To avoid affecting morale, news of Pangolin's injury was not made public within the Legion. For the first time ever, today's broadcast did not report on the glorious achievements of the G53-7 defense zone, instead airing trivial matters completely unrelated to the situation at the front.
G40 position.
Outside the bunker stood a large pot. Fragrant foam floated atop the meat soup, while sliced bread sat on a rack nearby. Led by their squad leaders, the clone soldiers lined up as the spoon-wielding cook impatiently called out one sentence after another.
"Next."
Most clone soldiers were not particularly bright. They were single-minded.
Absolute obedience was one of their strengths, but conversely, if no one gave them orders, they would do nothing.
If the cook did not tell them they could leave, they would keep waiting in front of the pot.
A ladle of meat soup, half a sausage, and a chunk of bran bread hard enough to smash open a can made up the clone regiment's simple meal.
The soup and sausage were occasionally replaced with stew or canned food, but that signature bran bread rarely changed.
That bread needed to be soaked in soup before it softened. Even rats would lose two front teeth trying to bite it. In a pinch, it was not only bulletproof, but could also be stuffed into sacks as cover or used directly as a blunt weapon to batter charging enemies.
Beside the soup pot stood a wooden pole as tall as two men, with a loudspeaker tied to it with wire. It was broadcasting today's front-page story from the Triumph Daily.
Newspapers were also delivered to the front, but supply trucks did not come every day. If they wanted the latest news, they could only get it through the broadcasts beside the mobile