They are, at least on mass, progenitors might be an exception and it might be one of the new breeds, probably both

Quite likely there could be substances to dye things different colors in Innworld compared to what was available on Earth. I think rock crab blood is blue, could maybe use something like that?

Maybe all the drakes can donate old scales that have fallen off to a dyer to grind up into dyes.

Or just, y’know, magic some dyes into different colors.

They couldn’t easily learn something like American Sign Language or the like, because articulation would definitely be an issue.

There are, however, more basic sign languages that don’t rely as much on detailed articulation. There are also systems designed specifically for issues like the soldiers would have, with exaggerated arm and hand movements.

Things like adapted military hand signals, or signals used with older space/diving suits and similar very bulky clothing.

The main issue for the Antinium is that they’ve never needed such before, so it would have to be made up from scratch. Granted, considering their hive mind nature, developing such a system once they decided they needed it would likely only take a few hours, at most.

And so as the Soldier slept, or rather, didn’t, they wondered.

Soldier –> Soldiers