The setup on the Howlers' end was underway. Gary had stated that their group would go on the attack. Rather than waiting for what was going to happen, he would take a large group of them and head over to the Phoenix Gang to take them out and stop this all.
The Howlers' situation was tense as word had been passed around the squad as to what was taking place. The members of the Howlers themselves had been told whether they would join the attack or not.
If they didn't, then they could no longer call themselves members of the Howlers. This was Kai's orders.
The members were experiencing the benefit of being in the gang. Having a good life, a good wage while being in a city where they were protected and didn't have to fear the troubles from other gangs for a while now.
Now, when the gang was in trouble, going to war against the others, with a gang as large as the Phoenix, they needed everybody, and it wasn't fair for the members to back out now or choose not to fight.