Chapter Six.
The briefing room was tense as both Garrison and Survey Corps soldiers gathered around the room, their eyes plastered upon their counterparts as they questioned their abilities, the Garrison medics were unsure if the Survey Corps soldiers could properly protect them while they were over the wall providing medical support and the Survey Corps soldiers questioned the medic's fighting ability against the Titans. Questions filled the heads of every soldier as they were unsure about the sudden change in plans with the expedition so close, many feared that all the confusion would create chaos and only stack their causalities higher. However, Erwin was confident in his plan and thus was his reasoning for calling all the higher ranked members of both forces into the briefing room the day after the arrival of the Garrison medics.
Ian was one of the members at the briefing as he sat at the far end of the table with all his fellow Garrison leaders to his left, while the higher ranked soldiers of the Survey Corps sat across from them on the opposite of the table. Of the medical attachment there was only six higher ranked soldiers within the group; a single squad leader who was in charge of the attachment, a senior team leader who was the second-in-command, and four team leaders who acted as their lieutenants and followed through with the majority of the orders. Ian had to admit that he felt very out of place due to his position as the youngest and newest member of the leadership role, most of the members on both sides had at least a year of experience and had some sort of mentor in the past to follow. Yet, of the four team leaders within the attachment, Ian had drew the short straw and was selected to attend the briefing in place of sending all four team leaders who had other duties to attend too.
"I believe it's time for us to begin this briefing," Erwin cleared his throat loudly, the past few minutes he had spent going over a few notes in silence that he had taken the other day while observing the newly arrived medics. The room became tense once again as everyone waited for Erwin to follow up with the meaning of the briefing he had suddenly sprung on them. Erwin passed his gaze upon the three Garrison medics who sat to his right, "I believe it's best for you three to start off by introducing yourselves."
"Squad Leader Mia Jacobs," The amber haired women spoke up, as she stood up from her seat and presented herself in a professional fashion. Mia was roughly in her early thirties and had been with the Garrison for some time now, starting off as a loader with the cannon emplacements before she signed up to become a medic after two years and ever since then she flourished at the job. Mia was tall and stood a few inches above Ian's average height, her brownish ember eyes were fierce, and she carried herself in a fashion that most men were afraid to approach her when off-duty at the bar.
"Senior Team Leader Red Baker," The brown haired man groaned, as she slowly rose up beside Mia in a slightly less impressive fashion. Red was far from being lazy, but his years as an instructor tasked with training promising medics had made him a figure of authority and thus caused him to become a bit mouthy when it came to higher ups, as he was so use to being the only figure of power back when he was an instructor. Due to his experience with training so many medics and his vast knowledge he was selected for the attachment right away.
"Team Leader Ian Alder," Ian chirped out, slightly more eager than the others as he snapped upwards into a stern stance. He could tell the Survey Corps soldiers were sizing him up with the others, the fact that he was still younger and wet behind the ears in the leadership department obvious to most of them. Ian did his best not to allow the endless line of glares effect him and quickly sat back down along with both, Mia and Red.
Erwin nodded happily, "Our list of leadership is a bit long so you three will have to excuse our rudeness."
Mia nodded as she had no desire to sit around so all the others could introduce themselves as she had a busy day ahead of herself. Red slapped his lips together in annoyance as he was use to all his new students introducing themselves upon his arrival compared to this type of situation. Ian simply nodded as preferred it this way as he knew he wouldn't remember all their names.
"I've called this meeting together due to the fact that we must discuss the placements of the medics within the formation," Erwin explained, his hands shuffling through the pile of paperwork that he had gathered of each and every medic within the attachment.
Mia tilted her head in curiosity, "The long-rang scouting formation?"
"Correct," Erwin nodded as he was pleased that Mia had educated herself in the formations and battle plans of the Survey Corps, "We'll have to spread out the twenty medics throughout the formation properly. Naturally, the bulk of the medics will be assigned to the outer ring of the formation and a small team will be tasked with the center of the formation acting as the medical station when we're stationary and as a deployment team if any medics shall fall."
Ian gulped lowly at the mention of the possibility of a medic dying. He had accepted the fact that he could die on this expedition, but it was something he preferred to keep out of his head. Levi quickly chimed in on the meeting from his seat beside Erwin, "I'll need one experienced medic to be assigned with my squad."
"The Special Operations Squad," Mia added on with a stern look.
