(All) To be found?

Paladin waited in the shadows. "Creys Folly" was one of the more inhospitable places in Paragon City, even though he conducted many missions in this area and had more than a few contacts in darker places than the one he was standing in. Still, all sorts of evil lurked everywhere. How Crey Industries was able to make anything from the factories and office complexes was still a wonder to him.

A cola can danced down an alley and it's echo was sure to attract attention. Paladin instinctively reached for his twin silenced Eagle pistols but thought against actually drawing from their holsters. Was that a sign?

Proust's red scarf seemed to glow in the darkness from the alley. He nodded to Paladin then looked both ways of the street separating them. Paladin did the same and all seemed clear.

Hoping against watchful Nemesis snipers, Paladin sprinted from his concealed location. As he crossed the median he wished Proust carried some sort of rifle because the hulking man was in a perfect defilade. Meanwhile, Paladin was a moving target, albeit a very fast moving one and silent as a whisper. He launched himself into the air and vaulted above Proust, noticing his margin for error was almost nullified by Proust's considerable height. He landed behind Proust with a hushed tap and when he looked at his large compatriot is when he noticed the tri-barrelled cannon slung over the shoulder.

Paladin's mouth dropped as he recognized the prototype weapon: a Magna Hellstar Particle Projection Cannon. "By the Sephiroth ... where the hell did you get that thing?!"

Proust raised a finger to where his mouth was covered by the shroud. "Secret."

Rolling his eyes, Paladin reached into his cargo pants leg pouch and pulled some neatly folded papers. "Of course, is it the 'top' version?"

"Indeed."

"Indeed. Let me know how powerful that thing is, will ya? I heard it can be pretty loud."

"Boom." Proust's free hand made a sign suggesting a large explosion.

"Indeed."

"Indeed."

Paladin watched Proust accept the paper and unfold it one-handed while his other hand still rested on the trigger of the cannon. He watched Proust read in the dark and enjoyed the look in his eyes as Proust comprehended the news.

"That's right big fella. We found one. And before your group could do it."

"Planned?"

"One day you'll have to trust me. My sources actually want you to succeed. This came to us via a mole in the Twilight Consortium. She was located in Warburg and doesn't know any affiliation, at least not according to that report. Regardless, the Korps needs to be put together. There is a storm on the horizon and it's why you are here."

Proust was still reading the report. He looked up when Paladin stopped talking. "Mission?"

While nodding, "Oh, yes. An unknown group stole a shipment of weapons from Vanguard."

"Retrieve?"

"No, we already know the Dawn Patrol are investigating who did it. We want you to do something more suited to your abilities. The last page is a copy from the Patrol's investigations. Follow the one known as 'The Scarlet Scorpion'. According to the report, she knows where the shipment is and it's in Talos. Your mission is to enter the location after she leaves with any evidence. It's not what they stole, but who did it."

"Explain."

Paladin took a step closer as if the next thing he were to say could alter the course of history. He looked into Proust's eyes.

"Punish."