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Kiani stood in the fields, a good hundred yards or so, from where the infamous landings of Kino Island had taken place. The ocean pushing onto the sands of the shore seemed peaceful for the moment but she couldn't believe that something so beautiful was a site of pure hell during the last great war. The War of Pride.

One of her nations finest soldiers had onced walked upon these shores. History would remember the name Kihara Jansen, vixen of the 37th Armored. Daughter of the proud fox nation and one of the few to survive the horrors of war.

It had been 27 years since those hellish days of old. Kiani, the grand daughter of Staff Srgnt Brett Williams now looked to the sea. She imagined what it would look like with the beaches full of landing craft and soldiers. History has told of many, who left their blood on these sands and of the countless others who have left more than that. The ultimate price for peace. Blood, courage and sacrifice. A duty every soldier knows well.

Kiani felt the cool breeze flow through her silvery fur and lowers her head in tandem, giving those who were once here a moment of silence in honor for their courage and bravery.

Kiani was, in a way, alienated from the rest of her clan. Herself being half fox and half wolf. The foxes had a special name for her kind, they were called Anakani, "Two Worlds" in old fox tongue. The wolves had a name for them too but it has since been lost after all this time.

Her mother, Janice Williams and her father, Victor Wolfkar, had found love in each other a few years after the war. They were a shining light for wolf and fox couples in their time. There was prejudice at the start but eventually there was acceptance. Thus their union and her creation. And from the ashes, a sign of hope.

A paw touches her shoulder and Kiani acknowledges its presence.

Behind her stood her grandfather, Brett. With age clouding his vision he stared out to sea and remembers launching from the carriers. The hell he faced coming in from the sea and the chaos occurring on the beach left a bitter memory. Still, Brett remembers it all. How he had met Kihara Jansen not too far from the beaches. His words of courage and console. Restoring hope and helping a vixen overcome her fears.

A tear creeps down Brett's weathered face. It had brought him joy to see that he had lived to see his children's children. A dream most soldiers never see come to fruition during the war. A heavy feeling over comes him and he braces himself using Kiani's shoulder. His wife, Nanika, sadly had not lived to see this day. How he missed her, now more than ever.

Kiani feels it and puts her arm around him, "Careful grandfather. You're not that strong anymore. Here let me help you" she said.

Brett regained his shaky composure and thanks Kiani. Looking upon Kiani's foxen face he offers her a story.

Kiani nods in approval and listened attentively.

Brett speaks. "Listen to my story, dear child. I'll tell you about the times when wolves and foxes were at war."

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Brett stood in front of the carriers that were loading for departure for the island of Kino. The one he was to board was named "Akani Mesa", in honor of the elder foxes. It was more of a battleship than an actual carrier but times were desperate. The wolves, having dealt the first blow, were driven from Neon City and were forced to the local island of Kino.

Many foxes were already aboard but Brett watched as many more walked passed him. Each one talking about something non war related. A few of them were talking about what they were gonna do once they get to Kino. The usual military banter about kicking some tail and killing some wolves when they got there.

Brett had felt like that too when he got out of basic. All soldiers do, it's a feeling best described as being "Terminator". Back when he was stationed at Neon City, it was a different story. The wolves attacked without any warning, slaughtering civilians along their way to the heart of the city. A very cowardly move but part of their shock and awe campaign. It worked almost too well. And that was only the beginning.

***

One memory, in particular, still haunts Brett and he remembers it clearly.

A group of cubs were playing on the beach, oblivious to the events between fox and wolf, when the invasion began. A small black dot on the horizon catches the attention of one of the cubs and he stops to see what it is. Soon the others wondered why he stopped playing and looked to see what he was looking at. They stared on in wonder as one of the first bombers came into view. Happily they pointed them out to the foxes on the beach. Jumping about as if the very sand they stood on were a giant trampoline.

One cub, a vixen to be precise, was happy to see her first airplane and had a smile on her maw. It was innocent enough to bring a smile to one's own maw but that was only momentary.

Brett could only watch as the little vixen was engulfed in a haze of napalm. He can still remember seeing the cub watch as the bomb landed in front of her and then detonated. It saddened and sickened Brett to the core. A life that had barely begun, now gone in an instant.

The new recruits were still talking about the wolves who were executing vixens and cubs alike. It struck fear into the hearts of many a fox but it also raised a deep hatred for the wolves. Soldier morale was driven to an all time low but that wouldn't stop many of the defenders of the city.

Like the Desert Fox unit, they held Saint De Foux bridge against an entire wolfen battalion. Their courage raised morale for all other units in the city. For they had proved the wolves, larger in body frame, faster, stronger and more trained, were nothing compared to a fox with the home field advantage.

Brett knew his enemy and knew him good. He had killed more than his fair share of wolves when they tried storming the Neon Fox power station. Knowing the art of war, Brett knew they would knock out power to the city to disrupt any communication amongst the foxes.

They had failed to take the power station however and instead decided since they couldn't have it, no one will. The wolves called in air strikes on the area and eventually levelled the place to the ground. Land lines were now without power and now short wave radios quickly became the war standard of communication.

***

Slowly Brett returned to the view of the Akani Mesa. Everyones mission aboard, take Kino island, no matter the cost.

It the better part of the day for Akani Mesa to get within sight of Kino island. The trip over was something else altogether. Having never been tossed about so much Brett lost his stomach quite a few times along with a few other foxes in the company.

