Ah, it's finally done.
And I thought I'd never finish this chapter.
It's taken a considerable time but I think I can continue with the other story. However, I still have my doubts if this chapter was well done, I have problems using a translator since I write in Spanish to change it to English, and because both idioms have lots of differences I think makes words hard to understand. Thus I think I will change back to writing in direct English.
Anyway
I hope you can enjoy this story. And if you do I'd appreciate if you leave a review.
[X]
Darius Zackly felt he had lived too long.
After long fifty years of serving humanity he had finally attained the position of commander general of all the remaining armed forces within the walls.
The years were beginning to take their toll. To the point that he thought he had finally gone mad.
Because it was clear that he was living a dream.
The cleanup work was not over and they could still find some remnants of the once despots who had ruled humanity under a cloak of corruption and greed.
A couple of soldiers carried a stretcher with the unrecognizable remains of one of those power-hungry men. He smiled slightly as he wondered who it was.
A month had passed since the castle had been destroyed.
He did not care about the smell, for him it was a fragrance that delighted. The dead were dead, there was nothing left to do for them. Now they had to focus on reordering everything for the proclaimed saviors of mankind.
This Empire of Mankind, at first he had not believed. But upon seeing them he had no doubt that they were indeed a blessing to humanity in this world. But, nevertheless, he could not help but have mixed feelings when he realized that humans were not near extinct.
"But really, they made a mess here..."
The king's castle had been demolished. The symbol of the government of the walls destroyed in seconds when that bomb fell on it. Not only had the king's advisors and nobles been crushed, but also part of the military police stationed inside the castle to protect it.
A feeling of fear ran through his body as he considered what would have happened if the Imperials had seen them as enemies. They certainly wouldn't have stood a chance against them.
Once outside of what was left of the building, Darius made his way to the meeting they had scheduled for the day. Behind him was an officer he had assigned as an aide. After all, the now defunct military police had left many stragglers who would now have to choose between the two remaining military branches. Hitch Dreyser had fought with blood and sweat not to leave the interior of Sina and be sent to hunt titans abroad, and as such had been recognized by the remaining higher-ups.
"It's like moving forward a hundred years in just a few weeks." Darius noted, Hitch only nodded with a "yes."
In truth, things had changed too quickly.
Wires ran through the city, hanging from metal poles that littered the streets. The technology these Imperials had brought was bringing an industrial revolution to the walls. To the point where perhaps they were going too fast.
Day after day the carriages had been replaced by vehicles that moved without the need for draught beasts. New means and materials for construction had been brought in, new buildings were erected and a new city was gradually rising over the old one.
It was even exciting to see the new train lines being constructed to ensure rapid and effective deployment in the defense of the island.
But there were still a few things they had yet to resolve. "General..." His aide, Hitch Dreyse, warned him with a single word.
The high general of the walls had no problem noticing the discontented and distrustful looks of the citizens. Here and there, there was no lack of some who looked at them with disdain from some corner, but never daring to show any form of resistance or rebellion. And he knew the origin of this.
Journalists.
Those who could influence people, part manipulative, part enlightening. Even if their goal was to bring to light those he wished to remain in the shadows, it was not uncommon for them to have ideologies of their own that would influence his narratives.
He had read the newspapers. Some accused the military of a coup d'état, others called the imperialists radical extremists. And there were those who dared to call for protests. Many of these had ended up being sanctioned and censored. The Imperials had been uncompromising, merciless. They wouldn't dare eliminate any journalist in front of everyone, but that didn't mean they would use shadow agents to do the dirty work.
Darius would be lying if he said there wasn't discontent among the military. Several officers had already voiced their complaints. But being frank, there was no way they could oppose the imperial mandate, despite being relatively more numerous, there was simply no way to drive them out.
They had practically taken over the walls. And they had destroyed the military police by executing the highest ranks and leaving only the most useful and loyal. Making them an example and a warning to those who dared to think of rebelling.
He didn't really care.
If one weighed the situation, it was obvious that the Imperium had finally brought an opportunity against the previous imminent extinction of the human race on this planet. As well as a technological and cultural advancement to the people inside the walls. People now possessed electrical power in their homes, faster and more efficient means of communication and transportation, access to better medical techniques and even an almost miraculous advancement in their fields. For the genetically modified wheat fields were ready to be
harvested in a matter of months. Such a marvel had finally solved the food crisis that had plagued the population.
Finally, he arrived at the building where the meeting was to be held. Not long ago this had been the main headquarters of the inner military police, the invisible arm of the Crown. Now it would serve as the home of the Administratum and the main eye of the Imperium of Man. But this was only one of several. The Ministorum had been left with all the churches of the former faith of the walls, its faithful now devoted to the Imperial creed. From what he had heard, it had not been difficult to take control of the faith within the walls, it did not take long for them to stop worshiping the walls and begin to praise the Emperor and his legions.
Guarding the doors were two imperial guards. Their mottled green uniforms were neat and tidy, as were their laser rifles clean and ready to be used in case of danger.
The guards did not interrupt the path of Zackly or his assistant behind him. They both opened the doors and entered the building.
The interior had been remodeled. The pictures of past officers and the heraldry of the military police had been replaced with that of the empire. In the hall were more imperial guards, but Darius couldn't help but notice a dozen soldiers who were also in place, these in particular wore the standard uniform of the forces of the walls, the same short khaki jacket and light- colored shirt and pants. Most notable on these soldiers, however, was the symbol on their backs. One of the imperial symbols. A condor perched on a skull. Underneath it one could read the words: 'Astra Militarum'.
"And so, I have brought this celebration to a close!" The voice of a decked-out officer of the guard was heard reverberating in the hall. "Go now, emperor's hammer. In the name of humanity, to fight the horrors that threaten our species!"
Darius knew this man, Nichasus Martencz. General in command of the Imperial forces. He had heard rumors that he was just one among millions of generals under the command of hundreds of thousands of other higher ranking officers. And next to him was also one of the many priests who had also arrived. Apparently, religion had an enormous influence in the empire.
