Hey everyone; it's been quite a while since we last saw each other. Before now, I hadn't done any work on WoP in almost a year. Crazy how time flies. Now, I am still keeping true to my word that I won't start publishing the main story in Winds of Promise until the anime starts again this April. However, I never mentioned anything about side stories. In my excitement after watching the season two trailer, I got it in my head that I'd put together a few things to explore members of the cast a bit more. To all the wonderful people who're still reading WoP, I love you and hope that you enjoy what I have to share with you. Wir Sind Die Jager.
In the months that followed the fall of Wall Maria, the royal government was faced with mounting crises resulting from the influx of refugees that had poured into the interior. Food and material shortages, which had already been a concern for some time, were amplified to an astronomical degree. Without the resources present within the circle of Wall Maria, there was no way the human race could sustain their population. The emergency supply caches were growing emptier with each passing day and the people grew more and more anxious. Anxiety gave way to panic, panic to hysteria, and hysteria to violence. There were riots in the southern regions. Starving citizens began tearing each other apart for moldy scraps of bread. Families sold off their possessions, some women sold their bodies; a few people probably even sold their souls to the devil during those days.
Civil unrest continued to worsen as 845 came to a close and efforts to raise crops in the north failed miserably. If the government wasn't able to turn the situation around soon, not only would the nation come apart at the seams, but the fractured remnants of humanity would likely starve to death. The choice before parliament was clear. If the human race was to endure, the breach at Shiganshina must be sealed and Wall Maria retaken. However, an endeavor of this magnitude would be both costly and require a huge amount of man power. To this end, legislation was drafted, calling to arms the thousands of displaced men and women now residing within Wall Rose. All refugees of military age, nearly two hundred and fifty thousand citizens, were pressed into the service of the crown.
Led by the courageous, but beleaguered members of the Scout Regiment, this impromptu army prepared to embark upon what would come to be known as the most disastrous military campaign in human history. For two scouts however, this ill fated operation wasn't just about preserving mankind's future, it was about going home one last time.
Spring 846; seven months after the fall of Wall Maria.
The fiery glow of the setting sun was just barely visible above the ramparts. Through a cracked window of a bedroom at Trost Barracks, Staff Sergeant Verena Tanzerin watched intently as the burning orb dipped lower in the sky. Deep purple shadows stretched out across the cityscape like gnarled fingers, blanketing all they touched in darkness. In her hand Verena held a small stone, rubbing it between her forefinger and thumb. After nearly a month in her possession, the rock had developed a rather prominent grove along its' surface.
"You've been standing there for almost an hour now. If you keep messing with that rock you're gonna wear a hole right through it." Her subordinate and younger sister, Blasa gazed at her from the elevated position of their bunk. "I don't understand what you're so damn anxious about; we've been beyond the walls plenty of times before and always come back in one piece."
"It's not us I'm worried about," Verena responded quietly.
"Stressing about the civvies isn't going to do any good either you know."
"Not a single one of them has ever been out there. They've got no military experience; they've barely even had any basic training. They can't use the gear or swing a sword. Most of them wouldn't know the business end of a rifle from their own asses. And yet, command is expecting them to march into no man's land and fight the titans. What in the hell is the government playing at with this half-baked scheisse?"
Blasa dangled her feet off the edge of the bed. "What other choice do we have? The Survey Corps doesn't have the resources to conduct an operation like this on its' own and things are getting worse in the interior by the day. If we don't try to reclaim Wall Maria we'll be sitting around fighting each other until famine finally kills us off."
"The situation's screwed either way. In here, out there, doesn't matter, a lot of people are going to die. We're taking a bunch of farmers out onto the frontlines and mark my words, it's gonna turn into a goddamn massacre," Verena said darkly.
Blasa narrowed her eyes. "Last I remember my big sister wasn't the kind to throw in the towel or go all pessimistic when things seemed hard."
"I'm not being a pessimist; I'm just looking at the situation realistically. There's no possible outcome where we won't be swimming in a sea of blood and corpses." In the end, both viewpoints amounted to the same thing. The war department had given them a month and some change to put together an army of conscripts, equip them, and train them for war. With only a few of the allotted days remaining to prepare, their "troops" were still little more than an organized rabble. Weaponry wasn't exactly in ample supply either. With paring blades and firearms only being issued to those who'd best adapted to their drills (and that was being rather liberal with the definition of "adapted"), the vast majority were armed with stores of pikes and halberds that had once supplied military forces ages ago. Some of the poor schmucks were even issued with crossbows. That said a lot about how desperate things were.
