Robert leaned back in his chair, considering the question. He knew he could trust Jesa; that part wasn't in question. But still, he had to ask. "How badly do you need to know?" His tone carried the message, 'I'm gonna tell you, but I've gotta ask.'

She had chosen to call him, finally, after much debate. She needed further confirmation than rumor. This was her one piece of evidence that she would present, and she needed to know unequivocally where it had come from. Jesa would use the information in her own way, of course, but it had to be genuine to start with. She was using his personal encryption to both identify herself and hopefully throw people off the track if anyone was trying to eavesdrop on the message.

"Let's just say that it could be the piece of information that might save my life," she replied, utterly serious.

Robert nodded, bringing one arm up to his chest and the other atop that so a hand could rub his chin. "In other words, 'Pretty damn badly'. Lucky for you, I keep tabs on things like that. Last I saw, there was a higher level project here called 'Nightstalker'. I couldn't get much, despite my best efforts. It's not in my department, and the security for it is a lot tighter then I can get through easily. Though the little information I can get combined with running rumors point to it being a personal cloak."

Jesa scowled, this wasn't good. Well, it was good, for her purposes, but it definitely made her case more interesting and less certain. Now she had restricted technology from two separate powers, combined in an attempt to end her existence. "Do you know what stage it is in? Even roughly?"

Robert's eyes closed as he sifted through his data. It took a moment to recompile everything he had along with sometimes conflicting rumors. "Something Jacen heard... Something about a sensor glitch being reported, then being removed from the record within the hour." His eyes opened, his face showing concern. "I'd say they're well into testing. Jacen's very reliable on this sort of thing."

Jesa reached down beside her and held up a box slightly larger than her hand with a belt dangling from the back of it. She played her thumb over the button and most of her torso and left arm disappeared, leaving a shoulder sticking oddly out of the air with nothing but an arm attached. Then she thumbed it again and she reappeared. "You think they'll want these back?"

Robert's eyes widened a bit at the initial shock, then quickly went back to normal after a couple fast blinks. "Do I wanna know how you got that?"

"Off the bodies of assassins," Jesa stated calmly.

He was silent a moment. "Got a detailed scan you could send me?"

She set the device down and tapped at the console, "Uploading now."

Moments later it appeared, encrypted, on his computer. Decryption took moments, and the scans appeared on his screen. He sifted through the device, identifying what he could. He spoke as he worked. "Casing is pretty standard. Power source... Looks Federation, or Fed-based. Cloak generator... Looks like some reverse-engineered Romulan tech. Though that makes sense. We've gotten access to a couple of them over time." He looked at her. "Sorry, but it looks like you called it."

Jesa just shook her head. "I wish I could say that helped, but it actually just made things make less sense."

"Damn..." he muttered. "Sorry about that. Anything else I can do?"

Jesa shook her head. "No, I don't want to point any more attention your way than I have to. All I can do is say thank you."

Robert nodded. "Anytime, my friend. And I'm here if you need me. Now, time for a question of curiosity. What happened? You kinda dropped off the face of the galaxy for a few years. Alice and I were worried. Couldn't do much, since there were no clues to follow."

Jesa took a slow breath, "About a week into our honeymoon, there was an assassiation attempt. We recovered a lot of - very interesting technology. Including this cloak, but also a device inhibiting Buck's ability to detect our attackers, and a weapon which.... would kill me instantly." She paused to let the information soak in. "We managed to survive the encounter, but the two assassins didn't survive to say anything. When we attempted to beam to another location to begin remote surveillance of whoever might come and discover the fate of their agents, the yacht blew almost before our transporter cycled completely."

Robert was silent for several moments. All he could think of to say was, "I wish Alice had found the clues she was looking for."

"We've been staying underground since then, until next week," Jesa responded. "Then things fall into place."

He quirked an eyebrow at her, "What are you going to do?"

If she had been more relaxed, Jesa would have laughed. Instead she gave a slight half-smile. "Not kill anyone - not yet. Just play their game, with a new set of rules."

Robert replied, just as seriously, "I'm not sure how much I can help there. Politics aren't my strong suit, and what voice I have does not reach that far."

Jesa shook her head in dismissal, "It's alright. I just wanted you to know what was up. We will find a way to survive."

"You've still got me as a resource, along with my friends in that part of space." He smiled. "And if all goes well, I may have more then just a shuttle to help with pretty soon."

"Just keep yourself at a safe distance," Jesa said seriously. "I don't need to be worrying about more than I have to worry about now." It was a selfish way to put the selfless desire, but maybe it would get the point through.

He nodded. "Just making sure you're sure, that's all."

"I am sure," she flashed a smile, "I've had three years to think about how this must be done, and to discuss it with my husband."

Robert smiled back. He wasn't sure if he'd ever seen her smile... It was nice. "Oh, Alice wanted me to say hello if I saw you before she did."

Jesa's gaze turned a little distant as she searched for a reference to Alice with regards to Robert. She hated admitting she didn't remember someone, but it was obvious that the name wasn't ringing a bell. "Alice," she repeated, as though saying the name herself would bring some familiarity to it.

Robert simply said, "Formerly known as Delta."

"Oh!" Jesa drew together the reasons for a name change in the space of a single breath. "Android now?"

He smiled and nodded. "Has been for a few years. Decided to join Starfleet, too. She's a science officer on the U.S.S. Independence."

Jesa chuckled, "Good for her." Her voice lowered a little in tone, "I assuming female because of the name." She waited for a confirmation nod and then smiled. "Well, give her my regards when next you speak with her."

"Will do. But look her up, too. I'm sure she'd be glad to hear from you."

"I will make note of it," she said. "Though I have quite a lot on my plate to tend to right now," Jesa added. "And I really must go. Thank you again for all of your help."

He gave a formal nod. "I'm always here. Best of luck, my friend."

"Stay well, Robert," Jesa said with a nod before ending the channel.

And that was that. The last piece she needed.

Now it was time to act.