"No, I only convinced him to give me time to prepare," Baelheit says grimly, slowly lowering himself back into his chair. He breathes out a slow, steady sigh -- terse, tight. This has him as worried as Miriel's probably ever seen him. "He wasn't interested in giving me time, and I'm sure he saw through my gambit all the same. I won't tell him anything, Dr. Frost -- I will use every second I can to gird ourselves and our assets against an assault. To tell him I refuse would be to give away even the slightest advantage we might have now."