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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.20

                               VERTEL CORPORATION

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------

     This Employment Agreement (the "Agreement") is dated as of October 11, 2001
                                     ---------
by and between Marc E. Maassen ("Officer") and Vertel Corporation (the
                                 -------
"Company").
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     1.   Term of Agreement.
          -----------------

          (a) Term. This Agreement will commence on the date hereof and continue
              ----
until termination of the Agreement as provided for in Sections 1(b) or 5 below;
provided however that the parties may terminate this Agreement by mutual written
agreement at any time. The first year of this Agreement shall be referred to
herein as the "Original Term."
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          (b) Change of Control. The parties have previously entered into a
              -----------------
Retention Agreement dated October 11, 2001 (the "Retention Agreement") intended
                                                 -------------------
to provide certain benefits to Officer if his or her employment is terminated
under certain circumstances following a Change of Control (as defined in the
Retention Agreement) of the Company. This Agreement governs any termination of
Officer's employment that occurs prior to a Change of Control and any successor
to the Company will be obligated to perform the Company's obligations hereunder
as provided in Section 11 below. This Agreement terminates in its entirety upon
a Change of Control and the Retention Agreement governs any termination of
Officer's employment that occurs on or following a Change of Control.

     2.   Duties.
          ------

          (a) Position. Officer will be employed as President and Chief
              --------
Executive Officer of the Company, and as such will report to the Board of
Directors.

          (b) Obligations to the Company. Officer agrees to the best of his or
              --------------------------
her ability and experience that he or she will, to the reasonable satisfaction
of the Company, at all times loyally and conscientiously perform all of the
duties and obligations required of him or her pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement. Officer will comply with and be bound by the Company's operating
policies, procedures and practices from time to time in effect during the term
of Officer's employment.

     3.   At-Will Employment. The Company and Officer acknowledge that Officer's
          ------------------
employment is and will continue to be at-will, as defined under applicable law,
and that Officer's employment with the Company may be terminated by either party
at any time for any or no reason. If Officer's employment terminates for any
reason, Officer will not be entitled to any payments, benefits, damages, award
or compensation other than as provided in this Agreement. The rights and duties
created by this Section 3 may not be modified in any way except by a written
agreement executed by the Board of Directors on behalf of the Company.

<PAGE>

     4.   Compensation and Benefits. Officer's compensation will be as
          -------------------------
determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Officer will be eligible
to participate in the Company's employee benefit plans of general application,
including without limitation, those plans covering medical, disability and life
insurance in accordance with the rules established for individual participation
in any such plan and under applicable law. Officer will be eligible for vacation
and sick leave in accordance with the Company's policies in effect from time to
time and will receive such other benefits as the Company generally provides to
its other employees of comparable position and experience.

     5.   Termination of Employment and Severance Benefits.
          ------------------------------------------------

          (a)  Termination of Employment. Officer's employment and this
               -------------------------
Agreement may be terminated upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

               (i)   The Company's determination in good faith that it is
terminating Officer for Cause (as defined in Section 6(a) below) ("Termination
                                                                   -----------
for Cause");
---------

               (ii)  The Company's determination that it is terminating Officer
without Cause, which determination may be made by the Company at any time at the
Company's sole discretion, for any or no reason ("Termination Without Cause");
                                                  -------------------------

               (iii) The effective date of a written notice sent to the Company
from Officer stating that Officer is electing to terminate his or her employment
with the Company ("Voluntary Termination");
                   ---------------------

               (iv)  A change in Officer's status such that a Constructive
Termination (as defined in Section 6(b) below) has occurred; or

               (v)   As a result of Officer's death or Disability (as defined in
Section 6(c) below).

          (b)  Severance Benefits. Officer will be entitled to receive severance
               ------------------
benefits upon termination of employment only as set forth in this Section 5(b):

               (i)   Voluntary Termination. If Officer's employment terminates
                     ---------------------
by Voluntary Termination, then Officer will not be entitled to receive payment
of any severance benefits. Officer will receive payment(s) for all salary and
unpaid vacation accrued as of the date of Officer's termination of employment
and Officer's benefits will be continued under the Company's then existing
benefit plans and policies in accordance with such plans and policies in effect
on the date of termination and in accordance with applicable law.

               (ii)  Involuntary Termination during Original Term. Subject to
                     --------------------------------------------
Sections 7 and 8 below, if Officer's employment is terminated under Section
5(a)(ii) or 5(a)(iv) above (such termination, an "Involuntary Termination"),
                                                  -----------------------
Officer will be entitled to receive payment of severance benefits only as set
forth in this Section 5(b)(ii).

