Preston voiced Erskine's thoughts more or less, "Thaddeus, before his death, had suspected that he was trailed by spies, and he had feared that the Nazi would have taken Milo to force him to surrender all he had on the Atlantis project, hence protecting his grandson, and leaving me, and Dr. Erskine with the remains of his notes about the Atlantis project including the map, that is, until today. We do have securities to keep his notes safe, and yes, it's true that I myself have been making preparations for the expedition upon my last promise to my oldest friend, but I'm delayed still by the most needed support of the expedition; experienced Navy, Army people to be trained and able to handle the magnitude of the journey itself.", sharing a silent look with Erskine, realizing that visitations to Thaddeus has to be handled more carefully, and alternatively between the two of them, as it was lucky that those past times when they went on the same day to visit Thaddeus, they weren't caught.

"So, it is true though... that you actually have a map to Atlantis?", Simpson asked as Preston nodded.

"The Shepard's Journal. Pretty much the closest thing to a true map to Atlantis and really the only way to find it or any trace of what remains.", he said. "Atlantis... whatever is left; if the rumors are to be said believed about what they had there... well, whoever would be able to tap into what the Atlanteans had...".

"If the Nazis beat us to it first...", Roosevelt spoke up. "Then we might have already lost this war before we could even truly fight in it.".

"That would be the belief, Mr. President.", Erskine said. "Not to mention what might be there is the key piece that I would need with my project.".

"And another reason why the Nazis probably want their hands on it too; we strongly still believe that they're trying to continue what Dr. Erskine started back in Germany before he escaped from their clutches and defected.", Phillips added.

Roosevelt exhaled, "A double-edged sword then.", and Phillips nodded, "Yes, sir. We have so much potential to aid the Allies with any remains of the source that Atlantis had, with advantages to our technology, medicine on the positive side to help out our soldiers, yet on the cons, advantages on our weaponry and logistics, on the magnitude of saving our soldiers yet losing more enemies on their turf. Yet it'll be the same for them if they succeed than rather us, upon reaching Atlantis.".

"If the Nazis could quickly get their hands on Atlantean technology and use it...", Stimson bit his lip. "Any chance we have in Europe would be lost; for starters, they'd finish the Russians off, then be able to direct all their armies towards ourselves and the British. The Russians have pushed the Germans just enough from the gates of Moscow itself, but their offensives have run out of steam and manpower. The casualties I've been getting from our intelligence units is devastating.".

"Which is all the more reason we should find it.", Roosevelt nodded, which certainly amazed Preston, Milo and Erskine. "The public would be very upset to find ourselves doing this, since many would think it a foolhardy endeavor; but the Nazis themselves are so determined to find it themselves then we have no choice but to undertake the mission too.".

Erskine replied, "Herr President, are you saying...?", and Roosevelt gave a firm smile, "Yes, I'm giving this the green light. Now, Colonel Phillips, and Mr. Whitmore, would you two see to work together on the estimation of how many people does our project require, and write it up by tonight? I'm a busy man after all.".

Preston nodded, "It shall be done, sir.", and Phillips replied, "And I presume you want the magnitude of the costs to train the people, pay them for the expedition and if something unfortunate happens, their families are to be well cared here on the surface, sir?".

Roosevelt hummed, "You assume correctly, Colonel.", with a nod, and Phillips nodded, "Yes, Mr. President. I'll be glad to work with Mr. Whitmore on this.".

"Good. Dr. Erskine, you look like you have something to say.", Roosevelt replied, and Erskine nodded, "Yes, but I can't say if it could really be possible to know until we get there. I may not be a doctor as much as I'm a scientist, but with Mr. Thatch skilled in linguistics, if he can read the Atlantean language on any remaining ruins of Atlantis like he does with the Journal, perhaps we can possibly find a cure for polio, since Atlantis was said to be advanced. I mean, perhaps there would be history of similar ailments back then.", not wanting to raise the president's hopes too much as it's only a shot in the dark as much as he could do, having noticed Milo's look at Roosevelt's wheelchair when he came in.

Roosevelt had a small smile as he nodded, "I think that's a dream all of humanity would love to see realized; but if you're suggesting perhaps helping me; I'm afraid that it probably is much too late. I've more or less embraced the fact that I will be confined to a wheelchair; but thanks to my condition has certainly given me greater clarity and wisdom, if I could be so modest...". Erskine nodded in understanding.

"Well, hopefully if we find anything, it may go a long way with civilization, not just simply military purposes.", Erskine said as Phillips and Stimson gave their own nods. Despite their fields, both of them obviously wasn't hungry for war. The same could not be said for the Nazis, especially someone like Schmidt as Erskine had a gut feeling that Schmidt had his eyes on Atlantis as well.

