With the operation about to go underway, we're looking the tank over and making sure the machine is fully outfitted, with me tossing an rpk in the turret in case we need to engage infantry. We paint the tank in a forest camouflage pattern similar to the panther tanks, even painting the Interpol symbol on it's hull and I also decide to name the tank, trying to be a little poetic I name the machine Iron Blossom which earns admiration from the Panda King. Going over it we have roughly thirty rounds to work with but there is room for more ammunition for the gun, the thing is though because the turret is open it's more in line with an M10 then a T-34/85 but that shouldn't make too much difference. With the operation about to go under way, we all decide to try to rest up and relax, I decide to see about checking my knight armor and stuff I got back in Germany, I catch a glimpse of Carmelita who looks pretty down as she stares at a cup of coffee with those brown eyes of hers.




Thinking back to how she was acting back in Belgium, part of me wants to leave her alone, but I want to see if maybe I can help her, I approach her "Are you okay?"




The vixen glances to me, she sighs "I'll be fine, I'm just processing a few things." as she closes those eyes of hers.




I blink for a second, thinking this might have been a bad idea "I'll leave you be." as I start to turn away I feel my arm being grabbed, I look to see her looking at me with those eyes of her glistening.




Carmelita speaks up "Please stay, there is something I want to talk to you about... and it kind of relates to how I feel." looking like she's trying to maintain herself.




I nod as she let's me go and I sit next to her "I'm all ears Carmelita, please speak your mind." with concern for her.




The vixen takes a light breath "Adam... what do you see me as?"




I blink at her question, a confusing question to say the least "What are you saying?"




She sighs "I'm asking, what do you see me as? Am I more to you then just your senior officer? More then just a roommate?" her ears going sightly back.




I now know what she's talking about, she was asking me how I really feel about her, I try to gather my thoughts a few seconds, I softly sigh "To be honest, I do admire you. You helped me to become what I am today and we've both learned from each other. As for feelings for you...", she leans towards me a little as her look becomes more curious and a little scared which catches me off guard "... I do want to be with you. You're a strong woman and you have the qualities that I want in a one." as I feel a tear leave my eye.




The vixen gently hugs me "I'm happy to hear you say that...", she wipes my tear away "But you do look confused."




I sigh "To tell you the truth, I think over the past few months I've felt lonely. I was worried that if I tried to find a woman... they would be afraid of me."




Carmelita puts on a stunned look "Scared of you? Hon, you are such a sweet heart, I think you were being a little too hard on yourself. When you get going... sure, I can understand. But that's the case for anyone, you are a good guy and you deserve to be happy too."




I hug her back "T-Thank you."




Carmelita tightens her embrace "Easy Adam, I know that you are still trying to sort some things out." with a gentle nudge she brings my head up "I'm right here hon, please, let me be there for you. I know you want to be there for me."




I can see the tears in her eyes as I feel some more build in mine, I gently bring my right hand to the side of her face and I kiss her lips for a few moments. Those brown eyes of hers look me over but I keep hugging her, she gives me a kiss back and we both just sit there, our gazes continue to look at one another.




The vixen takes a breath "We have some time before the operation, let's go get some sleep."




We both get up but she grabs my hand and she begins to pull me to her room, which gets my attention, but we end up just laying next to each other, our jackets are gone along with our footwear and she's holding me a little tight as she has me laying against her chest.




Carmelita says "Are you comfortable?"




I sigh as I feel the warmth of her fur "Cozy. How about you?"




"Same here hon.", she nuzzles me "I'm your girl and your my guy."




I think 'Carmelita...' concerned with how this was going a little, it seemed a little fast, but I do have feelings for her...




Carmelita brushes my hair to the side and begins to pet me, I decide to just lay more into her as I embrace her. I look up to her, I just feel my emotions coming out as I feel her warm embrace, she just looks like she's grieving as she's trying show how much she cares about me... she still had Sly on her mind and she was still working with her emotions on losing him. I try to push myself up to where I'm eye level with her, I wipe her tears as I give her gentle smile and I carefully bring her into an embrace as she lays against my chest while I do my best cuddle her. Faint whimpering escapes the vixen as I see tears leave her eyes, I lay my head on top of hers as I feel my own tears leave my eyes. The both of us have our own issues, for me it's fear and for her it's pretty self-explanatory, like her I've always tried to hide my emotions, it what we've learned how to do, but for us it's slowly changing.




I kiss the top of her head "I'm right here Carmelita, just let it out."




.........................................




The Panda King finishes making a few spare explosives for the operation to come, he looks to Bently "I sense a strong heart in that Adam, the kindling in his eyes are ready to ignite into the fire of a warriors heart."




Penelope is looking over some gathered Intel "He's a good strategist and from our interactions he's a good person.", she looks to King "And he isn't scared to admit he is afraid."




Panda gives a nod "One who has fear is wise, one who doesn't is a fool and I see that is his actions."




