...
As the quick skirmish quickly finishes, the group continues traveling.
Muttering while driving the jeep, "we'll see what professor Sophia at Frunze Academy will say about this..."
Hearing a familiar name. Zoe, traveling by the jeep speaks up, "uh... Instructor Sophia?"
Nodding, as the commander continues to drive, "Correct, Sophia Malinovskaya is an instructor in Frunze academy and is an authority in beast tank research."
As the commander then turns towards Anastasia and Johan, "she will most likely also be one of your instructors once you two start studying there."
With zoe shivering as she looks at Johan and Anastasia with a slight pout, "she always made me redo my homework on hypothetical tactics... a real stickler for detail."
With commander going zoe a deadpan stare before going back to focusing on driving "....."
As he whispers to himself, 'No one ever needs to do a make-up report for tactics class...'
"Anyways it's still a long way till we reach Frunze academy and we will definitely be encountering more beast tanks on the way so stay alert." As the commander slows down the jeep and points to the front.
Prompting everyone to get into battle stances.
"You all know the drill! Start engaging and don't let any stray shells hit the jeep! Fire!"
As everyone starts firing their cannons towards the approaching pack of beast tanks.
...
After a few hours of traveling, the group is currently parked and resting over a relay station.
"Phew... man... why are there so many beast tanks around..." zoe exhales while slumped over a tire stack.
While the commander is explaining the station to Anastasia and Johan, raisa and zoya are checking up on their gear.
"There are relay stations all over the world and is mostly mainly filled with military supplies used for dealing with the beast tanks" as the commander points to the small station base by the side of the road we all came from. With both of me nodding. The commander finishes explaining the station and heads over to the jeep to check on supplies.
With zoe mumbling to herself though somewhat loudly, "I always think that the headmaster must have been crazy to build the academy near a beast tank lair." As she continues to slump over the stack of tires.
With the commander speaking up from where he is so zoe, Anastasia and johan can hear him, "it has the dual purpose of allowing the convenient study of beast tank habitat while also serving as practical training for new recruits studying and fresh graduates."
As he then picks up a canteen and heads towards a well to fill it up.
As I count the shells remaining I have for the gun my other half is using, I spot what seems to be some kind of smoke rising in the distance with Anastasia.
"Hm? Is... is that smoke?"
As I look at the rising smoke with johan swells to make sure I wasn't seeing things, I do indeed spot black smoke rising from the distance.
Quickly heading towards the commander with Anastasia, "commander! I spot smoke rising from the distance!"
Pausing his drawing from the well, the commander looks up towards where Anastasia is pointing then burrowing his brow.
Nodding, "alright, tell the others to get ready to move out. We're heading that way. Anyways so that saves us the trouble."
As he quickly finishes filling up his canteen with Anastasia also rushing back to tell the others to get ready.
...
After a little while...
"The smoke is coming from that small town" As the commander continues to drive the jeep forward, raisa speaks up as she "skates" alongside the jeep.
"We are getting close to the academy, these seem to be abandoned fortifications and buildings around the collage, there may be a team of students doing simulation exercises."
Nodding, the commander steers the jeep offload, "got it, then gets go along the river to go around it. We Wouldn't want to disturb them."
...
After another few hours, sunset...
The group arrives at an abandoned relay station.
With zoe examining the station, she then speaks up, "hey I remember this place! We used this relay station in previous training exercises, I really miss it haha."
With the commander then explaining, "Frunze academy conducts a practice drill every half semester, and students are assigned to various relay stations in groups for practical training exercises. And it seems we're in luck as this place is currently unmanned." As he examines the station.
Zoya, walking up to the group after checking the surroundings with raisa, "the area is clear, I will take the first shift, followed by zoe, johan, raisa, Anastasia and finally the commanded."
With me, Anastasia and raisa nodding, "alright." "Sure." "OK."
Meanwhile the commander while the commander does a spit take while drinking from his canteen, "wh-huh? Me too!?"
Chuckling, zoe chime in, "the last shift is naturally the person with the greatest responsibility."
Seeing that everyone is looking at him now, the commander sighs and gives up, "...All right."
As the commander then secures the supplies once more, "alright, the area should be pretty safe. So unless if something happens we shouldn't have anything much happening but vigilance is still necessary, so everyone go get rest. We still have quite a ways to travel till we are at frunze academy. And we want to get there as soon and as quickly as possible."
With a nod, everyone starts taking out tents from the jeep. And one by one starting to set it up.
Zoe however... as usual is having trouble by herself on setting it up, so with Anastasia, johan and raisa chiming in to help, the tents were all quickly secured and set.
"Ahaha... thanks guys, I swear the tent was fighting with me..." (｀Δ´)
With all of us stifling our laughs as we set up a quick campfire nearby and quickly enter the tents one by one with zoya taking the first shift. "Goodnight comrades!"
As we all say our goodnights.
...