Robbery of the Museum of Great Britain

Robbery of the Museum of Great Britain
Previous	Rescue of Nakia
Next	Incoronation of T'Challa
Date	June 2016
Location	Museum of Great Britain, London, England
Result (Outcome)	Ulysses Klaue and Erik Killmonger escape with the warhammer
Combatants
Erik Killmonger Ulysses Klaue Linda Limbani
Thomas Museum Security
Commanders
Erik Killmonger Ulysses Klaue
Thomas
Casualties
-
Thomas Several security guards

"How do you think your ancestors got these? Do you think they paid a fair price? Or did they take it... like they took everything else?"

―Erik Killmonger to Thomas^[src]

The Robbery at the Museum of Great Britain was a planned theft orchestrated by Erik Killmonger and Ulysses Klaue.

Background

In 1992, South African arms dealer Ulysses Klaue was enlisted by Prince N'Jobu of Wakanda to infiltrate the isolationist country and steal a cache of Vibranium. While Klaue's mission was successful, N'Jobu was executed by his older brother, King T'Chaka, after his role in the attack was exposed. Klaue, meanwhile, was branded with the Wakandan symbol for "thief" as punishment for stealing the vibranium.

Twenty-three years later, Klaue was forced to surrender the metal to the rogue artificial intelligence Ultron, who cut off the dealer's left arm in a fit of rage. Klaue then managed to escape with his life while Ultron and the Avengers engaged in an open confrontation.

Using stolen Wakandan mining technology to create a weaponized prosthetic arm, Klaue proceeded to team up with former black-ops mercenary Erik Stevens before setting out to steal and sell weapons made of vibranium on the black market.

Robbery

"Whatever you try, the Wakandans will probably show up."
"That'll make my day. Kill two birds with one stone."

―Erik Killmonger and Ulysses Klaue^[src]

Erik Killmonger quietly observing artifacts

Learning about the existence of a warhammer being housed in the Museum of Great Britain in London, Stevens and Klaue made their way to England with their criminal associates Linda and Limbani. Upon arriving in London, Ulysses Klaue and Limbani went undercover as paramedics while Linda began working at the museum as a barista.

Erik Killmonger threatening Thomas

On the day the heist was set to take place, Erik Stevens infiltrated the museum in civilian clothes and made his way to the exhibit where the warhammer was on display. As he stared at the warhammer, Director Thomas entered the exhibit with a cup of tea in her hand, looking at Stevens' curiosity upon one of the artifacts. Noticing his interest, Thomas immediately struck up a discussion about the historical context of two tribal masks that were also on display.

Ulysses Klaue finds the vibranium axe

When Stevens asked about the warhammer's historical context, Thomas stated that it was originated from Benin and was taken from the Fula tribe before sipping her tea. Stevens then corrected her, stating that, while the warhammer was stolen from the Fula by British soldiers, it originated from Wakanda. She begins to choke, as he tells her that he had poisoned her drink. The Medics arrived to the scene, but the guards were killed, revealing to be Limbani and Klaue.

Ulysses Klaue and his crew make their escape

Meanwhile, Killmonger's girlfriend, Linda has hacked the security feed to loop footage as if nothing is happening in the African exhibit. Klaue teased a guard with the chance to escape, only to shoot him too, and uses his prosthetic arm to shatter the glass and vibrate the unimportant material off of the vibranium. With the metal acquired, Killmonger, Linda, and Klaue escaped into an ambulance and got away.

Aftermath

"A misidentified Wakandan artifact was stolen yesterday from a British museum. We have learned Ulysses Klaue plans to sell the vibranium to an American buyer in South Korea tomorrow night."

―Okoye to T'Challa^[src]

Shortly after the robbery became public knowledge, General Okoye of the Dora Milaje discovered Ulysses Klaue and his men were taking the artifact to South Korea, where Klaue was planning to sell it to an unknown American.