Tank Lord: The Iron Beast

The Calm Before the Storm

Upon Reaching the morning Richard quickly woke up early which is quite usual in his past life since during most of that time he usually put on his uniform before going for exercise either by jogging, stretch, and many more exercises that are yet mentioned. 

At the same time some soldiers also made exercise as it was mandatory to exercise as they need to keep their body fit and able to serve in the line of duty but even so he was unfocused on his surroundings so some of his brother in arms shouted at him was never heard until one of them poked Richard’s side for several times. 

A bit surprised and noticing the poke made him turn his head to the side glancing at the person who poked him in the first place, it was the tanker before who was beside the grieving tanker before in which both of them walk to the side of the courtyard and stopped. 

“Hello there, thanks for comforting my friend... the one who is down and was near his breaking point.” said the tanker as he gave his salute to Richard “My Name is Benjamin.” said the tanker with a bit of a smile. 

“Richard, hello,” said Richard as he returns the salute. 

“Even though my friend heard your explanation, still he is shaken to the core because of the war,” said Benjamin while looking to the far corner right of his eye. 

“That friend of yours, over there?” said Richard as he turns his head to Benjamin. 

“Ah, I forgot to tell you, what his name was. Ehm, His name is Dieter he is my childhood friend since we were still diaper back at home,” said Benjamin as he quickly turns his head before looking back at his friend who is still down because of the day before. 

“Dieter... such a pity, when both of you joined the army what was his job before?” said Richard glancing at Benjamin with a questioning look. 

“That’s we were both a factory worker before we joined up in the military, our factory was closed because of bankruptcy. Both of us were confused about where should we go when some of the militaries were recruiting on the street and since it was a good offer and at the very least, we aren't being unemployed,” said Benjamin a bit relieved before start looking at his friend who is now running on the courtyard. 

“True, me and Rommel were also in the street also before joining the army even though the food is a bit bland and the bed is rough and hard to sleep but at the very least, we have a roof at the very least,” said Richard before noticing the person himself came out from the barrack. 

Rommel still yawns as he looked at us then after getting close, he quickly pulled Benjamin to him as he rubbed his head a bit hard as he were in a playing mood with him before he manages to pull away and taken quite a distance from him while not wanting to get another head rub. 

“Richard what were you guys talking about?” said Rommel as he grabs Richard’s shoulder. 

“Oh, that. We were talking about our time before joining the military,” said Richard as turned his head while feeling surprised by Rommel. 

“Ah, that... yeah so it was like this...” said Rommel as he quickly takes over the conversation again. 

Richard whose conversation was taken by Rommel then glanced at Dieter who was on the far side of his eye were still concerned about the day before since the person himself was still unfocused in his exercise in which Benjamin waved at him causing him to notice and slowly walk to the side of the courtyard while still feeling nervous in front of Rommel and Richard. 

“So... Dieter still thinking about yesterday's conversation?” said Richard as he found some time to pull Dieter into the talk. 

“Eh? Ah, yeah... I still thinking about it, still feeling restless about the war.” said Dieter while his eye looking away from Richard and Benjamin. 

“Well at the very you no longer think too much, right?” said Benjamin as he touches Dieter’s shoulder. 

A bit of surprise even though it was his friend who touched his shoulder Dieter could only reply “Thank you” in a whisper as his belief was still shattered because of the war while his friend Benjamin could only smile as he put his hand on Dieter’s back and manage to rub it a bit more before Dieter raised his hand and told him to stop as he was fine. 

“So... do you want to stay in the army, Dieter?” said Richard as he was still making sure of Dieter’s conviction. 

“I... m not sure, I have mixed feeling about it but maybe for few more weeks I will answer it, just not now,” said Dieter as he looks at Richard. 

“If you wish to resign, just tell me about it's okay Dieter we’re buddies, right?” said Benjamin persuading that he will be with Dieter no matter where they go. 

“... Yeah, I guess so.” said Dieter as he was feeling bad because of it “But I felt I must stay in the army no matter what... that’s what I felt now.” as he continues. 

Benjamin while looking at Dieter could only shake his head in a bit of amazement. 

“Well, if that what you want then let’s grab some food on the mess hall, I'm feeling hungry now,” said Benjamin as he quickly pulls Dieter together with him. 

“Ah, yeah sure... let’s go,” said Dieter as he could only smile slightly at Benjamin. 

“Hungry Rommel?” said Richard as he gave a thumb to the mess hall. 

“Um, sure... my stomach is feeling light, so why not,” said Rommel as he smiles in response. 