"Correct," Levi simply responded with.
Red chuckled softly, "I guess it can't be helped that I should be assigned to that group."
"Don't be foolish Red," Mia calmly responded with as her eyes never left the Survey Corps captain, "We'll need you at the center in charge of the deployment team. I trust that your past as an instructor will allow you to properly determine what medics should be sent out as a replacement if needed, you've trained most of these soldiers so you are the best choice for that position."
Red gritted his teeth annoyingly, "I guess you wanna be assigned with the Special Operations Squad?"
"Of course not," Mia snapped calmly, "While I am skilled and proficient I will be evaluating the medics within the formation, thus my position will be where I see fit." Red's fist became tight as he hated the fact that Mia was so confident in her ability, however she quickly received Erwin's approval with a simple nod. Mia then turned her attention towards Ian, "Alder who do you believe should be assigned with the Special Operations Squad?"
Ian was nearly taken back by the sudden question, as he had planned to stay silent for most of the meeting. His heart rate increasing as he realized every set of eyes was set on him. The realization that he had to give a response that was both intelligent and professional if he were to sway everyone's opinion of him as just some greenhorn leader. Ian cleared his throat as he sat up, "As far as the members of this attachments go I only know a few, thus I'm unsure if my input will be suitable."
Erwin nodded as he was pleased with the professional answer that Ian had given, however Erwin stilled wanted to know who the young team leader thought was a suitable medic for the squad, "Of the medics you know, who do you think would best be suited for the Special Operations Squad?"
"Ryland Winters," Ian answered right away, the reality that most of the other medics were new like Riley or not as experienced with combat with Titans. Ryland was far from a seasoned veteran, but he did have the most experience out of the twenty medics when it came to combating Titans as he was apart of several cover operations and retrieval missions.
"Winters is an experience medic and Garrison soldier," Red commented, as he reflected on the past years where he had just started off as an instructor and had Ryland as one of his first students. Red nodded to himself as he ran through Ryland's list of talents within the medical field, "However I believe his family ties within the Survey Corps would cause problems with him being assigned to such an elite unit. There's no telling if he'll leave the squad at a desperate time if his brother's life is at danger"
Levi raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, "Alder do you believe that Winters would endanger the mission if his brother's life was at risk?"
Ian gulped lowly, the realization that he knew that Ethan meant the world to Ryland and as much as he wanted to deny the fact that Ryland would risk the mission for Ethan; the reality was that he was unsure. Ian was unsure what lengths Ryland would go to save his younger brother, he knew that Ryland was both a skilled medic and soldier, but his ties with his brother were far to deep. Ian did his best to sound confident as he forced out a lie in hopes to save his close friend from possible backlash from Red's accusation, "I don't believe that Ryland Winters would put the mission at risk for the life of his brother. The years I've spent with him during our training days as cadets and in the Garrison as medics, I have never suspected him once of turning his back on humanity for the life of one man... Even for his own brother."
Mia nodded with agreement, she knew Ryland was a skilled medic but she also knew how deep a sibling's bound could run, "Regardless I feel it would be best to assign someone else to the Special Operations Squad."
"Who do you recommend?" Red snorted lowly, as he felt as if he was the only reasonable choice now.
"Team Leader Alder," Mia stated with a shrug, as she flashed him a smile.
Ian was about to oppose the idea, but was cut off by Levi, "So be it."
There was no arguing now, Ian's fate was now sealed. He knew the Special Operations Squad held some of the most skilled soldiers within all of humanity, but that was what scared him. He was unsure if he could keep up with the elite unit of soldiers, he feared his lack of skills as both a leader and a soldier would become a burden for them. Ryland was confident in his skills unlike Ian, his lack of confidence and fear of screwing up made him unsure of his ability to preform well within the Special Operations Squad. Gulping lowly, Ian nodded in acknowledgment of his new assignment and did his best to avoid eye contact with Levi.
"Why don't we assign this Winters with my squad?" Hanje called out excitedly from across the table.
Levi groaned annoyingly, "You'll be provided with your own personal medic for experiments after returning from the expedition. So Please, keep your weird desires to yourself until then."
"Where shall we place this Winters boy then?" Erwin asked curiously, as he knew very well who Ryland was and was curious where Mia would place him.
