Author's note: This epilogue is a bit strange for us to write but we felt the need to include it regardless to set up some characters and ideas for our future fics. Namely the character Earl Lupis and Kaz of Squdge/Shiryu Rex/Set Sutekh. We hope you guys enjoy what we have to offer here in this epilogue and the shared universe the SMITE, Zootopia and even Godzilla stories we wrote.
Epilogue
Anubis reached into the jar containing tea leaves on his table, he picked out some of the leaves and poured them into a cup with boiling water. The porcelain cup had a lotus like decor on its surface, painted in sapphire blue and emerald green color, true to Eewgyptian style from the New Kingdom period. Once the cup of the tea was done he picked up the beverage and handed it with care to Earl, who was lounging on a bed next to Anubis. "Here you go, have some of this to help yourself. It will ease your body's strains and make healing easier." Said the deity as he sat down on a wooden stool in front of Earl and sighed out exhaustively.
It was not easy for him to fly Earl back to Zootopia the whole way with little piloting experience, he nearly crashed along the way if not for Earl and Kukulkan's support. Now, they were back in the museum, killing time and recovering from the ordeals. "To be honest, I'm more comfortable with being the passenger than an actual pilot." The jackal stated, half jokingly as he looked to his sides, seeing various Jackal Guards workers building up the hideout underneath the museum, bringing in materials and office furniture for Anubis as well as enlarging the underground hideout to include a future lab.
Earl looked down at the tea and made a more cringe-like expression on Anubis's piloting skills, or what little skills the jackal actually had with him. Regardless Earl took a sip of tea feeling the warm Earthy taste of the beverage move into his mouth and then seap down his throat. It was surprising for Earl himself to enjoy the beverage since he recalled himself only have coffee with sugar most of his life. "A ladies thing" is what he called tea at least. "Huh. This stuff ain't half bad. Guess I haven't had it enough." Earl said as he looked back up to Anubis. "So…Any reason I had to hustle back to the cockpit of the plane when you dipped her nose way too far down?" Earl said. If he wasn't sitting he would be tapping a foot on the ground.
"Oh...simply put got too confused. I know warfare and law practices for the dead. But when it comes to piloting, I haven't taken up schools of it yet." Anubis stated not sounding joking or at all pretending. He stood up from the stool and went to the table of his office and write down some of the orders and directives for his secretaries and subordinates. He handed out the orders to his underlings who then ran to do some works around the hideout. Earl can see that the Guards were printing out posters, recruitment posters perhaps and they were written in Greek.
The message was accompanied by an airbrush image of the Jackal Guards as an ancient Howllenic Hoplite with a Sarissa spear and Hoplon shield and the Xiphos sword sheathed on their belt. The image of a Jackal Guards in full armor standing firm and tall give off an impression and aura of impressive sense of duty, an ideal image that someone can look up to.
Earl can then see that Anubis handed about three of his warriors badges in the shape of a scarab with its wings spread out horizontally. He spoke to them in Greek dialects and before long they bowed to him and ran off with stacks of papers in their hands through portals to realms beyond Earl's comprehension.
Seeing the sights Earl nearly spat out his tea seeing more supernatural items go beyond his rationality. He took a hard and heavy gulp down and groaned feeling his throat expand and grow sore. He could watch the guards enter portals before he stood up on his two feet albeit rather weakly still after being shot. He limped over to Anubis and tilted his head. "What's goin' on? You just sent those guys… If they are guys, through a portal. What looked like one at least unless that was something else I don't know about." Earl said confused.
Anubis sat down on the floor in front of Earl, on his knees and with bowls of incenses on either sides to meditate. "Don't worry about it Earl." He said as he crossed his legs. "I sent them off to post recruitment posters in the Afterlife. Duat, Aaru, Elysium, and any other plains of afterlife throughout the realm of deities. They'll be back eventually." He calmly stated and sighed out. Anubis handed to Earl a set of advertisements and coupons for vacations ranging from a trip to the Mediterranean Sea, to the cruise trips in the Caribbean Sea. "I think you would like one of these trips Earl. Hopefully they will help you get well soon." He said in a dry but sincere tone.
In one of the realm his warrior traveled to, the lone Jackal arrived at a cloudy like world, with bright light and golden gates almost like Olympus, it was anything but. The warrior walked into the kingdom of Heaven of the Cross and the Lord on High, he wandered about looking for a public space of the Ethereal realm before he came to a square. There he came to a pillar and nailed the poster on the column and more on the walls for the souls there to see. Once it was done he went about repeating his job at other sections of the realm.
However, the post was quickly seen by a man. One still in about his mid 30s to early 40s. As he walked across the heavenly plain of after life He viewed the notice posted by the jackal. Most of his front was obscured, but just by his back he was wearing green army fatigues and had blond hair. He was a medium build as well. Not too muscular, but still fit. "Huh. That's one of the weirder things that came here. Now what is… For hire?" The man said to himself. He quickly turned around look at the jackal guard. He was wearing some nice aviator shades and his hair was actually a slightly long slicked back mullet. "Hey buddy where do you come from?" he asked intrigued.
