JT 331 part 01

For the first time in a long time, the old CCKW isn't moving. That thing must have been driven through ten wars and today, it's second engine took it's last breath. Fuck. this wasn't a very large base, and that was one of only three large deuce and a half's it had. And because you are a mechanic, an "almost engineer" and you happened to be on a day off, the higher up cunts decided you were in charge of getting a new one. The best solution would probably be to get a Chevy LS engine, since that was one of the few production lines that were unchanged during the war. Big, cheap V8s had a bit of military value after all. That would be easy, but an original engine would be so much simple to install, and not have to dick around with engine mounts and all that shit. There is that armor museum not too far from here, the should have one left? i mean they even help people get their vehicles running there? They would at least know what to do with the old CCKW.

To no surprise to anyone, the only vehicle available at the Garages was the green Volvo. There wasn't really anything wrong with it, but nobody seemed to like it. But if the engine is found, there is enough space for it

a quick dash in the armory and you bring along a machine pistol, a spare mag and one of the home-made panzerfausts. not A-grade equipment, but they are cheap to make

The weapons always get to sit in the front seat, not only because they are pretty much your only friends right now, but because they are fast to reach.

The ride is long and not very exiting, and what you are faced with upon arrival isn't exactly making things better either.

You used to go to this museum as a kid, and they had hundreds of vehicles. Not it seemed all of them were gone. Pretty much everything that is vaguely modern and weighing less than 40 tons is gone. Everything else would be too hard to keep going and would just break down. This was shown to be a waste anyway since the second wave of sky-creatures had learned what composite armor was, and wit one of their new weapons, it could drill through an MBT like it was tinfoil. Apparently it "destabilized" matter, whatever the fuck that meant.

To the army, it meant that if anything got hit, it was fucked anyway, and it was better to spend its time and money on faster things, and trying not to get hit.

Sadly, you are so deep in your thoughts that you didnt see the creature approaching you. This thing was massive, easily the size of a semi,. some sort of machine-animal abomination with one of those feared ray cannons or whatever that had caused the tanks so much trouble. Fuck

usually, finding a piece of hard cover in a tank museum wouldn't be a difficult thing, but since pretty much all tanks are stolen at this point, there are not many machines left. However, that boxy looking thing might do the trick

Grabbing the panzerfaust tightly, you run over to the old vehicle. It's one of those massive German angular things, that were made in less than a hundred units, that each fucked up 15 smaller tanks and them broke down because it was really just an apartment block on tracks. no wonder no one has tried to move it

You run for cover and peek out on the creature just under the vehicles gun. It's a big gun at that, with a long, thin barrel and a muzzle brake.

Yuu estimate the range to about 70 meters, put the target on the 60m sights, align them with the front ring and...

Your ears are ringing and you have dust in your mouth. That thing must have fired. But you decide you are not going to die while your guns are not empty, and the weapon is quickly raised to your shoulder, and the small rocket is shot away, hitting the creature between its head and the "shoulder" for its front leg. This didn't seem to do very much to it, apart from pissing it off. It starts running towards you again, firing its weapon, but since you are better prepared this time, you're not knocked over. "Well, there is a mag or two left in the little gun, might as well empty them" you think to yourself as the charging handle is moved from the safe position, into firing mode

You peek up, just under the gun, and ready the weapon. Before you even touch the trigger, the creature is split in half, and a new thunderous boom drowns its scream.

Half a minute later Two middle aged men approach you in an a rather sad looking 80 pickup truck

>you alright sonny?

"y-yeah sure. a bit bruised maybe, but its nothing, but what the hell was that anyway"

>that was the old girl still showing the world she's alive. hop in, we'll take care of that would of yours"

You are actually bleeding from your leg, and decide to join the men. a mere half mile up, approaching the main buildings, a massive vehicle is parked, with a gun more fitting of an artillery piece. a hint of smoke is escaping the gigantic muzzle brake

>well, you find me anything on gods green earth that is gonna mess with you after getting a 6 inch hollow point to center of mass, and i'll show you a a battleship

The tank really is massive. The turret is enormous, it has eight roadwheels per side and the hull is something like 25 feet long

"wait... six inch hollow point? i've never heard of a tank with that big gun, and who makes hollow points that big?"

>well, we do, and i see no reason to quit if they keep doing that"

the man has a point. the creature is almost split in half, and many things that should be in the inside of it now litters the grass field

"n-no, certainly not. What kind of tank is that anyway?"

>it's called T30. It was in a pretty busted up state when we found it. She has a new diesel engine with a new gearbox, a completely refurbished gun and the spirit to kill anything that disgraces out land

>but now you boy, why are you here?

"well, we have an old deuce and a half back home, and it needs a new engine, figured someone here might know where i can get a new one or what to do"

>well, you're in luck son. this whole armed resistance act or whatever the congress are calling it this week gives us equipment for redistribution. If she's an original model, we even have instructions on how to do

>w-what? you're just giving me an engine? no questions asked?

"as long as the "State Sponsored Materiel" is being used to aid the defense of the country or its people, it's yours"

The men are friendly, and within 30 minutes the car is fetched and the engine is loaded into the back. you thank them, but as you are on your way to the car, one of them shouts to you

>and if you want to, bring the old krautbox home, you two seem to like each other

...actually, he might have a point. that thing appears to have shrugged off whatever cannon that was fired at it. Should we worth a look
A closer inspection confirms that the vehicle is unharmed, but with a large, black scorch mark on the left side of the superstructure

"that's strange, i know those things are the same that fucked up the armys tanks. so why didn't this get hurt? another weapon on them? naaah, it had the same sound, the same strange green-ish color and it looked the same, so why wasn't this thing hurt?"

the little plaque next to the vehicle says "Jagdtiger". apparently someone thought that the Tiger II was too light and poorly armed. strange

the ride home is painless, unless you are the rear suspension of that poor Volvo, in which case it sucked.

It's approaching nightfall as you get to the base. You hand over the engine to the mechanic department, and the trainees and tell them it's their job now.

You head up to your computer to figure out what the hell happened. Somehow, this 70-80 year old vehicle could take a hit that a modern MBT couldn't. Why? Something in the armor composition? did they have some space magic composites back then? nah, that was some 1960s stuff. Something with the paint? no come on, that's just not reasonable. Zimmerit? isn't that some paint as well?

You decide to ignore the armor for the time being and read more about the vehicle itself. Its over 70 tons, is horribly under powered and unreliable, but was extremely well protected for the time, and had a very powerful gun. Not as much as the artillery piece on the T30, but it is still in the 5-inch range. It's accurate as well it seems.

