Baelheit can see there's no point in lying to Megatron. Unlike Starscream, who seemed overly fond of mincing words, Megatron is far more direct -- and formidable. And Baelheit is not given to theatrics, at any rate.

"I was merely gauging the wisdom of allowing such a potentially vital resource to fall into the hands of a largely unknown quantity," Baelheit says carefully, his words measured and slow. "If I seem hesitant to disclose our progress, it is only a practical precaution to take. As I have come to understand during the course of conducting our business together, Commander Starscream has proven himself to be...rather unpredictable in nature. I could not be sure what he might intend to do if I handed over the research without consideration. Initially he led us to believe that he was the only Cybertronian on this planet -- and I am sure he believed it at the time, as I have a hard time imagining he would seek medical assistance from a human otherwise -- but as that is obviously no longer the case, I see I now have much more to consider."