637: Chapter 630: An Unforgettable Experience 637: Chapter 630: An Unforgettable Experience Apart from the more than five hundred people guarding the prisoners, the rest of the Skull Gang, regardless of what work they were doing, all gathered outside Gesale City.
Gesale City was too small to accommodate everyone, so the award ceremony was arranged northeast of Gesale City, exactly where Company Commander Samer of the Second Company was killed in action.
Due to time constraints, no special arrangements were made for the venue, but the atmosphere was solemn.
Under the watchful eyes of over one thousand pairs, Maide, Abu, and Gao Yang stood at the very front of the entire formation.
Maide continued to speak in Somali, and although Gao Yang could not understand what Maide was saying, he could tell that the audience in front of him was excited, very excited indeed.
Gao Yang was still wearing his combat uniform, which wasn’t appropriate for the ceremony, but since he didn’t have any formal wear, he settled for making his combat uniform as clean and tidy as possible and removed some of the miscellaneous items he usually carried.
Maide didn’t speak much, and after an impassioned and brief speech, he stood straight, shouted a few loud words, and then everyone in the Second Company, including all the wounded who could move, came forward in the formation.
Maide spoke several sentences loudly and solemnly, then the men of the Second Company saluted him, and he returned a less-than-standard military salute with his one arm.
Afterward, Maide pointed his single arm towards Gao Yang and shouted a few more sentences.
Abu whispered to Gao Yang, “Maide says, next, please allow the former Commander-in-Chief of the Alliance of Fairness and Justice to bestow the Second Company with their honorary title and present their flag.”
Gao Yang felt somewhat dazed; the name Alliance of Fairness and Justice made him feel distant even though he knew it was the official name of the Skull Gang, but he seldom had the opportunity to hear it.
Maide shifted aside, fixing his gaze on Gao Yang.
Though it was all flat ground, Gao Yang still made his way to the spot where Maide had just been standing.
Gao Yang first saluted the soldiers of the Skull Gang, not with the informal mercenary salute, but with all the formality of an official military salute.
As a mercenary who jokingly bestowed upon himself the title of Commander-in-Chief, no, it was indeed a joke, but unexpectedly, the members of the Skull Gang took it seriously; the soldiers, and it seems Maide as well, took it very seriously.
Gao Yang’s memory was fading of the company commander of the Second Company, Samer, who had died in battle.
He vaguely remembered that this man’s combat abilities weren’t particularly strong, but he was very capable of leading his men.
Therefore, before the attack on Bosaso—when he was still the Commander-in-Chief of the Alliance of Fairness and Justice—he had decided to promote him to the position of company commander on the frontlines, although the formal appointment came from Maide, he was the one who had promoted him first.
Gao Yang was slightly distracted; he had never thought that he would become someone’s idol one day.
Moreover, he never imagined that as a mercenary, he would one day be in a position to bestow an honorary title upon a troop.
For Gao Yang, and for the Satan Mercenary Corps, this was indeed a great honor.
The members of the Satan Mercenary Corps stood behind Gao Yang, their eyes gleaming.
Eileen’s body was shaking slightly, she was too excited.
It turned out, mercenaries could be respected, even revered by another military force.
For Eileen, who was determined to prove herself, being a mercenary only demonstrated her combat prowess, but she could not gain the true honor of a soldier.
Now, however, it seemed that even as a mercenary, even though they were excluded from the ranks of real soldiers, they could still receive the respect of true soldiers.
To this day, who would dare say the military of the Alliance of Fairness and Justice is not a true army?
Even if their combat strength was not yet strong, the military of the Alliance of Fairness and Justice had become a true army, and they had begun to possess their own soul.
Even though they had not yet established a nation, who would dare say that the military of the Alliance of Fairness and Justice is not a true army!
Before America was independent, who would dare say that the army led by Washington was not a true army?
Before the founding of Huaxia, the guerrilla Red Army, who would dare say that they were not a true army!
Gao Yang firmly believed that the Alliance of Fairness and Justice could establish a new Somalia, and that he had the privilege to bestow upon this founding army their first honorary title and present them with a military flag, which was an extraordinary honor.
Eileen thought so too; she decided to say as much to her father when she saw him.
“Although I’m a mercenary, my Mercenary Group has had the honor of presenting the very first military flag and honorary title to an army about to found a nation.
Dad, have you ever done something like this?
Have you ever seen it?”
Even for Eileen, who was a mercenary, being personally involved in such a commendation ceremony made her role as a mercenary worthwhile.
To those who have never served in the military, they would not understand the longing for honor among soldiers, and how precious it is to them.
Gao Yang took a slightly longer moment of silence, standing in place.
After dozens of seconds, he finally bellowed, “Second Company!