You toy with the idea of bringing one back to life, but it's all just a never ending train of problems, much like the vehicle itself. The main issue is however the transmission. Bot that and the engine has to be replaced, or at least rebuilt with better materials. And even if you managed to replace the entire transmission and drive train, including the entire fucking drive shaft underneath the fighting compartment. And the original engine was very compact, meaning replacing it is hard, and...

it's 02:14

you have 14 tabs open. trying to figure out just how impossible it would be to get it rolling, and trying to figure out why it didn't die when it got shot. Fuck i have to sleep

Sometime during those deep dreams you decide you have to go back there and find out what the hell happened.

Since the sun wakes you up as soon as it lurches over the horizon, you head down to the garage again.

Since recon missions are usually carried out on normal roads, many old civilian cars. mostly just old jeeps and 80s shitboxes with big stereo systems. But,every morning, there are three cars that are just better. You are just fast enough to get your hand on the Challenger and head off to the museum again. This time armed with a little knowledge and a lot of curiosity

You head up to the guys at the main buildings, and tell them you want to look a bit at the corspe and the "krautbox". considering it could take a shell from one of those things

>...what? what do you mean? everything that shoots just dies?

"no, that thing hit the old tank, and only left a big mark on the side..."

>son, you better start speaking clearly, big mark, what do you mean?

"well, come and i'll show you"

The men are just as stunned as you've been for the night. You share what you have dug out during the night, with paint, some special steel structure and whatever.

>maybe its just steel

"what?"

>maybe that beam thing doesn't work on steel, and i mean this thing as 80mm minimum

"steel...?"

>it's the simplest answer

"yeah"

>well, if this is the case, its only gonna take an hour to test. just figure out how that weapon works and fire it at some of the tanks, see if it was some one in a million shot or it is just plain old steel

"you said just get the weapon working. i have a feeling this isn't gonna be simple"

>well, we have so far figured out that have a nerve system somewhat similar to ours. Electricity maybe?

"fuck do i know, but this could be interesting if we'll get this to work"


...There are two types of engineering. One starts with an idea. Out of fear, greed, duty or lust. other feelings. This kind of engineering has created machines to win wars, competitions the hearts of loved ones, money and such.

There is also another kind. That kind of engineering that built all of humanity greatest creations. The ones that took us into space for instance. It doesn't start with a forced idea. it's based around phrases such as "why not", "for shits and giggles", and "i bet you ten bucks...". It happens not in laboratories, but in oily garages, or hangars. And with the start of today, this is what you participated in. Together, it took you little over a week to dislodge the weapon and install it on the back of a trailer, and (usually) fire it when you needed to.

many vehicles and objects were fired upon, and after about another week of testing, you arrive at some very interesting results

the weapon itself was taken from a creature referred to as "class 4". while it was some sort of 4 legged creature underneath. It was covered in... all sorts of shit that doesn't make much sense to you. But the problem was the 6-7 foot weapon positioned between its front "shoulder blades" if the creature even had those. If it was controlled by muscles of the creature, or some magical wizardry, you have no idea. It looked somewhat those 1950s sci-fi guns with long and shining cases, and some strange stuff you had no idea what they did. But whatever it was, you found that a three inch plate rolled homogeneous steel plate was enough to be protected by it. And as an added bonus (after a very good shot by the gunner of the T30) it seemed that a plate with a thickness of about 8 inches was enough protection against the very large weapons carried by the massive "class 5" creatures.

As a happy coincidence, quite a few vehicles left in this place offered this level of protection. Sadly, they were all belonging to someone else. All these machines forgotten by time.

But the men do not want your help to go unrewarded, so they offer you the old machine as a gift. A Jagdtiger. A way too heavy and unreliable machine, based on an already too heavy and unreliable machine. And that was when it was brand new, over 70 years ago.

you decide to have a look inside. Just one of the hatches can be opened and you peek inside. Surprisingly rust free even

alright, it is a bit rusty, and the interior needs to be properly cleaned out and refurbished. It is as if your eys just gazes over things and you see hours of your life ticking by. That thing is going to take an hour to fix, or about 30 minutes to replace. Rusty handles, needs to be re-manufactured and replaced. The gun breech is about as big as you are, but it appears to be in good condition, and even if there is little surface rust, it seems to have taken the test of time relatively well. Not that you have any idea how to open it, but still. The ammunition storage racks along the side are all destroyed aswell. you rummage about in the rear part of the fighting compartment for a bit, adding notes in a little book about what shit needs to be fixed, if there is even a point to all this. There is a wooden box on the floor, and you make a mental note to check it out later

You slide down to just behind the transmission and into the drivers seat. It's surprisingly roomy, and while the leg room isnt the best, you actually have good space for your upper body. Sadly many of the controls needs some working on, and one of them is even completely broken. on more thing to the list
Not very graciously, you make your way over the gearbox and and slide into the radio operators seat. Just as the name suggests, a large radio set is positioned just next to you

You stop moving and glance on your notebook. That is a lot of shit to do, And i hav-

>...?

is that someone breathing?

you quickly decide this is 2spoopy and slam open the hatch above you and get out.

L-lets... uhh.. check on the automotive components first. And a problem arises immediately. There is no engine. The radiators are gone as well. There is just a big gaping hole when the engine covers are opened. Well, it's not like a missing original engine is much to cry about in a machine like this, since it was going to get thrown out anyway. The tracks are in kinda bad condition aswell, but the roadwheels are good, but the suspension arms are rather sad looking on some wheels. another little not in the book.

You spend some more time looking at optics and such. some are fine, some need a bit of love and some are missing entirely. And you should check on that wooden box before the team shows up. After trying to pry open the rear crew hatch for a few minutes, you give up, and force yourself on the hatch on the top of the vehicle instead. Since its kinda dark inside, you take the box out. It too requites a bit of prying to open, but what lies within is well worth it. Its an actual MG34. and by the looks of things, no one has messed with it. No cuts in the receiver, no welding, none of that. You immediately start messing with it. Everything on it works, all things that should move does move, and there is another two spare barrels in the box. fuck yes

>don't tell me you're just gonna take the gun away

Just as spooped as you were earlier you turn around to face the voice

"n-no"

two hazel eyes stare at you from just under two very much lowered eyebrows.

>you know, people came here and took the engine some time ago. If you're just gonna take the MG, take it and go away, i don't wanna see you here

A head is peeking up from the commanders hatch.

"w-when did you get here?"

