Hello and welcome to the third part of Humanity's Struggle. I'm afraid that I have to start things off with some bad news for those of you who followed my last two stories. My publishing rate is going to have to go down from every day to once or twice a week. I'm about to go into exams at school so I can't afford to put too much time into writing at the moment. Hopefully there shouldn't be any points where I drop off and don't post for a week or more and things should be able to return to normal once I'm on holiday in four weeks time. Until then posts will be on Sundays and perhaps Wednesdays.
The Story so far:
In the Year 845 Bertolt Hoover and Reiner Braun in the forms of the Colossal and Armoured Titans respectively attacked the outlier city of Shiganshina, breaching Wall Maria and opening the way for the Titans to drive mankind back into the confines of Wall Rose. Four ten year old children, Eren Yeager, Matthias Quinn, Armin Arlert and Mikasa Ackerman experienced the horror of the Titans assault on that day and Eren's mother was devoured. The four decided to join the cadets in order to become members of the Military, specifically the Scout Regiment.
Five years later and the newly graduated Cadets of 104th were forced to fight to defend the City of Trost when Bertolt slipped away from the other cadets and launched the assault on the city. During the fighting Eren was thought devoured by the Titans, only to emerge several hours later from the fallen body of the Berserker Titan. This revealed Eren's incredible ability to summon and control a titan body as a titan shifter and a member of one of the ancient blood lines. This ability was used to reseal the breach to the gate of Trost. During the battle Matthias discovered the true identity of his lover Krista Lenz to be Historia Riess, the illegitimate child of Rod Riess, a nobleman from the interior. Matthias also experienced strange flashbacks on two separate occasions during the fighting.
After the Battle Eren was temporarily assigned to the Scout Regiment under the direct watch of Captain Levi Ackerman and his Special Operations Squad. A group of the 104th Cadets, including Jean, Armin, Mikasa, Matthias, Historia, Ymir, Reiner, Bertolt, Sasha and Connie chose to join the Scout Regiment and thus participated in the ill fated 57th exterior scouting mission. The Regiment came under attack from the Female Titan piloted (though this was unknown to the soldiers at the time) by Annie Leonhart, a fellow member of the 104th.
An attempt was made by the Scout's leader Major-General Erwin Smith to capture the Female Titan, but it proved unsuccessful. As a result Eren was barely rescued from her and the entirety of the Special Operations Squad bar Captain Levi was lost. The Scouts withdrew back to the Walls in a dejected state. On the mission Matthias discovered a unique ability to hear the thoughts of titans, including the Female Titan. Partially utilising information gained with this power Armin was able to deduce Annie Leonhart's identity.
The Scouts attempted to lure her into an underground trap within the interior city of Stohess. She anticipated the attempt however and transformed in the street. The ensuing battle clicked into place several previously suppressed memories in Matthias which allowed him transform into the Sentinel Titan in order to fight the Female Titan, thus revealing him to be yet another titan shifter. The combined efforts of both the Sentinel and Berserker Titans were able to defeat the Female Titan and Annie Leonhart imprisoned herself in a giant impenetrable crystal.
Matthias confirmed from his mother that he had been found by both her and his missing father emerging from a titan body in the woods when he was five years old. He had lost his memory for reasons unknown and the couple adopted him as their child.
The alarm was raised across the entire kingdom of Althand when word was received that Wall Rose had been breached at an unknown point, and that the Titans had gained entry. It was found however that these titans had seemingly appeared spontaneously within the Walls, probably due to the efforts of the mysterious Beast Titan. The Beast Titan attempted to capture Matthias and Eren during the small invasion but was unsuccessful.
It was then discovered that Reiner and Bertolt were the Armoured and Colossal Titans. The two of them transformed and tired to kidnap Eren and Matthias in order to take them out beyond the Walls to the person they served. Eren and Matthias were defeated when the Colossal Titan exploded and knocked both of them and all those in surrounding area unconscious. The two then attempted to escape, reaching the Forest of Giant Trees, halfway between Wall Rose and Wall Maria. After an extensive battle in which Eren discovered his ability to control titans with his will, Eren and Matthias were rescued, though numerous soldiers from all three regiments died.
Elements of the high ranking nobles then began to push to have Eren, Matthias and the now revealed Historia taken into custody. In order to prevent this they were sent out into a remote area of wilderness, but came under attack from a force of Military Police wearing Anti-Personal Manoeuvre Gear. Mikasa was shot through the middle and Connie through the right side of his chest during the fight and Eren was drugged and kidnapped, though the others were able to escape.
