The morning after the main force of the Cadman People's Army moved into Shadow Valley, Major Ron got up early. Following the Pioneer Legion's orders, he led his soldiers through morning assembly. After some simple drills and assignments, the major received his portion of breakfast.
By continental standards, the Pioneer Legion's soldiers were exceptionally well-trained.
Their daily training was far more intense than the norm for this era. But as Major Ron stood there with a bowl of oatmeal and a few bread rolls, he gazed helplessly at the open ground in the valley. The People's Army was still training.
They were only running laps around the platform, but their orderly formation and the occasional shouted slogans as they ran left the major somewhat concerned.
Although this was his first week of real contact with the Cadman People's Army, as an excellent soldier, he had already noticed how Transia's armed forces differed from other armies. Serving under Governor Murphy was definitely exhausting. More than once, Major Ron had noticed that these soldiers' days were packed full of all kinds of duties.
The soldiers had only a few hours of free time each day. The rest of the time, they were either training or dealing with endless barracks chores. Even after dinner, instructors would gather the rank and file to teach them basic grammar and explain the army's regulations.
Over the past few months, this routine had become ingrained in them. The soldiers had grown accustomed to it, and even while crossing the swamps, they kept up these study sessions in camp.
Not every soldier necessarily enjoyed this life, but living in such a regimented community had even the laziest among them adopting a lifestyle that looked impressively disciplined to outsiders.
Major Ron knew perfectly well why it mattered for soldiers