Roosevelt replied, "Indeed. Is that everything you needed to say?", and all the gentlemen thought for a moment before nodding, and Roosevelt then smiled, "Then you're all dismissed. We shall talk again when there's an open slot on my schedule.".

Everybody replied, "Yes, sir.", and so, everybody left, with Roosevelt replying, "Mr. Thatch, a moment please if you can.", and Milo replied as he turned around, "Sir?", as the last one in the group.

"I know the planning for the project will take some time, and of course, the real expedition as well. But if it turns out well for everyone, what would you want in your grandfather's name?", Roosevelt asked.

Milo blinked in confusion for a moment before widening his eyes at what the president meant by that, and exhaled, "Grandpa is...was the kind of man who would help anyone who's in trouble, and he respected all people, from beliefs to skin color. He never cared much for personal medals...He preferred action, if he could have done a small thing to help someone in the long run, it's enough for him...".

Roosevelt smiled, "I see. Well then, once everything goes well in our hopes for this project, there shall be a foundation sponsored by me, but it will be in the name of your grandfather, the Thatch Foundation, if that's alright with you?".

Milo nodded, "Th-Thank you, sir... I'm sure it's something he would love.". Roosevelt smiled before the man, George, came back to help wheel him back out of the room; more than likely, to hurry and re-meet with the British envoy for the conference.

"More than likely, Mr. Whitmore; I think at best we could do is to hurry up and finish whatever you were having built before the war. We'll be unable to more than likely spare any ships or submarines. Everything is needed to either try to stem in the Japanese in the Pacific or to convoy escort from the Wolfpacks in the Atlantic.", Stimson said to Whitmore.

"I knew it was getting fairly bad from the press, but is it really that devastating?", Preston looked at Stimson with a bit of a shocked look.

"I have word that we just need everything for the time being to simply try to hold the line and stop the bleeding. Once our dockyards truly start to reach peak production; I'm told that we're able to easily crush the Japanese with the sheer weight of production, and the Germans will be unable to produce enough U-Boats with how many ships we field and how many of theirs we sink. It's just a matter of time at least for us on the seas. Basically, for this mission; it might just be your sub project and not much else.", Stimson replied.

Preston exhaled, "Very well. I'll get to the details with Colonel Phillips...Even with the fastest hands on the submersible, it still takes time. I can't cut corners, especially with so many lives onboard...We cannot be like the Titanic...", remembering Thaddeus's concerns.

Stimson nodded, "That I can understand and will not rush you on cutting corners, but perhaps see if you could preserve space, like instead of single rooms, but perhaps bunkrooms and such.".

Preston replied, "That, I can do. If you'll excuse me, I better catch Colonel Phillips and start on it.", as Milo was in a daze, walking out into the hallway, still in awe of the president's gift.

"Are you alright, Mr. Thatch?", asked Erskine, and Milo nodded, "Y-yeah. This is really happening...I wish Grandpa was here...".

Erskine almost had the urge to spill the secret out to Thaddeus' own grandson, but if he knew Preston well, perhaps he has an idea for Thaddeus to come along somehow...After all, one man in a huge number of people within an expedition would be somewhat overseen.

Erskine replied, "Well, I'm sure Thaddeus knows...After all, the Lord has powers, and who is to say that the heavens cannot be the same?". He hates to keep quiet, but he hasn't gotten Thaddeus's permission to tell the whole secret, and it's clear that Milo is already overwhelmed yet he is smart to keep this recent meeting secret as he definitely got the message from the president that nothing never, ever leaves the Oval Office without his permission.

Milo replied, "Yeah, you're right...How did you become friends with him, anyway?", and Erskine smiled gently if a bit sadly, "Ah, we shared stories, and we became friends over chess, working together once in a while if his trips accounted to some historical science, and of course, if it wasn't for him, I'd have been still in grief for my wife and children...He made me laugh and smile from the stories he told about you. He truly loved you; you know. Always saying that he saw you as another son, next to your father, Augustus.".

"He was a second father to me... raising me since I was only six years old.", Milo sighed. "Practically the reason I'm the person I am today is because I wanted to follow in his footsteps.".

"And you very much have done so.", Erskine said. "You've become quite an accomplished mind yourself...", with a reassuring smile.

"Without the prestige, of course. The Smithsonian usually keeps me more for menial work rather than actually any historical attributes.", Milo replied with a scoff.

Erskine patted his shoulder, "That's because they don't see the true potential of you, Milo Thatch. There are people who prefer power over kindness, and people who just wants to help instead of hurting others.", and Milo exhaled, "You sound like Grandpa...".

Chuckling, "Wisdom of your elders, Milo. After all, we have seen more than you'd have known in your life, and yet we still learn something new every day for we're human. And Thaddeus, he was the same.", Erskine smiled.

