Girls und Panzer: Glassheart Academy

[Sushi]

​

_____You didn't realize how big a school ship really was until it pulled into port, and all you could see in your peripheral vision was more of its hull stretching across the horizon. It took several minutes just to get the front third into the harbar, every passing second marked by ticker-tape raining like snow and the clinking of glasses. This was the last stop for Glassheart Academy, and it marked the end of a long week for the port city. Yokohama had been a glittering festival ever since giants like Kuromorimine and Saunders had made their own visits. The process of sending a school-ship out to sea was a monumental undertaking; the original Japanese term for it roughly translated into "city-ship-birth." It was a time where all the stress and chaos came to fruition in a time of constant celebration, as well as a time of teary good-byes for parents sending their children out to sea for the first time.

Spoiler

_____The ship was an oversized freighter with an entire city upon its top deck. Although not as ornate as the carrier-ships most schools used, for sheer cargo space it was hard to top the Glassheart flagship. Containers came on and off the vessel by the hundreds, and walkways were packed with students of all ages, many in indigo Glassheart uniforms. Many students milled around the harbor, purchasing last-minute necessities, street food, or simply enjoying the lights. A small line had formed where final paperwork was being finished up.

@Yana @Jemnite @Arvin_Larn @Tonaris​

_____There were students everywhere. Most of them filed off for agricultural or maintenance-related jobs, but a table had been set aside to handle the Sensha-dō students in particular. As they waited, an aide handed Reika a parcel with Glassheart's seal upon it. Inside, there was a hand-written note.

__________Hey!

_____If you read this, you made it! Ever been part of something as big as this? When you tell someone you wanna be part of a bigger / grander scheme, this is it.

_____And lucky you, the current team's decided to select you as the new captain. We've arranged for you to arrive a little early, but you should see most of your team-to-be on the pier. Why don't you get to know them?

_____Oh, and by the way, we've put some recommendations for tank commanders based on their applications for the team. Your job right now is to pick a second-in command and make sure your tank commanders are solid people. Better start thinking like a captain, you know?

_____We'll see you soon!

__________With love, the team. ♥​

_____There were some general well-wishes written on scraps of colored paper, signed by names she didn't recognize from the outgoing team. Among her materials, she found a handful of polaroids and some short, attached biographies about her fellow students.

Yukimura "Fran Nellens" Ichigo
15
Kyoto Academy for Young Ladies​

_____"Fran Nellens," legal name Yukimura Ichigo, is a young tank commander described as diligent student with a promising career in Sensha-dō. Of the potential candidates, she comes from a school which is both prestigious and known for its efficacy in local Sensha-dō events. She is said to have established her local team essentially from scratch and is highly competitive. Her family has donated generously to the school for the opportunity.

X.O. Bonus: "Cult of Personality" — When Ichigo is team X.O., her reputation as a high-class practitioner of Sensha-dō gives a +1 to the recruiting of personnel and resources.

Ashley Springfield
15
(No Prior Team)​

_____Ashley Springfield is, frankly, a nobody in the Sensha-dō community. She has no prior experience in the sport, and didn't grow up in the tank-immersed culture of Japan. However, she is by all accounts an excellent student, and not one that got there on her family's dime. She started with very little and crawled up high enough at her school to gain a personal recommendation from the school dean.

X.O. Bonus: "Big-Hearted" — When Ashley is team X.O., her earnest nature and hard work means you gain a +1 to social interactions with other teams.

Mizushima Hotaru
16
(No Prior Team)​

_____Hotaru is another newcomer to the sport of Sensha-dō, coming from a school which hasn't had an active team in several decades. However, her grandfather was an old patron of Glassheart, and her inclusion in the team came highly recommended. She's described as being a natural hunter with an eye for detail, born into a long line of similar men and women. Her family hasn't participated in the martial art for a generation or two, but it is said to run strongly in their blood.

X.O. Bonus: "Hunter" — When Hotaru is X.O., her natural instincts as a hunter reveal 1 hiding spot with 1 x Invocation every battle.

Linnéa Winter
18
Creighton Abrams High School Varsity Team
Saunders High School (Exchange Program)
Ft. Hood Junior League​

_____Winter is by far the most experienced of the possible X.O. candidates, though she comes with a hefty caveat: her family has never taken an interest in Sensha-dō (which, to the traditional-minded League is a very big deal), and she's rumored to have disciplinary issues. Her sudden departure from the Ft. Hood Junior Team was wrought with rumors of a violent temper. Although no official punishment was issued by the team, she is restarting the academic year at Glassheart.

