JM shakes his head.  "Three hundred pounds?  We'll just have to use hand signals and flashing lights.  We will want to get heavy duty air filters and seal up the interior of both aircraft.  I remember that the desert dust plays Hob with any kind of engine."

He takes a cigarette from Alexander with a grateful nod.  "Do you have any connections in Cairo that might help source ammunition for the machine guns on the aircraft Captain?"

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 18):

"Normal ammunitions will be no problem in Egypt, though I am unsure about the special type that you are asking for. I can certainly try once we get there, but I suggest first that I call in at the Royal armoury at Woolwich, I'm sure if anyone can help it will be them. I still have good standing here from my war time experiences and the fact that I was a political officer in Sudan."

Alexander smiles wearily.

"It's been a long day."

With the brief stab at research done, Cynthia will stop by the house to see if Molly is available. A new wardrobe is in order, and somehow Cairo fashion has never quite kept up.

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 20):

It didn't take long for Cynthia to convince Molly to go shopping.  SHe was always ready to shop for various bits of things and this time she would be happy to have Cynthia go with her.  Molly would need Cynthia's expertise in clothing also to help shop more "conservatively".

With a grin on her face, Molly turned to Cynthia.  "What a marvelous idea you have to go shopping.  Do you have a particular shop in mind to start at?  If I have to wear more dresses this time, I am afraid that I shall be coming back with a number of parcels."

JM nods. "Ideally we should be able to get what we need here in England.  The rounds will be more common certainly although perhaps more tightly controlled."  He grinned; "Perhaps with our mutual efforts we might persuade the authorities to trust us with it."  At the mention of the hour JM sighed.  "Indeed.  I think that KH and I will stay in the city for the night rather than return to the airfield.  I still have the house I rented as a safe place available."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 22):

"Perhaps it would make sense if I was to stay with you tonight. It means that we can make an early start" replies Alexander.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:39, Sun 28 July 2013.

JM bowed. "It would be an honor to have you lodge with us captain.  The accommodations are a bit rude but it is quiet and safe."

The Count escorted those not staying to the door when the time to leave arrived. They made plans to stay in touch in regards to the preparations for their journey and to meet again for more in-depth plans.

The Count and Mr Perkins still had many hours ahead of them and would be working into the small hours writing letters and making a detailed list of possible contacts. This list expediently expanded with more names and a vast amount of information for the old names. It was a working document full of leads, possible lines of inquiry and the resulting disappointments.

The document had been full of names with the vast majority being acquaintances of Mr Perkins, several were retired and serving members of the armed services all of which had subsequently been crossed off. Then there were his old friends in Birmingham several of which who were on the more shady side of things again these names over time were all crossed off as well. Finally there were the names from the London book trade a veritable whose who of the shop contacts and again these names were all proven to be dead ends.

It was a completely unexpected lead that lead to the ammunition being secured at the last moment. The Count paid a visit to a very old client who had patronised the shop from it inception by the previous owner. Professor Andrew Bates was a professor at the University of London and had a large and varied collection of early scientific books and manuscripts. Professor Bates told the Count early on that he doubted he could be of help, most of his colleagues were still sworn to secrecy due to the nature of their work. Never the less he would endeavour to shake something out of the attic. They spent the rest of the afternoon finishing off a bottle of fine port the Count had brought so the trip was not a total loss.

He had completely forgotten of the meeting when later in the week a rather cryptic letter arrived in the first post. Over the course of the week the Count was able to devote less and less time to the search so Mr Perkins had taken over the bulk of the inquires while the Count secured the artefacts they had acquired in various safety deposit boxes in London.

His discussions with the Countess also came to a head with a furious two days for the shop staff to close the deal and make arrangements for sales and what not.

The letter contained a key and a short note on expensive hand made card with directions to a lock up garage in Southwark. On arrival that same day the Count and Mr Perkins had travelled armed and expecting trouble. The alley where the garage was located looked deserted and as cautious as they could be they opened the door.

