844年

Shiganshina, Wall Maria Garrison Headquarters

. . .

"You wished to see me, Commander?" The heavy office door swung open before Erwin, revealing Commander Dot Pixis' unadorned office. Rumor had it that when he'd been appointed Garrison Commander, Pixis had operated from his outpost barracks for a whole month before the higher ups strong-armed him into the place. He wasn't positive if it was true or not, but upon laying eyes on the Commander's relaxed form, Erwin couldn't help but label it as a possibility.

Heels resting atop the oak desk, Pixis took a generous swig of whatever mystery amber liquid was contained inside his engraved hip flask. "Come in already Smith. Day's a wastin'."

Speckles of dust reflected in the cut of light from the window behind the Commander, following an invisible airborne road. Erwin reached for his bolo absently, the only tell that he was unsure of the situation. Ever since his transfer into Wall Maria's Garrison branch, he'd managed to steer clear of any summons that might bring his actions into question. It was a fact that Erwin was proud of. While maintaining the belief that it was bound to happen eventually, it was a considerable record.

So what, then, could his superior have called him to headquarters for?

"Military Police has been a thorn in my side for months now about a string of robberies at different outposts and merchant locations on the interior of Wall Rose." The commander peered at Erwin over the lip of his flask.

"With all due respect sir, what does that have to do with the Garrison?"

"Excellent question! One that I asked myself when presented with this particular issue. Turns out that at the time, it wasn't related to the Garrison at all aside from the notion that since the robberies have ceased, the perpetrator must have moved on. I was told to keep an eye out for suspicious activity."

The information presented only one possible outcome. "They've resumed here."

Pixis nodded once, a short and vaguely irritable motion. The chair beneath him squealed on rusted springs in protest of the way he dropped his weight and leaned forward. A couple papers had scattered in his effort to remove his boots from the surface of the desk.

"Last night, as a matter of fact," Commander Pixis gave only a minute pause for the affair of capping his flask. "It's a miracle I remembered this file at all. Each of the robberies happened at a variety of times, in different places. There's been no established route or motive, aside from the fact that it's our supplies that are going missing."

Erwin took the file that Pixis extended towards him without preamble, immediately flipping it open and skimming the first page. It offered no shocking revelations.

"I know that you're asking yourself why I picked you to tell this to. I'd like you to begin investigating last night's robbery. The Garrison isn't MP; we don't have any functions for that kind of a search. It will be up to you to come up with results on your own. You'll still be expected to perform your usual duties."

And as the only trained private on this side of the Garrison that doubled in strategy and progressive tactics with both humans and Titans, the Commander chose me. It was too early to feel overjoyed about the situation, Erwin decided. None of his assignments prior had been so easy to resolve, and he had no reason to hope that this would be the project to turn that around.

"Major Dreschner spoke very highly of you when I inquired of your background. Top marks in your squadron, impeccable mind for planning and anticipating enemy activity. I don't know why you decided you didn't want to live the comfortable life behind Sina, but it works out for me well enough." Pixis grinned, steepling his hands beneath his chin.

"Thank you." It wasn't a compliment exactly, yet it would have been rude to ignore. "I'll do my best to bring the culprit in. Do you mind if I take this?" Erwin gestured with the file.

"I'll let Hollins know to expect you."

. . .

Abilene Hollins smiled at Erwin from across the counter in apology and then returned to her clipboard. Shiganshina's Garrison supply outfit had two front desk representatives, and he was now waiting his turn to speak with who had been on shift the previous evening. Commander Pixis had left him with enough time to return to his own apartment. He'd gone over the entire report six times. Six! The first three robberies hadn't been properly recorded, and helped him not even a fractional amount. All eighteen events that followed held similar notes: supplies had disappeared under a full guard, regardless of the time of day. He may have entertained the notion of a single perpetrator; however the sheer volume of the supply disappearance was a glaring indication that the robberies were a group accomplishment. But how did that entire group get over Wall Rose? Erwin had seen only one attempt to scale the wall in his lifetime, and the locals had talked in hushed voices over the poor fool that had killed himself by falling for weeks.

It didn't add up, and Erwin felt the beginnings of what could either be annoyance or excitement. If he were being honest with himself, it was likely a little bit of both. Garrison life proved as predictable as the Military Police. Any deviation from the expected was a welcome distraction.

