Would it be wrong to stab my players in the neck?, When the players out play the GM... Options

[thelovedr]

So lastnight was epic. The players through amazing planning and resourceful use of contacts completely bypassed almost all of the second 'Dawn of the Artifacts" adventure. The story teller in me wants to give the players a high-five but the GM in me wants to stab them in the neck for wasting the money.

Just so i dont spoil the adventure if you havent done it, I'll be vague. The runners accomplish the objective, but the bad guy is still alive. The thing is, the bad guy can just take it from the players if he wants to... prepared mages are mean.

So here is the question:
Do I just congratulate the players on an amazing play, or do i keep it real and take it back?

-Congratulations involves crap tons of work and a little waste of IRL money (which I hate).


-Keeping it real involves invalidating the players hard work and all around great plan.
-If I do this right though, it could be an epic fight and chase to the end.


Any Ideas?? Thanks in advance, and may your first child be a masculine one.

-the love dr