Synthetic Meat

Qin Mo didn't get involved in the entire battle.

Grot advanced leisurely through the enemy encirclement, sweeping enemies with his hand-mounted weapon. After it was modified to fire like a shotgun, the weapon became even more effective—each shot at its rapid firing rate could cover a swath of foes.

Grey went all out, making good use of his Shoulder Cannon.

On the HUD inside his visor, the lower-left corner showed a top-down view from the Recon Drone, with every Rebel marked on the display.

The Recon Drone could also link up with the Shoulder Cannon. When the cannon adjusted its firing angle, a kill-zone indicator would appear directly on the HUD screen, preventing the embarrassment of missing after firing.

When the Rebels broke and fled in terror, the battle ended.

Grey and Grot returned to Qin Mo's side, and the three of them walked together into the Large Bunker.

Inside the bunker, all the survivors looked at the trio with awe. They moved from their positions to gather nearby, kneeling on one knee as they fixed their eyes on the Double-headed Eagle atop the Scepter in Qin Mo's hand.

"Who is your highest-ranking officer?" Qin Mo asked as he walked.

"I am, sir." A Regimental Commander wearing the same insignia as Klein stepped forward, approached Qin Mo, and knelt on one knee.

Qin Mo looked down at the Regimental Commander and issued his order: "You have 472 people now—too few. No need to hold this position. March west immediately and rendezvous with other units."

"Yes." The Regimental Commander nodded, inwardly surprised, since he himself didn't know how many were left right after the battle.

Qin Mo's order was carried out at once.

The soldiers gathered on the position, bringing all their weapons and supplies.

Of the less than five hundred people, nearly half were wounded—some supported by comrades, others carried on iron plates.

Making these people march over seventy kilometers was truly a stretch.

Qin Mo had no choice but to call over the Transport Drone, letting the wounded board first.

Seeing Qin Mo's goodwill toward the injured, the Regimental Commander finally couldn't help asking an inappropriate question: "Are you a general? Is our defensive line still intact?"

Qin Mo initially didn't want to answer, but feeling their burning gazes, he decided to respond: "I don't know if the defensive line established after the failed offensive plan still exists, but I'm already working on a new one. For now, there are two Fortresses."

Hearing there were only two Fortresses, grief and despair spread across the soldiers' faces.

Qin Mo decided to say something to boost morale, but just as he opened his mouth, a buzzing sound came from the air.

Everyone was drawn to the noise, looking up at the sky.

Five black spheres suddenly dropped from the air, stopping and hovering half a meter above the ground. Mechanical arms extended from their bodies, picking up anything usable on the position.

Seeing it was his own Logistics Machines, Qin Mo looked away and continued with words to lift their spirits: "Soldiers, we—"

"Grrr!"

A low growl rang out.

Not far away lay an Aberrant that was still alive despite its chest being full of gaping holes. It growled as it stood up, dragging a pickaxe as it staggered forward, glaring viciously at Qin Mo.

One of the Logistics Machines happened to search near the surviving Aberrant. Its mechanical arms retracted into its body and then extended again, now holding a sword. It swiftly killed the survivor and then recycled the corpse.

"Don't worry, that's our machine," Qin Mo said to the crowd.

The soldiers nodded, then looked back at Qin Mo, waiting for him to continue what he'd been interrupted from saying twice.

"Countrymen, loyal followers of the Emperor, we—wait." Qin Mo suddenly remembered something and opened a channel to the Master Control Intelligence: "What are you recycling Aberrants for? Don't tell me it's for food."

The Master Control Intelligence's reply came immediately: "Based on my detection and observation, Rebel corpses can be repurposed. After multiple processing steps, they become completely non-toxic, and using them as nutritional supplements has no side effects."

"I... forget it." Qin Mo stopped dwelling on it. He knew supplies were scarce—even if that Aberrant was turned into nutrient paste, they'd have to hold their noses and eat it.

The Logistics Machines not only recycled enemy corpses but also their own dead.

After recycling the body of a fallen soldier, one Logistics Machine walked up to the Regimental Commander.

"I'm still alive." The Regimental Commander panicked slightly, thinking the machine might recycle him too.

The Logistics Machine gave no response, nor could it. It paused silently for a moment, then a square opening appeared on its shell.

As the people around wondered what this meant, a clang rang out, and a square object popped out of the opening, landing in the Regimental Commander's hand.

On it was carved the face of the dead soldier, with a line of text below: Ash Block of the Brave Who Died Fighting in the Bottom Nest.

"..." The Regimental Commander was stunned.

Qin Mo heard the Master Control Intelligence's voice: "Humans have a habit of commemorating the dead."

The Logistics Machine continued its work, quickly clearing the entire battlefield, then lifted off and flew toward the next location.

"Sir." The Regimental Commander, gesturing for his men to pack up the Ash Blocks of the dead, said, "I will follow your orders and head to the position due west to rendezvous with allied forces."

"Good." Qin Mo nodded, took out a Communicator, and handed it to the Regimental Commander: "If you run into danger on the way, use this to call me. The channel is already set. Also, if you encounter a Psyker, you can throw this thing out—it has the effect of a Psy-Suppressor."

"Thank you, sir." The Regimental Commander nodded and marched west.

After watching them leave, Qin Mo ordered the Master Control Intelligence: "Gather intel on the other positions as soon as possible."

"Received. Recon Drones are already under construction."

Night.

The Fortress where the 47th Regiment was stationed.

Logistics Machines descended from the sky, dropped off metal containers packed with food, and then left.

The soldiers collected their rations, and ten minutes later, cheers erupted across the entire Fortress like a tidal wave.

Qin Mo, who was in the middle of crafting a fourth set of Power Armor, was drawn out of the cave by the noise and climbed up to the surface to see what was happening.

"This stuff is actually pretty good." Klein walked up to Qin Mo with a container of food, stabbed a piece with his fork, popped it into his mouth, and chewed with a blissful expression.

Qin Mo glanced at the food in Klein's hand—it was synthetic solid meat.

"Good?" Qin Mo asked.

"Mm-hmm." Klein nodded vigorously, then looked at Qin Mo and hugged the meal box tightly to his chest. "Grey brought you a portion, but I'm not sharing mine with you."

"Don't worry, I don't want to share." Qin Mo nodded.

As they were talking, Grey walked over to the cave with two meal boxes. He handed one to Qin Mo and placed the other in Klein's hands.

"Have you lost your mind?" Klein stared at Grey in disbelief. He was actually giving away such delicious food.

Grey didn't say a word. He just lowered his head and walked off.

"Enjoy your meal." Qin Mo smiled and placed his own portion in Klein's hands as well, then turned back into the cave to continue crafting.

Klein watched Qin Mo's retreating back, then looked down at the three meal boxes in his hands, sinking into thought.