Wings of Democracy 2: Iron Track
Jean and Armin were stunned. They just could not believe what they were seeing, more so in what they were hearing.
"Wait so... You came from outside the Walls!?" Armin blurted out
The man who introduced himself as Charlie nods "In a way, yes. We're not from around here"
"That's just... Hard to believe..." Jean muttered in disbelief "We thought humanity outside the Walls were wiped out ages ago"
Charlie had no answer to that. However, the soldier that's peaking out of the Metallic carriage seems to have questions of his own. Questions neither Jean, Armin, Krista nor Reiner could understand. Their words were alien to them with a slight hint of familiarity behind some words.
Charlie looked back to them, translating the words of his officer "My commanding officer here asks you what you are doing outside the Walls, seeing how much of a danger these Titans are to humans"
At that moment, Armin stepped forward. It seemed like Reiner was about to say something but Armin took the lead
"We're currently in an Operation to establish a new route on the breached District, Shiganshina. An abnormal Titan with intelligence broke through our formation and scattered most of our forces"
"Um actually..." Krista chimes in "We just received new orders to regroup at the forest of Giant Trees"
"What?" Jean joins in "What the hell are we gonna do there? Go sightseeing? We should be retreating with all these losses!"
"That's just what the relay squad told us..."
"And how far is this rally point of yours?" Charlie questions
"About 20 kilometers west of here" Armin replies, but got dragged into the conversation between his comrades.
At that point the Charlie relayed it back to his Officer, who pondered over what to do next...
Lieutenant Felix
Felix wondered over what his next course of action is. He already established first contact with the natives, and judging on what he heard, they're in a dire situation at this moment.
He scruffs his chin, leaning back and looking up on the sky. If he were to assist them, this could draw them closer to a more beneficial relationship in the future. Assuming news of their arrival breaks out, there should be less animosity against them.
But then there's the Major... He could ask to escort the natives to their rally point, but what if he says no? How would he be able to explain it to them? He's got 4 AAVs all armed with .50 Cals and 40mm Grenade launchers. Those are more than enough to mow down a horde of Titans a mile away.
He can't take risks. Integrity is priority in a hostile environment like this. He can't afford to go rogue. Straightening himself, he pushes the radio on his left peck and relays some orders.
"Bravo Company, set up a perimeter. I'll see for further orders, over."
His voice was audible for the natives to hear. It was a surprise to them when his voice emanated from Charlie's own radio.
He hears them babble some more as he hunkers down and grabs the AAV's radio next to the driver seat. He sees Stype observing the monitor on his driver seat the outside world. Looking behine for a moment, he sees the other Marines disembarking and forming a perimeter around the AAVs.
Felix adjusts the frequency on the radio, setting it up to broadcast in the Battalion frequency.
"Anvil 1, this is Anvil 2 do you copy over?"
It takes a moment, but eventually a reply follows
"This is Anvil 1 to Anvil 2, we read you over"
"We established first contact with the natives. Four of them, all military. They were in the middle of a Military Operation until they got separated by Titans. Permission to escort them to their rally point over?"
"About 15 Kilometers West from our current position"
Several long seconds pass until he was finally able to get an answer.
"Anvil 1 to Anvil 2, you free to escort them up to 15 kilometers only. Once finished, return to previous position, Over and out"
"We Oscar Mike?" Stype asks leaning back on his driver's compartment
Felix nods, and broadcasts on his chest radio "Anvil 2-1 to 2-6, Charlie, tell them we'll escort them to the rally point will ya? "
"2-6 to 2-1, Copy"
"2-1 to Company, everyone mount up. We're Oscar Mike once these riders start moving"
104th Cadets 6 minutes later
Reiner felt uneasy seeing how those vehicles were keeping up with the horses. He remembers the slow and lumbering tanks of the East nicking off the armor of his Titan. It was easy enough to run around them since they were so slow but these... Marines are a whole new thing.
United States of America wasn't exactly on any of the maps he read as far as he can remember. And he's sure as hell that Marley would be keeping an eye on the Port for any outsiders trespassing. Just who and where did these people come from?
"Hey" Jean calls out, snapping Reiner out of his dilema "You saw how that voice tool thing that guy had didn't you?"
