Northern Africa
Sahara Desert, Egypt
20 miles away from the coastline
——————
The desert.
Searing heat
Endless fields of sand dunes
Blazing sun.
Miserable conditions
And no civilization for hundreds upon thousands of miles.
The perfect location for a battle of epic proportions.
That already happened once, twice in fact
Both of the battles of El Alamein happened in this remote patch of desert some eight decades ago.
Massive formations of tanks driving through the endless desert climaxed the battle for Africa
And now, 80 years into the future, both the Nazis and Fascist Italy are now both paragraphs into the annals of history.
However, even so far into the future, their legacy continues to live on.
What land once saw the brutal North Africa campaign, now sees international sport.
———————
The D.O.M.E.
20 miles from shore
Across the vast sandy plains of the desert, one giant structure completely disrupts the smooth flow of the desert environment.
A giant semisphere-shaped structure looming in the distance.
It is known by tankers everywhere simply as "The Dome"
A two-kilometer tall gargantuan structure with a smooth, spherical shape that attributed well to its name.
It dominated the landscape around it, dwarfing the distant mountains and even going so high as to go above low-hanging clouds, making for an excellent view of the desert around it.
Being the result of the efforts of more than fifty nations the D.O.M.E. was built with certainly more in mind than just a little sightseeing destination
Three years of construction and fifty trillion dollars was certainly expensive for a pleasurable getaway, especially with some of the most cutting edge technology the world has ever seen.
Holographic displays...
Internal weather regulation...
Near-Instant land Terraforming...
In fact, the D.O.M.E. was built solely for the purpose of providing the absolute perfect place to build suitable internal battlefields...
...for legalized tank battles
A strange, but promising sport.
—————
Inside the D.O.M.E.
Semi Finals - United States of America vs People's Republic of China
Battlefield conditions - Forests and Plains, with small valleys and mountains, overcast
POV: M26 Platoon
(A single M26 Pershing sat above a small hill overlooking a river. The commander of the Pershing sat patently, although the conditions were at a brisk 40 degrees Fahrenheit, he still kept watch over another small hill on the opposite side of the river, patiently waiting, as they had been for an hour and a half. The crew was beginning to get restless without action. His loader was sticking his head outside of his hatch to keep the commander company.)
" T-The air is so cold... h-how are you keeping your head up in this weather?" The loader said, teeth beginning to chatter
" Well, for starters, I wouldn't have my sleeves rolled up in this weather. Besides, it's only 40 degrees It's only a little brisk out." The commander said
" well, I thought tanks were supposed to be hot, that's why I rolled my sleeves up sir"
"Loader what state are you from?" The Commander asked
"Uh, South Carolina sir," the loader said
" do they teach you to complain in South Carolina?"
" um... no, sir?"
" Well man up cause we still got 30 minutes left to deal with this weather, and if you're gonna complain that whole time, you might as well get back inside" the commander said.
" oooooh, gotchu there" the gunner laughed
" Man don't do this to me. I've already had enough of a day today." The loader said, crawling back into the tank
While the loader and gunner had their little talk, The commander all of a sudden perked up, the slight sound of tracks rumbling, and the very faint sound of an engine echoed in the distance, his interest peaked.
" Guys! simmer down I think I hear something" the commander growled.
Both the loader and gunner immediately stopped what they were doing, and let the commander listen
*rumble
*rumble
*rumble
*creeeek
" Driver, move us backwards, I think that's an enemy tank" the Pershing commander said
The M26's engine started, and the driver slowly reversed the tank into cover, giving the commander enough view just to see the peak of the hill
The commander grasped his field binoculars, as a bead of sweat fell from his forehead.
A gray shape loomed over the hill.
" One enemy tank!" The commander said, gritting his teeth.
And then another shape, appeared soon, followed by yet another, and another
" shoot, that's three, four enemy tanks, they're multiplying like rabbits, just how many are there?" The commander said to himself
(as if appearing out of the ground, numerous Chinese T-34-85 tanks started coming over the hill and making their way into the river, fording across it.)
"Well, it seems that we are not going to be going home today without a kill." The commander said
He grabbed the receiver for his SCR 5-28 radio, and immediately began to communicate with the other tank commanders of his platoon.
They had been waiting precisely for an enemy movement like this, their boss's strategy had worked again.
" alright let's give those communists a bloody nose, go get 'em boys!"
Five M26 Pershing tanks crossed over the hilltop and brought their 90 mm guns down to bear on the Chinese tanks
"GUNNER! AP TANK! TRAVERSE RIGHT" The commander shouted, as he began to shout orders to the gunner
The electric turret drive made a harsh, grinding noise as it turned bringing the large gun to bear on the enemy.
"ON!"
"FIRE!" The commander shouted
"ON THE WAY!" The gunner shouted back.
The gunner clenched the trigger for the 90mm gun.
