Disclaimer: I do not own Gate: Jieitai Kano Chi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri while Shingeki no Kyojin is the property of Hajime Isayama, I only own the OCs I create.

"Hi!"=Yelling/Title

"Hi"= Speaking

'Hi'=Thinking

"Hi" = Flashback

'Hi'= Flashback thinking

Hi=Intro

"Hi!"= Flashback Yelling

Author's Note: Hello everybody sorry for the delay. I just wanted to let you all know that I intend to publish at least one chapter every month from now on, and trust the chapters will soon be getting longer. I hope that by doing this I can prevent the story line of the fic from getting all messed up due to rushed updates. Also remember to be smart and stay healthy in these troubling times.

Thank you for electing to read this newest chapter and I hope you all enjoy.

Sincerely,

JackieRobinson

Chapter 15

June 7th 07:00 hrs., AOT Universe, Utopia Aerodrome, Utopia District

If there was one building that Cesar swore he would never find any joy in entering it was without a doubt the briefing hall of an airbase, specifically this airbase. There were few things that an airmen could always count upon in this life; the sun would rise in the west, you would probably never get enough sleep, and seldom anything good came out a briefing. Especially a briefing which was supposed to lay out the planning of a highly anticipated operation, but there was one thing that made Cesar somewhat hopeful as to the outcome of this operation.

They were going up against an enemy that had no training, no capacity for planning, and no knowledge of how combat a foe that was just as good or better than them. It also helped that the last time his escadrille had taken flight against the titans each of them that had managed to get off the ground had managed to make mincemeat out of any they'd face.

'But that's no reason to get cocky, after all it came at a price' he thought as he shifted in his seat and let out a yawn, trying to shake off the 6 am start they'd had that morning. By no means the earliest he'd ever woken since he'd joined the Foreign Legion, or since he'd begun aiding in the training of the Eldian Foreign Legion, but it was the earliest he'd risen in a while.

"Alright everybody listen up" the staff officer in charge shouted as he proceeded to walk into the briefing room and stand at the podium. Pausing briefly as he surveyed the room, no doubt taking in the many yawns that the members of the escadrille were giving off; with many of the newer members vigorously rubbing their eyes in an attempt to wake up. Prompting Cesar to have a single thought cross his mind.

'You're enjoying this aren't you'

"As most of you know the brass at the top have been mulling over an attack since the 5th, unfortunately due to...technicalities the original date of the 6th had to be post poned" the officer began, causing a round of groans to go throughout the tiny room. After all almost everyone in the room knew exactly what the "technicalities" most likely were and who, or more specifically what branch of the Eldian military, they had been caused by.

"Anyways, here's the operation, according to the information before me it should be a rather simple affair" the officer began again, raising his voice and causing all of the groaining that had previously begun to fill the room.

"Orders are for a 0815 hrs. take off with expectations that you'll be over the target are withing 5 minutes, you're mission is to provide air support for a seek & destroy ground mission that will elimate all enemy hostiles in the Trost District and seal up the hole in Wall Rose; specifically focusing on titans above 5 meters tall" the officer stated, before glancing down at his file and adding.

"As is practical; in order to do this properly we'll be equipping your Super Étendards with the maximum payload of bombs and missiles available, so your mobility will be at an all time minimum"

'That's an understatment, they must really be expecting us to dish out some fire power' Cesar thought as he leaned back in his chair, mentally trying to figure out how he was going to perform the hefty task of engaging the titans in Trost while avoiding stalling out. A responsibility that he found challenging and was made even worse when he began to factor in that he'd have to get the rest of his escadrille to do the same.

'Well at least they've given me some time to mull it over'

"You are to remain over the target as long as possible and are to utilize your rockets and bombs as well as possible" the officer finished, causing a silence to fall over the room. As most of the new pilots probably realizing the size of the responsibility that had just been placed on their shoulders and that unlike their first adhock engagment with the titans this one was to be regulated. They weren't simply being told to counter-attack and disengage when it suited them, they had actually objective on this mission that they had to take out if there was to be any hope of victory.

"Look I know your last engagment wasn't easy, it never is, but the task assigned to you today is one that's been assigned to every airmen & women in the Coalition Air Force; if the mission is to have any chance of success" the officer clarified while extending an arm. Trying his hardest to emphasis not only the importance of the importance of the mission, but also how daunting it no doubt seemed to the members of the Eldian Auxiliary Corps.

"Any way, good luck and Faire face" the officer stated, prompting the entirety of the room to answer with.

