Leutnant Horrace Snowspot taps his foot on the turret floor of his tank while observing the desert expanse through his binocular periscope. His vehicle in command: a Hoppus Super Heavy Panzer Mk. C was an older model, but it had the same weapons as its newer marks and its construction was well suited to harsh environments. He swivels around to see some anti-tank positions covered up with camouflage nets, and a few light tanks hiding behind a dune awaiting orders. The air conditioning vents were running at maximum power but the heat of the steaming hot sand still manages to permeate inside the lumbering steel beast. Wiping the sweat from his brow, the snow hare slumps onto his seat exhausted, one of his loaders took notice, he leans against the gun breach asking the commander if there is anything interesting in the open.
"Dont friggin remind me Corporal, I was expecting to be deployed to the northern regions. But alas the bloody felines decided to head south instead." Horrace retorted as he adjusted his headset which has been plastered on his ears for over six hours.
The mid-afternoon desert winds blew against the vehicle with impunity making visual contact difficult, but Spowspot's crew were informed that aerial reconnaissance detected an enemy armored column crossing the great southern desert expanse in which intelligence suggests they will do a rear guard assault on the undefended sectors of the republic. It has been a few days of travelling and the platoon haven't gotten any to confirm on the enemy's presence.
The tank crew were growing restless from waiting, the gunner was cleaning his rangefinders, the engineer, the side gunners and the second loader were playing cards in the fighting compartment. An interrupting buzz of static got the crew's attention, the commander sits at attention.
"Go ahead. What is it?"
The loud obstruction of the winds distorts the audio, the conditions sound so hostile outside.
"AAA gunner here! We got some contacts! Five clicks away bearing Two-Eight-Five!"
Horrace quickly swivels the periscope to the location and his ears twitch at the sight.
"Damn it!" he said while observing. "There are fifteen armored vehicles moving at full speed, direction: west by north west!"The gunner confirms the sighting as well.
"What do we do now sir? Should we wait for back up?" The gunner asks Horrace, he shakes his head in reply.
"We are too far from the nearest armored company scouring the desert looking for these guys. This sandstorm would get even worse if we just let them go, we will lose track of them for sure." The gunner nods knowing that time is their enemy here. The commander activates the company platoon frequency so he can tune in with everyone.
"Man your stations! We got enemy contacts, I repeat, we got Feline armor detected!"
The light tank crews hop inside their machines, the gun crews unravel the guns and the Super Heavy tank powers up. The quick tanks sped away heading to attack from the rear making use of the dunes to conceal their movement.
"Gunner! Take aim at the lead tank in the formation!"
"Roger that! Acquiring target, hang on. Target range: three point seven nine kilometers and closing slowly."
The turret drive whirrs turning the turret to its designated position, the breech opens immediately letting in a swathe of hot air inside the fighting compartment, Horrace winces from the heat. The loaders shove a fresh round into the breech and shuts it after placing it in.
"Gun loaded sir!" the loader reports after locking the breech.
"I want that tank dead in one hit."
"Target locked, I got their engine compartment in my sights." The gunner responds
The tank's indicator lights white giving all systems a go with the attack, Horrace leans forward keeping his eyes on his prey, picking up the microphone and issues the order:
"FIRE!"