"Aaru!" The Jackal replied with his left hand over his muzzle to amplify his voice to the man. "The Lord of the Duat calls, military duties for those without purposes in the afterlife." Said the jackal. The man can see that this jackal was dressed in traditional Egyptian garment, a white trouser with a golden ornate scarab belt buckle on the pelvic area of his torso. On his wrists were golden bracelets sporting the ankh, a symbol of life in ancient Egypt, while he was bare on his chest, the canine appeared to be a well built and fit for military service.
"I heard that the Strategos is looking for younger generation of warriors, any man who knows firearms, gunpowder and modern equipment are encouraged to join. Unless you find sitting around on the clouds enough for personal preferences." The jackal stated as he posted another recruitment advertisement on the wall of a nearby cloud structure and continue his duty. But the dialect he spoke was most intriguing. Aaru, Duat, Strategos, they were Coptic and Greek languages respectively, denoting his origin from either Egypt or Greece, but most likely Egypt judging by the outfit he had.
Despite the strange dialect the man crossed his arm and followed the strange looking being closely. "Is that right?" He asked still curious. To him the odd appearance of the jackal guard further spied his interests, but for unknown reasons. He looked at the other posters seeing they were also made for recruiting. It made his spiritual heart jump almost. He quickly looked back to the jackal excited, but still calm and cold. "Well I have military experience. I was stationed in Japan for a while with an old friend. I wanted to help the world you know. Then… Heart disease got to me. Didn't see it coming, and then WHAM! Flatlined." He said rather casually. He tagged along still and grinned. "And you know. This place is paradise, but I think i can give a whirl with my old gun. Whoever, and whatever you are. Not sure still since you haven't said." He said confused. On further inspection it sounded like he had a very sore throat, and after he finished he coughed a bit. "You see?" He asked
"I am Tahemet of Thebes Nome. Kemet is my home as the Nile feeds my descendants, so shall I offer my grave to the lost and restless, knowing that my service with Lord Anubis is most honorable." Said the Jackal in a proudful boast as he handed Kaz a sample of his second set of posters, this was an instruction pamphlet from the looks of it, apparently Kaz only need to obtain the necessary passports to travel from Paradise to Kemet in the Mediterranean, namely to Alexandria and report to the Barracks in the city where he can apply for the Jackal Guards. What caught his attention the most was that the pamphlet was written in Greek and Coptic with visual guides stylized in Hellenic fashion with some Hieroglyphs on it. Kaz can see the depiction of Alexandria to be right out of ancient times, Classical Antiquities with the Lighthouse of Alexandria and Library of Alexandria to be in prominent display.
"No need to hold my hand pal. Been nagging our guy here about getting back to Earth." the man said while pointing at what appeared to be a 50's style train station post. Almost comical looking, but even the angel in side was wearing a navy blue uniform much like a ticket collector. He seemed to have his hand full at the moment with 5 other travelers to this strange place, but Kaz sighed. "Said I couldn't simply leave here without extra help since I would be a zombie for lack of better words on Earth. Begged and pleaded to him to let me go back. Nope. I get it though. Seeing me walk around after a failed heart surgery would have been odd. Chst all cut up and stitched to shit and all. Not a pretty sight." he said looking to the ticket holder. He grinned now looking at what he thought was an all exposed payed trip, or even a permission slip back to life.
"I think I can show him this real quick... " he said rather cryptically before looking back at Tahemet. "Stay put doggy. I'll be right back." he finished before leaving really hastily. All Tahemet saw though was the military man cutting through line, and slamming the paper on the desk in front of him and laughing.
Begrudgingly the ticket holder stamped the passport before mouthing a warning to the man that life as he knows it will change. It was odd though hearing the angel's voice. Otherworldly and rather light in his tone. The man came running back to the guard however still laughing. "I got it! Lets get outta here! Look! Look!" he shouted pointing to a red colored "PASS" stamp on the flyer. "When can we go? I've been trying this for a very long time! Get me back out there!" he shouted anxiously.
"As soon as you are ready. Since my posts have been exhausted I would say it's about time for me to leave. My comrades will congregate in Alexandria to review the new blood. Welcome to the Jackal Guards." Said Tahemet as he held an empty box in his paws. He then proceeded to morph his appearance back to a more appropriate combat form with Boeotian helmet on his head, breastplate made from bronze and tightly weaved leather and hides on his chest and a hoplon shield on his left hand, on his right hand was a long Sarissa spear, the man can see the spear was about 6 meters long with a steel blade on the end of the shaft. On his belt was a Xiphos sword sheathed but ready at all time for combat.
The military man can see that the sword had a hilt shaped like a wolf's head with the blade being a proverbial and literal tongue of the wolf. Rather fitting design and motif. "You will have to learn Greek when you get there, it is the language of command after all. Do you have a name?" Tahemet asked with a scroll and quill in hands ready to write down the recruit's name.
