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 22

June 14th, 12h00, Coalition Military Cemetery, Yarckel District

While the generals of the Coalition and Eldian military forces were in the midst of planning for their future, some of their soldiers were busy trying to properly execute their own assignment. An assignment that had found Cesar and a few other representatives from his unit donning their ceremonial parade uniforms that they had, thankfully, not been made to wear since they, and other units in the Eldian Legionary Forces, had performed their first swearing in ceremony.

'Still just as uncomfortable' running through Cesar's head as he watched several of the other representative members of the Eldian legion who'd been selected to join the Eldian Air Guard at the exchange ceremony also fidget in their own parade uniforms. Proving that they had also begun their equally decadent parade ground uniforms to be just as unwieldly as Cesar had, making the young Frenchman happy that he hadn't been assigned the physically demanding duty of aiding to carry the coffins of the deceased.

An already tricky feat that required those who were assigned, or volunteered, to do it to stand in the shape of rectangle before placing the coffin on the interior shoulder of every member of the group, the right shoulder for those on the left and left shoulder for those on the right. Made all the more difficult by the sleek, unwrinkled, and in some cases partially polished parade uniforms that lacked any all sort of naturally shoulder support straps that could be added onto an active-duty uniform; an added weight that was comfortable.

'Well, once you get used to it and the pack that comes with it' crossing Cesar's mind before a call of.

"Sir", pulled him from his thoughts and made him turn his attention to Joseph.

"We're about to start", being met with a nod from Cesar before the two of them glanced over to the slightly less opulently dressed members of the Eldian's Garrison Division who stood opposite to them.

It had taken several days, a little over a week to be specific, in order for the exact details of how the burial and body exchanges for the fallen members of the Eldian Legion would take place. The first plan had been to simply bury the deceased members of the Eldian Legion in France, the place they'd taken an oath to aid in any military conflict as long as it maintained a defense treaty with their homeland, but this had led to problems regarding the ability for their families to pay their respects and visit them.

The second idea, unsurprisingly suggested by the Eldians, was for a standard burial in the Eldian military tradition of post-battle cremation and the conceding of the French citizenship that had been promised to Eldian Legionnaires when they joined the task force. Naturally, this had also been rejected, especially after an independent journalist from the BBC had been able to use their connections to write an expose on not only the horrendous treatment that Eldian prisoners received whilst in Eldian custody. As well as the fact that several relatives of the deceased legionnaires, extended family members to be specific, had been arrested not long after their relatives passing for acts of "treason", which had boiled down to discussing the possibility of relocating to the part of the kingdom controlled by the Coalition or to France itself.

A conflict which had forced the Coalition high command and Eldian monarchy to eventually come to their current compromise.

'Still, you'd think the monarchy would send delegates from a higher branch to welcome back their fallen' Cesar thought as he took his position as the third in the procession line.

'Then again none of these people died for the King, they died for their families and for France, and possibly French citizenship, so they're more like Prodigal sons returning home then long-lost relatives'

"Attention!" cutting through the quit chatter of the crowd and Eldian soldiers, while causing all the representatives of the Eldian Legion to stand straight up. Each of the pallbearers somehow managing to do this in spite of the weight that they collectively carried on their shoulders.

"Nearly two weeks ago our Alliance was grace with a victory, the first, and undoubtably far from last, one of our war," the French political attaché, a man with glasses, pale skin, and combed over hair began, pausing to allow for the Eldian next him to translate his words to the local Eldian dialect and causing his speech to be broken up into smaller segments.

"It saw us retake Trost, push the titans back, and ease all pressure on the Gate and your settlement,"

"But this battle was not one without sacrifice and many of our own made the ultimate sacrifice for the security of this goal over 500 of your own comrades perished while 52 Eldian pilots and Legionnaires joined them in death,"

'And they now stand watching us from the afterlife,' Cesar thought, subtly glancing to his left, then his right, to see the sight of families who had been gathered together for the ceremony, many of whom were weeping. The sight of them, their sullen faces, and their tears, prompting Gilles to mentally add.

'And their families watch us from the peripheries, all charging us to not make their sacrifices in vain', before glancing back to the podium where the French and Eldian representatives stood.

"And it's for these reasons we return the fallen back to you and that we extend their right to French citizenship and the right to reside in the civilian areas of Coalition monitored zones, bought with their blood and dedication to duty, to you", seeming to have a greater impact on the Eldian representatives than the families of the fallen. Especially after the point was repeated by the Eldian translator to the ears of those in attendance, no doubt making it clear that the policy was not merely an ideal possibility, but a guaranteed certainty.

