UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                              --------------------
                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                  October 24, 2005
                Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)

                               CONVERA CORPORATION
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             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware                        000-31989                       54-1987541

(State or other            (Commission File No.)           (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of                                            Identification No.)
incorporation)
                          1921 GALLOWS ROAD, SUITE 200
                             VIENNA, VIRGINIA 22182
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              (Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (703) 761-3700

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 _____ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
CFR 230.425)

_____ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)

_____ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

_____ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On October 24, 2005, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Convera Corporation
(the "Company"),  upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee of the Board
and the unanimous  approval of the  independent  members of the Board,  approved
certain  modified  severance  benefits  for the  Company's  President  and Chief
Executive  Officer,  Patrick C.  Condo.  Specifically,  the Board  approved  the
following severance arrangements for Mr. Condo:

(a) If Mr. Condo's employment is terminated without cause or he resigns for good
reason (as such terms were defined by the Board),  Mr. Condo will be entitled to
18 months  of salary  continuance,  1.5 times his  target  bonus for the year of
termination, 18 months' accelerated vesting of all options held by Mr. Condo and
18  months'  medical  benefits  coverage  (either  by  reimbursement,  continued
coverage or replacement coverage) (collectively,  the "Severance Benefits").  In
addition,  the restricted stock award made to Mr. Condo pursuant to an agreement
dated May 20, 2003, as amended on May 18, 2004 (the  "Restricted  Stock Award"),
of  which  300,000  shares  are  presently  unvested,  will  vest in  full  upon
termination  without cause and will be subject to 18 months'  additional vesting
in the event he resigns for good  reason.  In order for Mr. Condo to receive the
above  benefits,  he will be required to release the Company from all claims and
agree to an 18-month non-compete and non-solicitation agreement.

(b) If Mr. Condo is  terminated  without cause or resigns for good reason within
18 months following a change of control of the Company, he will receive the same
Severance Benefits described above. In addition, upon a change of control of the
Company, the unvested portion of the Restricted Stock Award will vest in full.





                                    SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

                                      CONVERA CORPORATION


                                       By:      /s/  PATRICK C. CONDO
                                                Patrick C. Condo
                                               Chief Executive Officer

Date:  October 28, 2005