X.O. Bonus: "Train Hard, Fight Easy (Party Harder)" — Linnéa is an experienced tank commander. When assigned as team X.O., she gives a +1 to Team Practice rolls.

 

[Yana]

Oosaka Reika was leaning on the railing when the aide handed her the letter. She read it under the flickering lights of the bay, breathing a sigh of exasperation as she took in the contents of the letter.

She's surprised that she was considered as a Captain candidate, what with the mishap with the Naginata Club back while she was enrolling in Chi-Ha-Tan Academy. Egos were bruised, and everyone left that encounter unhappy, regardless of who won the duel that ensued with that argument.

Brushing away her broody thoughts, she turned her attention back to the problem at hand. With a weary smile, Reika pocketed the letter and started analyzing the profiles. With a quick movement of her fingers, she retrieved her pen from her pocket and started writing down a few of her preliminary observations on the people she chose from the recommended list.

Spoiler: Reika's Individual evaluation

Yukimura "Fran Nellens" Ichigo
15
Kyoto Academy for Young Ladies​

_____"Fran Nellens," legal name Yukimura Ichigo, is a young tank commander described as diligent student with a promising career in Sensha-dō. Of the potential candidates, she comes from a school which is both prestigious and known for its efficacy in local Sensha-dō events. She is said to have established her local team essentially from scratch and is highly competitive. Her family has donated generously to the school for the opportunity.

Click to shrink...

Based on her eyepatch, Fran is either a stage name, or she's a real Chuunibyou. If chosen as a Second-in-Command, with her rumored competitiveness and my diligence, we'll probably run the entire team ragged.
​

Ashley Springfield
15
(No Prior Team)​

_____Ashley Springfield is, frankly, a nobody in the Sensha-dō community. She has no prior experience in the sport, and didn't grow up in the tank-immersed culture of Japan. However, she is by all accounts an excellent student, and not one that got there on her family's dime. She started with very little and crawled up high enough at her school to gain a personal recommendation from the school dean.

Click to shrink...

A rough Diamond, probably best to work with focused training under a mentor. She'll most likely have trouble initially with cultural differences. But if the rumors are true, she'll probably pick things up fast.​

Mizushima Hotaru
16
(No Prior Team)​

_____Hotaru is another newcomer to the sport of Sensha-dō, coming from a school which hasn't had an active team in several decades. However, her grandfather was an old patron of Glassheart, and her inclusion in the team came highly recommended. She's described as being a natural hunter with an eye for detail, born into a long line of similar men and women. Her family hasn't participated in the martial art for a generation or two, but it is said to run strongly in their blood.

Click to shrink...

I don't remember anyone with the Mizushima surname in the Martial Arts world, I should ask Grandfather later. We'll probably get along fine together. Is she trying to reconnect with her roots? Regardless, she'll be a fine addition to the team, though I don't know how she'll do as a second-in-command.​

Linnéa Winter
18
Creighton Abrams High School Varsity Team
Saunders High School (Exchange Program)
Ft. Hood Junior League​

_____Winter is by far the most experienced of the possible X.O. candidates, though she comes with a hefty caveat: her family has never taken an interest in Sensha-dō (which, to the traditional-minded League is a very big deal), and she's rumored to have disciplinary issues. Her sudden departure from the Ft. Hood Junior Team was wrought with rumors of a violent temper. Although no official punishment was issued by the team, she is restarting the academic year at Glassheart.

Click to shrink...

I will have to see for myself about the rumors. For now, it's probably best to skate around the issue. Her experience is invaluable, but I don't know if she's the best person as a second-in-command. If the rumors are true, then her not being the second-in-command will probably not sit well with her. But that would be better than clashing opinions between the captain and XO. That said, she's probably the best person to ask for advice.​

​

"Hmm... There's only so much I can gleam from a piece of paper. I should introduce myself to them before anything else." She kicked off from her perch on the rail and gathered the people in the profiles given to her.

Once that was done, she spoke to them.

"Hello, I'm Oosaka Rei-" She coughed into her hand, remembering to speak in English for the benefit of the foreigner. "I'm sorry, I'm Reika Oosaka. I've been assigned as the Captain of the Senshadou team, and I'm looking forward to working with each one of you in the coming year. You four's application caught my eye, and I would like to meet the four of you before I make any decisions regarding our team. If you would please introduce yourself?"

 

[Jemnite]

English, huh? Ichigo supposed she shouldn't have been surprised. Glassheart was an international school, after all. There was bound to be foreigners. She glanced nervously around her. These would be the people she'd be fighting alongside for the next year or so, or whenever her mother next changed her mind. She had to do her best to make a strong first impression. Ichigo's right hand tightened around the left breast of her jacket, hanging loose over her shoulders, and she breathed in.

