Tank Lord: The Iron Beast

The Incident and the promise

After he slowly grasps it after attempting to comfort Rommel knowing what he done has succeeded in slightly inspiring him, he quickly crouched beside Rommel as he put a hammer near the indicated spot he calculated and slowly hammer it back pushing the hull back out just enough space for him to weld it and not worsening Rommel's condition.

After finish hammering, the tanker slowly pulled back Rommel as he separates the hull from Rommel's leg, not all of his legs manage to be separated but enough for him and the other to weld it faster and safe enough, and in midst of that Richard who runs to the panzer was disheveled and breathing heavily asking Rommel's condition.

"How is he?" said Richard poking in from the hatch.

"Heh?! ah, he is fine... not that fine but still alive." said the tanker as he turns around and looks at Richard.

"How is his condition?" as he looks to the side.

"His leg is stuck on the lower part of the hull because of the ramming impact and now it's dented in." said the tanker as he put back the hammer inside his kit and slowly comes out. "have they brought the welder, yet?" said the tanker as he manages to come out from the hatch.

The nearby tanker who carries a welder walked to the front of the panzer as he unexpectedly brought two of them before putting them to the ground as he setting his welder to certain pressure then the slowly pulls out a torch from his small bag or his side pocket before brought it close to the welder which lighting it off while making a sound of that burning gas as it flew out from the tube.

The tanker who was at the hatch slowly crawl out from it as he also moves down from the panzer's turret then after it he quickly walks to the others then grabbed a welding mask given by the others as he slowly crouched down precisely in front of the panzer, a tanker runs to him as he carries two bags of gas in both hands and upon arriving that tanker put it down near the man then put another bag of it in where he was going to work from.

After making sure the two tankers are done, they quickly pull out a torch from their pocket then light off the welder knowing they are now short on time and now are in a critical situation with it they start opening the dented hull with their torch slowly but surely it melted the hull, opening the hull they see start to notice a red liquid comes out a bit from where they cut knowing fully it was Rommel's blood as they are near Rommel's leg.

With the torch is alight he slowly moves his hand around the area as he noticed the blood poured out more than what he expected in which he hastens his hand welding the hull of the panzer with the time ticking and his sweat start to pour out from his cheeks, his heart to pump faster as his chest tightened by the weight he is unfamiliar with as many expected him to succeed of doing such act feeling the weight too much his hand slip slightly but he grabbed the handle as fast as he was about to let it go.

Richard who arrived only manage to watch it as he was not well known with welding as he was more invested in other fields as such he could only watch his friend watch and how it will unfold, the tanker then proceeds to cut it but unknowingly his hand move more natural with each passing second slowly and surely the hull slowly open itself showing the inner part of the hull as he looks inside and which he found where Rommel's leg got stuck on and proceed on it without any word the other tanker slowly walks inside the panzer and get ready for the signal to pull Rommel's leg to get him out of there.

At the same time the man before slowly cut which part got Rommel stuck, he quickly turn off the torch and signaled the top of the panzer in which also signaled the people inside of it, Rommel who started to faint was slowly being pulled out from the wreckage as he expected it to happen but more quickly. knowing he would get hospitalized he turned his head around a bit before giving a slight smile at the crowd.

"Buddy, Richard don't worry about me... I'm sure to be fine, I'm a strong man after all I don't want to die just because of a stupid stunt. I'd rather die on the frontline fighting than dying from this especially I don't want to die before marrying her." said Rommel as he slowly closes his eye a bit while smiling.

He was then put on top of the stretcher before being brought to the nearby truck just recently arrive to carry the wounded over to the nearby hospital, the crowd then cussed, sneered, and even proudly humiliate Richard without shame as most of them talked about selfish ego and pride that caused Rommel to get into such incident. 

A few minutes later the crowd felt satisfied that they could satiate their ego and pride mocking Richard as most of them started to leave the place while few of the people who stayed are Richard's crewmates and admirers, They watched Richard and closely as they tried to comfort him in silence while Richard on other hand is now having a mixed feeling about it as he was worried, fearful, and angry about Rommel's condition as he also with the crowd who mocked him.

Richard still feeling mixed feelings about the incident were then comforted by his crewmate as they put their hand on his shoulder in which causing him to turn around and looked at the person who touched him, he never expected it was the person who was the one who challenges him before the man has a bit apologetic look on his face and is sorrowful that his ego caused Rommel to get in such an accident which was not part of their plan before as the man started to spoke up to Richard.