The soldiers, apparently officers, saluted both with a fist in their hearts. A little later they withdrew. But Darius recognized that the last one in the group of officers was a familiar face, that of a young man he had once tried in a military trial.
He could not remember his name. After all he had participated in several trials.
[X]
The room had been remodeled, now a quadrangular U-shaped table occupied the center of the room. On one side of it sat the commanding officers of the military forces inside the wall. On the other, there were imperial officers and nobles. And above them all sat Victor Rive, Sword Brethren of the Black Templar.
And just as every week would give rise to this meeting.
After overthrowing the king and his close nobles, a problem had remained. There was no political figure to rule over the people of the walls. For that reason, this council had been left as a provisional government.
Cruxis Vera had suggested sending a Viceroy. However, the officials and leaders of the people of the walls had insisted on placing a power of local origin. There were those who hailed a legitimate heiress, hidden among the people. They had been sent out to look for her, but more than once had returned empty-handed. This only gave more reason for the Empire to place a Viceroy, at least until the Adeptus Terra appointed a governor. But for that a multitude of things still had to be taken first.
For example, the human population thrives on the rest of the planet.
The first time the top commanders had heard this they could not believe it. Some went so far as to accuse the Imperials of being liars, others to break down mentally in the face of such truth. They had believed they were fighting on the brink of extinction, but in the end, humanity was thriving on the other side of the sea.
But there was one question they had been unable to avoid asking themselves. Why hadn't the rest of humanity come to their aid?
More than a hundred years had passed. A hundred years of fighting and losing to a virtually invincible enemy. Thousands had perished for decades and not once had they received any help.
Did the titans also infest the rest of the world? No, from what the Empire was saying, mankind across the sea had progressed faster in technology.
So were the island titans too numerous to prevent a rescue from the outside? Yes, many had become attached to this truth.
But few knew there was something else behind it all. Something they didn't want to admit, and Darius knew it too.
On the outside, the inhabitants of the island were called demons. What had they done to win such a terrible title?
The Imperials had said little about it. Some nobles might say that it was probably some resentment. Maybe the island had done something in the past, or maybe they were too scared of the titans.
When he reached his seat there was one of the empire's servants waiting for him with a tray on which various desserts and drinks were offered. Darius indulged in some sweets and liquor.
He then noticed that Erwin Smith and Dot Pixis were also there. Both nodded in greeting, but did not speak. There was also Dimo Reeves, owner of the Reeves Company, the largest on the island.
"It's time to start this meeting."
The Space Marine's voice brought him out of his musings. He brought his hands to his chest, making the Aquila symbol and bowing as a sign of respect. It was something they had been inculcated to do, especially in the presence of one of the Emperor's champions.
Or as they were also called, Angels of Death. And considered among the greatest in the Empire. Their words were law and insolence would be severely punished. And it could not be avoided. They had already seen the prowess of these genetically modified warriors, how a single one of them could take down a titan without even rising from the ground. Their weapons were devastating and their physical capabilities superior to those of any human being. So were their leadership and strategic abilities. There was no reason to refuse to follow one of them.
But someone else was also there. Ilse Langnar had, as always, been summoned to participate as a translator for the Imperials. There was no way she could refuse, the prisoner's mark still felt burning on her chest.
One of the imperial nobles rose to speak. A woman of appearance in her thirties named Lucia Vazq. Her luxurious clothes gave testament to her fortune and power. For she was part of the Cruxis Vera merchant's guild, owner of a monopoly on common goods of an immense range. From things as simple as various utensils to complex household appliances. She was one of the first nobles who had begun to sell their products inside the walls, raising the quality of life for a large number of people. And she was about to sign a commercial treaty that would further expand her influence.
"I give my full thanks to Lord Rive for once again allowing me to be at the side of a son of the emperor." She paused for a moment, waiting for Ilse to finish the translation and studying those present, but not daring to do the same to Lord Rive, then she continued. "The merchant guild has successfully managed to establish a supply network. Now resources and products from both places will have no problem circulating. I must thank the firstborn of House Terrenos for making this possible, but, most of all, thank the nobles and officials on this side for opening themselves to a trade that will bring investment and jobs for many, such as the esteemed Lord Reeves, who thanks to his help this project could be completed ahead of schedule."
Dimo Reeves smiled and toasted for her and the empire.
Darius had heard of such a thing. After all, a rail line had been built from the portal through which the Imperials had arrived. The massive train was hundreds of meters long, capable of carrying thousands of tons of resources, goods, supplies and so on. Sure, the network wasn't quite finished, but it would be a matter of months before it would be ready.
She sat down. And the floor was taken by one of the imperial military officers. Ilse was quick to relay his words. "My lord, Astartes. I have to report that we have exterminated all the titans inside the Sina and Rose walls, leaving only Maria where we have already made considerable progress. Soon we will begin with the work of redistribution of the population. As well as the repair and reinforcement of all the gates of the walls. Part of our forces are now concentrated in the Trost district. Twelve Eartshakers, as well as two fighter wings are charged with keeping the enemy at bay."
The military strength of the empire was simply overwhelming. In just a few months they had accomplished something that the armies on the ramparts could not do in five years. It was almost unfair, all that blood shed that was so often considered a waste of lives.
People could now be sure that there was a future for their descendants.
Then came the turn of Dot Pixis. It was becoming more and more common to see the man completely sober, and especially at a meeting like this. Darius had known the old general for some time now, and could sense a growing mood in the officer.
"The wall guard will be in charge of providing support in the defense and repair of the walls. But our priority will be to escort the population back to their homes, as well as the elimination of criminal groups that might have formed. Especially in the subway district where the Arbitrators have set up a base of operations."
Quickly, Ilse did not take long to fulfill her duty and obligation. The words flowed from her tongue, more and more accustomed to the high gothic she had been taught via her neural cogitator.
