Chapter 3014
The tasks that the Star Island Mercenary Group can perform are usually divided into four levels: A, B, C and D. Tasks assigned by foreign employers can generally only be classified into the last two levels, often with only rewards but no military merit. Eighty percent of the daily tasks that the mercenary group receives come from foreign employers.
The Star Island Command rarely directly assigns military tasks to the mercenary groups, but once such a situation occurs, it is often a two-level task. The military merits obtained after completing the mission will be recorded in the personal resume. If you transfer to the Haihan Army in the future, it will be equally valid.
Most of the officers in the mercenary regiment are young and strong, and naturally they are motivated. Who doesn't want to rely on accumulating military merit to change jobs and join the regular army with more prospects? So when everyone heard that this new job turned out to be a Class A secret mission, everyone immediately cheered up.
Shao Tianhu immediately read out the mission content. The Star Island Command requested the 1st Battalion to depart from Badong Port as soon as possible and head to the Andaman Islands on the north side of the Malacca Strait. However, the next step of the action needs to be issued by the Star Island Command after the troops arrive in the area.
Before Shao Tianhu could finish speaking, everyone immediately asked a bunch of questions.
"Battal Commander, are we going to escort the merchant ships, or are we going to fight with someone? This order doesn't make it clear how to prepare?"
"The headquarters is not planning to occupy the Andaman Islands, is it? There are only some natives there and there is not even a city. Why occupy a place that is useless?"
"Is the whole camp moving out? What about our business in Badang Port? There are still two batches of goods and the money has not been recovered!"
"Only our battalion will be mobilized? Isn't the place where the second battalion is stationed closer to the Andaman Islands?"
Shao Tianhu made a gesture to calm everyone down, and then began to answer their questions.
"The telegram said that our battalion's garrison mission in Badang Port has not yet ended, so we still have to keep some people here. As for the previous transaction, the headquarters did not mention it, so of course we can continue, but the scale will be slightly smaller. Cut it back a bit and don’t make it too ugly.”
"Whether the Second Battalion stationed in northern Aceh will be mobilized, it is not mentioned here. But you also know that the Second Battalion has an easier task than us and is closer to the Andaman Islands. Since we have all received the transfer order, it must be The second battalion will also make corresponding arrangements.”
"If we were just escorting merchant ships, I don't think we would be sent all the way there, and the weight of this kind of mission would definitely not be high enough for Class A. Although the telegram didn't say it, in my opinion, it's probably a combat mission! ”
"As for whether we want to occupy the Andaman Islands... I also explored that place a few years ago. There is indeed no oil and water. There are only one or two places suitable for building a port on more than 300 islands, and they are not on the main waterways. Compared with this Badong Port is much more remote, but we can’t guess what the headquarters is planning. I think we should execute the order first and then check the situation there.”
Shao Tianhu actually murmured a little bit about the command from the headquarters. The Andaman Islands were not a completely unfamiliar area to the mercenary group. He had already been there when he first joined the mercenary group.
At that time, it was also a task directly assigned by the Star Island Command. The mercenary group went to the area to perform exploratory operations, survey the islands, waterways, and improve the nautical charts of the area. Before that, it was said that similar missions were carried out every few years, and it had almost become a routine mission for the mercenary group.
Shao Tianhu didn't know what kind of efforts his predecessors had put in, but during the mission he participated in, he was shocked by the detailed charts mastered by the mercenary group. He couldn't imagine how Haihan completed it quietly. Mapping of the Andaman Islands.
Of course, he later gradually adapted to this "miracle", because no matter where the mercenary group went to perform tasks, they would have local charts and maps, and they would never turn a blind eye. Based on Shao Tianhu's understanding of the Andaman Islands, the local natural environment is not suitable for habitation, and the geographical location is not suitable for the development and construction of large ports. Even the greedy Western colonists had little interest in the local area. They would rather rush into the Strait of Malacca and start a war with the indigenous kingdoms to seize territory than occupy the unclaimed land in the Andaman Islands.
In such a desolate land, what kind of first-class mission can be accomplished that requires a mercenary group to be dispatched?
No matter what the officers of the mercenary regiment think, since the military order has arrived, there is no room for questioning and they can only follow the instructions. But before the meeting ended, Shao Tianhu specifically emphasized the importance of confidentiality again.
"Everyone should be very clear about the nature of the Class A secret mission. The destination of this operation needs to be announced to the soldiers after leaving Badong Port. Anyone who leaks the information in advance will be dealt with according to military law!"
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If the mercenary group wants to withdraw its troops, of course it is better to inform the sponsor. Shao Tianhu took the initiative to go to the official office in Badang Port and explain the current situation to the officials of Aceh.
"Our department has received an urgent mission and needs to temporarily transfer some troops. After the mission is completed, we will return to Badong Port. During this period, the defense of the government offices and port area will continue to be responsible for the defense of the government offices and the port area."
Acehnese officials were shocked when they heard the news: "Then, General Shao, where are you going? How long will it take to leave? How should the garrison expenses during this period be calculated?"
Shao Tianhu responded: "The matter involves our country's military secrets and cannot be disclosed. As for the military expenses for the garrison, it can be reduced by half during our operations. If your country feels there is something inappropriate, you can contact Xingdao directly for further discussion."< br>
Seeing that the other party was still uneasy, Shao Tianhu gave him reassurance: "The various import and export transactions that our department is responsible for will continue to be conducted as before."
The official's face softened slightly, and he nodded repeatedly: "That's good, don't delay your business because of this."
Shao Tianhu smiled and did not respond. He knew that the "business" the other party mentioned was not the same thing as the "business" he wanted to do. As long as there is always money to be made, the local officials of Badang Port probably won't care whether the entire mercenary group is stationed here.
Although the mercenary group is no stranger to emergency missions, if they have to rush out of camp and rush to a destination more than two thousand miles away, there will inevitably be chaos.
There were three companies of infantry under the First Battalion. Shao Tianhu took the initiative and left one company to continue to garrison Badong Port. Two other infantry companies, along with four warships and four supply ships belonging to the first battalion, were selected for the mission.
In recent months, the First Battalion has not carried out many combat operations, so the various military supplies stored in Badong Port are quite sufficient, and there is no need to wait for the base camp to replenish them. If we really want to operate in the Andaman Islands for a long time, there will be other arrangements to solve the supply problem of the first battalion.
After taking two days to complete the corresponding preparations, Shao Tianhu led the troops to leave Badang Port and march north along the west coast of Sumatra Island.
(End of chapter)