Broken Blade – An Attack on Titan Story

Captain Jonathan wasn’t doing anything in particular when the Colossus titan arrived. It was mid-day and he had just completed his patrol atop the wall. He was about to enter his non-descript tent when the scout came running.

“Wall Maria has been breached”, said the out-of-breath scout before she ran off to the next Garrison captain.

Captain Jonathan couldn’t believe what he was hearing. It was simply too difficult to comprehend. Officer Megan almost had to shake him to his senses.

“Captain, Shiganshina has been breached,” yelled Megan. “We are to help in the evacuation of the citizens here to Wall Rose.”

“Yes. Let us… do that”. Jonathan mumbled as he went inside the tent. “Give me a moment.”

Once inside, he made preparations. His hands were shaky but some instinct in him allowed for him to grab his omni-directional mobility gear and a handful of blades. Four blades, was it five blades? He didn’t imagine that such a day would come. He was not trained – more accurately, he was not prepared for this.

Officer Megan was still outside the tent when Jonathan made his appearance. The ten or so Garrison members under his command were also making preparations, with their faces stuck in horror. One of the boys was slouched on a crate, about to cry.

“Alright! We are to assist the military police in evacuating the citizens to Wall Maria.” Shouted Megan. The Garrison members looked at her, even the depressed lad. Then, they looked up at Captain Jonathan.

“Yes.” Jonathan said, trying to hide the fear in his voice. “It will be simple. Um… Refill your gas, blades… We are aiming for Krolva district.”

“Sacrifice your hearts.”

“Sacrifice your hearts!”

The Garrison dozen went to make preparations. Officer Dunham and Megan came up to Captain Jonathan. “Sir. This mission should not be difficult. According to the scout, the breach is in Shiganshina.” Said Dunham.

“Yes. As you mentioned,” said Megan, “Krolva should be a safe bet.”

****

The sky was orange with the sunset approaching. The people still had not finished evacuating out of the district. Panic had struck, and the chain of command was effectively broken. 

Megan was worried about mobilizing the people after dark. Titans were not a problem this much North of Shiganshina, but other factors would come into play – wild animals, bandits, hell – even the panic struck people were a threat to each other.

“The Military Police have a base midway between here and Chlorba.” Captain Erik said to Captain Jonathan. Megan could hear the Garrison Captains discuss the plan of action. They should be able to restock there and head safely to Wall Rose. “We have to be quick. However, these caravans and this large group of people will make mobility difficult.” Continued Captain Erik.

“Our duty is to protect them.” Said Captain Jonathan. 

And so they headed out from the inner gate. Megan almost smiled.

****

“Titan!” yelled Officer Dunham as he pointed to the distant. A titan the size of a house was quickly approaching them. 

“Move faster!” ordered Jonathan to the people in the back, as he brought his horse to a standstill next to Dunham. Megan also approached them.

“Just like training, right?” they said to each other as they swooped in. Jonathan and Dunham slashed the legs, their ODMG making a metallic sound. Two clean slices were made on the heel. Something like blood gushed out. The titan let out a roar in agony. Two others quickly made cuts to the arms of the beast, as more screaming followed. Megan flew in and cut the nape of the titan.

“Whew!” they breathed in relief.

“No dilly-dallying!” shouted Captain Erik as he directed the Garrison members back into formation. Captain Jonathan went to join him. 

****

Their approach to the military police base was uneventful. Jonathan sat on one of the beds. His back was aching from riding the horse for so long. It was evening.

The other members gathered around him. Dunham had scrapped some skin of his ribs while landing earlier, but there were no major injuries. Megan bent down to open a flask of water when a large wind almost threw her off her feet.

“Ahhh!” screamed a Garrison member as he was picked up by a titan! Megan, Dunham and Jonathan looked up in horror. The titan was smaller than the one they saw earlier today but it was faster. It bit down on the Garrison member and – 

“Ford!” screamed Dunham as the titan ripped off the poor boy’s leg. Two thoughts went through Captain Jonathan’s mind. Where is Erik?

And, that boy’s name was Ford?

Megan let go of the flask and angrily grabbed her blade. “Wait!” yelled Jonathan, “You send up a flare. Leave the brute to us.” 

Megan nodded, ran out of the tent and fired a red flare. She did not have to wait for long, as a squad in the distant sent out a green flare. That much? Erik’s squad was almost a kilometre away. No good, thought Megan as she looked back at her squad.

