Vega stopped, smirking as he noticed both Firas and Darion pause to look at the armor.<span style="color: Blue">Pretty cool, huh?</span>He said coolly. The shield barrier broke and the firing stopped. The shield flickered then sprang back to life, faster than most higher class armor.<span style="color: Blue">We're co-developing it with Rosenkov Materials. The armor was contracted by the Alliance's N7.</span>He looked at Firas and Darion.<span style="color: Blue">You know, if you'd like, we could probably set you two up with new armor.</span>He glanced at the armor being tested again.<span style="color: Blue">Oh, it wouldn't be anything up to that par,</span>he interjected with a disarming smile and laugh.<span style="color: Blue">But I'm sure we could spare a few of our production models. So...</span>Vega looked at the butt stock over Darion's shoulder again.<br/><br/>He chuckled.<span style="color: Blue">I'm sorry, is that a Mattock?</span>He held out his hands.<span style="color: Blue">Do you mind if I take a look at it?</span>When Darion removed the rifle and extended it to him, the Human smiled and nodded and lifted it up, turning it over in his hands.<span style="color: Blue">Gorgeous weapon... Its one of the best older models ever produced. We've been getting alot of conversion contracts - to move it over to thermal clips. Ye know, </span>he chuckled again<span style="color: Blue">when I was -</span>He paused as he looked at the thermal clip ejection port.<span style="color: Blue">Was this conversion custom?</span>He looked at Darion, curious.<br/><br/>As Darion responded, Ashana cleared her throat, loudly. Vega paused and looked at her, then shook his head.<span style="color: Blue">I'm sorry - of course. Business.</span>He handed the weapon back to Darion.<span style="color: Blue">Darion, was it? After we're done in the office I have a toy you might like.</span>He smirked again and started back through the facility.<br/><br/>They passed several more R&D units running various firearms or armor. One had a group of men all firing at a sheet of armor large enough that it was likely for a vehicle. Vega watched each area as they passed but otherwise remained mostly silent until they approach an enclosure built into one of the walls. The office had three windows, that spanned the three walls inside the facility. Vega approached and keyed in a password at the door and it opened. Inside was a small office with a wall of screen behind its metal desk with various views of the facility. The desk itself had a screen embedded in it behind a thick layer of transparent material. Beneath one of the windows was a workbench with parts and tools strewn about it. The desk had a partially dismantled rocket launcher on it with casing pieces and tools scattered on the screen. Vega entered and lifted the weapon, dropping it unceremoniously on the work bench, not bothering to move what was already occupying the space. He quickly cleared what remained on the desk and sat down behind it in a high backed leather chair. Four smaller chairs sat before the desk. He nodded for them to sit. A logo with Vega Industries under it spun slowly on the desk's screen.<br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">Alright... Let's talk. I don't know what the shadow broker agent told you - the agents have a tendency to disclose very little. All I know is that you're capable, and that you're after the same person that, we presume, is coming after me.</span>He said, resting his elbows on the armrests and folding his hands before him.<br/><br/>Ashana tried to recollect what the shadow broker agent had told them.<span style="color: DarkOrchid">And we presume this person is after you because you know who bought the package that was stolen from the Bekket, our... <i>employer</i>'s cargo vessel.</span>She recited.<br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">Exactly.</span><br/><br/>Ashana paused for a moment, giving Vega a hard look.<span style="color: DarkOrchid"> The shadow broker said you had a plan to what... capture this person?</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">Ideally, yes.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOrchid">And you plan on doing this how?</span>She asked.<br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">A party.</span><br/><br/>Ashana stared at him for a moment. The brevity of the reply made her blink.<span style="color: DarkOrchid">A... party.</span><br/><br/>Vega nodded.<span style="color: Blue">A party. Every year I host a party for clients and potential clients. Its a chance for members of the arms industry to gather and talk - and relax if they want to. The party, conveniently, was planned to take place two weeks from now - but it was recently moved forward. To tomorrow night. During this party, my security detail will be largely occupied for obvious reasons. I <i>hope</i> that whoever this assassin thief is will prove to be opportunistic and try to use the party as cover to acquire whatever it is that they want.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">Now, if this person was able to trap and kill a shadow broker agent and escape undetected, then I'm going to assume they are extremely resourceful. It may even be a group doing this. If so, then they will have two targets. Me, because I know who bought the Bekket cargo, or the data hive that is storing that information. Which we presume they're after.</span><br/><br/><span style="color: DarkOrchid">That's a lot of ifs and presumptions.</span>Ashana said coldly.<br/><br/><span style="color: Blue">It is, but unfortunately whoever this assailant is, they've managed to stay outside of the shadow broker's web. That alone makes me one scared son of a bitch that I may be next on the list. So, as we have no other information to rely on, we have to operate on the assumptions that we have. If we're wrong, then we're wrong. But if we're right, then I'd very much like to get this son of a bitch before he gets me.</span><div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>