in the months leading to the top-secret summit, bond spends his time training at yeovilton learning to fly a navy sea harrier jet. learning of bond's mission, bast decides that he is a hindrance to their plans and attempts to kill him by attempting to shoot him down during a sea harrier training exercise. later, when bond goes on holiday in italy, another attempt is made on his life. bond escapes, but is apparently unable to save his then-current girlfriend, beatrice maria da ricci.