Trigger warning: caps (I know some people think this can't be a trigger, but it's a real thing)
Tanks come in two forms: the dangerous, deadly kind and the "liberating" kind.
-Robert Fisk
"Alright. Is everything set?"
Rowan set the box down inside the truck and stepped out. "I think so. We've packed everything in the east wing."
Stud scribbled something on a notepad. "So all that's left is to turn on the heaters, ready the explosives, and wait."
"And who's doing all that?"
"Frags and Hawkins. Not very unexpected, innit?"
"...was that a British accent I just heard?"
The older man chuckled. "Ehehehe... maybe?"
"Okay, definitely."
"Oi! Blink!"
Rowan turned around to see Tex waving him over. He walked over to his friend, who was messing with the engine of one of the transports.
"Never knew you were a mechanic, Tex."
"Something I picked up. Anyway, have you heard where we're going?"
"Dunno. I'm guessing somewhere not too far. Or at least I'm hoping so. Better not be like last time."
Tex scoffed. "Don't remind me."
After a few more minutes of last-minute preparations, Frags and Hawkins jogged out the nearest door, closing it behind them. "Explosives primed, heaters warm, all accounted for, we're ready!"
"Alright then." Stud turned to face the people waiting beside or in the transports. "There's a city about an hour away from here. We're hoping it hasn't been completely looted yet, but the most important part is that there's an old military base there. We can most likely find provisions and maybe even anti-tank weapons in there, so that's our main goal. You got that?"
Everyone either nodded or said "yeah" or "yup". One of the scouts ran over and told Stud, "Hunters 10 miles and closing, we should go."
"Frags, set the timer. We're moving out."
The former soldier pressed a few buttons on a device and jogged inside a transport. Everyone ran for a transport; Tex was one of the last ones in. He shut the door and sat down.
"Wish we could stay and watch the fireworks, eh?"
"Detonating in 3... 2... 1..."
There was silence for a little over a minute, before an equally deafening rumbling sound was heard in the distance.
"Was that it?"
"Sounds like it."
"Hope it got at least some of them."
"It better."
It had only been about fifteen minutes since they had left the bunker. Thunderers, when on good roads, could move at 40 MPH (64 KM/H for you people without a flag on the moon), which wasn't as fast as the transports, but still faster than most would've liked.
The chatter died down, and then it was silent again. Nobody really talked much, as any conversation usually lead to their lives before the Collapse, as they called it, which often left people in a depressed state. It was better to wallow in their longing in silence.
Rowan glanced over at Tex, who was sleeping. Unlike basically everyone, his happy-go-lucky personality had persisted through all the shit they had been through - although, Rowan felt like Tex was hiding something. Or maybe that was the thing with all people with his kind of personality.
The transport jolted and Tex sort of jumped awake, startled. He rubbed his eyes, looked around and asked, "Damn, did I miss it?"
"Yup."
"Why didn't you wake me?"
"Why should I?"
"...bruh."
Rowan chuckled and turned to look at the passing landscape. They had been travelling in country and desert for the past week or so, it would be nice to be back in a city.
Forty-two minutes later. The convoy had turned onto an asphalt road which rode up onto a highway that led directly into the city. The tall buildings that once stood proud were now mostly empty with holes in them and windows smashed out; some had even partially collapsed or crumbled. A couple looked like they had been hit with tank shells.
The lead transport began to slow down as they approached one of the main roads. The stoplights had long ago stopped running as power grids shut down, and there were no signs of any life.
The convoy slowed and then completely stopped. Stud stepped out of one of the transports, saying something to someone, before turning to the rest of the group. "It's not safe to be in the trucks, there could be Hunters waiting in ambush spots. Dismount and continue on foot, the base isn't that far."
Everyone piled out of the transports except for the drivers. They'd need the trucks later. The lead transport rumbled forward at a slow pace, and everyone walked alongside or behind it.
"Blink."
Rowan looked over to Tex, who was glancing around almost anxiously.
"It's quiet. Too quiet."
"What, were you expecting a circus?"
"I got a bad feeling. Like there's something waiting around the corner for us." His eyes darted to caved-in building, then to the opposite street.
"Isn't there always?"
"True..."
Rowan then had a realization.
"Wait..."
"Shit, Blink, what?"
"We shouldn't travel in a big group like this. We need to split up, or else we're one big target."
"...Блядь."
The two boys turned to the girl who had overheard their conversation.
"Of course... they're drawn to larger heat signatures... someone tell Stud."
Tex jogged up to Stud and exchanged a few words. The older man considered it, then raised a hand to halt the group. Frags and Bale walked up to Stud to ask why, and after a small conversation, Stud turned to face the group.
"We're about a mile to the base, one half of us will take the faster route and the other will take a detour. Frags will take charge of that group."
The group split, Rowan was conveniently with Tex and Wolf in Frags's group. They slowly walked down the street away from Stud's group, then turned onto another street, towards the base.
Silence once more, save for the rumbling of the transport. There was nothing that could signal an incoming attack or ambush.
So imagine everyone's surprise when a tank with drab green paint and an upturned soup bowl as a turret rolled around the corner and sent a shell right at the lead transport.
Yeah.
"FUCK, GO RIGHT NOW!"
Everyone snapped out of their shock and ran to the edge of the street, running parallel to the tank.
"MOVE, MOVE, MOVE! DON'T STOP!"
There was a low screech as the gun swung around to face them.
Wolf let out a gasp as she saw the red-and-yellow insignia painted on the turret.
Frags spotted an open door, which he dashed into. Everyone else tried to follow.
Clang.
"ShiiiiIIIIII-"
BOOM!
"Sound off!"
"I'm good."
"I'm alright."
"Flare!"
"You good?"
"Good?"
"Motherfucker, that was a T-90 and I'm still breathing."
"I'm better than good - I'm fucking awesome."
"Blink!"
"Blink, you ok?"
*cough cough*
"You're alright?"
"There's gotta be a way out of here."
"Let's go!"