>No. YOU have walked around the vehicle for two weeks, and the only thing you've done is used it for cover and target practice. while I have been here and trying to take care of the machine since October 1944

"what are you on about? that was 75 or something years ago. you don't even look like you are 20! and i don't plan to walk away with the MG. i kinda uhh, need the tank"

Her expression changes. eyes widen, eyebrows lifted and a mouth just a little bit open. This quickly disappears

>It's not a tank! It's a Jagdpanzer! or a "tank destroyer" to you americans

Her expression changes again

>but you said you "need the tank"

"its jaagpanzer, isnt it?"

You try a joke

>pfffft, you cant even pronounce it

It didn't work

>but really now, you needed it?

"well, it seems it can survive things other vehicles can't. and it has a big gun. and our base has pretty much no tanks"

her expression changes again, this time lowering her voice and looking down

>but... this vehicle isn't ready for a war. It is missing components. some important ones. and it has not been used in a long time. some things i don't even know know how they work. i have been... sleeping a lot

She actually looks sad. you should say something. You don't. Instead, you get your little notebook out, and at the very top of the couple of pages with "shit that is broken on the vehicle", you write in large letters "components for repair and replacement". You hand it over to her. She looks at it for a few moments and then rips the pen out of your hand and start scribbling. She stares at the notebook as if it had the solution to life itself. Who is this anyway? her clothes are... off at best, and was she actually sleep inside the tank? was she inside it when it got hit? You take a breath to ask all questions on your mind, but you are interrupted.

>oh, i almost forgot to ask, who are we fighting in this war? Russians again?

"heh, no, russians are even on our side, it's actually..."

>the chinese?

"nah, our side as well, we are fighting things we don't even know where they are from. fuckers came from the sky one day in june and has since been fucking our shit up"

>soo, no one is gonna cry if they are all killed?

"what? no. we are under a planet wide invasion. Anyone who can kill them are doing that"

>okay. good

She puts lots of emphasis on "good"

>i looked at your list, and i made some alterations.

even her handwriting is strange, nothing at all like you've seen before.

"alright, it seems you know your way around the vehicle. uhh, who are you anyway?"

She mumbles a lot and is even somewhat awkward in this situation. sh'e clearly unhappy about something

"whoa, we can settle on just a name right now"

>...

"you have a name, right?"

>331 isn't much of a name, is it? well, i suppose i should tell you what i am. i am.. uhh, i was tasked with looking after the tank and crew, but..."

You interrupt her, because she is visibly not very comfortable.

"we can take that later if you want to. Even if you should come up with a name. Because my guys are gonna show up pretty soon, and they gonna start asking questions if nothing else"

>i'll think of something

Soon, a large truck appears. You did tell them to bring both the truck and an auxiliary vehicle, for reasons that would be obvious when they actually came to get the vehicle up on the The tracks were is so poor condition that they were hindering the large TD, and two winches had to be used to get the vehicle on the trailer. Not that it looked small earlier, but raising it up two feet really gives a feeling how fuckhuge it actually is. The trailer itself seems to be suffering. If this thing flips over, its gonna take a company to get it back on the tracks...

The journey home goes without much problems, apart from being slow perhaps. There is a bit of commotion at the base as the behemoth is unloaded and pushed into the garages. Now, for the hard work begins. work can be divided in 4 parts:

1. Disassembly and identification of problems
2. The chassis itself. includes interior and comms
3. Automotive components
4. Weapon systems and optics

this is gonna take a while

The gun and sights is not exactly your specialty, so it is to be removed from the vehicle, refurbished and tested. Better that than having it explode inside. Problem is the PaK 44 weighs in the region of 7000 lbs and a big crane is needed to remove it out of its cradle. The gun is given to another group of mechanics that specialized in that field. The rest of the vehicle is your job. First is a complete disassembly. Easier to know what can remain and what has to be replaced. And it seems at three quarters of all components in the drive train has to be replaced. You are left with little more than a gearbox casing and other parts from the gearbox. The gears themselves are unusable, but intact enough that new ones can be milled by using old gears as samples. That can be done. gonna take some time, but it's doable. A new engine has to be found, and this is most likely going to be the source of most headaches. The Maybach HL230 originally installed in the vehicle was an outstandingly compact engine. About half the size an 2/3 the displacement of the "V-2" engine used in the T-34. Meaning that a modern tank engine simply would not fit in the engine bay without modifications. Thing is, on either side of the engine a large radiator is placed, and outside of them, fuel tanks. Now sure, fuel tanks can be moved, but all fuel carried externally can be shot off, and the Jagdtiger isn't really a prius...

a number of more or less stupid ideas spin in your head as you help clear the old machine out. The JT weight 75 tons when loaded for combat. The goal is a hp/ton ratio of at least 10. Meaning 750 Hp is the absolute minimum

A single big block civilian V8 would leave the vehicle hilariously under-powered without tuning it a lot, and it would still be very short on torque compared to the 230. Its only to be used as an emergency option

could two V8s fit in? just the thought of it gives YOU cooling issues. it would solve the power problem, and 400hp from each will not take them anywhere near their limits. But seriously fuck having to cool two engines on top of each other. and if the bottom one breaks... No, the EE Lightning was cool and all, but stupid. bad idea

Hybrid electric maybe? yeah sure, that has been attempted a few times and has shower GREAT success every time. No, definitely not

Turbine? As if getting this thing moving wasn't complicated or expensive enough. also, the fuel economy is going to be beyond horrible

Engine from a modern tank? This would be the best option, but they are all much lerger than the old power plant. And it could theoretically be possible to enlarge the engine bay, it's gonna take a lot of work, but it could all just go tits up as well

that leaves one option. If s large enough engine is to be found in a heavy commercial vehicle, like a semi truck or a bulldozer or some shit like that. so, that just means we have to find one. easy, right?

The amount of people in the garages starts to dwindle down. night is approaching.

"you can't stay in there forever you know"
>i cant introduce myself to people without a name
"well, alright. But we are gonna start with the interior tomorrow"
>augh...

She is very agile and gets out of the commanders hatch with ease

>so, any progress on the engine?

You tell her about the ideas, and how most of them are going to end with the engine malfunctioning or a fire

>well, i'm not gonna say it was much better when it was new. But that was long ago so we should do better now

"i think the best we can do for the time being is get an engine from a semi. spare parts should be somewhat easy to get your hand on, and they are reliable. Well, under normal conditions at least" The stress from the bulk of the vehicle is going to be hard on all automotive components"

>sounds like you have a plan

"well, i'd like to think so. but that is a problem for another day. i'm gonna head off to sleep now"

>heh. me too i guess

"come on, you're not gonna sleep in the tank, are you?"

