Secret Squirrels Business

Third Person- AT SCOUT REGIMENT HQ

After the events of the day prior, Kaminari had disappeared with Levi and Erwin, not to be seen again until this morning.

Like normal she was clean and polished in her normal scouts attire with her long blonde tresses swaying loosely in the light breeze and a cup of coffee in hand.

She, Gunther and Eld drink cups of coffee outside of the Scout's Old Headquarters on a fairly sunny day. Kaminari had been uncharacteristically quiet since she arrived back, but all could see the ever lingering anger in her body language and hostile green eyes.

With a sigh Kaminari begins pulling her long hair into a French braid as Gunther's eyes flicker to her before looking straight forward once again. "After that whole inspection they didn't turn up anyone who used there own 3DMG gear without permission. So, who could of done it?" He notices how the Kaminari, his little spit fire's, grip tightens around the mug now in her hands as she takes what he assumes to be a calming sip.

Eld spares Gunther an irritated glance. "Beats me and right now I'm more concerned with the recruitment drive tonight. How many cadets are crazy enough to join the regiment witht the highest casualty rates?"

Kaminari brushes a hand over her braid with a snort. "You'd be surprised," she mutters. Gunther sends her a small smile, that being the first thing she'd said all day, before turning his gaze on Eren questionably, "Hey Eren! You know if anyone in your class is going to join us?"

Eren continues to feed the chestnut horses as he responds, "yeah there are a few... Or at least there were. I'm not so sure now." He replies honestly as the sound of hooves approaching catches his attention.

"FALL IN!"

Gunther and Eld scramble, throwing their cups down and salute the incoming Captain, whilst Kaminari remains seated and finishes her coffee. Levi brings his steed to a halt in front of the Gunther and Eld, as Eren rushes to mimic their actions. "Make ready people, we're going on patrol."

"Good morning Captain! Reporting for duty." Eren salutes valiantly, turning as he expects Kaminari to follow his lead but the blonde just sends Levi a lazy wave. "Short stack." Levi ignores her jab at his height, knowing fully well that it's also insulting her before turning his attention back to Jaeger. "Eren you will stay within ten meters of me at all times. The only reason you're out of your cell is because I'm keeping an eye on you. Understood?"

"Yes Sir." He responds as Levi turns his towards his little blonde, "Kaminari you are to go to the recruitment drive. I need eyes and ears to see and hear what Erwin doesn't." Kaminari sends him a look of mock disbelief, "you just didn't want to go and it was either you or me wasn't it?"

His mouth quirks a smile before flatlining as he turns his horse around. "Yes, now the rest of you let's ride."

Kaminari watches the four mount their horses and disappear off for patrol, none of them turning back to see the frustration pinching her face as she mutters. "He does this every year. Tch. Bastard." She saddles up her ebony coated mare before making her way to where the recruitment drive would be occurring.

Time skip

She had arrived well before the sun had even set, well before Petra, Oluo and the others had even departed for this event. But now as evening had fallen, she remains grounded in place beside Erwin, in front of the possible recruits. She had her scouts cloak on, the hood obscuring the cadet's view of her face and the only thing they could see was the dancing flames being reflected in her eyes.

"Good evening, I am Erwin Smith Commander of the Survey Corps, also known as the Scout Regiment. And this is Captain Kaminari Moriko, saviour of humanity. Let's cut to the chase here, the scouts need you. We need every warm body we can get. As of the recent titan attack, you now know the horrors first hand of an attack. It was testing the limits of your own skill.

However, this battle's aftermath had given us a a small victory, like one many years ago with Kaminari. I refer to Eren Jaeger, as selflessly risking life and limb he has proven without a doubt his unwavering loyalty to the cause. Hope lives in him. Eren just didn't help deter the titian invasion, he has offered us a means to discern the truth of their origin."

A collective gasp emits from the cadets, no one knowing whether of not he was joking. But Erwin's serious expression didn't falter or shift in the slightest, he was deadly serious. He spares Kaminari a look and she steps forward, saying. "Intel suggests that Jaeger's cellar basement in his home in Shinganshima holds vital information in regards to our enemy. We will form an expedition to find this secret, and use it to break free from the titan's tyrannic one hundred year reign."

She rocks back on her heels, watching as those from the 104th Trainee's squint their eyes as they try listen to the familiarity in her voice. If it weren't for these circumstances of choosing where your life will end, they may of been able to figure out that their blonde comrade wasn't dead. As for Jean and Reiner, it rang loud and clear, but the gag order still stands and they weren't willing to spill the beans just yet.

Ewrin resumes his speech. "Before we can reach the aforementioned cellar in Shinganshima, another problem has arose. We must first retake Wall Maria, again this is a lot easier said than done. Now that the gate of Trost is rendered inaccessible,we will be forced to stage future operations from the Calelath District further east. Thus, the route we've spent the last four years creating is now useless. Over those four years we have incurred losses of 60%. Sixty percent in four years, that's a horrifying figure."