Such weapons were, on their own, utterly useless. Even the massed formations being utilized in the coming offensive would only marginally increase their combat effectiveness. The best that could be hoped for is that the supplied arms would keep a titan at bay so that an actual soldier could dispatch it. Such a tactic would be tedious and costly for the militia, but it might keep the veterans alive long enough to see the operation through. That was the gist of it anyway. Nobody had dared to speak to the civilians about it.
"Well if dying was a foregone conclusion, I'd much rather give my life for the cause than wait to starve to death," Blasa said pointedly. "We joined the Scout Regiment because we were sick of living this way, living like cattle. Besides, you know as well as I do that this operation is our best shot at getting back home."
Verena sighed heavily. "I doubt there'll be much of a home to go back to. Niederwald is probably nothing but a burned out ruin by now. It's unlikely that our house would have fared any better. If there's a point to sifting wistfully through piles of rubble, I'm not seeing it."
"So you're just going to brush it off? We made a promise to mom and dad and you're already like 'eh, screw it'? God, it's barely been half a year. Pretty short memory you've got there sis."
"Damn it Blasa would you quit twisting my words?! I haven't forgotten a damn thing! We shouldn't be in this position in the first place! If the two of them hadn't been so damn stubborn, if they'd just headed north when I told them to, we wouldn't even need to go back!" She snapped, unable to stop herself before she realized what she was saying. "There was plenty of time to make it to the interior; they had a good two days notice to pack up and leave! But no, they insisted on staying behind in that fucking house, and for what, some idiotic sense of nostalgia, pride?!"
Blasa stared daggers at her, her hands balling into fists. She'd always been known for her quick temper, but seeing such a venomous look in her eyes was a rare thing. Verena had been tactless with her words, but she had meant every one. She'd begged and pleaded with their mother and father to flee to the safety of Wall Rose, to the point of insanity. They were old however, old and set in their ways. They'd built their entire lives and the lives of their family in that small town. Despite all of hell's demons bearing down on them, they just couldn't leave it behind. Blasa didn't understand Verena's frustration with their late parents. She was stubborn like they were and twice as ornery. If she hadn't been a scout, she'd have probably stayed as well. No doubt she'd also have fought the titans regardless. Ironically, Verena had been the wild one growing up, running around doing whatever, with whomever she pleased. She only mellowed out after joining the scouts. Blasa on the other hand, although foul mouthed and quick tempered, had always been well behaved and obedient.
"Maybe you don't care, maybe none of what our family built matters to you, but it does to me. I'm going to keep my promise, because otherwise there'll be nothing left of them to hold onto. You don't have to come; I'm more than happy to go by myself if need be."
It wasn't a threat. Verena knew her sister was brash enough to do just that. She was a superb soldier, having graduated near the top of her class in ODM training, but she'd still get herself killed out there alone. Stemming the tide of anger was the only way to keep her from doing something stupid. Not to mention that they both were already under far too much stress without being pissed at each other.
"I'm sure what I'm saying makes it sound like it don't care, but that's the farthest thing from the truth. I'm just mad, and sometimes I forget about how you view it. We've both got different ways of venting and dealing with our grief. My method can come across rather harsh I suppose." Things had been painful immediately after their deaths. There were so many things left unsaid. Verena loved her parents, more than anything, but she had also grown to hate them. She hated them for so selfishly throwing their lives away, for abandoning her and Blasa. A number of others had made the same callous choice, as if defying the titan onslaught would mean anything in the end. Staying on your high horse doesn't amount to much if you die in the saddle.
Blasa sighed. "Well…I wasn't doing you any favors by lashing out either. This is just so important to me and I wish you felt the same."
"The point I was trying to make before is that I don't want you to get your hopes up that we'd find anything. If it wasn't destroyed when the titans came through, I'm sure looters got their hands on it months ago."
The younger Tanzerin rolled her eyes, the anger dissolved from them entirely. "It'd be nice if you'd quit talking to me like I'm a naïve little kid. For God's sake I'm twenty two years old. Another thing, you could try having a little freaking faith from time to time. It'll be there waiting for us; I'm sure of it. It has to be." Without it, she couldn't have closure. Without it, there wouldn't be anything left of them but ash and memories. Verena had never had much attachment to physical objects in that regard. Heirlooms and mementos held no more weight in her eyes than the memories of what once was. As she'd said however, they both had different ways of coping with their grief.
