I know. In that case, he'd do the work, but it's a principles thing for Ced. He'd be furious.

But maybe---hmm. I can see it working if Howard tricks him at first, Ced convinces his players to go for it, and then Howard changes his mind and tells him the truth before it starts? He'd still be upset, but he'd agree to go with Security and protect them---probably stage his own capture later to try to apologize and help out.