Night 24, SC Hideout within Wall Rose.

A Survey Corps soldier ascended the steps from the underground cell, burdened by a crusted sack tainted with blood slung over his shoulder. He made his way outside, where the chilling night air awaited him. His gaze fell upon the shovel leaning against the wall of the hideout, remembering the countless times he had ventured out into the darkness to bury the remains of their captive.

He sighed heavily, the sound echoing softly in the stillness of the night, then reached for the lantern, its flickering glow casting eerie shadows around him as he lit it. After a few minutes, he found a suitable spot and knelt down, inspecting the ground. Determining it to be soft enough for digging, he began to shovel away the earth methodically.

Suddenly, a rustle in the distance shattered the silence, causing him to freeze in place. His heart raced as he dropped the shovel, instinctively reaching for the flintlock rifle strapped to his back. For several tense moments, he remained motionless, his senses heightened, scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. Eventually, as the seconds stretched on with no further noise, he reluctantly concluded that it was likely just some harmless creature.

With a weary exhale, he returned his focus to the task at hand, pushing aside his apprehension as he resumed digging the hole. Each shovel-full of dirt seemed to weigh heavier on his shoulders, he really hated this job.

A few hours later, Ehrmich.

A squad of Garrison soldiers stood atop the walls, guarding the main gate to the city as they idly chatted around. A chilly breeze of the morning air blowing between them as they all huddled together to get some warm tea, one of the soldiers who's shift had recently began looked back towards the city, already bored out of his mind.

"Man... It's boring up here."

The other Garrison soldier was about to retort when he suddenly looked over his shoulder and groaned.

"What?"

He looked behind him and out towards the expanse outside of Wall Sina, It was at that point that he spotted several dots in the distance, he squinted to get a better look before his eyes went wide with a gasp.

"Oh brother, alert the squads below and let the mayor know..."

As refugees from Trost began to stream through the city gates, the combined forces of the Garrison and Military Police were quick to organize and guide the influx of people. Amidst the chaos, Nile Dok stood scanning the crowd for his men, whom had departed on a mission to the Survey Corps headquarters. His attention was caught by a passing Garrison member working under the MP's jurisdiction, prompting him to demand an explanation, "You there! What's the situation? Has Trost been compromised?!"

"Commander! Trost's forces are evacuating residents as swiftly as they can, they've reported a breach south west of wall Rose, sir! We narrowly avoided a Titan encounter en route so it checks out," the soldier responded, saluting hastily.

Nile's eyes widened in disbelief. "Titans, out here? Are you certain?!"

"Absolutely, sir! The Survey Corps intervened just in time, they're holding the line as we speak!" the soldier affirmed.

Refugees from Trost made their way through the road as they walked towards Ehrmich, hundreds of men, women and children marching as quickly as possible to the safety of the interior when two titans suddenly came running from a treeline in the distance. The civilians began to panic at the sight, all of them screaming and fleeing for their lives as they spotted them coming towards them, while the few soldiers scattered rushed to take positions.

Suddenly, some of them paused in awe, as they noticed a couple of figures on horses hurrying after them. Within seconds, there was a lightning strike and an ominous screeching echoing throughout the plains as a blinding light faded to reveal another titan and to their absolute relief and joy, what could only be the scouts as well as that titan they recognized to be Eren Yeager took out the threat before things could escelate.

"I see, be on your way then, help these civilians reach safety." Concerned and confused about the whereabouts of his men and the missing first interior squad that had borrowed them, Nile clenched his jaw and made his way back to the military headquarters, determined to organize a response.

Unbeknownst to him, a woman subtly observed the exchange as she walked alongside a wagon heading for the capital's underground where all the refugees would be placed. She turned away and covered up her face better, further blending in with the crowds.

"Did you know about this?"

Erwin slowly turned around to gaze at Nile as he barged into his room, his face locked in a blank and nonchalant expression. This lack of concern agitated Nile further, but he bit his tongue.

"I believe you will have to be more specific, Nile."

"Titans breaching Wall Rose! Do your men have visual confirmation on the walls being breached or do they not, Erwin?!"

Erwin paused for a second, before shaking his head. "My men have been given orders to guard the area in case of an attack, but no, I wouldn't know myself since I've hardly been present on the frontlines the last couple of days. But I am sure that all of the people arriving from Trost are more than enough confirmation, haven't you been told by the witnesses or do you think that information is questionable simply because you haven't seen it with your own eyes?"

Nile's eyes narrowed, knowing full well what he was implying.

