AN: Heylo! How are you guys doing today? I hope extremely well, because….It's important? I don't know, my brain is dead, but I'm writing anyway so let's see how this turns out DISCLAIM: I OWN NOTHING except Riea. Apparently I pronounce Rienna weirdly, because I showed my friend the name and she said it differently, it might just be her, who knows? WAIT A MINUTE! It's chapter 10! WOAH! Already? AWESOME(like me {no})! Anyway chapter 10!
CH 10 The Battle for Trost (7)
"Well said." Commander Pixis said placing his hands on Eren's shoulders. "You're a real man." He stood up and walked to the edge of the wall, "I'll call my strategists, and we'll develop a plan!"
"No way!" Armin looked shocked. "That idea depends on so many assumptions, and he's just going to run with it?"
"I was just thinking the same thing." I said. "But I guess there's no sense in doubting his decision. Commander Pixis must see potential in something the rest of us can't see."
"Something we can't see?" Armin questioned.
"Also I think there's a bigger issue that must be addressed before the plan can be executed. And the Commander fully recognizes it."
"What do you mean?"
"The Titans aren't our only enemy." Eren told him.
"There's no time to waste. I will need your help, young soldiers." Pixis had appeared with several others.
Pixis had sent Mikasa, Armin and I back the wall to wait for instructions. It was chaos down there, some were yelling, and others were just whispering and waiting for something to happen. Some were saying to kill them, and others were saying they would. 'Yeah, great. Humanity unites and everything will be fine! Sure! Tch. These people are getting on my nerves. They should just learn to get some nerve!' I glared at everyone down below.
However, when Commander Pixis yelled, he quieted everyone, "Attention! I shall now explain the plan to retake Trost. For this mission, our objective is to seal the hole where the gate was destroyed. Let me introduce you to the one who will seal the hole for us…" He gestured to Eren, who saluted, "From the trainee Corps, Eren Yeager."
"E-Eren?" Connie asked.
"He is the result of a top-secret project to turn humans to Titans. He can create and control a Titan's body. He will become a Titan, pick up the giant boulder by the gate, carry it over and seal the hole. Your job will be to protect him from the Titans while he moves the boulder!"
"We don't have to fight the Titans?" I asked.
"E-Excuse me, I don't mean any disrespects by speaking up to a ranking officer…" Armin said to the two higher ranks with us, "Titans are typically drawn to pursue the largest number of people. If we can take advantage of that to lure them along the walls, we can draw most of them away from Eren without engaging them in direct combat. And by using the cannons against those lured away, we'll minimalize our own losses. But, since we can't leave Eren undefended, a small elite force should protect him. And we can't avoid engaging the Titans that come through the wall. The skills of the elite force will be critical."
"All right, got it." One of them said. "We'll take that into account and revise our plans."
"But this will only work if Eren can carry that boulder and seal the hole. We are proceeding with the operation without proof that he can. I cannot help but feel doubt."
"Indeed, given the uncertainty of a crucial element, I do not relish sending many men to their deaths. But I do understand what Commander Pixis is thinking.
"Yes… the first issue is one of the time." The other higher up said, "Even as we speak, Titans continue to enter the town. The greater their numbers in Trost, the worse our odds of succession in retaking it."
"And the higher the chance of Wall Rose falling…" I finished.
"And one more thing," she continued, "There's a limit to how much one can be motivated by terror. "
The soldiers on the ground started to leave when Pixis yelled, "This is my decision! I shall pardon anyone who deserts now. Once you succumb to the Titan's fear, you can never fight them again. Those who have learned fear should leave. Anyone wishing their parents, siblings, and loved ones that fear should also leave. Let me tell you what happened four years ago, about our attempt to retake Wall Maria. As I'm sure you're all aware, that the operation was no more than the government's way of dealing with its inability to feed all of the unemployed. It was culling. The reason no one speaks of it is because by sending them outside these walls, we were able to survive within them! All of humanity, including myself bears the weight of that sin! Because so few escaped Wall Maria, there was never any open rebellion. But what about now? If Wall Rose falls, the sacrifice will become more than twenty percent. The territory within Wall Sina won't support even half the remaining population. If humanity falls, it won't be because we were devoured by Titans, it will be because we killed ourselves. We must not die even deeper within the walls. I beg of you, to die right here!"
Everyone was silent for a while, before everyone started to move into a position. They set op the Fixed Cannons and the others got supplies.
"I see your all here. You have one mission. To guard Eren Yeager, eliminating any threat that appears during the operation. It will be the most dangerous and difficult task in the entire operation. It's no exaggeration. To say that humanity's fate rests on your shoulders."
Commander Pixis was talking to some others, and since it didn't need me, I stopped eaves dropping and continued to wait. 'when is all of this freaking waiting over?!'
"Eren. I'm sorry. I ended up making you responsible for everything." Armin said
"It's like I said before. You have the ability to find the right answer. I believe in that." Eren responded.
"Eren I'm going to-" Mikasa was cut off.
"Don't tell me you're going to come with me." Eren said sternly. "You've been assigned to the decoy team."
"But I can't leave you alone…."
"Then I'm going with you-" I started.
"No! If you haven't already heard, but you've been moved with Mikasa, so you can't!"
"But if you're alone I'll…" Mikasa cut in.
"Enough!" Eren head-butted Mikasa then turned to me to do the same. "I'm not your little brother or a child…I told you that!"
"Ackerman, Saune, join the elite force protecting Jeager. We need your skill. Let's go… it's time!" Ian said.
Everyone went off in the direction they were supposed to be going. A few were talking as they were running to their spots, but I ignored them. 'Can we actually pull this off? This seems like it'll work, but if it doesn't, we're dead. Let's hope for the best. This has to work. If it doesn't, then I'm on my own, even one sign, and I'm leaving.' We reached the boulder in not time.
"I don't see any Titans that must mean that everyone is doing their job, and it's working. During the operation, more than a few people will die. For you. They will be our fellows, ranked both above and below us. As soldiers, of course, they're prepared to die. But they are not pawns without a voice." Riko said.
"They have names and families and all the feelings that those entail. Every one of those soldiers are all humans as alive as either of us. And today, many of them will die for you. You have a responsibility to ensure that their deaths mean something. No matter what happens. " I told him calmly.
"Right!" Eren said with determination.
Riko stopped running to shoot the green smoke signal to show that we had arrived and can begin the mission. Quickly running off the wall, and using the 3DMG I sped over to the boulder with swift movements, almost forgetting where I was and almost running into a building. I fell onto a roof when I saw a bright flash of lightning and energy mixed with a bunch of steam. There was a small explosion, and when the smoke cleared, there stood a fifteen meter class Titan in the place of Eren. I stood up and smiled. He let out this animalistic roar before turning around to face me, and then in an explosion of confusion and dust, the Titan-Eren attacked me.
AN: FINALLY DONE! This took longer than I expected it would take, seriously. I stopped because of school and ended up almost forgetting about it! I know! It's just awful! One day when I'm not writing anymore I'm going to look at this and ask myself, 'what was wrong with me?' because even now I ask myself that question…. I think it might be my catchphrase…NO NO NO NO NO! NO catchphrases…they're…weird. Anyway! Bye!