Armageddon. Some 300 Kilometers from Hive Helsreach.

The open desert fields of the desolate manufactorum planet, Armageddon, stood before the Seventy-Third Krieg Panzer-Division. Across the charred, shell-hole ridden and sandy muck, opposing them, was a squadron of Ork Wartrukks and looted Leman Russ tanks, each painted in the colors and livery of WAAAAAAGH! Gazghkull. On the watch, aboard their Leman Russ battle tanks, the Seventy-Third Krieg Panzers, the most feared of Krieg armored divisions, stood. Six Vanquisher-class tanks, specially-designed Anti-Tank vehicles without sponson turrets, were followed into battle by thirty Leman Russ MBTs and several dozen Chimera assault transports, manned by the local Guardsmen, known as the Steel Legion.

From aboard one of the Vanquishers, a lone Death Korps of Krieg tankman glared with disgust through his binoculars, toward the Greenskins advancing toward them, a cloud of radioactive dust kicking up behind them. Aside from the normal Death Korps skull gas mask, the Death Korps Tankmen also had special, jet-black uniforms with crimson markings, different helmets and even headwear, specifically, for Johann, a crusher tank commander's cap with the Krieg Iron Cross in the forehead. The tank crewman looking through his binoculars was commander Johann, designated Krieger Male Model 72a #7894.

The droning of engines sounded off overhead and the Kriegsman glanced up, to see Thunderbolt fighters flying in a low sweep for reconnaissance, until gunfire erupted from the Trukks. Looking ahead, the Krieger saw Anti-Air batteries mounted onto the back of Trukks spinning about, spitting out Flak round after flak round... One of the aircraft took a glancing hit and one of its two ventral engines started to smoke. It pulled off, while the second one spun about, dodging graciously through the enemy fire, before diving to deliver a swift strafe run with its two twin-linked Autocannons.

Explosions blossomed across the field and six Trukks of the attacking convoy burst into flame, ork bodyparts flew, flung sky-high by the explosive rounds that rained upon them. Johann felt a tap on his knee. He looked down, to see one of his fellow crew members, Krieger Female Model 72b #6565, Hanna, manning the Vanquisher cannon. He nodded, then dropped down back into his commander's position, before closing the hatch behind him. The familiar, dull crimson lighting in the inside of the tank made him feel somewhat at ease, as it was familiar for Krieg Tank crew to spend most of their lives within the machines they were operating.

The Vox officer, Krieger Male Model 72b #7600, Sebastian, looked back and gave a certain hand motion, to which Johann said, his voice young, but gruff "Permission to speak granted..."

"Order confirmed:Begin assault." Sebastian said as briefly as possible, before looking back through the sights of the coaxial-mount Lascannon in the pintle of the tank. Johann nodded, emotionless, then said "Forward. Full speed!" before peeking his eyes through the Cupola's viewing slits. He raised his left hand toward the gunner, then made hand signals which the girl was trained to understand. 'Left' '42 Degrees' 'elevation:100 meters, distance:2 Kilometers' and 'adjust for movement speed:60 km/h. Ork Looted Tank'

The gunner gazed through her cannon's scope, locking her gaze upon the center of the crosshair. Mechanically and almost without fault, she made the adjustments, the numbers on the scope, written in ancient numerals, dancing before her eyes. Emotionless and wordless, she nodded, to which Johann yelled "FIRE!" and thunder echoed across the entire tank as the massive shell ejected into the basket with a loud clang. The brass, embedded with Mechanicus markings from whatever Forge World it came from, landed peacefully, still hot and smoking after being fired.

Hanna and Johann watched as the Looted Tank lost its turret whilst still sliding across the desert, flames erupting from the open ring whilst the burning turret flew high into the smoggy sky of the world and landed into a pit of radioactive goo, but aboard the tanks there was no time to celebrate as, finally, the Orks noticed the fast-advancing Imperial counterattack. One of the Looted Tanks shot high as its sponsons and pintle-mount turrets opened fire. Heavy bolt rounds pinged harmlessly off the frontal armor of a fast-advancing Leman Russ MBT, which returned with a single shot from his cannon. Accurate as a Vindicare, the second tank halted, its engine lighting ablaze and a massive hole replacing one of the sponson turrets.

The driver of Johann's vanquisher engaged in evasive maneuvers as the Greenskins fired at them with rockets from on board Trukk Platforms. Missiles arched up into the sky, leaving contrails and criscrossing patterns into the already smoke-filled sky. Two of them nosedived, the crudely-made weapons, before striking one of the Chimeras in the far back, setting it ablaze. Johann made a hand signal to the loader. 'High-Explosive'. to which the man nodded, picking up the snub-nosed HE shell before slamming it into the feed tray and right into the gun's barrel, locking it in there.