"Ils sont mort pour la France, mais ils sont vos enfants (They died for France, but they were your children)" ending the speech and prompting the French military band to begin playing a version of Chopin's funeral march. The starting of the music sending the entirety of the procession forwards, the lot of them slowly making their way towards each of the assigned grave. The first three in the procession being selected head representatives from the Eldian Legion, Eldian Air Guard, and Eldian general staff and was followed by groups of six; each sub-group being led by a soldier with a photo of the deceased that was taken as part of the swearing in ceremony, the four pallbearers, and an individual with a folded unit banner.

Several of the Garrison Corps members marching out to meet them, also in groups of four, standing across from the Legionnaires and Air Guard pallbearers at the grave. The two groups being met with a single member of the deceased's families, who received the Medal for the War Wounded that the soldiers would have received had they survived their wounds. The odorous duty causing a middle aged, or middle aged, man to step forwards from a group that had three children. Cesar instinctively giving a salute before turning, picking up the medal, and then turning to give it to the man as the name.

"Antoni Bartosz" was called by the attaché, the middle aged, or middle aged looking, man struggling to hold a straight face as Cesar placed the medal in his hand. The two of them holding their gaze for a split second before Cesar let go and stepped back, his gaze briefly falling on the group, presumably family, the man had come from before, out of the corner of his eye, he watched the other groups perform the same action.

'I wonder what will happen to them' crossing his mind as the pallbearers placed the coffin on the casket lowering device, allowing the lead member to begin cranking the machine's starting leaver; slowly lowering the coffin into the grave. Each coffin disappearing below the surface before each grave was filled in and the unit was allowed to turn around and return to their starting point; the sight of the suffering causing a final thought to move through Gilles mind.

'There'll be more of them, and I hope to God we win, it's the only way to make their sacrifice worth it'


June 14th, 14h00, Common Market, Trost District

Far from the funeral ceremony, Annie Leonhart was standing in the middle of a market, specifically the first market to have reopened in the Trost District since the area was recaptured by the Coalition and Eldian forces. The frustrated look on her face doing more to make her stand out from the majority of the people in the crowd than her cigarette or off-duty uniform did separately or combined.

'Where are those two idiots' crossing her mind as she took another puff from her cigarette in an attempt to not look as frustrated as she felt, despite barely being able to stand the pungent smell of the tobacco and glanced over the crowd going by. Never once failing to make note of the various people, mostly children, who seemed to give a passing glance as they went by.

'They were the ones who insisted on being in this public of a place and to be early, and they've-'

"Ah, I see you showed up early" pulling her from her thoughts and sending her attention over towards the tall blond and medium height black haired men she was expecting.

"Yeah," she muttered, tossing the cigarette she'd been smoking to the ground, then griding it into the stony road beneath her feet.

"Wish I could say the same thing about you", her frustration coming out in the pointed nature of her comment, but only being met by a dismissive shrug from Reiner before he glanced around.

"We can't talk here", and then signaled for them to go further into the alley they were standing in front of. A command that Annie and Bertholdt met with synchronized nods of agreement before heading that was, with Annie throwing a cautionary glance behind them as went. Not removing her gaze from the entrance of the alley until the people of the street were little more than glorified blurs and their loud chatter had been dulled into a general drone that was barely understandable.

"This should be far enough," authoritatively coming from Reiner and stopping the trio's movements, his declaration coming just as the usual back ally odors that Annie had briefly forgotten reached her nose. The symbolism hardly being lost on her, just as Reiner let out a sigh and then began their first meeting with the question of.

"So, what are we going to do?"

"Really? First time we meet in over a month and that's the first thing you say," Annie retorted, failing to see the point of continuing their meeting if Reiner didn't have anything more specific, or useful, to say.

"This isn't some sort of friendly get together where you can spontaneously decide the agenda, or do I need to remind you that we're breaking the lay", she continued, now causing a look of irritation to appear on Reiner's face.

"I know," he muttered, gritting his teeth for a split second.

"That's why I called you, that and the development with the Yeager brat"

"Oh, you mean the development that's over three weeks old? I'm pretty sure that our foreign friends have already put him to plenty of good use" Annie scolded, still not impressed with her coconspirator's analysis of the situation.

"I think," Bertholdt cut in, earning him the attention of Annie.

"Reiner means that he wants to know what we should do about Eren", then earning him an eyeroll from her.

"Once again, a little late, they already know what they want to do with him, hell, they've already used him for what he's worth"

"What makes you think that?" Reiner challenged, his question making Annie extremely tempted to face palm at her coconspirators' lack of any political or military imagination.

'Sometimes I think I have to think for the three of us', briefly crossing her mind.

"They needed him to plug that stupid hole you made in Wall Rose; they'll probably use him to do the same for Shinganshina before clearing out the rest of the island with their air forces"

"Then we'll just need to get him before they take Shinganshina" Bertholdt suggested, causing Annie to let out a long sigh at the boy's lack of vision.

