Mako walked through the park. The engineers were giving one final check to all the tanks and even the her own tank was no different.
Though the mechanics tested the anglerfish Panzer IV, they surprisingly found out that the tank was fine in every way and needed no repairs in the engine or transmission. It was already ready for action.
The other Panzer IVs, Panthers, Tiger Is and Stugs were getting last minute checks as well. The camp seemed alive even at night though the combat troops were sleeping.
"You should get some sleep madchen. Tomorrow will be a very hard day." A sudden voice sprang out. It was a German engineer fixing a road wheel on another Panzer IV.
Mako didn't know what he said, since she can't speak German. So she stared at him for a while trying to make sense through his body language.
Meanwhile, Miho also returned from the briefing. She saw what was going on and reassured the engineer.
"Mako, he is asking us to go back to sleep." She said, leaving out the difficult day ahead part.
Mako after all was a midnight owl and late morning riser however, since joining senshado, her sleeping time has become better but here it was completely different.
Here is was now a soldier and fighting for her and her friends' lives. Miho started to pull her back to the tent where their friends were sleeping.
But then, lights flashed over the horizon along with thunderous roars. Someone shouted from the lookout sentry, "Ivan Artillery! Get down."
Before Miho or Mako figure out anything, the camp erupted in flames. One by one, tents and sheds were being blown up. Screams of pain and agony filled the camp.
Mako was horrified by the scene happening all around her. Miho on the other hand, knew she had to contain the situation, "Quickly, let's get the others and take shelter inside our tank."
She pulled Mako and rushed towards their tent. There Yukari, Saori and Hana were all awake. Thankfully, their tent hasn't been bombarded yet.
"Let's go to our tank!" Miho shouted to her friends. "We will be safe inside." She pulled Yukari and Saori while Hana got up herself.
Just when they got outside, a Romanian soldier came and pushed them into a shell hole recently created by the Russian artillery shell.
"Stay here, heads down. Shells don't fall in one place twice." He advised in Romanian.
Though the five girls didn't understand much over the screams of injured men and exploding shells and because none of them could understand Romanian.
However, what they understood is that the soldier is telling them to keep their heads down. So they abided. In the shell crater, the 6 of them cuddled up, though the Romanian soldier maintained a respectful distance.
When the guns finally fell silent, the night was filled with nothing but the hiss of fire and the distant sobs of the wounded.
Miho lifted her head from the shell crater, ears ringing. Embers drifted down like snow, glowing faintly in the smoke-thick air. A burning fuel truck painted the entire camp in a sick orange light.
The Romanian soldier who'd thrown them into safety climbed out first. His face was blackened with soot, eyes hollow. "Stați... stați jos," he muttered before stumbling away to help others.
Miho slowly rose, her knees trembling. "Everyone... is everyone alright?"
Hana nodded weakly, clutching her side. Saori's eyes were wide, shining with tears she didn't even realize were there. Yukari had blood on her cheek — not hers, thankfully. And Mako… was still half-asleep, though her voice came out groggy and small. "The alarm... too loud... can't sleep."
By the time red light erupted over the horizon signalling the end of the night, the Russian bombardment died down. It was now replaced by the roar of the German and Romanian artillery.
The signal was given. Now is the time to counter attack. There is no delay, no stopping. The Russians must be pushed out of Romania. Every tanker must get into their tanks.
Miho, Yukari, Hana, Saori, Mako, all rushed to their tank to see if it was drivable. But what they saw on the way, horrified them beyond words.
Previously they had seen tanks get blown up, men mowed down by machine gun fire but this, this scene right now, right in front of them was something else.
Corpses, with body parts blown up, soldiers, German and Romanian maimed by direct hits. Many wailing and crying. The five girls stood in their places frozen. Not knowing how to react.
Medics were rushing to check the bodies. To help the wounded. While those who are still fine, were rushing to their tanks and vehicles. The war won't stop for the wounded.
The girls then decided not to go to their tank but to help the wounded. To provide them some comfort. They didn't speak or even look but decided this mentally.
But just as they were about to go help a wounded into a stretcher, Kruger appeared, "Hey madchen," his voice calm and authoritative. "What are you doing? Go to your panzer. We move out now."
Miho couldn't believe it. None of them could. But it seems he could read the thoughts in their faces.
"An artillery barrage means an attack is imminent." Kruger spoke, "If we stop to tend the wounded now, the Ivans will overrun us. We must prepare for our attack now."
This was a consolation. Kruger knew it. No veteran soldier will believe it. But a veteran soldier would know that little hiccups like this cannot stop an entire offensive operation of 4 divisions strong forces.
But these girls, they were not veterans... yet, that is. Though they have been through fighting thrice by now, they still didn't understand the full scale of warfare.
"There are other personnel to take care of the wounded and dead. Now go to your tank. Once our artillery stops, we attack." Kruger said and moved away.
Somehow the girls shook themselves and tried to get out of their daze and went for their tank. They understood, if they don't follow orders now, things could get worse for this men.
However, forgetting the scene that was now etched into their minds and the screams still coming from the men was impossible. They couldn't shake this fear.
Reaching their tank, the girls saw it was still fine except for a few craters beside it and chunks of soil that now stuck to the hull.
They got into the tank at once and started moving. Their Panzer IV Ausf. H now forming a column with other similar Panzer IVs, Panthers, Stug IIIs and Romanian 38(t)s.
Moving behind them were half-tracks and lorries carrying troops and even behind them, at the end of the column were foot infantry. The Axis guns were still spitting thunder in a rhythm.
The first radio report came in as the forces moved towards their staging area. It was a bad omen, "Ivan planes have made aircover impossible. The attack must continue without air support."
"Miporin, what did they say?" Saori asked through the intercom. Since they couldn't speak German, she was their only bridge. "We don't have air cover." Was the reply.
No one spoke except for Yukari. She was ever the enthusiast, "Ah, the late was condition of the Luftwaffe." She said as if recalling a history lesson.
Miho couldn't help but give a tired, ironic smile at Yukari's tone. Even here, under the grey Romanian dawn, with artillery still echoing far ahead and death waiting on the horizon, Yukari somehow found a way to sound like she was giving a classroom presentation.
"That's... one way to put it," Miho said quietly, her voice barely audible under the growl of the Maybach engine.
However, next line provided Miho some relief, "Two ARR IAR 80s were still around and provide some air cover." This was more like a joke than a relief.
Miho let out a faint, almost disbelieving chuckle. "Two? Only two fighters?"
Saori sighed through the intercom, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Wow, that makes me feel so much safer."
Yukari, undeterred, still managed to sound cheerful. "Hey, at least they're IAR 80s! Romanian designs, pretty nimble for their class. If we're lucky, maybe they'll scare off a Sturmovik or two."
They laughed, making the grim atmosphere a bit lighter. Helping them to keep their minds away from the cries and screams of the wounded men.
By the time they could notice the sun rising over the horizon, they reached the forward staging area. Now they wait for the guns to stop and the attack to start.