Bently thinks back when he first saw the human when he tossed him the thompson, the mix of fear and courage in his features, it reminded him of Sly in a way... for a split second he saw the essence of his friend in those blue eyes the human bares, the sense of duty, the sense of doing what's right while figuring out the puzzle and he would see it through to the end. The question is how will the operation go as he leads the tank? It was going to be a warzone they would find themselves in tomorrow, he doesn't doubt the humans abilities at all, but that's the question it came down to




...........................................




The operation is about to go underway, I'm looking over my stuff and making sure I'm ready, I look myself in the mirror, I look to a bowl of blueberries as I get an idea while eyeing my new sword. With a little effort I manage to make a blue paint from the berries and apply it around my eyes with the angling of a wolf's gaze and painting the bridge of my nose, I ready my sword and sheath it and head downstairs. Everyone looks to me instantly, while I switch my armor color to a blue camouflage while maintaining the Interpol symbol.




Panda King breaks the silence "The color blue definitely suits you, the color of intuition, wisdom, intelligence, growth and optimism."




I say "Blue is both my favorite and lucky color." as I double check my sidearm.




Carmelita readies her shock pistol "Here's hoping some of that luck rubs off on us." with a smirk.




I look to all of them with a smile of my own "Ad victoriam!" with enthusiasm.




Penelope blinks for a moment, but she puts on an equal look to mine while raising her right hand in a light fist "Ad victoriam!", everyone looks to her and I, she glances around "It means 'To victory' in latin."




Everyone else returns the cheer and with it we get into our places, the plan is after I detonate my charges our tank deals with the T-34/85's along with those under Tsao's command, while the Panda King and Bently tackle Tsao himself and giving us information on how Tsao is moving his troops, Carmelita loads a round into the tank gun and I get my detonator ready.




"On my mark... five... four.... three...", my finger slides over the button "Two... ONE!" and I press it.




Explosions come through the fortress walls, the gun platforms fall and destroy the bridges, soldiers and tanks stop dead in their tracks and begin to head back towards the fortress...




I yell "FIRE!!!", the 76mm booms and hits a T-34 in the rear, obliterating the engine compartment "Displace right!" as I ready the machine gun.




Our tank zooms right as soldiers run towards us, I open up with the machine gun as Carmelita loads another round, tiger officers work their radios as pigs and monkeys start to take pot shots from cover, I look to see a T-34 aim it's gun I give the order for a hard stop, our tank stops as the T-34 fires, destroying the building to our left.




I yell "LOWER PLATE! LOWER PLATE!"




Carmelita quickly aims the turret and fires, the black smoke erupts as an explosion claims the rear hull, I give the order to feign retreat while pinning more infantry down.




Penelope's voice comes through "Two T-34's are flanking from the north east!"




"Cease retreat!", the tank stops as a few shells land around us "Ammo up!" as I reload the machine gun.




The vixen loads the gun "We won't last long if they keep bringing tanks out!"




I put down some flanking monkeys "How many tanks are there in total?!"




"About eight more including the two flanking us, the rest are in the fortress." earning a sigh from me.




I look to Carmelita "We're going to need more speedy reloads, we're going to flank ourselves, we're heading north!"




We zoom through the village as machine gun nests open fire while I return it, the T-34's are in sight but they are still shooting at the area where we once were, our gun fires which smashes into the sides of the first tank of it's left side, sending smoke and debris everywhere, we go screaming around the wrecked tank as the other tries to back up, it's turret turning, we fire but their tank stops and we miss, their turret fires it's 85mm which hits our side armor... thankfully it holds but their machine gun starts to blaze, Carmelita loads another round and fires and the T-34 explodes an a chaotic cloud of shrapnel and flame. Four down, six to go...




The mouse cries "In front!"




I yell "BRACE!" as I duck down, a tank round hits and deflects off the front "Fire and fall back to the village!"




............................................................




Bently and Panda are relaying data from the bug that Bently gave to Jing King, using it to give Adam deployment data on Tsao's forces was a smart move and by the sound of it, Adam was handling such a command role really well. They infiltrate via the same way the turtle and human did earlier, King readies his ramshackle explosives as his right hand ignites in flame, Bently arms his launcher system and they begin to make their way to where Jing is, the Panda Kinda destroying all in his path while Bently focuses on navigating, taking the occasional shots every so often, the make it to where Tsao is hold up but the doors are fortified as a heavy machine gun opens fire with two ak rifles, Bently puts a grapple-cam down and starts to zip it around until it gets behind the three soldiers and the turtle has it detonate, no where near enough to be lethal but enough to force them to stop and topple them over, the Panda King rushes them and knocks every one of them out cold.




Bently begins to place charges "We gotta make this quick, we built the tank as best we could but I don't think they can hold out much longer."




King nods "I understand, but what armor doesn't protect the spirit does."




