Our lives continue uneventfully.

The decision was made, and for now we have to stay in the village where it is hard to find something exciting or entertaining. Even in modern village it is hard to find proper TV or internet. For us, older people, this is not as hard as for the youth. We are used to work and reading as our recreation.

In this village there are no books, which makes me feel sorry for the people. I wonder if I can request books via supply drop.

When I said that we will remain here for a while, Jester was super happy and said that now he has all the time in the world to bond the girls here. Now, after 3 days have passed, he can only whine that he is bored and has nothing to do. What is funny, even I have nothing to say about it. We already cleaned the armor to the level it can be considered polished. All rifles and machine guns are cleaned and ready. And even the main gun had capital maintenance for the gun itself and the autoloader.

I finally dared to request supplies for the tank.

“Ether, this is Beril-Main, requesting supply drop, do you copy?”

“Roger, Beril-Main, write down the supplies and wait for the drop.” (E)

I found a notebook in my pocket and was quite surprised because I am sure I never saw it before. When I started writing down the required supplies I was surprised to see that right below it the weight appeared by itself. In the end I requested 3 shells and 2 zinks of ammo; an army tent for 4 people, gas burner and a couple of cooking utensils; the rest of the weight was filled with things like cards, books and small things like matches, paper and pencils.

I wonder what the crew will think about turning the tank into a camp. We have a generator, a heater, a wall and a bunker. All of that in one machine.

After the crate was dropped I started to drag it back. When I finally reached the village gate Jester showed up.

“What is it? Hey, captain!?” (J)

“Why don’t you help me and then ask?”

“And if I say no?” You joking idiot…

“Then I say ‘Court martial’!”

“W-why don’t I call Old man and we, two men drag it back?” He calls for it, I am sure.

In the end I decided to let the two drag the crate. I am a small girl with no damned strength, and if I tried to take part in carrying the crate, then I would only be an obstacle.

“Commander, are you alright?” Old man called me out.

“Yes, are you done?”

“Yes, sir!” (O)

“Old man, I want you to pack our camping supplies and this small stuff. Jester, get inside the turret and be ready to take the shells.” If I can’t carry everything by myself then I should at least organize them.

“Are you crazy? You won’t lift those shells!” (J)

“Don’t bicker with me, Jester. You are already at the limit. MY LIMIT.” He already started to forget who is the commanding officer.

“Dima,hvatit, komandir skazal - sdelai.” [Dima, that’s enough, the commander said – do it] (O)

“Are you done?” They both don’t even try to consider me their commander.

“Yes, yes. I am done, ma’am. Ready to take the shell.” (J)

I prepared to pick up the AP shell and… nothing. I can barely lift one of its ends but can’t lift the entire thing. Just why am I a damned child?!

Jester’s POV

I can clearly see that she’s too small to pick up that shell, I doubt that a boy of such age can even lift it for a second and she just tries to pass it here. This stubborn idiot keeps trying to show that she is still our commander. And the problem is that if I try helping her she will f* kill me because she is already at her f* limit of craziness.

I wonder if she will just accept her status as a girl and stop pretending to be ‘manly’ man.

Old man’s POV

I just wonder when the captain will get that she can’t do anything on his own. And he constantly tries to show that he is still the commander. He will have to make a choice, either to stay alone forever, or to stop fighting with the reality and accept that he is weaker and can only rely on us.

A. Belov’s POV

“What are you staring at? Are you done? You both are done?” Why are you looking at me, just a couple more moments and I will drag the damned shell.

I gathered all my strength and…

“DA E* TVOYU NAH*!!!” [FOR F* SAKE!]

This is just a preparation.

I finally gathered the strength and lifted the f* shell up, then…

Everything became dark…