[the determination doesn't leave his face, though he does nod once in reply to her question.]

Then we'll just have to do our best to make sure that the cat doesn't get away with making this the final decision. ...But for now, no matter how this situation is looked at, it's weighing so many lives against others, right? So if you think you could be of more help to those waiting for you back home than those of us here, I won't press the topic any further than this.