~Elias POV~

Soon after that whole debacle with Woerman and his antics, we all met up on the wall where Pixis were looking down titans that were reaching out to us.

Eren was giving the whole ordeal about the cellar and how it's connected to all of this with the titans.

It's really interesting considering that I thought I was naive to it growing up, thinking there was nothing of it.

Pyxis: That's that. So, visiting the cellar should clear everything up?

Eren: Yes, sir. Well, at least I think so.

Pyxis: For the moment, there is no way to validate all of the claims you've made. For now, I'll just catalogue them in here.

Him pointing at his brain, which I can appreciate.

Now, I'm not a expert tactician nor am I weapon specialist, but the last time I checked, the mind is the most useful weapon out of everything.

While our swords and techniques can cause damage, the mind is what matters when trying to fight serve in the military. If we can't use our minds in warfare, then what's the point of being in the military?

Pyxis: With that said, I can usually tell the difference between the unctuous and the sincere, which is why I personally guarantee your safety. You're Cadet Armin Arlert. Is that correct?

Armin: Yes sir!

Pyxis: You mentioned a plan to harness this so-called "Titan Ability" and then utilize your friend's power to retake the city. Do you believe it could work? Or were you grasping at straws to try and save your hides.

Armin: U, well- Both, Commander. I was going to suggest that Eren, using him his strength as a Titan, could lift that giant boulder. We could use it to block off the wrecked gate. That was the best idea I was able to come up with on the spot. I-I just wanted to make everyone see how Eren's ability might provide a solution to the problem we all face. Granted, I was pretty desperate to survive.

Pyxis: "Deaperate to survive," huh? That's as credible a reason as any, son. What do you say, Cadet Jaeger?

Eren: Say, sir?

Pyxis: That hole. Do you think that you can plug it up, son?

Eren: Well, I-I don't know. It's possible, but at the moment, I don't understand my power any more than you do. It's just, I sort of feel irresponsible giving you an answer, cause I don't really know.

Pyxis: Ah, yes. Of course, my apologies. I asked you the wrong question. Are you willing to, Cadet Jaeger. Or not?

Eren: I'll do it. I'll do it! I don't know if I can seal that hole. But... I'll do it!

Pyxis: Excellently said. You have the heart of a lion. Staff officers, hup! We have a plan to flesh out!

Armin: Wait, we-? We can't actually be moving forward with this as our linchpin strategy. It was just something I tossed out there

Elias: I was thinking the same thing. Except, he seems like a guy who knows what he's doing. He has it all under control, like we can't see the forest for the trees, but it really sounds like he's got a bird's eye view.

Armin: You think so?

Elias: Yeah. Either way, we got a whole other problem to address before we can get your plan off the ground. And something tells me that the Commander's keenly aware of it.

Armin: Which would be?

Elias: Titans aren't our only foe. And Eren, do it for not just us, Eren, but for Mrs. Jaeger. She'd want you to plug up that hole.

Eren: I'll do it for her. I will.

Pyxis: Look sharp, soldiers.

We looked to see that he's got some Garrison soldiers with him as he said this.

Pyxis: The fate of mankind rests on your shoulders.

When we made the decision to plug up that hole, Pyxis had to take Eren away as it was just Armin, Mikasa, and myself.

Armin: You really think that Titans aren't the only enemies we're facing?

Elias: I don't think so, I know so. Whoever they are, they got something all planned out and so far, it's working in their favor. They're trying to make us paranoid to where we lose more people to where we're no more.

Mikasa: That's a fair point, but we need to find out who the enemy is.

Elias: For now, let's work with these two as we gotta plan out the entire thing.

Armin: Let's go.

We all got to the other garrison soldiers as Armin and them started to plan it out, but we decided to listen to Pyxis' speech.

I know that he's gonna pull a speech, so I was looking forward to what he's gonna say.

Pyxis: ATTENTION!!! Take note. The blueprint of the Trost Recovery Operation is this. Our primary objective is to reseal the hole. Yes, you heard that right. What's more, it will be done manually. As for how the task will be done, that's where this fellow comes in. Allow me to introduce Cadet Eren Jaeger.

