"Back home Shockwave created a mech with a hyper-regeneration system powered by some sort of atomic core. Combined with radiation powers that could drain the energy out of any system, he was nearly invulnerable. If you can put most mechs back together, I'm sure you can take them apart as well. So I'm curious what you would have done to stop someone like that."

Starscream already knew what he'd do because it happened and it didn't work. Not the way he intended at least. The result was messy and not something he wanted to deal with again. He went wrong somewhere and while he wouldn't openly admit it, maybe getting a second opinion on the best course of action to take was a good idea.