*THOOOOOM!
the gun let out a thunderous roar as the Armor Piercing shell streaked towards the Chinese tank,
When the dust settled, the Chinese T-34 had a hole right in the middle of the Red Star on the turret, knocking out the medium tank instantly.
" Communist tank destroyed! loader AP! get the next one!" The commander shouted.
(The other Pershings in his platoon opened fire, scoring three successful hits on the Chinese vehicles.)
"GUNNER AP! TAN-"
*BOOOOM!
The commander shook in his seat,
(The Pershing right next to theirs had been destroyed, enveloped a fiery explosion)
The commander stared in abject horror, especially when he found out what enemy had destroyed his platoon mate,
" Chinese heavy to our side, F###!" The commander cursed
A Chinese IS-2 heavy tank was to blame
The T-34s were manageable threats, their smaller 85mm and 76mm guns could not effectively do any damage to the M26 from the front, but the IS-2 had an enormous 122mm gun that could easily penetrate the Pershing.
The Chinese usually decorated these dangerous vehicles with anti-American slogans, such as "Down with the Imperialists that hurt China" and other mildly offensive phrases.
But the IS-2s 122mm did much more talking than the propaganda painted on them.
The IS-2 turned its large turret to bear on his M26 Pershing.
"G-GUNNERRRRR!! AP! TANK! TRAVERSE RIGGHHHHT!" The commander shouted.
"DRIVER! RIGHT!"
The IS-2s 122mm continued its deathstare as the Chinese kid inside of it probably worked his back off to slam the two piece shell into the gun.
The M26 turned violently, as the driver and gunner both traversed right, struggling to get the 90mm on target.
Precious seconds flew by.
Just when the 90mm was pointed at the IS-2, he was too late.
*BOOOOOOM!
The commander hit his head on the turret wall, waiting for the grim reaper to yank his tank out of the match, where he'd be imprisoned somewhere in the spectating crowd to watch uselessly until the match ended, a nightmarish fate that might as well be purgatory.
However, he never heard anything.
Until his loader shook him by the shoulders.
"Commander, what are you doing!? We ain't dead yet!" The loader shouted
"Then who?.... Didn't we get shot?!" The commander said, peeking out of his periscope.
The IS-2, which he surely thought would kill him, was actually the one that ended up getting knocked out, with a smoldering smoke cloud billowing ominously from the engine.
"Third Platoon, pull back, your position is being reinforced" a familiar voice stated over the radio.
A T29E3 Heavy tank with its distinctive ears came out from the trees behind them.
It was the boss.
The commander almost melted from relief, exhaling harshly as he melted into his seat.
He yanked the microphone from his radio
"Thank God for you sir, I thought our unit was toast..." the commander stated.
———————
The 'Boss' POV
"Thank God for you sir, I thought our unit was toast..." the commander of third platoon stated.
"Likewise, we are pushing front, the second enemy spearhead has been blunted. Third platoon, you will cover our rear to make sure no more communists try anything." He stated.
"Yes sir!"
The Boss switched radio channels
"Second platoon, cover left, let heavies go over the hill, ensure that their flag tank doesn't escape, it should be right behind this hill, you tighten the noose."
A group of M26 Pershings broke off from the main formation, and headed to the side and began to flank the hill, these were the Pershings of second platoon.
"All heavies, eliminate these Communist shoeboxes, blow them back to China." The boss stated.
The T-34 tanks which had been engaged by the Pershings earlier were the first victims.
Two T29 tanks and a T34 heavy tank zoomed over the hill that third platoon once used, closing in for close quarters combat
The T-34s were utterly helpless, with many Chinese crews abandoning their vehicles and running, identifiable by the Red Stars on their helmets.
"Haha! Look at 'em run!" The Boss's gunner stated
The Chinese crews ran away, practically trampling each other as they hurried through the shallow water trying to get to the shore, absolutely terrified of the massive steel beast approaching them.
One T-34 attempted to fire back however, but its 85mm shell had no effect on the sloped 100mm plate on the front of the Boss's tank, all it did was make the driver VERY mad.
"Oh F###!"the driver shouted, having hit his head on his periscope from the shell impact
"Dirty Commie, I'll bury you myself!" The driver shouted
The Boss's Driver switched the tank into its second forward gear.
"Dan! What are you doing!" The boss said
"Gonna ram this ###########!" He shouted, cursing violently
"One way to spread terror I guess, brace for impact boys." The Boss calmly said.
The 770 horsepower V-12 howled with life as King Cobra started slow, but gained speed rapidly.
"BRACE!"
*CRUNCH!
King Cobra's tracks had smashed into the side of the communist tank, and squished its main gun barrel, rendering the tank defenseless.
"Reverse, driver!" The Boss shouted
The crew of the T-34-85 immediately tried to bail out.
"Gunner AP, tank!" The boss shouted.
