In Attack on Titan Season 4 Episode 26: Traitor, the Alliance is handed their first test as the Jaegerist take over the port and kidnap the Azumabito family. The situation is delicate as they need the flying boat to get to Eren. Hange is afraid that the Jaegerists will destroy the boat upon learning that the alliance is present. Annie Leonhart argues they need to “take out all their enemies simultaneously in order to avoid the destruction of the flying boat.” However, Mikasa Ackermann points out they need to avoid endangering the Azumabito family. The Scouts want to hold off the Jaegerists, while rescuing the Azumabito family without killing any of the Jaegerists. Annie and Pieck don’t think a plan like that is possible.

Annie concludes that it’s “too much” to ask of the Scouts. Reiner suggests they remain behind, however, Hange returns to tell them must fight. The Wall Titans have likely reached Marley already, they need to move fast. Armin and Conny arrive outside of the port building on horseback. They claim to be chasing the Cart and Armored Titan’s. They need the Azumabito family to ready the flying boats so they can give chase. When the move closer they’re stopped by Daz and the interestingly named Samuel Linke-Jackson. They confront Armin with rumors of the alliance. The flying boat is armed with explosives and before they can be removed, Floch becomes suspicious.

Conny hard lessons

If they were in a hurry, why use horses instead of a faster means of travel? He prepares to shoot the engineers. In the commotion, Mikasa crashes through the window. Floch flees from the room ordering the killing of Mikasa, Armin, and Conny. Mikasa rushes the Hizuru engineers and Kiyomi into the basement. At the dock, Armin and Conny come into violent conflict with Daz and Samuel. Daz tries to reconnect the detonator and blow up the flying boat. Samuel shoots Armin. As Reiner and Annie transform into their Titan forms, Conny is forced to kill Samuel and Daz.

If anything can bring the alliance together it’s fighting together. Sharing a common foe can reinforce a sense of shared purpose and strengthen the weak bonds between the two sides. I wasn’t really buying the “friendship” between the Scouts and the Jaegerists. It’s convincing regarding a potential conflict with Eren but I didn’t even remember Samuel or Daz. Regardless, killing them especially after his reluctance will endear Conny to the Marleyans. Conny specifically seems to be learning hard lessons in these recent episodes. I wonder how he’ll deal with killing his friends and leaving his mother to be a Titan.