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
Chapter 19
June 7th 010:00 hrs., AOT Universe, Trost District
Everyone's heard the metaphor that a shark that doesn't constantly remain on the move will die. People have used it to describe the insatiable need for excitement and action which can be found in entrepreneurs, gangsters, businesspeople, creators, and tech gurus. Or it's also been used to describe the reason why serial killers are often unable to restrain their urges to kill, that might have allowed them to get away, or the way some people find it impossible to avoid dangerous situations.
However, one would be far less likely to see it used to describe soldiers risking their lives for their country in dangerous military operations. Yet, as Rico and her squad sat tight on the roofs of the houses that were closest to the hole in Wall Rose, one could hardly find a better description for their current state of suffering and what had gotten them there. They'd come into the district like sharks, brutally cutting down any titans that were unfortunate to cross their past with an ease that made their initial casualties seem minimal and slicing through their enemies like a knife through hot butter. But then they'd been ordered to stop and take cover so as to not be hit by Coalition air strikes, been swarmed by the titans that survived the air strikes, and now they were dying.
"Ma'am, how much longer are we supposed to stay stationary?" the soldier from before, Panchenko, asked as their group huddled at the center of a roof on one of the higher buildings. The question coming from Rico's right as neither she nor any of her squad mates dare to take their eyes off the giant hands that reached over the edge of the roof. Their attempts to grab a hold of one of them, shaking the building's foundation and causing a small number of the roof's shingles to come off as they did so.
"I don't know Panchenko" Rico answered through gritted teeth as she watched several planes from the Coalition's most recent air strike fly off into the distance. Of course, what else was she supposed to say? In theory they should not have been stuck in this scenario, in theory the Rogue Titan and its escorts should have reached their position and begun to plug the hole in Wall Maria by now. In theory far more of Rico's soldiers should have survived.
'So much for theory,' crossing her mind as she raised her binoculars to her bespectacled eyes and searched the horizon gain for any sign of the Eldian Legion column, or even that of one of the Coalition forces. A burning sense of frustration building up insider of her as she was only greeted by the sight of empty streets and the sight of the Rogue Titan seeming to be just as far away as it had a quarter of an hour earlier. As well as the sight of titan riddled streets that lay in between them and the being that was supposed to save them.
'Dammit, what's taking them so long?', again crossing her mind as she almost instinctively ran over the possible scenarios and their outcomes. She could try to send another runner out to try and communicate with the convoy to demand what was taking them so long. Or she could try to use flayers to signal to the other companies around her to attempt to reform a sort of perimeter around their current position, or at the very least to see if anyone else was alive. Then there was always the option to "bury their loses", as she'd heard her superiors sometimes say, and retreat back to a more advantageous position since they'd held up their end of the bargain.
Of course, none of these options came without risks. If she sent out another runner it would take them at least a quarter of an hour to reach their destination and a quarter of an hour to get back, along with an untold amount of time speaking with their superiors. There was also the fact that she'd yet to see hide nor hair of the last runner she'd sent, with the possibility of the runner's fate being something that Rico didn't want to ponder. Then there was the fact that the flares, if fire incorrectly, could either injure the survivors of the squad or get the attention of even more titans, making their bad situation worse. Then there was the fact that if they tried to retreat not only would they take even higher casualties than if they'd stayed but they'd also force their allies to scrub the whole mission.
"Not like there's any real options" she muttered before raising her blades and slashing off a few of the fingers from a hand of one of the titans which had gotten too close for comfort.
"Ma'am!", thankfully pulling her from her thoughts and back to reality as she glanced towards Panchenko.
"It's the Rogue Titan!" coming as the girl pointed off into the distance and sending Rico's gaze back in the direction she'd initially peered, allowing her to be met with the sight of the Rogue Titan slowly barreling towards them. The rock intended to plug the whole in Wall Rose hoisted high above its head in an almost victorious manner.
'Well, looks like they showed up after all,' running through her mind as he gazed at the sight, failing to notice any of the armored vehicles in the convoy that proceeded it.
June 7th 010:02 hrs., AOT Universe, Trost District
While the Eldian Legion and French Foreign Legion went about the glamorous task of reconquering the Trost District, most of the soldier relishing the destructive power of their firearms, and the hefty amount of air support the Eldian Auxiliary, French, and Royal Air Forces gave them. Another individual was currently in the midst of taking part in a smaller, far less glamorous, endeavor; the great trial of staying alive. A trial which had, admittingly, gotten far easier with the small group of survivors that Thomas had managed to run into. Even if their questions were starting to get a bit repetitive.