(The gunner immediately aimed at the T-34 that they had just rammed, with the crew still bailing out.)
"Aim for the tracks, don't wanna hurt anyone now." The Boss said, with a slightly sarcastic tone.
"FIRE!" The Boss shouted
"On the way!" The gunner said, a hint of satisfaction
(One of the T-34s crewmembers was still getting out of his wrecked tank's hatch, he stared at the T29E3 as the tank stopped momentarily to fire)
*THOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
A massive cone of fire leapt out of the main gun, a 105mm shell easily bypassing the T-34s side armor.
The T-34 exploded, being knocked out instantly, and throwing the evacuating crew member some ten feet away from the tank before splashing into the water.
" You think that kid's OK?" The Boss's co-driver said
"Relax, he landed in the water, should be fine." The Boss said.
(Just then an urgent radio call came from second platoon.)
"This is Second platoon! You were right sir, the flag tank is just over that hill you're next to, we found him when we tried to flank, we're holding him here, you can attack from behind!"
"Solid Copy, we're coming second platoon." The Boss said.
The Boss stared at the hill between him and the flag tank,
"Driver! Get us over the hill, the enemy is on the other side if we move we can end this fight!" The Boss shouted.
King Cobra rumbled to life
"Both Heavies form up on me, flag tank should be just over this hill." The Boss stated.
(Kind Cobra exited the river, the tracks now getting onto solid ground as it traversed the hill.)
(As King Cobra advanced, the two other heavy tanks formed up into a 25 yard space line formation, ready to wreak havoc on whoever was on the other side.)
King Cobra stuck its large turret over the hill, expecting to find a horde of enemies.
Instead, there were two T-34-85s defending the Chinese flag tank from second platoon, who had flanked it
(The Chinese flag tank was a captured Type 97 Chi-Ha Shinhoto that had been captured from Japanese forces during World War II, the tank had been restored to working condition, it was meant as a ceremonial tank to inspire patriotism to other students of the CCP's victory over the Japanese aggressors in World War II, rather than work on the front lines.
The Type 97 Chi-Ha in Chinese service was known as the "Gongchen tank")
As the three US Heavy tanks came over the hill, the commander of the Gongchen tank saw them at the last second, immediately
beginning to panic
"Alright Boys, LIGHT THOSE DIRTY COMMIES UP!" The Boss shouted.
"Firing!" The American T34 heavy tank shouted over the comms
All three US Heavy tanks ripple-fired shells downrange at the defenseless Chinese tanks.
The Chinese never stood a chance.
All three Chinese vehicles were taken off guard, with only their weak rear armor exposed.
*KABOOOOOOOM!
The Chinese flag tank, which was bearing both the flag of China and the CCP, now had a third white flag joining the red flags.
———————
( "the Chinese flag tank has been destroyed. The United States of America is the winner!" ) the announcer shouted over the radio.
"As it should be" the boss stated
He took off his M5 Gas Mask, revealing his face.
The Boss was none other than America's tank ace of aces, Carm.
He got to kill Nazis in the past, now he got to humiliate communists.
And with the U.S. victory, the national anthem of the winner was played over the radio.
Carm immediately placed his hand over his heart and faced the American flag flying on his tank.
"O say can you see...
by the dawn's early light...
What so proudly we hailed... at the twilight's last gleaming
Whose broad stripes and bright stars...
through the perilous fight!
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air!
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there!
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave....
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"
A cascade of cheers and laughter came through the radio of American students celebrating their victory over their hated Communist enemies.
Carm high fived one of his loaders,
"Great work boys, just one more dub and we got the championship in the bag." Carm said
Carm looked up.
The roof of the Dome showed a display, similar to the hunger games, featuring the U.S. Flag with fireworks behind it, showcasing the U.S. as the winner.
In fact, the D.O.M.E. was very similar to the arena from the Hunger games, with a battlefield that is watched by thousands of cameras, or in the D.O.M.E.'s case, thousands of drones. And is able to be terraformed at will, to make different battlefields.
("The United States wins the second bracket semi finals.")
Bothe loaders opened their hatches to get the first fresh air that they had in hours.
("Next Game, championship.")
Everyone tensed up.
Who would be the next opponent to the United States?
("CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND, UNITED STATES VS JAPAN")
Both the U.S. and Japanese flags were shown next to each other.
Japan was going to be the last opponent for the 18th international cup.
Carm grimaced
A timer then appeared on the sky display, showing a large timer that counted down two days.
They had two days to prepare for the next round.
What would Japan bring to the table?
—————————
Hi all. Author here.
Th United States has just won the second championship bracket against the Chinese, now all that stands in their way is the Japanese, who have also made it to the championship round.
How do y'all like this so far?
(On a personal note, I am about to leave on a field trip overseas, so I am likely going to be late with the next few uploads.)
Be safe and enjoy yourselves!