Mission A: Intelligence

Armin, Mikasa, Pieck, Historia and Ymir were part of Mission A of their plan: intelligence gathering. Their roles were political ones yet probably the most important and dangerous of all, as their direct contact with the culprit could put them in danger…

Marley – Cabinet Meeting

Armin had been growing tired of being part of the government of Marley. He had the 2nd most powerful position but his influence and power was growing weaker by the day due to the efforts of Iro Aganyu, minister of industries. As a new normalcy had settled in, humanity's bad tendencies had started to seep in again. The cabinet had become corrupt, power and money had turned the once well intended and honest cabinet members into corrupt politicians…

The composition of the cabinet was:

- The majority block controlled by Iro Aganyu, minister of industries. He had managed the support of the ministers of interior, economy, housing and reconstruction, tourism, education, energy and defense through corrupt methods. It's goals were to secure business transactions in favor of The Rohr Industries without any questions; allow Kaspar Ackerman to indirectly intervene in business decisions; control dissention, opposition and insurgency through infiltration.

- The minority block controlled by Armin, minister of foreign relations. He got the support of Pieck, minister of eldian affairs and the ministers of health, social welfare, labor and communications. Their goals were to secure the peaceful relations between the two nations, stability to the confederacy, maintaining social development and growth, push for greater influence of society in government decisions.

Both factions had their own secret agendas known only to their leaders. Conflicts on the cabinet meetings were usual…

Armin: My main concern is how penetration of Marleyan industries owned by shady caracters could affect our relations with Paradis. Her majesty's government is not very pleased about these deals.

Iro: Well esteemed minister, it seems you very much have in mind the interests of your place of birth rather than the nation that welcomed you after that same nation wanted to put your head in a spike. I understand the Queen is your friend, but in this case we, the industry sector, have the ability to push both of our societies into prosperity. This is understood by Her Majesty's government even if she has doubts about it, but accepted anyway, I don't see the reason to keep debating over this.

Pieck: Maybe because the owner of the main company tried to kill Armin, his wife and the Queen?

All members of the cabinet are discussing distressed about what Pieck said.

Iro: Dear minister, sharp tongue as always. You very well know I have controlled the company for more than a decade by now. Duke Rohr has remained in jail all this time peacefully serving his sentence.

Pieck: Right… and you are not his eyes, ears and tongue in here?

Armin smiles at Pieck. She never held back and said the things he wanted to say.

Iro annoyed: I'm not servant or lap dog minister if that is what you are implying. I alone have conducted the management of the company and this ministry. Your aides should have informed you of that… oh right! He quit… along side the aide of Minister Armin… that's unusual.

Armin: Care to express your concerns minister?

Iro: Oh there are none. I'm just stating that two of the most informed members of your ministries have defected to Paradis at the same time. Two paradisian eldians, friends to boot of the queen. Just raises an eyebrow… at what their motives might be. The wife of one of them is sitting right here… aren't you visiting Paradis quite frequently too Minister Finger?

Pieck: Yeah I need my husband to satisfy my needs at least once a month. Problem?

Laughs and blushed faces emerged in the room.

Interior Minister: Well I think this meeting has gotten a bit to passionate. How about we resume tomorrow?

Afternoon – Armin's Home

Armin, Pieck and Mikasa are discussing their findings at the living room.

Armin: Mikasa I wish you could come to our cabinet meetings. You need to hear Pieck's remarks. They truly disrupt the entire government haha.

Pieck proudly: Well someone needs to have the spine to do it. That man Iro clearly is a frustrated narcissist… so by pushing his buttons he sometimes spills some information.

Mikasa: You sure have kept your titan fearlessness Pieck…

Pieck: You bet! I still sometimes walk on all fours… it just feels more comfortable you know?

Armin: Okay? Well anyway, thanks to Pieck's baiting we managed to get some useful bits of information. They are planning to pin something on us… he seems to be pushing the anti eldian agenda… but It can't be that… there is no need to push that agenda in the cabinet…

Mikasa: Maybe you are becoming to much of a bother Armin and he just wants to take you down.

Pieck: Especially because of our control of the coms ministry. That is most definitely something that must concern them.

Armin: Yes that got me thinking. How is the mole informing Ackerman? We have full information from coms coming from Paradis on the telegraph and telephone. The info could be traveling physically in the tourism ferries… but that would take too long… their information comes too fast…

Mikasa: The radio.

Pieck: Yes. That's how. It's a novel invention from Sheena Tech. It's used exclusively by the military… that so happens to be in Ackerman's control.

Armin: They must have a secret station… one in here and other in Paradis… this is getting complicated… Mikasa what have you got?

Mikasa: I managed to program protocolary and business meetings with all the branches of the Rohr Industries in the nations. The interior minister was quite adamant and insistent of this. I barely needed to say anything.

Armin: Yes I imagined this. You are part of his plan on some way. Go ahead as planned, the regional managers and the workers should give you some hints about strange occurrences.

Pieck: We are all your little chess pieces aren't we Armin? Maybe you should let me play, I have beaten you before

Armin: We are all bishops in this game. That's our strenght...

Evening

Mikasa is sitting in Sasha's bed. She had already gone to prepare with Levi.

Annie is standing by the door: Hey Mikasa… mind if I come in?

Mikasa: No, come in.

Annie sits besides her: How are you holding up?

Mikasa: I try to just focus on my mission… but I'm concerned.

Annie: Yeah… me too. Leo was deployed to where Sasha and the captain are going to survey…

Mikasa: It eases my mind to think he'll be there to protect Sasha… you should feel the same way… she will protect him too.

