A/N: Credits to inspiration go to USTrooper, and I don't own anything in this story.

Enjoy!

*insert opening theme

Alnus Hill base, Special Region (Khu Vực Đặc Biêt), morning

Minh's POV:

We were on our way back to Alnus Hill, where the SDF had set up their base in the Special Region. From the looks of it, the SDF has done pretty well actually. From the time we were fighting the enemy with a system of trench networks from a few days ago till now a base was quite a feat. We arrive at the gate of the base and provide the paperwork. When we disembark from the vehicles, one of the privates on base showed me where my barracks was. Nice enough for the Japanese for me, they even modeled it after the barracks back at home in Hà Nội. I stopped to look at the barracks for a moment. Everything was almost the same, except that it was written in four languages (Vietnamese, English, Japanese, and Saderan). Also, there were five flags planted. The US and US Marine Corps flag, and the Vietnamese, Vietnamese Communist Party, and the Vietnamese Army flags planted side by side.

Doanh Trại (Barracks)

Quân Đội Nhân Dân Việt Nam (People's Army of Vietnam)

Bổ Phận: Bộ Tư Lệnh Thủ Đô Hà Nội (Part of: the Hà Nội Capital City Command)

Địa Chỉ: Khu Vực Đặc Biêt, Nhật Bản (Address: Special Region, Japan)

Tư Lệnh: Thượng Úy Lê Văn Minh, TQLCHK, QĐNDVN (Commanding Officer: 1stLT Lê Văn Minh, USMC, PAVN)

Not to mention a little familiarity for me, there was also a warning sign that will probably come in handy later.

Chú Ý (Warning):

Bạn đang bây giờ vào khu vực của Quân Đội Nhân Dân Việt Nam. Hãy tiến hành thận trọng. Trân trọng cảm ơn! (You are now entering an area of the People's Army of Vietnam. Please proceed with caution. Thank you!)

Itami: Nice little barracks you got there Lê.

I laugh at his remarks. I look behind me that some of the refugees were amazed at how big the base was.

Lelei (to Kato in Saderan): This is the little green men's fortress.

Kato: And also, what language is that? (points at the predominately Vietnamese signs at my barracks). That isn't like the green men's language.

Lelei: Maybe there is more to the other side of the Gate then we thought, Master.

We go to Major Higaki to report our findings. Needless to say, he was pissed for some reason, because apparently we weren't supposed to take in refugees.

Higaki: Wh-who told you that you both could bring them here?

We both stand at attention.

The major then puts both of his hands on his face. Great...

Itami: Huh? Was it a bad idea?

Higaki: Of course it was!

Itami: What should we do?

Higaki: That's what I want to know!

The major puts his hands on his face again and sighs heavily.

Me: Sir, these refugees had nowhere to go. The village people from Coda village wouldn't take them. It was either have them go with us, or starve to their deaths not knowing where to go. Also, since they are also locals, we could learn their language and understand their customs and traditions as well, as we were ordered in the first place.

Higaki: You have a good point Lieutenant Lê. (sighs heavily again) I'll go report it...

Third Person POV:

Lieutenant Yangida gets ready to present the reports to Lieutenant General Hazama.

Yanagida: Lieutenant General, the reports are ready for your review.

Hazama: Oh, did we learn anything?

Yanagida: The language is giving us trouble, but we've essentially made peaceful first contact.

He gives the report to LtGen Hazama, to which the general reads through it.

Yanagida: Most of them appear to be humans, and practice agriculture and forestry. There's more about their manufacturing and trade goods in the documents.

The general then flips a page in the report.

Yanagida: Every village seems to have a village elder, but we have no detailed information about their political structure. (sighs lightly) I hope we can invite a number of them here.

Hazama: That's a bad idea, given the problem communicating with them. We don't want them to turn around and say we kidnapped them or forced them to come here.

Yanagida: Itami's squad took in several refugees. Refugees could be easily explained to any observer, military, or otherwise.

The LtGen lays back in his chair.

Hazama: I see. Yeah! That's fine by me.

Minh's POV:

Higaki: And so, we've been permitted to take in the refugees on humanitarian grounds. Captain Itami, you are ordered to porvide for the refugees and observe them.

Itami: I've got to take care of them?

Higaki (in a yelling voice, but goes back to normal): Yeah, so...GET GOING! But wait, Lieutenant Lê, stay behind.

