For those who are not well-versed with the terminology, or for those undereducated, I wanted to present a rather rough outline as to how tanks organise ourselves, jotted down for the sake of tomorrow or those who have no such structures.

I will organise those groups in a loose manner, from the biggest to smallest.

First comes a place which you see when you wake up for the first time, a group who cares when you first open your viewports. Typically, this group is called a tribe, rodina or family. The biggest I have ever heard of consisted of a staggering number of twenty flanks worth of tanks. There are machines who are experienced in a way of life and fighting, so they take their pups under their paws and teach them all they can. When a young one wishes to leave, they let them choose their own path to follow.

A family does not have a stronghold like clans, but it does typically have a bunker-nest or a town or a village they frequent the most. It is mobile for the purpose of teaching their pups about various things that they would not be able to if they were static. Typically, a majority of the tribe is composed of mechanics, or those who know the way of one well enough.

A second largest group is obviously a Clan: the smallest is to be around two or three teams, or else it would not be able to function as well as a clan does. Either possesses a stronghold, or settles down in a town: Clan’s borders are physical and absolute, although it differs from clan to clan in which way they enforce them, and if they permit passage for outsiders.

A clan consists of Teams, which are organised with one Team-Leader each: those Leaders make up the main leading body of a Clan, with each serving a function of: a Clan-Leader, its Second, Third and so on for each Team.

A team is twenty tanks in a rather loose and loud group. Usually has one Team-Leader or two (Team-Leader and Team-Second), and a few tanks which help with organisation and logistics. Outside of a clan, teams are a cohesive and organised unit, and may take up a whole village if they do not travel often. They may be miners, foragers, or transport lumber. Do not have affinity for travelling, prefer to remain stationary and dug-in.

Furthermore, a Team may also be divided into Platoons: a Platoon is four-to-seven machines travelling together, bound by friendship, common goal or similar upbringing. The most popular for non-Clanned Platoons is to be merchants, as they favour nomadic lifestyles. Platoons are leaderless, with all members equal in vote and decisions.

A Flank, which is a closely knit group of five machines, is a rather odd one. In Clans, they are specialised or experienced elements used for breakthrough, disruption or complicated tactics. Outside of it, they are formidable war units, using their closeness and familiarity with each other’s strengths to maximum advantage. Often are desired by clans, hired as protectors, capable guards. A Flank is strictly role-divided, with each member expected to fulfil a specific role during a battle: it has one Leader (often called the Huntsmaster in the West).