Bently doesn't know what to think with that statement so he simply agrees, they back away from the doors, Bently has the charges detonate, they quickly run in to see both Jing King and Tsao just outside with a helicopter coming into view, they quickly run but an electric fields springs to life and stops them.




Tsao sneers "Panda King, I knew you would come, you and your allies are crafty I'll give them that, but your tank is pinned and will be destroyed soon enough. We will make our escape as the charges planted will take you with the castle itself."




Jing King puts on a saddened look as a helicopter comes into view, a boom sounds and it explodes, earning looks from everyone.




...........................




I smile as I watch the helicopter go down "Awesome shot!" as I glance to Carmelita.




The vixen loads another round "My pleasure."




Murray looks to me from below "It'll take some time but I can replace the track." as he gets tools together.




I reload the rpk "Make it quick, we're about to be swarmed.", I say into the comm "Does the enemy have anything left?"




Penelope sounds "The enemy only has one tank remaining and from what I can tell about a quarter of the infantry forces are left, most are either dead, wounded or retreated."




Given that we have seven shells left we can deal with the remaining tank with little issue, but my machine gun is almost out of ammunition and the Iron Blossom can't take much more damage without risking it's integrity, the hippo finishes the repairs after about fifteen minutes and comes back in as I look over the edge of the turret, the village is effectively decimated as fires consumes various structures and debris from tank rounds and explosives litters the grass. I give the order for a slow advance and for Carmelita to keep the gun aimed towards the ruins while looking around for threats, the enemy forces are likely trying to make use of any of it as cover... I'm not afraid of the weapons the infantry wield, it's that 85mm I'm worried, one more shot can easily breech the armor as the sloping was losing it's desired effect. Then we see the mighty war machine, the soviet tank staring at us with that impressive gun aimed at us, the commander being a tiger with greying fur standing on top of it, I tell Carmelita to hold off as I stand up, Tsao's remaining troops gather around the old machine. Both of out machines are about a hundred feet away from each other as we look to one another, his eyes look to my sword, he raises what looks like a dao sword, I raise my sword in response in a similar manner.




I decide to break the silence and raise my head as I howl like a wolf, the mountains echoing as I hear it spreading around as I put my heart into it, I finish after about ten seconds, I lower my head to see stunned looks from the soldiers in front of me, I glance to see the others in my tank looking my way, my full gaze goes to the tank commander as I hold my sword with both hands, the edge between my eyes. The tiger is the only one keeping his stern expression, but I can tell I must've had an effect on him as he eventually nods, he reaches into the tank, he pulls out a white flag and begins to wave it, the soldiers around him lowering their arms. I step off the tank and make my way towards them, my blade lowered and more relaxed, their commander steps down and we soon meet between our machines.




The tiger speaks up "Your spirit, it reminds me so much of what we were before. Honor, dignity and a sharp mind to overcome any obstacle, it is refreshing to that fire in the younger generation is still alive."




I close my eyes as I say "I am honored to hear you say that.", I look back to him "This is quite a mess we are in."




The tiger looks to the castle "Tsao has underestimated the enemy he faces once more and all of this for a fools errand.", he looks to me "Tsao has many exit points, you can't catch him here. It'll take a lot more as you will need to corner him."




"Where is that?" with a raised eyebrow.




.....................................




Tsao deflects projected flame from the Panda King's fists, he was afraid to use his explosives because Jing is nearby, weapons fire comes from the left, a hind helicopter arrives, it's main gun forcing the turtle and panda back, the hide gets close as it's doors open, Tsao shoves Jing in, he gets on board and the mighty machine flies away. The Panda King cries out in anger as Bently quickly tries to contact the human, fearing that howl they heard from earlier, not only does he get Adam on the line but he also tells the turtle some useful information.




Bently looks to the Panda King "Adam knows where they are going, the enemy surrendered to him and revealed the location."




Panda nods "Let's go to them!"




...........................................................




Bently and the Panda King come over to us, their faces a little stunned as the T-34/85 and Iron Blossom looking at each other with the tiger commander continuing to hold his white flag. The Panda King goes to the tiger and they start speaking in chinese, Bently joins us and he begins to take the situation in.




I say "The tank worked like a charm, she's damaged but with some repairs she'll be back in action." as I pat the upper glacius with a smirk.




Penelope comes around "Great leadership Adam, you kept us going and made the right calls." as she puts a hand on my shoulder.




I give a thankful nod "I had great crew to help me." as I look to her, Carmelita and Murray.




Bently adjusts himself as the Panda King comes over "Where is Tsao going?"




I open a map "There is an abandoned city not too far from here, that's where he's really set up shop and where he's working with the prototype. This was more or less a personal fortress."




Panda King looks to me and Bently "These men are invigorated by you Adam, they will aid us in rescuing JIng King.", those eyes lock to mine "I can see the fire in those eyes, the spirit in you ablaze.... the spirit of the wolf."




To be continued...