Funding Body Advisor & Media Liason: Daniel Carter

[Tabs]

Wrapping his jacket around himself to ward off the elements Abbo sprints for the helicopter.

[Laraqua]

Timothy follows at a rapid clip, casting a backward glance at Klaus who crouches down over the woman's body and pulls out a mobile phone. The elevator doors start to close and Klaus taps the sensor strip along the inside to keep them open.

"That should be everyone," says Sinclair in both English and German for the benefit of those getting aboard. "Take her up."

Francesca fiddles with the controls and the engines start up with a whine - the rotors swinging around in slow circles.

Sinclair assists Timothy and Abbo into a pair of seats and then pulls the door shut just as the rotor blades have picked up enough speed to begin their ascent. Then he buckles himself into a seat and speaks to Francesca in English. "Don't worry. You'll have clearance to land at that address."

"Figures," said Francesca in English.

"Is it safe to fly in this storm?" asked Milly, also in English.

"This isn't a storm," said Francesca. "This is just a little rain. Wind is holding steady and no sign of lightning. I've flown in more ferocious weather."

"Right," said Milly.

"Where are we going?" Timothy asked Carter. "And who were those two men?"

[Mr. Handy]

"These gentlemen are our new bodyguards," explains Daniel. "I've just hired them. Mr. Sinclair here is their leader. I believe he's one of your countrymen, Timothy. From Oxford if I'm not mistaken, or at least educated there. We're on our way to his offices where we'll be able to speak freely."

[Tabs]

Abbo Durer-

"Mr Sinclair is doing a good job. His man, Klaus, disabled a woman in the elevator; she was a suicide bomber attempting to get to the helicopter. Someone wants to stop the TV crew very badly, but why?
"The bomber's Driver License is for a Joanna Kriegg, and I found an address at the Weeping Women Support Group."

[Laraqua]

Milly LeCrique arches an eyebrow. "Suicide bombers go to support groups now?"

Mr. Sinclair just looks thoughtful as he buckles himself in to one of the seats.

[Mr. Handy]

"Good job," says Daniel, breathing a sigh of relief. "That could have ended a whole lot worse. Did you mean the Weeping Mother? They contacted me earlier today, and I looked up some information on them." He shows Sinclair everything he has on them and tells him what happened at the police station.

[Tabs]

Abbo-

He checks a scrap of paper.
"Yes, you're right, Daniel. The flyer says 'Weeping Mother'. We should go and check out the Mothers."

[Mr. Handy]

"We shouldn't go to that address personally," says Daniel. "That would be a tremendous risk. But yes, the authorities need to look into them."

[Laraqua]

"Yes, I don't believe it would be wise for any of your to risk yourselves," said Sinclair. "I think that once we have you all in a secure location, you should probably stay there for the interim."

"But what about the media circuit?" asked Milly LeCrique. "It'll give them the wrong impression if all we do is hide."

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, we can't cancel tonight's event," says Daniel. "We do need to be there to ensure that we have support for the expedition. The people trying to kill us seem to want to thwart the expedition, and that would help them do it. I have confidence in you and your team, Mr. Sinclair, and I'm sure you can keep us safe. You can control the venue and carefully screen who is allowed inside."

[Laraqua]

"As you wish, sir," said Sinclair. "Though I would prefer to keep you in a more easily controlled location. Right. Do you have the address on you so that we can make all of the appropriate security precautions?"

"Why do they want this expedition over so badly?" complained Timothy, crossing his arms over his chest. He looks a little sickly as he peers out the rain-streaked window.

[Mr. Handy]

Daniel gives Sinclair the address. "I'm not sure why they want to stop us so desperately," says Daniel. "Maybe the same unknown reason the Russian government declared the area off limits for over two hundred years, whether ruled by the czars or the Soviets. We're just lucky they're allowing the expedition in now. This group's motives for coming after us should definitely be looked into."

[Laraqua]

"Of course," said Sinclair. "My team are not private investigators but we'll see what we can do."

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you," says Daniel . "It may help to coordinate with the police with some aspects of the investigation. They've hopefully already done some of the legwork."

[Laraqua]

"We're nearly there," says Francesca Morletti from the cockpit.

Its hard to see much through the driving rain and dark clouds that blot out the sun. The ground below is a patch work of green, amber, red, and yellow lights splashing across the water and weaving between the tall, hulking buildings. She starts guiding the helicopter downwards toward one particular building.

"Perhaps the police will gain some information from the attempted suicide bomber," said Sinclair. He looks over at Abbo and Timothy. "I'm not sure what either of you said to her to delay her attack long enough for my good fellow to assist you, but whatever it was, it must have been convincing."

[Tabs]

Abbo Durer-

"We shouldn't go to that address personally," says Daniel. "That would be a tremendous risk. But yes, the authorities need to look into them."

"Okay."

"I'm not sure what either of you said to her to delay her attack long enough for my good fellow to assist you, but whatever it was, it must have been convincing."

"Ha! It was luck; don't give us too much credit. Although, Timothy spotted there was something wrong about her."

[Laraqua]

Timothy just shrugs at that and holds himself tighter.

Milly LeCrique looks at him questioningly.

"I hate flying," he mumbles. "Especially in storms."

"It's not storming," says Milly. "It's just rain."

"Pretty thick rain."

[Mr. Handy]

"I spotted that there was something wrong with her too," says Daniel. "I also noticed that you two were trying to get on the elevator, but the doors had already closed and it was too late. That's why Sinclair sent Klaus back down. I'm just glad everything turned out the way I did. We really do need to pay careful attention to our surroundings at all times, especially in public like tonight. It could make the difference between life and death."

[Laraqua]

The helicopter lowers to a rooftop landing pad. The rain continues to drum against all of the windows. For a moment, there is silence as everyone considers Daniel's words. Then the helicopter touches down and there's a dull whine as the rotors begin to slow. Francesca Morletti starts going through the shutting down procedures on the helicopter.

[Tabs]

Abbo Durer-

"Again: Three cheers for Klaus!"

"Where has the helicopter landed?"