The commander soon surveyed the battlefield, to see the Trukks carrying the rockets in the far back. He gave Karina the coordinates and orientation of the vehicles, then clenched his fist and jerked it back. Total Destruction... She nodded and quickly adjusted for the enemy vehicles atop the hill, then gave the signal. Another order, another thunder and the round lanced out of the muzzle of the weapon at supersonic speeds, flying across the field in mere seconds, before impacting the lead Rokkit Trukk's ammunition rack.

A massive explosion blossomed and ensnared the other 3 Rokkit Trukks 'round it and several Ork Shootas And 'Evy Nobs carrying hand-held rokkit launchers, vaporizing them almost immediately as promethium spilled out burned, turning the ground below into glass in an instant. But alas, several dozen more Ork vehicles moved through the burning wreckage and charred field, all the while the other Trukks and tanks engaged at knife-range with the Imperials.

Johann's tank managed to eliminate three more tanks just as the Greenskin reinforcements arrived. Said reinforcements soon dropped Lootas, shootas and the Emperor only knew how many other variations of infantry... That were soon greeted by heavy lascannon fire from the Chimeras. Lasguns chattered and Stubbers too as Steel Legionnaires exited the vehicles, firing bursts as to keep any Orks with AT weapons off the tanks. Two Heavy Legionnaires brought forth a Shotgun and Flamer with which they proceeded to lay waste to the Green Horde.

But soon, a shell from a Looted tank struck one of the MBTs right into the rear, blasting the crew inside to a crimson mush and setting the tank ablaze.

Johann berated himself for not seeing the Ork vehicle moving behind them. With three consecutive movements, he ordered the tank turn and engage the flanking tanks. The turret traversed just as the tank spun and Hanna growled, then fired. The vehicle shuddered and the shell sent one of the Ork tanks spinning about before it landed on its side. The bastards were incredibly close and lucky... That or their aim was getting better. Either way, it was not a prolific prospect for the tankmen.

Again did the Vanquisher cannon thunder, this time it was a miss as an Ork looted tank somehow managed to dodge their cannon. Meanwhile, ahead of them, Infantry clashed with Ork boys, blades, flamers and lasguns tearing through meat, flesh and sinew while Shootas and chain-axes ripped and tore through flak vests and body armor. Bursts from Shootas pinged off the armor and bulletproof glass of the Vanquisher tank as it advanced, running over Greenskin after Greenskin. The pintle-mounted Lascannon sent bursts of energy through Xeno after Xeno.

The Vanquisher snarled, sending another 'Evy Trukk rolling onto its side, ablaze, before the tank ground to a halt by Johann's unspoken orders. Looking about, the Commander saw they were surrounded... Damn it... He made the fatal mistake of advancing before the rest of the armored division. He looked about as Orks surrounded them, then gave the hand signal... ' FIRE AT WILL.'

Climbing out the top Cupola and manning the topside Heavy Stubber, the Commander started opening fire. Shot after shot entered the Ork lines, Las fire burned through the Orks and the Vanquisher loaded with Promethium shells fired continuously. The commander kept his eyes locked on what was mostly Lootas with battleaxes. One of them had a pistol, but that one fell in the first volley of Stubber fire(An approximate 50 rounds being necessary).

Several Orks with AT bombs approached. Improvised bombs. Johann wordlessly focused fire onto the bastards, more and more empty shells landing beside him. He looked down, then yelled sternly and proudly "PREPARE THE DETONATORS! WE SHALL NOT LET THE VANQUISHER FALL IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY!" as the Stubber roared. The crewmen got to work, silent as ever whilst preparing the detonators for the Promethium-filled explosives inside. Planting the plastic explosives onto the shells and fuel supply of the tank, Hanna looked up, to see Johann holding ground and firing away. Two brass shells from the gun, still hot and smoking, fell onto the floor of the tank below him.

She continued her job, wordless, but she knew Johann and everyone aboard were as ready to die for the Cause, just as programmed. She yanked her Lasgun off the floor as she heard an Ork try to get in via the side hatch, then, as it opened, crimson energy lanced at full power right into the Greenskin's forehead, melting the brain of the creature, had it any such organs. She kicked the limp body out of the tank, then yanked the door shut and closed it.

