Thrawn's Lounge

Harper, still in very high spirits after his promotion ceremony, headed away from the HQ, down the familiar streets of this area of Coruscant, the section where he had spent most of his life. Of course, Coruscant was a huge ecumenopolis, and probably no one knew all of her secrets, but Harper had the luck of having lived on this area, althou there had been a lot of construction going ever since First Order claimed the city, and he needed to refer to a map a few times on his way. But eventually he did find it, a bar which was his favorite, althou he didn't drink often, where he supposed he could have a glass and think. There was a stormtrooper captain who ordered an ale before him. Harper got his turn and ordered a glass of ale as well, althou medium sized one did just well for him. The bar was full, and there was not an empty table, he spotted an empty seat beside the stormtrooper captain, and turned to him, asking:

"Are you expecting someone, or do you mind if I sit here?"

Harper smiled just slightly at the man and sat down beside him. He took a sip from his ale. He took off his uniform hat now that he was inside, as well as his outer jacket, leaving still the navy jacket, that he didn't feel very comfortable removing outside home. He had worn it every day for so many years it was beginning to feel like a second skin to him.

"This place is a good choice for that, my definite favorite on this area",

he said, nodding at the man's glass.

"It is good to make your acquaintance. Name's Harper."

Harper returned the salute, although he made sure to put his hat back on first as well as his glass to the table. But he smiled in a relaxed manner despite that.

"You may call me Harper or Devon, whichever you'd prefer, at least off-duty, that is"

Harper emptied his glass and proceeded to turn his empty glass around in his hands, pondering whether he should order another.

Harper glanced at the hulking, armored man beside their table, then at his new acquaintance. He was very confused by the meaning of this, the man looked like someone you wouldn't except to find in a bar targeted for middle-class Coruscantian citizens.
And apparently over something as petty as a suit of armor, no more. Harper frowned, he was a pragmatist, so while he believed having standard equipment played important purpose by making managing the logistics easier for the officers, and ensuring that everyone had good gear they needed to do their jobs, if a soldier was to get a piece of non-standard equipment to their hands, and to feel that piece of equipment serves them better than the standard one, then Harper would have no issues with them using said equipment. He was well aware that the soldier at a task probably knew the reality of said task better than their higher officers, despite said officers doing their best to know the reality of each task.
But the officers were in command over so many, that knowing each and every task through and through to same extent as the actual people on said tasks would be impossible. Therefore, he deemed complaining over someone using a non-standard suit of equipment petty and unnecessary.

Then again, the man was a bit taller, and a lot more muscular, and wearing a suit of armor compared to Harper's officer uniform which offered no protection whatsoever. So Harper did not feel like voicing these opinions. As a force-sensitive, Harnan would probably sense Harper's disdain, however.

Clearly a friendly drink and discussion wasn't on the cards. Well, when the higher-ups watched the holotape, they'd be able to see Captain Fel did not start the disturbance, nor escalate it into violence first.

Cover your ears. Victarion used the time he had before the Ren was on him to warn Harper, sotto voce.

::You can address me as Lord Ren... And when I give you an order, you'd do well to listen the first time...::

Harnan's hand moved fast, and without wishing to injure his friend, Victarion had to wait before acting, lest protecting himself from this assault caused harm to others who were not involved.

The Ren was strong, and slammed Vic's head into the bar, though with his hands free, Victarion was able to put them down and cushion the impact so that his head hit his own hands. The mug of ale fell to the floor and smashed. Waste of kriffing ale, Vic cursed.

How am I supposed to take off the armour while you're playing with me, Lord Ren? Vic asked, a little cheekily.

In seconds, the Ren would have more trouble than he expected from the special forces Captain, who was not unarmed, nor unprepared to deal with a violent attack. He was certainly very aware of his civilian surroundings, not a place he was comfortable. That caused him to show due caution to the other uninvolved First Order personnel around, as well as the venue being somewhere high ranking personnel might frequent, and it would not do to be seen brawling.

Harnan Ren Devon Harper

Harper felt happy that someone at higher echelons seemed to share his viewpoint. He immediately realized that the man who spoke wasn't just an ordinary businessman, but likely here due either to Lord Ren, Victarion or himself. Otherwise he would never have said what he had said.

"I agree. Infighting doesn't do Order proud. We should strive to make the Order great, not tear it to pieces from within", Harper followed the man's words.

Harper immediately bit his tongue after saying that, realizing he had spoken hastily and out of place. It wasn't like him, but he had been at the promotion ceremony whole day, and was getting a bit tired, and alcohol didn't help the matter. Then, a bit confused he covered his ears as instructed by Victarion.

Things were getting very tense. Victarion was in the Ren's grip, but still had his hands free. He felt his throat being clenched, and could not resist. That was enough. He had to act or die.

I offered you the chance to do as you were told Fel...

Victarion's free hands found a belt control, and a pistol, which he drew. The belt control activated ultrasonic projectors which whined out a blast of sound loud enough to burst eardrums within a ten meter radius, and louder still at close range. He wore sound-cancelling earbuds that would protect his own ears, most Commandos had access to such technology, and Vic was glad he'd come in the armour now, or he'd have removed them to put on civilian garb.

A summary execution would be how the Empire deals with thieves. It would make retrieving stolen property that much easier...

When the lightsaber came up to hum just short of his face, Victarion's sidearm was pointed at Harnan's groin from the hip. A rare and dangerous MSD-32 Disruptor Pistol, humming and ready to fire.

Try it. Victarion croaked with a bravery he didn't feel, through a fast-closing windpipe, hanging in the air. Black spots began to play across his vision. He'd fire the weapon before he died, and take Harnan with him.