"Maybe, or maybe you've never had a good commander," Shepard temporizes, tilting her head this way and that, to exemplify the options, "I'm angling to get the Free Cities military to let me employ specialists under my authority, but with their backing. It's a whole... loyalty process, it's honestly a pain in the ass, but if I get the commission, you wouldn't be working with any army. You'd be working with me."

Hands spread, options on the table; there you go, Aloy. An offer, and a real one. Shepard gives her a minute to think about it, cracking open a crate. It's theater, really, she knows she could simply conjure whatever she wants right into her hands, but Shepard prefers the illusion of reality. This is where the heavy weapons would be stored, in reality, after all.

"Just something to think about— oh here we go," She hefts it out, a bulky, angular piece of equipment, requiring both hands and plenty of muscle to wield, "Arc projector. Takes a couple seconds to charge though, so it's a little fiddly in-action, but it's perfect for taking down synthetics. Try it."

Here you go, Aloy. Have a crack at it.

"Just watch the arc distance. It's a little grabby, you'll see what I mean."