In an effort to retrieve Eren, Levi led the new Special Operations Squad down into the under cities, following a tie he once had with the leader of their attackers. He tracked him and the enemy to safe house and staked it out, waiting for an opportune moment to attack. His efforts are anticipated however and they are all taken captive. Ymir is forced by their kidnapper Bruce Yeager to reveal her true identity as Forrae Juvel, a century old titan shifter from post fall times. She was planted amongst the 104th in order to monitor Historia and act as her body guard, since she works for the Riess family who are in fact the true Kings and Queen of Althand.
An attack is then launched by the rebel underground known as the El-Ekar, a small army of expert warriors from the old families attempting to resist Rod Riess's rule. Forrae however transforms into the Thorned Titan and kidnaps Matthias and Historia. They are taken to Rod Riess who reveals that Matthias is actually Edmund Riess, the Prince of Althand who is responsible in some way for the Titans' creation. Eren's titan powers are revealed to come from his father Grisha Yeager who stole them from the Riess family in order to upset the balance and stop the will of the mythical 'First King' from forcing the rulers to keep mankind from fighting back against the Titans.
Rod Riess wishes Historia to transform using a special titan form inducing drug so that she can devour Eren and return the Coordinate power to the Riess family and thus restore mankind to Wall Maria. However, knowing she will lose her own will should she do so Historia refuses. When the Scouts and El-Ekar attack the secret cave they are in, Riess manages to inject Historia by force. Matthias is able to transform and use his psychic powers as the Sentinel Titan to destroy Historia's titan form, rescuing her. Eren uses a special dose of the titan drug in order to give himself the ability to armour his body. This allows him to protect everyone when the roof begins to collapse after Rod Riess transforms himself into the 120m tall King Titan.
The King Titan is lured to the City of Orvud where he is killed using an explosive device and numerous coordinated attacks with ODM Gear. Matthias is attacked by the now insane Bruce Yeager who transforms into the Feral Titan and tries to kill him. Matthias is able to kill Bruce, and afterwards the last phial of the titan drug is secured for Military purposes. During the battle Historia is recognised by the citizens as the true Queen of the kingdom of Althand and numerous soldiers swear her fealty.
Using a coerced press group Captain Hange is able to spread the news that Historia is in fact the rightful ruler of the nation, forcing the current king and government to collapse. Historia is crowned Queen and the Scout Regiment which was declared disbanded after their supposed treachery was reformed. With the new Queen in place and a vast amount of new information available to them, Mankind began preparations for an assault to recapture Wall Maria from the Titans. The excitement generated by this has prompted over a thousand transfers from other Regiments into the Scouts, swelling their numbers to previously untold sizes.
Characters
Eren Yeager
Age: 16
Appearance: male of average height with dark hair and green eyes.
Personality: Tends to be stubborn and hot headed when the mood takes him. Is also extremely loyal and courageous to a fault.
Position: One of Humanity's two loyal titan shifters. Is currently ranked as a private in the Scout Regiment's 2nd Company.
Mikasa Ackerman
Age: 15
Appearance: stunningly beautiful oriental female of average height with dark hair and eyes.
Personality: Tends to be reserved around most people but often expresses large amounts of emotion towards her friends, especially to Eren who she is helplessly in love with.
Position: Currently ranked as a private in the Scout Regiment's 2nd Company.
Armin Arlert
Age: 15
Appearance: skinny male of below average height with blonde hair and blue eyes.
Personality: Can be shy and nervous at times. Possesses an extremely keen intellect and can develop a 'take charge' attitude during a combat situation. Has shown great personal courage on more than one occasion.
Position: Currently ranked as a Lieutenant in the Scout Regiment's 3rd Company.
Matthias Quinn
Age: 16
Appearance: slim male of average height with light brown hair and green eyes.
Personality: a rather dry individual when calm, but exudes high levels of emotion when under stress. Has showed the ability to become calm and logical during a combat situation.
Position: One of Humanity's two loyal titan shifters. Currently ranked as a private in the Scout Regiment's 3rd Company.
Jean Kirstein
Age: 16
Appearance: male of average height, with light brown hair and brown eyes.
Personality: has a short and often exposed temper. Can also be highly sarcastic and grading. Is also determined and brave when the situation requires.
Position: Currently ranked as a Corporal in the Scout Regiment's 3rd Company.
Levi Ackerman
Age: mid 30s
Appearance: very short male with dark hair and grey eyes.
Personality: holds all of his emotions-except occasionally for frustration-very thoroughly in check. Is more than somewhat autistic in aspects of his behaviour such as exhibiting symptoms of OCD and a distinct lack of social skills.
Position: Currently ranked as Captain of the 1st Company in the Scout Regiment.
Erwin Smith
Age: late 30s
Appearance: tall male with blonde hair and blue eyes.
