“Renault, you’re late for our date. You do realize how important this day is, right?”

“Sorry. I got lost on my way through Passchendale. I-I promise it won't happen again.”

This… wasn’t the world that had nothing but sand as far as the eye and mind can see. No, it wasn’t even about the surviving human populace who stood through one unnecessary war after another.

This was about tanks, but let’s do this differently.

Let us imagine, for a moment, when reality was nothing but a desert. Where tanks conquered the dune seas and there was no law and justice. One would surely believe, things like romance could never exist here. Not entirely.

For example, think of a Renault FT Light Tank sitting on a quiet little sand hill, and sitting on top was a Red Poppy. In the form of a girl with vivid red hair. Let us believe, for this moment, they can talk like regular people.

“Your armor is a mess. Are you sure you understood the concept of lemon juice and sulfuric acid.”

“Uuuh. One of them hurts my body right. It has to be lemon juice!”

“Nope.”

The girl with vivid red hair shook her head while swinging her bare legs over the side of the Renault FT tank turret. This vehicle was once hailed as the most ‘modern tank’ after the First World War, where the primary tank of use was the British Mark V and could only shoot forward. The Renault FT was world renown for its concept of a ‘revolving turret’, essentially being able to shoot in 180 degree direction without forcing the body of the tank to turn. Not like the limit neck turning of a feeble human, full swivel.

“And you stink of dead sea salt. What have you been rolling in!?”

“I-I believe my riders were trying to escape an Abram Tank through the empty Red Sea… I think the salt were anoxic (zero oxygen).”

“You don’t say. It hasn’t been 10 minutes since our date started and all I can think about is rotten eggs. You really know how to set up the mood.”

“Sorry.”

The turret of the ‘modern tank’ wilted down an angle. It seemed to mimic a human drooping his head and shoulder in apology. The girl with vivid red hair didn’t buy it.

“You need to take care of yourself. You’re not as young as you used to be. Almost a hundred countries might have used you to fight their personal conflicts and civil war, but really you haven’t worked hard enough to rival with the bigger tanks from the Second World War. Shame on you!”

“W-wait! Wait! I-it’s a design limitation! E-even if I pull 1000 heavy crates and containers, my maximum speed is 7 km/hour. Not to mention, my turret is too short compared to the T-90 Japanese Tank from the former JSDF and the German Panzers would chew me up!”

“That is why I’m disappointed in you, Renault FT. You always run away!”

“I-it’s not my fault people keep thinking the French run away. Movies are too cruel! A-and d-don’t we have the GIGN!?”

The tank that could carry two crew, a commander and driver (both asleep during this rendezvous), wobbled back and worth in protest to the statement laid by the girl with vivid red hair. She didn’t seem to be bothered by how much the vehicle was swaying back and forth, but having her hair get flicked in her face because of it… made the atmosphere lower by 20%.

“Renault FT. You have potential. You were a star tank in the days, but popularity got to your titanium skull and ruined your determination. Even the Engine who think he can is better than you! Not to mention, 10 times the charm!”

“N-now you’re just hurting my feelings! I-I fought in the Second Battle of the Marne! I drove off the German Tanks with my battle cry!”

“Then when you realized you didn’t have footsoldiers to support you, you turn tailed and run.”

“Guh! Wh-what about the Russian Civil War! The Polish Soviet War! A-and don’t forget the Estonian War of Independence!”

“Captured. Buggered off. Bombed. Try harder to impress me, Renault FT or I’ll dump you.”

“…Sob.”

A small whimpering sound could be heard from the tank that was claimed as the ‘modern tank’ in the history of post World War I.

“You can’t rely on that old title any more, Renault FT. There are other tanks who have surpassed you while you sat in the dust of and old museum. The T-25 Russian Armata, the British Cruiser series, the M1 Abram Tanks and their holographic targeting system. You can’t even shoot down a plane with a laser guided missile, let alone know what laser is.”

“D-don’t make me sound like an old man! I-I’m still young!”

“No. Being born in 1918 and living up to the 30th Century would put you in the elderly senior category.”

“Hurt!”

The turret on the Renault FT was not shaking its head. Not to reject the proposition of how old it was (second oldest compared to the British Mark V), but to ignore the bad feeling it was ‘experiencing’ from the tongue lashing from the girl with vivid red hair.

Despite those heavy words, she smiled.

“But I’m proud of you.”

“Wh-what? What?”

“It’s because you once worked hard, the time you weren’t so silly or lazy… you changed the other tanks of the future?”

“… Hah?”

Renault FT Tank was indeed an important figure in tank history. It was the first vehicle to be adopted with a balance of armor and speed, to move around in tight corners and cross over bad terrain. The fully rotating cannon turret allowed it full freedom to shoot sideways or backwards whenever it circled or fled from an enemy advanced. All tanks after its production followed its example, man nations purchased and captured it due to its advanced effectiveness over time.