Johann kept a close eye on his Stubber's ammo. From the 1500 rounds it had at the start, it was down to its last 500 now... And it dropped every second by 10. Continuous fire overheated the barrel to a burning white that, even with the Gas Mask's tinted vision glasses, he couldn't look at. Instead, he kept his eyes locked onto the targets as he swayed the gun left and right. Ork heads and limbs exploded, green blood splattered across the armor of the vehicle as the damned fungal bastards climbed onto it...

And finally, he dived down, drawing his las carbine and firing up. Hanna stood up, then gave Johann the detonator and nodded, before opening fire with the Las rifle she still had. Johann looked at the detonator for a second... Then to everyone. Each crewman gazed back and nodded, Hanna included... So he did it... After a short, wordless prayer to the Emperor for safe passage to His embrace, he slammed the button... And all that followed was white...

Ooarai High School Ship.

Miho Nishizumi, a young girl just transferred to Ooarai high, guided the Panzer IV of her team onto a raggedy bridge. Slowly, the girl tried to wave them over to the left as the bridge tilted to her right, but saw as the tracks tore into one of the supporting steel wires, nearly sending the tank over. All girls present aboard panicked as the vehicle was about to go over... Saori Takebe, the ginger-haired girl, cried out as if pleading for help... And soon it was answered.

The StuG, picked out by the History Club, fired its cannon, nailing the Pz. IV in the back. The shell, however, simply dented the armor and sent the tank back up a straight path. Seeing this, Miho sighed deeply in relief, then gasped as she saw their driver, the raven-haired Hana, knocked out. Saori asked her friend "Hana, you alright?!" and Yukari burst "Lady Isuzu! We've lost our driver!"

"We're immobilized..." sighed Miho as she climbed aboard the tank and back into the commander's seat. The group settled down Hana on a chair beside the driver's seat, then Miho looked toward the tank's handling and acceleration and sighed. "I'm not that good at driving, but I guess since there's no choi-" The vehicle shook and backed off and onto solid ground. Finally, everyone noticed their new driver was no other than Mako Reizei, Saori's childhood friend.

Yukari Akiyama smirked, then said "Wow, ms. Reizei! I didn't know you could drive a tank..." before she noticed the manual 'Pz. IV Fibel' placed in front of her. Mako hummed, then said "It's easy... Once you learn the commands. I just did." to which Yukari yelled "You did?!" before Saori looked and commented "Mako, you're going back!" and the girl answered "I know." as calmly as ever, before switching gears to forward... Shells landed around them as the vehicle rolled forward at a high speed, before it ground to a halt as the other tanks began rolling.

Miho looked to Yukari and yelled "Miss Akiyama, turn the turret!" to which the brown-haired fluffball smirked and nodded, before leaning in and answering "YES, MA'AM!" as she grabbed onto the control handles and rolled to the right. The humming of the motors sounded off across the entire vehicle as the turret and gun traversed, whilst a second shot flew right by them and missed... Yukari eyed the StuG under pressure from Saori, before locking onto the tank. Miho nodded, then yelled "FIRE!" and Yukari pressed the trigger...

The thunder of the gun reverberated across the entire hull of the vehicle, surprising the girls. All of them were blushing and even the freshly-awakened Hana muttered "That was... Reinvigorating..." but on the outside, the StuG, of course, had been knocked out with a direct hit to its right cheek. The turret of the tank spun to meet the Type 89 Japanese tank of the Volley team. Soon, the tank fired once more and the second tank burst ablaze. Finally, the turret turned to meet the Pz. 38(t) of the High School student board committee. With another marksman-like shot and the frontal armor of the tank melted away. Finally, its white flag popped up, much like with the other 2 tanks before it.

Following up was the M3 Lee of the Freshmen getting stuck in the mud, losing its track and bursting its engine, basically knocking itself out. Their instructor, Ami Chōno, a Captain in the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force(JGSDF), then reported calmly via Radio "D-Team, in the M3, E-Team in the 38(t), C-Team in the StuG-III and B-Team, in the Type 89 have been knocked out. A-Team, in the Panzer IV, is victorious!"

As the girls cheered, Miho sighed, then pushed open the tank's Cupola. The cold breeze hit her face as the inside of the tank started to cool as well. What came next, as the girl scanned the surrounding forest, river and such greenery, the winds began to rustle through the leaves and, as if in a trance, Miho looked ahead... Only to be blinded by a burst of white light. Covering her eyes, the girl heard screams from her friends and a small explosion, before uncovering her eyes to see... A man clad in a Panzer Kommandant Uniform...