"I see." Replied the Black Templar. "It could be said that in a few weeks we will be able to begin expansion outside the walls and eventual contact with the rest of the planet's population... or rather rectification of our presence on the island. General, has there been any word from them?"
Darius noticed the tension in Commanders Pixis and Smith. Like him, they knew the word they were being referred to on the outside world. Both had their own hypotheses as to the reason for this. Dot Pixis on the other hand, thought there might be a conflict between various countries. The island, as it began to become part of a communication on the world stage, could be seen as a new power. On more than one occasion he had dared to suggest that a massive war between mankind was possible. And given human nature, this hypothesis could be correct.
Instead, Erwin Smith claimed that it was an enemy on the outside. That for some reason the rest of the world saw them as enemies to be defeated, the word 'demons' gave reason to that. He even went so far as to suspect that they were the ones who had caused the breach in the Maria wall six years ago.
Nichasius Martencz bowed in a curtsy to the Astartes and spoke. "No, my lord. They have been silent for months. And they have been beginning to communicate in ciphers and codes to avoid being spied upon."
"Can it be deciphered?"
"Of course. We have already started analyzing it. Enginseer claim they will have a decode in about three days. Although it doesn't hurt to assume they change codes every so often."
Victor Rive nodded at this news. "Then stand vigilant. It's not impossible that they're doing a code rotation in their communications."
"It will be done, Lord Rive." Nichasius bowed again before sitting down.
"That ends the meeting." Victor announced. "Martencz, Smith, Pixis and Zackly. You shall wait a few minutes."
Of course, Ilse could not leave. The memory of the flamethrowers didn't even make her think to even ask.
Everyone else left the room in silence. Some turned to look at those who remained with sympathy, others did not bother. Before long there were only the five of them left.
"Is something wrong?" Erwin was the first to ask.
General Martencz said nothing, instead, he turned on the data plate he carried and calibrated it to project a Hololith in front of the generals.
Each of them tensed at the sight of the image of a young man. As well as another series of images showing a titan, a familiar one.
"The Empire doesn't like to encounter... anomalies in humans." Said Victor, who couldn't find an adequate description for what they were seeing. "Our biological engineers have studied this Eren Jaeger. And they have come to the conclusion that, genetically... he is as human as you are."
A heavy, armored hand dropped a key. "This is a replica that one of the Engineseer forged from the original one that the subject carries with him. For all we know it leads somewhere in the Shinganshina district where it unlocks some secret. They are about to start operations there in a few weeks."
Erwin had seen that key before, and a part of him wanted to take the copy lying on the table. But he knew better. After all whatever was in Shinganshina would surely be linked to the outside world.
"So..." Pixis spoke carefully. "What will the Empire respond to this anomaly?"
"By Imperial law, you should execute Eren Jaeger and each of his superiors for heresy." The Astartes paused, watching the reactions in each of them, and what he saw showed him concern. "Plus all the studies have shown, so far, that he is not a mutant. I've also had him
studied by a Psyker, and there's no trace of any warp trace whatsoever. It would be a waste of resources to kill him. So, for now, while we figure out what Eren Jaeger is, he will be under the jurisdiction of the third regiment. Your kind, Erwin Smith."
Victor rose from his seat, thanked and bowed. Two of his servants followed him until he disappeared.
Only General Martencz remained in that place. He gave a few last indications before leaving.
[X]
The target made of wood became a burning piece of charcoal after the sound of a branch breaking. A beam of golden energy struck again, now at a rock that had been placed as another practice target. The instantaneous small explosion sent chunks of melted rock flying.
The targets, as well as many others, were more than five hundred meters away.
Eren raised the rifle, satisfied with his streak. An M-71 model, its ergonomic wooden body gave it a better grip. He pulled back the power cell for a closer look. How had they turned the same light into a weapon? He kept asking himself. He didn't really understand how it worked, not that he was really interested. He had learned to perform the rites for the machine spirit that he had been told dwelled inside the rifle, which was necessary for the weapon to function smoothly. Every day he had to clean it, take it apart, clean it again, and replace any damaged parts. It was an old gun, or so it had been told to him. It had participated in two campaigns, more than forty years since its forging.
"You've improved." Said Armin who was standing next to him. His rifle disassembled and finishing cleaning it. "You missed two out of five."
"I think it's because of the recoil. It's less than that of a musket." "At least you're not doing as badly as Connie."
A few meters away from them, in another trench, Connie Springer was firing erratically. Even when they were targets at fifty meters, the laser discharges missed almost entirely. Then they saw an officer of the guard arrive, and between shouts and insults he made Connie stand up to make him disarm and clean his rifle.
"And Sasha can hit at the farthest targets."
Not far behind them was Sasha Blouse, lying on a watchtower. Every five seconds she fired a larger version of the laser rifle they had. Eren tried to look at the targets he was supposed to be shooting at. But his eyesight was failing him, he then realized that the shots were being lost in the distance, flashes of explosions could be seen in the distance.
Armin pulled out his Magnoculars to see. "The targets are more than a mile away...!" He voiced in amazement. "That's twice as far as Mikasa has gotten!"
Sasha switched the energy cell of her rifle and continued firing. Eren, seeing this, returned to his place and rested the stock on his shoulder. After a few seconds of firing, a new burn
appeared on the rock in the distance. He fired again, and another beam of las bolt smashed into one of the large boulders the chimeras had pushed up to act as practice targets. Eren fired once more, and this time the laser discharge set the grass ablaze, the fire lasted for a few seconds until only smoke and ashes remained.
"You still want to join the reclamation unit." Mikasa stated as she watched her stepbrother shoot again.
"Are you still thinking about it, Eren?" Armin, his longtime friend was again trying to dissuade him. "The Maria wall is still not safe. Even with the guard..."
"We can't just let the Empire do all the work, Armin." Eren shifted the cell on his rifle. "If we do that we'd just become useless dependents."
"But look at their power. Look at what their machines are capable of. Even without us they will crush the titans with minimal effort."
