Ashana gave Darion a side long look as his use of 'boss lady.' She shifted slightly, uncomfortable with the idea.<br/><br/>The security chief, Malcolm, nodded.<span style="color: Red">That's good. A lot of us are former military as well. I'm glad you've got some formalized discipline. It'll help.</span>As Darion continued, Malcolm looked behind him to the large window, then scuffed his boot on the floor.<br/><br/><span style="color: Red">Non-existent.</span>He waved for them to follow and led them to the window wall. Ashana began to follow with the others, but Vega's hand on her shoulder stopped her.<span style="color: Blue">Ashana, if I may have a word in private?</span>She paused then nodded slowly.<br/><br/>Malcolm put his hands on his hips and looked out the window, standing inches from it.<span style="color: Red">There's no building within 5 kilometers high enough to take a shot into this area. The only chance would be a shot from the manufacturing grounds, but the target would need to already be this close. But, from that angle,</span>Malcolm hit the glass. It responded with only a thud.<span style="color: Red">It would deflect without penetration. As far as explosives, again no chance. Every single thing that is brought into this tower is scanned and every crate is checked by my security staff. No… I'm a great deal more concerned about someone getting in in a more direct way.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Red">We will have at minimum 30 high profile guests walking through that elevator.</span>He pointed to the elevator that brought them.<span style="color: Red">Many will be arriving with personal company. Given how much attention we draw and the nature of our work, we do occasionally receive a guest who's more interested in the schematics we have stored here than the party. We can't check every guest's background thoroughly, and each year there are new guests. Its them I'm worried about. If I was trying to get to Mr. Antoli or the sensitive information he has, then that's how I would get in.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Red">Now,</span>the security chief took several steps toward the elevator.<span style="color: Red">Every guest will be escorted up here without exception- which means every guest will pass through that elevator and into this room. Once they are here, we stay on the outskirts. The entire job is to be insignificant, to not draw attention, and to watch every one of these guests for anything unusual. If someone disappears down a hallway away from the main group, we need to know about it. If someone is checking their watch too often, we need to know about it. Every member of the security staff will be in constant communication with one another with radio checks every 10 minutes.</span><br/><br/><br/>***<br/><br/><br/>Cantenelli and Falkris exchanged glances. The Turian pressed the human with his stare. Sorv asked the same question the Turian had.<br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">Why?</span>Cantenelli looked back at Sorv.<span style="color: Blue">Because while working for Eclipse my ship had a crew of 20. Now, after it was stolen and we had to purchase another smaller vessel to track it down, that crew has been reduced to six. <i>Six</i>, Quarian. I'm sure I don't have to explain the dynamics of operating a ship of this scale and why six crew members is inadequate. The simple fact is, I'm in a bad position. Finding competent crew members that can be trusted to keep their mouths shut about an experimental Turian prototype is difficult. </span>Cantenelli's voice raised in volume and his eyes flashed with the anger behind them.<br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">Now...</span>He took a short breathe and lowered his voice.<span style="color: Blue">As it happens, in stealing this ship you and your friends demonstrated a unique ingenuity.</span>Cantenelli looked around at the others on the bridge.<span style="color: Blue">An ingenuity that I'm afraid we lack. All but one of us knows how to handle a gun, but all of us have more time spent on a ship than we do on the ground. Piracy is an entertaining profession, but its not as lucrative as you may think. That's why we signed on with Eclipse. They expanded our business opportunities. Eclipse's failure to protect this ship, however, means that I can no longer benefit from those opportunities. As it happens, you and your... friends, present a new opportunity. Mercenary work can pay well, but better if you have a ship, but three gun toting mercenaries can't manage a warship, and likewise six space jockeys can't manage a gunfight. That, Sorv, is why you aren't dead. I'm still deciding whether cooperation between us is worth the risk. Besides, getting my ship back is easier when I don't have to shoot my way in.</span><br/><br/><br/>***<br/><br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">He may have. He was just putting on a show for the others. Hell, if it were the usual circumstances then Falkris would have probably bruised you up and thrown you out on the docks. You may as well have been a petty thief. They like to talk like everyone's potentially a Turian spy or something stupid... but honestly, I don't think a Turian spy would bother breaking in.</span>Taseer said.<br/><br/><span style="color: Navy">They are from Omega. Apparently some Volus smuggler payed a bunch of them to break into the Eclipse warehouse that the ship was docked at. I guess the deal was only a few of the mercs would get paid for the job so they ended up shooting each other as much as the guards. Omega's been rough since the Turian do-gooder guy went ballistic and got himself killed along with most of the mercenary commanders on Omega. Works been scarce for people like the Turian or that Quarian. The Asari, though... I don't know what she's doing here.</span><div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>