Mission B: Recognisance
Mission B was in charge of surveying and investigating about the terrorist cells locations in Marley and neutralizing them. Levi and Sasha were in charge of surveying, Leo and Marco of neutralizing the cells through military action.
Outskirts of Liberio
Levi was waiting for Sasha to arrive in their established meeting point in the woods to avoid contact with any other person. By that point Sasha knew the woods perfectly.
Sasha arriving giddily: HEY UNCLE! Ready to save the world again?
Levi is disturbed when he saw Sasha: What… are you wearing?!
Sasha: What you mean by that? You perfectly know what it is! It's my mom's old survey corps jacket! Doesn't it suit me? It was so tiny in her but it's perfect for me!
Levi feeling anxious: Why are you wearing that?!
Sasha: For luck! I want to have something of my mom with me at all times…
Levi: Nothing that has to do with the Survey Corps can be called lucky… throw that away.
Sasha: WHAT?! NO WAY! Don't worry uncle… you have me now. Nothing will happen to you HA!
Levi: Keep making jokes idiot. Come on let's go.
Their first destination according to intel from Armin is one the rural towns of Marley. There were sightings of suspicious characters in that place and the farms surrounding it. It was a day away on foot. Sasha by that point was very much accustomed to camping.
Sasha: Hey uncle how is your leg? It must be getting harder to walk now that you are getting older.
Levi is irked by the comment: It's fine.
Sasha: Have you finished your book already? Gabi and Falco talked about it a lot.
Levi bothered: Those brats… they told you about that huh? You never mentioned it before.
Sasha: I guess this jacket is making me feel brave! So tell me about it! They told me it was about the corps?
Levi a bit anxious: Yes… I wanted to leave a record… of it's members and their contributions… to the world we live now.
Sasha: Oh! That's sounds great! But… you always get more gloomy and dreary when anything about the corps is brought up… like the jacket. How come you are writing about that?
Levi starts to reminiscence about Erwin and Hange: I feel I owe it to my commanders…
Sasha: Such a good soldier uncle! I'm sure they are proud of you. But now that you mention it… why were you never named commander?
Levi bothered: I'm not a good leader.
Sasha: Oh come on that's not true and you know it. You might be a bit too aggressive and obsessive but you really care about the people who have in charge… like me!
Levi: Tsk. I don't like to feel responsible for anyone.
Sasha: Really? But you always do that… then why is it… is it because you are short? We are the same size and I'm a tiny person… that could be it right?
Levi pissed off: Want to keep teasing me to see what happens?
Sasha laughing: Sorry uncle. But it makes me feel good that there is someone else that is as short as me! Hahaha
Levi strikes Sasha in the head.
Three days later – Karas town
Levi and Sasha were on top of a tree watching the movement of the town with a new invention, binoculars. The previous days nothing suspicious happened.
Levi sees two out of place men walking around: Here, take a look over there.
Sasha uses the binoculars to see the men: Hmm… they look like Hizuru. The town is mostly Marleyans. You think they could be the guys?
Levi: Let's move closer. They are heading for one of the farms
Levi and Sasha hid behind the stables and continued to look at the men. There were three other suspicious looking men in the farm.
Levi: Can you hear what they are talking about?
Sasha: Yeah a bit. You can't? You are deaf too?
Levi: Shut up and listen. What are they talking about?
Sasha: Umm… they mention some panflets? About a holy mission… setting up the stage? Killing… Aydiari… the city of Yıldızlar… in three nights.
Levi: That's enough. We got what we were looking for. Let's go to the woods and use that machine thing to inform Leopold.
Sasha: But… they are right there! We can strike them like we used to do!
Levi: No. All of us have our part to play. If we break order the operation could fall apart.
Sasha: Hmm…still wouldn't it be easier if we just get them now?
Levi: Want to take a look again?
Sasha looks at the men. Two of them took out rifles.
Levi: That time we got lucky. There are 5 of them now and are armed. Your main mission is to not get killed. I promised your mother nothing would happen to you.
Sasha: Aw… fine. But only because you showed how concerned you are about me and my mom heh.