Fran Nellens breathed out. Fran squared her shoulders, pulled her trademark red jacket tight around her, and from her pocket withdrew a small box of pocky which she opened up right away. One stick went into her mouth to hang from a corner, uneaten, more for the style and feel of the thing than for eating. She cast lazy eyes over her companions.

With the exception of one, they didn't look like much. Hopefully the captain would whip them into shape. Fran notched a sharp two fingered salute with her right hand. "You can call me Fran, Frances, either works. I'm here to shoot shells and knock out tanks. I've had some experience with Panzer IIIs, Panzer IVs and Panzer IIs. My favorite tank is the M551 Sheridan because it's such a messed up piece of crap."

 

[Sushi]

​

_____Linnéa glanced up from her Glacier-colored GBA, the sweet sounds of her childhood playing through her earbuds. She popped one out and listened to Rei's brief introduction. Linnéa had a feeling she knew Rei from somewhere, or at least her voice held a certain familiarity to it. Her ice blue eyes scanned from her to pinkie, who held a piece of Pocky in her mouth like she were on the verge of panic-munching the whole box. The topic went right to the tanks— Linnéa had always found the Japanese students put more emphasis on the lineage and the school, so a little bit of nerding out over the hardware wasn't a bad change of pace... just a little surprising. She waited for the pause that indicated her turn, shifting the heavy olive-drab seabag on her back as her tanker boots scuffed the ground. A helmet bag thumped against her hip as she turned. Compared to the other girls, she looked positively loaded for war.

_____"Sup. Linnéa. Nice to meet you," she said with an absent smile. "This is my first time dorming on a school-ship. That's more of a Japanese thing. Back stateside, we just had wide open fields for our battles." She craned her neck up at the side of Glassheart's freighter. "I thought it'd be smaller, honestly. Anyway, been doing Sensha-dō since I was... twelve-ish. Been on a few teams," Linnéa said, rubbing at her sleeve. She'd forgotten to remove the patches from Fort Hood.

_____Guess that wasn't a thing anymore. "... y'know, nothing too special. The usual when you move around a lot. I'm used to the lifestyle, at least, so if any of the newer girls are feeling lost, I'm always down to help." She chewed on the thought for a moment, adding, "anyway, nice to meet you all. Excited for the team? I know am."

 

[Tonaris]

Frankly speaking, when she had first entered the harbor the school ship was docked in Hotaru had felt slightly overwhelmed by the sheer number of people. She had never seen so many people in on place, so she felt glad when the Captain of the senshado team had gathered her and a few other students in a quiet place to talk about the future of said team since it gave her mind something else to focus on.

The first girl that had introduced herself, Fran, seemed to be an eccentric person, based on the red uniform jacket she wore over her school uniform and the fact that she kept a Pocky stick in her mouth while speaking, but all in all, she seemed to be a decent person. The second girl, Linnéa, had initially seemed more interested in her game than the people around her, but as it turned out she was probably just as excited about the new team as anybody else present. The fact that both of them had a lot of prior experience with senshado made Hotaru feel slightly inadequate by comparison and she silently renewed her vow to not drag her new team down.

After Linnéa finished her introduction everybody's eyes shifted to Hotaru, silently signaling that it was her turn to introduce herself. Since her grasp of the English language was still a bit shaky, she decided to keep her introduction simple, as to not embarrass herself in front of her future teammates on their very first meeting.

"It's nice to meet you," she said, trying not to stumble over the somewhat unfamiliar words. "I am Hotaru Mizushima and I am looking forward to working with you. I am new to senshado and don't have any experience with it beyond watching a number of matches, but I am willing to learn and I promise that I will give my best to become a dependable teammate."

 

[Arvin_Larn]

@Sushi

One could say that Ashley wasn't the most optimistic girl out there, and they would be right. It may not have been abject poverty but living life as an Orphan was not 'easy' by any sense of the word. Except perhaps, 'easy to stay in poverty'. You don't graduate from the School of Hard Knocks without earning a few scars in the process.

And yet when the girl from Springfield saw Glassheart Academy for the first time, she couldn't help but be awed at the sight of the Schoolship. It was absolutely huge, so much so that Ashley couldn't see one end from the other, and she knew for a fact that Glassheart was one of the smaller ones compared to its more famous peers like Saunders or Black Forest. That last bit mattered little to her as she stood there, waiting to get on the Schoolship with a rare, genuine smile on her lips. She was so close that if she just reached out, it was almost literally within her grasp: Years of hard work and no small amount of luck made manifest in the massive hull before her.

