Wings of Democracy 5 Moving Stars
Utgard Castle, Midnight
Nanaba and Gelgar were the only ones left asides from the 104th Rookies. They had been fighting for hours, trying to conserve as much gas as they could. However as the clouds from above gave way to the shining moonlight, they knew this was the end. There more Titans than they had gas to spare.
Each time they dropped down and struck down a Titan, another one took its place. By estimate there should be over a hundred of them.
They reeled back up to safety away from the grubby hands of the 10-meter titans. They hung from the Castle, dangling like monkeys looking down on their predators. The situation looked grim for the two of them. They couldn't see themselves surviving through the night.
Nanaba curses "Just how the hell did these Titans get through the Walls." She detaches her blades and insert another pair.
She diverts her gaze towards the surrounding countryside, observing for any new Titan hordes that may reinforce the already unnegotiable amount of Titans below.
Gelgar reels further upwards trying to avoid a Titan that nearly got him "Shit the 10 meters are standing over the smaller ones." He turns to look back upwards at the damaged rooftop of the castle. "Worse of all, I feel like this Castle is about to topple any second now."
Somehow, something caused an impact at the rooftop. Their attention were focused on the gaggle of Titans below that they failed to notice what had caused the damage. I failure at their part since it killed the other two Scouts equipped with ODM Gear. Luckily the recruits from the 104th seemed unharmed. Perhaps they were inside when it happened?
A Titan, possibly around 12 meters tall tried to grab Gelgar. Despite its size, it caught him off guard. They'd sneak up on them from around the Castle and try to grab them when they weren't looking. As mindless as they are, it seemed as if they had some predatory tendancies to ambush their prey.
Gelgar jumped, narrowly avoiding the giant's enormous palms as it reached for him. Dodging the Titans from below, he maneuvered back up, dodging its second attempt of grabbing him from the air. He flew from under its armpits and swung towards the back of its head.
Now having the perfect angle of attack, he launched his other hook and reeled forwards, fighting against inertia and slicing his blades across its nape. He smiles in victory and jumps off its nape and lets it fall, firing his anchor towards the castle to regroup with Nanaba.
Another Titan, this time around 6 meters tall tries to grab him as he fell. His eyes widened, chills coursing through his spine as he failed to notice the damn thing when he maneuvered against his previous target. Luckily, his anchor made contact first, and he squeezed the trigger, his wires reeling him straight back up towards the castle at a safer height. However, that moment of panic caused him to lose control for a moment and he unfortunately struck his head on the castle's brick structure.
Nanaba fared better against her Titan. One had tried to grab her as she was dangling on the Castle Wall with Gelgar. She was cursing on how her Gas Tanks were empty until she noticed the Titan try to grab her.
She jumped down from the Castle, firing her anchor on the Titan's nape. Her heels slid across the ground before she reeled in and sliced the Titan's nape with her blades. She felt how hard her blades cut through its nape. Through the amount of times she had rationed these last pair of Blades, it had grown dull and brittle. She estimated it'd take around 2-3 more careful and well angled slices before it fully came off.
She launched her hook back at the Castle, regrouping with Gelgar.
"How much Gas you have left?" She questions, tapping her Tanks and hearing that it hollow.
"I'm all dry. Those dull blades all you have left?" Gelgar replies
Nanaba took a quick glance at her Blades "Unfortunately... Yes." She says sorrowfully.
"How many did the two of us even kill..."
"If only I had the luxury to count. This place is just full of steam and corpses."
Gelgar smiles "You know... I feel like I did pretty good myself." His smile dissipates "But... I just wished I could've had one last drink before I die."
Nanaba quickly turns to look at him. It was still dark, but now she took a good look at him, she noticed that blood had been gushing out of his forehead.
"Sorry, I must've hit my head or something..."
His grip falters, and then, he too falters. His anchor lost grip and he falls into the palm of the Titan. He would have died there if it were not for Nanaba's quick reaction and killing the Titan at the expense of her blades. Her quick and panicked attempt to save her comrade caused her to break her blades as she sliced the nape at a poor angle.