There was little that a person could cling to for comfort in these dark days. So when you had something tangible you could hold onto, that was worth just about any struggle. In times of strife, the average person may latch onto something, an object or even another human being, in order to give them some measure of solidarity and strength. Blasa Tanzerin was no different.
"Regardless of how we're feeling, I doubt HQ would readily give us clearance to stray from the operation plan. Scavenging for family heirlooms isn't exactly an acceptable excuse from duty. There are way more important things going on," Verena said after a moment.
"We're not straying from the operation. Our division route takes us within five miles of town. We could ride over with a squad and be back before anyone even realizes we're gone. An hour and a half, two hours tops. If Captain Erwin or Lieutenant Hange ask, we'll just tell them we're going on some short range recon."
"Blatantly lying to our superior officers isn't really something I'm comfortable with," She muttered.
"I know that sounds bad, but I can't imagine we'll find a better excuse to duck out. Come on Rena, don't you at least want to have a look?"
Verena remained quiet for the better part of two minutes, staring intently at her boots. She didn't like any part of this. The risks involved and the potential backlash were significant. Although Blasa hardly ever abandoned an idea once she'd settled on it. All the elder Tanzerin could do was to ensure this adventure didn't cost her sister's life. "…Alright," She said without looking up. "We'll do it; on the condition that we make it quick. If it takes longer than a half hour to find it we're leaving. Being out there on our lonesome is dangerous, and I refuse to put the squad at risk for any longer than absolutely necessary. That's the best offer you're going to get from me."
"Please, I appreciate the handicap, but I can find it in half that time," Blasa grinned.
"Just promise you won't fly off the handle on me alright? I'm not going to spend the whole trip trying to babysit you. And if you start pushing your luck, I'll have Iryna put you over her knee."
She jumped down from the bunk and went to wrap her sister in a grateful hug. "Thanks Rena," She said quietly.
Verena sighed and returned the embrace. "You better not make me regret this. Siblings or not, I'm still your squad leader and it's my ass on the line if something bad happens."
"Come on sis, when have I ever gotten you in trouble?" Oh, there'd been dozens of times when they were younger; probably a hundred at the very least.
"Do you really want me to answer that or…?"
She rolled her eyes. "Okay, since enlisting have I ever gotten you in trouble?"
"I hope for all our sakes that there isn't a first time for everything."
Two days later, Near Trost District, Southern Expeditionary Forces Base.
The zero hour was closing on them. Now more than ever, the survival of mankind hung in the balance. With less than forty eight hours remaining before humanity embarked upon this reclamation crusade, the apprehension was ever growing. Training had accomplished about as much as anyone could expect and they had to pray that would be enough.
The largest concentration of militia forces, a hundred thousand or so, were situated here in the south. For their part in the operation, they would march into the badlands, clearing the titan presence as they went, eventually coming together at Shiganshina to seal the breach in Wall Maria. Logistically speaking, they were still trying to figure out how to accomplish the latter. The walls had been thought impregnable for over a hundred years. No one could have imagined that the titans would break through, let alone how to repair the towering bastion that had kept them out once they had. That was one of the last of the bridges between them and victory however, and there was much to accomplish before they could reach it.
For the purposes of the operation, the Survey Corps was being divided by company to lead the civilians. Each company would head up a militia division of ten thousand conscripts organized into regiments a thousand strong. Seven of these were equipped with pikes and halberds, one with crossbows, and one was issued muskets. The last regiment was a special formation consisting of artillery, the supply battalion, and those who'd managed to pass ODM instruction.
The Scout Regiment's second company commanded Landeswehr Abteilung 6, which formed the left most position in the advance, the eastern vanguard. The strategic importance of this portion of the line was why Erwin Smith had requested to lead it. Commandant Shadis knew him to be one of the regiment's most gifted and competent officers. There was no one better suited to ensure the army's passage south. The left flank was also a precarious position to be at. If it was compromised, the titans could slam into the other divisions from the rear and annihilate the entire force en route. The success of the operation would necessarily depend on their ability to keep the flanks secure. As was the case during reconnaissance missions however, should the titans attack in significant force, casualties in the vanguard were likely to be extreme.