>i-it is my task to protect it, i've done so for a long-

"stop. look, its a Jagdtiger. its not exactly fragile, is it? and besides, its not the type of vehicle you sneak away in. you can leave it here over the night. when was the last time you slept on something soft by the way. actually, when was the last time you went to bed, a real and soft one after a warm shower?"

>i-i... uhh. o-okay

You walk along the now very scarcely populated corridors heading towards your room. It's actually quite rare for anyone that are not officers and commanders and other cunts to have a room for themselves. Well, you had another one sharing your room, but that bad has been empty for some time, and is likely to remain that way. But in this word, nobody really knows whats going to happen.

>you said shower. with warm water

"oh yeah, i'll get you a towel, showers are just out left, right in the corridors and four- ehh, never mind ill show you, maybe i should take a shower as well"

"right ladies on the right, can you find your way back to the room?"

>cant you just wait for me outside?

"alright, but don't take all night, okay?"

Now, this building was not really supposed to have split sex showers, and its just a thin wall between. It does block all vision, you can still hear whats going on on the other side. Not that anyone should have a serious discussion in a shower anyway. However, it seems that people living inside tanks have to give up on many luxuries. Like flexible shower heads. and judging by the sound of things, she is taking advantage of having one now. Then again, if you could do that, you would.

You spend some time standing outside waiting for her. she does exit eventually, and is she blushing?

"oh, and i think you should get some new clothes for you. The ones you had... isn't really suitable in this day and age

>you don't get dressed before bed, silly

"oh yeah, point. Anyway, that bed is yours if you want to"

She heads over the other bed and you turn off the lights. After about 2 minutes you head footsteps, and feel her presence.

>anon. I have something discuss with you

She sounds very serious. Like she is to make a convincing argument. You reach for the light switch

>eehehe, no lights just yet? mouth and ears wok without lights, right?
"yeah, sure, but why is this importan-"
>you have to be honest with me now. I can teach one person to use all of the Jagdpanzer. Only one. And after that, that person becomes the commander, and has to take care of the vehicle. I will teach you everything i know, but promise me you won't just leave okay?

You should probably look her in the eyes now, but you're not even sure where she is right now

"okay, promise. I will help you rebuild the tank, and you will help me use it. Sounds good?"
>great. that means this is okay

You are now presented with a somewhat small and very warm body positioned just next to your own

"y-you have a bed on your own"
>yes. but you are the commander now. it is your responsibility to protect the vehicle and it's crew. And while the Jagdpanzer isn't going to care much more being shot at or beaten, i will. So this is how it's going to be from now on. You wouldn't want anyone to harm me, do you?
"n-no of course not"

She moves a little bit more, pushing her back against your chest and forcefully placing your right arm over her belly

>goodnight anon

You've been woken up by many things the last few years. Gunfire, those fucking creatures, people kicking in your door after a night of drinking yourself to sleep, alarm bells and all that. Today, however a hand is placed over your ear, and a thumb is making inch love movements just next to it. Your eyes open and gaze straight into her eyes. much of her face is covered by her almost shoulder long, brown hair.

>good morning anon!

Her smile is energetic, and while you try to match it, the way too few hours of sleep kicks you in the face

>are we going to fix the Jagdpanzer today?
"yeah, sure we are, but..."

Your eyes wander along her body, and it takes the strength of many men not to stare

"never mind, lets go"

She sits up, still straddling you. Her hair is nowhere near long enough to cover up her chest and this time it is impossible to to get your eyes stuck. She notices this as well, crosses her arms and pouts

>anooon!
"you cant do that without clothes, and expect me to look at the ceiling"

"oh yeah, clothes, i think my old roomie has something that could fit you"
>i have my own clothes you know.
"yes, but they are a bit, dirty (and they make her look like some girl tying to look like a Wehrmacht officer to get attention, but you're not gonna tell her that)"

>i think this one is a bit too small for me anon

Yes, she is certainly more well-endowed than Em was

"well, its that or go with the hoodie for today i am afraid. have to buy clothes over the weekend"

Squeezing her into any of Em's bras would be an exercise in futility, even if it would have been quite a sight. So a T-shirt and a hoodie is selected, since she wants to keep a low profile. Apparently breakfast isn't something you sit down and eat calmly, while reading a magazine and having a conversation in the panzerwaffe. Grab some food in your right hand, some drink in your left, and head out to the tank. You were making some tired noises when she explained this, but since she is actually teaching you now, you decide to roll with it. The machine never cease to amaze you with it's sheer size, and there are several people standing and just staring at the machine. You debate with yourself on if you should clear and clean out the interior or start working with the suspension and tracks today. You ask the still unnamed girl standing next to you, and to your great suprise, she looks irritated, and even a hint of offended.

>listen here, this is a jagdpanzer. The gun might not even work, and if it does, it has no ammunition. That means it has two weapons left, one is the MG34, and the other is the engine. And engine doesn't matter for anything if the suspension is broken. Do you want to delay giving the machine its most important weapon?

Did she just sneak in a Guderian quote in there...?

"Alright, suspension it is. I have an idea on how to start, but I suppose you do aswell?"

>yes. The torsion bars have to be replaced. That is going to be a bitch, trust me. But it is possible. They have to be accessed from hatches and be swapped out separately, and we're going to need a jack that can take at least 5 tons.

>There you are! I've been hearing about you and this machine of yours

Fuck. That is the "supreme commander" as he calls himself. He is pretty much the head of several bases like this one, and really not a guy you want to fuck around with. He is still some way out, and you turn to the girl.

"alright, you need a name. right now"

"this guy is going to ask a lot of questions, and you should really answer them. And I don't think he is going to be happy if you introduce yourself as 331. If you have nothing else, I think Larissa is a good name"

>too long, I'm go-

This is as far as the conversation goes before the big man slams his hand on your shoulder.

>you can't hear me or what?

"oh sorry sir, I must have listened to something else, what can I do for you"

>well, you are going to convince me you are not wasting my money on this thing. It looks like its a hundred years old!

The girl standing next to you gets very upset. You don't really know which of your senses noticed this. Not really a sound she made, and she didn't really move, but she is flowing with energy that just screams "pissed off". You don't want her to do anything regrettable, so a slight hand gesture tells her to say what's on her mind.

"we'll, I'll let her explain. She is an expert on the vehicle"

Before she even has opened her mouth, the large man asks who she is

>I am Larissa. And what you are looking at is the heaviest combat vehicle ever to fight on this earth. It has armor so thick, it can drive through a hail of shellfire and more importantly, fire from all encountered subspecies. They can't do shit to it. See that gun? It weighs more than sin itself and will spit out a 30 kilo projectile at almost three times the speed of sound and trust me when I tell you it will fuck up anything that wanders in front of it. Do you know who Otto C...