"Faird face" before he exited, leaving them to think over what they'd just been told. Causing a gloomy aura to slowly begin to creep into the room like a foul odor, much to the annoyance of Cesar.

"Do you think we have time to get to the mess?" a voice asked, prompting Cesar to glance and see it that it came from Sasha and was aimed at Mina and Fritz, the two auxiliaries seated to her immediate left. Both of whoom seemed to be staring at the ground with a sort of forelorn look on each of their faces, as though they were in the midst of planning their own funerals. Or expecting someone to suddenly come up and begin planning it for them.

'Get those thoughts out of your heads, you won't last five minutes in the combat zone like that, the first to go on any mission are those who are reckless and those who are controlled by their fear' Cesar thought as he rose from his chair and made his way to the room's entrance. Failry confident that an intervention from his would make the situation worse rather than better.

"Cesar" a voice, which he already knew to be Joseph's, called causing him to paue in the door way.

"What do you want to do about all of this?" the man ask, causing Cesar to frown as he thought; trying to choose his words carefully, before eventually deciding on.

"Buck up their spirits as best you can, but get them to the mess, food might take their minds off the task ahead of them" and with that he exited the room, heading towards the building he did not love but most certainly did not loathe.

June 7th 8:15 hrs., AOT Universe, Coalition Headquarters, Ehrmich District

It amazing how much one can become accustomed to and how quickly one can adjust to it. For example when one begins excersizing doing 25 push ups can be a painful task the first time around, some people can't do it. However, the second the push ups get a little easier, and then the third it gets even easier, so that eventually 25 push ups is too easy; so you do even more and when that becomes easy you do more.

This ability to adapt, while deemed desirable by companies in the civilian sectors, is nothing short of critical to the military; it's what can separate an elite army from a glorified militia, it's what can win battles, or can help an army to survive. It's why so many armies focused on drilling discipline and adaptability into the soldiers that are enlisted or drafted into it. So unsurprisingly it was this training that made it so that, inspite of how weary he felt, General Dreyfus was currently thanking his old drill instructors for having made him recognize his adaptability.

"Why the hell do you all think it took 6 Coalitions, a naval blockade, and the Russian winter to defeat Napoleon? Because they were the only things he could not or did not adapt to! If the 3rd Republic had adapted in the 20s & 30s we would have beated the Wehrmacht and if the Soviets or Americans had tried to adapt their battle tactics to the topography of Afghanistan and Vietnam they wouldn't have been stupid enough to stay there more than a year!"

'I wonder if he would say the same thing about our military venture over here?' he thought before letting out a long sigh before lifting his cup of coffee of his mouth and taking another mouthful of the warm liquid he despised. Or had previously despised before he'd been forced to have cup after cup of Eldian tea forced in front of him. Causing to find the beverage he'd previously declared to be irredemably bitter to now be almost be unbearably sweet, but the apparent overcompensation was more than enough for Dreyfus.

'Now if only I could get my hands on some hot chocolate, then the world would be complete' he thought as he gleefully drained the cup of its contents.

"General, may I have a minute" a voice suddenly called, causing Dreyfus to suddenly stop drinking and allow a pocket of air to enter into his throat as he unconsciously gulped; causing him to develope a caughing fit while chocking out the word.

"Yes"

"Hope I didn't disturb you sir, but Commander Pixis wanted me to let you knopw that all the Garrison troops available for the operation have gathered in front of the entrance point" the man, who turned out to be an aid, stated. Causing Dreyfus to give a wave of his right hand while he leaned back in his chair, now gasping to managed to regain control of his breathing.

"Good, good, you're dismissed" Dreyfus stated, finally having gained control of his breathing just in time for the aid to give a salute before turning and exiting the room.

'My friend, I hope that you are as well versed in the realm of adaptability as you look to be; because if you have not made that clear to your subordinates and they don't do what must be done, you might as well be ringing the dinner bell' he thought as he looked down at the large map plan that lay in front of him.

'I hope that you all can adapt'

June 7th 8:30 hrs., AOT Universe, Trost Gate, Ehrmich District

Commander Dot Pixis was a man who had seen, or had like to think he had seen, almost everything that the kingdom he served could offer in his life. As a civilian he'd seen many a beautiful spring, toiled through many a hot summer, counted the harvests of many a fall, and sat snugly in a warm house during many a brutal winter. As a soldier he'd witnessed many bold recruits reduced to sniviling wimps, wathed man a Eldian toil under his protection, huddled next to many fires for warmth, and seen many acts of kindness to aid the civlians he was tasked with protecting.

