On a hillside, two high school girls sat watching the movement on the dirty field below. "I count... Four Matilda IIs and one Churchill advancing," said the first. "Wedge formation... nice station keeping."

"St. Gloriana has always been good at that fancy formation driving, probably so they don't spill their tea," replied the other, excitedly. "Any sign of the others?"

"Not yet, but you kept saying you were most concerned about the infantry tanks. We're going to have a hard time penetrating their main armor, even with AP rounds. Especially the Churchill," the first girl said, with a theatrical shudder. "That one's a monster."

"It's not invincible. That's where tactics and skill come in. All right, enough spectating. Let's get this show on the road!" The girl stood up, brushed her blonde hair away from her eyes, and extended a hand to her companion to help her up.

"Thanks, Kay" said Akiyama Yukari. The pair clambered onto and into the Sherman hidden just over the ridge from their observation point. Yukari eased shut the loader's hatch behind her.

The commander of Saunders University High School Tankery Team was already on the radio as she dropped into the commander's cupola of her Sherman. "All right, everyone, move out. Remember to keep the engine noise and dust low." The engine of the Saunders M4 Sherman roared to life, followed shortly thereafter by nine more like it. With practiced ease, all ten tanks turned and began advancing away from their opposition, forming a column of olive drab armor. The command tank quickly passed the rest of the vehicles in the column and took position at the head of the line.

Kay opened up on the radio. "This is Shortstop to all Baseball elements. We've confirmed the location of the enemy Batters. The Runners are unaccounted for, so keep an eye out. Shortstop will advance to the Mound. The rest of you, signal when you are in position. Operation Line Drive begins now!" One by one, the trailing Sherman tanks peeled off the formation and headed for their positions.

A burst of static heralded another voice on the radio, this one sounding much more annoyed than Kay's friendly and energetic instructions. "Outfielder 3, read your map. You're on the right!"

Immediately, one of the Shermans changed course. The radio crackled to life again, "Uh, Outfielder 3, correcting, sorry, Arisa."

Kay ducked into the tank and then turned to Yukari. "This is officially your first engagement, Yukari. You ready for this?"

Yukari gave her commander a thumbs up. "I think I am." She adjusted her gloves, and made ready to grab a shell.

The blonde commander turned towards her gunner with a cocky grin. "Ok, we ready to spill someone's tea?"

The first 75mm shot from the Sherman landed short of the beige St. Gloriana Matilda, throwing up a cloud of dirt. Almost immediately, the British tanks began turning towards the source of the fire, while still maintaining their wedge formation. Before they could bring their turrets to bear to fire back, a second shot from the American tank slammed into the flank Matilda, unfortunately not doing more than leaving a scrape on the armor.

The lone M4 reversed and backed out of the hull down position it had taken overlooking the enemy formation and quickly turned and accelerated away moments before the first round of return fire impacted its position. From the cupola, Kay waved at the pursuing British tanks rounding the hill and bringing their guns to bear even as she triggered her radio to her crew. "Keep on an evasive course until we reach First Base," she instructed her driver. "While those aren't the heaviest guns, a direct hit would slow us down for the kill if it didn't finish us off." As if on cue, the first shell from the five pursuing British tanks landed nearby.

She switched her radio to the 'All Saunders' channel, and practically screamed into the microphone "All right, everyone, the fun starts now!" as another round from the pursuing St. Gloriana tanks whizzed past her head.

Always Advancing

A Girls und Panzer fanfic

Part I: The Same, Only Different

by Civilis

Next: Part II: Situation Normal: All Fouled Up

Author's Notes: As I post this, the first chapter, the story is about 80% finished. There's a small gap at around chapter XX, and the end needs serious work.

This is a story about friendship, perseverance, and tanks. All characters are original to Girls und Panzer, and the author does not own this series.