'Am I the only capable of seeing the obvious?' running through her mind as she crossed her arms.

"Then they'll just clear the island anyways, we know they have the firepower, in fact they might have managed to pull it off already if the stupid mandate that they used to come here didn't handcuff them to working with us," she continued, before pointing an accusatory finger at Reiner and adding.

"Face it, this whole plan's been FUBAR since they first got here" the accusation causing Reiner to furrow his eyebrows in obvious displeasure at her words. However, it was the period of silence that came after he declaration that made it crystal clear to her that far from being part of a frustration-based rant, her accusation was right on target. The plan, the entirety of the plan, had been so thoroughly liquidated by the appearance of Eren's titan form and the Coalition that their current circumstances that to continue it would not simply be stupid, but possibly even suicidal.

They truly were in brand new territory, and it was clear that it was this uncertainty that had caused Rainer to organize their little meeting. A meeting which, as much as Annie may have hated to admit it, was starting to unnerve her, particularly when it came to the fact that their usually bullish leader hadn't immediately countered her accusation with a somewhat witty retort.

'Oh, for God's sake say something!' running through Annie's mind as she watched Reiner ball his right hand into a first while Bertholdt looked towards the taller boy.

"Reiner, that's not true, right?" he asked, more than a twinge of fear audible in his voice. his question only being met by another period of protracted silence before the blond-haired boy finally opened his mouth.

"So, what if it is," signaling Reiner's return to his usual attitude in all its reassuring, and annoying, glory.

"We can still capture the founding titan"

"You're right," Annie relented, earning herself a surprised look from Bertholdt.

"He is?", making it clear how surprised he was that she was agreeing with either of their analysis, especially that of Reiner.

"Yeah, he is," Annie repeated, pretending that she didn't note the boy's subtle, and most likely unintended, accusation of being overly argumentative.

"But only if he's willing to let the coalition due the hard work for us, let them clean out the titans, reorganize the military here, let them discover how corrupt the monarchy is, and let them get rid of it so we can capture the founding titan before heading home"

"That's a lot of responsibility to put on foreigners who can barely speak our language" Reiner cut in, folding his arms as he did so, a gesture that Annie only met with a carefree shrug.

"Maybe it is, but it's the one I'm sticking with unless you've got a better idea," her qualifier, and slight ultimatum, silencing both her coconspirators.

"That's what I thought" she added before turning to leave the alley, briefly pausing to add.

" And don't think I'm going to turn coat and rat on you, we're all too deep in this mess for a plea bargain work" then left, her reassurance doubling as a warning to her compatriots. Knowing that, as long as none of them did anything rash to drive their plan forwards, everything would fall into place eventually.


June 21st, 17h00, Coalition Headquarters, Ehmrich District

If there was one thing that Dreyfus had picked up during his career as a military officer, it was the priceless nature of patience. Patience could serve as the difference between victory and defeat, between catching the enemy off guard by lulling them into being complacent and taking the bait one laid for them or springing a trap too soon and walking into a massacre. However, as he sat at his desk at the Coalition's Ehmrich headquarters with the final plans for the offensive Commander Ernwin had pitched to the Coalition leaders, even he had to admit he was becoming impatient.

Impatient with the Eldians, impatient with the Coalition's political observers & attachés, impatient with the journalists who seldom ever followed the clear rules given to them. Frankly, it would be easier to draw up a list of who wasn't texting his patience, a thought which sent his gaze back to the plans which he'd received from one of his staff officers.

The whole thing was, or at least looked to be, a run of the mill military operation that would utilize the full extent of the weapons which laid in the collective arsenal of the Coalition and Eldian militaries broken into three groups. The first group, consisting of the few SAS units which had been assigned to the Coalition, some Belgian Expeditionary Force units, and the Survey Corps, would be tasked with the forward scouting of towns and positions ahead of the main column. Their main goal being to serve as monitors of Titan activities when the air force units had to refuel or take on more ordinance while also entertaining the possibility of initially securing the various crossroads and villages that were key to the operation. Of all the groups in the operation Dreyfus was fairly sure that this one would take the most causalities due to being lightly armed, which was also why they weren't supposed to get into any unnecessary engagements.

'Which is why Erwin was determined to not have us make up the majority of the units doing it'

The second group, consisting of heavy armor and infantry units, would represent the main, and slower moving, military column that would take place in the operation, consisting of the Foreign Legion, Canadian military, and remaining British military. They would be tasked with bringing the firepower and destroying any Titan that got in their way, serving as the backbone of the operation who would secure the areas after the first taken or scouted by the first group and theirs would be the lion share of the load. Finally, there was the air element, consisting of the French Armee de l'Air, Eldian Air Guard, new Royal Air Force, and Royal Canadian Air Force units who would be tasked with roving around and destroying every titan that crossed their path while also providing support for the army columns. Ideally, if the air units were successful, the second group would not have to face more than a few dozen Titans.