2 kilometers from Karas
A small squad of 10 soldiers were sent to the outskirts of Karas to stand by for counter terrorism action. Armin had managed to secure the creation of this intelligence squad from his contacts in the Military leadership without the knowledge of the ministry of defense.
Leo and Marco were the commanding officers of the squad. This irked some of the soldiers due to how young they were, but were so intimidated by Leo that there were no acts of defiance…
Leo is sitting sharpening his hunting knife. He has a very robust figure, a stern look in his face and a very commanding presence. Marco meanwhile was lying besides him. He was very carefree and relaxed, his comrades liked him a lot, but did not had a lot of respect for him because of this.
Marco: Hey Leo, how long until something happens?
Leo: Any moment.
Marco: Tsk you say that everyday! I'm bored! I thought this mission was going to be more exciting!
Leo: You'll eat your words when something happens.
Marco: Sigh… you are so boring and serious all the time. I wish Sasha were here, you are much more fun when she is around…
Leo blushes a bit: Our mission is to protect her and Captain Levi. Your carelessness disturbs me.
Marco: We are more than ready for anything that's why I'm chilling! Isn't that right boys?
All the soldiers reply happily as they are eating and chatting.
Marco: You should try to be more friendly you know? I don't know how I'm your friend, you are as cold as ice.
Leo: I'm the CO of this operation. They need to respect me not like me. That way the order maintained and nobody dies. You should keep that in mind Marco.
Marco: Yeah yeah… hey! You think we can score with some chicks in the town after we are done? They must be bored to see the same ugly faces all the time.
Leo: Sigh… no Marco. We have to report back when we are done…
Marco: You kill the fun out of everything Leo…
An Aydiari soldier approaches them. He salutes.
Munir: Permission to address you Commander.
Leo: Go ahead private. What is it?
Munir: Sir, requesting permission to address you and Commander Kirstein in an amicable form, Sir.
Leo and Marco are puzzled.
Leo: Huh… go ahead?
Munir sits down in front of them: I'm sorry commanders… it's just I wanted to become friends with you haha.
Marco: Haha that sure took guts. How come you came to us?
Munir: Well, the thing is you are the only people in here that are my age… the other soldiers are 20 years olds so I don't really get along with them… besides I'm the only Aydiari here…
Leo: Have they mistreated you?
Munir panicking: NO NOT AT ALL! I… just feel a bit out of place that's all.
Marco: Well mister commanding officer… are you going to dismiss this poor soul because "you shouldn't be friends with your subordinates" and shit?
Leo is conflicted but he relates to Munir's feelings… he always felt different from the rest, he was very anxious among people but learned to hide it under the disguise of toughness.
Leo: I guess I can make an exception… but I advise to look after yourself… your comrades could feel you are trying to take advantage.
Munir excited: Yes sir!
Marco: Here sit with me, tell me, what kind of girls you like?
Munir: Huh?!
Leo smiles listening to Marco bothering Munir and started to think about what Sasha is doing… if she is safe… They could not use the military grade radio both Mission B teams carried to avoid suspicion and interference, they would only use it to initiate engagement of the target.
After a few hours Leo's radio started to receive signal, this filled him with anxiety.
Levi's voice in the radio: Lionheart come in… softly and breaking up (Is that what I'm supposed to say / yes! That's the code / this is stupid) Lionheart come in.
Leo responds: Lionheart here, report Lone wolf.
Levi breaking up and far away: What?, Why did he said that? / That's your code, ANSWER! Give him the numbers! / Yeah Lionheart uh… we got a 1207…
Leo a bit embarrassed: Got it Lone wolf. Over and out.
Leo stands up in a flash: ATTENTION!
All of the soldiers stand up a bit scared.
Leo: WE JUST RECEIVED CONFIRMATION OF A TERRORIST CELL IN THE PROXIMITY OF KARAS. WE'LL BEING DEPLOYMENT IMMEDIATELY. PACK AND GEAR UP. WEAPONS READY, THE SUBJECT ARE ARMED, 5 TARGETS. RESPOND FIRE WITH FIRE, APPREHENTION NOT REQUIRED. MOVE OUT!
The squad moved at a brisk peace silently as possible. As they approached the farm, Leo gave additional instructions.