"Oh... Oh yeah that. It was really something! "
"I know right?" Jean cheered "They seem pretty handy. We'd have no use for signal flares if we had those"
"I hope they're good people" Krista says "I wonder if there's more of them out there"
"We should assume that is true." Armin declares "There's no way they'd survive out here with just few numbers. And the fact that they'd only send these few men means that they're capable of dealing with Titans on their own"
"You're say we're outclassed by them?" Jean questions
"We can only assume that... I mean, just look at that thing! You think a Titan would be able to chew through that metal?" Armin says
"I'm more curious about how they'd beat Titans without weapons" Jean retorts
"It could be those gun barrels" Reiner points towards the turret of the AAV "They probably have guns inside that smaller piece of Metal"
A black flare caughts the attention of everyone in the group it was kilometers away, but close enough to be of concern.
Then, it was followed by another. A red flare, then another, all forming a circle over a wide area.
"It seems like the Regiment reached the forest. Let's go!"
Levi 10 minutes later, Middle within the Forest of Giant Trees
"Honestly, I never would've thought you'd pull it off" Levi comments, staring down at the Female Titan covered in wires
He and his squad managed to lead it into a trap set by Erwin. Just recently he and Miche tried to slice off the nape and drag the shifter out. Unfortunately, the nape hardened into a blue crystal, which was something they've never seen before.
"That's only because you pushed through with the plan. I'm surprised you managed to keep Eren from transforming, let alone have your Squad from engaging it. Good work" Erwin commends.
Levi shrugs "So what now?"
Erwin ponders over his next move. Should he blow up its nape? Have Eren wrestle it and rip its head off? No... It's still too risky. They weren't even sure if Eren has full control of his Titan yet. It doesn't take long for him to reach a conclusion.
"Miche, have your Squad on standby." He turns to Levi "Once your Squad returns, do the same".
Switching his attention to Hanji on the ground, he instructs her to set up explosive charges on the nape of the Female Titan. Responding cheerfully, she begins her work.
Levi, growing impatient lands on the head of the Female Titan.
"Oi" he calls out, stomping his feet on its head "Why don't you just come out and spill the beans. You know there's no escape from this, right?"
At first, the Titan gave no response. But then, in an instant, it let off a deafening roar like nothing the Scouts have ever heard before.
Followed by silence, then came the thunderous footsteps of hundreds of Titans...
Krista Lenz, 5 minutes ago
As Krista neared the perimeter of the forest, she noticed that several titans had already gathered up at the base of the trees. Up on the trees were several scouts seemingly using themselves as baits to the Titans to keep them from entering the forest. Well, that was the whole plan after all.
Turning to the others who was with her, Jean, Armin and Reiner, she said her farewells as she galloped away
"I'll regroup with my detachment! Stay safe you three!"
"You too" One of them replied. She didn't look back, but it sounded like Reiner.
Her main focus as she galloped away from them was the outsiders. They had stopped a safe distance away from the Forest, as some of the trees were infested with Titans. Their metallic constructs had halted and turn around with the thunderous roars of its engines.
A part of her felt relieved that there were humans outside the walls. It gave her hope, and filled her with purpose.
Not far off from where she left the others, she notices Nanaba, her commanding officer, standing on one of the branches of a giant tree facing outwards of the perimeter. She seemed to notice her, and points on where the horses were being hitched.
She made sure none of the Titans noticed her as she disembarked her horse after hitching it with the others and joins Nanaba and her team. Soldiers stood far above from the Titans below.
"Krista, are you ok? I heard you went off to check out a distress flare" Nanaba asks concerned
"I'm fine, thank you. However we seemed to have encountered some Outsiders on our way back."
"Does it have to do with those metal carriages that was following you?" She points to the Marine AAVs
"Yes, they came from outside the Walls!" She says cheerfully "They escorted us here"
Nanaba was stunned to hear this "W-What!" She stuttered
"Seriously?" One of the soldiers comment
"No way! I thought everyone outside was eaten alive!" Another says
"Yes, we made first contact with them. They don't speak our language but it seemed like one of them at least speaks it. The translator was speaking the words of what seems to be their Officer" Krists reveals
"What did they tell you!? " Nanaba asks eagerly
"They came from a kingdom called United States of America. They call themselves the Marine Corp. From what I've seen, they're very well equipped and use devices beyond our knowledge"
"I can see that..." One of the soldiers say, looking at the AAVs parked from afar.
