The argument was a low, simmering fire.
Kael stood with his arms crossed, a mountain of military pragmatism, his gaze fixed on Miles with an expression of profound skepticism.
"It's a fool's errand," Kael said, his voice a low rumble that cut through the nervous energy of the room.
"You want to send a three-person team into the most heavily fortified corporate structure on the continent."
"That isn't a plan."
"It's a suicide pact orchestrated by a child who thinks he's invincible."
Miles just stared back, his face a perfect, unreadable mask.
He had expected this.
He had anticipated the resistance.
He just hadn't expected it to be so… stubborn.
"Okay, new leadership strategy," his internal monologue whispered, a dry, sarcastic commentary track to his own failing coup. "Maybe I should try yelling."
"That seems to work for a lot of people in charge."
"Or I could challenge him to a dance-off."
"That would be unexpected."