"I know this doesn't end here, you're planning something, Erwin. All that power finally got to your head, I knew it was a bad idea to allow you to have control of that titan, let alone two at the same time. Answer me, where are they being kept? Better yet, what did you do to my men? They were sent after your HQ south but I have yet to hear back from them!" Nile snapped with barely restrained infuriation.

"I assure you, I wasn't involved in whatever it is you think I am. These are unfortunate circumstances, however, in spite of things I was still hoping I could speak to you about something urgent, Nile."

Erwin glanced at the two men flanking Nile on both sides, Nile caught onto this before he promptly ordered his men to leave them alone in the room. Seconds later, the door behind him clicked shut, leaving only the two of them in a tense silence.

"Talk."

"This tiny world is about to be flipped upside down, a gambling man won't know which path this might lead to, hope, or despair, but a man who holds all the cards knows for certain. This government cannot be trusted with the future of humanity, there is no question about that."

"W-what are you saying, Erwin?"

The man's gaze hardened. "The life you've come to know is nothing but a lie, the real question is, will you still trust it with your life?"


The next day, SC outpost at Utgard ruins.

"I wonder what you're up to right about now..."

Floch sighed, perched atop a tree branch on the outskirts of their current headquarters and in solitary contemplation. The once bustling compound now lay eerily quiet, its occupants dispersed to other missions, leaving only a handful of squads behind to safeguard their two concealed Titans. The redhead commended the commander's thinking, he would have never thought to use Eld and Gunther as a way to further sell the fake breach to the masses.

Still, to his annoyance, Erwin had decided to postpone Bertholdt's transfer of power, citing the unpredictable nature of the first interior squad as a good reason not to proceed until they've been dealt with. Floch figured that'd be okay, by the end of the week, this entire kingdom will be flipped upside down regardless.

He couldn't help but reflect on the changes that had swept through their ranks, His former classmates from the 104th had been reassigned to new squads, their paths diverging in the wake of recent events. Those who had served in the Special Operations Squad had been reclaimed under Levi's command, while Sandra, Gordon, Ruth, and Hannah found themselves integrated into Hange's squad, filling the void left by the fourth squad's fallen. Leaving only Mylius and Mina to join him in Squad Mike.

With the "breach" of the walls being announced, things have officially began kicking into motion. The kingdom now began to boil, and soon enough, it would reach a critical point. The MP will have their hands tied trying to maintain order and peace, but they'll soon discover it to be a fool's errand. He glanced to the side, where multiple tents were set up quite recently, he hoped this would work.

"...in light of recent events, I need you to think about the bigger picture here."

"The bigger picture?" Floch echoed, his brow furrowing in confusion.

He retrieved his pocket watch, watching the hands of the clock tick by with a sense of unease before eventually sighing and stowing it away. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, genuine anxiety gnawed at him. Ymir knew—all the lies he had fed her over the past few years, she knew about them all. She had undoubtedly gleaned part of the truth, after using Louise and his parents to send a clear message.

"You're... asking me to inherit Ymir's titan?" Floch asked, his mind racing to grasp the implications.

Did she even really want to speak with him at this point? Wasn't it just a trap just so she could kick his ass for his lies? He couldn't shake the certainty that she would gladly throttle him given the chance, and he knew he deserved it. He lied about his past, his family, but he hadn't lied about one thing, which was his desire to see Marley and the world razed to the ground.

"Yes," Erwin affirmed. "Given your familiarity with her and your experience, you make the best candidate to inherit the power, which based on the results of the ambush that night, proved most effective against the armored titan. Make no mistake, of all the participating players in this game, she's the biggest wild card present on the table. While I do enjoy a gamble myself, she represents a significant risk. Mind you, with the current variables we're dealing with, It is not a risk I am willing to take."

Other rogue titans, a corrupt government, and limited suppliers and manpower, he understood perfectly.

And so, here he was, a week away from facing the freckled girl. Of all his misdeeds, this one seemed the most fitting to come back and bite him in the ass. She was special after all, she had been the first to be dragged into this "carefully" constructed web of lies he had been forced to create. His eyes narrowed with a frown, he had to be careful around her when the day came.

"What if it's just a misunderstanding? We're merely going with what the Fourth squad has reported seeing, we don't know for certain if she's our enemy or simply acting under ulterior motives. We're... always supposed to do what's right for the cause, aren't we? What if...what if she can be swayed back to our side if given the chance?"

His features softened, and he sighed again as he closed his eyes. A part of him wondered if he should have simply killed her that day—perhaps it would have spared him the shitshow he was about to endure. Even now, with so much time to prepare for their meeting, he had no idea what to tell her. In all the scenarios that he ran within his mind, it always ended with her transforming to redecorate the walls with his guts.

