Many years later, when the Imperial chroniclers traveled to Nam Lugal(Golden Kingdom) to visit the retired Chancellor Enkidu-Sa—then a centenarian—to learn of the Primarch's early history, Enkidu-Sa would tirelessly recount the story of how he first met Gilgamesh.
In the words of the old Chancellor, he spoke of how, after offering his stratagem and being enlisted as a military registrar, he witnessed his first battle under Gilgamesh's command. It was this night that solidified Enkidu-Sa's unwavering belief that Gilgamesh would seize the world.
For a king to unify the realm, he needed more than just wisdom; he had to be a conqueror—a leader capable of carving out a glorious empire through blood and fire.
Gilgamesh showed him that he was capable of exactly that. Consequently, after the Babylonian sectors joined the Imperium, the visitors from Terra gave the scholar a nickname, comparing him to the legendary Sigillite for his role in anchoring the Primarch's throne.
According to the old Chancellor, his legendary career truly began that night, beneath the burning sky of the Eanna Hills...
"How can this be?! According to our plan, it should have taken the central army several days to find us!"
Gilgamesh questioned his officers with mounting irritation as he strode toward the gates. His armor, a masterpiece of auric-chrome, caught the torchlight in flashes of blinding gold. Beside him was the commander who had rushed to report the news. Enkidu-Sa and Siduri followed closely behind.
"Lord, we didn't expect them to strike so quickly! We only knew the host had arrived and was beginning their siege when our scouts patrolling nearby rushed back to report!" Faced with Gilgamesh's interrogation, the officer—Ur-Namu—tried desperately to defend himself.
"Hmph... regardless, prepare for battle immediately!" Gilgamesh snapped. "You have committed a grave oversight. If you do not fight bravely on the battlefield to redeem yourself, I will have your head! Do you understand, Ur-Namu?"
"Understood! If I fail in battle, my life belongs to the King!" Ur-Namu immediately cupped his fists, his expression solemn.
"That's more like it. Now, go gather the Immortals and prepare for combat." Gilgamesh's expression softened slightly, though he remained deadly serious.
"Oh no... could it be that I led the army here?" Enkidu-Sa began to panic. He suddenly realized that his own desperate trek through the wastes might have left a trail even the corrupt Empire couldn't miss.
"What are you thinking? Aren't you a bit too confident in yourself?" Siduri chided him, hitting him lightly in annoyance. "Father has made all sorts of preparations for the army's arrival. Don't think so highly of yourself, moth! Watch it, or I'll have you punished for disturbing military morale!"
Realizing he had spoken out of turn, Enkidu-Sa shut his mouth and continued to follow the group in silence.
Gilgamesh, accompanied by Ur-Namu and Siduri, ascended the camp walls. The Auric Reclamation's camp was now surrounded. The campfires of the Imperial troops were visible everywhere, lighting up the Babylonian night as if it were day.
"The dogs of the capital are efficient! It seems a man of true talent has arrived to lead them," Gilgamesh remarked, his usual composure slipping.
"Lord, what are your orders? The brothers are waiting for your word!" Ur-Namu said, clutching his chest in salute. "Just say the word, and the men won't hesitate to throw themselves at the enemy and carve out a path of blood!"
"Do not be so reckless! War is no child's play!" Gilgamesh stopped him coldly. "Let me observe their deployment first. I want to see if these troops are well-trained regulars—or just mongrels dragged from the fields."
Gilgamesh reached out his hand toward Siduri. She quickly presented a monocular telescope—a brass-bound relic of the old world—with both hands. Gilgamesh scanned the enemy lines.
"This is trouble. Their formations are perfectly straight; these are clearly battle-hardened regulars from the northern frontiers. It seems I've truly made a name for myself if the Empire is sending a High Prefect to hunt me down."
History would later prove Gilgamesh right. The force surrounding them that night had been an Iron Legion led by a veteran High Prefect of the central court.
"Then what do we do?! We're going to die before we've even begun!" Enkidu-Sa cried out in despair.
"You pale-faced scholar, shut your mouth!" Ur-Namu roared, pointing a finger at Enkidu-Sa's nose. "Do you think this is worse than when Gilgamesh first led us in revolt?! You didn't see it, but I'll never forget the day those arrogant soldiers slaughtered our village—the whole of Uruk!
They killed every elder we had! If he hadn't raised his arm and led us to defeat them, you wouldn't be looking at me today! We believe he will remake the world and lead us back home in glory!"
"Uncle Namu, don't be so hard on him," Siduri sighed. "He's just a scholar who recently left his master's side. He's never seen the chaos of Babylonia. It's natural for him to lose his head." She then turned back to Enkidu-Sa, her voice turning icy. "But this is your last warning. In the face of the enemy, spreading words that damage morale is a capital offense. If you want to keep your head, stop speaking nonsense."
"I... I understand," Enkidu-Sa whispered.
"Father, what is the plan?" Siduri turned back to Gilgamesh, who was deep in thought. "We must break the encirclement and begin the migration toward the mountains."
"Haha, about that..." Gilgamesh chuckled, stroking his beard as a spark of inspiration hit him. "Siduri, a new idea has just come to mind. But... I'm going to need your cooperation. We are going to show this 'High Prefect' that he is not fighting a simple man."