not a big point, but I'm Texan and Al's actually Californian. That Dreyfuss person that Meri keeps trying to compare Al to (not a lot in common between the two men, other than the fact that both kept thwarting her or trying to at every turn; see the "Merovingia" post) is/was the Texian; there may be a similarity of secret attraction for Meri, but I haven't decided about that yet.
Al would tend to bury it under protocol and loyalty, but I keep thinking he's long had kind of a developing soft spot for the Captain, hopeless though such may be, so there may be a bit of conflict in the offing in that respect).
Not trying to alter the storyline; I put that 'sound on the other side of crates' there for either rescue by one of or the rest of the squadron, or recapture by the enemy, whichever fits.