492: Chapter 489: Break Through 492: Chapter 489: Break Through Gao Yang and his team had three M29 mortars, and they had top-notch gunners, which was a major advantage for them.
The Jaguar Corps air-dropped in from the North were ready to launch their mortars; after firing, they inflicted considerable casualties on the team conducting the air-drop.
However, the Jaguars spread out during their descent and quickly dispersed upon landing, rather than foolishly clustering together and waiting to be bombarded.
The Jaguar Corps rapidly formed a skirmish line over a kilometer in length and immediately went on the defensive.
After firing six mortar rounds, the mortars stopped firing.
The Jaguar’s line was so widely spread that even if a mortar round hit its mark, at most it could only injure one person.
This level of fire was too cost-ineffective, and continuing the bombardment would have been a waste of shells.
The Jaguars had established their positions in the north, taking the first step to encircle Gao Yang and his team.
Although Gao could not see if the Air Force Special Command Group had deployed yet, he assumed that the parachute and heli-drops should have been carried out simultaneously.
Once the decision was made to break through forcefully, regardless of where the defensive focus of the Air Force Special Command Group lay, Gao and his team would have to head east towards the No.
40 Motorway as their main target.
In the radio, Gao Yang said, “We’re preparing to break out.
Angel’s men, send out three two-man reconnaissance teams to the west and south to scout.
Toad, you go with Angel’s men to scout the east.
If you don’t find the enemy, you may go farther—but be thorough.”
Not being very familiar with the Angel Mercenary Corps, Gao could not assign specific tasks to individuals, but the Angels were all seasoned mercenaries; commands would naturally be executed by the appropriate people.
Although they were complete strangers, commanding them was surprisingly easy.
After issuing the orders, Gao Yang looked at Nate and said, “We need to form an assault team.
Our people all have different levels of experience and fighting styles; coordination will be difficult.
I think we can form a joint assault team, but it should be divided into two groups to avoid interference.”
Without hesitation, Nate said, “Divide into separate units under unified command.”
Gao immediately responded, “Good, you’ll command the assault team.
Also, what about our wounded?”
The Angel Mercenary Corps had also sustained two seriously injured members.
They certainly needed to be taken along during the breakout, but how to carry them was an issue.
After a moment of thought, Nate stated firmly, “We split into three teams: assault, support, and non-combat personnel.
Once the assault team breaches through, the support team and the non-combat personnel will evacuate.
Prepare vehicles; when the time comes, the assault team will attack both south and north, creating a safe space for the non-combatants’ retreat.”
Gao Yang thought for a moment and said, “In that case, the assault team must act quickly.
If we split our forces and they chase us, we’ll be in trouble.”
Having discussed the plan, Gao and Nate fell silent, both looking up, hoping the Super Tucano aircraft would leave soon.
The Super Tucano aircraft continued to strafe the ground, but the airborne machine gun’s bullets were limited.
Finally, after a pointless burst of fire into the woods, the four Super Tucanos did not return.
Glolov’s anti-aircraft machine gun never got another chance to show its prowess, but it’s well established that the most common way to use an anti-aircraft gun is to fire it in a flat trajectory.
Finally, with the aircraft gone, Gao Yang was somewhat troubled about how to use Glolov.
If he included Glolov in the assault team, their firepower would be strengthened.
If Glolov continued to operate the anti-aircraft gun, then the support team would be more effective.
It had already been proven that although the Angels had good machine gunners, none could match Glolov when it came to operating anti-aircraft guns.
Unable to make a decision, Gao pointed at Glolov and spoke to Nate, “What do you think?
Should we let him continue using the anti-aircraft gun as flat trajectory cover for the assault team, or should we include him in the assault team?”
After pondering for a moment, Nate said in a grave tone, “He’s a very good machine gunner, quite exceptional.
Let other machine gunners handle the flat trajectory firing of the anti-aircraft gun; include your ‘Machine Gun Artist’ in the assault team.”
Knowing Nate’s choice, Gao Yang promptly replied, “Good, now that I know your choice, mine will be easy.
Let him continue using the anti-aircraft gun.”
Gao Yang had begun to see Nate as a beacon for guidance.
They could discuss tactics together, but when it came to making a choice on a particular matter, doing the opposite of what Nate suggested seemed to be the right move.
Nate was a bit frustrated, but he couldn’t really object.
His command that day could not be said to be wrong, but bad luck was something uncontrollable.
If he didn’t think Gao Yang’s luck was much better than his, he wouldn’t have surrendered command to Gao.
The plan was set; all that was left was to follow it.
To avoid exposure, those who had entered the woods had spread out extensively.
Now that the planes had left, the troops could start to regroup.
The scouts returned with reports: the east and west ends of the road were heavily defended by the Air Force Special Command Group, while the southern woods along the road had no defensive line established.