The man nodded and stood more at attention despite the odd transition and quick change of events here now. "Kazuhira Miller. I like Kaz though as my name. It's easier to say and people who don't know how to read can say it easier." Kaz spoke. He looked into the empty box and tilted his head rather confused. "So what's the jackal guards, and why does everything look Greek?" Kaz asked inquisitive.
Tahemet wrote down Kaz's name on the list of new recruits before rolling it up and wrapped the list into a scroll pack on his back. "We are an army dedicated to protecting mortals from the threat of deities overstepping their boundaries. But most of all, we protect mortals from the threat of Apep, the accursed Serpent of Darkness and Chaos." Tahemet spoken plainly apparently the job has become so familiar to him that he had the lines taped down in some ways.
"We were formed by Anubis, Patron of the Dead and Judge of Two Lands. Strategos of Alexandria. He studied the art of Hellenic Warfare and that of our homeland of Kemet and formed a fighting force of fast moving native troops and the durable and mighty Hellenic Warriors like the Hetairoi and Phalangitai of Hellas." Tahemet stated as they went to collect Kaz's personal belongings with the Jackal Guards walking closely beside him, soon enough, before Kaz's eyes, he saw a massive Trireme ship, the like of Ancient Greece or from the myth of the Argonaut arriving in Heaven, with its sail bearing the image of a golden falcon over a sapphire blue background.
Its very massive size and the elegance of the ship drew Kaz closer to it. As he got closer he felt himself slipping away from the binds of heaven and getting closer to a new life. A literal new life since he felt he would be resurrected back into complete existence at long last after having spent so many years placed into paradise without having much to do. Ironically the peace and home nature of heaven offered him not much to do since he did not live his life on Earth out to the fullest. He quickly stepped aboard the vessel, hope and excitement in his heart, as he looked around. "I might miss constant pampering… For like 5 minutes. Lets get outta here please!" Kaz shouhed.
"Set sail!" The captain shouted as the Guards onboard began to retract the ramp from the cloud like harbor after the amount of new recruits have been accounted for. The ship's oarsmen began to paddle the ship backward out to "Open sea" as the captain call it and soon they were heading off to Alexandria. Kaz onboard would see that the crew men and Marines were having a universal form, jackal with various shades to their fur. Each one sporting a Hoplon shield with a personalized image painted on them. However underneath the ship's hull, he would see that the crew below were strangely enough, anthropomorphic animals of various types. Mostly were mammals standing on two legs wearing clothes like normal humans like him and even talk like humans. It felt odd that they all speak Greek but for obvious reasons, they had to. The cloud began to change, giving ways for the bowl of the ship to pierce through actual water and waves. Kaz felt the wind blowing on his face and hair and before long he saw before him, the harbor of Pharos, Alexandria with the flame of the lighthouse burning bright as the star, drawing vessels into the port.
The sight seem to come right out of a depiction of the ancient city in history books. But everything was real, moving and living before Kaz's eyes. As the ship came to the Military Port, he saw that various warships were mooring off the piers each one sporting a statue of either Isis, Horus, Ra or even some Greek deities on their bowls with iron tipped rams.
"Off the ship! Off the ship!" The captain hollered as the new recruits began to disembark from the vessels, two more ships similar in design and size came to port disembarking various new recruits, some of them were seen wearing navy blue shirts with the word "UNKCC" printed on it, others were seen dressing in digital camo uniform with the the word "GDI" on the shoulder patch.
Others were apparently more mysterious humans with a Hexagonal badge on their shoulder with a red S letter in the middle of it. At least two of the men were seen bickering and arguing with each other, two of them from the UNKCC and GDI groups were loudly bickering with the one wearing the Hexagonal symbol while following the columns of recruit through the city.
As Kaz moved through the groups he kept an eye on thow the men and women fighting with the odd patched men went about their bickering. Frankly he was a bit confused, but the uniforms of those labeled "UNKCC" and "GDI" were partly familiar to him. He shrugged the oddity off and continued moving forwards to where he was needed. "Nice … Greek place here. Too bad you guys won't stop swearing and accusing each other of terror, or something…" Kaz grumbled while heading toward one of the many statues in the city.
The group moved with each other through the city towards the outer edge of town in the East, there, they came to an army barracks with an Egyptian banner flying on the rooftop. They walked into the barracks to the parade ground in the center of it where a company commander barked out orders to them, "Strategos at attention!" He shouted out in Greek, the language may have been a barrier but the tone was enough to give them the impression that he was issuing something akin to "Atten hut" like in their own bootcamps.
From the darkened halls nearby, out came Anubis, walking towards the company of fresh recruits. He was dressed in a bronze breastplate armor of the Greeks over his white tunic. On his belt was a Xiphos sword sheathed and ready to be drawn, walking with him was Ammut, the Devourer. "Oh shiiiit...is this for real? I mean...that's like the what...God of Death or something?" Said one of the recruit from the "GDI" to his fellow recruits, next to him was a UNKCC member and to his left was an Orion member. He was perplexed as much as they were.