>alright then little lady, you seem to have a temper. But I'm not pouring money over you because you found an old rustbucket in a field.

nonono, please don't take the bait...

>listen here, does this look like a cheap machine to you? If you are cheap to it, it's gonna break down and not to a god damn thing. But you give it a good engine, and take care of it, it WILL be like that hand of god ripping swath in the hordes of advancing enemies. You chose

She took the bait

>you have a big mouth, don't you?

>you think i'm talking bullshit? last time something tried it's luck with this machine, five men died

>alright, young 'un. you have convinced me. If you need parts that you cant find yourself, you just let me know. But if you waste my money on a turkey, you are going to have some problems

>Thanks you. And uhh, we sort of need an engine. Preferably small in size and a minimum of 750PS. Even better if it is around the 4 digit mark

The large man narrows his eyes, and nods, before turning away and starts walking.

"that was... brave"
>he deserved that. can you imagine him just walking up here and start talking shit about me- ehh, the Jagdpanzer. And by the way, Larissa is too long of a name. What about Lily, like the flower?
"sounds good to me. now back to the important things. suspension, right?"

Another few hours roll by, and she was right about the suspension, it really is hard work to access the torsion bars. Rust, rot and decay isn't helping either. Some good news even rolled in towards the evening, the guys in charge of the gearbox have apparently "modified the final drive of a Komatsu D475A for tank use". That vehicle is amazingly over 30 tons heavier than the Jagdtiger so it will be able to take the load. The gearbox from that vehicle is sadly only a 3 speed, giving under 10 mph top speed, so it will not be used. suddenly, voices interrupt your work.

>you are the new girl, right? Larissa? oh, and hey anon

The base has a small force of "police" that officially keep order around the place, but also deal with papers and other mundane stuff.

>we just need your name, so we can keep track of people. Oh, and since i suppose you are in engineering you can get yourself a personal weapon, but you knew that?

All workers on the base are allowed to carry a pistol in case shit happens, and one other larger firearm, that you are to take care off yourself. Just fill in a paper that ties you to the weapon, and it's yours. You have not done this yet, and while you have a carry handgun, you still have to stop by the armory every time you want a long gun or a machine pistol and stuff like that. That also means you've fired most weapons the armory has to offer

Lily is handed a paper, you help her lie up a birth date and a hometown. But three boxes up top are still empty. First, middle and last name

>middle and last name? Last name is family name, right?
"yeah, and not all people have a middle name, so you don't have to write anything there"
>but i can if i want to?
"if you want, sure"

She sighs a little and in her very proper looking handwriting writes "Larissa" on first name.

>but you are still going to say Lily, okay?
"yeah, sure"

Under last name, she writes "Nibelung" and hand the paper over to the man. He takes it, nods and walks off

>wait a minute! I forgot a thing

Another quick scribble.

>i have a middle name now! Like the girl from the song!

You only know one german song about a girl, Erika, but it feels just a little obvious to guess

"is that so, what is it?"

She looks around quickly confirming no one is close enough to hear what she is going to say.

>never mind that, they say i could get weapons, can we do that now?
"well, uhh, i'm not sure the armory is still... actually there is always someone there. alright, lets go"
>come on lets go there right now!
>you exchange some words with the the sad looking guy in the counter, and it doesn't take much convincing to do for him to go inside and look at everything. An entire room, filled to the brim with shelves with nothing but M9s is the first on you right.

"want one of those?"
>nah

Turns out, for someone so eager to get a weapon, she is very picky. She looked bored when presented with the ARs and M16s and outright disgusted when an AK was suggested. And while she did like the large H&K battle rifles, they were just a tad to heavy for her

Soon, you are down in the end of the armory at the "found and lost" section. firearms that not issued usually due to the fact they were uncommon were found here. because the lack of space, many were just put in a large wooden create

>anon, can i...?
"floor it"

You browse around a bit, looking for something exiting. It seems like they have a piston AR. you've never tried those. Perhaps that one for next excursion?

>JAAAAAA
"what?""
>I FOUND AN MP

She hugs the weapon tightly almost skipping around

>i remember this one! it's just like in...

She goes silent and looks at you

>i have... experience with such a weapon.
"alright, that's good. you'll have to speak with the sad man to get it checked out"

>why the hell you you want an MP40 for?

>this is not a 40! this is an MP38! see! here, the receiver is of machined steel!

>geez, go get yourself a luger as well if you're gonna play dress up-nazi

>SHUT YOU-... wait, you have a luger?

>augh, yeah i think we have a few in the pistol box

"pistol box? fuck, i think i've missed that one"

>fucks sake, why can't you just get an M16 and an M9 and make my life so much simpler? all the fucking paperwork for non standard weapons is getting me killed

>pistol box. now

The man makes a lot of noises suggesting is is very displeased with you both. He opens a door you never even considered hid something exiting. and among some strange equipment and gunsmithing tools, there is actually a 2x2 feet box full of pistols

>there you go, have fun. i'll see if we have magazines for the museum pieces meanwhile. And you owe me a beer

"sure, i'll get you a case"

This makes the man a bit more happy. Lily finally finds what she is looking for, three lugers. Sadly, one of them was in somewhat poor condition, and one was chambered for 7.65. But that last one had a good bore and ate 9mm.

>Here are the magazines by the way, take as many as you want

Lily inhales sharply

>t-that's a lot of magazines

>duuh, it's not like anyone else here is running around with MP40s, is it? Besides, you do know the ones for the pistol only holds 8 rounds, right?

>yes, but i have fast hands. Can i have... all of them?

>fuck, i don't care. Whats the serial on, actually, never mind, we only have one of those. now please leave me alone

You decide to balance out the german theme going on with one of those milled AKs you fond in the box. You then decide to call it a day and head back to the room. Her arms are full of weapons and magazines, but she radiates a happiness that is strangely contagious, almost dropping a few things in the process. When back, she puts everything on her bed, save the MP and starts disassembling it, checking out the condition of the internals and the magazines. Inspired, you decide to check the AK is okay, a bit pointless, but it still feels good.

>anon, where do i get ammo?

"i should have some here, check top shelf to the right, two boxes. 9mm should be the left one"
>don't be mean to me!
"what do you mean?"

She stands right next to the shelf, obviously displeased

"oh, top shelf, right. let me get that for you then"

It's a bit of a stretch even for you. As wrap your hands around the box, she embraces you

>i never said it, but i'm really happy to be here anon. I thought i was going to be left in that field forever, just rotting away. You're not going to leave me, right? i don't want to be left alone again. please?