Itami gets going to tell the others what their jobs are. I stay behind with the Major to see what is going on.

Higaki: Lieutenant Lê?

Me: Yes sir?

Higaki: How are you enjoying the new job? Probably not as easy as back home, right?

Me: Yes sir, but I'm adjusting to it well.

Higaki: Your coworkers are working well I suppose?

Me: Yes, just like my Marines and Soldiers.

Higaki: Alright then, you should probably get going, Hà Nội and Washington have been bugging the general for you to get a report for them.

Me: Yes sir.

Higaki: Alright, dismissed. (he salutes me)

I salute him back. I walk out of the door to see Itami waiting for me with the rest of the squad. As we were walking, Itami was assigning jobs to the rest of the squad.

Itami: Kuribayashi and Kurokawa are to go get some rations from the mess. Kurata and Tomita, you guys get tents from the post engineer. Me and Lê will handle the paperwork.

Everyone: Roger.

Me: Maybe later, Itami.

Itami: Why? Are you making me do all the work myself?

Me: No, it's just that all the paperwork is in Japanese and also, I have to write reports to Hà Nội and Washington, otherwise I'll get yelled out by the generals at Bộ Tư Lệnh.

Itami (sighs): Fine...but be sure to be down later to help us alright?

Me: Okay then, sir.

As we were walking, we were pulled over the LtGen's assistant, Lieutenant Yanagida.

Yanagida: Hey, Captain Itami and Lieutenant Lê.

Itami: Lieutenant Yanagida.

Me: Hi.

Yanagida (plays with his hair): Both of you, come with me.

A few minutes later

Yanagida: You did it deliberately, didn't you?

Itami: Did what?

Yanagida: Don't try and fool me. You never missed a single check-in, but after the fight with the dragon, you suddenly had comms trouble. You didn't want to be told to abandon the refugees, right?

Me: We were out of range of the radio waves, hence why we didn't receive any orders from command and had to be flexible.

Itami: Yeah, I agree with him.

Yanagida: You are both goddamn liars. Listen both of you. The Special Region is a treasure trove for us. It's an inhabitable land with an abundance of resources and no pollution to speak of. We're even starting to find mineral deposits, including oil, that could turn the world economy on its head. And our civilization is far, far more advanced. There's a world like this, and the only gate to it opened in Japan. The government has no idea how to deal with this. The people back in Nagata-chou want to know one thing. Is the Special Region worth turning half the world against us?

Me: Hate to argue, but I have to agree. Whatever the politicians are doing in Hà Nội or Washington are planning something big. Even though the US is the biggest producer of oil right now, the country is huge, hence why we probably need more resources to fuel our economy. It's not just the US though who wants to get into the action. I'm pretty sure that GazProm from Russia wants in as well. (I sigh) Politics 101 for you folks.

Yanagida: Lieutenant Lê is correct. In politics, the country with the most assets wins. This is an extreme example, but if controlling the Special Region let us survive being cut off from the rest of the world, we could make a choice like that.

Me: Anyways, I better get going, I have write two reports later. You two can talk whatever you need to.

Even when I start to leave, I can still hear the conservation behind my back. Typical...

Yanagida: Is Lieutenant Lê capable and competent at his job?

Itami: Yanagida-san, you have to remember that it wasn't just me alone. Without him, I wouldn't have been able to hold them all of myself at Ginza. Here in the Special Region, he was the one who drove the fire dragon off. He has the respect of two of the greatest countries' in the world, and both the officers and enlisted trust him.

Yanagida: But keep in mind that he is a Vietnamese-American. He will probably have to serve the interests of both Vietnam and the US as well.

A few moments later

I was just done with both of my reports and cleaned all my weapons and sorted out my clothes and gear. I got the permission to interview some of the refugees that the squad rescued. I get some glasses of water and get out my pen and journal to start writing. I decided to myself to write in Vietnamese first and then English later. My first interviewee was the girl with blue hair with a what I assume a magic cane. She went in with an emotionless face.

Me: Maam, please have a seat.

The girl seats down in the chair next to me.

Me: I would like to ask a few questions before I introduce myself. Can you please state your name first?

Lelei: Lelei La Lalena.

Me (jotting down): Alright, I was told by the rest of the squad that you are a mage, am I correct?

Lelei: That is correct. But I am still an apprentice.