That feeling of optimism didn't fade away when Ashley found herself being ushered to a table with a handful of others, 'for those who were part of the Senshado Team' when she had asked. From looks alone the congregation of girls promised to be a colorful cast, introducing themselves one-by-one from the stern-faced one with black shoulder-length hair who looked like she was in charge of this little powwow, to the tough-talking pinkette with an honest-to-goodness eyepatch and a choco stick that she treated like a cigar, to the bored blonde who had clearly been around the block a couple of times and the girl whose eyes said more than her terse introduction ever could.

All that was left was her, Ashley Springfield, a no-name orphan from Illinois. That didn't sound much in comparison, if she was honest with herself.

Yet when Hotaru was done, Ashley stood up and looked each and every girl straight in the eyes. These were the people she'll be working with for the next year. And that meant that she needed to start things off with them on the right foot.

@Yana @Jemnite @Sushi @Tonaris

"Ashley. Ashley Springfield." The tanned tomboy introduced herself thus, pausing for a brief moment to let the name sink in. It was only a small mercy that everyone else could speak and, presumably, understand English.

"I'll be honest: when I signed up to be part of this Tankery Team, I expected to be a Driver or a Loader or some other minor Role. So imagine my surprise when I found out I'd be commanding a tank despite having no experience in Tankery whatsoever." The girl continued on with a self-deprecating chuckle. She had to ask at least once or twice when she had heard the news, because it sounded too good to be true.

"But you gals decided that it was a good idea nevertheless, and I'll be damned if I disappoint you guys. So thank you, for the opportunity, and I promise to give it my best shot." Ashley ended with that, leaning over with her hands firmly on the desk. She heaved a sigh after that, stepping away as she sank back onto her seat.

That... was a little more dramatic than she intended it to be.

 

[Yana]

"Hmm." Reika made a non-committal sound as the round of introductions were over. She crossed her arms, and gathered her thoughts about these people she would work with.

Yukimura- or rather, Fran? Fran seems like an eccentric Americocentric Chuunibyou. She seems affable, though whether or not other people would even consider approaching her is the problem. If there's an upside to it, it's that when she's given a leadership role, she would probably take it seriously, and do her best to fulfill whatever needs to be done. Her eccentricities would probably extend to her knowledge of the tanks used in Senshadou, and would be a valuable asset to the team. But regardless of the benefits, it isn't healthy to keep entertaining the grandeur of the Chuuni. Did she have some history that made her create such a mask to hide herself with? Hopefully, the environment that Glassheart Academy would bring her out of her false shell.

Linnea is another troubled soul. Her clipped, pointed speech all but declared it. She seems to have been in a lot of stress, trying to pass it all off as apathy. She might be wrong, as she doesn't know the history behind the older girl, but she wants her to enjoy her time in this new school. Like the report on the paper said, she wants a fresh start. It is only fair not to saddle her with too much responsibility.

As for Mizushima, Reika doesn't know what to make of the girl. Her introduction was short and gave little in regards to her personality. She tried to speak in English, though even Reika could tell that it was strange to the girl's tongue. And yet that action alone told much about her dedication. If she continues with this, she'll do well.

The last of her commanders is Ashley. In her introduction, she didn't have a high opinion of herself, but if what the papers said were right, then she got here by her own merits. A smart and diligent person will be good at anything they put their mind to; a focused, smart, and diligent person who enjoys what they do, problems are just stepping stones on their road to greatness. Reika can't wait to see how she would grow in the coming year.

She will be working closely with these four people, so she needs to make the environment, and their relationship, a comfortable one if she wants this team to succeed. She'll bring out the best in these girls, and help them overcome their troubles.

Reika's lips twitched. She'll be having a hard choice on who to pick as a Second.

"The four of you were chosen because our senpai realized your potential, experience or not." At the last part of the sentence, she looked at Mizushima and Ashley. "Don't put yourself down because you know nothing of the sport. Senshadou isn't about how long you've been doing Senshadou, it's about how well you do as a Senshadou practitioner. All of us are newcomers to the team, but I expect everyone to learn the lessons imparted by this Art, and with it grow together regardless of gender or culture."

The captain uncrossed her arms, placing her hands by her sides.

"This team is a blank slate. We have no history with each other. We have no pre-established norms between the members." She resumed in Japanese. "And because of that, we can do anything with it. I want to make it a team that will bring out the full potential of every single one of our members. One with a unique culture, like our own school. So as leaders of your own crew, I expect you to live up to that. Do you understand? At the very least, I want that for our team."