You have shown admirable courage, enduring sacrifices that ordinary people can scarcely bear!
Every member of Second Company, you are the true tough bones, tough bones!
I declare, the Alliance of Fairness and Justice’s standing Second Company is hereby honored with the title of Tough Bone Second Company!”
After yelling this out, Gao Yang stretched out his hand and roared, “Present the flag!”
The flag of Tough Bone Second Company was rolled up, and the flagpole was a newly chopped sapling.
Despite selecting the straightest tree possible, the flagpole was still somewhat bent.
The flag was a piece of red cloth, where white fabric was cut into the shape of two bones and crossed, then sewn at the center of the red cloth.
The red cloth was dirty and the white cloth was somewhat yellowed.
The red fabric was hard-won by Gao Yang in Gazaley City, and the bones were cut out by Eileen from the aging white fabric.
Given the limited conditions, they had to make do.
Most members of the Skull Gang were utterly illiterate, unable to understand any language in writing, so Gao Yang simply made such a flag with an extremely clear meaning.
Red symbolized blood, and the bones represented toughness.
The military flag of Tough Bone Second Company signified that their flag was earned through blood and fire, gained through their sacrifices and fearless spirit.
Eileen was holding the military flag.
When she heard Gao Yang’s shout, she passed the flag to Rafael, who then passed it to Lucica by his side.
It was passed down in turn until finally reaching Gao Yang’s hands.
Gao Yang felt that their reputation and status within the Skull Gang—no, within the Alliance of Fairness and Justice—were earned by the group as a whole.
Although ultimately he was the one to present the flag, it was necessary for all members of the Satan Mercenary Corps to participate in the ceremony.
Of course, this also signified respect for Second Company.
When the military flag finally reached Gao Yang, he unfurled the rolled flag.
After displaying the flag with its straightforward symbolism in front of everyone, Gao Yang wasted no words and yelled to the only remaining officer of Second Company, a platoon deputy who was now the company commander, “Receive the flag!”
There was a high prevalence of similar names among Somalis.
The fallen company commander was called Samer, and the new company commander was called Mosal.
Though their names were not the same, Gao Yang felt it had a sense of legacy.
Mosal’s eyes were very bright.
He first saluted Gao Yang and then reached out with trembling hands to receive their flag.
Once Mosal had taken the flag, Gao Yang said gravely, “From now on, there is no more Second Company, only Tough Bone Second Company.
As the commander of Tough Bone Second Company, I hope you will carry on the tough style and set an example for the whole army!”
Gao Yang did not know if Mosal could understand all the words he was saying, but it seemed that Mosal did understand.
Mosal’s eyes shone even brighter.
After receiving the flag, he held it in his left hand, saluted Gao Yang with his right, and then with a hoarse voice that was almost unintelligible, bellowed, “Sir, rest assured, our bones have always been tough.
They were tough in the past, and they will remain tough in the future!”
After returning the salute, Mosal turned and waved their flag towards the crowd.
This action seemed unconventional, but the Alliance of Fairness and Justice had no conventions to speak of.
Now that the flag presentation was established, it would become a precedent to follow in the future.
While Mosal was waving their flag, Gao Yang shouted, “Now!
Salute Tough Bone Second Company!”
Everyone saluted.
Although their movements were not very synchronized, seeing Gao Yang’s gesture and after Abu loudly translated Gao Yang’s words, everyone saluted Tough Bone Second Company.
“Salute over!”
The salute was held for a long time before Gao Yang finally announced it was over, marking the formal conclusion of the flag presentation ceremony.
After finishing the ceremony, Gao Yang quickly left the scene.
What followed was still Maide’s moment.
As a mercenary, having taken part in what was a historic event for the Alliance of Fairness and Justice filled Gao Yang with excitement.
Indeed, this moment of great historical significance might even become a historic moment for Somalia.
The entire award ceremony lasted only half an hour, as the time was brief because everyone had tasks to do with Gazaley City being newly established.
When the soldiers had dispersed, Uriyangko, who had been watching from the side, stepped forward and said to Gao Yang with emotion, “I’ve seen many mercenaries, but mercenaries who have achieved what you have, I have truly never seen.
Tsk, tsk, it even makes me reminisce about my own military career.
For soldiers, this is a moment they will never forget in their lifetime, whether they are on the giving or receiving end of the honor.
Even onlookers won’t forget—soldiers live for this.”
After shaking his head and sighing in reflection, Uriyangko exhaled and added, “Alright, Polovich has settled the price with your agent.
You can give your agent a call, or ask Polovich how much you’ll earn for the trip to Syria.
Additionally, I have found a boat to transport my goods.
This trip to Somalia, what an unforgettable experience.”(To be continued.
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