We arrived at the training camp in the Soviet front, we were not very welcomed. People were looking at us with annoyance, some were whispering.

Man 1:" Why are there minors here?"
Man 2:" Maybe visiting one of the higher guys?"
Man 3:" Don't tell me they are going to stay here."

"Don't act up Lucas, we don't want to cause trouble."

Lucas:"I'll try."

We were lead to an office and asked to sit down.

Lieutenant:" So, these are those kids that I heard about. I can't believe you tried breaking out a Jew, I admire your courage."

"Thank you sir, but can we get to the point?"

Lieutenant:"Fine, you have been assigned to the Panzer divisions. You will be sent to the tank academy for your training, after a week of learning the basics you will begin field training. Since you are 5 people you will be assigned to a Panzerkampfwagen IV D to learn a similar but weaker 75mm than the standard on the Panzerkampfwagen IV."

"Are this the rapid courses?"

Lieutenant:" No, this is the regular training but if you demonstrate that you are worth keeping, you will be sent to a longer and more thorough training. If that's all of the questions, you are free to leave. The soldier outside will guide you to your barracks.

The soldier took us to our barracks before it was bed time, we all got a bunk near each other. The week went rather slow, we reviewed strategies, commands, identifying enemy tanks and so on. After that week we went onto the firing range, Peter got the highest accuracy ratio out of all of the class, it was so high that some of the most seasoned soldiers were watching. Arran got the highest on the endurance test, we all knew he would. Marco shined the most in the academic aspect of the training, it was expected of a total geek. Lucas, well he didn't shine in anything but piss off the instructors, he did great in the vocals.

Instructor:" Gather your things, we're doing a simulation. We are going to see how well you can do."

There was seven vehicles lined up for training.

Panzerkampfwagen IV D (us)
Panzerkampfwagen II Luchs
Stürmgeschutz III B
Panzerkampfwagen I C
Panzerkampfwagen III E
Jagdpanzer 38t Hetzer
Volkswagen Kübelwagen

Instructor:"Alright, we will begin in 10 minutes. Do what ever you need to do because we will not stop until late after noon."

Supervisor:" I recommend that if you are gonna eat don't eat too much, especially you loaders. We don't want any 'incidents'."

With that, everyone started going their ways, some to do their business and others to grab a quick bite. After a while, people started coming back. We were getting to the tank until we realized that Marco was not there.

Lucas:"That's strange, he usually is the first to get places."

Marco:" Im back, sorry but something kept me busy more than I intended."

Arran:"What's with the old blanket?"

Marco was indeed holding an old grey blanket with both arms which was an odd way of holding a blanket.

Marco:" Well you see, I was about to get to that. While I was coming back, I found her."

He unveiled the blanked and we saw a small dark brown lump.

Peter:" What the hell is this?"

When he said that, the lump started moving and we saw a head looking at us.

"Marco, why do you have a dog?"

Marco:" She was by herself on the side of the road and-"

"We don't even know where it came from or how we are going to take care of it. Just put it back wh-"

Instructor:" Is something the matter?"

"-no, we were discussing something."

Instructor:"hmm? Cadet, why do you have a blanket?"

Marco:" Oh, I um...."

"I told him to bring it, so we could put it around the barrel. To practice making camouflage."

Instructor:" oh really?..... very well, that is an important thing to know. Get ready, we are about to begin training."

He walked away and started telling all other crews the same.

"Bring it with us, and wrap the blanket around the barrel."

Marco:" Did you just say to leave it?"

"There is no time, we have to get going."

(Time skip)

After some time of training and getting used to all the tactics,we were told to return for re supply. Soon after we resumed and it was time for training in the forest.

Instructor:"There will be some Soviet tank targets, you will be split in teams of 3. Who ever gets more knockouts wins."

Us, Stug, and III E were on the same team, the instructors blew the whistle to indicate that the match started.

Stug:" BT-7 spotted at 10 o'clock!"

III E:"Roger that, I have my sights on it."

Pom! Shink!

The small caliber shell went through the BT with ease. It went on like that for a couple more minutes, then we spotted a T-34 from behind. But there was something odd about it.