"And with that, I'm counting on you." She bowed at them briefly, before giving them an honest smile.

 

[Sushi]

_____Linnéa saw the flicker of comprehension as the words sunk in, save for Ashley, who seemed to be doing her very best to appear to understand the rapid-fire Japanese. She leaned over and explained, "Be nice to your crew. Do your best. That's all." Taking a moment to return the bow, Linnéa directed her next words at their captain. "Speaking of 'our senpai,' have you met the head honchos yet? Got anything for us to do? I bet we have to sweep up the clubroom and tidy up before the rest of the team gets here, anyway."

_____And she was getting sore carrying that damn seabag.

 

[Arvin_Larn]

@Sushi @Yana @Tonaris @Jemnite

Indeed, Ashley couldn't understand a single word that Reika was saying during that last bit. She did appreciate the new Team Captain's generous attitude towards her and Hotaru's inexperience, which earned Reiko a small smile from her as Linnea leaned in towards her.

"Oh, right. Got it." The orphan flashes the blonde a thumb's up in reply, imitating Linnea as she returns Reiko's bow. She made a mental note to pick up a Japanese Class as soon as she could. Can't depend on Linnea to understand her Japanese teammates all the time.

"I'd like to know if we've got any folks singled out for our Crews. Or if we have to do our own Recruiting sometime down the line." Ashley asks after Linnea, adding to the barrage of Questions aimed at Reiko.

 

[Tonaris]

Reika's assurance that her own and Ashley's inexperience weren't all that big of an issue brought a small smile to Hotaru's face and after returning the team captains' bow with one of her own, she quietly sat back to think while listening to the other girls' questions.

Ashley, the last new girl, seemed like an honest and hardworking girl. That she was also new to senshado had surprised Hotaru a bit, but to be honest, Hotaru's own appointment to commander had been an even bigger surprise and she was glad that she wasn't the only commander without any experience. All in all, it seemed like Hotaru would get along with her new teammates just fine.

Speaking about Ashley, Hotaru noticed that Linnéa had summarized the contents of Reika's last few sentences for her. Reika's words had been in Japanese, so maybe Ashley did not understand Japanese? Which, now that Hotaru thought about it, wasn't actually all that weird. Glassheart was an international school, so it only made sense that there were students from all over the world. Considering that there was a good chance that there would be other foreigners incapable of speaking Japanese on the senshado team Hotaru decided to give the coming English classes special attention in order to improve her knowledge of the language. She wasn't much of a talker in most situation, but even she knew that good communication was the key to success and that an inability to understand each other during matches could easily lead to defeat.

While she had been thinking, the others had bombarded Reika with questions. Most of the questions on Hotaru's mind had already been addressed and answered, but one remained.

"As you said, our team is new and a completely blank slate," she said to Reika once the barrage of questions had abated a bit. Before she continued she looked at every other girl present to include them in the question. "How high are all of you aiming and how far do you want to go? I know that this might sound a bit presumptuous coming from me, but personally, I want to go as far as possible, even all way to the Nationals should the opportunity for it arises."

 

[Sushi]

_____"The Japanese Sensha-Do Federation Nationals? Shooting for the stars, aren't we?" Linnéa smirked, arms folded across her chest. "I wouldn't mind doing that again.

_____"That's gonna be some real hard work though," she added. "Are you sure you have what it takes?"

_____What was Sensha-Do without a little teasing, anyway?

 

[Tonaris]

"Frankly, I don't know," Hotaru answered with a confident smile. "But the only way to find out if I do have what it takes is to go ahead and try anyway, isn't it? I would rather fail after giving my best than never even try to compete since even a failure can be a valuable lesson on its own."

"Of course I know that I can't do it on my own," she added while offering Linnéa a handshake. "Therefore I am counting on your guidance, senpai."

 

[Jemnite]

"Usually, success in Senshado depends on budget and training," Fran noted dryly. "Which we find ourselves in largely deficient in in comparison to the krauts and the yanks and reds, and all the other much more established programs. They can rest on their long legacies and tank stockpiles- we most likely can not."

Not if they were a blank slate team. Fran had built up her last school's team from the bottom up- she knew the difficulties of trying to build your own team better than most. War was tough and grueling and depended almost entirely on preparation and capability to output resources. But, there was still something worthwhile to be found even in trying.

