DD looks injured at the reply. His face shows regret for having asked such a question.
"Sir, I-"
He pauses for a moment, correcting his sympathetic face back to a more business oriented expression. "-I am sorry. I didn't mean to offend you with the question. Please believe me that I had no intention to, well, ask for your secrets or anything like that."
He looks into the table for a moment, looking back up at his partner, his business face softened. "And, I am sorry to hear that progress has been less than expected. I too, know a few things about 'regime opposition' that has encountered difficulties."
He awkwardly clears his throat. "So I, um, suppose I should stick to less probing questions, huh? Like, 'Would you be comfortable, say, flying escort for supply runs and such?'"