I smirked as I was really looking forward to this plan I do plan on killing as many titans as I can to make sure that everything is done.

And you know what? I do hope that Woerman becomes scared again and starts thinking for himself or I'll catch him being written up for a court martial pretty damn soon.

Pyxis: Don't let appearances deceive you! This young man is in fact the successful product of cutting-edge science. Fantastic as this may sound, Cadet Jaeger possesses the ability to fabricate and control a Titan body, at will. Recall the massive boulder roughly a league from the gate. Having assumed Titan form, Cadet Jaeger will hoist said boulder on his back, schlep it to the hole, and voila! And this is where you all come in. Your job will be to defend him.

I was really near Mikasa as she suddenly held onto my hand before she realized what she was doing, we both looked down, blushed and moved our hands away before we focused back on what Pyxis is saying.

Pyxis: Yes. Defend a Titan against his own kind.

Gustav: What do you mean we don't actually need to fight them?

Armin: There's an easier way. Sorry, I know it's not my place to interrupt. I mean no disrespect.

Gustav: It's alright. Just go on with what you're saying.

Armin: Right. Thank you, sir. See, whatever else is going on around them, Titans are generally drawn to large groups of people. If enough of us collected in the corner away from the breach, we could lure the Titans out of Eren's path. He could be discrete about moving the boulder. He also won't have to slow his pace while we fight the others off of him. And since the Titans will all be in one area, we can pick them off via cannon fire without incurring casualties of our own. Now, I'm not suggesting we leave Eren defenseless. That'd be too risky. We'll need a modest band of Elites to act as his bodyguards. There's no way of knowing how many Titans might come through the hole while he's trying to patch it up. His security detail will need to be able to handle them.

Gustav: Easy enough, I think. We can retool the plan around that.

Armin: The thing is, we're making a big assumption here. Namely that Eren even in full-on Titan mode is strong enough to move the rock. I mean, to be perfectly honest, there's very little reason for us to suppose he can. I have my doubts. Serious ones.

Gustav: As do I. Sending people to their doom on a whim isn't a tactic I'm fond of. Uncertainty's killed too many already, but the commander's right. We must do this.

Anka: Agreed. We're working against the clock here. Titans are still lumbering into Trost as we speak. There are already more than we can handle, frankly. The longer we wait, the worse our chances of success become.

Ian: And it goes without saying, the better our chances they'll bust through Wall Rose and wreak untold havoc.

Anka: There's something else, too. Even the bravest of us can't indefinitely bottle our fear. Not something it gives.

Then, I saw that soldiers were leaving out of cowardice and I really hate that, but Pyxis spoke up...

Pyxis: Anyone wishing to leave will by my personal order not be charged with treason! Those who have seen a Titan firsthand will not be expected to revisit such horror again. Whomever this applies to, you may leave with my blessing. Additionally, anyone with family or loved ones they would spare from the same trauma may also leave. The crown will continue to recognize your service. Thank you and good luck!

All of a sudden, they all started coming back, much to my personal delight. If we don't fight back against the Titans, then what's the point of being in the military?

Pyxis: Now, think back four years ago. Namely, the operation to retake Wall Maria. I bring it up because you all deserve to have your suspicions confirmed. Officially, we labeled it reconnaissance. But in fact, as most of you probably know, it was little more than a purge; a thinly disguised exercise in population control. We knew this in our hearts, of course we did. Yet we turned a blind eye. We supported the state-sponsored myth because the death of our fellow human beings allowed us to survive. Pure and simple. The guilt is ours. We share the blame. All of us. The citizens of Wall Maria sustained themselves on the wholesale slaughter of the refugees who'd flown to us for help. But turnabout is fair play, is it not? If Wall Maria succumbs, the population will fall by a whole other order of magnitude! The lands compromising Wall Sina wouldn't support half the people now living. If we're wiped off the face of the earth, the culprits will not have been the Titans, let me assure you. No, no. We'll have done it to ourselves. If the line isn't drawn now, it won't be drawn at all. If we must die, LET US DIE HERE!

