Layla clocks the guards coming in from the side first, and makes a brief, sharp gesture with her free hand. The heavy steel door opening onto the hall slams shut in their faces - slams shut and sticks, in spite of the sound of cursing and rattling on the other side.

"Down!" she calls to the old man and young woman. She drops back behind one of the shallow pillars that hold some of the venting - scant cover, but better than nothing at all - and gestures to the silver-armed man to take cover on the opposite side of the hall.