"That said, I certainly wouldn't mind giving Kuromorimine a shell up the behind." Fran crossed her arms under her chest and nodded sharply. "They think they can bully around every other school by sheer tonnage alone. The Nishizumi family's Iron Rules is nothing but slavish devotion and their heart of steel has never been tested by a peer opponent. They could use an upset or two."

 

[Sushi]

_____She shook on it. Now they were talking! "That's what we're here for. Kicking ass and topping giants. Kuromimine or anyone else."

 

[Arvin_Larn]

Ashley quirked her brow as Hotaru poised the question of what Goal the Team was aiming for, even going so far as to say that they would aim for the Nationals if it was possible. It seemed that Ambition was not in short supply in this Team, given the reactions of her fellow Tank Commanders.

A smirk tugged on the Orphan's lips. She might actually like these people.

"Well, you girls certainly won't get any complaints from me on that note." The girl shrugs, though she couldn't wipe that smirk off her lips.

 

[Yana]

"The recruitment for our team is finicky right now, and we'll probably be undercrewed for most of the tanks." Reika said while glancing down at the cluster of papers in her hand, herself leaning back on the desk she's standing in front of. She looked up, then waved it at the other commanders to show it off. "But for those that are guaranteed a spot in the team are in the list right here, together with some recommendation for crew placement. We'll try it out, as well as other assignments until we can find the right fit, and we'll probably get new recruits as the time passes. For now, we have enough people for at least five tanks. I'll give each of you a copy later."

"As for how high we're aiming..." She paused, pushing off from the table and walking towards a specific group of people clustered together. "I think that talk is something reserved for our other teammates. Share your enthusiasm with them, why don't you? But on a personal note, let's scratch our name into the books."

 

[Sushi]

@Yana @Jemnite @Arvin_Larn @Tonaris​

_____"It never works out that way," Linnéa said, marching alongside Reika. Her pack bounced with her steps, her helmet knocked rhythmically against her hip. "Lemme take a look anyway, though, I dunno, maybe I'll grab the ones with the cool names..." Their shoes on the docks, the wind in their hair... it wasn't a bad day to go off to war. Or pretend war, anyway, with all the bright colors and the infectious high spirits about the place.

_____ The colorful shapes of students in their uniforms blotted out the industrial undergrowth of the area. There was a bit of a crowd forming in the direction they were headed, one of many throngs forming in the harbor. Linnéa scanned the list Reika had for a moment, at least until a sound tickled her ear. After taking a few more steps, she slowed, turning her head sharply over her right shoulder.

_____"You hear that?"

​

@Spiffy @Bahumat @Dirtnap @Estro @Kensai @AlphaD @Sideral @Unlucky Bibliophile @ILurk @dryskim @CompassJimbo @Theravis​

_____Most of the foreign students had boarded the vessel several stops ago, and the stop was a last opportunity to pick up anything at a cheaper price land-side, or just to stretch their land legs. A few yet still arrived at the harbor and did their best to meet up with their fellow Sensha-dō practictioners. So far, the only official presence from the school was a single desk handling last-minute paperwork as the students mingled. The replenishment was going to take a while yet, and many of the new students ran amok with their purses plush. It was chaos in the harbor, but nothing unusual for a city that hosted the school ships.

_____Then the chatter of metal and rubber against asphalt filled the air. It sounded like a giant had coughed into their ears, and the racket grew in both fervor and volume as a olive green monster came upon them streaming a cloud of white exhaust smoke. Some of the older men and women in the street turned to watch it pass by, their wrinkled faces nodding in a restrained sort of approval.

​

_____It was a tank! Or, at least something very like it. The driver blipped one of the steering levers and threw the whole machine into a half-turn. The rear end snapped out as it skidded the last five feet to the table, rocking heavily onto one side before settling back upon its tracks. After a moment, a student's head emerged from within. She wore a crash helmet and a headset, and a set of costume cat-ears had been glued to her helmet. After a moment, she stood up in her machine. "Sooo... who's here for the tank team?"

​

 

[Estro]

Yayoi leaned against a railing, paying no attention to the goings on around her as she lazily flicked through her phone. There was a bag at her feet, filled with a mixture of alcohol and cigarette cartons she'd bought from a local convenience store; although her poison of choice couldn't be found that easily. Her school jacket was tied around her waist, showing her distinctly non regulation shirt, even as her skin prickled with goosebumps from the sea breeze.

Smiling at the latest text, she penned another reply to Matoi, before sighing. She missed Osaka, that was the problem. She missed its streets, it's people. She missed her gang, her friends. She missed her bike, riding around like a maniac with Matoi clinging onto the back, screaming into her ear. She even missed the fighting, hitting the ground and the broken lips, and hiding bruises under layers of makup and lies. Heck, she even missed her sisters, annoying prissy people as they were.