Stug:" T-34 spotted!"

"Wait, something is not right."

III E:" What do you mean? They said that they were destroyed and collected."

"But they didn't mention a T-34, Lucas, get me with the instructors."

A few moments later.

Instructor:" What is it?"

"Um we found a T-34 and we were wondering if it's on the program."

Instructor:"A T-34? We didn't put any of those, all T-34 are destroyed beyond repair."

Marco:"Guys, it's turning around."

I look through the rectangular view ports of my cupola, the T-34 had turned around and started aiming at the III E.

Boom!

The T-34's turret went airborne with a explosion. I looked around and saw the Hetzer a couple meters to the left.

Hetzer:"Phew, That was close."

"Everyone, we need to get back."

Luchs:" Tell me about it, look 200 meters to the left."

I looked to the left and saw 3 T-34-85s approaching us.

"Retreat to the camp!"

Instructor:" What is happening?!"

"Call the regulars! We are under attack!"

We retreated deep into the forest, once we knew we were alone we started thinking.

Pz. II J:" What do we do? We are just in training, our tanks are are inferior to their default versions."

Stug:" we need to get out of here, we can't do this."

"Just do what you learned in class, TDs will support, LTs will be our look outs and we will do anything to help you."

Pz. III E:" what if it isn't enough?"

"It will be enough, we need to live."

*Bark! Bark!

"Marco could you keep that dog quiet?"

Boom!

Pz. I C:" Stug watch out!"

Stug:"Wha-"

Clang!

A T-34-85 had shot at the side of the Stug's crew compartment at the head level of the crew.

Hetzer:"Stug! Damn you pigs!"

The Hetzer aimed its gun at the T-34-85 and so did they at the Hetzer.

Boom!
Boom!

The T-34's 85mm shell hit its target but bounced off the slope of the manlet of the Hetzer while the 75mm went through the turret ring killing all the crew on the turret. The driver tried to get away but was killed with the machine guns.

Stug:"*Crackle*Crackle.... *cough, I'm the radio operator..... me and the driver are alive but... the other 3 aren't."

"Copy that, get out of here. You are not in any condition to fight."

Stug:"Understood,*cough."

The Stug started turning and left back to camp.

"Change of plans, we are going to keep them busy as much as we can until the regulars get here."

Soon we were sitting in an ambush position to pick out as many possible.

Pz I C:" 3 T-34's coming your way, be ready."

"Positiv, don't get spotted."

Luchs:" They're here."

The T-34s weren't equipped with the 85mm but rather with the 57mm, but they are still dangerous nonetheless.

"On my signal."

They passed by us, the one in the front noticed us and immediately halted but it was now late.

Boom!
Boom!
Pa!
Pa!

We took out the one in front, the Hetzer took the 2nd and both Luchs and Pz. III E took the last one. What before was 3 fear inciting opponent were now smoldering wrecks and I didn't want to imagine what it was on the inside.

Luchs:"WOOOOOOO! TAKE THAT!"

Pz. I C:" We're back, we didn't see any more. Maybe we are done.

Pz. III E:" Man, did we seriously pull this off? I thought we would be dead."

Hetzer:" They shouldn't had messed with the Fatherland."

"Lucas, see if you can make contact with the camp."

Lucas:"Right on."

"Well, if we are done we should g-"

Dog:*BARK,BARK! *Growling.

"Halt! Something is not right."

Pz I C:"Vhat is it?"

Luchs:"You have a dog? Isn't that against regulations?"

Hetzer:" Shut up, Pz. IV what's wrong?"

"Our dog is getting very defensive, more than the previous times."

Pz. III E:" What about the other times?"

"Every time we were seen, it would start getting defensive and start barking. But this time it's even growling."

Hetzer:" What could make a dog so afr-"

BOOM!

Pz. I C:" What the h-"

Clang!!

The Pz. I C received a hit to its side, which caused it to flip over and then a explosion happened. We didn't even wonder if they were alive because we knew they weren't. I look to where the shot came from, I felt the blood on my face drain.

"ITS AN IS!!!!!!!"

Boom!
Boom!
Pa!
Pa!
We all shot at the monster that was making his way to us. All of them were deflected and sent sky high.

