“Dah! Loading shell into the barrel!”
The machine gun on the turret suddenly twitched alive and moved independanty from the tank body. It twisted around to face the front, and it opened fired. A series of chattering bullets rang in the air, enough to scared the sh*t out of anyone who was in its path.
*RA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA!!*
So far, it hit nothing but fallen buildings and an abandonned car, ripping holes through it.
“…….W-wait…Stop... HOLD FIRE! HOLD FIRE YOU IDIOT TOILET SCRUBBER!”
“Wh-what now? A-and don’t pull down my pants to get my attention! The cold winds will cut my balls off!”
“I-it’s a child! You were shooting at a child!”
“Hah!?”
The tank choked on its engines and the machine gun finger stopped wagging. There was this eerie silence between the vehicle and where the spot on the ground was ripped up.
…A pause later, and a small head peeked out from behing a large slap of broken wall from a factor building. Scared.
“Wh-what is a child doing here in the middle of the battlefield!? I thought everyone was evacuated!”
“Idiot driver, are you really that naïve? The entire German Sixth Army has cut off all exit around Stalingrad when it started to invade us back in August last year! By the time we got half of the civilians out, the Germans already fortified a full circle. We won’t get any rations, water, or even ammunition from Moscow.”
“I-I think I get what tub scrubber is saying. She could be one of those who couldn’t escape in time and are trying to forage whatever food or valuables are left from the ruins. It's dangerous, but they're desperate at this point.”
“But she’s a child! A child! She can’t be in the battlefield like this, what about the snipers?”
“Either she was too small to be noticed or the German snipers were sleeping after being trapped here for five months. It’s a miracle they’re not lying in a room as a half-melting skeleton...Wait no, as their enemy - I want that to happen spontaneously!”
“Who cares, let’s just keep going. Ignore her, she is here at her own risk.”
“…………………………”
The T-34 tank didn’t stare at her.
Rather, it just sat there while its crew argued over what to do with the child. The said little girl peered her head from behind the cover, watching the giant tank in awe. She bravely stepped out from her hiding spot. She was almost wearing no clothing. At most, she turned a makeshift pillow case as a dress and tied it with some rope around her waist. The same rope one would use hold back heavy curtains from the window.
Despite how much soot and dirt she was covered in, her blue eyes were clear as sapphires. And they glimmered when they were staring at the large tank that sat in front of her.
“………………….”
“…………………….ahga…”
The girl tried to speak, but seeing how black her tongue was, it could be the fact she had her throat infected from ash and gunpowder. Her vocal cords might have swelled to the point of being useless.
Even so, she tried to say something at the tank.
“………………………….”
The T-34 continued to sit on the spot. Doing nothing, absolutely nothing. The muffled voices of the three remaining crew members continued to bicker over a small matter could be heard through the 42 mm armor plating.
The little girl too one step forward. The tank didn’t move.
She then took two steps forward. The tank didn’t move.
"....Aa.uugh...Geghee!"
Clutched in her hand were various items she had fortunately scavanged. Canned beef and corn, some half-ripped blankets, a canteen (not sure if full or empty), and she was lucky enough to have discovered several bandages from a local clinic that was sitting in ruins five blocks behind her.
There was a lot for her short arms to carry, but she still continued to move forward without dropping them. Barefoot, and bare legged, she stepped right up to the tank.
“………………………….”
“……………Augga…”
The girl made a sound, but it made no sense due to her clogged throat. At first, she had this anxious look, but her eyes wouldn’t turn away from that giant beast covered in iron.
“………………………….*Grrrrrrrrrr*”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“Auagg!?”
Suddenly, the 3 meter long barrel fell down. It slowly followed its hydraulic pattern until the tip of the barrel was touching the ground. It was like how a dog would lower its tall head for a baby to touch.
“…Auugssg!”
A smile cracked on her bruised face and she couldn’t resist reaching out to touch the lowered nose. Good doggy, good doggy.
“The f**k! Gunner!? What are you doing with the gun pointing at the ground? The earth isn’t out enemy, the f**king Germans are!”
“S-sorry. You tried to strike me to win your argument, bu-but my shoulder knocked into the controls. I’ll fix it.”
“…………..*Guuuuuuuh*”
“Aagg! Aaaag!”
