The two men stood facing each other: close enough that their shoulders were almost touching. The room was dark so only their silhouettes were discernible and a very deep sense of foreboding resided within the room.

The first man had a stocky strong build with a raptor gaze. He authoritatively slid his hand up toward the other man's neck and left his open palm resting on the other man's collar. His other hand was nonchalantly buried in his pant pocket. He leaned in to the other man's ear and quietly whispered, "What in the hell are you doing? Can you accomplish any task that I ask of you?"

"Well sir, there were unforeseen complications."

"COMPLICATIONS!" At this, his open palm seized the other man's neck on the left side just under the jaw. His other hand flew out of the pocket and clamped around the right side. Hissing like a viper, "You had one job to do during that entire raid. CAPTURE Titus Emmanuel! HMMM… INSTEAD YOU TRIED TO BLOW Him to hell." His voice getting softer and more forceful with each word. "And if that was not enough, You claim to have lost control of the sensor grid before the shuttle exfiltrated. It will not be hard for them to track the ship and find it. WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ROUTINE, YOU TURNED INTO A GOD DAMN CATASTROPHY THAT WE NOW HAVE TO CLEAN UP OR RISK ALL OUR PLANS AND MANUVERING TO FAIL!" He quickly released the other man. Still seething he paced in front of the subordinate.

"At least I disposed of the bodies.” Quaked the subordinate. His thinner frame seeming to tremble with anxiety.

“One success on a mountain of failure will not fix our predicament.”

Breathing heavily, the thinner man offered, "Sir, maybe we can turn this to our advantage. When they make the connection and find the ship we will be able to use it to lure Titus out and then capture him. We can use the same crew from the raid. He will come to them and it will be on our terms."

The stocky man pondered the idea then briskly commanded, "Make the arrangements with them. I want results." Seeming pacified, he turned to leave. On his way out the door, he stopped and turned. "Oh, and give word, I would like to keep the woman alive. She could provide a delicious distraction and a decent profit."

"Director, Venna Solis will be yours."