Milo gave a small smile, "That's Grandpa, alright...Well, I better get going. Mr. Harcourt would be either jealous or angry that I am late for today...Still, I gotta read the book...", and Erskine frowned softly, thinking before smiling warmly, "You know what, I believe you can do something better. I hear that you're a cartographer amongst linguistics, correct?".

"Yes, I am...", Milo nodded, and Erskine replied, "How do you feel about having a new job, just while everything is in progress for the journey? I have a young man who is skilled in sketching and quite able in logistics, but he needs to learn how to read and understand German. I would do it myself, but my own project keeps me busy quite often.", figuring that if Steven adapts well to the super soldier serum with any possibility source of Atlantean power, he would be able to be shipped out to war, to go stop Schimdt, he would need to know how to detect Nazi spies and all to send any chance of information back to the Allies to stop any advance of the German armies in various places.

Milo thought about it for a moment before Erskine chuckled. "Sorry, do you not actually know German?", he asked as Milo shook his head.

"No, no, no, I know it very fluently! Just... I was just thinking about the offer...", Milo took a deep breath and chuckled, "Eh, what the heck; not like I was doing too much there anyway... at least I'd feel like making more of a difference with you.".

"Thank you, Milo... besides, might not be a bad idea to get acquainted with this young man; he'll, more than likely, be coming with us too.", Erskine smiled warmly.

Milo blinked in surprise before smiling, "Well, I couldn't mind making new friends. I'd have to pack up everything, get my book collection, my clothes...And oh, is pets allowed? I have a cat...", with a sheepish smile.

Erskine smiled, "I'd have to talk with Phillips about that, but I think the training grounds would appreciate a mascot of sorts. Now, I believe you'd have an old job to quit today. After all, best not to waste time with this Hartcourt.", with a raised eyebrow and a chuckle.

Milo grinned, "You got it, Mr. Erskine! When will I expect to see you?", and Erskine smiled, "After Preston helps out with the notice of your apartment and puts all the furniture into storage, he will let me know, so expect to see me within a few days, alright?".

"Alright then... and thank you... for, well, everything...", Milo said as Erskine nodded, "Think nothing of it, Milo, just think of it as helping out an old friend in your grandfather there...".

Milo smiled brightly and then goes on his way, and Erskine sighs deeply, smiling as he habitually took his pocket watch out, stroking it as he checks the time, hiding the inscription, and putting it back in as he goes to inform Phillips and Preston of his decision.

Much to his relief, Phillips was open to the idea, and Preston was all too happy to help out, and after finishing the report and the configurations of the mission hours later, Phillips left the mansion to drop it off at the White House.

Erskine exhaled in relief as Preston got the news that Milo had proudly told Hartcourt off, and quit, and smiled, "Thaddeus will be so relieved that Milo will be safe in the training grounds. After all, an army base in Virginia is more guarded in a way than New York or Washington...".

Preston smirked, "You sure that it's not rather getting brownie points altogether with Thaddeus?", with a teasing eyebrow, and Erskine blushed, smiling, "Okay, touché. But still, the Nazi will have a harder time finding Milo now.".

"I was still stunned to hear that message.", Preston sighed. "But it makes sense of why Thaddeus had eyes on him...".

"But you know what this means, don't you?", Erskine asked. "It means one of those who was on the Iceland expedition told the Nazis about it. Either we have a spy in our midst, or someone got paid a good Deutschmark for the information.".

Preston nodded deeply, "Sometimes people need money...There's a line between greed and security...I have been keeping tabs on the rest of the team...Yet Helga is employed by me, and now Rourke has convinced the president to hear us out...We were so lucky that we weren't followed the last few times...We do need to somehow put them off the scent yet keep them in the loop because if we lose face, the Nazi will know that they got caught and they will be even more desperate, along with Hydra...".

Erskine frowned, "Perhaps it's better to lie when we can...If we have days off, you can tell Helga that you got official business in the White House, and perhaps with a bit of help from blending into the city, you can grab the train without anyone getting suspicious...As for me, I have Phillips, and he will see to that if the Nazi or Hydra spies are watching, they would think that I'm taking a small plane to New York to work on my project while I sneak off to the train as well.", having to let Thaddeus know.

"Yes, but we'd have to alternate days to throw them off the trail at times...I know you, doc. You'd want to see Thaddeus badly, but we both have to be careful...", Preston replied.

Erskine replied, "Speaking of which, can you make Thaddeus blend into the expedition somehow? I mean, it's his dream to see Atlantis too! And perhaps with an extra set of eyes with me, he would perhaps see who got paid off by the Nazis or...the spy in our midst. After all, he spent a couple of months with the team as they sailed and searched around Iceland from America.".