Inside where several wooden crates with Royal Flying Cops stencilling indicating they had found what they were looking for. The boxes had recently been moved to the garage as none of the surrounding dust had been moved when they had been place on the floor. Within five minutes the boxes were in the back of the delivery van and the Count and Mr Perkins were on their way back over he river.

It was many months later the Count learned the boxes had been supplied by a scientist who had been heavily involved in the armament R&D for the war office. Why they had sat in his garden shed since the war he never received an answer to.

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 24):

The cottage near Lympne Aerodrome was not unpleasant. The weather was mostly clear, and warm for early April. They could easily see across the dark ocean from the escarpment above the port of Dover.

In the hangar were parked the aircraft, fully fuelled with petrol and ready for flight. The guns were hidden, but could be attached in the field with some effort.

The air was full of the smells of petrol, engine lubricant and fabric dope for repairing and strengthening the wings and fuselage of the aircraft. Karlheinz spread maps over the lower wing of the Brisfit.

"All right, mien friends. What exactly is our route to Cairo? We haff a range of perhaps 420 miles for both aircraft."

In reply to Karlheinz Bergmann (msg # 26):

Leaning over the map Alexander points at Paris

"Perhaps there first and you could then ask where they suggest, leapfrogging from aerodrome to aerodrome. Perhaps Basle across to Genoa and then down Italy?"

The Egyptian straightens up, ignoring the urge to smoke and looks about the hanger, where he'd spent all morning getting acquainted with the plane and the two pilots.

He liked both men, for at the end of the day they had shared similar lives full of danger and excitement. Both of which it seemed would be filling his life from now on.

An oily hand scratched the back of his neck and then his attention was drawn back to the map.

"Greece then Turkey? Or will you fly across the Med?" he asks of both men.

In reply to Alexander Hussein Mahfouz (msg # 27):

"Land. As much as possible. I was in zee Imperial Navy, I haff no fear of undt water crossink. While zee Vimy is haffink 2 engines and can fly on vun, zee Brisfit is haffing one but cannot fly on zero engines, ya?"

He sighed, looking at the smaller biplane and the larger biplane, then shook his head.

"I am hating to go back on my earlier suggestion, but zee Vimy is best flown mit undt pilot and copilot. Zee Bristol requires another pilot. Three pilots is perhaps necessary."

In reply to Karlheinz Bergmann (msg # 28):

"Why bring the Bristol then?" replies Alexander, adding "Otherwise do you know another pilot who would fly it to Cairo for you?"

"There would be some value in having a second aircraft. Plus, it is a combat aeroplane. Zat may come in handy. On zee downside, our ability to cross large stretches of open water will be restricted mit zee one engine having. Undt vee could be needing undt extra pilot."

He blew on the cup of tea that he'd made. He found himself drinking a lot more, now he had stopped drinking with Dr. Weston's help.

JM nodded at KH's comment about the Brisfit.  "A combat or scouting aircraft would be of great potential value in Egypt and the surrounding territories.  The deserts are vast and the aircraft could be used to save hazardous overland travel if we need to scout out a particular location." He considers the options of flying to Cairo.  "We could hire a pilot to fly her to Cairo.  I know plenty of good men who would be willing to do so.  Or we could break her down and ship her on a direct steamer to Alexandria and the Canal.  She would likely arrive almost as quickly as we might."

He pointed to the map.  "I say we travel along the northern part of the Mediterranean.  Even with two engines we should avoid long ocean crossings where possible."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 31):

"Sounds like an excellent plan" replied Alexander

"When can we leave?"

JM glances at KH and then back to Alexander.  "We could leave within a day.  The aircraft are ready.  I have a friend in mind, Roger Bedford from the War.  He's a tough, reliable man with some experience flying in the eastern Mediterranean.  He might help fly one of the aircraft for us."

"Also, some of the material we found, scrolls are in Arabic.  Perhaps together we might decipher some of it?"