Me: That doesn't matter right now. Since you can do magic, can I see a little demonstration?

Lelei then uses her magic to lift the glass of water up.

Me: That's very nice, now can I ask for your age?

Lelei: 15.

Me (thinking): Pretty young to be a mage apprentice. Oh well, we're in another world anyway so it probably is different here.

Me (finishing my notes): Alright, that concludes my questions. You probably want to ask me questions, so ask right away.

Lelei: I see that your clothing and gear is different from the rest of the green men. So does that mean you are not Japanese then?

Me: You are correct, no I am not Japanese. I am from two countries at the other side of the Gate. Vietnam and the US.

Lelei: What are those countries?

Me: The United States of America, or US for short, is the most powerful country, or what we call a superpower, in the world and one of the allies of Japan. Vietnam on the other hand, is not as powerful as Japan, although as a Vietnamese person, we have the determination to win. Vietnam has defeated every invader who has tried to conquer Vietnam, such as China, Japan, France, and even the United States. I am both the Vietnamese and US military attache here in Japan and the Special Region.

Lelei: Are you a soldier?

Me: Yes and no.

Lelei: What do you mean?

Me: I am both a US Marine and a Vietnamese Infantry Officer. The difference between a US Marine and a US Army soldier is that we fight on land, sea, and air, and are the first to respond in an emergency.

I continue on introducing myself and she taught me some magic as well before I dismissed her. My next interviewee, the "lolita girl" comes in. I do the same procedures again.

Me: Can I have your name maam?

Rory: Rory Mercury. Apostle of the Dark Lord Emroy.

Me: I assume that Emroy is a god?

Rory: Yes, he is the God of Death and War.

Me (thinking): Damn...looks like Greek mythology applies here.

Me: Your reaper is really hard to pick up for me, even with two hands, but for you it's a piece of cake. Are you human?

Rory: I used to be, but I'm a demigod now. (she smiles)

Me: A demigod, very nice. Can I ask how old are you?

Rory: 964.

Me (thinking): VÁI CẢ L*N! She is really old. As old as all the squad combined.

I continue by introducing myself and she explains all the traditions and customs of the Special Region. I then escort her out and then the elf we rescued comes in. I see that the elf is nervous.

Me: There is no need to be nervous, maam, it's just the two of us talking to each other. But first before I introduce myself later, what is your name?

Tuka: Tuka Luna Marceau, daughter of of Hodrew, from Coan Village.

Me: I would like to state that I am very sorry about your village being burned down. If we were there sooner, we could've saved many lives.

Tuka: Don't be sorry, it wasn't your fault.

Me: Alright, that's done, may I ask how old are you?

Tuka: 164, sir.

Me (thinking): .....Một thế giới gi đay? (what is this world?)

I introduce myself again and she explains the culture of elves in this part of the Gate.

Me (jotting down my notes): Anything else?

Tuka: Thank you for saving me.

Me: No problem.

I escorted her out and complied my notes into one report to send to both Hà Nội and Washington. So in reality, I made 4 reports today instead of 2. I lie back in my chair for a bit and go back to cleaning my M27. Once I finished I put on my Vietnamese uniform and go out to see that the refugees are about to eat with Itami welcoming them to eat the food that the squad prepared.

Itami: Okay, please go ahead and eat.

The older mage, Kato, who was the master of Lelei immediately started to take a bite of bread and started to exclaim.

Kato: This is delicious! This bread is amazing! It's so soft! It's soft!

Lelei: Daikon. Bread. Chopsticks.

Kato: Aren't you going to eat, Lelei?

Lelei: The SDF people always say something before they eat.

Lelei clasps her hands together

Lelei: Itadakimasu..

Somewhere in China, nighttime...

Third Person POV:

President/General Secretary Dechou Wong was sitting in his car, in the middle of Beijing after a long meeting.

President Wong: Why did the Gate open in Japan? We're the ones who need it, don't you think?

Chinese advisor: That's correct, President. We can't let Japan have it all to themselves. Not to mention the Vietnamese bastard is there as well.

Minh: Đ*t con mẹ bọn tẩu khựa, muôn bố mày giết mày hết không?! (F*cking Chinese bastards, do you want me to kill you all?)

Author: Thôi đi Minh ơi, mấy chương nứa mày đuộc giết một số thằng khựa mà. (Stop Minh, in a few more chapters, you will be able to kill some of those Chinese bastards)

President Wong: At first we'll maintain friendly relations with Japan and see where this goes. Ideally, I'd like to send half our population to the Special Region.

