As they say, a joyful occasion lifts the spirit, and Gao Yang was having one joyous event after another, naturally feeling elated, almost to the point of euphoria.
Just before daybreak, the ships that the Skull Gang had assembled at sea had finally sailed into Bepela Port.
The Skull Gang deployed about half of their ships, around fifty armed fishing boats, the same ones that collect tolls at sea. This wasn't easy since the Skull Gang controlled coastal towns, with the closest being Hith, quite a distance away. Sailing over required them to prepare for battle several days in advance.
The Skull Gang's ships smoothly entered Bepela Port, and the Marines on board immediately engaged in combat.
The Skull Gang also had Marines. Regardless of how small or weak their navy might be, or whether it qualifies as a navy, since they called themselves one and had a dedicated unit for amphibious operations, it was indeed a Marine Corps.