"Man, sorry about before... I was being controlled by my ego and I wanted to join your group so it gets out handed as my head is hot and not thinking well, enough." said the man as he not looking at him in the eye.

Richard was being comforted as he was silent listening to the man's word and slowly turn his head and glanced at him slowly he stared down afterward, thinking how he would say to the man for a moment but as he was about to open his word he stopped and turned his head to the hole of the damaged panzer as he closed his mouth in response not knowing what he should say next.

But before he manages to say anything someone else proceeds ahead intervening in the conversation and that person was no one else but the commander of the panzer group as he walks into the group with his bodyguard, secretary, and adviser while observing the wreckage of the panzer before turning his head to Richard.

"Richard I have known you are a calculative person and knew what needed to be done before but... with the things are can I perceive you like such now." said the commander as he said looking sternly at Richard but then he turned his eye to his friend near him.

"I...." said Richard as he was unable to say back.

"It was my fault, sir." said the man who challenged Richard before as he continues "It was because of my ego that led this... accident... if I wasn't forcing myself wanting to join his squad, it probably wouldn't occur... yes this would not happen." as he clutched his hand tightly.

The commander stared at the man for a brief moment then he turned his glance to Richard who was still on the ground before who started to stand then saluted to him and opened his mouth once more but before he could say anything, Richard was the first who initiated the talk.

"Commander, I will take the blame... as I was the one who proposed this competition in the first place, he was merely blind to his desire and ego in which he manages to provoke me because of that this incident happens," said Richard as he lowered his head toward the commander in apologies.

"That's..." said the tanker who challenged Richard before.

"I see... if that so, then within a week you shall be given your punishment for it, if... your Tanker doesn't make it alive from all of this." said the commander as he turned around and started to walk away from the wreckage but before he leaves the site, he turns his head around to his vice commander.

"You will take care of this incident since you have taken interest in this, little competition... understood?" said the commander as he looked at the vice commander.

"Eh, yes sir... I will take care of this." said the vice commander as he nods vigorously.

The commander who looked at him could only nod but without any smile were plastered on his face as he knew what happened here could affect the entire campaign to a disastrous result if left unchecked and unfixed as such he could only hope for the best that Richard could remedy the situation for better or worse as he then turns his feet around and walk back to the base.

Richard who was part of the topic of discussion could only go silent as he made a mistake... a hubris that he would never expect to happen in his second lifetime while still crouching on the ground he rubbed his face once, twice, and third times as he is quite confused how to proceed and do or not knowing what to do next before turning his head around and slowly stands from where he is at.

"Let's go back... and have a rest, just hope for the best Rommel is okay and his leg is.... fine, we hope," said Richard as he glanced at his group.

"Yeah, perhaps that is for the best," said Ludwig as he could not muster any more encouragement to Richard while also feeling down due to Rommel's worst circumstances.

"Then shall we leave then... argh, the bad day it is I wanted to drink a good beer after this competition damn luck," said Dieter with a depressed look all over his face.

Some of the tankers in the group laughed slightly before it slowly goes silent once more as they walked to the base hoping that the day would get a better condition at the very least but that seems does not work that way as many of the soldiers and the crew sees Richard's crew and the other as nothing more a walking disaster as they looked with distrust and few were with disgust but they must interact with each other as it was needed to do their daily chores in which they could not reject nor refuse it Richard's help.

Three days have passed since the incident, Richard and the group got a piece of information that Rommel is are now awake in the hospital after being unconscious in the hospital bed after a while. Richard, who heard the news, stopped whatever he was doing and quickly ran to the hospital as part of his group. The few others who didn't go with them helped out with doing their chores so they would not get any trouble later on but even so, looking at the number of workload in front of them caused even the person who used to it was troubled by it as they gruntled looking at it while doing the workload themselves as they showed a painful expression on their face.

"Hey," said the first guy.

"Yeah?' said the second guy.

"Let's make them pay our bill because of this, okay?' said the first guy.

"... Yeah, we could... no, we will do that." said the second guy.

"Make sure we got more portions while at it." said the third guy who joins in the talk.

Without any further talk, the first and the second guy only nodded at the same time as all of them do the chores for the entire group in which they sigh at the end of the talk. Richard who runs before manages to get in one of the trucks that go to the city along with most of his group in tow as the driver who was driving were surprised by it but he didn't reject it since knowing more the passenger will be with him would make the journey merrier.