"ATTENTION…BATTALION! SHOULDER…ARMS! RIGHT…FACE!"
"They're not doing half bad for a bunch of greenhorns," Terrelle Gerhard thought aloud.
"COUNTER MARCH BY FILES RIGHT…FORWARD, MARCH!"
"Yeah, with the uniforms and everything they could be mistaken for real soldiers at first glance." Verena and her subordinate watched from atop a stack of supply crates. Much of the gear adorning the militia had long been in storage dumps and armories, just waiting to be dusted off. The only new addition was a crimson shoulder mark made of thin cloth; a large, white 6 was sewn onto it.
"LEFT…FACE! FRONT RANK, KNEEL! BATTALION, READY…ARMS! TAKE, AIM!"
"With Iryna helping out, your little sister is leading them pretty well too." Lance Sergeant Iryna Shevchenko monitored the drills from the opposite side of the formation, keeping everyone in order as their fiery supervisor screamed.
"As far as recruits go, I've often felt that being able to project your voice is half of commanding. Blasa has always had a knack for shouting at people."
"FIRE!"
Lead balls peppered a line of straw targets as more than three hundred muskets haphazardly discharged.
"God damn it..." Blasa said under her breath. "Do you inbreeds call that a volley?! I've seen horny dogs with better discipline! RECOVER…ARMS! FRONT RANK, RISE!" In the center, an older man was slow to stand up. She stomped over and pulled the man up by his jacket. "Geezer, what's your name and conscription number?!"
"Stefan Arlert ma'am, conscription number SD4021." He saluted.
"Conscript Arlert, when you are given an order it should be executed swiftly and without delay. Do you have an issue with that?"
He laughed softly. "Oh no ma'am, it's just that my joints aren't quite what they used to be. My apologies, but it sometimes takes a moment to get up."
"Delays can get the whole unit off balance; why have you not said anything before?"
"Just because I'm an old man doesn't mean I deserve any special treatment."
"Ugh…while I appreciate the effort, efficiency has to be placed above personal desires. Switch places with man behind you."
"Thank you ma'am, these old bones are much obliged."
"Yeah, yeah, just fall back in line and do your job. As for the rest of you lot, again, what the hell kind of volley was that?! How hard is it to—" She started on a tirade against her charges, needling them about proper marksmanship among other things. Frustration was only containable for so long. No one could say that the conscripts hadn't picked up on their drills, but the speed and precision expected of soldiers, militia or otherwise, was more than a little lacking. Movements had to be conducted mechanically, almost without thinking. Practice, practice, practice, until each order could be executed in your sleep. The easier that was, the less likely you were to freeze up under pressure. "A defenseless human is a delicious human," a phrase that the previous Survey Corps commander had coined during his years ranging beyond the walls. Hundreds of terrified civilians had fit that bill during the invasion of Shiganshina District.
"Be honest with me Terrelle, what do you think our chances are out there?" Verena asked.
"That's the tenth time you've asked me since last week. You know exactly what I think," He said softly.
"Now I'm asking for your opinion again. What are our chances?"
He stroked his chin for a moment. "Of success? I'd say our odds are about fifty/fifty maybe a little less. Making it back alive/in one piece? Well, it isn't slim, but it's not a hell of a lot better."
"I was thinking the same."
"BATTALION, RELOAD!"
"I know you were. It's been the same response, to the same answer, every time. Improvement is obvious, but this storm is gonna batter the hell out of us. Nothing is going to change that."
"Yeah…"
"FRONT RANK, KNEEL!"
"Why do you keep asking me?"
"I don't know. Maybe it's because I'm thinking by some miracle they'll be ready come Wednesday. Maybe it's because I think that the operation will be put off if they aren't. A couple more cheap lies."
"READY…ARMS!"
"Hey, whatever it takes to help you sleep at night Ver. Lord knows we all need something to ease our minds at a time like this."
"It doesn't…" Verena whispered.
"Huh?" Terrelle turned.
"TAKE, AIM!"
She looked at him with a pained expression. "It doesn't help. No matter what I tell myself, nothing eases my mind one bit…"
"FIRE!"
The sun set, rose, and set again over Trost District. Night blanketed the earth in its' cold darkness as the time drew ever nearer. The civilians had been fed and bedded down. Supplies were stowed away in the wagons. Those who were leaving behind loved ones said their farewells. Many went to the churches to pray. The gravity of the situation weighed heavy on every man and woman. When next light touched the earth, the drums of war would march the massed legions of mankind to the horizon.
