Prologue: Hold

Trost: 850

The battle for Trost has begun. Or rather, the retreat from Trost.

The sounds of cannon fire echo from the top of the walls. The occasional shouting of firing orders or the screams of dying garrison can also be heard by the waiting soldiers holding their lines down at the breach. They stared despairingly at the twenty meter tall hole that could almost be hell's gate.

However, truth be told, it was hell's gate. The very nightmares from the bottoms of Hades are now free to once again enter the realm of humans, unbound and endless. Free from the prison the gods of old cursed them in.

The Titans.

There was no way they could repair that breach in one day. A better question would be whether they can repair it at all. As long as it remains open, their enemies will continue to pour out into them.

Two deep trenches separated the gate from the soldiers. Sharp wooden stakes at the back end of these trenches point towards opening. Only a small, linear pathway remained as a bridge through those dark valleys, but that was more than enough to allow these monsters to fill the town.

The next line of defense consisted of many different cannon crews, running around and readying themselves to face the approaching horrors. 8 large ground cannons form a half-circle around the trenches, aimed right where the first titans will go through. A crew of four garrison occupies every cannon, each with a different task. Though equipped with devastating high-explosive rounds, their lack of accuracy and reload speed can only do so much against a highly regenerative enemy that can only be killed by aiming for a nape behind their necks.

In-between the cannons lie oddly shaped weapon emplacements. A rotating ring of ten metal barrels form the body of the weapons, with a large rectangular box at its right side which connect to a section near the top while an empty chamber remains near the left. Closer look at the boxes reveal hundreds of pointed bullet rounds. Below it lie hydraulics that move using the same gas used to by the soldiers' 3 Dimensional Maneuver Gear, allowing it to rotate with much more freedom compared to its larger wheeled cannon counterparts. It remains standing on what appears to be a metal quad-pod, bulky enough to support both the weapon and a man's weight. Three soldiers man each of these weapons, one riding a cockpit at the back of the gun, one standing next to a stack of the rectangular magazines, and another on standby near a supply of gas, holding a pair of binoculars. 6 of the weapons stay beside the large cannons, with a rather unique looking one at the center, facing right down the trench bridge, into the breach.

It has two large longer rings of metal barrels, one beside the other. There only three barrels in each ring but they are significantly larger than the smaller weapons. Each ring is almost as big as the regular cannons' body. A large box supplying the rounds was attached to each set of barrels. However, while the other guns had rounds that can be wrapped around by the hand, each round of this gun was about the size of a short forearm, there only being fewer round in each box. This weapon was stabilized by four large foot holds that are deployed around it and consists of the largest crew for all weapons with six soldiers, the two extra controlling small valves and wheels that rotate the massive gun while the last acting like a coordinator with the spotter.

While the regular cannons were manned with garrison soldiers, the barreled weapon crews had a different uniform. Along with standard outfit of brown long-sleeved shirts and white pants, 3DMG a given, each one had a pair of thick leather gloves and a set of tinted goggles. The most surprising is the symbols on their uniform. A shield formed the background to an upright hammer facing at its side with a yellow head and a white body with golden bands.

Behind the cannon emplacements were hundreds of soldiers from the garrison vanguard that formed the last line of defense. Some stayed on the roof. Others remained on the ground. A few were hanging from the walls. If the cannons were to fall, they would be the first sent head on into battle. You can see some already stricken fear, others with glares filled with vengeance and a few with sharp eager smirks.

The garrison cannon crews were nervous, knowing full well that their cannons cannot keep up with a titan's ability to regenerate if they hit the wrong part of their body. The crews of the multi-barreled guns also had a same aura of fear and anxiety, but almost every gunner at the cockpit had nothing but a calculating expression, solely focusing on what will reveal themselves from the fog of war that was behind the wall.

And the first horror appeared. A lone 11 meter class titan peaked right outside the gaping hole, a large rope net only delaying its approach. It easily ripped through the weak barrier, being the first titan to enter Trost. If one looks closely, they can see what appears to be the lower body of a garrison soldier on its left hand, blood seeping through the gaps between its fingers. That wasn't the titan's steaming blood, most likely.

"11 meter class spotted! Open Fire!" Yelled a garrison commander, 4 of the cannons from the center of the formation fired right onto the titan. 3 hit their mark, one blasting the legs while two hit the face. The titan fell frontward from both lack of legs and a sudden missing head. Everything and everyone remained still as they watched what would be the fate of the titan.

Unfortunately for them, it began to stand up again.

One of the garrison vanguard was brave enough to rush ahead, supported by two others, as she rushed through the wall and launched herself onto the exposed nape. With a crude cut, she sliced a large portion of its back neck and the titan's lifting arm fell and stilled as the body started dissolving to steam. The garrison soldier nearest to the gate looked behind them and screamed in fear as a 7 meter class clawed through what remains of the rope net and almost taking one of the supporting soldiers. By the time the soldiers evacuated the hole, the remaining 4 cannons fired their rounds upon the newest arrival. Only 2 hit this time, and nothing fatal as it only hit the shoulder and the lower leg. It still walked slowly towards them all, a disturbing grin plastered on its face that revealed teeth marked with blood.

One of the ring-barrel gun crews by the center started spinning their gun. The spotter watching carefully at the approaching titan. There was a sudden exchange of shouts between each one in the crew the moment the titan reached the first trench.

"Titan in range!"

"Gun warm and spinning!"

"Fire the Gatling!"

