"Gunner, KV-1 5 o' clock, one hundred meters."
"Got it."
"Loader, load AP shell."
"AP, up!"
"Fire!"
*thump!*
*plink!*
"We didn't even scratch 'em!"
"Loader, sabot! Now!"
"Sabot up-"
*CLANK*
"Ah cripe are we lucky this thing has thick armor! Fire, fire!
*thump!*
*crack!*
"Enemy vehicle has been knocked out! Good job lads! Get this tank moving...wait, what was that?"
*clickclankclunkclickclankclunk*
"That sounded too heavy to be a medium tank...HOLY MOTHER OF-"
*CRACK!*
"Bail out! Bait out!"
"Indy's dead! His brains is all over the place! Oh Celestia!"
"Churchill reporting! We have been knocked out by an unknown heavy tank! It has a massive gun on it! Requesting backup! I repeat, reque-"*CRACK*"GAAARRRGGHH!!"
"Oh shite! The wanker's still shooting at us! Get out before we're all dead!"
--------
"Get out! Get-aaack..." machine gun fire had cut off the gunner trying to get out of the Churchill.
"Aaahhhh! It's trying to kill us all! Help! Help bloody dammit!" yelled one of the panicking Churchill crew members.
"Sherman engaging target! Argh! It's not working!" yelled the Sherman commander. All of the chaos was being seen and heard in the briefing room. A projection of the carnage is being shown in the front. A few of the ponies there had left the room, too upset at the bloody scene unfolding. "Uh-oh. That thing's turning to engage us! Drive, or we're DEEAAAAD!"
"Someone get behind that bastard!" A Cromwell attempts to drive behind the heavy tank. Unfortunately, it notices and traverses its hull and turret to engage. Another thunderous boom is heard as the tank fires. The shot smashed into the right side of the Cromwell and exits through the left side. Inside the tank, the spalling inflicted by the shell had severely wounded the radio operator. She was bleeding badly.
"Shite! Saphy's bleeding out!" the Cromwell gunner cried. Right when the Tiger had exposed its back to the rest of the tank formation, it dispersed smoke shells and disappeared.
It was right then that the film stopped rolling.
"This tank was encountered a month ago," the base commander, Firehawk, said. "It possesses a eight point eight centimeter cannon, more than enough to destroy most of our tanks with one or two shots." The film projector was removed and replaced with a slide projector. Currently, it was going through slides showing the numerous destroyed ERAD tanks. "It also has very tough armor, impossible to reliably penetrate at a distance." The next slide showed a distanced shot of the heavy tank with a few shells sitting on the grass in front of it, distorted and crumpled. "If intel is right, this is one of the Ancients' most feared tanks during the Second World War." The next slide showed a remastered photograph of the heavy tank. "Fillies and gentlecolts, this is the Panzerkampfwagen VI Henschel Tiger I. A most frightening adversary, many of its opponents fled in terror at the very sight of it. Those who did not usually were not able to live out their normal lifespans." The next slide showed a remastered photo of multitudes of Sherman wrecks in front of a Tiger.
"Usually the only effective counters against these monsters were through smart infantry tactics," - a slide of a Ancient hiding behind a Tiger while holding a M1 Bazooka - "tank-hunters,"-a slide of a ISU-152 -"AT guns," - a slide of a 17-pounder anti-tank gun - "aircraft," - a slide of a de Havilland Mosquito - "or another heavy tank of the same caliber." - a slide of a Super Pershing is shown. "Engaging a Tiger by yourself is suicide, and attempting to fight it with an already inadequate tank gun is doomed from the start."
The slides swap to another picture of a Tiger, this time a modern day photograph again. "We don't know the tank's affiliation, but it's definitely hostile. For the last few months we were receiving multiple reports of convoys and combat groups being attacked by this tank. It is almost certainly always the same tank, but each time there are different tanks escorting it." The next slide showed a still shot of a round that impacted the turret, ripping off one of the smoke dispensers. "This photo was taken three months ago." The next side showed the Tiger again with a missing smoke dispenser. "This photo was taken a week after the previous one. Our only other way of making sure it was the same tank is this:" - aslide of the Tiger turret's right side is shown - "Jäger. Germane for hunter. Every time we fought the Tiger, it had the word clearly showing on the right side of the turret. And guess the big news." The next slide showed the Tiger firing upon ERAD tanks. It was similar to all the other slides of it in combat, except for one detail.
"Wait, is that the Everfree Forest in the background?" Cogswing asked.
"Indeed it is, warrant officer," Firehawk replied, "Recently this thing has been ambushing convoys near Ponyville. Each attack shows that it is getting closer and closer to the town." There are murmurs and whisperings amongst the audience. "And if our calculations are correct...it will be in Ponyville by Summer Sun Celebration, which is the day after tomorrow."
