The Scarman Enigma

[|Scarecrow|]

Deck 1, near the bridge,

Lucas turned the corner after Kurt, wondering all the while what had to be so important that the bounty hunter felt the need to drag him from the bridge. The two men continued on down the corridor for a while before Manning opened the door to a currently unused meeting room and shoved Anderson roughly inside.
What the hell are you up too, Lucas hissed as he turned to face Kurt.
Im on to something, Manning said quietly as he sealed the door behind him. And everyone else is really busy.

What are you talking about, Lucas looked at him in bewilderment.
Listen and listen well, Kurt said, holding up his hands. During the attack on the Danaan, I was still on board one of the Thunderhawks returning from the planet. From the porthole I witnessed some of the attack on the Dreadnought from the outside. Several ships, bearing different markings to those flown by the Black Flag Corsairs were attacking the Danaan directly. I tracked them until I docked and then got to the nearest sensory observation post so that I could continue tracking them. By that point however the attackers were retreating and the Black Flag Corsairs had penetrated the Danaans defenses.

So what are you saying, Lucas enquired, failing to see where Kurt was leading him.
On the observation deck, I tracked one of the unmarked ships as she made re-entry into Los Angeles atmosphere. She used an indirect approach, coming down somewhere over the Green Valley Forest. A couple of other plasma trails lead over toward that area, their signatures indicating that they are quite recent.
So the Black Flag Corsairs, or at least their cohorts, are operating from somewhere in Green Valley?
Possibly, but with everyone bogged down in dealing with the onboard threat, I dont see any way of investigating this short of flying a Typhoon down there and checking it out for myself.
Lucas looked at Kurt, noting the wry smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

You do realize I have duties as well as everyone else, He said,
Of course, but none as important, look Lucas, this could pinpoint where Jadyn is working from. If we can grab a lead or something, anything, then we can call in and report, call for backup if needed.
Lucas thought for a moment before sighing in resignation, Youre right I suppose. Get us some kit whilst I clear a couple of Typhoons for lift-off.
Great, Ill meet you in the hangar bay in ten minutes. Kurt clapped his hands together and made for the door.
Dont be late, Lucas called after him, shaking his head despairingly.

---

Deck 5, en route to the brig,

Thomas Serov strode along the corridor, the Black Flag Corsair operative trudging along in front of him at gunpoint. Fleet Admiral Merlow had agreed to meet them at the brig, where the man, Connors, would be thrown in a cell along with the other Black Flag prisoner Klaus Reinhardt had brought up from the planet. The woman Seras Victoria had slain back at the VIP Transporter Room was being carried to the morgue by a number of medical officers. The crisp white sheets that covered her mutilated body were stained heavily with dark blood. Serov watched the pitiful procession depart as the medical team and his own team split up, heading for their own respective destinations.

Captain Victoria Wade met Thomas at the end of the corridor, a couple of young marines accompanying her.
Whats the deal? She asked as they came to a halt before her.
Weve caught one and killed the other, Serov said, looking over at Connors. The tall black man said nothing, simply glaring at the Black Lotus General. This one has identified himself as Pete Connors, a Brawler amongst the BFC. His comrade was Lorraine Hurst, also a Brawler.
Is Brawler a high rank? Victoria asked, looking Connors over with contempt.
We think so, considering information we have gathered on this pirate warband in the past.

Serov moved Victoria over to one side, gently taking her by the arm.
There is something you ought to know, He said quietly.
What is it? She asked, puzzled.
From our encounters with the Black Flag Corsairs, in the dimension we first jumped too after our home, we learned that they were vicious and unrelenting fighters; murderers, rapists, thieves, all kinds of scum.
Youre point?
Their leader, the one they proclaim Tyrant, well Serov trailed off as he looked at Edge. Well, the man they called Tyrant was in fact that universes alternate version of Admiral Scarman.
Victoria gasped in shock, pressing her hands to her cheeks. But that cant be
It looks like the universe has some sick ways of balancing things out, but no, its true. Tyrant Marcus Scarman had a run in with Fleet Admiral Merlow and well the details of that are for another time. But this man is nothing like the Marcus we know, hes dangerous, cold, unrelenting. And we think hes working with Sayne Jadyn.

Anything new? Both Victoria and Thomas looked up in time to see Robert Merlow appear from the opposite end of the corridor accompanied by four Sadukar Soldiers and Senator Scarman, the Marcus Scarman of the current dimension of residence. Victoria looked at the Senator, feeling a slight headache begin to stir. All this nonsense with alternate versions of people she knew was beginning to confuse her. She prayed that she would never meet any alternate versions of herself.
Nothing new Robert, Serov said as he straightened up, I was just clarifying a few things for Captain Wade.
Good, Robert said, smiling at Victoria. Well have to wait and see if we have dealt with all of the insurgents on board. Good job catching this one though Thomas, if he is actually a Brawler then there is a good chance that he was behind coordinating these attacks. Throw him in the brig.
Aye sir,

Captain Wade, youre with me, Merlow turned to Victoria, but she didnt respond. She had become entranced with the Senator. And it seemed he had become entranced with her. Her look was one of puzzlement; his seemed to be one of disbelief.
Captain Wade, Merlow said again, this time more gently. She blinked several times before looking at him.
Yes, of course. Im right with you sir,
The two of them nodded to the others and walked off down the corridor. Senator Scarman watched Victoria go, a look of dangerous hunger glinting in his eyes.

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| S C A R E C R O W |

"See you space cowboy..."