It took a lot of effort, but Shaozu managed to put aside his feelings of racial distaste. That American police officer hadn't done much to boost his confidence though; most of his party looked professional, but were all the base staff this slovenly? He also studiously ignored the Americans bickering back and forth. Inter-service rivalry was a distinctly Western thing and hadn't much factored into his career so far. Aside from the odd jab about fitness or aim, the People's Liberation Army had always been very respectful when dealing with it's comrades in the PAP and at time like this, he sorely missed that professionalism... But he did admit that that one American with his safety off was being a complete prat. [i]Seriously,[/i] he thought. [i]They must be scraping the barrel if cowboys like him are considered special forces.[/i] As the Russian guard processed his paperwork, Shaozu took the chance to appraise some of the others in the group. The other Asians looked ok, if he put aside the trifling differences between China and its neighbours. It would be difficult working with the Japanese soldier but at least his eyes were in the right place; the other one... not so much. The younger of the two Japanese men looked distinctly Americanised and that was never a good thing. And those swords were laughable... [i]What kind of moron brings a medieval sword to a gunfight..?[/i] Swords were becoming something of a fad in Asian military circles but that didn't mean that they were viable weapons; hopefully if they ever did see combat, they would be left where they belonged. In their scabbards.

The guard didn't give him too much trouble, just the odd question here and there to confirm facts. The Russian mafia had a significant presence in China and Shaozu had learned that if you treat them with respect and be honest with them, they tended to do the same. In that sense he wished that there were more Russians in his assigned team. They would be much more agreeable company than... yes, more agreeable than all those Americans who had also been assigned to Echo. He sighed deeply, drumming up his mental fortitude as he walked over to the others who had passed the checkpoint. [b]'I am also in Echo. I will be honest with you, I do not like this. But I shall maintain my professionalism, if everyone else does.'[/b] Shaozu gave a curt, reasonably respectful nod to the others, trying to remain both neutral and at a distance. [i]You don't have to get on with them.[/i] he told himself. [i]You just have to work beside them.[/i]