He pauses to allow the information to sink in, sparing the hooded Kaminari a glance, whom nods for him to continue. She had reminded him beforehand that the strength of the cadets will shine through when the pressure is on. Telling him that those who he would want in the Scouts will not run in the face of the grisly truth, no matter how much they may want to.

And so, he continues. "One month from now we will conduct a recon mission from outside the walls and those cadets that join will be expected to take part. I expect that a third will die and that four years from now, most will have died. But those who endure will be among the most capable. Now having heard these now dismal state of affairs, those who still wish to put their lives on the line and join us, remain here. But first ask yourself, can you give your heart? Can you give everything for humanity? Those wanting to join other regiments may leave."

"Commander, I'm afraid you may have been too harsh and scared them all off. None of them are going to stick around."

For the second time today, Kaminari scoffs. "You don't know the cadets like I do. Those that remain will be valuable assets that know exactly what they're getting themselves into. I'd trust them with my life and so should you." Her green orbs seemingly glow from under her hood, reflecting the wild fire in her eyes.

Slowly but surely the majority of cadets leave, turning their backs on the scouts. Kaminari watches as those from her cadet groups internally struggle with being a sheep and leaving like the majority or staying. She smirks when all but Annie had stayed, "they've got guts."

Erwin's blank facade remains intact but his eyes shine with slight admiration as he addresses those in front of him. "I ask you, if I ordered you to die would you do it?" A second passes where the cadets try not to even breath the wrong way. After all, not all of them are suicidal bastards like Eren Jaeger.

Kaminari was mildly surprised when Jean responds, "I don't want to die Sir!"

Erwin cracks a light smile and closes his eyes briefly before opening them, "of course. Let us hope that you don't then. You who stayed, you are now one of us. I welcome you to the Scout Regiment. This is a genuine salute soldiers, together we give our hearts." Erwin and Kaminari snap into a salute, hand over heart.

"Sir!"

"Those of you standing here have worked through your fear. Each one of you has my upmost respect."

NEXT DAY

Kaminari and Levi stand a bit away from the rest of the group as they talk privately about the task. "So nobody knows?" Kaminari starts, making Levi grunt in acknowledgement. "And it is to stay that way. You know what Erwin said. Nobody, and that includes us, will know the finer details." He reminds her, yet she had never forgotten.

She shakes her head in understanding, "it's for the best. I just hope everything works out as planned." As the two continue their private conversation and grooming their horses, as Gunther goes over the known details of the operation with the rest of the squad. "Our special operations squad will be positioned here, behind the centre rank." He says pointing to the place on the map.

"So we will be pretty far back then?" Eren injects, astonished.

"It's the safest position of the formation. The supply wagons don't even get such fine treatment." Gunther remarks with a slight smirk. "Our goal this time is just to simply go and come back. The day's test run is going to tell us whether or not we have a shot of getting you to Shinganshima."

Eren nods as he chucks a squat to get a better look at the map. "Understood, but either way I'm not sure how to use my ability or how it works." He sighs, sparing both Captain's, that are still out of earshot, a glance. "I bet Kaminari never had this much trouble." He mutters.

Gunther chuckles, "I wouldn't be too sure. Her issues were never with physically transforming." Eren's face drops, cringing as he knows exactly what Gunther may be referring to. "Yeah, she believes that she's a monster. I heard Oluo refer to her as the Angel of death a few times, because she's lead people to their deaths for humanity's benefit."

Gunther nods, "there's a reason she's close to Erwin. Apparently after her first expedition went sour, she was willing to follow any order given to her. She had blind faith in others and wasn't afraid of the consequences, even if that meant death. Erwin had quickly became the parental figure, and through a few harsh words she thankfully snapped out of it."

Eren's frown remains in place as Kaminari hadn't spoken a word of this to him. "She never told me that." Petra sighs but gives him a well practiced, reassuring smile. "It's not something she's proud of, so she wouldn't willingly bring it up. And besides, much of it is mere speculation. She's not a very open person."

"Now back on topic," Gunther starts eyeing Eren thoughtfully. "Do you understand what the Commander was asking you about back then?" Eren's mind flashes back to his short conversation with Erwin the day prior. A confused expression dawns on his face as he draws a blank. "Huh, what did he mean by that? Do any of you have a clue?" He asks the others desperate for answers.

They all shake their head except Oluo, who decides against giving him a direct answer. "Well if I told you I knew, I'd be lying to you. That said-"

Gunther cuts Oluo off, rolling up the map. "-That said, this operation may have an alternate goal and yet, the Comander has thought it best to withhold information from us. If thats true, then we just have to focus on getting back. Today's training is concluded, return to base." He orders.

They all saddle up, riding behind Levi and Kaminari as they remain in a closed discussion that the rest of them could only speculate that it would be about the upcoming operation. Eren's dark green eyes lock onto the blonde's back thinking, 'just how much do you really know Kaminari?'

A/N: Not edited.