It would have been much easier to just have cut her head off that day in the forest when he had her tied and at his mercy.

But he couldn't then, and couldn't now. He still needed her alive, for the sake of her Titan. They had the serum to claim it, but the decision rested squarely on her shoulders now. She could continue to foolishly align herself with the warriors, or she could heed reason and return to their side. There was still a chance of that being possible, even if slim.

The freckled girl moaned and crawled closer him; to her surprise, he didn't object, remaining reasonably cooperative with her. Exhaustion took him by the time she was finished wrapping his arm, but he hadn't fallen asleep just yet. He watched her through the narrow slits of his eyelids as her gaze flickered to the blade lying next to her before returning to him. She finally groaned in exasperation and dragged him closer to her side of the campfire. She assisted him in getting dressed before tucking him inside the sleeping bag.

Ymir watched over his sleeping form for some time before she sighed and turned away to keep watch of the forest, by which point he had already fallen asleep.

Maybe... things could have been different had he been a little more honest with her as she had undoubtedly been with him.

Floch hurled himself out of harm's way just in time, narrowly avoiding Mikasa's deadly onslaught as she cut through his comrades, leaving a gruesome path of carnage in her wake. Gritting his teeth at the sight of his fallen subordinates scattered around the port, he swiftly shot his hooks and leaped away, scanning the chaotic scene for any sign of the Azumabito.

Amidst the chaos, he caught sight of a figure cloaked in white perched atop a nearby rooftop overlooking the port. Suddenly, a bullet whizzed past, narrowly missing his head. Anger contorted his features as he identified the shooter's location, but shock quickly replaced his rage as he realized the identity of the assailant.

In disbelief, Floch veered away, his mind reeling, as Jean diverted his aim to engage another Yeagerist in the frantic skirmish.

Never again.

Floch jumped down from the tree and made his way back to the barracks, clearing all of those thoughts away and leaving only one thing clear in his mind.

Erwin furrowed his brows, his eyes piercing. "The world doesn't deal in moral absolutes, we're not saints crusading for a higher purpose, we're just soldiers doing what needs to be done for the sake of the future. When Ymir chose to side with those who seek our destruction, she forfeited her agency. It's kill or be killed, don't let your personal feelings cloud your better judgement."

Eren and Erwin were both right.

He owed her nothing, she simply needed to learn her place and die.


"I appreciate your kind advice, I agree that I've started to feel the same. The important thing is for one to come to terms with their place." - Floch Forster 854 AD, To Kyomi Azumabito as the last of the rumbling left the shores of Paradis.


Day 26, the underground.

"We're here. Eren, Historia, it's safe to come out."

The duo exchanged brief glances and nodded before Eren pushed aside the wagon's fabric and stepped down. He turned, offering a hand to Historia as she joined him in the shady alley of the underground beneath the capital. Several scouts, disguised as civilians, bustled around them, ferrying supplies to the nearby ordinary building serving as their headquarters.

Eren's brow furrowed as he noticed Sasha and Connie engaged in a heated argument. He turned to Captain Levi as the man began addressing the group. "Alright settle down, now that we've slipped past without much trouble, let's prepare for the next step. Ah, there he is."

Eren and Historia followed Levi's gaze to see Mike Zacharias approaching. "You all made it, good," Mike said, his tone turned somber. "I heard about Eld and Gunther. I'm sorry."

Levi grunted in response and moved past him. Mike turned to the rest of Squad Levi as Sasha and Connie ceased their argument. "Come on, all of you, get inside."

"Have you noticed how scary the captain's been since we entered the underground?" Sasha whispered to Connie.

"Yeah, what's up with that?" Connie wondered.

Petra overheard and chimed in, "The captain used to live here before he joined the Survey Corps. This place brings back a lot of bad memories for him."

Sasha and Connie exchanged surprised looks, then fell silent as they were led into the building. Meanwhile, Eren scanned the street at the end of the alley, his gaze narrowed, before he followed the others inside and the door closed behind them. Eventually, they gathered in a room with a table at its center, a map spread across it detailing the underground layout.

"Quite the operation you're running down here," Levi remarked to Mike as he studied the map.

The man nodded. "We've spent the last two weeks scouting out the whole place—every checkpoint, patrol route, you name it. We even got our hands on a full itinerary from their barracks up top from an informant, we've also set up deals with some of the locals for later down the line."

"I see, good." Levi acknowledged, his tone carrying a note of approval. "This makes things easier. Now we just wait until Ehrmich and Stohess are sorted."