Annie: Hmff… yeah I guess. I'm a bit concerned about those kids being alone with each other.

Mikasa smiles: You don't trust the captain to take care of things?

Annie: I am more than sure he doesn't care about that type of stuff at all…

Mikasa keeps silent for a bit: Annie… how come you didn't take part on any of this? Gabi and Falco could have taken care of Christine when needed…

Annie softly smiles: Honestly… it's what I always wanted… I never cared much about being a soldier or being part of something important… I really just wanted a family… being with Cris, Armin and Leo… makes me feel whole… I don't need anything else.

Mikasa deep in thought: I see…

Annie: Sorry… I guess that could have sounded like bragging… you never cared about any of it either right Mikasa?

Mikasa: No I don't… I too just want to live with my family… I guess that's why I'm here. I can be close to her here, I don't care what I have to do because of it…

Annie puts her arm around Mikasa: I thought we were your family too heh…

Mikasa smiles at her: Well you are the one that is doing everything to prevent that, in-law.

Annie gets annoyed: Do not bring that up…

Paradis – Underground

The Underground had gradually become less populated as Historia's new government allowed for it's citizens to relocate in the ample fields of the country now that there was no danger or walls. It remained as the crime capital of Paradis; the military police had started a purge of the criminals making it the perfect place for scouting new terrorist members that held a grudge against the Crown.

Ymir, due to her years long training with Mikasa, was very confident in herself and her ability to solve any problem. She had infiltrated the Underground without the approval of her mother to gather information on possible terrorist infiltration.

Ymir, cloaked, wearing vertical maneuvering equipment and pistols, was surveying the hot spots of the Underground. She was being followed close by another cloaked figure…

Ymir suddenly turns, pointing her pistols to the figure, concealing them with her cloak.

Ymir: Want to die? Reveal yourself.

Figure with a familiar voice: Want me to do your hair again? Heh…

Ymir lowers her pistols and rapidly approaches the figure whispering: Hitch! What the hell are you doing here?!

Hitch whispering too: Me?! What are YOU doing here you idiot? Did you turn into Sasha by living with Mikasa for so long or what?

Ymir: Shut up I'm working here.

Hitch: Gathering intel? There is people that is doing that for your mother you know?

Ymir: I only trust myself with this Hitch… my mother's life could be at stake…

Hitch: Yours too. That's why I'm here… you are too cocky little girl... I found you really fast.

Ymir: I have found important information thank you very much.

Hitch: Come with me amateur. I'll show you how to get intel fast.

Hitch takes Ymir to a shanty house in a dangerous and populated area. There was a bloody chained man, gagged and missing most of his finger nails.

Hitch: Say hello to Joseph the Pius, notorious gangster that frequently bought good will of the people in here while ordering murders and rapes to keep his control of the Underground. You are no big boss now huh? Right little shit? HA! Hitch crushes his groin with her feet.

Ymir: Wow Hitch… you sure were a good choice for the MPS chief…

Hitch: I told you! You never had any faith in me!

Ymir: Well why did you brought me here anyway? To brag?

Hitch: Nope! This shit here actually gave me some pretty important intel in exchange for his life. Care to talk?

Joseph with difficulty: The bosses… we were contacted by the Rohr company… they were looking for work force… that followed orders without questions… that was two months ago…

Ymir eyes open up: You think…

Hitch: Yeah… these jackasses handed criminals to those people to "work". The bosses don't know what exactly that is supposed to mean. He would have told me if knew… right asshole?

Ymir: We need to inform my mother and Armin… wait… fuck Hitch! This guy has heard everything?!

Hitch: HA! Don't worry about that. Hitch shots the mobster in the head.

Ymir is shocked: HITCH! What have you done?!

Hitch: What? Are you forgetting we have royal orders to purge this place? Do you know what that means?

Ymir: I… shit…

Hitch: Not so easy as it looked huh? Better for you to know now this part of governing princess… Come… let's go back to the real world, this place stinks.

Stohess – Military Headquarters

The next day, Ymir had gone back to the palace. Historia received the weekly defense briefing in the military Headquarters of Stohess. There were no major updates which concerned Historia…

Hitch was waiting for her in the halls.

Hitch: So your majesty… are you cutting the heads of those traitors?

Historia: You sure have turned grim Hitch. Maybe I should relieve you of your post, I miss your carefree self.

Hitch: Oh that's still there! The real me comes out at night!

Historia: I hope so… the situation is truly distressing. We need to act carefully.

Hitch: Those jackasses underestimate us all Historia. They must have no idea we know all about their corrupt schemes…

Historia: We need to appear ignorant. We must take advantage of their confidence… thankfully the true heads of this plot are not here…

Hitch: No info about where they are planning to hit?

Historia: Not yet… but the intel you and Ymir gather sure has helped us. The Survey Corps are getting ready.

Hitch: I hope you don't send me with them!

Historia: Still afraid of the corps Hitch? They are not fighting titans you know?

Hitch: Just terrorists and snipers… I'm fine in my office thank you very much!

Historia: You sure about that? Ymir told me you are a murderous maniac

Hitch: Hey I just do what you told me to do. I can't allow anything to happen to your precious heads… on who else would I put my hairdressing skills to use?!

Historia: It's disturbing how you went from murder to hairdressing that fast…

Hitch: HA! I guess our new world made me this way…

Historia: Funny… when there were titans you could see the best of humanity more clearly… now that they are gone… you can only see the filth… such a sick twist of fate…