Nanaba felt a mix of emotions fill her. One was curiosity, asking her to speak to the outsiders. One was cautiousness, demanding she be careful. Then, one overpowering it all was hope. Perhaps they were truly not alone... Maybe there was a meaning to all this... The lives that were lost...
She snaps out of it, and calls out to one of her soldiers
"Carl, send word to Erwin. Tell him that we made contact with Wall Outsiders and that they are friendly. If you heard what Krista just said, tell him those too..."
"Yes ma'am" The soldier says before flying off with his ODM Gear
"Do you want me to go with him" Krista asks
"No, I'll need you to—" before Nanaba could finish that sentence, a screeching roar emanates from within the forest. It lasted for several seconds, but then completely disappeared.
Silence followed, with some soldiers murmuring about what just happened. Rhat is until one of them yells out
"Titans! 4... No, 9 of them approaching fast!"
Krista tensed at the information. But as she looks down, she notices that the Titans that were bunching up below had ran off into the forest at full speed. Then, the Titans that had just been spotted, did the same. They were ignoring them.
" Shit, prepare to interce—" Again, Nanaba was cut off at the sound of continous gunfire.
Explosions and Gunfire rang as the Outsiders lept out of their Vehicles and opened fire at the Titans approaching. It seemed to have ignored them as well, however some did seem to approach them at all angles, forcing them closer and closer into the forest.
"We need to help them!" Krista cried out
"Everyone, intercept those Titans who went into the forest!" Nanaba commands, before looking to Krista "Follow me..."
Lieutenant Felix, 1 minute after the Female Titan screams, Forest of Giant Trees outskirts
" Anvil 2 to 1 we are surrounded! Our current position is being overrun by Titans! We will regroup with the Native Military Forced and form a defensive perimeter over!" Felix yelled over his radio, gunshots filling up the atmosphere
"Copy that Anvil 2. We'll send in Alpha and Delta to relieve you, Over and Out."
Felix crouched to the back of the AAV and exited the ramp. Outside was just pure chaos.
Just as he stepped out, a Marine fired his M79 Grenade Launcher. The round blew off the neck of the Titan, but barely an inch off the nape. However the other Marines finished it off with Rifle and Machine Gun fire, slicing the head off.
Then another of the AAVs fired 3 Grenade rounds from its turret. Each turret is armed with a .50 Cal and a Mk19 along with some smoke launchers.
The rounds detonated on to the face of an approaching Titan, blowing its nape off in the process.
There was too many. They needed to withdraw.
Luckily for them, 2 Scouts approached him from the forest. It was the blonde girl named Krista and another woman, somewhat older and mature looking with silver hair. The other three separated and regrouped with their squads. It was clear they've never experienced this amount of volume of fire before since their eyes looked like they were about to pop. They were on edge, but kept their cool.
Shit Felix uttered "Charlie, get over here!" He calls out
Charlie, who was just a few meters away from him, crouching towards through the gunfire.
"Sir?"
Felix points back at the 2 Wall Soldiers "Tell them we need to withdraw"
"Oh right"
Straightening himself, he proceeds with the talking
"Specialist Charlie of the United States Marine Corp. We need to withdraw to somewhere safe. " He says in a raised tone through the gunfire
"Inside the forest. I've relayed your presence to the other squads. We'll cover you" The Silver haired woman replies, before flying off with her ODM Gear
"Lieutenant, inside the forest! They'll cover our flanks!"
Felix nods, and sounds the withdrawal.
Author Notes:
Honestly I was not expecting people to stumble into this at all. Thanks for the positive reviews! If you have any criticisms, please feel free to say it so that I may improve upon it.
As for the questions...
Cresent cut 101: "Is this a aot x gate crossover?"
- Well, somewhat. Though the only real Gate references will be that of the Gate itself. No magic, Rory, or anything else in the Gate Universe will be present. I'll be explaining the reason on why the Gate appeared in later chapters.