Connie's brow raised at this. "Why those two cities in particular?"

"The MP must be all over the place. The bulk of their forces are most likely stationed here in the capital to handle all the refugees, leaving little behind to guard their Brigade HQ in Stohess as well as the central district building and the military HQ," Armin explained, capturing their attention. "Ehrmich is likely serving as our forward operation base to help stage the takeover, and our presence here is simply to disrupt their response. If this goes smoothly, they're going to lose control of two fifths of their holdings above the surface now that they've left Wall Rose behind, and that's where we come in to further destabilize them from underneath."

"That's exactly right," Levi confirmed. "By the end of the week, they'll have no choice but to surrender, especially with what's at stake and the arsenal we hold. Naturally, there will be heavy opposition to us deposing the king, but that's where she comes into the picture." They all glanced at Historia, whose eyes narrowed as she averted her gaze to the floor. "From that point forward, it'll only be a matter of taking care of small pockets of resistance from regional lords and disorganized troops still loyal to the old regime."

He glanced in Eren's direction this time, "But, that won't do them any good in the long run."

The new members of Squad Levi looked on in awe as Sasha suddenly heard footsteps approaching from outside. She turned to see a soldier nearing them, pausing by Mike's side to whisper in his ear. Mike turned to address the group. "Just as we thought, they took the bait and followed you down here, their men are searching the nearby area." The group tensed, Mikasa and Eren instinctively drawing closer to Historia.

Eren's eyes narrowed. "Are they any cause for concern?"

Levi took charge, removing his cloak and beginning to put on his ODM gear. "No, amateurs at best if they've been caught already." He looked up at Petra and Oluo. "Oluo, get changed. We're going to lure them out and apprehend these guys. Armin, you're going with him as well. Eren and Historia stay here, the rest of you, follow Mike and stay sharp."

"Yes sir!" They all shouted in unison and ran off to get geared.

Eren placed a hand on Mikasa's shoulder. "Those guys out there probably need to hear this more than you do, but be careful."

Mikasa nodded back at him. "Thank you, Eren."

And with that, the two were left alone in the room with a few guards as the rest went off to deal with the threat outside.

To their relief, the men following them seemed unaware of their exact location. The decoy team slipped into the crowded streets filled with refugees and through the maze of alleys and tunnels, leading their pursuers away from the hideout. Oluo and Armin, disguised as Eren and Historia, walked accompanied by two men, making no effort to conceal themselves. Squad Levi and the rest of Mike's men soon noticed a few shady individuals standing out from the crowd below.

Levi skipped ahead, signaling to Oluo below to follow a certain path toward the edge of the city, before his squad followed after him. Mikasa, Connie, Sasha, and Petra made it onto a roof overlooking a small courtyard and hid as they kept watch below. "Are we sure this is going to work?" Connie commented, clutching his rifle closely to his chest. Mikasa, crouched next to him, paid him no mind as she kept her eyes sharp.

"It has to, these guys suck," Sasha replied, aiming down the sights of her brand new rifle they confiscated from the enemy a couple of days ago. Being the best marksman in her class had its perks. "Here they come."

The group of scouts below entered the courtyard and paused as the men pursuing them foolishly stepped out into the open to surround them. Some had knives, while others carried pistols, all aimed at Oluo, Armin, and the other two scouts. Mikasa heard the men order their comrades to surrender peacefully. She looked up to find Levi gesturing for her and the rest. She nodded and moved into position as several other scouts prepared to act.

"Alright, nice and easy, no funny business! Walk forward with your hands up!" the leader of the group ordered, as the scouts before them seemingly complied.

Above, the scouts waited with bated breath, their eyes fixed on the scene unfolding below. "Nice and eas—" And then, in a sudden flurry of movement, Levi and Mikasa leapt from the rooftops, driving the two men flanking the leader of the group to the ground harshly.

"What the—" The short, stout man gasped before he found two swords aimed at his neck.

The remaining seven were taken off guard and were about to attack the duo when suddenly, they heard footsteps behind them as well as clicking sounds above. They looked around in shock as scouts surrounded them with their weapons drawn. Caught off guard, outnumbered, and outmaneuvered, they all surrendered without much trouble.

"That was almost too easy. Who are these guys?" Oluo spoke as he finished tying one of the men, the others all lay on their stomachs with their hands bound.

Mikasa scanned their faces before her gaze fell on the leader of the group. Her eyes narrowed as the man froze in shock. "You."

The man in question looked up at her apprehensively as Levi moved closer to inspect him. "You know this guy?"

"I do. He was there in Trost the day of the breach, blocking the evacuation with his wagon," Mikasa explained. "The men with him called him boss."