As the Titan fell, its limp hand had miraculously thrown Gelgar through a hole on the Castle. The Titan's body falls hard on the ground, causing the Castle to become more unstable.
Nanaba fires her anchor on the Castle. She was too close to the ground, so she pulls the trigger on her ODM Handles. However, to her dismay, she had all but run out of gas. She curses, but then the world turns darker. She wondered if clouds had blotted out the moon, but to her horror, the faces of several predatory Titans filled her worldview. This was the end for her. The world turned darker as they drew closer to grab her until a bright light shone on them.
The bright light emanating from behind the Titans had apparently made them lose interest on the fortunate Nanaba. At first, she was confused, already having accepted death. But then a part of her felt relieved that she had just been spared. But what exactly is that bright light?
As the Titans drew further from her, seemingly following the bright light, she finally understood it. She gave an awkward smile, forcing it through her terrified expression.
They're here
FOB Bifrost, 15 minutes ago.
"All Units, Blacklight"
"Copy, Blacklight. Operation is a go."
The Field is filled by the rhythmic rotors of over ten UH-1 Huey Helicopters and two CH-46 Phrog Transports. An entire Company was currently in the process of being airlifted into a wide Area of Operations.
Running from one of the hangars were squads of soldiers running towards their assigned helicopters to board. Flood lights illuminated the dark airfield. You'd look up and see no stars but rather just a blanket of void. It seemed to drizzle, and one could notice light raindrops being blown away from the combined forces of the helicopter rotors blowing away the wind.
Supporting them were two Harriers providing ISR over the wide area of their Area of Operations.
Not only was this a Military Operation, but a humanitarian one as well. A breach on the Wall would necessitate a quick humanitarian response to evacuate as much civilians as possible. To these Marines, civilians were their top priority.
As the last soldier boarded, the helicopters rose. One by one the helicopters took turns taking to the air in formation.
"All Stalks maintain dispersion and altitude of 250 feet. Searchlights on. Round up as much Titans as you can." The flight lead radios over to the other helicopter flights which are codenamed "Stalks" that transported at least one Platoon.
They flew over Wall Rose, alerting some Garrison soldiers on duty. Some pilots looked down and were amused at the shocked body language of the Garrison soldiers below. Through their NVG goggles, they could see clearly the alert status of the Wall Military. Torches and soldiers on horseback dotted much of the fields below. They could make out the faint glow of one of the towns nearby.
Then, there's the mass of glowing lights from afar. They couldn't get a clear look at it through their NVGs, but some were confident that it was the Wall Military's Quick Reaction Force to deal with the Titan threats. This would be confirmed by the orbiting Harriers through their Reconnaissance Pods. A Battalion sized element of Wall Military personnel were enroute to the Outer Districts of Wall Rose.
Then, there it was. Castle Bravo, their Objective. It was damaged, almost about to collapse. It was clear that there was fighting there. Titans surrounded the place and the seemingly calm civilians just stood at the roof of the castle eyeing their approach.
Stalk 1, UH-1 Huey
""Stalk 2 and 3, lure those Titans away and pick them off." Felix relayed through the radio, to which each Stalk leader replied with a "Stalk 1, Copy."
Felix then switched frequencies on the radio attached to the backside of the CH-46's Cockpit he was on "Stalk 1 Actual to all Stalk flights, orbit around the Castle and pick off any stragglers."
He dropped the radio telephone and radioed to the Cockpit "Jim, hover over the roof and drop the ramp, we'll evac the civies."
"Already on it Lieutenant." The pilot replied cheerfully.
Slowly the Phrog hovered over the Castle with its backside open. Ilse Langnar who was on the same Helicopter as Felix bellowed towards the civilians staring directly at them from the roof.
"Get on!"
Her scream snapped them out of their disbelief, and slowly they jumped on.
"Wait, what about Gelgar and Nanaba!?" A blonde woman said.
Felix looked back at them and realized that he actually recognized some of them.
