Chapter 23

A Mk IV Churchill was, in of itself, a comfortable tank. Especially with modern engineering, one could take more pristine conditions for the crew. However Darjeeling was loath to stay seated for another hour of driving. Her bottom was sore and her patience wearing thin. No one had made her mad, it was the constant sitting for four hours that infuriated her, and with that knowledge Darjeeling decided. She grabbed her radio and opened a channel to the entire company.

"This is Darjeeling, all tanks veer to the right inside the tree line by the boulders." Darjeeling cut herself off before any one could through an acknowledgement. However every tank followed her orders and turned into the tree line.

Darjeeling exited the Churchill and landed on the ground. She then proceeded to stretch her whole body, from her back to her legs, and even her smaller muscles. After a few moments Darjeeling noticed Kay moving over to her inquisitively.

"What's up Dar? Did you see something off in the distance?" Kay asked.

"No Kay, I simply decided to take a rest and stretch. Sitting in a tank for four hours while in motion isn't the most comfortable thing." Darjeeling said.

Kay raised an eyebrow but nodded understandingly. "I guess a small pitstop won't hurt. Besides the Sherman isn't queen size bed comfortable as some people make it out to be." Kay said.

"I take it you would have done the same thing as I did a few minutes later yes? With all the patrols we were supposed to run into I believe that our nerves are on an all time high." Darjeeling said.

"Plus with a giant cannon out there that could hit us at any time, I fear when that would exactly happen." Kay said.

Darjeeling nodded. The lack of Federation patrols had been nerve racking, but all had been quiet. In fact the mission was to remain undetected for as long as possible. The whole mission would be FUBAR if they were discovered to early.

"Hey, you hear that." Alisa commented.

The ground went quiet. No one could hear anything. Until the sound of an engine grew louder. The girls would look at each other and sprint back to their vehicles. No panic ensued, the girls were better than that, but the chance of being found out was not the most favorable in terms of odds. However the engines roar grew louder by the second. They would make eye contact soon. Darjeeling had just gotten into the Commanders Hatch before a group of bushes were pushed over and squashed by the thick treads of a heavy tank.

Though immediately this was shown as no ordinary heavy tank. It was an M6 Heavy Tank. And only one school had decided to supply themselves with those. Commander Davis emerged from his own Commanders Hatch with an equally shocked look on his face. but not far behind him rolled an E-75. Rivers was here too? What was going on? Did Edward decide to send two teams out to find the cannon? If so, then why not mention it to the other team? Why keep it secret?

"C-commander Darjeeling? What a surprise?" Davis asked as if it would have been a question.

"I, I can say the feeling is mutual Commander Davis. What brings you here?" Darjeeling asked.

"Orders from Ed. He wanted us to find the Cannon and destroy it." Davis said.

"Meaning rip it apart right?" Kay said walking to the front of Davis's tank.

"Yes, exactly. What is going on?" Davis said.

"I believe I have a theory." Assam said emerging from the Churchill. "Commander Edward assigned both teams with out the forward knowledge to the other team. With that in mind the only surmise I could have is that Commander Edward doesn't feel completely sure of the success of only sending one team to accomplish such a mission."

Assam's theory had merit. Edward was full of ideas that would not warrant failure. However Davis would be the one he would confine in to talk strategy and tactics. If he was in the dark then that might not be the correct assumption.

"If I may, I have a theory of my own." Another man form Virginia said walking towards the group.

"Go ahead Donavon." By this time Davis and Darjeeling had exited their tanks and now all stood on the ground.

"if the chances of our teams meeting up were big enough then why would Commander Edward send Saunders and Montana. With the whole episode of anger and aggression the two teams had back at HQ then it would behoof Edward to not assign one of those teams to the mission." Donavon said.

"It raises a question. Why would Ed send both schools then?" Kay asked.

"Because this mission isn't about just destroying the Cannon. Its also about making Saunders and Montana work together and end the differences they have. Get them back to working side by side." Rivers said joining the group.

"But would they actually accept doing so? Your boys were noticeably clear on the matter when they said they wouldn't work with the Saunders girls again." Darjeeling said.

"Unlike back at HQ, here they don't have a choice. We're in enemy territory and we have to utilize all available assets to achieve mission success. They'll do it, but it would be begrudgingly." Rivers said.

"Well its better than nothing. At least we could, possibly, get them to stop their fighting." Davis said.

"So what now? Do we continue onward, or do we stop for the night?" Kay asked.

"Our two groups were already very noticeable. If all of us begin moving as one group then I don't think we'd stay off the radar for long. Lets camp and figure out a move for tomorrow." Davis said.

The three other commanders agreed and with the instructions clear the four schools all gathered under the tree line and took up respective sleeping positions. Meaning boys were to stay at least twenty yards away from the girls. With that settled the four commanders all grouped together to create a means of successful travel with the detail of continuing their stealth.

"following the original plans we already set should be fine. We can move along the north western route and get a vantage point by these mountains." Davis said pointing a location on a map.

"We had also thought about going that way. A prime spot for gathering intelligence." Darjeeling said.

"Then that's fine with us, we scouted another path in this valley that goes straight north. We can follow it and reach this clearing here. It's a good place to set up a big piece of field artillery." Rivers said.

"What about the local patrols and garrisons? This sector has been in Federation hands since the beginning of the game. We're bound run into opposition." Kay asked.

"As our respective squads are right now both mine and Darjeeling's can take out a patrol or mild garrison easily. However the range from Montana's E-75s would be of great help as well. But The E-75s would also be of prime use on the mountainside. Saunders could fit in either way." Davis said.

"What about two joint teams? Split our respective squads in half and have each half join one of two other squads for a joint team." Kay suggested.

"You mean both teams would comprise tanks from all our schools?" Rivers asked.

"Yep. There for we all get the pro's and con's of each school in which ever team we're in." Kay said.

"It's actually not a bad plan. This could also force the Montana Boys and Saunders Girls to rely on each other more." Davis said.

"So who will go with who, and where?" Darjeeling asked.

"Rivers and I can go to the mountains. We can have our seconds travel with you two and vise versa." Kay said.

"Sounds plausible to me. Both Kay and Alisa are good with geography, that can give both squadrons strategic advantage." Rivers said.

"We can also take Naomi with us. She is the second-best sniper on our side just short behind Rivers. I can send Donovan with you, he's my second, he'll take forward command if you need to split your attention." Davis said.

"Rosehip will go with you as well. She's an excellent scout with an eye for details. She'll be more valuable on the hilltops." Darjeeling said.

"We all agree on the teams?" Davis asked.

"Then we'll meet up here at this intersection after two days." Darjeeling said.

The group was unanimous. Tomorrow the two joint teams would embark on the long hall of scouting and planning. The hilltop team would be less inclined to use stealth, but they would be needed more on the surveillance of the sector. The second team would need to use extreme caution but would keep their eyes open for Federation defenses and positions.

That Gustav Cannon would not live to see next week.