Personality: a fairly balanced individual who maintains a calm level of composure in front of his subordinates. Has great drive and courage.
Position: Major-General in the Royal Army, Commander-in-chief of the Scout Regiment.
Hange Zoe
Age: early 30s
Appearance: female of average height with deep brown hair, brown eyes and glasses.
Personality: exhibits extreme mood swings switching between a highly serious individual and an excitable, highly enthusiastic person. Her more excitable personality shows very distinct signs of ADHD and probably ASD.
Position: Major of the 1st Battalion of the Scout Regiment and second in command to Major-General Erwin. Also plays the role of science officer and titan specialist in the Regiment.
Annie Leonhart
Age: 16
Appearance: female of average height with blonde hair and blue eyes.
Personality: highly antisocial and expresses only limited levels of emotion at any time.
Position: Traitor to Humanity, currently incarcerated in a holding cell deep underground.
Connie Springer
Age: 15
Appearance: short male with buzz cut brown hair and brown eyes.
Personality: excitable individual of below average intelligence. Enjoys making fun, but tends to function less effectively under dangerous circumstances. Has still proven loyal to his teammates.
Position: A private in the Scout Regiment's 3rd Company.
Sasha Blouse
Age: 15
Appearance: female of average height with dark brown hair and eyes.
Personality: usually cheerful and at times childlike. Has an obsession with food and often acts via her instincts which are honed to abnormally high levels.
Position: A private in the Scout Regiment's 3rd Company.
Reiner Braun
Age: 17
Appearance: large muscular male with short blonde hair and blue eyes.
Personality: somewhat 'rough and ready' in nature. Is a somewhat cynical individual at times but will show a great amount of courage when dealing with his comrades.
Position: Traitor to Humanity, current whereabouts unknown.
Bertolt Hoover
Age: 17
Appearance: very tall male with brown hair and eyes.
Personality: quiet spoken and conservative. Has limited loyalty to others besides Reiner and Annie as all three of them are fellow traitors to Mankind.
Position: Traitor to Humanity, current whereabouts unknown.
Historia Riess
Age: 15
Appearance: very beautiful female with blonde hair and blue eyes.
Personality: a caring individual who can at times becomes somewhat self centred, prioritising her friends over others. She does however make the best effort she can to overcome these tendencies in the line of duty.
Position: Queen of Althand.
Forrae Juvel
Age: 136
Appearance: Beautiful woman with pale skin, long blonde hair and blue eyes. Has shown some ability to appear in a different shape.
Position: Traitor to Humanity, current whereabouts unknown.
Amanda Quinn
Age: 17
Appearance: a young woman with long nut brown hair and green eyes.
Personality: firm on a point once she decides on it, but is also often somewhat sceptical. Passive and somewhat intellectual at most times but she can summon a very formidable temper when provoked.
Position: currently ranked as a Lieutenant in the Scout Regiment's 5th Company.
The Colossal Titan
Appearance: 60m tall with no skin. Has a limited amount of his face constructed of a bright pink flesh like substance. No other features visible on body.
Pilot: Bertolt Hoover
The Armoured Titan
Appearance: 16m tall with no skin. Covered in a series of bone like armoured plates that protect nearly his entire body. Small amount of short grey hair.
Pilot: Unknown
The Female Titan
Appearance: 14m tall with limited amounts of skin and short blonde hair. Arms and legs are exposed and skinless while the rest of her body is covered in bright pink skin. Appears to be female unlike most titans.
Pilot: Annie Leonhart
The Berserker Titan
Appearance: 15m tall with total skin coverage and dark hair. Has glowing green eyes and a form of double sized jaw. The skin around the jaw appears to be layered directly over the gums leaving the teeth exposed on the outside of the head.
Pilot: Eren Yeager
The Sentinel Titan
Appearance: 15m tall with total skin coverage and long light brown hair. Has a black disk mark in the centre of his forehead. Mouth appears to be normal dimensions, but cheeks split back to reveal a double length jaw.
Pilot: Matthias Quinn
The Beast Titan
Appearance: 17m tall and covered in brown fur all over except on his front and face. Has perfectly black eyes due to sensitive vision and also has abnormally long arms and shorter legs. Also has an unusual pair of pointed ears.
Pilot: Unknown
The Thorned Titan
Appearance: 16m tall and covered in a layer of fluid like scales which are impenetrable to physical attacks. Has long blonde hair and her face is covered in a solid titan stone shell that can hinge open and closed in order to move her mouth. Has a pair of long blade like spines extending from her forearms as well as several shorter ones on her back. Has a build reminiscent of a woman but has a flat chest.
Pilot: Forrae Juvel