As mentioned, it was slow to ‘evolve’ While the age and progress of computer technology grew, the later descendants of tanks were equipped with enough electronic to fly a plane via simulator. Hunting down fast paced fighter jets, launching artillery from an impossible long range over obstacles with 100% accuracy, kicking an ICBM in the crotch, this was the growing category where the old post-World War One Tank fell behind. Thus, it was collecting dust in museums.

But.

“Do you know why I chose you out of all the potentially handsome tanks to be my boyfriend.”

“…N-no.”

“I’ll give you a second chance to answer that question properly. If you get the wrong response, I’ll break up with you.”

“Meap! N-no! Don’t! If I don’t have you, I’m nothing but a half-rusted shell!”

“So, why did I choose you?”

“Uh. Uh. Uh. Uh. Uh… B-because you’re cute.”

“Guh!? Sh-shut up! D-don’t cheat in this i-interrogation wi-with a blunt word like that! Wh-why is my heart racing!?”

The girl with vivid red hair had a flustered look to her face as she kicked the Renault FT with the back of her heels. She had no shoes, bu that didn’t bother her. The tank vibrated as if a boy in this strange relationship was being beaten up b his spoiled girlfriend.

“No! Not there, the Russian Armors shot me in the right side too hard! I-I still haven’t properly repaired it. Ow! Ow!”

“……… It’s because you remember my name, dummy.”

“Heh?”

The assault from the girl to the boy… er, Tank had stopped. It was no longer a spate between… lovers. Rather, the girl with vivid red hair smiled.

“Out of all the tanks, no matter how useless you are or how lazy you became over the years, the only think I admired about you, is your memory.”

“…”

“You remember my name, right?”

“Lest We Forget.”

“Yes… But I told you to call me Remembrance.”

“…So…sorry…”

The girl hair as red as a poppy flow grinned and pressed her small hand across the body of the tank. Being a vehicle who had been mass produced after the heroics and tragedy of the First World War, it was heavily used in the consequenting battle and driven through the Second World War. She could feel the many centuries of battle scars cut deep into its half-rusted armor plating.

“The British Mark V doesn’t remember. Its memory became too corrupted after breaking down a lot in the First World War and being trapped in mud. Even then, he treats me like a naughty grandchild… you… even if you’re the second oldest, you respect me.”

“…It’s because we understand what it takes… to defend each other.”

“Yes, to protect the ones we love… by giving up the hearts of thousands to ensure the war never touches their home and freedom.”

“…….. Now that I look back to all of my merits and achievement… I feel so useless compared to the [email protected] that bully me like the Abram and T-14.”

“Dummy, have you forgotten why you’re still here?”

==*BONG*==

… An awkward noise echoed in the air, as if shattering a small dream. The driver door to the Renault FT was kicked open, and a long and beautiful bare leg was stretched out from it. A head with messy blonde hair popped out and she scratched her body… also naked.

“Hmm… Oh… Hey Boss Lady, we missed the sunrise. It’s already 3:20 in the afternoon.”

“SON OF A B*TCH! WE’RE LATE FOR THAT PIRATE RAID! HURRY CAPRICORN AND START UP THE ENGINE!”

The naked driver with delicious chocolate tan skin yawned before nodding. She ensured that there was nothing going on, no bandit tanks or mines in the vicinity, before she prepared to start driving. Right before ducking back, she saw something sitting on the side of the silent Renault FT Tank.

A Poppy flower. The size of her palm.

She picked it up and gave it a look over. It did not look anything like a girl with vivid red hair. No, it was not your hallucination. Unable to solve this newfound mystery, the naked driver shrugged and sat back inside of the box-like driver seat, slamming thedoor shut on the poor tank.

“Hey boss lady, I found breakfast.”

“Poppies have opium in them. Don’t eat it—I JUST SAID DON’T EAT IT!”

…The Renault FT knew the answer to the last question before its little dream was interrupted. It was not sad that such beautiful meeting with a pretty girl was cut short. Frankly, it was aware she would be leaving soon. However, that did not mean he couldn’t wait to see her again the next time, in the next year. He will wait, even in this rough reality that relied on the laws and justice of the Wild Wild West.

In a conquest of survival in the dune sea, the Renault FT had something that no other tank, no matter how strong or modern it was.

Straight Luck.

“GUWOOOH! C-CAPRICORN! WH-WHY ARE YOU DRIVING DOWN THIS DIIIIIIITCH!?”

“Uuuaaoooh…the world is so colorful… Poppy seeds are the best, hiccup.”

… Please support Renault Ft to survive until the next November 11.

[Don't Forget Me, Renault]

~~Remembrance