The impression was enough to get the UNKCC and octagonal logoed Orion men to sand up to attention. In fact it looked like some of the Orion men stood at attention better than their counterparts do to how robotic and statuesque ten turned seeing an authority figure come into the room was. One of the caucasian UNKCC member with what looked to be a massive bite mark indented in his entire torso looked to Ammut and shivered. "Looks like the one that got me and Mike in Taiwan… holy shit so we're are fucking dead for real then…" he said darkly. Kaz looked over to the UNKCC man noting the massive bite wound and then recognized him, or at least what he said. "Oh one of the big guys got you then. Well smaller than the big guys. Yeesh…" Kaz said grimly.
"256 men...all of you would be enough for a Phalanx company for me." Said Anubis with a stern and booming voice to the recruits. He came to the side ways of the company looking at their uniforms, seeing that each one of them were of course from different organizations with Kaz being the odd man out being much more old school and light in terms of uniforms.
"Today I seek no Phalanx or hoplites. Those posts have been filled for too long. For all of you will first be trained in a different manner than the rest of your kins. For you will be the new standards of the Jackal Guards. The wars you have fought and the experience you have will be put to train the already existing formations and new recruits in the future." He declared with a tone filled with absolute conviction as he eye the men without a hint of emotional attachment.
A calm and professional look that seems to seal the deal for them, he then snapped his fingers and the souls of the new recruits began to shine in a bright light, they felt their body being reshaped and molded, apparently to fit with the new army. Once the light faded away, they were all jackals standing on two legs similar to Anubis but each one sporting a lighter shades of fur than their Strategos.
The sudden transition from being a human to now a jackal in appearance made all of the men there give off a confused uproar of quiet mumbling. However, if it meant work and some purpose other than just sitting around and accepting fate as a pampered soul then they were ready to accept this just as another challenge itn their life. Despite their odd appearance looking at just how fierce and godly they looked now gave many men some kind of new motivation.
Kaz for one laughed seeing himself. He took it rather well and half jokingly looked behind himself to see if he even sported a tail to go along with his look. He then looked at his arms and legs not sign his odd appearance, and yet it was welcomed. He coughed a bit before speaking. A rather hoarse and painful sounding cough the separated him from the group, but he treated it as normal. "Oh *cough* damn! Look at me! I look like American Weerwolf in Lon- *cough* don… Eugh. There goes that joke." Kaz said before coughing again several times. Not out of shock, but it seems his soul bore his respiratory and circulatory condition. A piece of him forever.
"Do not take the impression that you will all be pampered here as elites." Anubis said sternly to them, giving them a moment to let his words sink into their heads. "You will learn two things, unity and pain. Love them as your new wives. Ephebois! Retire!" He ordered them, allowing them to retire to their new quarters as Jackals of his army. It was strange for some of them to hear him addressing them as Epheboi. As it was the Greek word for youths or young boys.
The first few weeks were education in Greek languages, the men were taught dialects, pronunciation and grammars in classes. It felt like they were going through Elementary Schools and restart their education from the ground ups. Others who are familiar with the learning of foreign languages took the learning well seeing it as part of their routines, each day they would have drill yard rehearses, marching in formations and taking orders in Greek.
Despite Anubis's words that they will not be Hoplites in Phalanx formations, they still have to march in phalanx formations in full Hoplite battle gears. Their coordinator march closely with the formation, shouting orders in Greek for them to turn right, left, stop or enter phalanx formation or loose formation in 2 meters spread. The drill was meant to bring a sense of unity and cohesion to the often bickering trio of GDI, UNKCC and Orion factions.
Their training continued on to indoctrinations in philosophies, laws, and the objective of the Jackal Guards, to protect all mortals from godly threats, to ensure harmony between the realms and to offer their graves to the weak. Bound by duties, they serve without question. Honored with high standards, they uphold. Without fear, they act with bravery to execute their missions and objectives. All boiled down to the Guards motto, three words, two syllables of "Duty, Honor, Valor". Soon their graduation day came, a trial by fire to prove their worth on the battlefield both as a normal Hoplite of the Guards and their skills to modernize Anubis's army.
They were marching with other formations of the Guards in a long column in the desert of Egypt, as far as they know, they were heading Eastward towards the Levant, the province of Judea had suffer an invasion by the Crusading army, if Kaz had learned anything during his training, it would be that this world was on a strange loop with the Gaul, Britannia and Germania along with the Iberia now donning the Medieval trappings.
On the flanks of the phalanx formations were cavalry forces, the men had learned to familiarize themselves with the organizations and uniforms and can tell the ones on the right to be elite Hetairoi or Companions Cavalry with Anubis riding on his personal horse, Ramiel to lead them, to their left were the Thessalian and lighter Sarissa Lancers.
They themselves were Phalangites, the pikemen of the Kingdom. "Last one to down theirs is a member of the Theban Sacred Band!" Shouted one of the men from the phalanx behind them, both Kaz and Orion men next to him would have heard it.
Kaz hearing this understood by now what the words all meant after rigorous training, and still felt both struck in power, and some partial embarrassment knowing he was part of over 100-150 now male lovers in a massive grouping as he was not one to know his own orientation in the after life. Nor did he know this in the after life.
