I believe that Ilana & Bram are working for Whitmore. Their assignment is to bring another Time Machine Receiving Station to the Island or repair the one that Ben decommissioned. That's what's in the cargo box. The portal that is off island is the one used for the decommissioned Time Machine Station. The Donkey Wheel works on pre-Dharma faith based science(Jacob centric) and exits in Tunisia. The one Ben decommissioned works on post-Dharma technology based science(Chang centric) and exits at will now exit at another location. Somehow Whitmore is now in possession of this off island exit station. Whitmore now plans to use this on island exit station to go back to the island. And you will have your war of faith versus science.