The girl watched as the nose rose back up, and out of her reach. She tried to jump afer it, but she was too small. She looked like she was going to cry now that the dog raised its head to ignore her.
“…Aaugga!”
The girl noticed something. The nose that was hanging above her head had something wrong with it. To a regular mechanic, it was minor to crew members like the three men inside bickering, it wasn’t much a problem. But to the little girl on the ground, she saw how there was this deep cut in the side of the barrel. As if a scrape from shrapnel.
“…..Auugag!”
The little girl did something very strange. First, she tossed down her items she had worked hard to gather. Second, she pulled up a roll of bandages into her small hands. And third, she started to climb the tank.
“What should we do with her, that child? We have to get her out!”
“Then where to? All the other safety shelters are either blown up by German Howitzers and subsequent artillery. Or have been converted into a make-shift military depot for the Red Army! Given our current position, we seriously have no more room in front and behind the Volga!”
“There is no way we could let her ride with us. She’ll be a nuisance when I’m trying to aim the main cannon, or she would suffer major injuries if a German tank hit us from a blindspot. We can’t risk letting the girl come with us into enemy territory.”
“Neither can we risk the little girl continuing her good fortune in rummaging out in the open! She’s going to get runned over or shot by a sniper!”
“How is this helping out situation!?”
“………………”
The tank continued to listen to the three men inside of its compartment bicker. As much as it wanted to get their attention to what was happening, it had no voice. It’s not like Russian tanks could talk like a young boy with some common sense, right? No, that would be crazy.
“………………….*Krrrrkkk..kkrrkkk*”
“Hee-hee…Agagag.”
Yet, it could see this little girl crawling up across its barrel… and tying up the scratch on the middle of its iron nose with her rolls of bandages. As if she wanted to fix its boo-boo.
“…………………………………..*Crrrrkkk*”
Hearing the creaking of the tank, she took it as a thank you in her own mindset. So she happily turned around to show the tank a beautiful smile across her soot covered face.
“N…nel…lo..”
*BTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*
A high velocity round appeared, and it slammed directly into the side of the T-34 Russian Tank.
Due its design, it had enough armor plating and metal sloping to maximize angle of deflection of an attack. So once the round tapped into its side, it was shot off in an awkward angle at the last minute and exploded right above the tank’s head.
When the smoke clear, only the blast score and the cut from the last round could be seen splashed across the Russian tank’s side.
“…F-F**K! THEY’VE BROKEN THROUGH THE WEST LINE!”
“G-GERMANS! GERMANS IN THE OPEN!”
The three men broke away from their argument the moment the shell forced their tank to rattle like a turtle shell. They would all peek out into the thin open slits of their vhiecle to inspect the environment outside.
About 20 different German Tanks, ranging from the killer Panzerkampfwagen IV and the cream of the crop Konigstiger II Tanks could be seen marching through the city block. They ignored the fact that buildings and old store fronts were in the way, they just plowed through as if it were a card board cut out on a movie set.
Unfortunately, there was only one opponent left to fend them off.
That lonely T-34 Russian Tank.
“F**K! F**K! WE HAVE TO ESCAPE NOW!”
“W-wait! Where did the little girl go!?”
“Who cares about the little girl! She probably ran off while we were bickering. Hurry, start moving!”
“F-fine! Fine! I'll start the engine. Gunner, get the main gun ready! You need to cover us while we escape and…Huh? W-wait a minute. S-somethings wrong.”
“Hey? Driver, wh-why aren’t we moving? There’s 20 German Tanks coming into our direction, I think 10 of them just noticed that we’re just sitting here!”
“I-I can’t. Th-the engine is shot! It’s not moving even when I’m hitting the controls at full angle!”
“G-gunner? The h*ll, start shooting!”
“S-something wrong with the gears too. Th-the turret isn’t turning!”
“Sh*t! Did that last round knock out our systems! Hurry and fix it!
“………………………………………….”
The T-34 Tank was not broken. It was designed to withstand a good number of ballistic punishment before it were to go up in flames. Even then, it could still fire three more rounds before the fire blew up its internal cartidges.
So the reason why the T-34 tank didn’t move was simple.
The girl that was sitting on its nose was gone. The moment the German Tank fired on the vehicle, the little girl had vanished within a puff of smoke. No one know where she went. No one was sure if she was alive.
…But if the tank had eyes, it wholeheartedly regretted to 'glance' to the side.