"i'm not going anywhere, alright. The big machine out there makes me feel happy sure, but you are as much reason for working on it. really"

Her grip around you tightens.

>i'm not much fun now maybe, but you stay with me all the way, get all my parts back together, and i will show you what i am really capable of. In here, and out there. But right now, i'm weak, and i cant do anything myself. Just stay with me now, and i'll give everything back. I promise you

"i wont go anywhere alright. And if patching that up means you as well, i'll happily do it"

"anyway, more work tomorrow, and your bed is full of gun parts"

>not planning to use it anyway
Day turn to weeks and soon all torsion bars are either replaced or refurbished. The interior is cleaned out and fixed up, the gearbox is installed. Turned out the only way to fix it was copying the old one, but remaking all parts of it, so technically, it's brand new. New tracks are also installed, very similar to the old ones, abut all new made. that means they should hold together really well. The main gun is in the final stages of repair the day the engine arrives, and that means bringing up a very serious point to Lily, whom you have gotten very close to in this time.

"i know this is a subject left mostly untouched, but i need to know a thing about your... relationship to the vehicle"

>sure, but why?

"well, let me put it to you this way, if the tank gets damaged, or shot at, does it hurt in you?"

>y-yes

"i was afraid you were going to say that. i wanted this to be good news, but..."
>what is it?

She is visibly uncomfortable

>whats going on?!

"we have the engine. It arrived yesterday. And the engine itself is brilliant. 24 liter V-12, twin turbos, it puts out 1200 for normal driving and up to 1800 if we push it, it has enough torque to move a cruiser, and the cooling system is optimized for tight spaces, so we wont have to move the fuel tanks

>you're going to say something bad now

"...yes. The hatch for the old engine is too small. We're going to have to cut up the engine deck and make a new hatch, so we can fit the engine"

>i can take endless rain, as long as i don't play in the mud. i can deal with freezing winters. i can deal with gunfire, even the american 90mm gun didn't damage me. i can do that because that is the point of me. Not that it doesn't hurt, it does, but i can take it. I am not made for being cut up

She knows this is going to be a very long process. Someone thought it would be a good idea to fit the engine deck with armor thicker than the sides on the american M4 tank. and it is going to take a long time to get through it, irregardless which tool used.

"i know this isn't fun, but i don't think we're going to find a better engine even if we are given a year. I can do what i want with the process, want me to do it by myself, want to do it yourself, or go away or something, whatever you want, but we have to start tomorrow"

>n-no. i don't want to be there. i wont feel who does it to me, but i don't want you to leave me. Not now.

You pick up your phone, sending a short message to the second in command in the engineering crew, telling them to start as early as possible in the morning, without you.

>anon, i usually do this, but i might need something to drink now. something strong
"yeah, i sure do. and while i know for certain it wont help long term problems, it will help tonight"

She can't take too much, and you are not that fucked up when she falls asleep. She had spent the last hour acting like a scared child. Not a fast fear, like being in the woods, and suddenly seeing a wolf, or someone pointing a gun at you. It was more like a slow creeping fear, like a child knowing dad was going to come home drunk again and starting hurting his family. The child knew it was going to happen, he was going to come home. In a minute, an hour, or six. But he was coming home. You knew what this felt like, but it hurt you even more seeing Lily like this. You put the drink away, and lie down next to her, hugging her tightly. When you wake up, there is practically no blood in your hand, as she has been using it as a stress relief

"hey, are you okay?"

She is breathing rapidly and irregularly. She sounds like she is just about to cry. Unbeknownst to you, shes been doing this for almost two hours

>a-anon this really hurts

She lies in a fetal position, and her words are barely audible

>h-hold me...

"i'm not letting go. Not now, not ever"

It sounded strangely committing, and you somehow you feel you want to keep this promise. You sit on your bed, back up against the the corner of two walls. Lily sits in your lap, half resting on your chest, half sitting on your lap. She is a complete wreck. there is salty water streaming from her eyes, but her breathing is still the ragged, fast breathing. It sounds horrible. She is sweating, almost soaked at this point. She is even shaking in intervals. And between the shaking, she is making all different kinds of heart breaking noises. Especially the short inhalations through her mouth, and the dry throat makes you die a little bit inside. You feel helpless, you want to help her, you hate to see her like this. But there isn't anything you could do. Well, that is what you think at least. Because if no one would treasured her like you had done, hold her like you are holding her now, that great machine would have finally given up that day.

But you did. you spent many hours with her there. You didn't move even if you were hungry. You didn't tell her to move, even long after you leg fell asleep. And you tightened you grip around her when she started shaking. You don't know how long you sat there, but after many hours, she was so exhausted, and dehydrated she just fell asleep. She lies on your bed. She looks very calm, breathing slowly. Her cheeks are deep rosy. Eyes are closed, but cannot disguise all water that have left them

You figure she's not gonna wake up anytime soon, and there are a few things you have to check up on. First off, bathroom, and then a quick panzerwaffe meal, and head back to the hangar. They greet you as you get there, and you see what has happened. The metal around the entire engine are is still very hot. There cut around the engine hatch is around eight feet long through steel almost two inches thick. yeah, you can see why that hurt. It's taken almost 14 hours to cut through it. You tell the crew good work and they all return to their beds.

For a minute, you are completely alone in the hangars. There are no sounds at all. The vehicle has a certain presence to it. Sure, tanks an aura of power, but there was something more about this. Maybe because you have spent an entire day embracing... it? No, you decide Lily is not this. True, she is somehow connected to it, but they are not the same. Your eyes wander around the garage floor. Just next to the vehicle itself, the engine sits. It is a beautiful machine. the exhausts, turbos, belts for the starter motor, that also doubled as a generator. Radiator fans are already installed. The only thing left now was just the engine, the hatch for it, and the massive Pak 44, that has left a gaping hole in the front of it for some time now. Hell, if all goes according to plan, we'll have it running before this week is over. Before you head back to the room, you pick up some food, and a lot of sugary drink. She's gonna need it

>aauuugh...
"good morning Lily. you better now"
>augh, my head...
"you are dehydrated. you were..sweating a lot last night, here try this"
>t-thanks anon. why are you smiling, my head still hurts you know!
"guess what"
>don't do this to me, tell me!
"there will be no more cutting, and the hatch is already made, it only has to be attached. And the engine is complete, we just have to lift it in and top up the fuel. well, almost at least"

She launches herself at you, and grips you tightly.