It didn't seem like the Orion men besides him took too much complaints now either as they stood marching as drones now. Kaz however grumbled just slightly and just accepted this was a role he would need if he were to perform better and near perfect with the men around him. After all it seems there was no better bond than love itself. Even if he didn't know this to be certain. It seems still that his real love was not a physical man, but what he was fighting in, and the group itself, and the army around him.
As they marched nearer to the settlement of Jerusalem, the grand prize of every Crusaders who had left their homes in Europe to "Liberate" from the grip of heathen hordes of Pagans. Anubis blew a horn as the sun was setting to the West, signalling them to set up camp around the pasture ground near a water spring. Being a native to the land, Anubis knew that marching on the desert means that the greatest resource over oil is water and his water will need to go from one source to another. Behind the main force was the camel baggage train to haul in food, ammo, clothing and water. They built up a camp near the pasture ground while their steeds graze the land. Kaz himself was in a long tent with his Phalanx formation of 256 jackals.
The other jackals spread out either resting in their own camps or patrolling the outer edges of the camp. Funny enough, Kaz noticed that the army he marched with didn't have just jackals shaped souls, some of the more exotic ones donned armor suits reminiscent of Sekhmet and Anhur with large battle axes and rectangle shields. "Never thought I would be in a historical reenactment group...then again, my nephew said that he had been playing Total War so long he could have been a general of an ancient army." One of the jackal from the GDI chuckled to his Orion counterpart as he sat on his bed polishing his Sarissa long spear.
"Tell me about it...at least the Strategos was a pretty cool guy. Strict but still kinda young like college kids. Wonder if he had a chariot riding license." Said another jackal from the GDI like him as they prepare to turn in for the night. Thankfully for them, despite the army's ancient appearance, they still have some aspects modern life such as medicines and hygienes like toothbrush and toothpaste for the men. Their payments however were in Drachma, the ancient Greek currency, by this time, any Orion members could tell that the Drachma coin would be worth in the Billions.
Kaz himself payed for some of the modern luxury items in such currency to the merchant there. Over the weeks he's enjoyed his new look. It seems with his new digitigrade legs he could run faster than if he had his old plantigrade legs which kept up with Anubis's courses. However, the one thing that was not keeping up with him was still his cough. As he paid the merchant he smiled to the man as he coughed hard. "Some toothpaste, deodorant, Shampoo, and a Marlboro Light Box please. *Cough* maybe some Motrin as well." Kaz requested. It seems though over the week despite the differences in between all of the men that they had all grown equal, but Kaz for whatever reason seemed to be a lot different. Older almost.
"I'll get them!" One of the men at the end of the tent shouted with a list of items for them in hand and bag of Drachma coin in another, he walked out to the department store of the army in the camp to purchase the items. Anubis himself was inside his Strategos tent, looking over the battle map of the terrain where two armies will inevitably will meet. The terrain was mostly desert with sandy dunes shifting to the wind's directions. There were also palm trees and small patches of vegetations scattered around the place, not enough to provide an ideal hiding place for his cavalry forces but enough for them to avoid heat waves.
The local farmers were still tending to the fields and crops there, seeing that they had nowhere to go and if they left their farms then they will be without pensions or earning for a long time. No doubt that Crusaders would drive to take the farmlands after they take the city of Jerusalem. "Back now, share them out boys." Said the returning jackal as he share out the items they bought from the department stores, for the night they'll sleep without problems but by dawn they will be doing battles. Each of them took their time to brush their teeth and cleaning themselves before lights out.
Dawn came over the Eastern horizon, Anubis was kneeling on a carpet looking at the rising sun before him. He bowed his head to the ground and pray in Coptic. It was strange for a God to pray as if he were a mortal, but for Anubis, they were mortals and equal some may last longer than the other, but in the end they will have to come to term with their fates. He prayed for a moment to the morning sun of Khepri before standing up and rolled up his carpet and went to his tent putting on his armor and fasten his helmet on his head. He sheathed his sword on his belt before walking out as a Strategos ready for battles.
His troops were combing their fur, putting perfume and oil on their bodies as combat tradition of the Jackal Guards dictate. Kaz's group were apparently following suites apparently aware of the fact that this was the Spartan way of psyching themselves up for battles. To die gloriously in battles while looking fabulous doing it. "Jackal Guards form up and move out!" Their Strategos barked out as he mounted on Ramiel's back, the horse stirred up the dust and sand on its hooves while the jackal deity held his sarissa spear in his right hand, riding out of his camp with his elite Companion Cavalries while his army marched out in Phalanx formations.
They would soon come to face the Crusading army, each one of the Medieval knights were apparently sporting white tunic over their suits of chainmail armor with a red cross on their uniforms. Professional soldiery wasn't their trade however as each contingent of the army bear a different flag showing that they were from a different fiefdom. To the front were Frankish and Normans bearing kite like shields with red crosses painted on them. Each of them held a spear in hand while behind them dismounted feudal knights with boxy helmets and long swords. On the wings of the opposing army were elite knights in heavy armor and large lances in hand ready to charge into chivalrous glory while crossbowmen from the Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire were seen marching forward ready to fight.
