Aleksei nods in agreement. "I am not familiar with London, but maybe we should head there early and scout the area. See where vantage points are. Find good place to setup when things go to pot."
"That's what I like about you Russians, Aleksei - your neverending optimism" Bobby says with a friendly grin.
"Practicality. ", Aleksei half smiles, looking at Bobby. "Is balance with your American enthusiasm, no?" He laughs a bit and then checks his weapons before heading out.
So, once we get to the pub, Bobby suggests that two people sit at the bar (far separated from each other), while the other sits at a table/booth near the back, facing into the bar. Does it matter who sits where?
Bobby gives a heads-up to the others, indicating for them to get up and approach the target, hopefully arriving at his table all at the same time, and sitting down right next to him. Bobby smiles at the guy, and puts his arm around his shoulders as if they're old friends, but in reality has a firm grip on him to keep him from getting up.
"Frank won't be making his usual appointment tonight, to give you info about what's going on at the museum. We don't want to hurt you or turn you over to the cops, if you'll just tell us who you report to, and where we can find him. That's not too much to ask, now, is it?"
Aleksei takes his position and keeps an eye on the surroundings in case this contact brought friends.
Bobby repeats exactly what he just said in pretty good (d8) German to the fellow, and waits for an answer.
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"Very well," he sighs heavily in accented English, "I can see that I have no choice. I work for The Spider. He doesn't meet with us personally. I've never even seen him. I record the information that Franz gives me and post it to an address in Dover. Where it goes from there, I don't know."
As the man spills his guts, Aleksei notices two men that were already present in the pub moving towards your table.
Not today. Aleksei thinks to himself. Getting up, he stumbles a bit and dumps the glass of water on his table, accidentally. He then trips a bit and staggers towards the two men. "..ey, Kalinka Kalinka moya! 'ey Kalinka Kalinka moya, fsa do ya ga da, malinka moya!" As he runs into them, he stammers out, "'ey, join party, have drinks on me. 'ey Kalinka..."
Aleksei 'accidentally' stumbles into the man reaching into his pocket to keep him from pulling out whatever he is going for by placing his hand over the man's.
Aleksei immediately drops the act and looks at the badge. "If you can keep them from bolting all the time, we would be happy to oblige. "
Bobby stands at attention (keeping one hand on the contact's shoulder to keep him in place), and salutes the inspector, saying "Private Robert Northbridge, out of Intelligence Division, SIR! I assume this is about the attack on Professor McMurdow?"
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"Indeed it is! We've been watching this ring for weeks, hoping that they would lead us to the Spider, but thus far, we've turned up only dead ends. We thought you might be a part of the ring; new agents, or such. I guess that isn't the case." The inspector nods to his companion, who handcuffs the contact.
"We've traced the missives as far as Dover, but there they are picked up by another courier, who varies each time. Whoever the Spider is, he must have dozens of men in his employ."
Aleksei relaxes as they take the contact into custody. "This would be true to his name having such a web of contacts. All webs require anchors, though. Remove anchors, web falls apart, Spider comes out to be squished."
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"The real question here is what he wants with the information he has been amassing," the inspector says quietly after the suspect has been led off. "What is so important about their studies that he would go to such lengths to get intel on it? Certainly, it is an interesting discovery, but of use to whom? And why?"
"Is there something specific you have in mind for us to do? Because if you with all your man-power haven't been able to track the couriers out of Dover, I'm afraid I can't think of how we could help."
"I take it you're keeping the curator and the staff at the museum up-to-date on the situation? That they are being targeted by enemy agents and need to be more cautious, and to vary their daily routines?"
Aleksei gives Bobby a look of 'it's above their pay grade'. "We will keep you informed as we can. We hope that you will do the same, yes?"
"We'll escort him to Scotland Yard, and turn him over to Inspector Moreau."
Doing so, if no one objects.
Aleksei walks silently with Bobby to take Franz to Scotland yard. He mulls over all they have witnessed in the past few days, committing it to memory. On their way back, he speaks. "Comrade Northbrook? Do you think we have gotten into something above our respective pay grades? I am happy to continue investigating for our new commander, but it seems that every where we turn, someone has a secret to tell but it only leads to more questions." He lights a cigar and offers one to Bobby. "Perhaps we will be told more when we return."
