GATE (Thus the JSDF fought there): Breakthrough

Chapter 5: Investigation

Authors Note: This Chapter is when I start to change the story slightly

Druilla's people had been successfully extracted. Once the team had reached the base the JSDF medics and doctors had started to help take care of the people, with Jackson assisting as well.

Following the next day, all of Watcher met up at the same tavern and at the same booth. Ryan had called all of them to meet him there, implying that he had some information for the team.

Jackson sat in one of the booths, between Claire and Mike as he seemingly stared endlessly into the table.

"Jackson, you alright?" Claire whispers, patting him on the shoulder.

Jackson soon snaps out of his staring as he shakes his head, looking over to Claire. "Hm? Oh yeah, I'm fine don't worry. Just had a long night yesterday helping with Druilla's people."

Claire gives a doubtful glance to Mike who shrugs back. "Alright, get some sleep afterward, we won't be needing you until the next assignment." Claire pats Jackson on the back.

A few minutes go by as the team starts drinking.

Footsteps could be heard approaching the team as Ryan walked to them carrying a small cardboard box with another soldier in a US Army combat uniform following behind him. "Watcher, I've got some news as well as a new person joining our team. I want to introduce 1st Lieutenant Aiden Chambers, he's a US Army PsyOp officer."

Jackson and the rest of everyone at the table nod and greet Aiden.

"Sup"
"Welcome to the party"

Jackson looks at Ryan as he leans back in his booth. "Hold on, does that mean Aiden is taking over second command?"

Ryan shakes his head in response before crossing his arms. "Lieutenant Aiden is here to assist in diplomatic peace talks, he won't be taking over second command if combat ever arises but he will most likely be taking the lead when it comes to talking with JSDF or any of the locals here. In the meantime."

Ryan sets down the cardboard box, taking out two small books, and holding them up for the team to see before sliding them to Jackson. "On top of that, we were sent translation books from English to Japanese, to English to the language that the locals speak. Intelligence moves fast."

Ryan gives out the books to everyone as he looks to Aiden. "You wanna introduce yourself more Aiden?"

Aiden stood at a height of 5'10" and 165 pounds, having short blonde hair that was swished to the side. "Right. It's a pleasure to be working with you all, I'll be handling any sort of translations or means of diplomacy between the JSDF or the locals here, so Miss Chisaka here can take a breather."

"Ha, got that right." Chris jokes while reading into one of the books that was shared between them.

"I've taken courses in Egyptian Arabic, Mandarin, and Japanese. I am currently learning the local language here but I'm not fluent in it yet." Aiden looks to all of them as they all nod in acknowledgment of his skills.

Jackson would set his book down as he tilted his head slightly. "Sir, why are we using our real names?"

Ryan snaps his finger and points to Jackson. "I was going to get onto that. If we want to build a bridge of trust we're going to drop the usage of codenames unless we need to in combat. Command gave us the all go with it from the orders Aiden gave me."

Everyone nods in agreement, Jackson, Mike, and Markus seem slightly more excited about dropping the codenames. If anything Jackson probably wanted to introduce himself to that waitress in the tavern.