"Certainly acts like it. Let's get you on your feet. You might lose some of that weight by the time we're done talking," Levi said as he grabbed the balding man, it was at that moment that Levi began recognizing him as well. "Wait a minute, I recall seeing you among the masses evacuating out of Trost the day of the breach."

"Can't say it's a pleasure seeing you again." The man grunted at him.

The captain suddenly paused, noticing something out of the corner of his eye. He craned his neck in that direction to find someone peeking at them from behind a corner. The person gasped in shock at being found, then hurriedly left. "Someone's watching! After them!" Levi called out, momentarily leaving the man behind with Petra as he and Mikasa were the first to run after the suspect.

The duo didn't go far, however. The moment they rounded the corner, they found the redheaded man in question sprawled on the ground with Mike standing tall over him. Mike looked up, nodding. "That's all of them, I'll handle this one from here." Levi's shoulders subtly relaxed, and he moved back to the courtyard as Mikasa and Mike handled the rest.

"Come on, Mr Reeves Let's go somewhere where the air is less suffocating," Levi said.

Dimo's eyes widened. "How do you know my name?"

"I know a lot more than just your name, but right now, all I need to know is what I should do with you," Levi replied. "The answer to that... well, it heavily depends on you."

Dimo frowned. "Lead the way, scout."

"With pleasure."


Day 27, Stohess.

Jean and Marco navigated the bustling streets toward the Garrison HQ, determined to carry out Floch's orders. Close behind trailed Marlowe, Hitch, and Boris, all dressed inconspicuously in their casual attire. The duo had long ago agreed that wearing cloaks in Stohess only drew unwanted attention.

"What a way to kick off the week, huh? Embarking on a super illegal adventure to overthrow a government, can't say I saw that coming but hey, what else should we do, right?" Hitch muttered under her breath as she followed the boys. "I mean, they had it coming, dumping all that work on us. I can only handle latrine duty for so long before snapping."

"Alright we get it Hitch, you're nervous." Boris said dismissively.

"Nervous doesn't begin to cover it." She hissed at him, before sobbing with a whine. "Why did I agree to trying to overthrow a government? I'm gonna be labeled a traitor and hung by the neck to dry!"

"We're not just trying, Hitch. We're going to do it," Jean asserted, having provided the group with the basic details of their mission. "There's no other choice for us, and you brought this on yourself with all that snooping around."

"You know he's right," Marlowe interjected, catching her attention. "You really could've avoided all of this if you'd just minded your own business. But you decided to eavesdrop anyway, so show a little follow-through, will you?"

"Give it a rest, Marlowe. You're the last person I want to hear that from," Hitch retorted. "I know you're just itching to do 'what's right.' Just be careful not to get too carried away in your excitement; we didn't bring any spare underwear."

"Typical." Marlowe shot back, glaring at her.

Hitch returned the glare before she relented. "Still, It's been two days now since the breach in wall Rose, and there's been an influx in refugees coming in from all directions and into the capital, just how long can we afford to keep these people here before we get a repeat of four years ago?" She wondered somberly as she scanned the refugees from that distrct filling the street around them. "Things are definitely getting worse at this rate."

She paused for a moment, "I mean... Is it really wise to do this with the current situation?"

Marco turned to look at her, with a hopeful and determined gaze. "There won't be a repeat of that, count on it... admittedly, the food situation isn't getting any better with the lack of farming land but... I have a good feeling that it will work out, you know?" Marco said, casting a glance over his shoulder. "Just gotta trust that the scouts know what they're doing, it's better than to do nothing at all, they haven't let us down so far."

"Let's just hope you're right..." Boris muttered.

Hitch sighed, "So, where are we supposed to go anyway?"

The group came to a halt as Jean surveyed the area, bystanders bustling past them on the street. The Garrison HQ loomed ahead, just a few dozen meters away, but their contact was nowhere in sight. Jean furrowed his brow, but before he could speak, a glint of sunlight caught his eye from an alley in the distance. "What's that?"

Squinting, he spotted a cloaked figure using a mirror to reflect the sunlight. As soon as they were noticed, the figure retreated deeper into the alley. The five exchanged uneasy glances. "That must be them, right?" Jean asked Marco, the freckled boy beside him.

"Let's find out, everyone stay sharp." Marco replied, a nervous spark in his eyes, ignoring Hitch's hesitant murmurs from behind.

As they stepped into the dimly lit alley, tension hung heavy in the air, each member of the group acutely aware of the risks that came with their clandestine rendezvous. Yet, they pressed on, their senses alert and their nerves on edge. "Where the hell did they go?" Jean muttered his under breath as they came in view with a dead end.