To see nothing but a rope that was used to hold back the curtains to a window. There was no body left to be recognized.
“……………….*VVrrr……Vrrrrrrr….Vrrrrrrrrrr….VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!*”
“Yes! It’s working, the engines are——F*************K!?”
The moment the V-12 Diesel Engines roared to life, the driver, the gunner, and the spotter ended up being slammed into their seats. Because the T-34 tank suddenly veered off the course of their hopeful escape. It started to charge right at the 20 German Panzer and Tiger Tanks that starting to hear its roaring.
A reckless calvary charge.
“Wait! Driver, wh-what are you doing!? We’lre going to die!”
“I-I don’t know, I- can’t fight the controls! I-it’s moving… on its own!?”
“G-Gunner! Do something?”
“N-nuuwooggg! Duck your heads, the turret is moving on its own too!”
“WHAT!?”
The T-34 charged. It didn’t have a strategy, neither a secret trick hidden up under its armored track sleeves. It was really no more than a man charging across No Man’s Land, full of raw rage and anger.
*BTOOOOOOM!*
“Holy sh*t! I-it took out the Panzer!”
The Russian Tank leaped over a small brick fence and it fired a round directly into the face of the German Panzer IV that it was intercepting.The 76 mm round punched right through the front at a vulnerable angle, igniting the whole craft to up with a wild explosion, the enemy's turret head popping up with its twisted barrel.
“H-hold on, h-how is it reloading on its own!? Wh-what is going on!?”
Tracks spun in reverse, to avoid two German tanks firing at it from opposite sides, their rounds bouncing off a slant across the front. It then spun around to aim its barrel at one German Tiger that was marching through the front of a store. Half way out, and the Russian Tank fired at its head.
*FOOOOSH*. The round tore right down the 4 meter tank barrel, splitting it open like an arrow cutting open the first shot. The round shoved itself deep into the armored vehicle's compartment stored with extra rounds, and everything caught on fire with a big boom.
“Sh*t! Sh*t! I-it’s possessed! Something possessing our tank!”
“B-Bail out! Screw the Germans, let this thing take on the entire Third Reich! I don’t care! I’m not going to die in this sh*t!”
"W-wait for me, you two! M-my arm is still injured from yesterday's fight, so haul me out already!"
The second the Russian Tank spun around to fly behind a commercial building, the three men inside instantly jumped out. They fell into a heap across the ground and started to run as fast as their worn legs could carry.
They didn’t get too far, a German Panzer tried to surprised the attacking T-34 from behind. It squished something in the process, but it didn’t really care that it got its tracks dirty and squishy..
*BTOOOOOM! – BAAAANG!*
The Soviet Tank could be seen spinning with its rear.
One shot connected across the rear flank of its armor. It didn’t penetrate, but it was enough to rip off the plating from that area and dent its rear engine. The sound of a motor roaring was enough to tell the Soviet Iank it was still operational, before it turned its head to spit a ballistic at 680 m/s at the one who attack him.
The gap was only 10 meters, and the round shread through the German Tank's chest. There was no need for a fiery explosion to make sure it was dead.
"...............!!"
Several more attacking vehicles came down a road from an angle. They planned on surrounding the sole Russian Tank from three angles of attack, so that their other units could flank it from behind.
However, the T-34 only had to reload and turn its head, aiming directly at a half-broken hotel building.
*BTOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*
Its round cut through the last support of the hotel, forcing it to topple like a tower of bricks. It collapsed, their sheer weight crushing the leading two tanks under their weight, while preventing the third rear from moving around in the cramp road.
*BOOOOM! BAAAAANG! BTOOOOOM!*
One. Two. Five rounds belched into the air, and it slammed into the side, the head, and the front of the T-34 tank.
It was enough to force it to spin out, its tracks shredded from the impact. With its armor plating ruined, and completely immobilized, the tank would kept trying to run its engine at maximum. But no matter what, it couldn’t escape the fact its caterpillar tracks fell off its many shattered wheels.
“………………*kkkkkk*”
*BTOOOOOOOM! RA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA!*
The last Alamo.
That was the best way to picture this tragic scene. With its legs torn open and its oil bleeding into gaps of the stone roads, the T-34 kept fighting. Reload, after reload, it kept throwing its ballistic shell at one German Tank after another. They either successful tore through their legs, sliced down their cannon like a sword, or simply bounced off their armor.