Upon reaching the mess hall Richard along with the other three noticed the crowd queuing for their plate and dishes which numbered to a hundred, which made Richard forget his intention to queue up in the long line but Rommel went ahead with the queue and tell Richard and the rest when he arrived at the front for ordering in which Richard and the rest nodded. 

Knowing it would belong, Richard, Dieter, and Benjamin look around for any available seat for the four of them which is by luck are free when some people just timely leave their desk as the three of them grab the seat and quickly sat down on the chair. 

Dieter who is still nervous suddenly noticed some of another soldier who came at the group as they looked at Richard specify looking at him like he some object being valued by them in which Richard ignore them like they are nothing as he somehow manages to grab a newspaper before sitting down on the chair as he quickly spread it open then start reading the content. 

“Hoh, it seems today’s news Is about Poland's acquisition today... well certainly it isn't something surprising today some people still don’t seem to be happy with the Fuhrer's decision dealing them through force of arms,” said Benjamin feeling perplexed after hearing such news. 

“Well certainly their view is correct but then how should we deal with few livings space in our land that was taken from us then, the Fuhrer was making sure our people have enough space for every German people to live in their home safe and in comfort and maybe even them,” said Richard feeling being a bit influenced by such provocative news. 

“Yeah, they haven't considered how hard it is being in the army following order to the letter while also trying to survive at the battlefield at the same time,” said Dieter as he glancing at the newspaper beside Richard while peering over at him a bit. 

“Thinking that they should do another diplomacy... damn, hypocrite If they think it was easy then we wouldn’t get into this damn mess in the first place,” said Benjamin as he felt the history of the great desperation. 

After the great war ends the world entered great peace for some time that is until the great depression that was caused by some number of bankers that caused the great inflation in the European continent that made suffering on a great number of people especially the Germanic people where they distrusted Democracy no, to be correct they lost to their trust to the Weimar Republic’s legitimacy especially the people who lost due to the war while feeling insulted and angered by the Versailles condition that greatly placed Germany in its role during the great war with a certain condition and they must pay heavy financial reparation for the damage caused. 

The other nation has already seen Germany as a great threat thus they'd rather stop them at their track before their peak of power by giving such outrageous demands and conditions while also de-militarized the area near Rhineland, prohibiting the unification with Austria while taking Germany’s overseas colony for their own and this also applies to German-speaking territory in which Danzig was included. 

“Don't they understand since the Fuhrer already giving them the most favorable diplomacy on the table for them,” said Richard as he was still reading the news. 

“Was it because of Danzig? The great leader has already given them much stuff if I say so,” said Benjamin as he sighs before standing then walk to where Rommel. 

Richard turned his head around where he noticed Rommel is already at the front queue where he waves at him and Benjamin to come over, where Richard gave the signal that he orders the usual plate where Rommel knows what he wanted while Benjamin knows what Dieter usually order as they take two orders at the same time. 

“Benjamin looks caring to you... is there something I should look after for?’ said Richard as he glanced at Dieter. 

“Well, there is... um, you see Benjamin. he lost his brother a few years ago many said he died because of the flu the common one. He said he was going to borrow a lot of money to make sure he bought the medicine for his brother but he was late to give it to him as he already passed away when he got it.” timidly answered Dieter while playing around his finger and fidgeting while looking at the floor nervously. 

“It’s not your fault... all of us were also wronged by the war before,” said Richard as he was tapping his shoulder lightly while leaning to Dieter trying to relieve him from the tension and guilt “His brother died because he was in the same situation as each one of us, not because of something else.” as he continues patting him on the shoulder. 

“Yeah... Probably you are right, I should don’t put the guilt on me of taking his past, perhaps I should talk to him normally,” said Dieter as he slowly regains his confidence. 

“That’s good... well better eat more than you normally ate,” said Richard as he turns his head around looking at Rommel and Benjamin walking to them with food on both of their hands. 

“Here is the usual plate Richard so what were you both talking about it sounded serious when we were queuing on the front?” said Rommel as he put down the plate on the table near Richard. 

“Ah, that... well we were talking about Dieter’s family situation, right Dieter?” said Richard as he turns his head to Dieter. 

“Hm? Yeah... but Richard nagged to him to share it, I was still not wanting to tell it before you two arrive,” said Dieter as he laughed a bit dryly. 

“Richard doesn’t do something like that, you know if you want to talk about it why with me,” said Rommel as he said proudly. 

“Yeah, I know Rommel you’re in relation with that madam right... I heard you were mad in love with her,” said Benjamin after he sat down grabbing one bite to his mouth. 