Now all she had was a sterile ocean city and schooling to look forward too. Oh, and Sensha-dō, the rich girls sport. She spat on the pavement, and glared at a couple of teens who were walking near her. Turning back to her phone, she continued her conversation with her friends for a few more minutes.

_Most of the foreign students had boarded the vessel several stops ago, and the stop was a last opportunity to pick up anything at a cheaper price land-side, or just to stretch their land legs. A few yet still arrived at the harbor and did their best to meet up with their fellow Sensha-dō practictioners. So far, the only official presence from the school was a single desk handling last-minute paperwork as the students mingled. The replenishment was going to take a while yet, and many of the new students ran amok with their purses plush. It was chaos in the harbor, but nothing unusual for a city that hosted the school ships.

_____Then the chatter of metal and rubber against asphalt filled the air. It sounded like a giant had coughed into their ears, and the racket grew in both fervor and volume as a olive green monster came upon them streaming a cloud of white exhaust smoke. Some of the older men and women in the street turned to watch it pass by, their wrinkled faces nodding in a restrained sort of approval.

​

_____It was a tank! Or, at least something very like it. The driver blipped one of the steering levers and threw the whole machine into a half-turn. The rear end snapped out as it skidded the last five feet to the table, rocking heavily onto one side before settling back upon its tracks. After a moment, a student's head emerged from within. She wore a crash helmet and a headset, and a set of costume cat-ears had been glued to her helmet. After a moment, she stood up in her machine. "Sooo... who's here for the tank team?"

Click to shrink...

Looking up at the tank, she took the opertunity to take a photo, and sent it to Matoi with the caption [Do you think she knows how stupid she looks, or is it instinctual?], before pocketing the device. Grabbing her backpack and hauling it onto her back, she challenged the idiot in the tank.

"The fuck should we tell some nekomimi reject?"

 

[Bahumat]

Rebecca was sitting by checking her documentation when the open-topped tank rumbled to a stop nearby. She popped her earbuds out, and grabbed her recently refilled backpack of new snacks and a couple of new shirts she'd picked up. She'd gotten on the ship a few stops ago, so she didn't have to carry ALL her belongings everywhere, unlike some of the poor girls who could be seen lugging....overly stacked bags and suitcases.

She raises her hand and gives a short wave to the Cat-eared tanker, before someone cantankerously called out to the girl.

"The fuck should we tell some nekomimi reject?"

Click to shrink...

Rebecca raised her eyebrow at that, but shrugged to herself. Probably her first time away from home and she's taking it out on other people. Was a girl like that back at Koala Forest, she got herself sorted out real quick though. Besides, the ears are cute. Nothing wrong with wearing something cute in public.

 

[Sushi]

@Estro
_____For her part, the TD commander stared at the first student to speak like she had something particularly rancid growing out of her forehead. "Y'know, you're pretty rude talking like that to someone with a fifty cal."

​

 

[Estro]

@Estro
_____For her part, the TD commander stared at the first student to speak like she had something particularly rancid growing out of her forehead. "Y'know, you're pretty rude talking like that to someone with a fifty cal."

​

Click to shrink...

"An idiot with a fifty cal is still an idiot. Anyway, I think you're in the wrong place, the maid cafes are that way."

Her phone buzzed, so Yayoi got it out and chuckled at Matoi's reply.

 

[Sushi]

@Estro
_____She blew an errant strand of hair out of her eyes. "Sooooo like, just so we're clear, this isn't Mean Girls, Lindsey Lohan, and you're here on our dime, fresh out of rehab or not. If you give the team trouble at every step, we just don't take you. Like, we're not obligated to accept everyone that comes along like a public school, y'know? If you hate being here, go home. I'd guess my ride home is shorter than yours.

_____"... anyway, if that's what you really want, guess we can just forget the orientation and do this another day? Come back next time we're in port?"

 

[Theravis]

@Yana @Jemnite @Arvin_Larn @Tonaris​

_____"It never works out that way," Linnéa said, marching alongside Reika. Her pack bounced with her steps, her helmet knocked rhythmically against her hip. "Lemme take a look anyway, though, I dunno, maybe I'll grab the ones with the cool names..." Their shoes on the docks, the wind in their hair... it wasn't a bad day to go off to war. Or pretend war, anyway, with all the bright colors and the infectious high spirits about the place.