"And what does that make us, Armin? Non-existent. It's like we're not even here, the empire will do what it has to do without taking us into account. You've listened to Hange haven't you? How the Empire has countless millions under its command. I bet you came to the same conclusion she did, that in the long run we will just be another cog in the machinery of this galactic government."
Armin could not answer that argument. For he very well knew it was true. The Imperium was vast; beyond anything he could imagine. He could only think how complicated it would be to administer such a huge nation.
"Still..." Armin continued. "Can't we just... let them deal with the titans?"
Eren looked him in the eyes, and after a moment, he understood. "Armin... you don't want to fight anymore?"
Armin twitched and looked at the ground, his eyes refusing to meet his friend's.
"Armin…" Yet, Eren insisted.
"I'm sick of fighting...I'm sick of seeing people die." He finally admitted. "And even after the titans are gone, I know there will still be more wars we'll have to go to. That's why they've been training us with new weapons and the ODM. For the new wars that will come in the future, what will happen when we have to leave our home and fight on other unknown worlds? We finally have a chance to wipe them out... Why don't we just leave them?"
Eren stood up and slung his rifle over his shoulder to approach Armin. "If the Commissar was here you'd be dead already..."
Armin said nothing, knowing full well that it was true. Commissar Hagler was a man you couldn't waver with. His age contrasted with his ability to fight and boost morale. 'The weak will always be led by the strong,' was one of his litanies.
But Armin simply didn't want to die yet.
It was Mikasa who finally interrupted the silence.
"No need to complain about the lot we've been dealt." She said. "If they send Eren into space, I'll go with him."
"Why do you always have to follow me?" complained Eren.
"Mind if I join you?" A woman's voice was heard, it was Ilse Langnar, on her shoulders she was carrying a las-rifle. She had finally been allowed to carry one, for that reason she had decided to try it out in the training camps where she herself had been several years ago starting as a simple cadet.
"Yes, no problem." Armin told her with a kind face. "Come, I've been wanting to talk to you too."
It was true, since Ilse had appeared along with the Empire, Armin had been trying to find a moment to be able to interview her. She was the one who had walked through the door, that already made her a mine of knowledge having seen firsthand what the Empire was like over there, on the other side.
"Ever since I saw them I wanted to be able to test them." She announced as she placed the las-rifle in position, she looked through the scope. "They say if you leave the power cells in the sun it can recharge, some people throw it in the fire, but I don't think that's safe."
"I'm not sure, I haven't tried." Mikasa admitted. "Thought, it is really useful, for long battles."
"It's also rumored you can make it explode, but I don't know how." Ilse continued. "A soldier told me the Techpriest would kill me if I ever tried it. I still don't understand what this Machine Spirit is."
"They didn't told you when you were in their world?" Armin asked with clear curiosity.
"What was it like there!" Eren interrupted excitedly. "Is it true that their cities reach to the sky? Did you get to see them? Surely they were something impressive."
Ilse smiled bitterly, the interrogations and tortures were still too present in her being. She could hardly believe how she had managed to stay sane after suffering so much. It was true that it was a place that would steal the breath away from anyone in this world, but for her it was a place she prayed not to ever return again.
"It was impressive... in many ways." With bitter smile in her face, she replace the power cell with a new one. "But it's not a place like this..."
"What do you mean?" asked Armin.
"It's true that cities go all the way to heaven." She continued. "But they do it more out of necessity than anything else. Those clouds are black because of the industry in the middle part of the cities. I didn't see much else, after all I was... somewhere else."
Armin began to worry. If the Empire's industry worked on such a scale, wouldn't they try the same on this side? It was still a distant idea, for it would take years to set up industries on this island. And although they had already built several artifacts, none seemed to be made to produce something on a large scale.
However, Eren seemed to be more occupied with something else.
"But if they're cities that go all the way to the sky... There must be ships flying beyond from those cities, right?"
"I wasn't able see that. Even though I was at the top I could barely see the other cities on the horizon. But if there was one thing that caught my attention it was a huge construction, a tower so tall that it was lost in the sky."
Eren could just dream about that story, for a moment, he was like a child again, wondering at the stories told by his friend, about the outside. Marvels hard to believe, but as entailing as a fairy tale.
Armin for his part could just assume. How much engineering would be necessary to build something so tall? How much would take? And if making one on this side would be possible.
The sound of engines appeared above them, a Valkyrie was descending. The hot air coming from the engines could be felt as it stirred the grass. Once on the ground, its hatches opened to let out two people. They recognized them instantly, Erwin Smith and the General of the Imperial Guard, Nichasius Martencz.
"I must go." Announced Ilse, I'm needed over there. She got up to leave, but said no more.
Sergeant Vallart was the one who received them. The sergeant had been assigned to train the new regiment. And it had been a grueling series of exercises to the point of being almost inhuman, or so Armin thought. Crawling in the mud or dropping into the wire of a trench to allow his comrades to pass. He had instilled in them the use of the bayonet, the discipline of a firing line and to never retreat if they did not want to die at the hands of a commissar.
The sergeant saluted the officers and they returned the gesture. Shortly thereafter they began to walk around the camp.
"How soon do you think we can deploy them, Sergeant?" Nichasius asked.
"Three more months, if urgent deployment is needed then we can send them now."
"That won't be necessary for now, Sergeant." Martencz replied. "Besides, Lord Rive has a role planned for these islanders. Are you relying on Shadis to handle your recruits?"
"I am, sir. We're still having some equipment problems, but the Engineseer's have been working on it. Training for the new recruits has already started, but given the time it takes for them to train on those cables I'm afraid we won't be able to deploy too many mobile units."
"It will suffice with what we have for now. The Monitorum has not yet decided on the extent of tithing and the officials say it will take some time to register them. We have plenty of time. For now, we will focus on the cleansing operation. Eliminate or capture these parodies of the human race."
