World War Z Interviews Anubis Doggie Cruger

World War Z Interview: Max Brooks Interviews Anubis "Doggie" Cruger

Max Brooks sits across from Anubis "Doggie" Cruger, former commander of Space Patrol Delta (SPD) during the outbreak of the zombie pandemic, now retired. Doggie Cruger, known for his stoic demeanor and calm authority, shifts in his chair, his broad shoulders seemingly carrying the weight of the galaxy itself. The scars of war are visible in his eyes. As we talk, the sound of his deep, resonant voice echoes in the room.

Max Brooks: Commander Cruger, thank you for joining me today.

Doggie Cruger: You're welcome. It's an honor to share our story, if it helps others understand what happened... what we faced.

Max Brooks: Let's start with how Space Patrol Delta got involved with the Zombie War. SPD had been primarily focused on protecting Earth and the galaxy from intergalactic threats, not terrestrial ones. How did the outbreak affect your operations?

Doggie Cruger: The outbreak was... unexpected. In the beginning, we were tracking a series of disturbances across the galaxy, typical rogue criminal activity, space pirates, and threats from the Vyram syndicate. But we began receiving distress signals from Earth's major cities. At first, they were just reports of strange, violent outbreaks—people attacking each other, something far more extreme than typical crime or civil unrest. It didn't take long before we realized this was something entirely different.

Max Brooks: So, you initially didn't think the outbreak was a global threat?

Doggie Cruger: No. At first, we thought it was some sort of local contagion or a criminal act gone out of control. But when we started analyzing the nature of the attacks—people were dying and coming back... They weren't just mindless killers, they were relentless. That's when we knew we had to get involved. At that point, the rest of Earth's defense forces were overwhelmed. We were the only ones with the resources to respond on such a large scale.

Max Brooks: How did you and SPD adapt to the sudden need for such a drastic change in your operations?

Doggie Cruger: SPD wasn't designed for this. We're a peacekeeping force, but peace had broken down across the entire planet. My role shifted from commander of intergalactic law enforcement to that of a wartime leader. I had to adapt quickly, make decisions in real-time that affected billions. My officers weren't trained for biological warfare, and the technology we had wasn't built for the kind of devastation we were seeing. I couldn't prepare them for that. I had to lead by example.

Max Brooks: What kind of obstacles did SPD face in the early stages of the war?

Doggie Cruger: The first obstacle was coordination. Earth's militaries were stretched thin, and some governments were just trying to hold on to what they could. As we arrived, we found a world already plunged into chaos. Entire cities were overwhelmed by hordes of the undead. We had to make tactical decisions on the fly, protect survivors, and contain outbreaks. But what made it even worse was the criminal element—gangs, rogue militias, and opportunistic criminals who saw the outbreak as a chance to expand their power. They didn't just stand back and watch the world burn. They fought the living, and the dead.

Max Brooks: And how did SPD confront both the zombies and these human threats at the same time?