Bobby will spend the rest of his leave in the pubs, drinking beer, playing darts, meeting new people, and sharing war stories (but nothing classified).
Unfortunately, he doesn't meet any girls with which they have a mutual attraction.
Aleksei occasionally joins Bobby in his endeavors, but also talks with the locals to get a layout of London and the general sense of how the war is going with the populace.
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Back at the front, trench warfare is the order of the day. Digging trenches, fighting off attacks, retreat and move forward. So it goes for the next two weeks. It is grueling, tiring, and harsh. You are almost relieved when you receive a missive directing you to report to Conan Doyle.
Doyle is clearly agitated, pacing his tent. "Come in, lads, come in. Just the three of you now, is it? (Perrin is with you.) Very well, we'll have to look into getting a few replacements.
"I understand that you had some excitement while on leave, eh? Strange doings, the wages of war. Higher-ups are looking into the Spider. That isn't our concern, but the unusual parchment that Professor McMurdow was working with? That's another matter altogether.
"Tell me, have you ever visited Egypt?"
Aleksei tries to keep himself from matching Doyle's pacing, but he follows it with his eyes. These last few weeks have been crazy, fighting for a country he didn't really belong to, but enjoying the fact that his brothers accepted him regardless. Now, he was back to the intrigue of what Doyle was into. It was almost exciting.
"No sir, I have not, but I have feeling that will change soon."
"Neither have I, but it's somewhere I've always wanted to visit."
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"Right you are, lad. You're on your way to Egypt. You'll pose as archaeologists, working on the dig. I want you to snoop around and see what turns up. Keep your eyes open for anything unusual or strange. You shouldn't see much fighting, as the war is a ways from there, but you never can tell. There's no telling what you may run into, so stay alert.
"Oh, and personal weapons only, and keep them out of sight. No need to blow your cover. I've arranged for your luggage and gear at the station. It will be waiting in your names. I've had to guess at your sizes, but the clothing should be pretty close.
"You'll travel by train as far as Marseille. From there, you'll go by boat to Tunis, then Malta, to Alexandria, and by rail from Alexandria to Cairo. Any questions?"
Aleksei nods as he is given his orders. "Only one. When do leave?"
Aleksei looks to Bobby. "Don't think it will be problem. "
"No problem. Where do we report to?"
I'm ready now, sir," Perrin says with a broad grin. It is apparent that he is excited about the prospect of visiting Egypt.
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The next morning finds the three of you aboard a train, bound for Marseille. The first leg of the trip is uneventful, spent in relative boredom chatting with other passengers or playing cards. The 15 hours to Marseille passes slowly, at best, and by the time you arrive, you are already tired to the point of near-exhaustion.
You board the liner that will carry you to Tunis and find your cabin (a shared room between the three of you). The current time is 2230.
"This cozy, yes?" Aleksei says jokingly as he takes one of the beds. He was tired, but a cruise on a ship was new to him and he was going to enjoy it.
Assuming we had dinner on the train so that he's not hungry, Bobby says "I don't care right now about cozy, I just want to *sleep*!" and with that he tumbles into another bed, fully clothed, and pulls the covers over him. Within minutes, you hear a soft snoring.
Perrin, likewise, flops onto a bunk and in minutes, is asleep.
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If Aleksei has no plans beyond sleep, we can fast forward to:
Morning - 0700
The sea air is refreshing and the blue skies are a welcome sight after the dull grey smoke overcast that seemed to pervade the skies over war-torn France. The fresh air fills the lungs and brings with it a healthy appetite. Breakfast isn't much; powdered eggs, fresh salmon, and coffee, but it is filling (passengers eat with the officers).
After breakfast, while the trio is wandering about the deck, Aleksei feels a familiar tingle along his spine. He can't help but believe that you are being watched. Of course, no one is in sight.
After spending the night rocking and rolling on the ship, something he was now going to have to get used to, Aleksei enjoyed what he could of the breakfast they were being served. He also enjoyed looking at the bright blue waters of the Mediterranean. They were calming, relaxing and he... reaching for a rifle that wasn't there, Aleksei spun around, swearing, his hands reflexively coming up and his eyes frantically scanning the deck.
Perrin notices Aleksei's sudden concern. "What's up?"
"We are not alone.", the reply is almost cold, as if his voice was detached from himself. "Someone is watching us."