Nichasius paused, one of his aides came running up to him at full speed. Once in front of him, he saluted and handed a sheet of paper that the general read quickly. After a few seconds his face had changed, taking on a serious and worried side.
"Vallart, deploy them now. I need a company ready." He then turned to Erwin Smith who had remained at his side. "Call in your Ace, Smith, they're going to need him. The objective is to secure Shinganshina, and we must be quick. If what the Rune Priest said is true, then we must waste no time."
[X]
Andres watched the thirteen-meter titan fall, cut through the back of the neck by one of the soldiers on the walls. Their ODM gears, as they called them, were something he found fascinating. In minutes they had managed to corner the thing. Las-fire blinded it with ease before the soldiers delivered the killing blow from behind.
He still could not find any logic in these beings. Humanoid, yes, but at the same time monstrous. Even as their bodies disintegrated, he couldn't help but feel the urge to shoot the corpse.
"I'm still not used to it." Milano reaffirmed his thinking. He lowered the rocket launcher he carried on his shoulder to let it rest. "That was the last one."
The chimera advanced across the plain, its autocannon still smoking. It was but the escort of two Leman Russ along with five other chimeras and six squads sent to purge the Maria wall of all titan existence.
Some thirty horsemen, soldiers of the walls, had been dispatched with them. Together they had already managed to secure half a dozen cities that had been abandoned for years.
"Why did they send us and not the guard?" Milano wondered aloud. "They almost ate us this time."
Andres would not have wanted to restate that. But it was true that they had encountered a large group of titans that had emerged from the forest of gigantic trees. The Thunderbolt had not seen them and as a consequence ten had died in the jaws of the monsters.
"I heard that the guard was sent to the outer districts." Andres replied. "They say they are planning to take the coast. The Thunderbolt have reported that most of the giants are inside the outer wall."
One of the Leman Russ fired, its Lascannon cannon annihilating another ten-meter titan coming out of the forest. It exploded into pieces, its legs still running until it crashed to the ground.
"Retreat from the forest!" The captain shouted. "It's too dangerous, return to the checkpoint. We'll take another route. Let the cavalry take care of clearing the forest."
Captain Levi had been watching from the safety of one of the huge tree branches. He was wiping the hilt and control of his ODM gear, the blood evaporating, but still feeling dirty.
The Imperials had done a passable job of defending the position. But he could not say the same for the officers commanding them. Indeed, it was not difficult to find differences between the officers of these so-called planetary defense forces, to the regiments of the imperial guard. There were times when the guard would react to a stampede of titans as something they had already faced and become accustomed to. But he could not help but view these with disappointment, for six of the men under his command had died despite warnings not to approach the forest without caution.
The order to stand down came through the communicator that had been assigned to him, the device in his ear, a small Vox transmitter. It had saved him a lot in communications, to the point of preventing unnecessary deaths that always used to occur mainly due to lack of communication.
His vox caster beeped again, and Commander Erwin's voice came on. "Levi, are you done over there?"
"For now we're heading back to Trost. We lost ten men, but we maintain operational capability."
"General Martencz has ordered a deployment to take Shingansina. Have your unit head south. The Imperium wants answers as to what is in that district. The same orders have been delivered to Imperial officers."
"Wait, why now? The imperial guard was supposed to take over the outer districts."
A few seconds passed in which Levi wondered if the signal had been cut, but Erwin's voice denied that.
"Honestly, I have no idea."
[X]
At first he thought the signal was nothing more than something explainable. Signals lost in the void, messages coming from several light years away, even some Xeno signal. But reality had shown Kylo-932, after study and dedication, that what was found on the moon was not something that could be just a coincidence.
He wished to have more time to study the semi-hollow satellite, to understand its secrets and unveil his knowledge. It was an opportunity that could not accept to miss for now, but knew better. He was not welcome here, abominable intelligence, eons ago dormant, had shown him that it would not share its secrets so easily.
He had lost almost his entire entourage, one hundred and seventy-one servitors destroyed, seventy dead hispasists, nine rangers and his only praetorian disabled. It had been a heavy price, but they had finally killed the abominable intelligence controlling the facility. The last ranger stepped forward to open the hatch, the lack of gravity slowing the movement of his joints, the still existing flesh exposed to the vacuum would not last long. But it was replaceable.
He opened the door and with calculated expertise scanned the room. This had been the most heavily defended site, and the place where the abominable intelligence had concentrated its defenses.
There, in the center of the room, surrounded by cogitators and technology they barely understood, was a small cylinder, no bigger than a human head. The Techpriest detected the low temperature coming from the container, a cryogenic system that kept it frozen at extreme levels. Kylo-932 brought a mechadendrite closer, and his external cogitators fired as he saw how less than a couple of inches from the container, the metal of his mechanical appendage froze to the point of shattering like glass.
He fixed his attention on the cogitators, they were a marvel that other adepts of the Mechanicus would envy to study. He could barely understand this technology, but he was a Techpriest, one of the very few who would dare to see beyond a procedure or a rite.
The abominable intelligence was dead, the cogitators were no more than simple inert machines. He switched on one of his mechadendrites, reciting at the same time multiple litanies of the machine god.
It was then that an arc of energy shot through the system and into his body. He felt his cogitators fry as a revelation came to him as an epiphany. He soon understood what this place was, why it had been built and, above all, what was inside the cylinder.
A safeguard. A pocket dimension connected to the souls of each of the bearers. All designed so that humanity could remain safe from the darkness of a hostile universe, or at least, that was the intention.
He called his last servant, they were to secure this technology and bring it to the surface.
[X]
The last few weeks had been a series of hardships and tastelessness. Fleeing like rats from an inexorable enemy. For a king there could be no greater shame, no greater embarrassment, no greater affront to his pride.
The building, his base, one of many he had prepared over the years. It now served as a refuge for him, the more he regretted that it had to be here that he could finally have some possible respite.
A bag fell in front of him on the table. The one who threw it showed no consideration, in his opinion he didn't have to, but that didn't stop him from earning a wry look from the exiled king. "Don't look at me like that, that's all I got."
