The Nine Swords mission briefing room is a cramped and musty space adjoining many smaller rooms used as storage areas. Waiting for an obviously flustered Aberlour to compose himself and draw to order this hastily called meeting, the assembled Swords are aware of a muffled rhythmic knocking sound coming from somewhere near-by. Perhaps from the store room that holds the camping gear and sleeping bags?

“Listen up, everyone. Seeing as Katelin and Durendal are, ahem, uncontactable” - Aberlour’s eyes stray to one of the store rooms - “I’ve just taken an urgent message from High Command. No time now to really go into details - but there’s a flight to Manila leaving from Heathrow in three hours and we need five Swords on that flight. They must be strong and confident swimmers. Further information will be available in transit. Hands up for volunteers”

The knocking becomes a louder banging and increases in tempo. Aberlour studiously tries to ignore it, and stares straight ahead. Mellified, ShockG, Hit-Parade, Hinoki and Kisshoten all raise their hands and they try not to smirk as the framed photograph of a member of Templar High Command starts to jiggle on the wall behind Aberlour. As they file out of the room the banging reaches a crescendo - Dame Julia bounces off the wall and shatters into exactly one thousand tiny shards.