Anubis's army was formed up with standard Macedonian battle tactics, Kaz found his Phalanx to be in the middle along with many others ready to enter Phalanx formations, to the ends of their lines were Hypapists, mobile elite infantry forces to plug the gaps of less mobile anvil phalanxes. Behind the phalanxes were elite Thorax Swordsmen and the axemen calling themselves "Pride of Sekhmet". On the left wing of the Jackal Guards were the Sarissa cavalries and Thessalian horsemen. To the right was the Companion Cavalry. Anubis himself was seen marching in the center of his army to inspect his troops and give a battle speech.
"Children of two lands! I come with you to battles today, to defend our homeland and our people from a marauding hordes of mindless oppressors!" He shouted out to his men who then gave out a unison "Ahhh-rroooo!" to their general.
"These crusaders have marched far from their homes, for what? A city? A city in their words to be Holy? They left their crops untended, their wives hungry and their children vulnerable to the filthy barons and the vultures calling themselves priests! We should pity them before sending them to the afterlife. As for the survivors, let us be merciful and send them home. For they will make great messengers." He raised his spear high giving his troops a stirring morale boost. Over their heads, a gold eagle flew by casting its shadow on the army below. "Zeus be with us!" He rode towards the right flank linking up with his Companion Cavalry, forming their battle lines and march out to engage the Crusaders.
"Oh shit this ain't train-" before Kaz could finish his question he was pushed forwards by many of the men and his allies behind him to be forced forwards in the heat of battle. Once this had occurred he had no choice, but to move more forwards while he felt his heart burn both from the intensity of the other rallying men, and his own crippled soul. His life before was still taking the effect, but he persevered regardless.. His placed his weapon foards and charged into battle. "Can't complain about shit now! I was born for dying!" Kaz boasted being reminded by a certain song.
As the Jackal Guards marched forward to battle, their skirmishers ran up forward before the Phalanx formations and plucked their bows with arrows drawn. These men were dressed in golden battle armors with falcon heads similar to Horus, the Prince of Egypt and God of Sky and Kingship. The archers let loose their arrows into the air, flying down on the Crusading forces own archers. The English Longbow archers returned fire with their own arrows striking at the Marksmen of Horus, the arrows of the Crusaders pierced their armor however, staggering and even humbling some of the men down, but they were merely souls of the dead, no longer can they die even in battles, so they plucked their bows again and fired another volley at their enemies.
The slingers too ran up to replace their archer counterparts, the slingers hurled their projectiles at the faces of the Dismounted Knights who were charging forward, the rocks and stones hit them in their heads, torsos and caused them to fall down. The wounded and dead began to pile up but the knights charged forward with their swords held in their right hands and their spade like shields on their left. Some of the knights were seen in ink black tunics with a white cross on their chest, they were Hospitallers, highly disciplined and skilled knights, monks and doctors at the same time. While their more famous counterparts, the Templars, dressed in cotton white tunics with red crosses over their chest.
Once the knights had come close, the slingers and archers melted into the gaps between the Phalanx lines, and reformed just in between the swordsmen and axemen of the Jackal Guards. "Form Phalanx!" The coordinators barked their orders, each of the Phalangites entered their formations, the first two rows pointed their spears or pikes forward.
The rows to the rear held theirs to a 45 degrees angle or vertically in the absolute rear of the formations. "Eny-a-lios!" The men chanted as they push forward, each formations of Jackals impaled the charging knights with their spears and pikes, holding the enemy heavy infantry forces down in the center. On the right flank Anubis was moving, his elite Companion Cavalry were charging into positions while the Medieval German knights were charging to the flanks of his Phalanx.
These German knights wore a cotton white tunic over their armor and sported black crosses. Their helmets were strangely enough, decorated with horns and an assortment of other kinds of decors. On the right flank Anubis's own Hypapists, elite Hoplites were moving to intercept the knights, forming into their Phalanx formations and pointing their spears out, the impaled and unhorsed the charging Teutonic Knights as the blood bath grew increasingly worse.
"Hetairoi, form flying wedge!" Anubis barked out in Greek, as his Companion heavy cavalry formed into their signature flying wedge formations, Anubis and his pet Ammut were seen leading the charge. They saw the spearmen of the Crusaders following behind on the wings to prevent cavalry charges from overpowering them, the Teutonic and Hospitallers quickly entered their Schiltron formation, forming a hedgehog like mini fortress in the middle of the battle, Ammut charged head first as the typhonian beast itself was hungry for flesh and blood.
It pounced up on the formation, collapsing the fortress from on top, forcing the spearmen out of their safeties. Taking advantage of this chaos and confusion, Anubis charged his Cavalry in, smashing the spearmen on the right flank and shatter a portion of the Crusader's army while his Hypapist Hoplites were forcing the Teutonic Knights back.
