Chapter One: Signal Flare
Major Celine Anderson walked down the long winding corridor of the Survey Corps HQ with her assistant by her side. With Commander Smith and his officers away on the 57th, she was in charge of all remaining Survey Corps Forces within the walls. She was about the same height as Commander Smith, with short dark hair and round glasses with her eyes fixed on handfuls of papers and files.
"What's the progress of rebuilding Trost?" She asked her assistant, who sifted through a large handful of papers before handing her the document. Scanning it, the Major nodded. "Not bad. Maybe I was wrong about Commander Pyxis." She said.
Opening the door to her office, she entered the large square room. As big as it was, the office still felt cramped ad stuffy as it was filled with filing cabinets and the one window on the left side of the office didn't open. Towards the back of the room, the Majors' oak desk stood, with several papers and boxes stacked on top of it. A painting of a squad of solders hung on the wall behind it.
Celine stared at the painting for a bit, analysing the faces on it; it was her old squad. It consisted of the Then-Captain Erwin Smith, herself, Hanji, Taylor and Mathis. She sighed and collapsed into her chair as her assistant stood in the doorway. "What is it?" She asked.
"Squad Leader Lockyer is here for you, Ma'am." The assistant replied. Nodding, the Major sat upright. "Let him in please." She said.
The assistant turned to leave as a man entered the office. He was about average height and build with short blonde hair. "Major Anderson?" He asked. "Have a seat." She replied, gesturing to one of the other chairs. Taking a seat, Squad Leader Colin 'Sarge' Lockyer listened patiently.
"Late last night," Celine started, "We spotted an SOS flare from a reconnaissance unit we had sent out a few days ago. They had been sent on a routine sweep of the area beyond Nedlay District and have gone missing." Celine picked up and neatened a folder of documents and handed it over to Squad Leader Colin. "Higher Up wants your squad to go on a rescue mission to recover them."
Taking the file, Colin flicked through it, glancing at the TOP SECRET and EYES ONLY stamps on every page, seeing the occasional MP insignia pop up here and there. "Permission to ask why it is my squad, ma'am?" He asked.
The Major simply shrugged. "I have no idea why, but they specifically chose your unit." She said. "We'll provide equipment and provisions for a three day mini-expedition for your unit, leaving at some time around six tonight."
"Yes, ma'am." Colin said as he stood, tucking the folder under his arm. Celine nodded. "Dismissed." She said calmly. Colin exited the room, walking away down the corridor. Bollocks. He thought to himself. The lads are gonna bloody hate this.
Major Anderson put down the document she was reading and took out an envelope, pen and paper Writing the address of one of the Military Police commanders, she began a letter of complaint; asking about the unexpected mission.