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 33):

"Well that's settled then," and Alexander gives both men a warm smile. "I can start on the parchments whilst in the air, I can't see there being a problem with translation, unless they are hard to read due to age. If their contents make no sense I or my wife will be able to find someone to help at the University or Museum in Cairo."

They heard the sound of a train whistle as the 9:15 from London to Dover pulled into the nearby station at Westenhangar. Karlheinz was already there with the flatbed Ford Model-T to meet it.

Within ten minutes, Karlheinz had Bedfored beside him in the cab and driving onto the grass airstrip. Karlheinz helped Bedford with his bags, then stepped away to light a smoke.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:41, Thu 08 Aug 2013.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 35):

He'd got a way in the nick of time. He liked to travel light, with just a little duffle bag with a few personals, and the like. Bedford was absolutely stoked that he could help his old friend out.  He'd spent most of the winter here in grey old England, besides a few short trips of passengers and mail deliveries across the straight.  Inside he'd been kind of pining to head back south to Rabat.  He had that feeling for a spot of mint tea in Ahmed's Teahouse.  When the call came from John-Marc he was absolutely delighted.

"Oh, my good chap.  So glad to see you in good health again.  Hope everything's been goin' well for ya. You can't believe how relieved I am to have a good excuse to head to warmer climes.  So whose aboard with me?"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:07, Wed 07 Aug 2013.

JM stepped out of the hangar as the truck pulled up.  He was dressed in greasy coveralls.  Wiping his hands one a greasy rag he trotted to the truck.  "Robert you old scoundrel!  It's good to see you.  I'm glad you agreed to help ferry one of my aircraft to Egypt."  He wrapped the other man in a bear hug.  "Although I'm sure you're escaping some jealous husband."

"We've got a gaggle of civilians with us on sort of an archeological expedition.  You may know Dr. Weston who is part of the crew."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:09, Wed 07 Aug 2013.

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 37):

Roger scowled a little, though anybody's fool would know he was playing, before letting out a good belly laugh.  "None my luck, good friend.  Would love to tell the tale, but it'd be a tall one, my good friend.  Hope I run into better luck down in old Cairo, ya know, like. I'm totally glad to meet the need.  It's always good to make new acquaintances too, as ya know."

He lit up a cigarette, as the two stood on the airstrip.  "Has everybody got their things in order? We ready to leave asap?"

Whilst the two men talk, Alexander comes out and stands nearby with Karlheinz, so that he can be introduced when convenient.

"So, did you ever think you'd end up working here in England?" he asks of the German pilot.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:44, Wed 07 Aug 2013.

"You mean, had vee von or had vee lost?" he joked.

"Not really. I was expecting to go back home, or continuing serving in zee Imperial German Navy or Reichsmarine. But I guess I liked flying too much, even if the war gives me nightmares."

In reply to Karlheinz Bergmann (msg # 40):

"Either" laughs Alexander in reply.

"Where is home exactly?" he adds, a look of concern at the mention of nightmares.

JM shares a hearty laugh.  The thought of his good friend back with them already raising his spirits.  He leaned forward with a light and then lit one for himself.  "You could always make yourself that kind of luck.  I don't doubt that there will be more than a few ladies that might appreciate a fresh face or two in Cairo."

At the question he waved toward the open hangar where two aircraft stood ready.  "We have my old Brisfit and a Vimy fully converted for passenger traffic.  Both are fully overhauled and ready for the trip and I've secured spare parts aboard the Vimy for the trip.  We leave tomorrow morning at dawn."

Seeing KH and Alexander nearby he motioned toward them and waved them over. "Robert, this is Karlheinz Bergman my friend, mechanic and copilot.  This gentleman is Alexander Mahfouz from Cairo.  He is well educated and well connected and has offered to aid us in our investigations." JM nods to Robert. "Gentlemen, this is Robert Bedford an old friend from the War and a crack pilot."