On the left wing, the more flexible and maneuverable forces of Sarissa and Thessalian cavalries charged into the locked formations of Dismounted Knights with their axemen following closely to hit the Crusaders in their vulnerable left flank now that both their cavalries and infantries were caught in a stalemate. The Sarissa cavalries pummeled into the missile troops, running down their enemies in drove, while then the Thessalian Cavalries quickly encircled the pinned knights in front of the Phalangites and charged in, throwing men around like ragdolls. Kaz and his fellow Phalangites can see the enemies in front of them were so terrified that the Knights began to throw down their weapons and run for their lives, scattered to every directions they can or simply surrender to the Jackal Guards.
With the retreating medieval forces running or surrendering themselves to the newest recruits of the Jackal Guards Kaz hollered at the top of his week lungs and for his battle cry he made a very loud coughing noise for the group. "Wooo- *cough**cough* oooo… We just *weeze* kicked their Monty- *cough* medieval asses back to whatever dark hole they came *cough* from!" Kaz said still attempting to grasp the reality he was in now, or why time seemed to have gone backwards, but through the teaching Anubis and the Jackal Guards have given him he grinned feeling accomplished. Through the literal heartache and pain and vicious training he felt more at peace now than when he was resting in any after life. Heaven, Duat, the Underworld or any. It seemed fighting was what he was best at now. "Okay *cough* what's next? Who's next? I want more… Not getting played today." he joked.
"Round up the survivors! We need to march the prisoners back home!" Anubis ordered as he reign in his cavalries and his phalanx formations went to collect the battered and beaten crusaders and tied up the prisoners into a long marching column. Administrators began to count the dead and wounded crusaders, the number began to show, about 15000 Crusaders were wounded and an additional 10000 Crusaders were dead in battle. The remainders were seen retreating back into the Mediterranean after the defeat on land as the local Egyptian-Hellenic armies surround their camps and captured fortress of Tyre.
The Jackal Guards marched back to Alexandria with their prisoners in toll. They arrived at the city and were herald as heroes of Two Lands, the populace rejoice throwing petals down on them, cheering and roaring their praises at the elite and battle hardened Jackal Guards with the Crusading Prisoners being dragged in as showcase of their achievements. At the barracks, Anubis was seen in his Strategos office writing some directives, it was an order of reconnaissance and strangely enough, arms and equipment acquisition.
He ordered Kaz and his 256 Phalangites out to the parade ground for special order recipients. The strategos came to them in his usual attire, the paper he wrote was rolled up and store inside a round scroll pack, with a clearing of his throat and a simple order barked out of his muzzle, they were at attention. "Miller, come up here." Anubis ordered Kaz, strangely enough, he addressed Miller individually instead of a whole Phalangite formation.
Kaz of course obediently came to Anubis alone without his lovers behind him. When Anubis finally saw the man he seemed mostly well in shape. His fur was now out of place, but despite war just occurring for the man who spent at least 30-40 years in the afterlife he looked more alive than ever. Back up straight, smile on face, and eyes looking fresh as if he had just woken up from a 100 years rest. He stepped into Anubis's office of course complete with his cough. A very hoarse and painful cough, but it never seemed to bother the odd man. Neither did Anubis or the Jackal Guards as a whole anymore. The thoughts of other Gods out there and paramilitary paranormal forces were all behind him now, and he could focus on coming back to life. He entered Anubis's office and smiled. "Yes *cough* sir. Excuse me." Kaz aid not uttering or coughing another word.
"I'm told that you along with your Phalangites have the experiences and knowledge of modern weapons and firearms. Therefore, I am assigning you along with your Phalangites to gather knowledge regarding modern weapons and equipment. We need them in large quantities to train our forces to a more modern standard." The jackal deity handed Kaz the order, the paper was marked with a red seal bearing the image of Horus.
Once Kaz removed the seal, he can read the wording of the letters, an order to spread out to the realm they originated from and gather weapons and supplies as well as training manuals from major military factions and bring them back to Anubis. "I will be in the Animalia Realm, there are still R&D projects there I need to obtain and also Kaz...make sure that your phalangites minimize contacts with your original commanders there. Revealing ourselves too early and in inconvenient times will only spill disaster for us." He instructed the Japanese Jackal warrior carefully but his voice took a more stern tone, emphasizing the kind of importance anonymity and secrecy the Jackal Guards rely heavily on when exiting the safety of the Deity realm.
Kaz took the envelope contents with as much seriousness he could muster. Seeing pictures of said realm made him laugh slightly, but accepted. "Hey. Walking animals. We'll fit right in boss. Well… *cough* mostly…" Kaz said gesturing to his ancient looking garbs and outfit. It fit in with the current realm he was inhabiting, but the so called animalia realm as Anubis referred to it as he'd still stick out. "As far as i remember jackals aren't black. We look more like dobermans actually. No offense. I'm just saying I need to look the part to fit the part. Blend right *cough* in with whatever society I'm looking at." Kaz said looking into Downtown Zootopia. Like the name suggested it was a marvel of peace and technology on the surface. A true utopia. "Not a bad looking place either. All these building are modern. They got a bunch of nice looking glass. That geometry all the yuppies and hipsters like. Yep. I'd fit as good as a mouse attending a cat party." Kaz jokes.