"I guess I can't complain." King Reiss voiced.
The Ackerman, one of the last, sat down as well. He didn't bother to take some of the food he had brought. "We can't stay here for long." He said, "People are abandoning this place. The Empire wants to turn it into a giant warehouse."
Serious news, the king contemplated. False king, for the true king had been lost in the hands of that traitor, of the doctor who had stolen the founding titan and now his daughter was part of the most powerful army that had ever walked on this world.
"If we're going to act, let's act now." Kenny spat. "It may be good news, or bad... but the Empire has launched a force into the Shinganshina district to secure it. And Eren Jaeger is among them."
Rod's attention was caught. The opportunity to catch the thief was presenting itself in front of his door.
He smiled, his hands clamoring for him to take revenge, to kill Eren Jaeger and get his daughter, Historia, back.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" He said. "Set up an ambush. We're going to capture them one way or another."
[X]
"This technology must not be lost." Cried Kylo-932. "It is the duty as a servant of the Omnissiah to preserve the knowledge."
"But it could also be Xeno technology."
The heated debate had been going on for more than an hour, and more than once it had almost erupted into violence. The adept of the machine god advocated its defense, its protection and safeguard. The Black Templar thought it might come from alien origin. The Black Templar's natural hatred of all things alien went back and forth against the Techpriest's coldly logical arguments. Dissecting Eren Jaeger had been suggested more than once, but risking losing him and whatever was inside him made this unacceptable. Besides this matter should be dealt with Magus of the highest rank.
"This technology was created as a safeguard, a way to preserve souls within a pocket dimension. I can barely understand why, and that is why it is imperative that I take this information to Mars" The mechanical voice of the Techpriest seemed to give him a serious tone full of conviction. However, the black templar still had his doubts.
"This technology has also created abominations - what guarantees that those tied to this won't end up becoming potential threats?"
"A negligible threat. The chances of being defeated by these chrysalids are less than 1% plus, it is still too early to make a decision. The key, there are secrets buried in Shinganshina district, we must go, and unveil this knowledge."
"So be it." The Black Templar's command was conveyed. "Go, seek your relic, but do not expect the help of my brothers in this enterprise."
"That won't be necessary." The mechanical, monotone voice of the Techpriest announced.
[X]
Zeke Jaeger looked into the bottom of the coffee cup, trying to find a shape in what was left of the grounded beans. As if they were going to give him some kind of message, a stupid superstition that made no sense, but for some reason had grown along with his anxiety. A product of his decision to stay here and do his duty, and at the same time see his dream finally fulfilled.
They had decided to stay.
And facing an enemy that greatly outnumbered them.
He had had no contact with Marley, for some reason the radio signal had changed and the channel he would use to communicate only gave white noise. That could only mean that Marley had switched to the Riddle Protocol, a plan designed in case of war to prevent the enemy from jamming communications using a system of codes and false information channels.
Had any of the various countries that had a grudge against Marley declared war?
He had heard the Midwest alliance had been slowly amassing forces, but Marley had been unable to counter them due to his operations on Paradis Island. It was reason to hurry, even if he had sent that young girl to Marley, he doubted that with just one titan they would manage to keep the enemy at bay.
When he saw the firepower that this new enemy had, it was impossible not to realize that the time of the titans was coming to an end. Against a force capable of taking down a titan so easily, and especially an air power dominating the skies, he could only wait for the end of the people of Eldia. Even in Marley, with the advances in technology, mankind had already begun to fly.
And for that very reason, getting the founding titan was necessary to end this endless cycle of hatred.
"They're coming." Pieck's hushed voice bore witness to his subordinate's finally healed wounds.
"How are you sure about that, Pieck?"
"I just know..." Was the answer she gave, taciturn as always, but nimble-minded." Still, Zeke remained a cautious man. "Are those two ready yet?"
"They are, War Chief."
They had only one chance to get the founder back. They knew he would come, that Eren Jaeger himself would return to his former home. It was Reiner who had asked to wait in this ruined district. For more than once he had seen his false companion talk of returning home, silently contemplating that key that always hung around his neck. He had not revealed what opened the key, merely replied that there was something in that place that key would open, and it was something important.
A cloud, not of dust or storm was visible, barely perceptible on the horizon. He recognized the color, the sickly gray that factories let out day and night. Only a combustion vehicle could let out something like that.
"Tell Berthold to get ready." Zeke pulled out a flare gun and aimed, not at the sky, but at the very horizon where they were coming from. A trail of red smoke crossed over the once-lively city, pointing in the direction from which they were approaching. Down there, Reiner watched the smoke particles dissipate and ran to hide in an old well he had found, once seated at the bottom, he could only wait.
Zeke got up, Pieck quickly to tell his partner of the orders given. He dropped the primitive pistol, rushing to the ground. Past memories filled his mind, memories of the man playing with him, throwing him a ball, letting the time pass between cordial chats.
"If I had not been born they would not have died." The bitter shared thought of a defeated, broken man. A wish he had pledged to see come true.
For all the Eldians who had been born into this cruel world.
[X]
In the distance the wall could already be seen, and at its feet the village that in years past had been purged of all human life. Time had already passed and nature had regained its dominion in the abandoned land that had once sheltered thousands of lives that knew little of the outside beyond the walls.
His bitter memory of childhood invaded like a soaked sheet that sticks to his body. Anger and uneasiness, as well as the flame of vengeance sworn against those who caused his suffering. The screams and chaos, the houses burning as the monsters mercilessly devouring the inhabitants, like cattle ripe for slaughter. He still vividly recalled the events that had led him to this path he now traveled, and which he now dared not leave when the opportunity to take his revenge was served on a silver platter with the Empire being the one who had prepared it for him.
The Tauros roared over the valley, much faster than any equine they had ever trained. But still the driver had held it back in favor of the riders galloping alongside them. The most elite among the scouting legion, there was Levi, at the head of a hundred men, delivering orders and haranguing his officers.