>C-can we drive it today anon?
"well, that's all up to you, gonna get it in there i spend all day in her-WAIT clothes first, then Jagdpanzer"

The installation goes all according to plan, and there is still some hours of daylight when all the bolts are screwed in, fluids are topped up and electrical systems checked, all fed by a massive 60lbs battery.

Lily uses the tracks to jump up on the engine deck, and further on towards the top of the vehicle. She disappears inside. The tank remains quiet. The hatch pops open

>anon, can you come up here?
"what is it?"
>no, please come up here, i have to...

Some ungracious moves later and you sit on top of the vehicle

>i can't...
"what is it?"
>no, i mean i can't start it

She hints you to come within whisper range

>anon, i cant find the starter motor
"what do you mean? the switch is the big one next to-
>that is for you. I need to know where it is.
"oh, it's the same as the generator, belt driven"

There is a spark in here eyes

You can almost physically see the spark. It is something absolutely amazing. Like she is given back all those years. Like everything that happened from that day in march 1945 when she was captured by the american forces, and then dragged over the Atlantic ocean, and then put on shoe for endless years. It all led up to this very moment. The little spark has started a fire

>can i start it?

Her voice has a fierceness to it that is completely new. like a runner standing at the starting line, like coiled up spring, ready to explode

"do it"

She's nowhere near the the start switch, when it all starts to happen, but that doesn't seem to stop her

First is the most horrible sound known to man. The sound of a starter motor slowly accelerating a crankshaft up to that magical 500 rpm this engine needs to power itself.

one second

two seconds

three seconds

And just like lightning strike, the entire garage are is drowned in V-12 thunder. Due to the very generous fuel mixture, long flames shoot out of the exhaust pipes. It takes Lily a little getting used to the new engine, but after just a minute or two she has learned to control it. Even it idle, the machine sounds like the unholy offspring between Norse mythology, a 26th century war zone and a very large factory, making solemnly evil things

Her eyes have lit up like Dresden, and stares deep inside of you

>so, anon. wanna go for a ride? i know you want to

Yes. you want this more than you have wanted anything else

You should say a lot of things. most obvious things like: we have to break the engine in, don't go over 2500, be careful, don't hit anyone and so on. But it simply doesn't feel right. You manage to spit out a single "go".

With all the agility and gentleness of a WWI Dreadnought, the Jagdpanzer exits the garages. Happily, the tracks are rubber padded, meaning it wont completely ruin the asphalt outside. She stops it just some yards outside, just trying to get the fuel mixture and idle revs right. Suddenly, she turn to you.

>Anon, wanna have a go? get in there, now!

You walk over to the top of the superstructure, jump down just next to where the gun would be pointing out from, and open the left front hatch. The drivers hatch. The new drive-train elements stole a bit of interior space, so it is a little cramped, but you couldn't give a flying fuck right now. Lily has told you what all of the levers and wheels does. Many of the are significantly changed from the original design to simplify your life. The gearbox is to be considered semi-automatic, but you decide to take control for this time. First in, and ease off the clutch with supporting throttle. just like a car, but 50 times heavier. First gear is very short, and is not really used apart from very low speed maneuvering. You point the vehicle towards the gates, and give it a new gear. Second. Six to go.

Soon:

>anon we have to go back now
"is that so?"
>there is only a little fuel left...

fuck

Soon the base falls silent. A large crowd of people has gathered around and are cheering. Lily is clearly enjoying the attention (it is a bit hard to keep a low profile in a vehicle like this). She stands on top of the vehicle and shouts

>NOW, WEAPONS!

More cheering

The first weapon to get installed is the old MG34 found in a box, now (to lilys great displeasure) re chambered for NATO standard ammunition. Historically, this was the only anti infantry weapon apart from the crews personal weapons, and it could only fire in a rather narrow arc forwards. Other suggestions has been tossed around, including setting up an M2 on a pintle for the commander, and a spare GPMG by the loaders hatch "just in case".

Lily however does not like the idea of the M2. And somehow, you feel that this is something that would only come out of the mouth of someone who has not yet fired an M2. Then again, it took just 20 minutes at the range and a few belts of .50 to change her mind. Her eyes had that fire in them again

All days come to an end, and this one is no exception. But Lily is different today. There is some half-evil smirk going on. Just as the door behind you is shut, she uses all the power her small frame allows and pushes your back up against a wall.

>i've been wanting to do this for a long time now, i've not been working. I am now
>please don't refus-

You don't wait for her to finish the sentence, but pull her towards you

You've wanted this for a long time aswell

That was a very long night. You are somewhat drowsy. You are sore in several places. The bed is a complete mess. None of this bothers you. Lily is sleeping, lying half on top of you, her head is just below yours, and to your right. Her hair is a mess. Her expression is a peaceful and happy one. Lust lying here, listening to her breathing, looking at her just like this makes all that work worth it. You decide there isn't many things that could make this day any better. It only gets worse from her. You try to reach over to your phone on the small table, to see if you have gotten any angry messages saying you have missed something important. important? fuck that. Actually,fuck her, rather. You smile at your own joke. However, your earlier predictions about this day were wrong. It can get better. the message reads: "gun is finished, and is ready to be installed as soon as you are ready".

You poke Lily slightly and shove the screen right in front of her face. It takes her a few seconds to open her eyes, and another two to read it. Her expression alone is something worth a fortune. She jumps out of bed, as if fired from a gun, jumps around and makes really happy noises. She flies back to you and it feels like she is trying to squeeze the air out of your lungs. She tries to say ten things simultaneously, what while you don't understand a single word she said, you know what they mean

"yeah, of course, but we really have to shower first"

She flies back up, bouncing around, giggling and looking like a child on Christmas. Or 75 something christmases stacked on top of each other. Reality suddenly catches up to her, standing in the center of a rather cold room, with not as much as a thread of cloth on her body. But contrary to what you thought was going to happen, she doesn't go shy, or start covering herself up. She stands there, eyes radiating that joyous energy. You have gotten as far as moving to the side of the bad and wrapped yourself in a towel. She walks up, and puts your knees together and sits down in them, a leg on each side of yours facing you directly. All your mental capacity is focused on one single thing: Don't stare at her rack. Her short hair and otherwise rather slender figure making this very close to impossible. As if she wanted to make it even harder, she raises her arms, and rests her hands on your shoulders

>Anon. Listen very closely now. If you liked driving me, and the new engine. Well, lets just say this gun is absolutely amazing. So i say we get a fast shower, and i can promise you that if you liked me with just the engine, trust me, i'm gonna blow your mind with all of me

She does not look like she is joking, so you help her to a towel, and get a quick shower, get dressed and fuck she's in her own very Wehrmacht looking apparel. Then again, the black jacket and that...

screw it, shes really cute in that, lets just get the fucking gun mounted

As you reach the garage, the gun sits on some wood and rubber cushions. It as absolutely massive, the gun is almost 30 feet long, the barrel itself being 20. Its in fact almost as long as the vehicle itself. Lily is giggling like a retard who has been eating glue and mints for an hour. She gets even more exited as the man why was in charge of rebuilding it tells her about the new optics. 4 different zoom levels, ranging from a wide angle "point blank" optic to a super precise one with 25 times magnification.