                                      -2-

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                     (A) Salary Continuance. If Officer experiences an
                         ------------------
Involuntary Termination during the Original Term, Officer will be entitled to
receive an amount equal to his or her regular monthly salary (subject to any
applicable tax withholding) as of the time of termination for twelve (12) months
following such termination (the "Original Term Severance Period"). If Officer
                                 ------------------------------
experiences an Involuntary Termination during any period of the Agreement
following the Original Term, Officer will be entitled to receive an amount equal
to his or her regular monthly salary as of the time of termination for six (6)
months following such termination (the "Subsequent Term Severance Period" and
                                        --------------------------------
together with the Original Term Severance Period, the "Applicable Severance
                                                       --------------------
Period"). Such payments will be made in one lump sum payment within two weeks of
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the date of termination of Officer's employment.

                     (B) Pro-Rated Quarterly Bonus. Officer will also be
                         -------------------------
entitled to receive payment within two weeks of the date of termination of the
pro-rated portion of any target quarterly bonus accrued to Officer through such
date of termination, as determined by the Board of Directors based on the
specific corporate or individual performance targets for such quarter.

                     (C) Other Benefits. Health insurance benefits with the same
                         --------------
coverage provided to Officer prior to the termination (e.g. medical, dental,
optical, mental health) and in all other respects significantly comparable to
those in place immediately prior to the termination will be provided at the
Company's cost over the Applicable Severance Period.

               (iii) Termination for Cause. If Officer's employment is
                     ---------------------
terminated for Cause, then Officer will not be entitled to receive payment of
any severance benefits. Officer will receive payment(s) for all salary and
unpaid vacation accrued as of the date of Officer's termination of employment
and Officer's benefits will be continued under the Company's then existing
benefit plans and policies in accordance with such plans and policies in effect
on the date of termination and in accordance with applicable law.

               (iv)  Termination by Reason of Death or Disability. In the event
                     --------------------------------------------
that Officer's employment with the Company terminates as a result of Officer's
death or Disability (as defined in Section 6(c) below), Officer or Officer's
estate or representative will receive all salary and unpaid vacation accrued as
of the date of Officer's death or Disability and any other benefits payable
under the Company's then existing benefit plans and policies in accordance with
such plans and policies in effect on the date of death or Disability and in
accordance with applicable law. In addition, Officer's estate or representative
will receive the pro-rated portion of any target quarterly bonus accrued to
Officer through such date of termination, as determined by the Board of
Directors based on the specific corporate or individual performance targets for
such quarter.

     6.   Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions
          -----------
will apply:


          (a)  "Cause" for Officer's termination will exist if the Company
                -----
terminates Officer's employment for any of the following reasons: (i) Officer's
willful failure substantially to perform his or her duties hereunder (other than
any such failure due to Officer's physical or mental illness), and such willful
failure is not remedied within 10 business days after written

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

notice from the Board of Directors, which written notice shall state that
failure to remedy such conduct may result in Termination for Cause, (ii)
Officer's engaging in willful and serious misconduct that has caused or is
reasonably expected to result in material injury to the Company or any of its
affiliates, (iii) Officer's conviction of or entering a plea of guilty or nolo
contender to a crime that constitutes a felony, or (iv) Officer's willful breach
of any of his or her obligations hereunder or under any other written agreement
or covenant with the Company or any of its affiliates and such willful breach is
not remedied within 10 business days after written notice from the Board of
Directors, which written notice shall state that failure to remedy such conduct
may result in Termination for Cause.

          (b) "Constructive Termination" will be deemed to occur if Officer
               ------------------------
voluntarily resigns within 30 days following (i) a material reduction in
Officer's job responsibilities, (ii) without Officer's prior written approval,
the Company requires Officer to relocate to a facility or location more than 50
miles from the Company's current location, it being understood that required
travel on the Company's business to an extent consistent with Officer's job
responsibilities does not constitute Constructive Termination, or (iii) a
reduction in Officer's then-current base salary, except that an across-the-board
reduction in the salary level of all of the Company's executive officers in the
same percentage amount as part of a general salary level reduction shall not
constitute Constructive Termination.

          (c) "Disability" will mean that Officer has been unable to perform his
               ----------
or her duties hereunder as the result of his or her incapacity due to physical
or mental illness, and after its commencement such inability, which continues
for at least 120 consecutive calendar days or 150 calendar days during any
consecutive twelve-month period, is determined to be total and permanent by a
physician selected by the Company and its insurers and acceptable to Officer or
to Officer's legal representative (with such agreement on acceptability not to
be unreasonably withheld).