"I'm sorry" Ionas stated, a look of disbelief coming into his eyes, letting Thomas know what was coming.
"But can you repeat it just one more time?"
"What?' My name? Where I'm from? Or what I do?" Thomas asked, deep down already knowing the man's answer, but still wanting to make sure. After all, considering that this was his fourth time going over the information he was about to say, he wanted to make sure he was a swift and to the point as possible.
"That stuff about your unit and weapons" Ionas eagerly clarified, his eagerness causing the woman next to him, his wife by the name of Anya, to carefully add.
"Not that we don't believe you sir" as she gave a slightly frightened look came into her eyes, the look immediately reminding Thomas of why their unit had spent so much time building relations with several of the farming communities which had surrounded the air base. After the local authorities had parceled off pieces of the farmers land to build the air base.
'What better way to show them you're not a threat'
"I am a pilot, whose part of an escadrille within the Eldian Auxiliary Air Force" he began, pausing briefly and making sure to read the looks on the faces of Ionas, Anya, and their son, Stefen.
"I was assigned to provide cover for the Eldian Legion as they tried to retake this area with the help of the foreign troops you've heard about," he continued, earning himself a few understanding nods.
"But my aircraft was hit, and I had to-"
"You mean the loud, grey, birds in the sky?" Stefen asked, his question earning him a disapproving look from Anya as a smile came over Thomas' face.
"Yes, those grey birds in the sky, we call them Super Étendards, to destroy the titans from the air, but my aircraft was damaged, and I had to bail out".
"And you can beat the Titans?" Anya now asked, leaning forwards as she did so.
"Not stall them, not delay them, but really beat them?"
"That's what I've been told and that's what I've been trained to do" Thomas answered, his response causing Ionas to shake his head in disbelief and mutter.
"That's not possible, I don't believe it"
"With all due respect sir, you'd better believe it" Thomas countered, a sense of pride building in his chest as he did so.
"If my brothers and sisters in arms and I have anything to do with it, I guarantee you that will happen", he almost proclaimed, his words leaving him unprepared for the next question.
"But when?" as Anya clutched Stefen to her chest as she did so, the slight tone of desperation in her voice causing Thomas to deflate slightly.
"I...I don't know", causing the light that had been previously building in the eyes each of the family members to fade slightly.
"But it will happen, and soon, things are changing", he quickly rebounded.
"Do you know why I'm here?"
"Because the Titans destroyed Wall Maria," Stefe frankly stated, suddenly sounding slight older than he had a few moments earlier.
"Yes, but do you know what the military did? We fought back, we destroyed dozens of Titans, and I guarantee that as we speak, they're working to take back this district and repair Wall Maria" Thomas countered, his words causing Ionas and Anya to exchange glances before Anya put a hand on her stomach.
"To think, it's actually possible for there to be peace" she murmured, her words and her happiness returning the pride that Thomas had earlier felt.
"But if that's true, when will they be here?" Stefen asked, sending Thomas' eyes out the nearby window into the street before a single, almost in audible, word slipped past his lips.
"Soon, soon"
June 7th 010:05 hrs., AOT Universe, Trost District
If you were to ask Flight Engineer James Bradley what the feeling was, he hated most, he would have to say the feeling of helplessness. There was just something that feeling of being a powerless bystander, of having no control and no ability to do anything to change his situation, that filled him with not only a sense of frustration that bordered on anger. Yet, as he sat in the back of the VBCI that had rescued him, that was the only way to describe his situation, and for once he didn't entirely mind it.
'Especially considering the alternative' he thought, just as the air was blanketed with the sound vehicles GIAT M811 firing cut through the air, sending his hands to his ears.
"What's going on out there?" coming from him just as the VBCI was shaken by falling debris, the dull thud echoing throughout the interior of the cabin. A question that caused the soldiers nearest to him, a boy, for he couldn't have been more than 18, named Jean Kierstein if he was right, to glance up towards the tiny monitor at the front of the VBCI's passenger cabin.
