Ray nodded grimly. He was playing a travesty of an officer's duty, but it was the only way.
The two went down the passage, peering into cabins as they headed for the well. Here Lodar slammed down the fire hatch, thus blocking off the lower deck. He had just snapped the last wedge when Ray heard the clang of metal aft, and the patter of feet. The crew had burned out of their prison.
"Let's hold them here," Ray said. "I took their guns yesterday."
"Good!" Lodar stood beside him, legs outspread.
But as the first man, Williams, appeared and sighted Lodar, there was the vicious zing of a ray gun. The wall beside Lodar erupted sizzling metal as he ducked.
"So you took their guns!" he snarled, firing at the same time as Ray.
With yells, their attackers retreated, blasting wildly. The corridor filled with acid smoke and red-hot metal. Half the lights were gone, the rest were hazed by the stinking fumes. The mutineers were firing blindly from behind a corner, depending upon mere volume rather than any sort of aiming.
"Back up!" Lodar gasped. "Campora gave them all those weapons."
They retreated to the control room and bolted the door, while McVane and the girl stared.
"We're in a spot," Lodar admitted.