After things had settled down, Keith Shadis gathered his troops at the district headquarters building. For the first time in a long time, the entirety of the Scout Regiment was present in one place. He looked over their faces. The eldest and the youngest, from the newest among them, to the most battle hardened of veterans. He knew each one by name and age if not more. How many, he wondered would live to see this place again? How many would die on his orders? A thousand faces stared up at him as if asking that exact question.
For twenty years he'd hoped he'd never be in the situation where he'd have to provide an answer to so many people. He had to take a moment to steady his nerves before addressing them.
"First and foremost, I would like to congratulate all of you on your efforts in preparing the militia for this operation. What you have taught them just might save their lives. Secondly I want to thank you all, especially the career veterans, for your steadfast devotion to our cause. In the next few days, that devotion will be tested like never before. I will not mock your intelligence by sugarcoating anything ladies and gentlemen. We are facing off against the titans on a scale I'd never thought possible. One fifth of the human race is going up against every demon hell has on offer; people will die. To be honest with you, I'm certain that a lot of people will die. It is up to us to ensure that these deaths mean something.
I am not a great man. I do not possess great cunning, nor am I a great intellect, but I am a soldier. I've been a soldier all my life; it is my purpose and my craft. Like most of you, I believed that humanity's future lay in a world free of titans. I've fought long and hard for that world and I've bled for it too. I have commanded this Regiment for half a decade now and many of our brave comrades have fallen under my leadership. Until recently, I'd ignored the council of my adjutants and company commanders, relying foolishly on my pride and hubris to bring us victory. These past several months have taught me the repeated cost of such thinking and how it failed so many of our brothers and sisters.
I do not have the right to ask you all to follow me into this nightmare; I do not deserve to lead you, but that is our sworn duty and our current circumstance. Given the weight of this operation and my past failures, all mission planning for this excursion was handled by Captain Smith and Lieutenant Hange. However, I still shoulder the full responsibility for this mission. Every last ounce of strength will be required of us in this, perhaps every last ounce of blood, sweat and tears. If defeat should find us, let the burden fall to me and me alone. But if we can grasp triumph, let us walk proudly through the gates upon our return, standing as tall as the heroes of myth! We are the men and women of the Survey Corps! The hope of humanity!"
"WE ARE THE SWORD OF FREEDOM!"
"For those who came before us; for the future of mankind! Together, we give our hearts!" He clasped his fist over his chest. The soldiers before him followed suit.
"TOGETHER, WE GIVE OUR HEARTS!"
These were the kind of things said before a particularly difficult fight. Even the most hardened soldiers, those who knew well the harshest truths of war, needed something to bolster their resolve once and a while. The younger ones though, benefitted most from such reassurances, hollow though they may have been.
Platitudes…that's all they were. A bunch of fancy words thought up by some writer or other to make death seem like a glorious thing. It was something noble to paint over the gore-soaked canvas of agony on which battles took shape. There were some that died with "honor", defiantly howling their rage until the bitter end. They vowed retribution against the enemy, promising they would soon know the same hell mankind had long suffered. Many more simply went down screaming and begging for salvation, for mercy. Both the brave and fearful were equal in the end.
What kind of individuals would these scouts be, when the reaper's mighty scythe came and laid them low?
The city was alive that following morning as the members of the expeditionary force formed along the streets. It was as though everyone in the district had turned out to send off the conquering heroes. The great bells rang in their towers, a band played traditional marching music, and citizens cheered and sang. It was a spectacle one rarely saw outside of a novel. How poetic it must seem to them, sending the nation's valiant sons and daughters off to war. After all was said and done there were sure to be paintings and the like commissioned in honor of this grandiose occasion. The idea lost most of its appeal when you were part of the group going out to die.
Looking at all those smug smiles was sickening. It was little more than a thin veneer hiding peoples' true thoughts. They might as well have been saying the words aloud. Better you than all of us. "No matter what the outcome is, these people will be happy I'm sure. If we win, humanity reclaims lost territory. If we're all slaughtered, that's fewer mouths to feed," Verena muttered. "Given how much everything cost, I'm certain the merchant guilds would've just preferred the latter from the get go."
Iryna Shevchenko shook her head. "Oh dorohyy serzhant, you mustn't be so negative all the time. It affects morale."