In a few seconds, echoes of rapid gunfire filled the air. The gun fired tens of rounds per second at such a rapid rate that it was almost like an entire platoon of soldiers or 2 were firing their guns sequentially. Bullets whirled through the air, their whistles heard by the crews nearest the walls.

The area around the titan's upper chest was riddled with explosions of dust from body impact and titan blood leaving the many holes that are lay across the torso. The onslaught of bullets continued, some already eating through the titan's body and flying towards the hole. The titan still continued to its walk, albeit more slowly, and obviously disturbed from the impacts on the head. It covered its face with one hand, but did not bother to protect its chest, being a deadly mistake for itself. As the sharp rounds rushed through, a sickening large burst of blood ejected from behind the titan's neck. The blood from the titan left with such pressure that some of it landed around the top of the gaping hole.

It stopped moving. It remained standing for a few seconds before falling backwards into a trench, the dissolving steam signifying its death.

There was cheering from a few members of the garrison vanguard and even some from the cannon crews at the "clean" take down. The crew of fired Gatling gun was too busy reloading the next magazine to notice the next 3 titans to enter. One 10 meter class, and two 8 meter class. The first 4 cannons had finished reloading then by then, firing into the intruding group of titans. Every titan was hit by at least one HE round, but only one 8 meter was successfully hit around the nape. The remaining two still continued to walk forward. The other 8 meter class fell down the first trench, its abnormally large head pierced by the wooden stakes in a very painful manner with its eyes being gouged out.

With the cannons still reloading, two Gatling crews shouted the same sequence of phrases said by the first crew, both firing at the same time. One near the center aimed at the approaching 10 meter class with a missing leg, while one at the side fired onto the exposed nape of the disabled 8 meter class. In time both shared the large bursts of blood from their neck that signaled that their vital area was destroyed.

The same pattern went on with the following four titans, with a small aberrant 5 meter class almost reaching the center emplacement before having its legs cut by down by two Gatling guns and being finished off by a garrison vanguard.

The next sight was an absolute horror for everyone. Six massive 15 meter class titans approached the gate, their silhouettes were like shadows of doom making its way to bring souls to hell. Even if all the cannons reloaded twice, the odds of having to fight them at close range was still large, an event that could cause many of the vanguard to die.

The barrels of the large center emplacement began spinning. The two crewmen responsible for the movement of gun brought barrels slowly down until it aimed dead center onto the 15-meters. With a few adjustments from the gunner, each barrel will fire round upon round right onto the breach.

As the first of the six brought its head passed the hole, its dirty blonde locks partly covering empty eyes and a disturbing smile, the crew then followed a similar sequence of shouts.

"Titans in range!"

"Gun barrels spinning!"

"Feed ready?"

"Feed ready!"

"Aim locked?"

"Aim locked!"

"Fire the Autocannon!"

At the end of the last phrase, thunder sounded off from the blast of each shot. These bullets, compared to the small whistles of the Gatling guns, were like screaming spirits that can be heard by everyone who can hear anything beyond the incredibly loud roars of gunfire. It was almost as if every bullet was a manifestation of a pained soul eaten by a titan. And they might as well be

The first round struck the hand of the second titan, ripping it off violently. Every round caused an explosion of dust and blood brought from the mere kinetic energy of each bullet. A round strayed passed the titans and hit the ground, forming a human sized plume of dust that ejected into the air. Another one flew right passed them, hitting an approaching 7 meter class behind them at the head, causing it to explode partly. Each round that found its way into a titan brought devastation to its body. Half of the six lost all their legs, falling face down onto the earth if they had any trace of their face left.

All this happened under 9 seconds.

By the time the dust cleared, some of the 15 meters already started turning to vapor. Ironically, the only one that appeared to have survived was the first one, with only its upper torso and lower jaw still intact, the former being riddled with large holes. It moved its stub of a right arm around pitifully, as if it was a weak beached fish. Even its rapid regeneration was having difficulty filling all the wounds at once. One awestruck garrison vanguard soldier didn't even need to rush to finish it off. He just walked on top of it and sliced the nape off, almost as if it was an act of mercy.

There was pure silence from the garrison for the awesome display shown in front of them. This was the power of humanity, bringing titans a taste of what it feels like to be ripped apart helplessly.

The few claps soon turned to loud cheers and battle cries that lasted a few good seconds before another titan was seen approaching. It was still far off, and each gun had a chance to reload. A garrison commander from the top then launched down from the walls and landed in front of the vanguard behind the cannons.

"There's still plenty of them coming in. Hundreds and maybe even thousands approaching. But that doesn't change our mission!" His speech was still heard through the both roars of cannons and the rattling of Gatling guns.

"The carts used for ammo supply are being used to bring the civilians to safety! That means we will not get any resupply of ammunition and that we are on our own until everyone can get out! Once we get word that half of the town have made it out safely, the garrison vanguard and royal engineers stationed here will head to the second line of defense around the town plaza!" An aberrant on four legs rushed through hole, getting stuck through the impaling of the wooden stakes on its hind legs before being bathed in a sea of bullets from three Gatling guns.

"Those orders may have been our death any other day. But as you saw in front, humanity DOES possess the power we need to fight the titans on the field! That we soldiers are not just titan fodder to prolong the inevitable!" The large column of titan steam rose behind him, one of the largest mankind has ever seen.

"Conserve your gas, your ammunition, blades or bullets, and your very spirit! This battle has just begun, but we will be victorious!" He then turned to the broken gate, swords in hands. Beyond it lies legions upon legions of hungry, hellish titans, approaching them in the waves.

"So remain steadfast and easy, for we will hold!"

Disclaimer: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin. (duh)