When that speech was over, we had to be prepared for the task at hand as the four of us had to talk.

Armin: I'm so sorry, Eren. I was just talking out of my head. It wasn't my intention for you to be pulled into all this.

Eren: Stop apologizing. The fact is you have a gift for strategy and you know it. I believe in you, Armin.

Elias: All of us do. Your mind's more brighter than all of us combined. Don't you forget that.

Mikasa: Eren, I really think I should-

Eren: You're not coming with me. You and Elias are on the decoy squad. Period.

Mikasa: No way! We're not leaving you alone! We won't take another chance-

Eren: Knock it the hell off!

I then pulled Eren away from Mikasa as I wanted to protect Mikasa.

That was too far in my opinion, I gotta make sure that he doesn't do that again, not while I'm here.

Eren: Get it through your head that I'm not your responsibility! You're not my mother!

Elias: You're right about that, but the fact is, she wanted us to look after you while she lives in Wall Sina. And I plan on doing it the most, Eren. I made the vow to look after you, whether you like it or not. So do me a favor, and be grateful that we're your friends.

Ian: Ackerman, Heinrich. I want you on the squad that'll be providing Jaeger with backup. We'll need your skill. Hop to. Let's get started.

Before we started running, Mikasa held onto my arm with her beautiful face staring into mine.

Mikasa: Elias, no matter what happens, just know that I'll be forever grateful you and Eren came to my rescue.

She then pulled me close to her kissed my cheek with a smile as we started running with the squad.

Ian: Let's get this straight right now. Whatever you are , all I care about is you getting that rock in place. Can we count on you?

Eren: Yes, sir! I won't let you down.

Mikasa: You're absolutely sure you're gonna be alright to do this?

Eren: I got it!

Elias: Trust us, Eren.

Eren: I do trust you!

Mikasa: Seriously?

Eren: How many times you want me to say it? You just go do your job and I'll do mine.

Then, the same white haired woman with glasses came running beside us.

Rico: Look, now's not the time playing house.

Eren: Come on, it isn't like that.

Mitabi: I'm gonna say what we're all thinkin' here. The fact that the fate of mankind depends on a little brat like you doesn't make me hopeful.

Ian: All of you, stop it, right now! We're about to be in the range of the giant boulder! I'm not seeing any Titans nearby. The decoy strategy must be doing the trick.

Rico: Something I want you to be aware of, Jaeger. Make no mistake. More than a few of our comrades are going to die today trying to pull this off. Their blood's on your hands. I'm talking friends. Captains. Lieutenants. Peons. Yes, they are soldiers. They are prepared to die, but remember, every one of them is a flesh and blood person. Everyone of them has dreams. Hopes. Fears. Every one of them has a name. Alyosha. Dominic. Fine. Isabel. Ludwig. Martina. Guido. Hans. They're not pawns. They're people. Some have been living together like family since their cadet years. This may well be the end of them. Whole families snuffed out in a moment. Whatever you think your mission is, Jaeger, your first and foremost concern today is making sure their deaths mean something. Whatever happens, you keep that lodged in your mind. Take everything that comes with deadly seriousness.

Eren: Right!

Once we made it to our launch area, we leapt off and flew through the city to get to the boulder.

We have to get that thing close to the entrance and if we don't, all is lost. If we succeed, we make history.

As Eren was close, he hit his hand and turned, much to the delight of all of us, or so we thought.

Once he got into his Titan form, he roared and it looked like he was ready to take that freaking boulder and get that entrance shut for good.

However, I was next to Mikasa, but when Eren turned around towards us, he threw a punch at us, but I pushed Mikasa out of the way as I went the other when he punched through the roof we were on!

Then, I felt something in my shoulder and it was painful, but when the dust cleared off, I saw that a big shard of concete was in my shoulder!

I ran over the other side and saw Mikasa, standing there, I needed help quickly. God, this hurts.