However, about sixty people were stationed south of the woods.
To the east, at least sixty people were distributed between the trail and No.
40 Motorway, establishing a loosely structured defense line.
The frontline of the defense was only about six hundred meters away from Gao Yang and his group.
Because the line was so slack, scouts couldn’t ascertain the exact number of personnel.
To the west, the exact number of personnel couldn’t be determined either, but it was confirmed that the western line was a stronghold defended by the Air Force Special Command Group as it led further into the jungle.
The encirclement targeting Gao Yang and his team had formed but was not tight-knit.
The Colombian military had made an estimation of the number of Gao Yang’s team as well as an assessment of their combat power; however, their judgment was mistaken.
Two police SWAT teams had already been annihilated, and four helicopters from the Jaguar Corps had been shot down.
The Colombian military was on high alert, which is why they had sent out their most elite troops, the Jaguars and the Air Force Special Command Group.
If the Colombian military had known whom they were dealing with, they would not have sent only slightly over three hundred personnel to surround Gao Yang and his team.
Over three hundred of their elite forces were indeed capable of annihilating Gao Yang’s allied forces if they launched a concentrated attack, but dispersing their forces to maintain a siege was very much welcomed by the members of the Satan Mercenary Corps and the Angel Mercenary Corps.
Ivan’s group of Russians indicated that they were ready to watch the show.
Personnel were beginning to assemble, and on Gao Yang’s side, only Li Jinfang could join the assault team because everyone else had other tasks.
Samuel’s team had detached seven people, and it was certain that the Angel Mercenary Corps would form the main force of the assault team, totaling twenty-two individuals.
Three mortars took nine people, Glolov’s anti-aircraft machine gun took a team of three, and there were five snipers—this was the support group’s number of personnel.
Apart from the assault and support groups, the rest had no combat tasks.
They had to look after the wounded, reserve drivers for the vehicles, and as soon as a breach in the encirclement was created, they needed to drive out of the woods, pick up the rest, and flee in a hurry.
All tasks had been assigned, and naturally, the next step was to attack.
The Angel Mercenary Corps was the main force, and although Gao Yang could act as the supreme commander, it was clear that Nate would need to take charge of the command during the battle.
Nate was about to give the order when he opened his mouth and then closed it with a look of frustration, he addressed Gao Yang, “You go first—you’re the highest-ranking officer here.
Listen, I hope your luck can lead us to finish this battle with zero casualties.
If it turns out as I wish, I’ll give you a half-price discount on the commission for the follow-up mission.
If not, and there are casualties, the commission will double.”
Gao Yang curled his lips and pressed the button on his earpiece, shouting loudly, “Everyone, attack.”
Only after Gao Yang gave the order did Nate wave his hand and say, “Follow me.”
The assault team began to move out, first advancing through the forest towards the enemy on the east.
Meanwhile, the snipers had already moved up to advanced positions, where they would first seek out high-value enemy targets for elimination.
The three mortars were already set up in the more open areas of the forest, and after the snipers provided coordinates, the mortars would carry out indirect firing.
The pick-up truck, already ignited and carrying the anti-aircraft gun, was making a laborious advance through the gaps in the forest.
The anti-aircraft machine gun would not leave the woods for the road until the assault team had moved within engagement distance to gain a better field of vision and firing range.
As for the enemy forces on the remaining three sides, they showed no intention of advancing after setting up their defenses, so Gao Yang and Nate’s joint decision was to ignore them.
After ordering the attack, Gao Yang pulled out his pistol and followed behind the assault team towards the front line.
Even though he wasn’t part of the assault team, Gao Yang couldn’t stay calmly in the rear.
Gao Yang had not taken many steps when someone shouted loudly, “Ram, stop right there.”
Gao Yang turned and saw it was Bruce, serious-faced, approaching him.
“What’s up?”
Bruce’s serious face contorted as he said, “While we’ve got the time, I’ll treat your wound.”
Only then did Gao Yang remember that his wound had been dragging on for almost three hours.
From the time he got shot, he hadn’t even had time for emergency treatment.
The sound of sniper rifles began to ring out; fighting had already started up front.
Gao Yang glanced at his wound, which wasn’t bleeding much anymore, and after a moment’s thought, he frowned and said, “Can it wait?
Let’s deal with it once things settle down.”
Bruce, very determined, responded, “No, you’ve waited too long.
If we wait any longer, a worsening wound will be problematic to recover from.
It must be treated immediately.”
Gao Yang, feeling rather helpless, conceded, “Fine, treat it now, but be quick about it.”
After speaking, Gao Yang looked up and saw Andy He holding his rifle, scampering after the assault team.
Gao Yang immediately yelled, “Andy He, come and treat my wound.” (To be continued.
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