"Mr. Smith? Sorry for making you wait like that. Captain Arnold comes in every Wednesday," Abilene said from somewhere to the left. Erwin's head snapped towards the direction of the sound, belatedly realizing that he must have looked ridiculous zoning out.

"I'm the one inconveniencing you. Did the Commander tell you why I was here?" Abilene was pretty, he thought. She had thick brown hair and surprisingly bright eyes. Her countenance shifted a little, smile faltering.

"I'm afraid I won't be of very much use to you, sir. I didn't see a thing."

Erwin schooled his features into a neutral expression. First the wall detail, and now this. She didn't look to be finished talking, so he held onto his response for the moment.

Abilene sat in the chair across from him, crossing one leg over the other.

And Smith? I don't want this becoming a big ordeal. We'll be swimming in MP before you know it and those guys cramp my style.

An odd time to remember Dot Pixis' final remark, Erwin commented to himself. "Just tell me anything you remember about your activities leading up to the theft. I'll also be acting in place of a record keeper." He had tried to go for reassuring, though it fell a little short.

"Well.. that's what made it so shocking. I had'a get something out of our ammunition lockup. That's all it was. No more than thirty seconds, a minute tops. It's right over there," Abilene pointed to the far right corner, where an open hall could be seen. "I came back, and the local merchant drop- all forty pallets of the newer items that we just fought so hard to get. And forget talking to them about a second delivery-" She faltered then, laughing sheepishly. "I apologize, that wasn't relevant."

"No, it's all right. But nothing else was stolen? Ammunition, weapons, uniforms?"

"Nothing at all."

That doesn't make any sense, Erwin deliberated. Why go through such great lengths for mostly food items, none of which had any large monetary value? It was a lot of effort for just extra rations. He stood then, boots making heavy sounds on the supply depot's floor. The storehouse was large for just the Garrison, but Erwin knew better. This supplied the greater part of Shiganshina's military effort. To move so many pallets in such a short amount of time had to consist of a tremendous amount of man power.

Ten man operation at minimum. How did they escape unnoticed? There are at least two sentinel posts within a one mile radius.

"Thank you for your time, miss Hollins."

That's it.

. . .

It was dark before Erwin chose to return to his apartment. The day was long over, and frustratingly unsuccessful. Motivated by the chance that there were few places that so many supplies could be hidden, he'd set out from the depot with an idea already of where to go.

And he'd waited. Few people passed by in his watch. The ship building supply warehouse, one long abandoned by use since travel was normally made within the district and not between walls, remained dark and quiet. Worst of all, it was completely empty. Erwin mentally retraced his steps throughout the day. He'd been so sure that another strike would happen within the vicinity of the Garrison and southern outpost. As the data read, strikes were not at the same type of establishment every time. He was missing something fundamental.

So he'd changed his tactics, opting to ask locals about the appearance of new supplies. There'd been some indication of growth in food rationing amongst the community, but he couldn't provide proof that it was related to the night prior. Those he did speak to were strangely obstinate about volunteering information, whether it was how they had gotten the items or who they'd gotten them from. Even so, Erwin didn't miss the unexpected note of pride. If that's what it even was. I may be reading into this wrong.

A shape near the entrance to his apartment put him on edge. The door was off of the main street, in a narrow side alley where five other apartments looked out at each other. His was on the end, wrapping the rear corner of the alleyway. Only one way to escape aside from the direction he was coming from. Long fingers wrapped around the small dagger tucked into the back of his belt.

"Private Smith!" The courier waited until Erwin drew near. The hand that had been gripping his knife's hilt dropped to his side. He stifled a sigh.

"What can I do for you?" While he recognized the insignia of military courier, it didn't mean much to him without further information.

"Message from Headquarters sir, urgent." That was all that the courier was willing to say. Surely waiting in the cold had lost its appeal. The dark haired man gave him a salute and left the alley after Erwin had returned it in kind.

With the parchment in one hand and his key in the other, he opened the letter before managing to fit the key into the front door's lock. The lock turned over grudgingly, it always stuck a little.

Erwin's hand darted back away from the lock as if scorned. Another check of the alley proved it to be without disturbance. He gave the door a slow push, two insights landing square atop him at once.

One, somebody had been inside his apartment.

And two, there'd been another robbery.