Marco tensely replied. "I don't know, search the-"

Suddenly, without warning, the stillness of the alley was shattered as they were ambushed by unseen assailants. In a flurry of movement, bags were swiftly placed over their heads, plunging them into darkness and disorientation. Their attempts to resist were met with overwhelming force, leaving them powerless to fight back.

Moments later, Jean found himself being led away to an unknown location. The struggling sounds of his friends slowly dying in the background.

Hours later, outside of Ehrmich.

Floch hid in the bushes along the treeline, watching Wall Sina in the distance where Ehrmich sat. Right ahead, a large group of scouts marched towards the walls to enter the city. He turned around and glanced at the remaining men and women surrounding him. His gaze met Sandra's and the girl gave a weak smile in his direction, he nodded at her and turned around to watch the group as they near the gate.

Hange sat next to him, a telescope in hand as she watched intently. "They're opening the gate!" She announced, a couple of minutes later she spoke again as she spotted a signal from the top of the walls. "They're wasting no time, it's just as we thought, they're being arrested." She informed and put down the scope, turning to Floch and Moblit. "That means they took Erwin into custody as well, we'll have to do this tonight."

"Let's hope our cover isn't blown until then." Moblit commented as he observed the crowd of "scouts" being led inside at gunpoint.

"It'll be fine, some of them are our men after all." Floch assured. "Besides, those workers from Trost barely had any alternatives, it was either being paid to sit in a cell and do nothing or potentially starve deeper inside the walls. It's not like there's going to be much resistance, those idiots in the chancellery will be too busy trying to make sure the thousands of refugees staying underneath them aren't about to bring the capital to it's knees. We only need to caputre the Headquarters, and the rest will crumble."

"He's right, let's get ready. We move out as soon as the sun sets," Hange declared, prompting everyone to disperse from the treeline and return to their makeshift camp.

Floch settled back down with Sandra, Gordon, and the rest, who hastened to gear up for their mission. He chuckled softly as he observed Ruth's struggles, failing to attach the main ODM component to her waist. With a smirk, he approached and deftly secured it for her. "There you go," he said, earning a grateful yet embarrassed response from Ruth.

"Thanks," she mumbled, cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"No problem, bunny rabbit," Floch teased, igniting laughter from Gordon.

Ruth's mortified expression prompted further amusement. "Why would you bring that back up after so looooong?" she whined.

Gordon joined in the amusement. "Nearly forgot about that, that's just cruel." he chuckled.

"Sorry, sorry," Floch apologized, blocking Ruth's half-hearted strikes against his chest. "You know, you've changed a lot since that night, you all have in a way. I know you're nervous, but it'll be fine. If anything, those guys on the other side should be the ones worried about what's going to happen."

Ruth replied as she stopped her attacks. "I'm mostly worried about the others in the capital. They're right underneath their noses, Eren especially."

Mylius shrugged. "What's there to worry about? You said it yourself, they've got Eren, and I still haven't forgotten how Mikasa and Captain Levi made short work of those titans in Trost."

"But that's different, isn't it?" Mina countered. "Those were titans... These are other people, fighting against us, ready to kill us if need be. Not for fun or food or whatever... but for our different ideas and beliefs."

"It doesn't make much difference now. We've already come this far, and it's too late to turn back," Sandra reasoned as she finished gearing up. "You've already heard what they tried to do back at our old HQ. We have to do this, and more importantly, we have to let the people know what the government's really like behind all that crap about protecting the future of humanity."

"True, I guess," Mina conceded with a sigh.

Hannah observed in silence, her gaze eventually landing on Floch. He noticed her staring and their eyes locked briefly before he spoke up. "In any case... you're both right. It's different now. It's not just about fighting titans in the wild anymore. There will come a point where it's your life or the enemy's, and you'll have to make a split-second decision on what to do."

His tone grew stern. "There's no room for doubt. Our hands will get dirty, and we have to accept that reality."

"It sounds like you've accepted it a long time ago, the way you say it," Hannah remarked, surprising Floch with her sudden interjection. He turned to her, momentarily at a loss for words.

"I just do what I have to and keep moving forward, nothing else to it." Floch said.

"Huh, what's that supposed to mean?" Gordon interjected, breaking the tense moment.

"I..." Floch hesitated.

"Alright, it's about to start! Everyone to your assigned squads immediately, get in position!" Henning's voice rang out from behind, breaking the tension. The group quickly dispersed, falling into formation. Floch cast a final glance at Hannah, his expression troubled, before turning his focus ahead as they moved towards the walls, the sun having finally set.