Reiner and Krista... These aren't Civilians! He thought to himself. These were the first Wall Natives he made contact with!
"Lieutenant! They said they left someone inside the Castle!" Ilse spoke in her accented English towards Felix.
"Tell them to wait here!" Felix said, striding forward despite the protests of the Marines who were with him on the Helicopter.
As he was about to jump, Reiner tugged him by the shoulder and said something he didn't understand.
"He says he wants to help you..." Ilse said to which Felix nodded.
Both of them jumped towards the roof and descended the stairs Reiner and the others noticed that the Titan who was just about to gobble up Gelgar had threw him back through a hole in the Castle's structure.
Reiner took the lead as he had a faint idea of where he was. And sure enough, Gelgar was there having a tantrum on the floor.
"Who the fuck drank my booze!" He cried out smoothly, as if he had been crying for some time now.
Felix had no idea what he was bitching about, but Reiner couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
He knelt right in front of Gelgar and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Gelgar, don't worry, help is here." Reiner said softly.
The crying scout softened up as he noticed Felix standing there in his foreign Woodland BDU and other foreign equipment. Something Gelgar had seen back on the Forest of tall trees.
He finally composed himself and stood up groggily. "What about Nanaba?"
"I'm not sure..." Reiner said "Last we saw she was being surrounded by Titans at the bottom."
"I see..."
Felix left the two of them to themselves and started walking around the floor they were in, inspecting the surroundings, noting the scattered supplies of First Aid Kits, Canned food and several pieces of wires. He wondered if this place was some sort of supply hub for their Military.
"Felix" Reiner called out. Of course, the Lieutenant would recognize his name through his German and reverted his attention back to him.
Reiner pointed upwards, to which he acknowledged. But before Felix went up with him, he took a peek through the hole Gelgar was thrown into, inspecting the lands below.
To his surprise, there was another soldier swing left to right trying to launch herself towards the hole on the wall. She noticed him, and with all her might she swung and jumped.
Felix saw what she was trying to do, and grabbed her hand as she got close. Luckily for her, Felix managed to catch her before her Anchor unhooked and fell towards the ground.
Felix then pulled her in. He noticed how she was fatigued and almost limp. She just sat there, panting. She raised her head to look at him, and then hugs him tight and started to cry, spouting out broken words. He didn't exactly understand what she was saying. This whole shitshow probably traumatized her, seeing how she was literally hanging from 7 meters above the ground. Any Titan would've nipped her off and devoured her. If they were late even for a second, she definitely wouldn't be here by now.
"Lieutenant, where are you? The guy who was with you came up without you." His radio cackles.
"I'm fine. Found another victim. I'm bringing her up. I won't be long."
Nanaba, Utgard Castle
Nanaba couldn't control herself. No matter how much she wanted not to cry, it just started pouring out. He recognized the man before her. He was one of those foreigners she met outside Wall Rose in the Forest of Giant Trees. She never really expected that they would come in and help save the day.
Even as gunshots echoed outside the Castle, she didn't care. She rushed and hugged the soldier before her, like a lost child in the forest who found her mother back home.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Was all she could say.
The Titans who came close to devouring her had the same look as her father. She saw him in them. The face of sadistic desires and abuse. She vividly remembers how her father would lock her up inside her room for hours during the winter without any blankets or throwing a bottle at her at times.
By the time these foreigners arrived, it seemed almost angelic as their flying machines hovered and lured those Titans away. She owed them her life, and she wouldn't even hesitate to charge suicidally into a fray of Titans if it was to save this man's life. In her eyes, she was already dead, but fate had given her another chance to fight. And fight she would.
Ilse Langnar, Utgard Castle
As the last of the Scouts boarded, Felix followed. The Lieutenant then gave the order to withdraw, and I watch as the ramps slowly closed.
Lieutenant Felix was then surrounded by his Marine colleagues to see if he was ok, then withdrew himself back on his Company radio. Two Marines tended to Gelgar, a Scout whom I got his name after one of the Scouts mentioned it.