A few of the members of the audience started getting extremely nervous. The muted exchanges between each other got louder. "Now calm down. We have a plan to take this thing down." The next slide showed a blueprint of a new tank. "After informing the higher ups about the severity of our situation, they have agreed to grant us two new vehicles to fight against this monster. We're going to fight fire with fire. This tank is the Panzerkampfwagen V Panther. Made by the same group of Ancients who created the Tiger. And a vehicle based off of the Panther," the next slide showed a vehicle similar to the Panther yet had a casemate instead of a turret, "the Panzerjager Jagdpanther. And guess which one of ya lucky ducklings get to use these." The next slide showed a profiling of vehicle crews. It showed Dartboard and Loudmouth's crew. Loudmouth went slack jawed.
"Now don't get too excited, command wants both of these returned to Canterlot completely intact after this is all over," Firehawk said, "But look on the bright side-you're going to be getting a taste of some of the new vehicles that are going onto the production lines in the near future. Now our strategy....", a slide of an aerial photograph of the Tiger being escorted by various vehicles, "is to lure the Tiger's battle group into attacking a dummy convoy. Cars will be rigged with magic to drive along a predetermined path," a photograph of vehicles with burlap bag dummies in them are shown. "A few will have wood covers on them, disguising them as tanks. The real vehicles" - a slide is shown of tank pits surrounded with bushes - "will be concealed in these." The next slide shows a map of the area, with the concealed tank pits on one side of the road and the expected enemy tanks on the other' behind an incline. "We will open fire on the battle group either when most of the tanks has entered the killzone or when they realize the vehicles are fakes. The Panther and Jagdpanther will attempt to destroy the Tiger, then mop up the rest. The Tiger will almost certainly attempt to flee the moment it notices we have adequate firepower, so work fast and don't miss."
"Snnnrrk...eh? What?" Loudmouth's gunner Sleep Shot said, jarring awake. Far Shot, noticing that she only just awoken, facehooved.
"We are all going to bloody die," he said.
"If things go south," Firehawk continued, "you are ordered to scuttle any knocked out tanks and retreat. Remember that if we fail today, we're going to have to prepare for the worst. Any questions?" No one answered. "Good. Dismissed!"
--------
"Hey, Chalky?" Far Shot asked.
"Mmm?"
"Do you really think that entrusting the mission to...those guys," Far Shot pointed over to the Jagdpanther and its new crew, "was a good idea?"
"Hey, despite their quirks they are one of the best tank destroyer crews we have." A audible clang is heard as Butters, the Jagdpanther's loader, accidentally dropped a shell.
"Best? More like a bunch of ragtag misfits."
"Hey, we're sorta the same. Never been in a battle before, and we aren't necessarily one of the most cohesive crews out there."
"And that's because...?"
"Well you for example still have a major anger problem that can potentially endanger us in battle."
"Mmph."
"Hey, you did try to take over the wheel at one point. You driving is about as aggressive as Blaze's, but several times more reckless."
"Meehhhhh...I still don't exactly trust life and death situations with that gunner."
"The point of the mission is to wait for the enemy to expose themselves. If they trusted that vehicle to you, you would just try to shoot the Tiger the instant it appeared."
"I can hit its weakspots, no problem."
"And if you don't? They didn't have a mockup Tiger for target practice on the range back at Canterlot."
"..."
"Just focus on the mission and let the crews do their job. If this all goes up in flames, you can tell me 'I told you so' later."
"And if we don't survive?"
"Then you can bug me for all eternity in the afterlife on how you told me so."
"..."
"And bug Sleep Shot for messing up. The dead can't sleep anymore, right?"
"Fine then."
"Hey guys!" Carry All shouted, "Here's the HVAP rounds that we asked fo-woah woah wooaahhh!" Carry began to slip on a small trail of cooking oil. He fell, dropping the three shells he was carrying. Butters, noticing the trail he left behind ran over to help Carry All.
"Hey, sorry about that," Butters said, helping Carry up.
"Oh no problem its just that the floor was a little bit sliiii-!" Carry fell again, this time with Butters toppled over him.
'Sigh', Far Shot thought, 'we're all going to bloody die.'
--------
It was a few minutes before the Tiger was expected to show up. The tanks were hidden away in tank pits covered by bushes. There was also soldiers hiding in the shrubbery and hedgerows, lying in wait.
"Pfftoo!" one of the anti tank sappers spat a few leaves out of his mouth.
"Sshhh, not so loud. Ya want to give us away?" Cogswing whispered.
"Sorry Sarge, it's just there's freaking leaves everywhere. I can barely breathe without getting a few 'o them in my mouth."
"That's what ye nose is for."
"Sorry, have a bit of a hay fever. Can't breathe through 'em."
"Sigh. Ya can be such a ditz sometimes, ye know that Spigs? ...Oi, Petro, now's not the time to light the flamethrower."
"Huh? Oh, whoops, accidentally kept the igniter on." The flame sapper turned off her flamethrower's igniter and quickly put out the tiny fire that was developing on one of the branches.
"Darn it." Anton said, "I got a branch into one of my leg holes again."
"Get it out," Cogswing replied, "but do it quietly and quick. Don't want to blow our cover. Ugh, any other acts of clumsiness I should be aware of?"