Despite that fact, Brett spent most of his time on the crew deck. Somehow he felt at home surrounded by fellow soldiers. It must be something he picked up in basic. These foxes would give their lives for each other if need be. A bond of trust and brotherhood amongst soldiers.

Sitting in a chair, in the corner, Brett overheard a soldier talking about how his mate was pregnant and was to give birth anyday now. It brought a smile to Brett's face and he listened on in wonder.

An explosion vibrated within the carrier and a voice came over the loud speakers.

"Attention all hands on deck prepare for immediate attack. All soldiers begin loading LVTs to begin launching. Godspeed men. Godspeed."

Brett quickly leapt from his chair and made his way to the topside deck.

Once outside, he stared at the scene before him. Many LVTs had already launched from their carriers and were making their way to the beach. A quick glance to the sky left Brett almost dumbfounded. Jets were dogfighting in the sky while others were chasing bombers that were coming towards the carriers.

A loud barrage of explosions sounded out as the Akani Mesa fired her main guns towards the beach. Each round a deafening roar that caused shockwaves to ripple on the water below.

Brett watched as clouds of dust roze from the beach. No doubt they were hitting heavily fortified machine gun nests. Either being brave or foolish Brett walked to the edge of Akani Mesa and stood there.

Bretts knew his duty but knew no fear at that moment. It was as if the world just stopped.

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Brett coughed a little and almost went down before Kiani caught him. She helps him stand back up and asks if he wants to go back home.

Brett gives her a nod and together they walk away from the beach.

Once home Brett gets helped to his bed and Kiani covers him up.

"You feeling alright, grandfather?" she asks.

Brett coughs real hard and catches his breath, "I am fine now, thanks my child." After regaining his strength he returns to his story.

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As his LVT came to shore, Brett could hear soldiers crying out in pain as they lay on the beaches. He could see medics working as fast as they can on the wounded. Bullets could be heard whizzing past as he made his way to a small mound a little ways from the beach.

What seemed a small skirmish from Akani Mesa was nothing of the sort on the battle front. Wolves had been using mortar strikes and machine gun fire to co-ordinate a killing zone a few hundred yards from the beaches. Many foxes lay dead here and there, a few yards from any real cover.

A soldier crawls up beside Brett and asks about the situation.

Brett looks over the landscape and replies. "Its a no fox zone right now. The wolves have us supressed under heavy machine gun and mortars are leveling any real cover."

A bullet hits the ground in front of Brett and he puts his head down a little. "Along with a few snipers." said Brett as he looked behind him. Brett sees that the soldier had a radio and is calling in fire support.

(This part is in Fox Code)

"Akani Mesa, Akani Mesa. Va'a ha aki no ma'hi Anakani Sierra. Maki shi'i he'iona m'ik. Ha'ih 721. Mi'e 113. Kio ah yak'i. Hi'ka. Kio ah yak'i."

{Translation)

"Akani Mesa, Akani Mesa. This is specialist fox Anakani Sierra. Requesting fire mission. Grid 721. Mike 113. Fire For Effect. Repeat. Fire For Effect."

This message was received by Akani Mesa and understood.

A low rumble could be heard as the Akani Mesa fired her cannons on the designated co-ordinates.

As the first shells hit, Brett covered his head. The very ground shook from the force of the rounds impact and had sent dust and debris flying in all directions.

After a few seconds the roars had quit and Brett stared at the area in front of him. Deep pot holes were all that was left of the area. The barrage had laid waste to most of the defenders in front of Brett's position.

Brett was impressed and double checked the soldier to his side. The uniform was the same as the one Brett had on but the shoulder patch was something new altogether. A sword with two rifles crossed in front of it. Brett had never seen this patch before and it left him wondering who this fox was.

The soldier smiles a little and signals for other soldiers to begin moving up.

This was the first time Brett had ever seen an Anakani. But there was no time to stare in awe. There was a job that still needed doing.

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Brett stopped talking for a second and left Kiani with a worried look on her face. Slowly he started breathing again.

Kiani grabbed his paw, "Should I call an ambulance grandfather?"

Brett covers her paw with his own, "No need my child. I'll be long gone before they get here."

Kiani feels her heart almost stop, "Grandfather no. It's not your time."

Brett coughs and speaks, "I've lived my life child. Now you must go and live yours, without me."

Kiani squeezed his paw tightly, she could feel his grip loosening up.

Looking to the ceiling Brett says with his last breath, "Its so beatiful..........." A last tear creeps out onto his face as he leaves this world.

Kiani puts her head onto his paw and cries. Somehow this world felt a little more lonely than before.

At the cemetary Kiani stood in a black dress. A chilling wind swept throught the area. She tries hard to hold back her tears as his coffin is lowered into the ground. The memories and stories he left will live forever inside of her.

Slowly she walks over to the edge of the grave and lowers in a flower. Her mother comes over and gives her a hug. Her father then comes over and gives them both a hug.

Inside Kiani felt a deep sorrow. Like the world was weighing her down. That sadness. So hollow and heavy at the same time. A burden her grandfather never meant to leave her with.

After everyone had left the grave site, Kiani held her grandfathers flag. Slowly she puts it to her side and salutes before speaking.

{Old Fox Language}

"Ha'ko ies v'a ia so. A'yi so li'ah esh ma'hi n'ako. Ga'yh des oni'a sa'ka es. Aoh as'ka'ii'"

{Translation}

"Close your eyes now. Rest now soldier of the fox nation. For you have earned it. Goodbye grandfather."