"Excuse me." A short blonde woman in civilian clothing says, "I really don't know how to say this, but we deeply thank you for saving us."
"Oh please, save that gratitude for the Lieutenant" She briefly points towards Felix "As a matter of fact, I'm actually a Scout like you people."
This caught the attention of the Survey Corps members in the Helicopter "You're a Scout?" The other female scout says "So like... Did Commander Erwin send you as some sort of diplomat?"
"What's a diplomat?" A scout in the shaven head says, to which Reiner scuffles his head as a jest.
"I'm not sure what you mean by that. But I'm here as a Negotiator if that's what you mean."
"To negotiate what exactly?" The Scout with silver hair, whom Felix rescued says "Who exactly are you?"
"I'm sorry, but it's kind of a secret." I laughed nervously "But fear not, it doesn't involve you people.
"Oh, so it's Government business then." The shaved man commented.
"Actually..." I added "You asked me who I was. Well," I saluted, placing my fist on my chest "I'm Ilse Langnar of the Survey Corps." I smile.
Most of them does the same salute and introduced themselves one by one asides Gelgar, who was being tended to by a Marine Medic.
"So how long have you been in contact with these people?" Reiner questioned.
"I can't exactly give you a specific date, though I will keep it vague due to confidentiality." I pondered for a moment "I guess around a few weeks now.
"Anything you can tell us about them? They seem to be willing to help with their flying toys." Ymir added
"Again, I can't tell you much hehe..." I again laugh nervously "Maybe you should go ask the Lieutenant..."
"We would if he even spoke the same language as us." Connie pouted
"Ilse!" Felix yelled through the Helicopter Cabin in English "We're gonna meet up with Commander Erwin!"
"Y-Yes sir! I'll get ready!" I replied. I scurried my way through the front of the Cabin and grabbed some of my documents. Ymir followed me along with a curious Krista.
"What are those?" Krista asked.
"Um... Documents for Negotiation." I replied, smiling at her "Starting today, things will change for the better."
Erwin Smith, Survey Corps, Inside Wall Rose
Erwin felt the cold wind bite through his fabric, making him shiver somewhat. He's already used to this feeling, however something felt off about all this.
Why are there Titans within the Walls? Was Wall Rose breached? He thought to himself. He constantly asked himself that same question, coming up with other hypotheses of what caused this whole mess.
"Did the Titans learn how to dig under the Walls?" Hanji pondered, galloping next to Erwin "That'd make things a lot more complicated."
"Agreed. Not only we'd need to guard the Walls, but the surrounding countryside as well." Erwin concurred.
Speaking about the countryside, Miche and his squad should be in the area. Knowing him, he'd definitely had taken initiative of the situation. Erwin could only hope they were ok.
However, in the more pessimistic side of things, there are sure to be casualties. The Garrison had already taken a beating trying to hold off the Titans on the field. He could hear their cannons going off just this afternoon. It was, for the most part, concerning.
"Erwin watch out!" Hanji bellowed.
Erwin snapped out of his thoughts and pulled on the reins. A bright light shone on the sky, descending slowly upon them. As it drew closer, so did the sound grew louder. It was unpleasant to hear. Erwin and the Scouts could only watch in terror as the large metallic machine touched the ground in front of them.
"Everyone, surround it quickly!" Erwin ordered, not knowing what to expect. It was a long, bulbous machine with glowing red orbs on some of its components. Just what are they doing here... Are they here to help? Or are they responsible for this situation? Was all Erwin could think of.
Quickly Hanji's Squad surrounded it, with over a hundred Scouts ready to hook on to the surrounding trees should something happen.
Slowly, the machine opened up in front of Erwin, a ramp slowly descending to the ground. Then out walks a woman escorted by the all too familiar foreign soldiers Erwin met back then.
Then, to everyone's surprise, the woman saluted Erwin.
"Ilse Langnar of the 34th Expedition Outside the Walls, Reporting!"
Erwin and the Scouts had no idea what else to expect at this point.