"Exactly. A group of Jackal Guards scout under my command is already there setting up a new hideout in the city's Museum of Natural History. If you need to find me, come find me there. For now take your Lovers and travel to your home realm of Kaijuverse. There, gather as much as you can of what is requested of me. I wish you luck then Kaz. Just remember this, you are all souls of the dead, focus on the physical form you need to assume and you will be able to constitute your new body from that concentration." He padded Kaz's shoulder and sent him off to meet with the other Phalangites who were standing ready at the parade ground, wondering what has their Strategos told them. "I wonder what does the Strategos want from us now." Said a Jackal from the GDI to his Orion counterpart next to him. They soon saw Kaz coming out from Anubis's office with the rolled up order in hand and they perked their ears up to him. "What did he say?" one of the jackal in the group asked.
Kaz looked down to the note and sighed to the men. He just needed one look at them despite not being there when Orion came to be or even the UNKCC or even the GDI. However, the tlakes he's had with the men, and personal chat they had suggested one thing: they knew where monsters and men inhabited together. It was one of his serious moments. How at least two of the factions were nemesis before they became lovers. "It looks like we are going home. Back to where the *cough* big guys waltz around and destroy stuff. If I hear any lip from you guys then I think I can take it to the boss personally." Kaz said strictly now.
"Just that? Surely you have to be kidding me! He wants us to do something isn't he?" One of them remarked to Kaz pointing at the written order on his paws. The jackal next to him nodded and added his own. "That's right! We ain't just going home in a sudden right? What's on the shopping list he gave us there?" The 255 jackals in front of Kaz nodded and muttered together before looking at him wondering what was on the line. Working together and being through rigorous training meant that they knew Anubis wasn't the type to simply discharge servicemen in a sudden. Not without a probable cause.
"He wants us to do recon work it sounds like guys. Gather info. Maybe a few bullets guns supplies. Point is though we're not going in without his support. I think he's cooking up a few *cough* things in that head of his. So far he just told me to tell you guys to focus on the physical forms we need." Kaz said coughing a few more times. He looked to each one noticing they had the classic GDI, UNKCC, and Orion Sword patches on them. "Which means you guys ain't going to go in sporting faction gear. None. Not a badge, a piece of clothing, or an identity towards what you guys served. *cough* besides that if we can change our souls' form so easily I think we have a chance then to sneak in.:" Kaz said before letting off a sigh. "No talking to people you knew either. No loved ones, friends, commanders. Just straight up study time for R&D stuff." Kaz finished.
The Jackals in front of him nodded hearing this, it was rather bitter to swallow to hear that they can visit their home realm but no allowed to talk to loved ones, friends or colleagues, seeing that they have the ability to do so. However seeing that all of them were dead, and their acquaintances somehow see them again in a sudden would cause chaos and panic in an unnecessary way meant that they have to stomach this one.
"Alright to recap, recon and no contacts with anyone. Get guns and ammo along with equipment to stock up for the army got it." Said one of the Jackals, the group would then retire with Kaz to their quarters and prepare for their departure when they were ready. By nightfall, the men were seen standing in front of a portal summoned by Anubis at the clearing of the Barrack's training field, on the other side of the portal was the sight of Tokyo, the Capital of Japan. "Kaz you first, take some of the men with you as well!" Anubis ordered with his scepter held in hand watching as the Jackals would begin to depart in teams.
Kaz looked back, and closed his eyes. He pointed the index finger of his right hand to a random bunch of men selecting at random so he wouldn't have a biased against any of them before they departed from the portal. An unbiased choice for all of them. "Uh… You, You, *cough* you, I think you. A bunch of them. Please tell me I wasn't just pointing at the same guy over and over." Kaz jokingly said as he lowered his hand away from his face. He sighed out and turned back around towards the portal. Quickly he made one final crucial adjustment and took on his human form. Without his military appearance. A black shirt and blue jeans. Plain and something that would not gather much attention He then nodded to Anubis, and then moved through the portal with the men he selected with him to move as well now.
The remaining jackals followed suits each one assuming their human forms with random attire in mind to keep the world from guessing who they were or have some ideas that these might be the dead men coming back to life in a sudden.
They passed through the portals one by one, each of them entering a different part of the same universe, ranging from Europe, America, Mexico, Russia, India and even a large tropical like island chain with a massive military installation on it.
They went about with appropriate attires to perform their duties but the last group heading to the tropical island didn't need to disguise themselves as they can hide using the island's isolated geography and the natural environment to their advantages.
As the group had disappeared, Anubis retire to his home in Lycopolis by boat, it was a long and tiring couple period for him to keep the portal open for just one group of Phalangites. But at least now he can rest under the diamond sky, whenever he looked up, a faint smile formed on his muzzle, the beauty of the stars, the calmness it brought to him were all that he could ask for. And he knew that somewhere among the stars, his mother was watching and proudly congratulating him for his deeds.