     7.   Confidentiality Agreement; Breach of Confidentiality Provisions.
          ---------------------------------------------------------------
Officer will sign, or has signed, a Confidential Information and Invention
Assignment Agreement (the "Confidentiality Agreement") substantially in the form
                           -------------------------
attached hereto as Exhibit A. Officer hereby represents and warrants to the
                   ---------
Company that he or she has complied with all obligations under the
Confidentiality Agreement and agrees to continue to abide by the terms of the
Confidentiality Agreement and further agrees that the provisions of the
Confidentiality Agreement will survive any termination of this Agreement or of
Officer's employment relationship with the Company. Officer acknowledges that
upon breach of the confidentiality provisions contained in this Section 7, the
Company would sustain irreparable harm from such breach, and, therefore, Officer
agrees that in addition to any other remedies which the Company may have under
this Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement or otherwise, the Company will be
entitled to obtain equitable relief, including specific performance and
injunctions, restraining him or her from committing or continuing any such
violation of this Agreement or the Confidentiality Agreement. Officer further
agrees that upon his or her material or intentional breach of any of the
provisions of this Section 7 and following written notice of such breach by the
Company to Officer and an opportunity to cure such breach within 5 business days
where such breach may be cured, in addition to any other remedies the Company
may have, the Company's obligations to provide payments and benefits to Officer
as described in Section 5(b)

                                       -4-

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of this Agreement will immediately terminate and, to the extent payments and
benefits have already been paid to Officer at the time of a breach occurring
within the Applicable Severance Period in a lump sum relating to the entire
Applicable Severance Period, the Company will have the right to recover from
Officer the value, in cash, of such payments or benefits that relate to the
portion of the Applicable Severance Period beginning on the date of breach and
ending on the termination of the Applicable Severance Period.

     8.   Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Covenants; Breach of Agreement.
          -----------------------------------------------------------------

          (a)  Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Covenants. In consideration
               --------------------------------------------
for the Company's entering into this Agreement and for the payment of any
benefits hereunder, Officer hereby agrees that he or she will not, during the
term of his or her employment pursuant to this Agreement and the Applicable
Severance Period, if any, do any of the following without the prior written
consent of the Board of Directors:

               (i)   Compete. Carry on any business or activity (whether
                     -------
directly or indirectly, as a partner, stockholder, principal, agent, director,
affiliate, employee or consultant) which is competitive with the business
conducted by the Company (as conducted now or during the term of Officer's
employment), nor engage in any other activities that conflict with Officer's
obligations to the Company. Both parties acknowledge officer's current
director/advisory positions with the following companies as non-competitive:
Comtec International, Reveal Systems and Starsys Corporation.

               (ii)  Solicit Business. Solicit or influence or attempt to
                     ----------------
influence any client, customer or other person either directly or indirectly, to
direct his, her or its purchase of the Company's products and/or services to any
person, firm, corporation, institution or other entity in competition with the
business of the Company.

               (iii) Solicit Personnel. Solicit or influence or attempt to
                     -----------------
influence any person or entity employed or engaged as a consultant by the
Company to terminate or otherwise cease his, her or its employment or consulting
relationship with the Company or become an employee or consultant of any
competitor of the Company. This Section 8(a)(iii) is to be read in conjunction
with Section [6] of the Confidential Agreement executed by Officer.

          (b)  Breach of Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Provisions. Officer
               -------------------------------------------------------
acknowledges that the Company's entering into this Agreement and committing to
make any payments required hereunder represents consideration for Officer's
agreement to abide by the restrictions set forth in Section 8(a). Nothing in
this Agreement shall prohibit Officer from engaging in any action or activity
prohibited under Section 8(a)(i), (ii) or (iii) above during the term of
employment or the Applicable Severance Period (a "Prohibited Activity");
                                                  -------------------
provided however that if Officer chooses to engage in a Prohibited Activity,
Officer agrees that he or she will forego any payments or benefits to which he
or she would otherwise have been entitled hereunder from and following the date
of, or the date of commencement of, the Prohibited Activity (such date, the
"Prohibited Activity Date") and, to the extent payments and benefits have
 ------------------------
already been paid to Officer in a lump sum relating to the entire Applicable
Severance Period as of the Prohibited Activity Date, Officer agrees to return to
the Company the value, in cash, of any

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

such payments or benefits that relate to the period beginning on the Prohibited
Activity Date and ending on the termination of the Applicable Severance Period.