But this, Pixis had never before seen this in his life. He'd never seen over 4 dozen armored carriges, called "tanks" and reccon vehicles" by foreigners, lined up in a single file line as far as the eye could see. He'd never heard a roar produced by anything that could rival the cries of the titans, and yet since these carriages had started up their "engines" the deaening sound caused him to flinch. He'd never seen an army look so disciplined, professional, and dangerous when not on perade; but most importantly, he'd never felt so confident that the fortunes of the Eldians would ever change.

'And a victory will make them irreversable from this day forwards' he thought as he found himself surveying the large convoy of vehicles for the umpteenth time, the sight proving no less appealing then when he'd done it the first time.

"Commander Pixis" a young voice called, causing Pixis to turn and find himself face to face with a young boy no older than 16 standing at a tention. Remiding him that never before had been so aware of the deficiencies that lay within the Eldian military's equipment and higher military staff. A staff that seemed so concerned for their own saftey that they sent the old men & women of the Garrison's soon to be discharged units and the youth of the Cadet Corps to help fight a battle that even their most elite units would find hard to win.

"Yes private?" Pixis asked, returning the courrier's salute.

"We have just received word that it's 'zero hour'" the man stated, the odd term used by the foreigners to describe the time when their operations would start rolling off the boy's tongue better than it did that of Pixis'.

"What are you orders?"

"Let the operation commence" he responded in a firm tone that fully disguised his person feelings to the battle, knowing that once the words left his lips there was no pulling them back. With that the young man turned towards a man with a flag behind him and gave the signal, with the man nodding before stepping forawrds to the edge of the viewing platform where they stood. Before raising his flag and dropping it dramatically while the young cadet walked off, no doubt returning to his own unit with whome he would most likely die.

With that the head officer of the lead Leclerc tank, one of 24 which had been fully committed to the operation, gave a nodd before slapping the top of his tank and turning to face the gate. Which slowly opened, revealing the houses on the other side to the trained guns of this specific convoy; luckily there were no titans waiting on the other side of the wall to charge into the Ehrmich District. Revealing that the information gathered by the foreigner's "drones" that all of the three entrances to the Trost District were correct.

'May we beseech the mercy of the fates and the web they have spun for those involved on this day' Pixis thought as the tanks slowly inched forwards after the three individuals. As the gathered figures on top of the gatehouse also proceeded to leap from their positions on top of the wall as the tanks slowly began to inch forwards into a hostile combat zone.

June 7th 8:15 hrs., AOT Universe, Trost District

There's an eery feeling about entering into a besieged city that any soldier, medic, relief worker, or combat jorunalist can attest to; a feeling that all of the life that once dominated the city has left. No birds chirp, no dogs bark and not a soul can be seen, even the towns rats and mice are seldom seen; instead hiding in themselves deep in their nests and holes. The only sound that can often be heard is the faint buzzing of the area's growing fly population that's currently devouring the carcases of the sieges victims, in this case the sound was added to by the earth shaking footsteps of the titans.

It was this sight, along with the foul stench of the district's dead who had been forgotten during the hasty retreat of the area that caused to wish that the commander of his VBCI hadn't felt the need to peer out from his hatch. Even if it was the normal tactic used to aid in the vehicle's ability to survey its surrounding area.

"What's the problem Daz? Lost your stomach" an emotionless voice asked him, causing him to look across and see his medical squadmate across from him sporting a disinterested expression on her face.

"No, it's just" Daz began, before a particularly foul wave of the smell came into the vehicle causing him to instinctively gage.

"I can't stand the smell" he finished, before pinching his nose; seemingly without hesitation Annie proceeded to withdraw a small white and reck pack from her breast pocket and place it in his hand. With him realizing what it was when she withdrew her's.

"Annie I don't-"

"Ah shut up and take 'em" she stated in an off handed manner, looking away with disinterest.

"They give 'em to me faster than I can get rid of 'em" she stated firmly before adding.

"Besides you can just lift 'em up to your nose, nobody says you had to smoke 'em" leaving Daz with no room for protest before he did just as she instructed him, amazed to see her pull out a second pack and lift it to her own nose before looking our through one of the windows of VBCI. Causing Daz to mind his own business and leave Annie to her own thoughts.

If Daz's thoughts were on the horrendous smell around them, Annie's were more focused on the action happening to them or more specifically the lack of action. It had been several minutes since their company had entered into Trost and, surpringly, there had been little to no contact made between them and the titans. Most of whom could were seen off in the distance, wildly chasing after something or someone.