"The Valkyries are going to take a while to turn around. And the Thunderbolts need to resupply. So there will be no air support for quite a while. We have a tank company behind us, in case we run into hostiles we'll pull back to let them take over. The vehicles will come in through the opening, we'll scale the walls, wh-"
He was interrupted by a staccato of death raining down on them all. Rocks, each the size of a human head, made lethal projectiles that, thrown fast enough, could destroy an entire district.
And they had fallen upon this trap.
"Artillery!" Vox's command appeared in low gothic, Levi could understand what he was saying. An imperial officer unable to wait to become a new target. "All riders Fall back to the sides! The convoy will keep moving!"
A new scourge responded to their orders. Another staccato of rocks covered them with death. The Chimera had been able to endure. It would take a real projectile to bring them down. But
it had not been the same for their companions. Redeployment was slow, and the payoff was a fifth of their forces pulverized.
With just over eighty riders still riding, Levi knew he had to get to the walls as quickly as possible. One of the Chimeras flinched, one of its tracks snapped off as it took a direct hit. Levi heard the same imperial officer giving orders, understanding the low gothic had been a task given to him by the high command, and although he had not fully mastered that language, he was able to understand the words. The officer had ordered to speed up, little by little the Chimeras were leaving the scouts behind. They were still taking the brunt of the attack, their armor being hammered by more and more rocks. The Tauros accelerated even more, taking much more advantage and avoiding the enemy's fire. In a few minutes they crossed the opening.
Levi had separated his scouts by hundreds of meters spreading them out to decrease casualties as much as possible, and although it was working, regrouping would take time. Encountering individual titans could be a serious problem, even if his troops were among the best, that didn't mean they would be safe against an unpredictable enemy.
"As soon as you are close enough scale the wall! We'll regroup inside the district!" Levi let go of the reins and brought his hands to the grips on the controls of his ODM gear, with fluidity and skill he soared through the air, the cables dug into the stone pulling his body with a force that would injure anyone who had not been trained to use this, the belts around his body reduced the torque allowing him to adjust. He pulled the trigger on the hilt again, the cable's harpoon contracted and released from the rock, he pulled another trigger and a second cable was fired, this time driving into the top of the wall.
It was as soon as he went above the walls that he realized the devastation.
And he barely had time to see more before a fresh volley of rocks crashed over the top of the walls. How many more had died?
[X]
"Hmm, that wasn't enough. Well, I guess it was to be expected, rocks aren't very useful against armor." Zeke wished he had some handful of shells, or at least some metal. Those APCs that had crossed the broken part of the wall had withstood the rock onslaught well, their armor was battered, but it had barely reduced their effectiveness.
He hoped to at least have decimated the horsemen, but from what Pieck had told him as she kept watch hidden behind a destroyed battlement, they had scattered and would not take long in coming here.
Zeke knew how uneven this battle could get, even at the top of the wall, he couldn't take them out without the right equipment. That was why he had showered them with stones to try to defeat them, he knew it wouldn't be enough. But the reason had always been to lure them out.
And once the last Chimera crossed the opening, he revealed his trap.
And with a roar that filled the air, dozens of explosions shook the district as, from among the abandoned houses, titans stood ready to devour them.
Having unleashed his trap, released his Titan, had to reposition himself, and also reveal the next part of his plan.
[X]
Eren pressed the trigger, and a staccato of autocannon fire lashed out at the titan ahead of the Tauros he rode. Each shot, each 50mm round ripped through the titan, shredding its flesh and bones. Such a being could feel no pain, simply the need to move forward even if its body was reduced to smoldering remains of flesh and bone.
"Aim higher, at the neck!" Barked the driver who was maneuvering through the streets of the ruined ghost town. Eren had barely fired this heavy weapon a couple of times, they had trained in heavy fire teams. But firing while being carried at full speed was different. This was not like moving in his ODM gear, he had no control over movement, he had to rely on the driver to take him to the target so he could cover it with bullets. But it was extremely easy to miss, hitting them in the back of the head was difficult to achieve when they had to make so many twists and turns through debris-covered streets.
The Chimeras fared better, they were not as fast, but their shots were more stable. A twelve-meter titan approached. The Multilaser roared and the titan's flesh burned. One of its legs was severed, the titan fell flat on its face, almost crushing the chimera.
But it was not dead yet.
With a twisted grimace, a parody of a smile. It opened its maw, as it approached the APC. An Imperial guard opened the hatch, and after taking control of the pint mounted Storm Bolter, only a corpse was left of the titan crumbling.
Eren tried to take aim again, but the staccato of heavy caliber rounds hit his pursuer in the face. The damage inflicted by such firepower caused the titan to fall on its face as the motor functions were lost, the autocannon rounds had shattered its brain matter, but had missed the back of its head. In minutes would return, again to try to devour someone in the hope that he would be the one. But that wish was cut short as the twin blades' glow pierced the titan's weak point, finally killing it.
Mikasa flipped in mid-air and landed on top of the giant disintegrating corpse. "Eren." She called out to him. "Stay close to the transports. It's not safe."
He would have reproached her, told her again that he was no longer a child. But gave him chance, she had brought her hand to the communicator, and seemed a little distressed to hear the words transmitted by vox. She turned around and triggered the grappling hooks to withdraw and her body was lifted up by the wires.
Eren didn't care much. For him this was what he wanted. To return home, to avenge his dead. And he was doing it, with the help of the Imperium, they were finally purging the titans. Again he fired, a six-meter titan was reduced to bloody chunks that soon turned to ashes.
"We must regroup." Announced the driver, a soldier of the Empire. Named Miliano, "This Tauros is fast, but if we get hit by one of those rock blasts I don't think we'll survive."
"But what are you talking about?" Eren spat. "We have the advantage! We can kill them fast!"