“Er... yeah, Haha and how did you know?” said Rommel curiously. 

“Who doesn’t know about it in this base, I mean from what I heard... you almost talk with all the girls that are close with her. Just to get to know her and get in relation with her,” said Benjamin as he points his spork at him. 

“Eh... for someone like you to remember that detail Is kind of scary Benjamin,” said Rommel as he took a bite from the plate on his table. 

“Well, I can't say anything since every time what I mostly hear from others was mostly about you if only, I could plug on my ear while focusing on work believe me. I would do so...” said Benjamin as he looks at Rommel from time to time before ending it with another bite. 

“Yeah, I guess so... but at the very least I'm no longer in the headline, right?” said Rommel as he smiles a bit. 

Richard and Dieter were still eating their breakfast without any talk as the two still talking about Rommel’s Gossip in the army. 

“Yeah... sadly they aren't talking about you, which is good for me,” said Benjamin after looking away as he was still thinking about something. 

“I’m not sure should I be happy or angry about that,” said Rommel as his spork was pointing to the plate in a bit of confusion. 

“I guess you could be happy about it, Rommel,” said Richard as he intervenes in the talk. 

“hm... yeah, I guess so,” said Rommel a bit complexed by it but he took another bite while agreeing to the notion made by Richard. 

At the moment the group was still eating there were some uproars on the mess hall door for a brief moment but a few minutes later, the people who piled up slowly disperse themselves and walk to their group. One of such individuals who was walking to his group was then interrupted by Benjamin who was close to the mid-walking man. 

“Hey what's up? Why was there a ruckus on the front?” said Benjamin as he pulls the man’s sleeve. 

“France... they declared war on us, together with those brits. I heard that they just launched an offensive on Saarland but they quickly returned in fear of our retaliation, I’m not sure if they are cowards or are they stupid.” said one of the soldiers as he made a small glance at Benjamin. 

“Ah, I see... carry on then,” said Benjamin as he let go the man’s sleeve. 

“Yeah.” as the man runs past Benjamin. 

Benjamin after that turn around to the table and was looking at the table while rubbing his head a bit thinking what he should do, Dieter who learn of the news took started to get into his usual nervous breakdown but before long he was surprised when suddenly Rommel tapped his head with a finger causing him to loop up at Rommel but the person in question only glanced at Richard in which also made Dieter turn his eye to Richard. 

Richard was still drinking his coffee and reading his newspaper which is on the outline of the news before noticing his tankers who was staring at him with mixed feeling in which he asked to them. 

“What is it?” said Richard turning his head around to his friend. 

“Nah, it’s nothing,” said Rommel as he also drinks the coffee. 

“How come you’re still calm with this,” said Dieter as he was confused by Richard’s action. 

“Oh, about this... France is a bit easier opponent if we were to compare them with those soviets on the east,” said Richard as he put down his coffee and straighten his posture on the chair. 

“Heh?” said most of his squad. 

“Wait, what?” said Benjamin as he looked at Richard quite intensely. 

Benjamin who was in shock quickly stand from his seat in which made most of the soldier who was mid eating their afternoon meal to turn their head around or even glancing their eyes to the side as they were currently looking at the source of the commotion which is where Richard and his teammate are located at. 

Benjamin who noticed the people around them were looking at him, quickly turn around and apologizing to them as he bowed slightly because of the commotion he just caused in turn makes them return eating their food on their set of the table thus enjoying their meal. 

“Ah, the other was staring at me so intensely shameful of me.” said Benjamin as he quickly covers up his face in shame “So what do you mean by that, Richard?” as he continues with a bit lower voice. 

“About that... we will be facing them during a time of winter and we would suffer both casualties and logistic losses at the same time... in the worst scenario, if we lost the momentum and let them get their hands on our technology then they would have their chances to turn the tide of the war in their favor,” said Richard as he drinks another caffeine into his mouth. 

Almost all of Richard's crewmates were in for a surprise as they listening Richard’s explanation made them go silent and looking at him a bit more before went pale after listening to him. 

“So, you are saying that we will lose the war if we fought against them head-on?” said Dieter nervously. 

“You could say it like that... but that depends if we could attack them step by step,” said Richard as he looked at Dieter who is now sweating in fear. 

“... Can we perhaps could stand a chance against them?” said Benjamin adding a question to Richard. 

“Very unlikely Dieter... before we could even stand a chance against them, we should quickly finish up the British to the east of us,” said Richard as he sighed a bit.