by Mark Lemke
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?
I took my phone out of my pocket, pressed a key to answer it, listened to a brief message, acknowledged it, and hung up.
"Hector, my men are in the airlock. You just lost Unit 1.? Secure from the drill. ?Assemble your men in the auditorium in 15 minutes for a critique of your performance.? When you're done with that, I'll be in your manager's office."
Hector looked at me, eyes brimming with anger. ?I held his gaze for a moment, not to challenge him, but to make sure he didn't react in the heat of the moment.? Or if he did, that I was ready to respond.
?Without breaking eye contact with me, Hector said, "Ted, tell the team to secure from the drill and assemble in the auditorium in 15."
?Ted did as he was instructed.? In a monotone voice, he put the word out over the radio.
?The tension of the moment over, I broke off with Hector and walked out of the facility and into the cool night air for the short walk to the security manager's office.? It was going to be a long night.