'The whole thing reeks of Market Garden' Dreyfus thought, taking into account the endless number of timetables and the incessant need to adhere to them at all costs. A particularly Eldian feature of the military operation that had remained central to the entirety of the plan in spite of the extensive effort that Dreyfus and his fellow commanders had tried to get it removed.

'But with the diplomatically imposed requirement of joint military operations we have to do something to give the Eldians a feeling of self-determination' he mentally added, a slight smile crossing his face at the memory of Erwin's words.

"I have spoken to my superiors and have been told the plan is brazen and somewhat reckless" the man had admitted, his self-criticism being followed by Commander Dok's addition of.

"Not to mention that none of your previous expeditions have brought back sufficient evidence on the Titans or gained enough territory to justify the sacrifice of men and resources that they entail"

"But it seems to be the only noteworthy military idea I've been offered by your general staff since my arrival," Dreyfus had stated, a point which had earned him the attention of both men.

"So, I will seriously consider it"

'Better that than releasing Ere for some glorified show trial' he thought, reminiscing on the one sticking point that had continued to be a thorn in his side and even drew the attention of his superiors.

"May I propose a deal?" Zackley had asked at the end of their second, and thankfully last, day of meetings on the subject.

"Not if it requires us to seed total control of Private Yeager to your government" Dreyfus had replied, earning himself a nod and reassurance of.

"Don't worry, it won't" from Zackley, the compromise meaning a temporary stay on the headache inducing stubbornness of the Eldian delegation.

"Then feel free to propose almost anything"

"Wat if we were to come to a compromise that met the needs of both our superiors? We would agree to fully support Commander Erwin's operation in exchange for a hearing on the subject of Private Yeager"

"Hearing?" Dreyfus had asked with a raised eyebrow before suspiciously remarking.

"I didn't think your government did 'hearings'"

"Hearing, inquiry, the point would remain the same, to let our superiors publicly inquire as to the intentions of your military forces as well as the feelings of Private Yeager" Commander Dok cut in, the suggestion being met with a moment of silence from Dreyfus. It wasn't a horrible idea after all, and while one could question the ethics of using such a quid-pro-quo strategy no one could question its legality as long as no one signed any official paper.

"It seems satisfactory," Dreyfus began as he leaned back in his chair.

"On one condition"

"Which is?" Zackley asked in a reserved manner.

"That this inquiry does not happen until after Erwin's operation, that way both sides will have more information to draw from during the hearing" Dreyfus clarified, mentally adding.

'And we can have enough time to coach Eren in how these things work as well as having insurance in case you try to screw us'

For a few moments there had been complete silence between the two groups as Zackley not doubt considered the terms, the benefits of the deal, and how he was going to explain this to his king, should he agree to it before finally relenting.

"I will see what can be done"

'And so here we are, still seeing what can be done' Dreyfus bitterly thought as he reminisced over the most recent addition of Eldian procrastinating, a round which had already delayed the response to his proposition by a week.

'At this rate we'll be-'

"Sir!" a voice cried, snapping Dreyfus from his musings and over to the doorway of his officer where a staff officer stood with a note in her hands.

"We've got news from the Eldians, they've agreed to the terms of the deal surrounding Erwin's operation and say they willing to dedicate their best forces to the operation so we can start as soon as possible", the news causing Dreyfus to rise from his seat, cross the room, take the paper, and quickly read over it before declaring.

"Good, tell them we'll go on Monday"

"But sir, that's only seven days," the young staff officer inquired, a surprise coming across her face.

"What about the preparations and rehearsal for the operation?"

"All the soldiers and airmen on our end have operated more complex operations with less preparation that what we're giving them," Dreyfus began, glancing over to the operations map.

"Besides, the sooner we go the better, we've got them on the run"

'And who knows what excuses the Eldians might come up with if we wait,'

"Right, sir" the staff officer added before turning and hurriedly exiting the room, leaving Dreyfus with a single thought of.

'Now I need to contact General Lecointre and the President, I have a feeling that the Eldians don't know the difference between an inquiry and a courts martial'

Author's Note

Hello there everyone,

Don't worry this is the last chapter before Erwin's expedition outside of the wall and the Female Titan Arc, so the next few chapters will feature a lot more action than the last few. One of the main problems I found with my earlier chapters, and other writings, was that there was very little set up before action chapters meaning that the chapters felt very jerky when it came to pacing, that and I didn't explain many of the political cogs of how an operation like this would take place. Also, as mentioned before, The Female Titan Arc, and the rest of the story, will heavily deviate from the canon storyline, so even if the outcomes are the same the pathways taken to the outcomes will be extremely different. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter and have a nice summer.

Sincerely,

Jackie Robinson