"25 times? that seems a bit excessive, what kind of ranges are you going to be shooting at?"

Lily and the man both turns towards you to try and answer, and are both interrupted by a second man who approached from the side

>yeah, it's a big gun and all, but its like a hundred years old. are you not better off just using an M68 instead?

This is, deliberately or not, a delicious baited hook. And Lily launches herself at it as she's not eaten in a week

>Oh, were just going to use an M68 instead? listen here, if i wanted an M68, i'd rebuild a Gavin as a TD. That is a PaK 44. It will fire a 30kg projectile at almost 1000 m/s. At the muzzle, that is about 13 million joules of energy. TWICE as much as an M68 and early verisiond of NATOs own 120mm, and just barely surpassed by the new L/55 variants. You want more? sure! 50% percent more than the russian ML-20 6 inch howizer, 2.5 times as much as a 17 pounder, 11 times as much as the US 75mm. THIS IS GODS OWN GUN

Lily will defend the machine until death, and is clearly not happy with anyone implying that any part of it being anything other than perfect, and she was even more touchy when the subject reached the armor or the gun

Actually, speaking of the gun, it has just been raised enough and is about to be inserted in the gaping hole in the front of the superstructure. Strangely, Lily isn't actually helping out, or giving directions, but is rather sitting at the garage wall and looking funny. Oh well, it's up to you to install the gun then. Within an hour, it is mated to its massive cradle and fixed in place, and last but not least the gun mantlet is attached.

It actually happened. The Jagdtiger is finished. And after what Lily said this morning, you really want to see what kind of gun it is. A 4 man test team joins you in the tank, and Lily sits down at the front of the superstructure, legs hanging by the front armor.

>alright, lets to to the firing range!

The big machine is driven out to the range, and it seems Lily isn't interfering with the driving at all. Fair enough, since someone has to know how to drive it

The gun in pointed downrange, and the 30kg projectile and it propellant charge are inserted into the breech. This is one of the few things Lily can't do on her own, so they are loaded manually.

She is going to fire remotely the first rounds, just in case. When the breech is closed, you jump out and head over to Lily

>cover your ears anon. I'm can be loud

>no seriously, cover your ears

You raise your arms and shove your index fingers as far in your ears as you can. Not that it matters, because nothing could have prepared you for the gut punch that hits you as the 128 mm projectile is shot downrange. Its not like a normal gun the feels in your ears when it is fired, all of you feel it. Like being punched by 25 people at the same time, even your eyes are pushed into their sockets, or it feels so at least

Lily seemed to liked it aswell. She is standing with her feet apart, her bent knees together, her upper body leaning forwards and her hands on her most honest part. She is breathing deeply and her eyes are hazed.

"you alright?"

She says nothing but her eyes, lips and cheeks give you more than enough answer. Between her breaths she manages to spit out:

>that was... the first time... since 45...
"another one?"
>don't make me... beg
"loaders, lets ready another one!"

Some confused chatter erupts since there was no wire connected to the vehicle, that could have fired the gun. Lilys special relationship to the vehicle has been kept a secret, and this (and the first engine start) is the only time she has left anything to chance

"right the... remote trigger works"

you turn to one of the weapon guys and ask him about the ammunition. out of the 30 or so rounds they "found" under half of them was deemed usable, most of them being AP. New rounds are being made, but its a slow process, mainly because of their size

"wait, someone is making ammunition for this gun?"
>fuck no, a gun this big made my nazis in 44 and 45 and only used for a year? its way bigger than necessary and twice as heavy, and it needs a purpose build King Tiger to lug at around. We are cant cast the shells, so have have to mill most of them. Its time consuming and expensive. Besides, we kinda lack the skills necessary. Say we need 12 hours to make an Armor Piercing shell, and bout 18-20 for en explosive one.
"but you are making them now?"
>yeah man. i mean we have a guy in the shop 24-7.
"man i owe you big time"
>i have a feeling i wont mind. i mean these shells weigh 70 pounds each and halve like two pounds of explosive filler. And those things don't exactly have an over abundance of armor. Hit it with one of these rounds... well, you're not going to need a second round
"actually, that reminded me of a thing... do you think you can make 128 mm hollow point?
>...i suppose i can, but i cant see the point of that
"well, they are flesh at the end of the day. or something. can you make me one for shits and giggles?
"suppose i can, sure"

>RANGE IS GOING HOT, COVER YOUR EARS

this time, a string is attached to a mechanism that fires the gun. Another round of punches, and eyes being pushed into your sockets. Lily seems to like it as well. so much in fact you have to jog over and make sure she doesn't fall over, because her legs don't seem to carry her for very much longer

>i've missed this anon...

The Jagdtiger only has 10 rounds left, so you decide to delay the firing tests, just in case those 10 are needed. But the bow MG is sighted in with the help of a small camera. In case that it gets fucked, there is still the old methods of walking the tracers to target. A bit of checking is done as well, like making sure the optics are not damaged by the recoil. All seems to be in working order and the vehicle is returned to the garage for the night. You and Lily stay out at the range. She still clings on to you, but not because her legs have given in. Suddenly, her knee hits you in the back of yours, making you fall down to your knees.

>hey, why did you dmmmpff-

Her hands group around the back of your fhead and she brings it closer to hers. AFter a few very tense seconds, she creates some distance and sighs.

>s-sorry about that, but i needed to ask you a favor
"hey, i'm not complaining, and sure just ask"
>i've been wanting to do a thing for a very long time, a-and i need you for it"
"i think we are on good enough terms now, just say what you want"
>o-okay. can you lie down on your back and close your eyes?
"here on the grass?"
>please
"okay"

As you like down in the cool grass, she snuggles up next to you, but not like earlier, she lies on her back next to you

>hey anon, look
"what is it?"
>the stars
"this is what you wanted?"
>yes, i want to lie with my head on an arm and look at the stars. on your arm

You both fall silent, and stare at the endless night sky