["If" the opportunity ever comes up... he tilts his head, hiding his disappointment with a curious raise of his eyebrows.]

Is this not an opportunity?

[Did the other man simply get dragged into this against his will...? Altius has questions, but he can set them aside for now. He does have answers for this, somewhat:]

It's my understanding that they've been gone long enough for the AI to recognize their absence due to the lack of maintenance.