Board Thread:Spoilers!/@comment-6175354-20141023215822/@comment-24674051-20141024004633

Definitely a nod to Operation Mongoose, imo. Regina's whole view point is that the book does not see her as a hero, but as a villian. So this will probably turn up some vital clue that continues that quest forward.

This may also have something to do with the Sorcerer's hat and where Gold stands on the Villian to Hero chart. (Right now, he has definitely fallen to at least anti hero status.)