"Don't start with that. For God's sake, I can't go five minutes without someone telling me to 'lighten up'. It's like I'm listening to a broken music box. Am I the only one besides the commandant who's the least bit worried?!"
"What does worrying accomplish?" Verena didn't answer her. "Focus on what you can do to contribute to a successful outcome. Everything that's meant to happen will happen."
Verena didn't have the luxury of seeing the world as her friend did. Iryna was strong in her convictions and deeply religious; she only had a lucky streak and a strong survival instinct by comparison. Verena had never been very big on God or any of that. It wasn't that she was skeptical of his existence, but she was far too cynical for something like faith. She figured if there was an afterlife, they'd already died and were in hell or limbo. The nature of man, some sin committed long ago, had condemned them to suffer in this place. The cruelty of this world was too great for anything else to be true. So she put her faith in what she felt she could trust, gunpowder and hard steel. Eventually, the day would surely come when even those things would betray her.
"What I wouldn't give for a good stiff drink right about now," She thought. Being stuck inside her head was usually bad enough without all this other crap going on. Not to mention that a little liquid courage could really take the edge off.
"PASS THE WORD BACK, GATE'S COMING UP!" Someone shouted from further up the column. Verena tightened the grip on her horse's reins.
"The moment of truth has arrived eh?" Terrelle looked over at Blasa.
"The moment to kick ass and take names more like," She responded. "I'm gonna cut down so many of the bastards it'll make Levi's head spin."
"Just take care that you don't get ahead of yourself lance corporal. Now's not the time to start showing off," Levi said as he rode past to join Erwin.
Blasa growled. "That short little shit really gets on my nerves."
"For only having half an inch on him, you sure get high and mighty about it," Terrelle chuckled."
"It's a full inch blondie; don't make me punch you."
"My humblest apologies lady Tanzerin. I don't what I was thinking." Blasa followed up on her threat.
"You're lucky we need every able bodied soldier out there today or I'd carve you a new asshole."
He smirked. "Are you threatening a superior officer Blasa?"
"Oh bite me Terrelle! A corporal is not an officer…"
"ALL TROOPS, EYES FRONT! The area beyond the gate is clear of titans! Outriders are to assume their positions as the vanguard for our departure!" The mounted soldiers on the flanks of the column galloped through the yawning portal. On the plain beyond, they fanned out into a large semicircle, scanning the horizon for approaching threats. Smoke signals would still be the standard procedure for communication, although a new method devised by Erwin smith would be used in conjunction. The formation's route would be adjusted based on the location of the enemy. Titans would be avoided where possible and engaged where necessary. Maximizing the number of troops and munitions available at Shiganshina was a top priority. Although, at distances that would be dividing the force en route, the soldiers in the vanguard would have to be in perfect sync with one another. If anyone got too far ahead or behind, then the warning network would be compromised. At the outset however, it was easy enough for everybody to stay where the needed to be. The vanguard was able to secure the immediate area in short order. Deployment of the expeditionary force began in earnest.
"COMMANDERS, TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR BATTALIONS! DIVISIONS WILL DEPLOY LEFT FLANK TO RIGHT FLANK! ONCE BEYOND THE WALL, OFFICERS WILL HAVE INDEPENDENT COMMAND OF THEIR UNITS!"
"TROOP, SHOULDER…ARMS!" The militia managed to execute the command with enough precision that the crowds started clapping. Civilians were so effortlessly amused. The conscripts seemed just as pleased with themselves. How annoying. Parade drill was about as easy as it gets. Someone who was deaf and dumb could manage it given the right instruction. No, the true test of discipline would be during their baptism of fire. "ADVANCING BY BRIGADE…FORWARD, MARCH!"
Accompanied by rattle of musician drums, five score thousand pairs of boots and hooves rhythmically clattered against the cobblestone. The people started cheering even louder than before and the city bells rang with such furious speed that individual chimes were no longer distinguishable. The band continued its fanfare, almost as though they were trying to compete in volume. It was a hell of an effort for what was likely a one way sendoff. No one was even able to hear cadence as they marched out of Trost and into the Wall Maria countryside.
Erwin met with Shadis a couple of hundred meters past the gate and observed the steady stream of men and horses. For defensive reasons, the outer gates of a district could only comfortably accommodate eight individuals marching abreast, even fewer for mounted troopers. Deploying the entire contingent was going to take time. Erwin's conservative estimate was an hour, but he suggested it could take as long as two if they accounted for getting every division on line before commencing the force march. Such a lengthy delay was dangerous, but necessary to keep the formation together. Fortunately, no titans approached as the expedition got organized and the groups separated without incident.