"We're nearing the site of the hole-" he began, just before the VBCI suddenly turned to the right, sending the soldiers sitting across from James sprawling forwards. With some, like Jean, barely managing to be avoid flying into their compatriots, while others fell right into their compatriots chest and, or, laps, the soldiers in the cabin barely having any time to compose themselves before the vehicle's gun proceeded to fire again.
"I get that" James countered, covering his ears again and barely managing to make himself heard over the firing of the M811.
"But why were we held up for a quarter of an hour after you picked me up?"
"I think it was because some of the lead scout vehicles ran into contacts and we had to support them in order to move on" Jean added, as he sat up.
'Well, I guess that makes sense' running through James' head right before the vehicle's turret ceased firing, allowing the VBCI to begin moving again. The slight movement of the vehicle allowing Hames to see the way that James was once again carefully eying the monitor at the front of the passenger cabin, and that he was clutching his FAMAS rifle a little bit tighter than he had before. The look on the boy's face only becoming more tense as the vehicle continued to near the wall.
"Alright everyone, get ready, we're almost at the contact point" the vehicle's assistant driver stated over the passenger cabin's announcement system, sending the eyes of all the troops inside towards the door.
"Remember to move fast, stay low, and stay away from any place without sufficient cover" the co-driver added, earning him an eyeroll from the soldiers, including Jean.
'I guess that's the infantry equivalent of telling someone to avoid flying straight and level in the combat zone' James though as he looked at their expressions. The vehicle slowly coming to a stop, just as the vehicle's rear door flew open and light flooded into the back to the vehicle.
"Go! Go!", sending the entirety of the squad out of the vehicle, leaving James and the vehicle's crew to watch as the 8 man combat team leave and silently hoping that they survived.
June 7th 010:06 hrs., AOT Universe, Trost District
The moment that Jean had sprinted out of the back of his VBCI he'd felt a rush of adrenaline that he hadn't even felt during the Titan's initial attack on the Trost District a few days before. A rush of adrenaline that was coupled with a distorted sense of distance and a sense of fear that constantly put him on the brink of panicking. As his feet suddenly heavier, his steps felt slower, and the distance he was covering between the VBCI and the nearest piece of cover seemed, so some be getting farther away than closer. Expecting in the back of his mind that at any moment a giant hand would suddenly appear and grab him before hoisting him upwards towards a painful and bloody death.
Even as he crouched behind the remains of what had at once been the base of a wall in the frame of a house, clearly out of sight, he didn't feel safe. Instead, he firmly clutched onto the remains of the wall and firmly held on, half expecting the wall to disappear and leave him exposed to any Titan that happened t be passing by. Which was why the cry of.
"Jean!" and the feeling of something grabbing his right shoulder made him spin around and instinctively switch his safety off, before a single thought could even begin to be formed in his mind.
"Woah" coming from the same person only a second before he pulled the trigger to blow the potential Titan away. Allowing him to pause, think, take in his surroundings, and then realize that he was now pointing his FAMAS directly at the center of Armin's forehead.
"Jean...calm down" slowly coming from the blond-haired boy's mouth, as Jean sat, wide eyed, and heavily gasping for breath. Staring directly at his friend, and superior officer, as his mind finally managed to catch up to his situation.
"S-sorry", he whispered, thankful that his training hadn't entirely kicked in.
"Don't worry" Armin stated, slowly removing his hand from Jean's shoulder and then turning to look out onto the courtyard, muttering.
"There's more than I thought there would be".
The aforementioned "them" was, unsurprisingly, the Titans and the "more of them" was the central part of Jean's stress. While that wasn't to say that there were a lot of Titans remaining, there looked to be only about 6 or 7 most of which were 5 meters in height, it was still more than 1 or, preferably, 0.
"Do you know if we have any of the squad have an AT4?" Armin asked, as he watched another one of the Titans fall after being decapitated by several rapid blasts from the M811 of a VBCI, the severed head barely holding on by a few threads of muscle as the rest of the body motionlessly fell to the stones of the courtyard. It's turned back being a testimony to ability, and the degree to which, the Garrison's distraction forces had managed to gain the attention of the Titans.
"No, at least I don't" Jean answered as he reached his left arm to the left side of his combat pack, adding.
"But if they get too close, we can use these" as he pulled out an AC 58, raising it just as Armin turned so that the blond-haired officer saw him affix the anti-armor rifle grenade to the end of his FAMAS.
"Remember?" he asked, the suggestion seeming to light up Armin's face.
