Ian Dietrich

Ian Dietrich is a supporting character in the manga and anime Attack on Titan. He was a member of the Rear squad in Trost District when it got breached by the Colossal Titan, while also being regarded as the Garrison’s strongest soldier in said District. He would be appointed by Dot Pixis as the leader of the Alpha Squad, tasked to protect Eren Yeager as he used a giant boulder to plug the hole in the city's outer gate.
He was voiced by Yūya Murakami in Japanese and in English. In Attack on Titan: Junior High, he was currently voiced by Garret Storms.
==Appearance==
Ian was a tall man, with a moderately slender yet strong figure. His face was long and slim with noticeable cheek bones. He had long, dark blond hair separated down the middle away from his forehead, while his ears were also kept free, the hair being tucked behind his ears reaching the lower back of his neck. He had small amber eyes and usually had a strict expression on his face. 
He was seen wearing the standard Garrison uniform, with a tanned shirt underneath.
==Personality==
Ian always appeared to be a very stern soldier who was very compliant and trustworthy to his superior officers. He had a logically sharp mind making him work well in undesirable positions, which was shown during his leadership in the operation to plug the hole of Wall Rose’s breached gate in Trost District. 
Ian’s most noticeable character trait was his unyielding determinism. He’s shown that through his strict character lays a strong need to overcome any obstacles, no matter the odds. This causes Ian to get into conflict with his comrades, as his strong will and general firm demeanor makes him push through other people’s doubts and suspicions. 
==Story==
===Background===
Ian was born on March 10th in an unknown year, somewhere inside the southern regions of Wall Rose. 
At some point in his youth, Ian joined the military and would eventually join The Garrison together with his fellow graduates, Rico Brzenska and Mitabi Jarnach. He along with the rest of the Garrison recruits would be located to the southern district of Wall Rose, Trost District.
Ian showed great skill in the usage of the ODM Gear and was highly respected by his superior officers, including the Commander of his branch, Dot Pixis.
===Battle of Trost District===
When the Colossal Titan suddenly appears and kicks in the gate of Trost District, Titans begin flooding in the city, causing all resident to evacuate into Wall Sina. Ian being the Garrison’s strongest soldier, is placed in the rear guard of the operation together with all of the other most talented members. In order to protect the evacuees and to make sure that the Titans won’t go through the outer gate. 
Before the members of the 104th Trainees Squad are sent out into battle to assist the Garrison. Ian is seen approaching Mikasa Ackerman, he tells her that because of the talent shown during her military training, that she will be placed in the rear guard instead of the middle guard with the rest of the trainees. Although she objects to this, Ian insists that the decision has already been set. 
Ian would be Mikasa’s superior, while the both of them together with the rest of the rear squad kill any Titan that came to close to the gate. 
The operation would continue until all residents have successfully evacuated, but because of a conflict caused by Dimo Reeves who blocked the gate with his cart. Ian and his comrades had to keep on fighting far past their expected responsibility.
While the citizens argue with Reeves, an abnormal Titan advances towards the crowd but is killed by Mikasa. She eventually forces Reeves to let the residents through and he reluctantly agrees. Ian congratulates Mikasa for her skills, but she remains humble and tells him that she used up her blades while subduing the Titan, although Ian appears to have no problem with it, he overall seems impressed yet unsettled by Mikasa’s composure while still being a young cadet. The rest of the rear squad including Ian go back on the Walls, Mikasa tells her superior that she will help out the middle guard so she can see if Eren is okay, much to Ian’s dismay.
A couple hours after their first fight in Trost, Ian is seen assisting his captain, Kitz Woermann. They surround Eren Yeager and his friends Mikasa and Armin Arlert who are kept constricted. Eren having turned into a Titan and was rampaging throughout the city of Trost, murdering any Mindless Titan he could find.
Throughout the conversation, Woermann was noticeably threatening yet paranoid while talking to the cadets, with Ian being more composed. When Mikasa threatens the Garrison soldiers, Ian vouches for her, telling his superior that she’s a very valuable asset to humanity and losing her would be tremendous blow. Woermann decides to ignore Ian and decides to execute the cadets with cannon fire, this is stopped by Eren who decides to transform, causing him to block the cannon ball, but the explosion stops his transformation halfway leaving only a skeletal upper half. This only rises the tensions and fear with the Garrison soldiers, but Armin would eventually give a passionate speech regarding the usage that Eren’s Titan is capable of. Ian tries to reason with Woermann after hearing this, only for his superior to angrily tell him to be quiet. Woermann decides to launch another cannon strike at the cadets but is then stopped by the commander of the Garrison, Dot Pixis. 
The commander puts together a plan surrounding Eren’s powers after input from Armin Arlert. Eren would transform into a Titan and uses the large boulder present within the city to blockade the breached gate. Ian and the remaining members of the rear squad would be put into the new “Alpha Squad”. Pixis assembles the three most skilled Garrison soldiers, Ian, Rico Brzenska and Mitabi Jarnach. All of them would lead their own respective teams that have the responsibility of keeping Eren safe. Pixis also appoints Ian as the leader of the Alpha Squad, with Ian being noticeably uncomfortable with this. Rico and Mitabi on the other hand have no problems with it, and Pixis meanwhile also shows his trust in Ian, thus the decision is made. Everyone departs for the operation and Ian tells Mikasa that she will join his squad, so she can assist in protecting Eren. 
Ian, Rico, Mitabi, Eren and Mikasa run on the Wall towards the boulder, with Ian retelling their main responsibility of protecting Eren. While there are still doubts surrounding Eren's capabilities, Ian tells his teammates to not focus on that. When they reached their position everyone switches to ODM Gear and place themselves near the boulder. Eren successfully transforms and turns into a Titan, but instead of lifting the boulder, he suddenly tries to kill Mikasa, angrily swinging his fist in an attempt to strike her. Ian and the others watch in shock by what's happening, and when Mikasa flies towards Eren's face in attempt to reason with him, Ian frustratedly orders her to get away from him. Ian notices that Eren is going to strike so he shouts at Mikasa to move away, she evades Eren's attack but he accidentally punches his face with such brute strength that his hand and face are torn off. They watch Eren fall down and Ian suddenly gets to hear from his troops that Titans are heading their way. 
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