The Commandant gave one final order to his subordinates. "You are free to use your own discretion when leading your forces. However, remain mindful of your heading and our timetable. We rendezvous at Shiganshina District in three days time. Maintain discipline as best you can. Keep a watchful eye on the militia. Do not, under any circumstances let them break. If they panic, the formation will collapse. I don't need to tell you what will happen should that occur. Steel yourselves for the coming struggle brothers and sisters; everyone will be looking to you for guidance. Have I made my instructions clear?"
"YES SIR!"
"Excellent, now be on your way my comrades and Godspeed to us all."
It wasn't long before the divisions lost sight of their counterparts as the army ventured south. Aside from the outriders occupying the distant reaches of the flanks, the scouts and civilians of Landeswehr Abteilung 6 were completely alone. Strangely, it seemed more lonesome in the company of thousands than it did when the regiment conducted its long range reconnaissance. The echoes of celebration that had seen them off had long since faded away and Wall Rose shrunk away behind them. The atmosphere was already growing solemn as well, stomping feet and the rustling of kit the only prevailing sounds. A full hour passed by without a single flare from the vanguard. Given how quiet it was, you wouldn't know that they were moving through occupied territory.
This would've been welcome under normal circumstances, but now it was just eerie. With so many people out in the open, probability suggested they run into at least a few titans as a matter of course. If they weren't coming after a group this big, then they weren't anywhere within several miles. Hundreds if not thousands of titans had come through the breach at Shiganshina when Wall Maria had fallen. Countless more must have stumbled inside in the months since, yet the gargantuan invaders were nowhere to be seen. There would've been a sign if they were attacking another unit, but there had been none. The titans simply weren't there.
"This is turning out to be the lamest crusade ever," Blasa groaned. "No titans, no signals, and we're moving slower than old people screw. Almost makes me wanna be stuck in the vanguard."
"Eh, it's not so bad." Terrelle shrugged. "Been quite a while since I've had a leisurely morning ride. Fresh air, blue sky, reminds me of hunting with my dad."
"I should be shoving my sword through a titan's neck right now…"
"You needn't be in such a hurry malyatko. As warriors, we should enjoy the peaceful moments we're given. Bo v sviti my znakhodymo Hospoda." Iryna smiled warmly.
She was right of course. As scouts they saw their share of violence and then some, but the complete and total absence of the foe had a good number of them on edge.
"What do you make of this Hange?" Erwin asked after a time.
"I can't really say sir. Presently, I'd have to chalk it up to unbelievably good fortune. Although this could mean larger herds clustered in the villages near Shiganshina. Unless of course the host moved north in the last few months; there are plenty of people at Karanese and Krolva to draw them."
"You don't sound too convinced of that lieutenant."
"Logically speaking sir, we should have at least spotted a herd by now. This is assuming that every part of the formation is in the right place and moving the same speed. Considering how wide spread we are, it's extremely likely that there are gaps in the line. The enemy could be moving around between us and we wouldn't know until they were on top of us."
"And what's your opinion Levi?"
As usual, his response was calm and measured. "Glasses has a point sir. We've been too lucky so far for the formation to be working properly. A lot of good it's doing us if we allow them to bore into it so deeply. The best option is to keep our surroundings in mind, make note of easily defensible positions. When they come, we'll need to fight on ground of our choosing to gain the advantage. Not that the bastards will give us time to prepare."
As if on cue, a plume of red smoke shot into the air to the west. Two more followed in short order. Erwin immediately turned to his second in command, Mike Zacharias for a report. His acute sense of smell had often been used to accurately detect approaching enemies. He could even tell how many were coming and at what speed, a skill which made him one of the most valuable members of the regiment. After a thorough sniff, he estimated as many as three dozen titans approaching; they had six minutes, maybe less to ready themselves. The terrain they currently occupied was almost entirely flat and trees were few. Making use of ODM gear was going to be difficult.
"Multiple enemies are approaching! All troops, form battle lines by regiment! I want a defensive perimeter around the wagons and artillery!"
