So this was finally it, huh? No more mundane lessons, no more wasting time with frivolous endeavors like graduation ceremonies or introductions, they were finally heading out into the world. Everyone knew perfectly well what awaited them beyond the walls, and yet Alois couldn't find it within himself to care; to be more exact he couldn't find it in himself to be worried. If he made it then hooray, and if he died then oh well, it was all a part of life. People died sooner or later, it just varied on whether it was of old age or becoming some giant monster's mid-afternoon snack. Frankly Alois just didn't fear the potential of death, not if it meant he actually got to live. Being stuck behind the walls, living in fear and uncertainty, that wasn't living. Animals locked up in pens lived like that, not humans, and like hell he'd spend his entire existence as a caged up animal. 

Gathered up just outside of one of the massive gates, the 72nd was making preparations for their long, arduous journey. No one knew for certainty what awaited them out there, no other group ever traveled as far as they were planning. Plenty of assumptions had been drawn, from abandoned cities to simply vast swathes of nothingness, to perhaps even the home of the Titans themselves. Whatever the case may be it was bound to me a monumental expedition, one that could very well have significant implications for humanity... If they made it back. The Survey Corps were hardly known for their longevity, and that was in regards to people who traveled within sight of the walls; the 72nd intended to leave civilization entirely, there was no telling what risks and dangers they might face outside. No one really would know until they made the trip, and it was possible that no one will ever find out, depending on the success or failure of their mission. 

Having been shooting the shit with other cadets while waiting, Alois was quick to clam up and hear what their captain had to say. It was just as he'd expected, a bit of a pep-talk and trying to instill a sense of duty and order, the same crap they had been fed since signing up. The redhead couldn't care less about it, be it the camaraderie, friendship, he hadn't joined for that; killing titans was his sole motivation, though if pressed he would certainly stick it out for a fellow member if need be. If someone out here died, especially one of his friends, he would be damn certain that the titans knew exactly how he felt about them. He'd cut them to pieces and feed them to one another if it came to it, see how they liked being eaten. 

"Eh... What's that?" Alois asked, glancing over at Jonah curiously, getting lost in a fair bloody daydream. They were going beyond the walls, for the first time ever, was that even a question then? "Of course I'm ready! I've done enough training for ten fucking recruits, I'm ready to sink my blades into the real thing," the redhead remarked, grinning as he got himself up onto his horse. Hearing another person chiming in he glanced over at Sanja, letting out a laugh and giving her a thumbs up of approval. "Now [i]that[/i] is what I like to hear! Let's make these bastards regret ever messing with humanity!" 

Everyone was ready to get a move on, so what was the holdup? Grumbling incoherently under his breath Alois pulled at the reigns of his horse, leading it around the group just in time to see the captain and messenger approaching his group. Raising an eyebrow he halted his mount in place, meeting the uneasy gaze of the messenger before turning his horse back and following them. "What? What's going on...?" Alois asked, impatient and wanting to just get a move on already. Neither man said a word to him which was infuriating, prompting him to follow along still until they stopped back with his group of friends in particular. Raising an eyebrow he stood with the group, keen on hearing what the deal was. There couldn't be anything good if the brass was coming back to them, though Alois couldn't imagine what in the world they were here for.

"Listen up, your squad isn't going out just yet. Something's come up and they need some more bodies to help," the Captain began, addressing the squad of Ava and those in the immediate vicinity, "Trost is under attack again by titans, and as things stand we're at a stalemate, more or less. Efforts are being remade to drive them back but they need support, especially if intelligence is right about this..." 

"We've had sightings of more titans converging on Trost, and they're going to end up encircling the troops, which we can't have. This order comes from Pixis himself, he wants you all to head to Trost immediately and support the troops there. If you can, kill the titans trying to reach the district proper, at any costs. He says... Consider this your first mission as Survey Corps."

"I know you're all still green, but this is how things work around here. Newbies or not you're going to see action sooner or later, and at least you'll be doing it here, surrounded by comrades. I don't have to say it, but I don't want any of you trying to play hero out there, you hear me? A dead soldier is no good, so if you've gotta die out there be sure to bring one of those bastards with you. Reduce the enemy numbers by as much as you can then fall back, if you do your jobs then few if any will reach Trost. Understood? We can't afford to send everyone, so it'll just be you 15, that's all. I'll let you figure out how to split up, just be sure to remember your training and you'll come out fine."

Had he heard that right? Were they actually being sent on a mission? Odd that they hadn't heard anything up until now, yet Alois wasn't going to question it. To think they weren't even going to have to go beyond the walls to fight titans, he was absolutely thrilled at that idea. Some of the other green soldiers around him were exchanging nervous glances and conversations, but Alois felt like he was on cloud nine right now. "Titans... We finally get to fight some real, living titans..." he mumbled, trembling in anticipation as a wide grin plastered itself on his face. He and his friends were more than ready, they'd kill all of the incoming titans no problem. He didn't care much for the bragging aspect of it, but he was damn ready to show that all of their training had paid off, the training they had done as a group, not from the instructors. Their communication and cohesion as a force was unmatched, of that he was certain, and Alois couldn't wait to put it to the test.