Upon arriving at the hospital many of the passengers disembarked from the truck as they thanked the driver for the ride, entering the hospital the group then walked to the receptionist and asked where is Rommel's room waiting nervously the receptionist told them the room and pointed her hand to back right side from where she stood.

Knowing the location the group then thanked the Receptionist as they quickly leave the main hall and walked to where Rommel was currently rested, after walking for few minutes through the corridor they find Rommel was being visited by his girlfriend and soon to be fiancee in which they greeted them.

"Should I grab you some drink or anything, Rommel?" said Angie while smiling at Rommel.

"Um, maybe I could have some water... I felt my throat is a bit parched," said Rommel as he smiles back at Angie still looking at him.

Knowing how caring as the both of them smiled at each other for a brief moment before starting to walk outside of the room, one of the group whistled knowing how lucky Rommel was able to find a soon to be wife candidate in which Rommel sneered in embarrassment but such happy occasion was interrupted with Richard who goes serious asking about Rommel's condition.

"Well, certainly there is someone taking care of you, Rommel." said one of the tankers jokingly.

"True, it's quite a luxury having your girlfriend taking care of me," said Rommel as he laughed a bit.

Richard who carefully paying attention to Rommel noticed there is something wrong with Rommel which he slowly sat down on the chair near him, with no word coming out from his mouth most of the group who are in a light mood quickly turned heavy as they start to notice Richard's change of behavior.

"Huh, nothing can bypass you. Richard, for someone like you this is easily described as troubling, right?" 

"Yeah, your behavior is not easily known but doesn't also mean it is hard to understand without careful observation," said Richard as he looks down.

"Are you really okay, Rommel?" said Ludwig shows worried looks.

 "Other than the member of the group, can you guys leave for a moment... this is very sensitive content for him, so please understand," said Richard as he turned his head to the group.

Most of the group were still curious about the talk but they followed what, Rommel wants by leaving the room as they manage to wish him a quick recovery and hope for his return back to the base. After they left the room was then closed by them, Rommel who is in a happy mood turned into sorrow instantly as he knew everyone in the room was part of Richard's group.

Feeling Overwhelmed by something Rommel started to pour out his tear as he looked down with grief before putting both of his hands to his cheek holding him up as he rubs his face with it, Richard who was beside of him slowly turn his gaze to Rommel's leg which has been bandaged to more than half of his leg which signifies how bad his condition is.

"Yeah... my situation is not quite good, and I may be forced to leave the army because of it," said Richard as he glanced at Richard feeling overwhelmed by that thought alone.

"Wait, What?!" said Ludwig a bit louder before noticing Richard's finger to quiet down.

"Is one of the bones broken?" said Richard confirming the floating thoughts in his head.

Rommel who was about to answer it went silent as he is feeling heavy answering it, Richard and Ludwig thought he was not going to answer so they were about to answer it themselves but that changed when Rommel then adds some responses that were heavy to swallow.

"I can't felt my leg... it numb, I can't even felt my thumbs from my feet," said Rommel as he started to cry knowing surely that he no longer be able to fight together with Richard.

"That's..." said Ludwig as he looked at Rommel's leg for a moment before looking back at the person himself.

"As expected, Rommel I'm sorry for getting you into this state," said Richard as he then rubbed his upper hand with his thumbs.

Not knowing what he should say next Richard think many ways to make sure Rommel could return to combat but not a single way he thought off could be hundred percent return him with his leg to function as it was supposed to but as he was mid thinking a way of it suddenly Rommel opened his mouth stopped whatever Richard is thinking about of him.

"Stopped Richard... I know what you're thinking but it's no use. my leg wouldn't work in any way," said Rommel as he put his hand on Richard's shoulder.

"That's..." said Richard in a bit of disbelief.

"Yes, I know. no matter how it saddens me but it's a fact that I couldn't no longer be part of your group... at the very least I could be proud to be able to serve in it," said Rommel as he talks with small tears flowing through his cheeks.

"But isn't your dream to be part of the army fighting on the frontline, Rommel," said Richard looking at him a bit in shock.

After another moment of silence, Rommel was contemplating what he should say next as he was in a mix of sadness, confusion, and hesitation which is shown on his face as he was about to answer he stopped a few more times as he is not sure what to say but as he was about to answer Richard told him a piece of news that would make him stop thinking of retiring from the army.