The officers' mess and the soldiers' mess were adjacent yet independent of each other, and Gao Yuan and his party took a separate passage.
Cahill greeted Spark Squad at the door, but Andrew was not there to meet them at the entrance.
Cahill had even donned his dress uniform rather than battle or service dress, putting Gao Yuan and his team at a disadvantage because it would have been impossible for them to bring ceremonial uniforms on this expedition.
"Welcome, please come in."
The welcome ceremony was brief, but when Gao Yuan and the others entered, they found the officers' mess quite crowded, with ranks ranging from second lieutenant to Colonel Andrew Marshall—thirty-six people in total, all in dress uniforms, though their attire made it clear that the officers came from various countries.
Colonel Andrew, in the uniform of an American Army officer, stood at the front of a long table and smiled, "Welcome, welcome to our guests who have journeyed from afar."
