Frederica's Beloved Steed

Please get in.

Frederica perched on the turret hatch and held out a hand.

I took it and climbed onto the turret of Vehicle 101. The cold texture of the steel pressed against my palm.

"Excuse me."

I squeezed through the narrow hatch.

The interior was cramped. The air smelled of oil and gunpowder, mingled with the strangely sweet scent of shampoo.

"This way, Lieutenant Colonel. You can sit in the loader's seat."

Frederica showed me to a seat.

Ordinarily, a regular loader would sit there, but the crew had disembarked to make room for me.

The tank interior was different from its rugged exterior...