Miliano would have turned to look at him, but he had to keep his eyes on the road. "Are you crazy? This is a reconnaissance vehicle. I'm not going to risk being swallowed up by those things for you. Besides, I don't know why, but the officers ordered me to keep you close to your captain and that's what I'm going to do."
To much of Eren's discontent, the Tauros turned down the street, they had to reach the center of the district, the Chimera were probably already there, he accelerated, he didn't want to draw the wrath of the officers on his person.
"You have no idea!" Eren spat at him as he punched the upper armor of the Tauros. "What those bastards have done!... How many have they eaten!"
Miliano fought the urge to slow down and face this kid, once upon a time he would have been an idiot cadet like him, but experience had taught him, and he didn't want to see him repeat the same thing. "I've seen my fair share of things I don't want to remember." Miliano paused to make the vehicle shift and turn back around. "And I've experienced things that would make these titans look like a walk in the park..."
For a moment Eren wondered, what could be worse than the Titans? They were monsters, beasts that devoured mankind. And they didn't do it out of hunger, no, it was simply because they wanted to, even after consuming so many people, they would expel them in balls of corpses. His hatred simply increased the more he thought about these creatures. "Impossible..." He told him. "What could be worse than a titan?"
Miliano shrugged and decided not to answer. It was not the time for a conversation, they had to regroup and wait for the armored vehicles.
[X]
Zeke tapped the barrel and considered his options. It was finally time to reveal his trump card. The empire had answered his challenge, and now they were gathering to launch a counterattack.
He had released over two hundred titans in the district. He estimated that they would last at least for the rest of the Imperial forces to catch up. "Are you ready, Berthold?" he asked, as he firmly tapped the barrel a couple of times. A single thump from inside confirmed to him that the young man was ready.
They would take down the enemy in one blow and seize the opportunity to take Eren. They just had to wait for Reiner to give the signal.
[X]
Armin soared through the air using the wall anchor to move from side to side. Along with the others they had been moving this way. They would not risk urban combat against titans, several of which he observed were no taller than the half-destroyed houses in the city.
The bitter memories flowed back to him, the weight of the past hanging on his shoulders as he remembered that fateful day six years ago. The screams and the dead, the sacrifices and the losses. The pain of the loss was still etched in him and many who had sworn to avenge mankind, a vengeance that was now being fulfilled.
"Don't fall behind!" Barked Jean Kirstein, drove his squad with speed, always trying to lead them along routes where there were fewer titans. His objective was clear, to surround the chimeras and wait for reinforcements. Sasha and Connie were with him. Both using the same method as the others, using the walls to defend themselves from the rain of rocks that had fallen until a moment ago.
Levi's squad had been the only one to head for the center of the district, where the battle was hottest. Chimeras were destroying and mowing down dozens of titans, but more and more kept coming. He knew Eren was there, next to Mikasa. He knew they had to protect him, for he still possessed the coordinate.
Armin wondered why they had brought him along. They had considered that Reiner and Berthold should have escaped by now, that's what the imperial officers had said. A search mission in territory with titan presence, why should they care so much? After all, didn't they have the empire with them? Didn't they have a power capable of crushing anything on this planet? Why should they worry?
That had been the mistake that was costing them lives.
"At this rate we'll run out of gas!" Connie complained. "I've only got half of it left!"
And he was right, it had been an immediate deployment, with no resupply plan. They had no supplies and were on their own until reinforcements arrived. Even if they knew the Empire would take the brunt of the damage if they encountered enemies. But against so many titans in such close quarters, it turned it into a battle where they no longer had the advantage.
"Sasha!" they heard someone shout, and as they turned they saw Sasha Blouse fall to the ground, she was trying to fire her harpoon, but the gas had run out. They saw Connie let go to go after her, she dropped, swords drawn. For what lay beneath Sasha was worse than dying from a fall.
A six-meter titan was waiting for her, its jaws open and its arms stretching out, as if welcoming her gladly.
Armin cursed and jumped in too, Jean had beaten him to it, just as Connie was trying to save her. But he knew they wouldn't make it in time.
A storm rolled in, multiple thunderclaps shaking the sky. And out of the corner of his eye Armin saw a silhouette, at the same time as the titan beneath them was reduced to nothing more than pulverized flesh and bones by the barrage of bolter shells that disintegrated it. A few seconds later he could pick up the roar of projectiles that had traveled faster than sound.
Several scouts let out cheers and salutes to the pair of Avengers now flying overhead.
Then came a rumble, and a titan was blown apart with a single shot. In the distance, through the gate, the Leman Russ tank squadron was closing in. Their battle cannons pointed, and echoed through the streets as titans fell one after another.
The tanks advanced through the streets, the soldiers were chanting cheers, as they considered that this battle was already won. The Avengers were turning around for other run, they were regrouping.
And within the walls, hidden, was a man loyal to his homeland, willing to give his people a chance.
The knife in his hand slipped, cutting his wrist.
And lightning struck the earth.
[X]
Ah, that was a long chapter.
I've been considering lowering the number of words I usually use, I always try to reach 10000 words, mostly because, as a reader, I think that would make a better experience at reading a story. But since I take a lot of time to write maybe I should start lowering a bit, at least for other stories, maybe 5000 words?
However,
Something I want to say too,
These days have been… complicated. Mostly because GW, maybe you will know.
However, while I think those kind of themes shouldn't be touched, maybe because I'm Mexican and we have different problems… But I also can't respect how much GW has always tried its customers as just bank accounts. And I'm pretty sure this was another corporate move to deviate attention from GW errors with the animators and Warhammerplus, it's an utter mess.
I will always support the conservation of the Lore we all love, and also won't have problem if someone wants to make something from that lore. It's the main reason why I support for anyone to write anything he or she likes. If you want to write a crossover with RWBY or SU, I don't really bother, it's your story. I say this as a reader. Thus I try to avoid social media, it's really stressing.
Well, I hope we can leave this aside, I felt I could say this here. All this division is pointless.
Keep healthy.
[X]