BOOM!

Pz III E:" Oh fu-"

Clang!

The shell went through the front in between the driver and the radio operator and striking the engine which caused a fire inside the tank, the only indication of that was smoke coming out though the small gaps in the hatches and the ventilation extractor on to of the turret.

"Every one retreat!!!!"

We all scrambled trying to get away from it, I had never been that scared in my life. We tried to get away from it but it was keeping up with us, but then it stopped but I realized what it was doing.

BOOM!

Luchs:"Zigz-"

Clang!

The shell impacted the side of the Luchs right when it tried to dodge it and hit its ammo rack detonating it which caused the turret to fly upwards and the hull continued like a wagon without a horse until it hit a tree. Than what killed them began to move again.

Hetzer:" There goes Luchs, it's just us two huh? I thought that this war was going to give me a purpose, to show that I am worth something. But I guess I was wrong and now me and my crew are not gonna make it to the finish line. "

"What are you saying? We are making it out of here. We can do this, it's just one more."

Hetzer:" I like your optimism, but if you haven't figured it out. Turretless tanks are not to be in a chase. Make me a favor, kill those bastards and make it out of here.

BOOM!

Clang!

The shell tore through the thing armor plate as if it was cake and I think I even saw the front glacis plate dent forward. I then felt something break inside me, I could tell what it was. Rage? Sadnes? Or something else? It was boiling upwards and I couldn't control it.

"Marco, make a 180 now."

Marco:" What? Finn Are you crazy?"

"Just do it! Peter, I want you to aim for one of their tracks."

Peter:" Ok, I'll try."

The tank made a complete near perfect u turn, the IS-2 was shocked and it stopped moving and started backing up.

"Fire!"

Peter:" Damn! I jerked the trigger!"

Right when I had said that, the tank hit a rock on the left which sent the shell to the left, away from their left suspension wheel. But instead of the track, it went straight to the driver's hatch and pierced through the visor and into the crew compartment killing the driver instantly. Then the commander poke half of his body when I had done the same, we looked at each other. He had a white eyepatch with a red star with the hammer and sickle in the middle, what surprised me is that he looked our age. Before their 122mm could shoot us we rounded to their rear and fired at the rear of their turret and then the ammo rack started to cook off.

Arran:"I have.... never... shacked... this much .... in my life."

Lucas:"How did we live? "

Peter:"I don't care how but that we did."

Marco:" We should had gotten hit, it took us a while to get to them."

"Maybe their loader got hit? I mean that's the most reasonable explanation."

*bark!

"Oh, I forgot about you. Hey, what should we name her?"

Lucas:"I thought you told Marco to get rid of it."

" I change my mind, she saved our skins. "

Peter:" Maybe Mocha?"

Marco:" How about Choco? As in Chocolate."

"Mmm. Yeah let's go with Choco. It fits her a little bit better."

Radio:"Pz. IV D, do you copy?"

"Pz. IV D here. What's the situation?"

Radio:" Thanks to your group defending the flank, the Soviet attack was repelled. When you come back report to the General's office, he would like a word with you."

"Positiv, we're on our way."

We did as we were told, when we came to the office and sat down. The General then gave us a smile and took out a box.

General:" I am impressed, I am proud of all of you. That is why I will reward you with these.

He took out 5 crosses, which shocked all of us.

General:" For your actions I award you with the Knight's cross of the iron cross for your bravery."

We were all shocked, at one point I even thought that I was dreaming and we had been killed.

General:" That is not all, I also put in a recommendation for you to be assigned to a Tiger 1 equipped with rather than the short 88mm but with the 88mm Kw.K 43 L/71 experiment."

"But we don't deserve this, we were the sole survivors. We could had done something other wise they would all still be alive."

General:" I understand that, but you need to understand that this is very common. Even though I hate it too but that will continue to happen until this war is won. That is all, dismissed."

A couple days later, the Tiger 1 was delivered and soon after we were sent to the nearest army camp. This was 1 year and a half before we reached the end of the road.

I am so sorry for taking so long to make this, I appreciate your patience and I thank you for reading this. That is it and I will see you next chapter.