Mia sat in silence for a few seconds, "His ties with his brother does make him a slight risk. I trust him as a soldier and medic, but until I can determine that his family ties won't put the mission at risk I'll have him along with Riley Fletcher acting as my personal assistance as I pass through the formation."
"That takes care of the medics from the 13th Field Medic Squad," Erwin stated cheerfully, as he crossed off the three names underneath the specified unit, "Lets move on with the rest."
The barracks were silent as most of the soldiers were asleep, or patrolling the grounds on night watch duty. However, Ethan and his fellow greenhorn soldiers were gathered around a weakly lit lantern in the unoccupied section of the barracks. Their faces were filled with worry and unsureness as very few words were spoken. The group was slowly realizing the reality that the expedition was coming upon them awfully quickly. They all had been prepared for this day, but it all didn't seem real.
"It kinda feels like a dream," Hanna forced herself too laugh, as her nerves had been getting the best of her lately.
"Even I must say things have been moving very fast lately," Lawrence admitted, as Sarah and Hanna both shared looks of shock at the fact that he was even paying attention to the conversation.
Oliver snickered loudly, "That's saying a lot."
"Our squad will be apart of the outer right sector of the formation," Ethan explained, as Mike had informed them of their role within the operation earlier today after he finished up a meeting with the commander.
Sarah coughed weakly, "It seems Oliver and mine's will be at the head of the formation."
Hanna took note of the nervous look in her eyes, "Being at the head of the formation is probably the best. You guys will see the flares before anyone else most likely, giving you all a bit of an edge."
"What unit is your bro being attached too?" Oliver questioned Ethan curiously.
"My brother and Riley are with the medic's squad leader, they'll be surveying the formation for medical assistance. He'll be a little bit of everywhere," Ethan explained, as he had gotten word from Mike of Ryland's assignment. Ethan was more surprised when he heard his brother was considered for the Special Operations Squad, only being denied due to his family ties within the Survey Corps. Ethan was simply happy that his brother wouldn't be with his squad, giving Ethan the time to prove himself worthy of the Survey Corps.
"I hope Riley will be okay," Sarah added on, as she was worried about her good friend.
Hanna flashed Sarah a cheerful smile, "Riley will be with Ethan's brother and the medic's squad leader. I'm sure she'll be just fine!"
"If he's twice the soldier Ethan s then I wouldn't assume that," Oliver snickered, as he was greeted by a punch by Ethan and thus the two entered another one of their famous wrestling matches. The group all embraced the goofy behavior of the two with light laughter, their minds flashing back to the old days of their training years where they all would spend hours around a lantern and talk about back home. Things felt different compared to back then, back in their training days they all thought they could be heroes. Now though, they all just didn't wanna die.
Riley grasped her stomach as she unleashed the last bit of dinner into the tall grass located behind the barracks where the Garrison medics were staying at. She had just been informed that she was tasked with the duty of supporting Mia and Ryland in surveying the formation for medical assistance. Riley was truly sickened at the idea of the burden she'd have to carry with keeping up with two highly skilled medics and soldiers. She was unsure of her abilities and yet to be tested out in the field. Ever since being assigned to the attachment, she spent many nights wasting away her meals out of fear and nerves. Riley was embarrassed by this behavior and thus she avoided talking to anyone about it. Riley wanted to come off as strong and proud, but the reality was she was truly frightened by her duty as a soldier and was torn apart by the idea of others dying due to her inability to function properly while in danger.
"Anyone see Riley?" A voice called out, from the other side of the barracks. Riley quickly washed her mouth out with the remainder of her canteen and quickly rushed around the corner of the building. Her eyes set on Ryland who was standing at the front of the barracks asking several Garrison medics if they had seen the raven haired girl.
Riley chirped out happily as she did her best to hide her shaky voice, "You looking for me?"
Ryland turned to face her and flashed her a joyful smile, "Yeah! You just disappeared after dinner, I was wondering where you ran off too."
"Sorry!" Riley apologized, "I just went for a brisk night walk."
"Oh," Ryland tilted his head, "Well I think we're doing a late night briefing so it's a good thing you came back when you did."
"Wouldn't wanna miss that," Riley chirped out as she passed by Ryland and made her way into the barracks. Leaving Ryland with a suspicious look on his face as he couldn't place his finger on it, but he could tell the young girl was acting differently than usual. He simply assumed it was because of the unfamiliar environment she found herself in, but he wasn't completely sure if that was it.