Ouch, going for the low blows right off the bat. Once again he's caught a little flat-footed, and takes Verity's advice while he tries to decide how to answer that, falling back into the interrupted rhythm of his stride.

"Starfleet's going out there with or without me," he says after several moments' worth of thought. "Aren't the same lives at risk whether or not I'm there? Except mine."