'It looks like their end of the bargin is working' Annie thought as she continued to look out of the window, her mind wondering back to the briefing they'd received before the mission had begun.

"It's a very simple operation," the lieutenant assigned to them had stated as he pointed to the large map of the Trost District with his pointer.

"With the goal to plug up the hole in outer part of Wall Rose, our part is to provide an armed escort with Private Eren Yeager to the designated disembarking point where we will release him to transform into his titan form and use a rock our engineers have found to plug in the hole" he finished, using the pointer to guide a line down the road and stoppinf at what looked to be the outline of a large courtyard. Before asking.

"Now are there any questions?" a statement which had caused Daz's hand to almost instantly.

"Yes, doctor?"

"If you don't mind me saying so sir, that's a long road we'll have to move down, how will we get there without being ambushed by titans?" it was an honest question, a good question, and yet judging by the Lieutenant's face it was as though the question was something of a personal blot on his honor.

"The Eldian military higher ups have...volunteereed their forces to seve as a distraction, they'll be tasked with pulling the titans away so that they can be destroyed by the air forces" the lieutenant stated in a quick and clinical manner.

"This action will no doubt be costly, so should you run into any of them who our wounded you are under orders to gie them the same aid as you would give one of your fellow legionnaires" he added, before turning to continue on with the instruction of the mission.

'Crazy, all of them crazy, and all of it so pointless' Annie thought as she watched a titan collapse, while others were continuing to swat at the air and grab wildly. One had to wonder how many losses the Garrison and Cadets had taken so far, how many would they have by the end of the day, and how many more would they have to stomach if the operation succeeded and they came one step closer to beating the titans. What would it mean for Reiner, Berthold, and her own intentions?

There were so many questions but no time to answer them as the VBCI suddenly came to a halt, causing everyone in it to be jostled around and prompting all eyes to fall upon the drivers at the front. As the lower mechanism of the turret suddenly turned to the right, which gave Annie the opportunity to climb over and into the turret to get a better look through the turret's machine gun port.

While the view allowed from the hole was incredibly limited it gave Annie a better vantage point then she'd had from her original spot, allowing her to see the medium sized titan that was slwoly lumbering towards her vehicle. The monster carrying a particularly dumb look on its face as it seemed to smile gleefully at the convoy. Or at least that's at least how the beast appeared to look; until Annie noticed the limp body that it was clutching in its right hand, no doubt the creature's last victim, which caused her to notice the soldier next to her shiver.

She might have done so as well, knowing how easy it would be for the titan to pick up this little vehicle and shake it until all the crewmembers held inside its metal walls fell out, if it hadn't been for the sound of a canon going off. Followed by the sound of something whizzing through the air and the sight of an impact occuring on the front of titan's neck, before there was an explosion that blew out the back of it.

The explosion being so powerful that it caused the head of the small titan to be completely separated from the main body and jetiscend into the air. With it flying so high that it quickly left Annie's field of view, it's impact on the ground only being indicated by a faint thud off in the distance.

"We got one" the legionnaire next to Annie muttered, seemingly impressed by the actions of his felow convoy members, causing her to roll her eyes almost instinctively.

'Don't get too excited, it wasn't one of the hard ones'

"Sir, we've got a titan approaching from the north-east" the assistant drive shouted, causing Annie to feel the turret suddenly turn in that direction as its operator went to adjust his position. With the turret eventually stabilizing before the operator pressed the fire button, causing the turret to begin spewing rounds in the direction of the titan, with them impacting the monster's skin.

With the operator raising the elevation of the VBCI's main gun based in where the rounds were hitting the titan, causing one to finally slam into the titan's left eye; tearing a huge chunk out of the thing's head. Prompting it to let out a loud cry of pain before clutching it's face.

"Dammit Laurent, you need aim for the neck not the face" the assistant driver cursed.

"Sorry sir" the gunner responded as he continued to attempt to adjust the angle of the vehicle's turrent. Only for a large boom to be heard right before the neck was exploded, once again jetasining the creature's head. Before the vehicle once again began moving forwards the mission objective.

"Hey, how long we gonna have to stay in here? The tin can drivers are having all the fun" one of the legionnaires asked, causing Annie to move out of where she was standing to look at him.

"Trust me, when we get out of here you'll wish that these 'tin can drivers' were doing all the shooting for us" she stated, before sitting in her spot and returning her gaze to the small viewing hole she'd been peering out of. Watching the chaos taking place several meters away from her as the titans expelled most of their energy attacking the Eldians who were flying around them. Only able to wonder at the chaos which they were enduring.