The militia needed a bit of urging, but they reacted much quicker than expected. Movements were fluid, conducted in rhythm with the battle drums. It seemed that their training had taken some root after all. The marksmen formed the front ranks, supported on three sides by hundreds of pikes with the bulk of Second Company directly behind them. It was a strong formation, resembling something akin to an angry porcupine. The opening moments of the engagement would decide if it was going to hold.
When the titans came into view, a good number of the conscripts recoiled. Even at this distance, one could see the expressions of the larger beasts. The grotesque, unchanging visages of these monsters were so unnerving that you found yourself unable to look away. Angry stares, impossibly wide smiles, dead eyes, whose bearers derived joy exclusively from consuming the bodies of men. For many, it was the first time they'd laid eyes on one of the creatures. For others, they were mentally reliving the horrors witnessed when the wall fell. Some of the recruits looked about ready to faint. The scouts were there to steady them. They knew the feeling well, the first time you went up against one of them. And they knew the options available to these terrified men and women. Resolve must overcome fear if any of them were to survive this day.
"FRONT RANK, KNEEL!" Erwin shouted.
Verena drew her sword. "Here we go…" She glanced around at her compatriots. Blasa had both blades drawn and was grinning like a madwoman. Iryna was murmuring one final prayer to God, and Terrelle stared straight ahead, grimacing.
"BRIGADE, READY…ARMS!"
Over the sound of Erwin's commands and the rattle of snares, you could hear the giants' footsteps. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom…
"MARKSMEN…TAKE, AIM!" Hammers clicked back, moving the flint into position to strike the rifles' flash pans. The locking mechanisms trembled along with the hands operating them. "REMEMBER, AIM FOR THEIR WEAKSPOTS! EYES, JOINTS, IT DOESN'T MATTER, AS LONG AS YOU MAKE THEM BLEED FOR THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS!"
Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom…
Blasa bit her lip. "Come on you ugly bastards. I've waited seven months for this day."
"STEADY SOLDIERS; HOLD YOUR FIRE UNTIL I GIVE THE ORDER!" Beads of sweat ran down the faces of those bearing their arms. Their breathing was ragged, their eyes wide. They gripped their weapons tighter, fighting the urge to discharge or run. The enemy kept stomping, slowly, almost leisurely towards them.
Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM…
"Oh God, oh God, oh God…" One of the conscripts was nearly in tears. "Oh God, I'm going to die. I'm going to be eaten alive! I gotta get the hell out of here!" He screamed, breaking ranks and running to the rear. Verena jumped down from her horse and grabbed the fleeing man by the shoulder.
He struggled against her grip, hysterical. "Let go of me!" She smacked him hard across the cheek.
"Get it together little man. Now listen, and listen real good. Do you wanna be remembered for the rest of your short life as a spineless coward, or do you want to accomplish something meaningful? I can't promise that you'll live if you stay here, but I sure as hell know you've got a better chance of making it if you stand and fight! If you haven't any balls then by all means run! Run you cur, back to whatever dirty hole you crawled out of! But if by some chance you have something between your legs, stow the bitching and get your ass back in line!" He nodded sheepishly and turned around. He was still shaking as Verena shoved him back into place.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM…
"HOLD!" The titans were only two hundred odd meters away now, shaking the ground with every step they took.
"Hospody, zroby mene shvydko i tochno; napravlyaty moyi ruky do viyny." Iryna let out a deep breath and steadied herself. "i nekhay tviy nebesnyy bude zrobleno. Amen"
"HOLD!"
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM…
"They're starting to get awfully close captain!" Terrelle shouted.
"HOLD!" One hundred and fifty meters now. The conscripts were quaking like aspens, pure dread keeping them rooted far more than sense of duty could expect to.
Hange looked over at her commander. "Erwin?!"
"HOLD, DAMN YOU, HOLD!" He raised his arm. Just a little bit further now.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM… Shadows the size of buildings stretched out over the troops. The monumental silhouettes attached to them eclipsed the sun. The men and women in the third line stumbled backwards a handful of paces. The scouts' horses whinnied and stamped their hooves. One hundred and twelve meters, one hundred and ten, one hundred and eight…Not yet, not yet.
Levi had both of his swords ready. "Any day now would be good captain!"
Not yet… Somewhere in the formation, a few of the militia had lost control of their bladders. We're going to die, we're going to die; we're all going to die! One hundred meters. Erwin smith drew in one last breath before bringing his arm down and roaring at the top of his lungs.
"FIRE!"