269: Chapter 267 The Test Has Arrived 269: Chapter 267 The Test Has Arrived Zero casualties was a mere wishful thinking.
Even a large-scale live-fire exercise could result in injuries and deaths, let alone a real battle.
Although the enemy crumbled and fled at the first sign of conflict, casualties were still inevitable.
From the onset of the attack until dusk, about two hours passed, during which only seven were injured or killed; two dead, three severely wounded, and two lightly wounded.
Given the number of combatants engaged in the fight, these casualties were almost negligible.
The Skull Gang’s night combat capabilities weren’t strong, but they possessed some ability to fight after dark.
After nightfall, Gao Yang did not order to consolidate their gains; instead, he commanded all units except the Instruction Platoon to continue the offensive, albeit at a reduced intensity.
The Instruction Platoon, on the other hand, received orders to expand its operations during the night and to take an even more proactive approach than during the day.
Equipped with captured night combat gear and specifically purchased field equipment, the entire Instruction Platoon now had the ability to fight at night, when they were able to exert decisive force.
The Instruction Platoon did not disappoint Gao Yang; although they penetrated deeper into enemy territory and encountered far more resistance than the other units, under the leadership of Li Jinfang, they overwhelmingly swept through all opposition in their path.
The Instruction Platoon was deep behind enemy lines, advancing along Route One and had already secured the coastal area in the northwest corner of Bosaso.
For the Skull Gang, with their stronger maritime capabilities, controlling the coastal area of Bosaso meant they could resupply ammunition and provisions directly from the sea to Bosaso’s urban area, straight into the hands of the Instruction Platoon.
After five hours of battle, the Skull Gang had taken control of the entire northwestern corner of Bosaso, while the Instruction Platoon extended their position further out.
On the satellite maps Gao Yang held, this advance resembled a Chinese cleaver, with the regular troops symbolizing the blade and the Instruction Platoon the handle.
As the regular troops spread throughout the urban area of Bosaso, Glolov divided the artillery into four sections and also moved into the city to provide fire support to the troops entering Bosaso.
However, once inside the city, the artillery had little opportunity to demonstrate its power.
The Instruction Platoon was now the spearhead and core of the attack.
Glolov personally accompanied them with five mortars and five rocket launchers at the ready to provide support at any moment, and Cui Bo’s sniper team was mostly drawn there as well.
Although it was night combat, the Instruction Platoon shifted their lines faster than during the day.
Gao Yang remained outside Bosaso with the 7th Company, reserved as the backup force.
The smooth progress had left him feeling somewhat bored, but boredom aside, he did not dare to let his guard down.
According to Uriyangko, there should have been at least two Mercenary Groups within Bosaso, but so far, they had yet to appear.
The enemy Mercenary Group was like a thorn in Gao Yang’s side.
He did not know the strength or number of the mercenaries hired by the enemy, but he naturally regarded the hostile mercenaries as the greatest threat.
If they could not find and annihilate the local Mercenary Group, the current progress, no matter how smooth, was hollow.
There was a risk that the Skull Gang might not be able to withstand a counterattack orchestrated by the mercenaries if the Mokadi Faction had recruited a considerable and powerful Mercenary Group.
Time had passed for quite a while, but there were no reports of encounters with the suspected enemy mercenaries.
Gao Yang had no other choice but to order all units to stay alert and ready for anything.
Time slowly reached midnight.
Despite the extended duration of combat and the increased casualties among the regular troops after entering the night combat, resulting in forty-six men losing their ability to fight, the Skull Gang’s morale remained high.
They felt no fatigue nor any intention of ceasing their assault.
When the clock struck midnight precisely, Gao Yang’s headset, which hadn’t made a sound for quite some time, suddenly came to life.
“Second Platoon reporting, we have about sixty captives here requesting to join the fight, no, they can’t be called captives, they have surrendered to us voluntarily, and they claim they’re not with the Mokadi Faction, just civilians from Bosaso, and they’re asking to participate in the battle, to attack the Mokadi Faction alongside us.
Officer, should we grant their request?
Please advise, over.”
In Somalia, almost everyone has a gun, and the Mokadi Faction doesn’t have a standard uniform, so it’s really a problem to distinguish between armed Mokadi Faction members and civilians.
Therefore, when a group of people claimed they were civilians and not from the Mokadi Faction, there was no way to verify that.
But Gao Yang had no intention of verifying, since there were volunteers willing to join the fight against the Mokadi Faction, they were most welcome.
“Permission granted to let them join the fight.
They are locals and familiar with the terrain, so ask more about them, see if you can get information on the enemy’s troop distribution.
Just remember, make it clear to these people our rules of engagement.
They absolutely must not commit arson, murder or looting.
If such a situation occurs, execute them on the spot.”
“Yes, sir.
Another thing, one of these men said he’s seen many foreigners recently, a lot of them white, who arrived just a few days ago.
I think this might be of use to you.”
Gao Yang nearly leapt out of his skin when he heard this.
Wasn’t this the intelligence he had been desperately waiting for?
The platoon leader had saved this most crucial piece of information for last.
“What?
Quickly ask him the location of those people and get a head count.
Hurry, after you get the details, bring the defector who saw the foreigners back to me at top speed!”
“Yes, sir!”
The headset fell silent temporarily as the Second Platoon’s leader went to inquire about the situation with the defectors who could be mercenaries.
As Gao Yang anxiously waited, Li Jinfang suddenly sent back a message.
“This is Toad; the lead elements of the Instruction Platoon have encountered strong resistance, we’ve sustained significant losses.
The combat tactics and morale of the enemy we’ve encountered are vastly different from before, it is likely we’re facing mercenaries.
However, we can’t confirm the number and identity of the enemy yet.
I’m on my way to find out more, over!”
Li Jinfang finished hastily, and then the signal from the Second Platoon leader came through.
He spoke urgently, “The number of foreigners is estimated at over a hundred.
They appeared together with the Mokadi, and the enemy is well-equipped; they are definitely combat personnel.
But the observer didn’t get a chance to count the foreigners in detail.
Also, he saw those foreigners near the port, but doesn’t know exactly where they went.”
Messages in the walkie-talkie were shared, so company commanders could exchange information with each other, and it meant Gao Yang didn’t need to repeat to Li Jinfang.
He immediately shouted into the walkie-talkie, “Toad, did you hear that?
The enemy you’re encountering might be these men.
Be careful, consolidate your lines and wait for reinforcements!
Big Dog, you know what to do!”
Gao understood that the real tough battle had finally arrived, and it was time to deploy the last reserve force into the fray.
(To be continued.
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