Back in Tokyo, Japan

Press #1: First, I'd like you to make clear exactly how many Special Region casualties there were! Some of the casualties appear to be civilians!

Press #2: Prime Minister, what is your comment on the reports of civilian victims in the Special Region?

Press #3: Is it true the government doesn't know what the JSDF is doing there?

Prime Minister Motoi: The civilian casualties were caused by a natural disaster specific to the Special Region, what we're calling a "giant monster". They were not killed in battle with the JSDF.

Press #2: Why did the parliamentary vice-minister hide that in his original answer?

Prime Minister Motoi: Because he was specifically asked about combat casualties.

A few days later, Special Region (Khu Vực Đặc Biêt) women baths, daytime

Rory and Tuka were getting ready to take a bath when Lelei came in a gas suit, scaring some children.

Kuribayashi: Who's there?

Lelei takes off the gas mask to reveal her face.

Lelei: Went outside to investigate. Borrowed this, all sweaty now.

A few moments later

Rory: This feels so good. I can't believe they'd build a real bath in a place like this.

Lelei: I've never had a bath indoors, either.

Rory: You too?

Lelei: I was originally part of a nomadic tribe called the Rurudo. So I've only ever bathed in rivers and streams. Did you have an indoor bath, Priestess?

Rory: Call me Rory.

Lelei: Call me Lelei.

Rory: That's right. The temple has a luxurious Imperial bath. But as an apostle, I'm fated to wander throughout the land.

Rory splashes water on herself.

Rory: So I'm pleasantly surprised to find a bath like this in the middle of nowhere.

Lelei: Itami said there would be a bath every day.

Rory: Itami? Oh, of the SDF.

Tuka: Is that the man who saved me? (she sighs) Um, I was wondering if he was the one who saved me when I was lying unconscious in the village well.

Lelei: Yes. It should have been Itami's squad that saved you.

Tuka: Itami...

A few moments later

Rory: Anyways, you've learned their language, haven't you?

Lelei: Several actually. Though I'm still learning. In addition to the SDF's Japanese, I have learned Lieutenant Lê's languages that are written on his barracks and some of his books that he let me borrow.

Rory: Which is?

Lelei: English and Vietnamese.

Rory: So the SDF is different from his countries.

Lelei: Yes, as Lieutenant Lê said, he is both from the country with the most powerful military, and the country who's military defeated every invader who has invaded that country.

Rory: Oh?

Lelei: The United States is much larger than Japan, and is Japan's ally. Vietnam though, is smaller, but they are more determined in their fights. They even defeated the US in their own war of independence as well. This is why one of the slogans he's learned and said to me, always sticked with him.

Rory: Which is?

Lelei: "Quyết Chiến, Quyết Thắng". Roughly translates to "Determined to fight, Determined to win".

Rory: Any differences between the languages?

Lelei: There are many differences between the three languages. For example, Japanese uses what they call "Kanji" or characters to write. English and Vietnamese though, are similar in the terms of Latin, although Vietnamese uses what they call "dấu", or "tones" to emphasize their words.

Rory: I guess we 3 have a lot to learn from both the SDF and that Lieutenant, right girls?

Tuka: How about the SDF?

Lelei: They're warriors from a country called "Japan". And beyond the Gate there are other countries besides Japan, like what I mentioned earlier with Vietnam and the US.

Rory: That sounds interesting.

Lelei: There's a whole world we know nothing about on the other side of the Gate.

Back at Minh's Doanh Trại (Barracks)

Minh's POV:

Well, there does it, 4 reports. 2 reports each for both Hà Nội and Washington. I sigh and get back to cleaning my weapons. Once I am done, I start to doing PT inside my barracks to be fit, just in case something happens.

Me (thinking): Even though with the calm of the world right now, I fear that something might and will happen, regardless if there is peace or not. (I sigh) Tại sao thế giới như thế nay? (Why is the world like this?)

I then play "Đường Lên Phía Trước" (A/N: the Vietnamese opening at the beginning) while doing PT.

Itami's room

Third Person POV:

Kuribayashi and Kurokawa were waiting for Captain Itami to respond.

Itami (stares at phone): I've got a signal! I guess it's true that they put an antenna up in the Special Region. All right! It's been updated! Time to check it out! (taps phone intensely)

Kurokawa: Um...