     9.   Conflicts. Officer represents that his or her performance of all the
          ---------
terms of this Agreement will not breach any other agreement to which Officer is
a party. Officer has not, and will not during the term of this Agreement, enter
into any oral or written agreement in conflict with any of the provisions of
this Agreement. Officer further represents that he or she is entering into or
has entered into an employment relationship with the Company of his or her own
free will and that he or she has not been solicited as an employee in any way by
the Company.

     10.  Release. In consideration for the Company's entering into this
          -------
Agreement and as a condition to receipt of any benefits to which Officer may be
entitled under Section 5(b) above, Officer agrees that upon his or her
termination of employment with the Company, provided that he or she will receive
the benefits provided for in this agreement, he or she will execute an agreement
in a form mutually acceptable to the officer and the Company pursuant to which
Officer will agree to release the Company and its officers, agents and
successors from claims related to or arising from Officer's employment
relationship with the Company that occurred through and including the date of
termination of employment.

     11.  Successors. Any successor to the Company (whether direct or indirect
          ----------
and whether by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise)
or to all or substantially all of the Company's business and/or assets will
assume the obligations under this Agreement and agrees expressly to perform the
obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as
the Company would be required to perform such obligations in the absence of a
succession. The terms of this Agreement and all of Officer's rights hereunder
will inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, Officer's personal or legal
representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees.

     12.  Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including any Exhibits hereto,
          ----------------
constitutes the sole agreement of the parties and supersedes all oral
negotiations and prior writings with respect to the subject matter hereof. The
entering into by the parties of this Agreement does not supersede, replace,
invalidate the effectiveness of, amend or otherwise alter the Retention
Agreement and it is the intent of the parties that the Retention Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect following execution of this Agreement.

     13.  Miscellaneous Provisions.
          ------------------------

          (a)  No Duty to Mitigate. Officer will not be required to mitigate the
               -------------------
amount of any payment contemplated by this Agreement (whether by seeking new
employment or in any other manner), nor, except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, will any such payment be reduced by any earnings that Officer may
receive from any other source.

          (b)  Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended
               ----------------------
or waived only with the written consent of the parties.

                                      -6-

<PAGE>

          (c)  Notices. Any notice required or permitted by this Agreement will
               -------
be in writing and will be deemed sufficient upon receipt, when delivered
personally or by a nationally-recognized delivery service (such as Federal
Express or UPS), or 48 hours after being deposited in the U.S. mail as certified
or registered mail with postage prepaid, if such notice is addressed to the
party to be notified at such party's address as set forth below or as
subsequently modified by written notice.

          (d)  Choice of Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and
               -------------
performance of this Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of
California, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws.

          (e)  Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are
               ------------
held to be unenforceable under applicable law, the parties agree to renegotiate
such provision in good faith. In the event that the parties cannot reach a
mutually agreeable and enforceable replacement for such provision, then (i) such
provision will be excluded from this Agreement, (ii) the balance of the
Agreement will be interpreted as if such provision were so excluded and (iii)
the balance of the Agreement will be enforceable in accordance with its terms.

          (f)  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
               ------------
each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will
constitute one and the same instrument.

          (g)  Arbitration. Any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection
               -----------
with this Agreement will be finally settled by binding arbitration in Los
Angeles County, California in accordance with the rules of the American
Arbitration Association by one arbitrator appointed in accordance with said
rules. The arbitrator will apply California law, without reference to rules of
conflicts of law or rules of statutory arbitration, to the resolution of any
dispute. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any
court having jurisdiction thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties
may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for preliminary or interim
equitable relief, or to compel arbitration in accordance with this paragraph,
without breach of this arbitration provision. This Section 13(h) will not apply
to the Confidentiality Agreement.

          (h)  Advice of Counsel. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT ACKNOWLEDGES
               -----------------
THAT, IN EXECUTING THIS AGREEMENT, SUCH PARTY HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK
THE ADVICE OF INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL, AND HAS READ AND UNDERSTOOD ALL OF THE
TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE CONSTRUED
AGAINST ANY PARTY BY REASON OF THE DRAFTING OR PREPARATION HEREOF.

                            [Signature Page Follows]

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

      The parties have executed this Agreement the date first written above.


                                     VERTEL CORPORATION


                                     By: /s/ Jack P. Reily

                                     Title:  On behalf of the Board of Directors
                                             -----------------------------------

                                     Address:  21300 Victory Blvd., #700
                                               Woodland Hills, CA 91367



                                     NAME :     Marc E. Maassen


                                     Signature: /s/ Marc E. Maassen

                                     Address:___________________________________

                                             ___________________________________

                                      -8-




<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A
                                    ---------

                          CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND
                         INVENTION ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

                                      -9-