Leo: The targets are grouped in a single location, we'll deploy a triangular strike, terminate the subject only if needed, incapacitate them first. Don't get cocky.
3 soldiers went to the left of the farm, 3 to the right, and 4 stood their ground for a coordinated strike. One of the men alerted the rest to take their weapons. In a second the squad deployed, ordering the men to stand down, but one of them began to shoot, the others did as well. A tactical shoot up from the squad began ending in less than a minute with no casualties.
Some of the soldiers were calling for back up to incarcerate the terrorists and were pinning them to the ground; Marco was leading the inspection of the farm, where they found more weapons and explosives and political panflets that read:
CHILDREN OF HELOS UNITE!
JOIN OUR RANKS TO LIBERATE OUR ANCIENT HOMELAND FROM THE USURPING DEVILS.
WE ARE READY TO GIVE OUR LIVES FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE GLORIOUS NATION OF MARLEY.
LET'S TAKE BACK OUR DIGNITY! OUR HOMELAND!
Marco: There's thousands of these…
Soldier: What should we do about them?
Marco: Burn them. Disarm the explosives first, you know to not kill us by accident…
Leo was talking in the radio with the military chiefs informing about the situation.
Marco: hey have you checked these panflets?
Leo: Yes… this is a first. They are getting more organized and funded… it seems my dad was spot on… but none of this makes sense…
At that moment, Leo's radio picked a signal: Lionheart. Turn around.
Leo and Marco turn and see Levi and Sasha hiding in the woods.
Leo getting nervous: I…I'll go. You distract the others…
Marco: Say hi to your girlfriend for me haha
Leo: DON'T SAY THAT.
Leo approaches Levi and Sasha, meanwhile Marco had gathered the rest of the soldiers to bother the terrorists and distract them.
Levi: Hey.
Leo: Captain, a pleasure to see you. S…sasha hi…
Sasha excited: Hey Leo look at you in uniform! You look so great! She inspects him all around playfully.
Leo: Y…yeah must look strange huh? Hehe
Levi is getting bored by the scene: So we done here? We have more possible cells to locate.
Leo: Oh! Yes. We can wrap it up in here. Good job both of you! Thanks to your intel there were no casualties on either side.
Levi: All right. Come on Sasha let's go.
Sasha disappointed: Aw do we have to?
Levi irked: Yes. He is not supposed to meet us. We are here in secret. You can play with each other later.
Leo and Sasha blush and feel shocked.
Sasha: Why did you said that?! It sounded weird!
Leo: I'm feeling sick…
Levi leaving: Tsk… kids. Come on we are going.
Sasha: Well… I guess we'll be seeing you on the next mission!
Leo: Y..yeah! Our orders are the same as yours, we are essentially following you and be ready to engage.
Sasha: I wish I could be with you on your missions!
Leo: This is no game Sasha… you might be strong and agile… but these people use guns and don't care that you are a girl… you are just a demon to them… like the rest of us.
Sasha: Hmm… still… I want to… make sure you are safe…
Leo blushing: It's my job to… protect you. Don't worry about me.
Sasha: Can't do that hehe. I'll be on the look out! See you Leo. Oh and by the way… - She pats Leo's chest- You do look great in the uniform.
Leo blushes really hard.
Sasha smiles and starts to leave: Say hi to Marco. Be safe guys.
Leo leaves the woods feeling dizzy.
Marco approaching: So how was it?
Leo blushing: It was…. Don't want to talk about it.
Marco: Ho ho! We are making progress huh? That's a happily embarrassed expression you have!
Leo slaps himself back into focus: We can talk about that stuff later. We need to wrap this up before a scene starts.
Marco: Tsk you are so boring.
Levi and Sasha are walking in the woods. She is deep in thought.
Levi: You better not do anything stupid you hear?
Sasha: Huh? What you mean?
Levi: Your mother did plenty of stupid things for that dumbass of your father. Keep your head cool and remember the dangers of what we are doing. You are not doing anyone any favors by putting yourself in danger.
Sasha reflects: All right… you sure are concerned about me huh? Have you grown to love your only niece? HAHA!
Levi: I take back all I said.