"I have a slight pollen allergy," one of the changelings said.
"Anyone else?" Cogswing said annoyingly. All the others either shook their heads or didn't say anything at all. "Good."
"It's almost nighttime," Firehawk said over the radio, "The dummy convoy and the enemy should converge in a few minutes."
"Good. I hate sitting around," one of the rifleponies said.
"Don't get ahead of yerself lad," Cogswing replied, "We're suppose to wait for the right moment."
"Okay, quick head count. Everyone report in," Firehawk said.
"Panther is here," Dartboard said.
"Churchill, ready to give 'em the business."
"Cromwell, lying in wait."
"T-34-85, just waiting for them."
"M6, ready."
"KV-1, waiting for you."
"Sappers are ready and waiting," Cogswing replied.
"Jägers are all here, kommandant."
"Strelki is all here," Anton replied, "Uhh, pardon for a moment. Need to get this tree branch out of my leg."
"Riflepony squad is ready."
"StuG III, ready."
"Wolverine is waiting."
"Yep, we're still here," Far Shot replied.
"TANK DESTROYAH REPORTING!" Loudmouth shouted, "Tell us when the Tiger appears. We're going to blow it up real good!"
"Zzzzzz....."
"Ffffffffffff-"
"Far Shot, don't blow your gasket."
"Hhhhhh.....We're all going to bloody die," Far Shot muttered.
"Okay, everyone is accounted for." A faint sound of tires could be heard. "The dummy convoy should be passing now. Expect combat in about-" a loud boom was heard and one of the vehicles in the dummy convoy bursted into flames "-right now."
"Identified," Dartboard declared, "Looks like a T-34-85." The tanks held their fire, knowing that more was coming. "I'm seeing more of those tanks coming over the incline. About five of them total. I see Panzer IVs also, about six of them." The ten tanks that appeared after the first T-34-85 started shooting at the vehicles in the convoy, unaware that they have no one physically driving them. "Aaannnd here comes the primary target."
A Tiger rolled over the incline. It had a damaged smoke dispenser, several shot scrapes, and the word Jäger written on the right side of the turret. Two more tanks accompanied it side by side, along with at least four halftracks carrying unidentified soldiers. "Wait, what are those?"
"Smaller cousins of the Tiger," Chalkboard replied, "VK3601Hs. Precursors to it, in fact."
"Proto-Tigers. That's just great," Cogswing commented. The trio joined the other eleven tanks in destroying the convoy.
"Should we fire now?" Far Shot asked.
"Not yet. Wait for it...." The tanks still had their front to the ambushers. "Wait for it...." While much of the convoy was destroyed, a few vehicles still remained unscathed and were getting away. The tanks were forced to turn their sides to the ambushers in order to pursue the "survivors". "...now! Fire! Fire!"
The attacking tanks were pounded by the massive barrage of shells and rockets that simultaneously flew towards them. Two of the Panzer IVs and three of the T-34-85s were annihilated by the initial volley. A shot from the Panther instantly knocked out another T-34-85. A Panzer IV got nailed in the fuel tank by the M4A3E2, causing the Panzer to be set on fire. One particularly large shell slammed into one of the VK3601Hs and knocked it out.
"Mmm...did I get him?"
"Sorry Sleepy, ya hit one of the VKs."
"What? But I thought that was the Tiger..."
"Grrrr...."
"Far Shot, you better not point that gun at the Jagdpanther or else I will personally make sure you are court marshalled," Firehawk threatened.
The remaining tanks saw the source of the fire and turned their hulls and cannons to repay the favor. The halftracks stopped, their passengers getting out and taking cover.
"They see us."
"Ah just buck it. Hiding time's over, let's rock!"
"Cogswing here, we'll handle the infantry. You lads handle the tanks." The tanks bursted out of their hiding places, driving towards the enemy. The infantry hidden in the foliage opened fire on the enemies dismounting. The Jagdpanther fired, penetrating the turret of the Tiger and tearing off the remaining smoke dispenser on it.
"HAH!" Loudmouth shouted, " No hiding from us now!" The Tiger turned and somehow drove away faster than a Cromwell. "Oh COME ON!"
"The Tiger is heading towards Ponyville! At this speed we will not be able to catch up to it before it reaches the town!"
"Not if I can help it!" The M4A3E2 fires its gun at the Tiger. The round went through the rear armor and striked the engine. The roof of the engine compartment then bursted wide open, a sizable smoke cloud coming from it. Now that its engine was damaged, the Tiger's speed was reduced to what could be described as a limping run.
"The Tiger must have been over clocking its engines. We can pursue it now."
"Right then. We'll take our Cromwell to chase it do-" Suddenly, a rocket hits the Cromwell in the front left sprocket, detracking it "-wn. Ah well never mind. Up to the Jumbo Sherman to chase it down now."
"Alright then. Blaze, you think you can catch up to it?" Chalkboard asked.
"We will, but slowly. This thing isn't fast you know," Trail Blazer replied. The E2 turned to pursuit, leaving behind the battle.