The three silently took their seats and waited for the bomb to drop. Nancy sat across from them, in her own comfortable-looking seat. She leaned back and smiled. "Mr. Willard, I see that your sense of style has not been exaggerated to me by our mutual acquaintances," she said with a grin as she took in Willard's casual blue jeans and green fleece outfit.

Willard turned red and looked at his clothes. He glanced at Connelly, with her business suit, which accentuated her long, firm legs. Then he looked at Robert, who'd at least made an attempt to look professional with his sweater and tweed jacket. Compared to them he looked like a college student. He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut short by Nancy. "Of course, I only jest. Your other, more impressive qualities, have been made clear over the years as well. Your expedition has one of the highest safety ratings of all our expeditions and you're in one of the most inhospitable environments. Well done, Mr. Willard."

Willard smiled, clearly pleased. "Thank you."

Connelly shifted in her seat. Nancy turned to her and said, "I trust your flights were bearable?"

Connelly nodded, "I slept through most of them."

"Well, you must be wondering why we've made such a to-do about you being here?" Nancy said.

"The question has crossed our minds," Connelly said.

Nancy took a deep breath and let it out slowly, as though she were chewing over how to best phrase her next words. Connelly's stomach twisted with nervous tension. She was sure her funding was about to be pulled. "I trust everything is operational? With TES I mean."

"Yes," Connelly said. "We were planning to do our first full run through in two days, but we're positive she's fully functional and ready to go. We'll prep for the test as soon as we get back."

"That won't be necessary," Nancy said. "Kathy...may I call you Kathy? I always prefer talking to my best scientists on a first name basis."

"Of—of course," Kathy said.

"Kathy, how would you feel about continuing your work with TES at another location?

Connelly raised a skeptical eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"For the sake of time, I'll put this bluntly," Nancy said. "TES is needed for a more pressing expedition and we'll be transporting her by the end of the week. This is well within our contract agreement and is final. But I need to know if you'll be coming along."

"You can't do that," Connelly said defiantly.

"Look," Nancy said, softening her voice. "I know this is hard to comprehend right now, but the fact is, I had to pull a few strings with the board to keep you on this project."

"This is my project!" Connelly gripped her armrests.

Nancy rocked in her chair for a moment and then said, "Not anymore."