The titan was dead; Captain and the others had subjugated the titan. Dunham was standing teary eyed near Ford. Captain Jonathan instructed one of the fellows to make a tourniquet and told them to make haste. Dunham loaded Ford onto his own horse and they decided to move.

“Megan. You finished resupplying?” asked Jonathan. Megan was lost in thought for the poor injured – 

“Y-Yes!” she lied and went on her horse. The blood loss was going to be too great; she thought and looked at the Captain. She could tell that he was thinking the same.

“Let’s join up with Erik!” suggested Captain Jonathan.

****

They couldn’t catch up with the other squad, but they did meet a straggling group of citizens. They loaded Ford onto one of the caravans and went on their way. 

“He is dead,” said Megan as she brought her horse around to Captain Jonathan. He was silent. Megan looked at Dunham, who was expressionless. It was very dark now, but some of the citizens had made torches to light up their way. In the dark, the titans would not move, but it was difficult for them to move too. They had to reach the wall before sunrise.

****

Even after that last group of citizens had been on their way, safe within the bounds of Wall Maria, Captain Jonathan and some of his Garrison members stood atop a house looking out for any more citizens.

“Titans approaching!” signaled one of the trainees. Jonathan and Megan noticed the small group of titans coming towards them. 

“Should we draw them towards the cannons?” asked Megan.

“No!” said Jonathan. It’s too close to the wall. Our best bet is to kill them here, in this village.”

“Yes.” chimed in Dunham. “We will use these houses for our gear and kill them here.”

Megan looked at the six remaining garrison members and instructed, “Keep them away from the wall.”

Jonathan took off on his horse and aimed for the knees of one of the titans. Today’s group was larger, but they looked much slower than the nightmare of yesterday evening. Dunham was sleepy, he signaled for Megan to stand back.

Oh. I see, thought Megan. Dunham and the Captain were acting as bait. She signaled for the other members to divide into two groups and wait atop the roof of the houses. 

Captain Jonathan took out both of the knees. “Now!” he yelled. Megan nodded to the other members as she went for the nape of the fallen titan. The other Garrison members were shocked into action and went for the limbs.

“No!” yelled Megan as she saw one of the inattentive girls in the squad being picked off by a titan. The poor girl was screaming, but another titan had its sight on Megan. She sliced off the grasping titan’s hand and swung over the titan’s body. One of the members went in for the killing blow.

Megan looked over her shoulder at the girl, but she couldn’t see her.

“Dunham!” she yelled and pointed in that direction. He must have understood as he rode over to the house. Megan switched her blades and went to check on the guy who had assisted her.

****

“They are all dead,” said Jonathan as he approached Megan on the roof. “I think we should head back.”

“Argh!” they heard Dunham behind them. Megan looked over the side of the roof and was shocked. Apparently a titan had fallen on Dunham, and he was pinned down, along with some debris.

“Captain!” she pointed at Dunham, but Jonathan didn’t pay attention to her. Then she looked at what the Captain was up to. Jonathan was staring at the approaching titans; three of them. His blades were almost finished and it was the same with Megan, he assumed. He saw Dunham trapped amidst the debris but couldn’t do anything to help him.

Megan ran over to Jonathan. “Captain, we need to head back now!” She glanced over at the approaching titans. They ignored the dead bodies, and picked up some of the injured Garrison members.

The sun was shining in his face, but Jonathan forced a glance at Wall Rose. It was quite far and they had no reinforcements; with the gas that they had it would be impossible.

Megan was panicking, and so she tugged at Captain Jonathan. He was not moving. She looked at the approaching titans as they devoured the remaining survivors. 

“Meg.” said Captain Jonathan.

She felt a pang of excruciating pain from behind her as she fell on her knees.

“I am sorry.” Captain Jonathan said as he jumped off the roof and burst towards the Wall.

“Nooo!” she screamed as she saw the Captain run towards the wall. She couldn’t believe it. Blood gushed out from a cut in her thigh as she looked in horror at the broken blade stuck there. She brought her palms to stifle her scream as the three titans towered over her.

****

Captain Jonathan was the sole survivor of the 63rd Garrison squad from Wall Maria. His entire squad was wiped out. His account was a strange one as he was able to run all the way to the Wall from the small village outside. No one knows why the titans didn’t pursue him.