With the machine gun following up on the carnage, one or two tanks suddenly stop dead in their tracks when the bullets killed their drivers.
But that didn’t stop the group of Tiger Tanks circling in closer. Their armor was enough to brush off the machine gun fire. Even a point black shot from the Russian Tank just left a small dirty dent across the front 45 mm plating.
*BOOOM - BTOOM - BAAAAANG - BOOOOMFFF - BTOOMMMFFF!!!*
One by one, the other Tiger IIs began their execution. They all fired at once, one by one, everything shooting at will. They kept reloading, firing, reloading, firing, until they were sure the T-34 was dead and down.
*BOOOOOOONNGFFFF!*
…Still, another Tiger Tank had its head blown off, when a certain 3 meter barrel turned to shoot it right down the tank gun.
“………………………………………*Creeaaaaak*”
What was supposed to be 20 strong Panzer unit was cut down to Eight Units. Seven now that the lead tank was rendered inoperable with its tracks blown off its body. All because of the stubbornness of one T-34 Russian Tank.
The surviving Tiger Tanks pulled up, wanting to take a good look as to who this idiot was that stood in their way. The Russian tank's front half was ripped open to show the crew compartment, to their surprise completely empty. Oil bled out from its shredded engines, but even its naked wheels continued to turn in a creaking manner. There was practically nothing left of it…
Save for this awkward bandage tied in a cute bowtie across its barrel.
“………………….*crrr…crrrrrrrrrk*”
The German Tanks recoiled in shock when they still saw the carcass turned its turret head. They had trouble to understand how it still moved without a crew, or the fact there was an open wound across its skull. Still, they saw no threat in a weapon that was grinding metal on metal at the pace of a snail.
Sadly, one Panzer merely had to roll up to block the angle of the barrel with its tracks. Like stepping a boot to a struggling hand. it allowed one large German Tiger Tank to roll up, plant the tip of its 4 meter barrel across the head of the crippled T-34.
A round loaded into the chamber…and an explosive echo fluttered across the ruined city of Stalingrad.
----------------------------------------
<< Notifcation: You are well rested. All Fuel Capacity and Ammunition are 100% full. >> << Your current Health Points have recharged to 500/500. >>
“,,,,Nello….Nello? A-are you asleep? Nello.”
“Hmm….Ah! Y-you’re alive?”
“…Um……Yes? I am."
Nello snapped awake.
He made some sounds like a child who was startled while he was sitting in his sleep on the floor. His 3 meter nose would flicker left and right as if to shake the sleep from his head. It then turned the barrel down to see a certain Half-Elf Girl standing in front of him.
She looked up at him with those blue eyes that could make a sapphire gemstone jealous.
<< Nello received -20 Emotional Damage. Please seek counselling. >>
“Sorry. Did I interrupt you from a good sleep?”
“…….No…I’m glad you woke me up. I thought…Ahem. I’m glad you’re back… You took too long, Big Sis!”
Pastrache, the beautiful half-elf girl, bowed her head and clapped her hands in apology. She wasn’t Japanese, but why the h*ll not. It increased her cuteness factors by 10 points.
<< You received +100 EXP from Persuasion Check. Your Negotiation Skill increased to Level 2 !! >>
“Aaaah. I’m sorry, Nello! I didn’t mean to be away for that long. I honestly thought I could ask some questions about my Character Sheet and come back. I apologize to have kept you waiting outside the city walls by yourself.”
“………………………………”
“…N-Nello? What’s the matter? I-I know you don't have a face, but the way your tracks are fidgeting. Is something bothering you?”
“Um Big Sis… do you believe in…. fate?”
“….H-heh?”
Pastrache gave Nello a quiet look, her hand slowly rising up to touch her lips. With red cheeks and shaking eyes, she had no clue how to respond to the boy—er, T-34 Soviet Tank’s sudden question.
“…….Nello…Are you… hitting on me?”
“Ah? D-did my nose hit you? I hope not. That would be bad if I gave Big Sis another head injury.”
“N-no. I meant……. Never mind. Nello is Nello. I love you.”
“… You still haven’t answered my question.”
In the end, let’s just help the two ‘lovebirds’ end their conversation with this one word… altogether now.
One, two. Three.
Dah (Yes).