[center][h1]Trost[/h1]
[@LordVoldemort][@FrostedCaramel][@LetMeDoStuff][@Poi][@wolverbells][@Solace]
[h2][color=7ea7d8]Lauren Jones[/color][/h2][/center]

[color=Gray]Landing in a flurry of cloaks and whirring cables, the cadets rushed to take their places amongst the group already forming on the parade ground of HQ.  A few senior officers with the insignia of the Wall Garrison emblazoned on the back of their jackets were conversing amongst themselves as more and more soldiers arrived, awaiting the issue of their orders.  Veterans were rushing in and out of buildings carrying various supplies with junior officers yelling commands over it all, directing their efforts.  As Lauren landed she could not help but feel like it was an evacuation, as if they had given up before even beginning to fight.  She pushed her way into the formation and stood at attention as one of the officers broke away from the others who deployed their Gears and shot out of sight, heading off to supervise their men.[/color]

"We all know what the appearance of the Colossal Titan means.  Trost will be breached, that is not in question!"  [color=Gray]There were murmurs on unease amongst the soldiers, apparently some had thought they could fight the huge Titan but, as far as Lauren was concerned, it was foolish to attack such a creature without a plan.A huge crash resounded from over their backs, coming from the Wall. Through the ground she could feel vibrations and then distant thuds and screams as rocks and debris crashed into houses. The Wall was breached. All the soldiers, veterans and officers stopped were they doing for a moment, horror plain on every single person's face before orders were shouted again and were obeyed with fresh haste.  The man before them continued to drone out their orders.[/color] 

"The first priority is the evacuation of civilians from Trost to the other side of Wall Rose! The Garrison will hold the outer gate while we veterans will aid in the evacuation and hold the gate leading beyond Rose.  Cadets! You will form the middle guard and delay the Titans once they've broken through into Trost.  Some of you will remain here at HQ to re-gas the others when the retreat is called."

[color=Gray]Teams were formed, Garrison soldiers peeling off into their already assigned groups while junior officers walked amongst the cadets and formed them into teams.  [b]Lauren found herself being directed alongside Emil[/b] towards three cadets she struggled to recognise, two boys and a girl; all had drawn faces pale with shock and eyes that already spoke of their defeat.  Looking around she could see [b]Gabriel and Tanner[/b] being grouped with two others she did not know while [b]Jade, Reese and Grant were teamed up with Jay[/b].

She greeted the three cadets but they barely responded, eyes staring at the ground between the feet.  For all the difference it would have made, they could have been openly weeping and it would barely have added to the funereal atmosphere heavy upon them.  An officer swung back in their direction, heading over with a board in his hand presumably with their orders pinned to it.[/color]

"Let's see, you, you're team leader." [color=Gray]He pointed at her and proceeded to give them their orders, unwilling to listen to any protest she might have had, and directed them to the position one short of the left flank.[/color]  "You're unlikely to see much action over there, Titan's'll probably just come straight down the middle.  Consider y'self lucky." [color=Gray]She glared after the man as he walked away, suspecting his lack of fear or apparent care was because he, like the other veterans, would be farthest from danger.  Glancing at Emil, she cursed her lack of leadership qualities but it looked like, between the two of them, they'd have to take charge; the other three were too scared to be of any use.

[color=7ea7d8]"Hey, you three! Stop looking like you're dead already."[/color] She snapped at them, placing herself right in front of them so that they were forced to start at her as she glared them down. [color=7ea7d8]"If you're that worried, he said we'll be far from the action.  I aim to get out of this alive so I need you three to pay attention and listen. We're only to slow the Titans down, there's no glory in getting more kills than anyone else and then being eaten so this is how it's going to work.  You,"[/color] she pointed at the youngest looking of the boys, [color=7ea7d8]"you're going to be on lookout. Hang back and warn us if any Titans are coming up in our blind spots. If we're focused on the one in front of us we need someone to watch our backs, got it?  You two are pairing up.  Emil, you're with me.  One person in each pair will distract the Titan, keep your distance but [i]make sure[/i] you have its attention.  The other will take it out from behind.  Don't rush in for kills, we're just meant to slow them down but the only we can stop ourselves being swamped is to thin the herd. Just remember your Gear training and don't take stupid risks."[/color]  It was hardly a stunning speech but she was no leader so what did they expect?  

They refilled their gas reserves before heading off to their position, watching as the Titans began to push through the primary defences and stalked into the town itself.[/color]