She gasped as she saw the man laying on the floor... A soldier clad in a black overcoat, with heavy plated armor and Panzer Korps markings... Heer Division markings at that... Laying beside him was what looked to be a short-barreled Sturmgewehr MP44, with a short, crimson illuminated magazine, bayonet and a scope. A Designated Marksman weapon? A carbine?!

She gasped, upon seeing the man slowly find his way up and saw his skull gas mask... Yukari popped out beside her via her gunner's hatch, then asked "Sweet Lord, what the heck!? That's a German Panzer Kommandant! WITH A GAS MASK!" and the soldier, hearing speaking, gripped his Carbine before jumping immediately to his feet and aiming it toward where he head the words from. Unflinching, he thumbed the safety, then barked a question in German "Wo bin ich!? Sprechen oder sterben!" as the crew members of the Ooarai tanks looked at him, awed and frightened at the sight of the Skull mask.

Miho looked to her friends as the Panzer IV Crew all stared down the barrel of the strange carbine. The soldier was quiet now, almost too quiet... His eyes invisible behind the gas mask's tinted glass vision holes, the soldier was clearly examining the crew. He noticed they had no weapons, aside for the tank, no way of harming him(He'd have probably blown their heads off if any of them even tried to run at him). Finger slowly easing off the trigger, he asked in English "Hostiles?" with about the dullest, most robotic voice the girls around hard heard.

Miho shuddered as she heard the monotone word, then simply shook her head before adding "No..." as chills ran down both her and her friends' spine. The soldier, at the very least, seemed less tense, but he didn't lower his weapon in the least. His finger was just placed away from the trigger. His unseen gaze swept his surroundings as he ever so slightly turned his head, to see more tank models that were knocked out, each of unknown type to the soldier...

The clatter of equipment sounded off to his left. Within the span of a millisecond, the soldier spun about and aimed his rifle toward a black-haired woman, with short bangs and a strange dark-green female officer's uniform, which had several insignias and ribbons on the chest, as well as the livery of a Captain. She had a strange sidearm on her hip, one which wasn't drawn, and she had her hands held up, her dark-blue eyes locked onto the soldier with fear glimmering in her gaze. She nodded to him, struggled to swallow, then spoke in German to him, much to the girls' surprise. "Wir sind keine Feinde... Bitte, lassen Sie mich das erklären..."

As Ami continued to speak, the man's finger seemed to ease off the trigger and, reluctantly, slowly, but surely, he lowered his weapon, keeping the safety off just in case. Ami sighed deeply in relief, wiping sweat off her brow. Good thing she took those German classes when she visited Europe... This German officer, whatever kind of cosplayer or what he was, seemed to understand well what situation he was in. Aboard a High School carrier, pointing a loaded weapon(Possibly) at children?

"Now..." She spoke softly in Japanese, which the soldier seemed to understand as well "IF you'd... Kindly follow me to my office, perhaps we could clarify what this whole mess was?"

Some words he got... Some he didn't. Johann reluctantly nodded, but kept his gaze locked onto the girls around. Females taught how to fight with armored vehicles? These small things could barely be called Tanks. The armor looked thin, easily-penetrated by any and every small arm the Imperium or, hell, even the Greenskins had at their disposal. The Captain looked to the girls, then spoke to them in their oddity of a language that the soldier somehow understood as an ancient Low Gothic dialect "The towing vehicles will get you home! I've got to have a talk with the itchy trigger finger here..."

The girls responded with an affirmative cheer, then Ami walked back toward the boy and said "This way." to which the young man followed. Waiting ahead for them was a Jeep, a light automobile used for quick reconnaissance and travel. Ami took the driver seat of the vehicle and showed the Commander to take shotgun... The soldier climbed into the right-hand seat, placing his Las Rifle in front of him.

Ami found the next few moments quite awkward(and a bit terrifying) as the vehicle rolled across the bumpy side road on the way back to the school, complete silence between the pair. The massive building and all its facilities were foreign to the soldier, that much Ami could tell, as the soldier shifted awkwardly into a better seating position. The vehicle traveled a few more feet before stopping in front of the faculty building. The woman stepped out of the vehicle, followed by the tank crewman, who kept his weapon close and the two stepped inside.

On the top floor lay the woman's office. A modest room with an open window showing the outside and the tank pits, an oak wood desk which had this nation's flag, apparently, a massive crimson circle, supposedly the 'sun' on a white background. Ami showed him to sit down on the chair in front of the desk, then sat down herself and said "So..."

"Shall we begin?"