Bart darts left using the control panel as cover to check around the corner. Seeing no one, he turns to watch Merinn as she enters, "Not bad, we'll work on it later. Besides, I'm sure you'd move faster if there were actual shots," he says as she comes to a stop.

"I'd pee myself a lot faster, you mean." Merinn lowers the pistol.

Motioning to the open ducts with his chin, "Looks like you were right and Des is in the vents. Wonder why the comm doesn't work in there?"

"You make sure the ducts are sealed and lock this door," patting the hatch into engineering as he walks out. "I'm off to take care of the bridge. Once that's secure we'll lock staterooms and go through one section at a time," as he briskly moves across the cargo bay.

"Aye, aye." Merinn closes and locks the engineering access hatch and leans down to look into the vent. "Des?"

JR