"The contract required completion," the operative said.
"The contract required you to walk into a contained environment where your support had been dismantled and try to complete an operation that three days of effort hadn't managed." Morris's voice was entirely professional. "That's not a contract. That's a sacrifice play."
Something moved through the operative's expression. Small. Controlled.
"Your organization sent you back knowing the environment was compromised," Morris said. "Knowing two of your team had been detained. Knowing the inquiry was in motion." A pause. "They sent you to complete or be caught. Either outcome serves their purpose."
The operative was very still.
"Completion gives them the resource allocation outcome they've been building toward," Morris continued.