_____ The colorful shapes of students in their uniforms blotted out the industrial undergrowth of the area. There was a bit of a crowd forming in the direction they were headed, one of many throngs forming in the harbor. Linnéa scanned the list Reika had for a moment, at least until a sound tickled her ear. After taking a few more steps, she slowed, turning her head sharply over her right shoulder.

_____"You hear that?"

​

@Spiffy @Bahumat @Dirtnap @Estro @Kensai @AlphaD @Sideral @Unlucky Bibliophile @ILurk @dryskim @CompassJimbo @Theravis​

_____Most of the foreign students had boarded the vessel several stops ago, and the stop was a last opportunity to pick up anything at a cheaper price land-side, or just to stretch their land legs. A few yet still arrived at the harbor and did their best to meet up with their fellow Sensha-dō practictioners. So far, the only official presence from the school was a single desk handling last-minute paperwork as the students mingled. The replenishment was going to take a while yet, and many of the new students ran amok with their purses plush. It was chaos in the harbor, but nothing unusual for a city that hosted the school ships.

_____Then the chatter of metal and rubber against asphalt filled the air. It sounded like a giant had coughed into their ears, and the racket grew in both fervor and volume as a olive green monster came upon them streaming a cloud of white exhaust smoke. Some of the older men and women in the street turned to watch it pass by, their wrinkled faces nodding in a restrained sort of approval.

​

_____It was a tank! Or, at least something very like it. The driver blipped one of the steering levers and threw the whole machine into a half-turn. The rear end snapped out as it skidded the last five feet to the table, rocking heavily onto one side before settling back upon its tracks. After a moment, a student's head emerged from within. She wore a crash helmet and a headset, and a set of costume cat-ears had been glued to her helmet. After a moment, she stood up in her machine. "Sooo... who's here for the tank team?"

​

Click to shrink...

Charlotte stood at attention. A slight southern twang accented her voice.
"Ah am, Ma'am. Ahr you the commanding officer here?"

"An idiot with a fifty cal is still an idiot. Anyway, I think you're in the wrong place, the maid cafes are that way."

Her phone buzzed, so Yayoi got it out and chuckled at Matoi's reply.

Click to shrink...

She shot a disapproving glance at the disrespectful girl, thinking dark thoughts about parents these days and discipline.

 

[Dirtnap]

Karin settled back against a building as the Motor Gun Carriage, 76mm came to a rumbling stop next to the group. Her eyes were as wide as possible, staring at the magnificent US engineering on display. She let out a small squeal of happiness at the clean lines and long barrel of the tank destroyer.

When the cat eared helmet popped up with what she assumed was the commander, Karin had to hold in her giggles. Only to be rudely interrupted by some delinquent looking ragamuffin. She shot the girl a short glare.

"An idiot with a fifty cal is still an idiot.

Click to shrink...

"An idiot with a fifty still has a bloody fifty, dipstick." Karin muttered under her breath and turned back to the commander.

"Sooo... who's here for the tank team?"

Click to shrink...

"I am," Karin raised her hand, hopefully the commander could see her arm above the rim of the turret. "Karin O'Keane, Miss uh..."

 

[dryskim]

They'd spent three and a half hours in the car, driving down. Her brother, Takuya, had done the driving while Akiko sat stuffed in the back with all her stuff. Mom sat up front and stewed.

The cast had come off two weeks ago but she was still sore about it. Akiko was a little sore herself, but in the physical not the emotional sense.

Crashing the moped was the final straw for their already somewhat strained relationship. Any chances of driving for Glassheart went out the window and LOADER was hastily scribbled down in it's place.

For Akiko, whose whole life revolved around speed and failing to meet her mother's expectations, she might as well have tattooed 'LOSER' across her forehead.

Seriously, who wanted to be a loader? It was, like, the most lame position in the whole tank to the point a mechanical arm could do it.

She stewed over this as mom dealt with last minute paperwork and Takuya unloaded the car. As she brought her headphones up to her ears, content to internally monologue about the injustice of it all, she heard the familiar of an engine. The metal beast clattered into view at a rather impressive clip and drifted neatly to a stop.

For Akiko, who'd assumed all tanks were ungainly glaciers this was certainly eye opening. A moment later a girl with cat-ears on her helmet popped out of the contraption to address the crowd and Akiko moseyed forward.

The tank girl didn't get very far into her speech before a heckler started attacking her choice in headgear. A little back-and-forth followed, but judging from the reactions of several other girls within the crowd the general consensus seemed to be ignore the jerk.

Akiko brought her hand up over her head, though not too quickly so as to preserve a appearance of cool indifference, "Yo."