"Good thinking Jean", coming out in approval. Even though the prospect of having to fight the Titans from such a close distance, as would be required to use the AC 58, wasn't ideal, the weapon would at least allow them to pack a punch if one the Titans got too close.
"Though I don't think we'll need to use it" Armin added, sending his gaze over towards the other side of the district's courtyard, where he'd originally been looking. Sending Jean over there just in time to catch sight of a massive green and brown Leclerc Tank driving into the courtyard and scanning the area before turning to the left. Allowing a single, massive, tanned, foot to take an authoritative step into the courtyard, making the ground shake and Jean's spirits rise as he did so.
"Looks like Eren's here sir,"
"Yes, yes he is" Armin added, watching awe struck as the rest of the massive beast come into view, along with the boulder it was holding over its head. Silence temporarily falling on them as they watched Eren slowly, faithfully, continue marching towards the wall; never flinching from his path.
"And we'd better go support him!" Armin added, vaulting over the tiny foundation wall they'd been using for cover.
"Armin, wait!" barely making it out of Jean before the boy had disappeared, leaving the muffin haired boy by himself for a moment.
'Dammit, wait for me' rushing through his mind as he checked the AC 58 and then sprinted out. Eyes quickly scanning the various buildings around him as he continued to dash over the debris strewn across the courtyard. Ducking into a mostly intact building that was only slightly ahead of Eren and carefully peering out of the building's remaining windows, just as he heard.
"Looks like you were able to keep up with me", snapping his gaze over towards the building's interior to find Armin crouching only a few feet away from him, an AC 58 now attached the barrel of his own FAMAS.
"Funny how that works" coming from Jean as he returned his gaze in time to see another Titan, a simple 7-meter-tall monstrosity, get decapitated by a shell that no doubt came from a Leclerc tank's 120 mm CN 12-26 main gun. The single, definitive explosion being far too powerful to be one of the smaller rounds in the VBCI's rapid firing GIAT M811.
"I'm glad they're on our side", subconsciously coming from his as he admired the gory remains of the Titan.
"Look!" cutting his gawking short and sending his gaze up to see a 5-meter Titan suddenly sprint out of nowhere and crossing the courtyard in only a few seconds. Reaching Eren just as it opened its jaws and delivered a powerful bite onto their friend's tanned heel that stopped Eren right in his tracks and caused their friend to let out a single, loud cry of pain.
"You little bastard" Jean muttered, as a cruel smile came over his face as he waited for the sudden explosion of the Titan's head. And waited. And wait. And waited.
'What's taking them so long?' crossing his mind out of impatience.
"I don't think they can take a clear shot" coming from Armi as he broke the silence that had fallen over the two, his words causing Jean to grit his teeth.
"Why not?"
"I think it's because of Eren, the shell's shrapnel or concussion might worsen his injury" Armin clarified, his words coming complete with the sound of the tiny Titan chewing on Eren's heel. A sickening squelching sound coming as it drove its teeth into Eren's Achilles' tendon, causing Eren to let out another cry of pain as he fell to one knee and struggled to keep the boulder above his shoulders. Unable to risk losing his momentum, and his adrenaline rush, by setting the rock down and personally taking care of the little beast; a reality that made Jean grit his teeth even more.
'I may not like the little brat' running through his head as he peaked out from his position, raised his FAMAS so that the grenade would have the proper arc, and took aim.
'But there's no way in hell I'm letting him suffer like this'
"Jean, wait!" barely registering as he pulled the trigger, firing the FAMAS, and sending the AC 58 arching upwards into the air several meters, before it came down on the expected target. Blowing a massive hole right in between the Titan's collar bone and its shoulder, forcing it to let go of Eren as it let out a cry of pain.
"How do you like that?" Jean cavalierly added as the little beast took a few steps backwards from Eren just as Eren used the momentum to begin moving forwards again. His victory being confirmed by the Titan's head, and while upper body for that matter, being vaporized less than a second later. Leaving Jean and Armin to watch with joy, and a slightly terrified awe, as Eren sprinted over to the hole in the wall. Then let out a definitive shriek before slamming the boulder down with such a force that it seemed like the rest of the wall might crumble. All before letting a second, piercing, guttural, almost animalistic roar.
Signaling that, finally, the Battle of Trost was over and, more importantly, that humanity had experience its first undisputable victory.