Itami (gets excited over something): Oh wow, I've got to save this! Crap, I almost missed it.

Kuribayashi: Hello?

Itami: Sheesh! You never know when a web novel's going to disappear.

Kurokawa: Captain?

Itami (still not paying attention): Okay, I'm going to check this every day from now on.

Kuribayashi: Squad Captain!

Itami: Hey, Captain! They're calling for you!

Kuribayashi gets angry and kicks him in the shins, to which Itami responded in pain.

Itami: Kuribayashi! If you were there, you should have said something!

Kuribayashi: I did.

Kurokawa: Captain, Tuka's acting strange.

Itami: Hm? Tuka?

Kurokawa: Food, clothing, lodging...she always requests enough for two people. But she always leaves the second portion untouched. And the clothes she requests are always for a man.

Itami lies back in his chair.

Itami: You ask her why?

Kurokawa: I had Lelei-chan ask.

Kuribayashi: But her Japanese isn't fluent yet, so we couldn't get far.

Itami: Have you tried English or Vietnamese?

Kuribayashi: She is still learning those, so she can't talk to the 1stLT properly in either of those languages yet.

Kurokawa: I asked Kato-sensei, too. He said she's a very rare type, even among elves. And he doesn't really understand

Itami: Does she have an imaginary boyfriend, maybe?

A few moments later, near the exit

Kurata: So we're a delivery service now?

Itami: Don't say that. It's a valuable chance to learn about how trade works in the Special Region.

Itami looks at his phone.

Itami: Wow! Another update!

Kurata: He's hopeless...but wait, how about Lieutenant Lê?

Itami: Oh crap, I forgot to remind him.

Itami then pulls out the radio.

Itami (over radio): Kuribayashi, I need you to do a favor.

Kuribayashi: Which is?

Itami: Tell Lieutenant Lê that we are about to go and meet us up at the exit.

Kuribayashi: Yes sir.

Kuribayashi disembarks from her vehicle and runs in full gear to the Vietnamese barracks.

Minh's Doanh Trại (Barracks)

Minh's POV:

I heard we were about to head out, so I put on my MARSOC MultiCam camo, my Ops-Core FAST Helmet with the ENVG-B goggles, my Plate Carrier Gen 3 with my GPS, and get ready my suppressed M27 and put the PKP Pecheneg machine gun in the bag (A little "gift" just in case).

A/N: MARSOC MultiCam

A/N: PKP Pecheneg (Russian GRAU Index: 6P41)

By the time I'm done, Kuribayashi comes storming in with full gear and her rifle slung to her side.

Me: Hey Kuribayashi, what seems to be the problem?

Kuribayashi: Captain Itami said for you that we are about to go to the city of Italica to trade with the people there and to meet us at the exit of the base.

Me: That a*s didn't even remind me. Oh well, I already knew, so that's why I'm ready now. (slings the M27 to the side and carries the bag) Let's go Kuribayashi.

Kuribayashi: Before we go, do you mind if I ask what's in the bag?

Me: A little what I call a"gift".

Kuribayashi: Gift?

Me: Yeah, just for sticky situations.

Kuribayashi: Yes sir.

We then walk over to Itami's vehicle and I board with the bag sitting right under my legs, while Kuribayashi sits next to me. Kuwabara meanwhile sits next to Lelei, Rory sits in the middle between Lelei and Tuka, and Kurokawa sits next to Tuka across from mine and Kuribayashi's seats.

Itami: Okay, off we go!

Back at base

Third Person POV:

Yanagida: The Diet wants to summon Itami's team?

Hazama: Yes. The Diet wants to hear out what caused those civilian casualties from the superior officers on the scene and local victims of the attack. We need to tell Itami and Lê. Also, the Vietnamese National Assembly wants Lê and the rest of 3rd Recon to testify about the Special Region as well. Where are they?

Yanagida: They both just left...for Italica.

*insert ending theme

A/N: Chapter 4 is complete. Oh man, took me almost all day to finish this. Well I hoped you enjoyed the chapter and please vote or review down below, it helps to see some critisism from the readers. Thank you.

Oh, before I forget here are the flags:

Vietnamese Flag

Vietnamese Communist Party Flag

Vietnamese Military flag

USMC Flag

US Flag

Have a nice day!