Jean felt disoriented, his hands and feet bound tightly to a chair, the darkness behind his blindfold adding to the oppressive atmosphere of the room. The room reeked of blood and death, and for the last few hours or so, he could hear nothing but the dripping of water in a nearby corner and the occasional screams that suspiciously sounded like Hitch, each one driving a spike of fear deeper into his heart. It didn't take a genius to figure out that they were deep in shit, this might be the end.

"Who do you work for?" The demand cut through the silence.

Jean clenched his jaw, refusing to give them the satisfaction of an answer. The blow that followed landed hard against his cheek, igniting a fiery pain that radiated through his skull. Still, he remained defiant.

"I already told you bastards," he spat, his voice strained with defiance. "I serve under Captain Dennis Aiblinger in the Stohess district Military Police Brigade. Who else am I supposed to say? The damn walls?"

Another strike, another wave of agony. "Cut the bullshit," the interrogator growled, their voice dripping with malice. "We know you were planning on meeting someone. What were you planning to do?"

"I don't know, ask your mother." Jean shot back, his voice hoarse with defiance.

He winced as another blow landed, but to be honest, whoever was punching him really needed to learn how throw a proper punch, even Krista punched harder than this."You're a stubborn one, but that's okay," the interrogator sneered, "Your friends have already spilled their guts. Your life is forfeit, traitor."

Jean's heart sank to his stomach in shock, mouth gaping. Marco talked? There was no way... He would have expected it from Hitch or Boris, but to hear that the freckled boy broke shattered whatever was left of his resolve. He lowered his head partly from exhaustion and defeat and went quiet, as he gradually began to accept his fate, looks like he wouldn't be following through will whatever Floch had planned with them, shame, part of him really thought this could lead somewhere.

"You know, this isn't over just yet, you can still crawl your way out of the shitter if you give us more details, who knows, might save your life."

Jean inclined his head up with a frown, mind racing with contemplation. He could be bluffing... but... what if he wasn't?

A contingent of nearly a hundred scouts advanced toward the gate, their movements coordinated and purposeful. As they reached their destination, the group splintered into three distinct units, each assigned to cover a different flank. Floch, Mina, and Mylius were led by Nanaba towards the western detachment, breaking away from Squad Hange to scale the walls using their ODM gear.

Upon reaching the top, they encountered a group of unsuspecting Garrison soldiers. With practiced stealth, they observed them from below the edge, ensuring they remained undetected.

Nanaba swiftly formulated a plan of action. "Zermuski, Carolina, maintain surveillance on our rear. Lynne, Gelgar, neutralize the squad leader on the left flank. The rest of you, with me. Let's overwhelm them before they can act, Henning, take point."

The squad sprang into action, executing their maneuvers with precision. Lynne and Gelgar wrapped around the Garrison squad from the left side, using their ODM gear to drop directly behind the man and hold him at gunpoint before he could even think of doing anything. The other men and women with him had no time to react, as they found themselves surrounded by Henning, Nanaba, and Floch, while Mylius and Mina kept watch of the flanks with their muskets.

"S-scouts?! But I thought the MP apprehended all of you!" the squad leader exclaimed incredulously.

"Shut up, asshole, and give me that." Gelgar snarled, securing the man's wrists before he took a flask of alcohol from his jacket's pockets, while his comrades followed suit with the other prisoners.

Nanaba observed the scene with a composed demeanor. "Phase one is complete," she stated calmly, her gaze focused on the distant outlines of their fellow scouts. "Zermuski, Carolina, keep watch over our them. If they try anything, toss them over the side to the titans." The Garrison soldiers visibly paled at the implication, unaware that it was merely a bluff. "The rest of us will head to headquarters. You'll know what to do when the next signal comes."

"Understood, ma'am!" Zermuski and Carolina responded in unison, their resolve evident as they stood guard over the prisoners.

The remainder of Squad Mike descended below and proceeded toward the headquarters. Along the way, they encountered small patrols and checkpoints already detained by their fellow collaborators in front of a few confused civilians. After a few minutes, they halted at the rooftop of a nearby building overlooking the target. Lynne ascended a nearby steeple to survey the area, scanning the courtyard and surrounding structures before confirming the readiness of the other squads to Nanaba.

"We're all set. The entire perimeter is secured," she reported upon returning to her side.

"Good. Let's move quickly."

Squad Mike leaped into action, joining forces with other troops to storm the headquarters. The element of surprise caught numerous Military Police and Garrison officers off guard as they were apprehended at gunpoint. With the assistance of Garrison collaborators, they systematically cleared each room until only the cells remained.

