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how you feel at the time. They’re small boys in danger, you’ll be there and it’ll be hard. But that’s not why you’re going and the results of intervention would be unimaginable.” The team glanced at each other nervously and Derek continued. “Not only are you not even guaranteed survival from time travel, but you are at risk of: one, being compromised by your deadly targets; two, being discovered as not from their time and branded as evil heretics; and three, being discovered by the law as traitors then tortured and executed for your crimes. I know it’s not great odds, which is why I’m so grateful with all of my heart that you’re all willing to do this. And I know it’s no consolation either, but the public will be as grateful as I am when the truth comes out and they are saved from disaster. On the plus side, I’d say it’s going to be a pretty amazing experience and I get the impression from your personalities that you’ll make the most of what you are going to go through.
                  “We’ve thought pretty hard about how to provide your cover. You need to be of a significant enough status to enable you access to court, but obscure enough to dampen any suspicion. And, of course, you need to be totally untraceable to them. We intend to send you in as a travelling unit of English-folk who’ve been living in France for a number of generations. You travel from an estate in Rougemont, Jura and have lived there in the Eastern side of France outside of the main British territories that were held prior to and within the Plantagenet reign. You’ll be travelling to re-establish relationships in England and using your pathway to Eastern Europe as a lure for trade and travel. At the time you will be living in, Western Europe was still seeking a sea-route to Asia around the southern tip of Africa. The Americas were ten years off and there was no Suez Canal. The only way to transport trade and people from Asia was to drag them across the land.
                  “John and Jake will travel as brothers Sir John and Sir Jake de Rougemont – two knights granted status and title by your estate. In tow with you will be the fiancée of Sir Jake, Mademoiselle Charlotte Du Lac and her uncle - your political advisor - Monsieur David Du Lac. Finally, Chris rides along as your English servant, Christopher. Any questions?”
                  “What equipment are we looking at?” John asked.
                  “Standard, water-proof covert-video/audio equipment; portable power packs and batteries; tablet computers to be used for playback and storage. Clearly we can’t use GPS as there are no satellites, but we have managed to get hold of a powerful wireless connection which will allow for up to two miles of back to back communication and much further for tracking in terms of signal and proximity. You’ll get mobile phones to use on the closed loop circuit and a nice stack of medieval weapons.”
                  “Just the usual then,” said John laughing.
                  “Take away the unusual circumstance and unfamiliar lifestyle and yeah, it’s actually the same as any other whole-time deployment.”
                  “Without any introductions when we get there.”
                  “No, no introductions. You’ll have to be creative and get yourselves introduced to the subjects. It’s a cold-call. But there is a public opening to form a relationship prior to infiltration.” He paused and the team nodded their acceptance. He finally led them through the final, basic details and stood to relieve them for lunch. “Come back in an hour and Paul will take you through the first history session,” he added and quickly left the room. A silence remained behind him as the team each contemplated their future.
                  “Anyone else get the feeling this won’t be straight-forward?” asked