Funding Body Advisor & Media Liason: Daniel Carter

[Dave Syrinx]

"I was looking for some Franks and mash, but a salmon pie would do." Fransesca orders over Carter´s shoulder.

[Laraqua]

"I'd l-like some quiche, thank you," said Tash, hugging herself tightly.

"Quiche sounds good," said Milly.

[Laraqua]

The group go over to a booth in the corner that lacked a window. Instead, a giant motivational poster covered the space where the window would be. The black, faux-marble-top table sits comfortably, however, between the two faux leather couches that are equally comfortable to sit on. It doesn't take long for the food to be served.

[Mr. Handy]

Daniel eagerly begins tucking into his lasagna. "So, is there anything anyone wants to discuss?" he asks between bites. "I'm open to suggestions if anyone has any,"

[Laraqua]

Natasha takes a seat and blinks up at the large motivational poster. She winces a little at the implication that she should come up with a subject and turns to her meal.

[Laraqua]

A half hour later, the security guards arrive. The lead man steps forward, a clean shaven, buzz cut fellow with shoulders as wide as Carter is tall ... or so it seems. "Sorry, sir. We were held up in traffic." He hands over his I.D. Ronald Sinclair.

[Mr. Handy]

Daniel stands and shakes hands with Ronald Sinclair as he inspects the ID. "Hello, I'm Daniel Carter," he says, showing his own ID from Ophidian. "I'm glad you're here. Thank you for coming on such short notice. We'll all be attending a social event together this evening, but after that we will be going our separate ways." He introduces each of the other expedition members with him. "Natasha Chaikovskaya and Alexandra Romashkova, the expedition leader, who is not here right now, will each require two members of your team assigned to guard them, and each of the rest of us will need one."

[Laraqua]

"Very well, sir," said the man, a trace of an Oxford accent hidden beneath his German.

Francesca gives a little smile and a wave before turning back to her food.

[Mr. Handy]

"Have you been fully briefed on the unfortunate events that have happened today to members of the expedition?" asks Daniel. "If you have any questions you need answered to do your job and deal with the threats we face, feel free to ask. I don't have all the answers, but I'll do my best. The police know more than I do, but they're playing some of their cards close to the vest."

[Laraqua]

Ronald Sinclair gave a curt nod and looked around the cafeteria with a look of dismay. "We are aware of your predicament. However, this location does not seem particularly secure for such a discussion. Is there a more secure location in the building where we can debrief?"

[Mr. Handy]

"There is my temporary office," suggests Daniel. "Might want to sweep it for listening devices first. Only Ophidian personnel would have access to it, but I can't rule out some inside involvement in some of our problems."

[Laraqua]

"Perhaps we should visit my office. It is quite secure. Do you have a trustworthy chauffeur or would you be willing to ride with us?" asks Sinclair.

"If we're going anywhere with a helipad, I'd like to bring my chopper," said Francesca. She looked from one man to the other and shrugged. "What? Last thing we need is that being sabotaged."

[Mr. Handy]

"That is a good thought," says Daniel to Francesca. "We wouldn't have to worry about traffic, either. Can we take the chopper, Mr. Sinclair?"

[Laraqua]

Sinclair pauses and places a finger to his ear piece for a moment and then nods. "That is acceptable. There is a helipad at the location. It would be best if we got out of Mitte (this suburb) soon. Perhaps you could finish lunch in the Kreig Building, at 28 Karl-Marx-Allee, in Friedrichshain? It's not far."

[Mr. Handy]

"Sounds good to me," says Daniel, collecting what's left of his lasagna in a doggie bag.

[Laraqua]

Francesca and Natasha do the same. Natasha keeps taking little sidelong glances at Sinclair, but she looks away, blushing, whenever he looks over at her. He's quite the handsome man, though. Perhaps that's why she's behaving so strangely.

[Mr. Handy]

Daniel knows all about Natasha's extreme shyness. She had reacted that way to his own good looks when they had first met, though by now she had gotten used to him. "If everyone's ready, we should go quickly," he says.

[Laraqua]

Sinclair nods and the bodyguards step out of the way to allow the diners to rise. They fall in behind the trio as everyone heads to the main elevator bank. Their bodyguard's eyes roam everywhere. One even has his hand inside his coat, likely on a gun holster. These are certainly top-of-the-range bodyguards.

OOC: Roll Spot Hidden.

[Mr. Handy]

Even though the bodyguards are watching out for him, Daniel doesn't let his guard down for a second and has his eyes wide open.

[Laraqua]

Mr Handy:

Spoiler:

A woman stands by the water cooler that sits in an alcove in the corridor leading to the closest elevator. She wears a loose jacket two sizes too large for her. What catches your eye, however, is her security badge that dangles from a lanyard around her neck. While it is difficult to be certain over the distance, you're pretty sure that her face and the photograph don't match.