"Whatever... I don't care about that. Just get on with it and spare me your bullshit," Jean grunted, resigned to his fate.

"I see. In that case..."

The boy's muscles tensed, the grip of fear around his heart paralyzing him. Acting tough for the sake of his dignity was one thing, but facing the harsh reality was another entirely. The looming specter of death sent shivers down his spine, gripping him with an undeniable terror. As the enemy removed his blindfold and began to loosen his binds, he could only hope for a swift and merciful end.

Jean, his cheek bloodied and bruised, paused in confusion.

"Huh?"

Hange and her squad, along with Squad Mike, descended to the cells with an MP captive, surrounded by other scouts freeing their fellow prisoners. Hange turned to Moblit, "Has Nile Dok been found?"

Moblit shook his head, "No, it appears like he left just before we started the operation."

"I see, oh well." Hange replied back, as civilians in Survey Corps attire were directed upstairs and out of the HQ, while the soldiers were armed and equipped. Finally reaching the last cell, they found Erwin Smith seated alone on his bed, wearing an expectant expression. Hange grinned triumphantly as she reached for the captive's keys, preparing to open Erwin's cell.

Jean looked around in bewilderment, realizing that the people in the room weren't MPs, but rather a mix of cloaked figures and casually dressed individuals. His gaze settled on a familiar face, and his eyes widened in recognition. Pointing at her in shock, he exclaimed, "You! You're that woman from Trost!"

Taking in his surroundings, Jean realized the scent of blood wasn't just his imagination—it emanated from various cuts of meat surrounding them. They were in the basement of a butcher's shop. As the door swung open, Marco and the others were ushered into the room. "You guys... You're okay!" he called out to them.

The platinum-blonde woman in glasses nodded. "Rico Brzenska, Garrison Second Squad team leader," she introduced herself, adjusting her glasses. "Congratulations, Jean Kirstein. You've all passed. We're looking forward to your cooperation in the future."

"Huh?"

Erwin rose from his seat and stepped out of the cell, his gaze sweeping over the assembled teams. "I trust everything went according to plan?"

Hange affirmed with a nod. "It did. We've secured the HQ and all surrounding barracks. This city is now effectively under our control."

A sense of determination settled over Erwin's features. "Good work," he acknowledged, his tone grave. He moved past Hange and Floch, exchanging a brief glance with the latter before guiding them upstairs.

"This is just the start. Let's bring this charade to an end."


Sorry for lying a little bit, I am slow cooking. I know I've been edging some of you with all this Flomir (Fymir? Ymoch? Flmir?) stuff but it's coming soon I promise. Part of writing canon divergence is that I have to constantly make sure the plot is glued and taped together properly, and if my barely held together bridge is missing a few steps, well, can't have that!

So uh, yay! Rico is making an appearence again! I made her six dedicated fans extremely excited for about two seconds! Which is comparable to the amount of time that it will take to complete the revolution in this story, seeing as how the scouts only have a 5 day window to secure that meeting with Ymir. I was unsure about how feasible it was, but after researching canon, I found out the uprising only took a week to complete, but that makes sense since the entirety of seasons 1-3 happens in the span of 2 months.

The only difference here is that Erwin does not need to wait on confirmation that Historia is of royal blood, and the scouts already know who Rod Reiss is thanks to Floch so that eliminates a lot of the downtime spent trying to figure their shit out. Also, Pastor Nick is no longer involved seeing as though Annie never had the chance to infiltrate Stohess's MP brigade and her battle against Eren never happened so the walls weren't exposed. Something Something, butterfly effect.

That doesn't mean Stohess is off the hook just yet, as the scouts will be headed there to confront the warriors as soon as they are done speed running the uprising! Who knows what could happen at this point? I mean, Floch's really leaning into the whole 'turning Ymir into my next meal' angle, and unlike what some past commenters wished for, it isn't being said in a good sense!

On a side note, I've been wanting to make a few RWBY stories for a while now, and I have a ton of drafts laying around, but I'm still not sure if it's anything interesting. Some are one-shots, some are connected one-shots and then there's the big one that's similar to Seeking the Devil in scale. All of them either focus on Ruby Rose or Jaune Arc. I guess the only reason preventing me from making those stories is the fact I have 3 on-going stories that aren't finished, granted, "I, The devil" is near completion as I'll be releasing all the remaining chapters consecutively but that's still a lot of shit that needs to be written so I don't want to overload myself with that much writing haha.

Anyway, we'll see in the future, but for now I'll see you later! Thanks for reading!