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.
Tyrant Scarman watched in disbelief as the rapture of his life walked off around the end of the corridor. It was impossible, he had seen her die. He had shot her dead himself. The horrific nightmare played its self over again in his mind; the dusty sand dunes of Harris, the Freedom Fighter shuttle descending on the rusting landing platform. Fleet Admiral Victoria Wade walked out across the bleak surroundings to meet this new man from the stars, this new, self proclaimed leader of the Freedom Fighters. Scarman remembered it all vividly. He had followed Merlow half way across the galaxy, following a contract on the mans death. Thats when he had met Victoria Wade, the Fleet Admiral in hiding.
Of course, in his home universe, things were not as ideal as they were in this new dimension. Liberty was in ruin, the Freedom Fighters in exile. Victoria Wade was a war criminal, one Scarman found all too irresistible. Marcus had never loved a woman before, always seeing them as meat to be used as he pleased. As the Tyrant of the Black Flag Corsairs, he was rarely denied his own way. Victoria Wade however, had stirred something inside the dark, twisted shadow of a man.
It wasnt love; Tyrant Marcus Scarman was incapable of love. The feelings he had towards Victoria Wade were more sinister. He wanted her. He wanted to violate her, to destroy her, both physically and mentally. He wanted to claim her, to own her. In his eyes, no one else was allowed to even breathe the air around her. None of the people who passed as his closest allies understood his illogical, paranoid obsession for the woman. They wrote it down as some dark need that had been stifled all his life and had suddenly arisen when he had first met Wade. She was just unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
And it had killed her. As the figures of Robert Merlow and Victoria Wade met across the sandy dunes, something inside the evil mind of Tyrant Marcus Scarman snapped. He rose, his blaster raised and aimed at Merlow.
You dare to touch her; you dare to breathe the air she breathes!
Merlow looked calmly across at Scarman, as if he had known he had been hiding there all the time.
You have come a long way, if you truly are from another dimension. But your journey ends here.
Scarman squeezed the trigger and felt the crack of the blaster in his hands as it unleashed the bolt of superheated energy.
Thats when the fool jumped in front of the laser blast. She completely destroyed any chance Scarman had by killing herself. In the name of those damned Freedom Fighters she had denied him her body, her essence. Inside his head, he could clearly see her lifeless eyes as her corpse fell to the sand, wisps of smoke rising from the gaping hole in her uniform. Scarman blamed Merlow. Crippled by her death and the realization of how his one constant dream had been shattered, he vowed a vengeance upon Robert Merlow.
It was taking most of his willpower to simply stand by the man and act as his ally. Imposing himself as the Senator of this new dimension was hard enough as it was, enduring the company of Robert Merlow making things ten times worse for him. But now, now she was here. Now that she had some how come back to him. Captain Wade, Serov had called her. So she was not as important as she had been in his home universe. No matter, his second chance had revealed its self to him, and this time he would move heaven and earth if it meant he could finally get his own way; the ecstasy he had chased so futilely in the past dimension.
Tyrant Scarman politely excused himself from the party of Sadukar Soldiers and Thomas Serov, saying that he had to go and find his daughter. Stricken by the reappearance of Victoria Wade, he felt he had to be alone for a while. As he walked down the corridor, back towards the quarters Senator Scarman had been using with his family, he came to understand that the Victoria Wade he had just met must have been from a different dimension herself. Either from the current universe they were in, or Merlows home dimension. It did not matter either way, all he cared about at that moment was that his opportunity had returned. Victoria Wade would be his, he swore it on his life.
Scarecrow sat opposite Commander Sinclair, drumming the fingers of his right hand on the desk before him. They had used one of the singular meeting rooms to iron out the rough edges that had appeared between their two starships. Marcus had explained as best he could their situation, knowing full well that the Liberty Navy would discover them sooner or later. Sinclair had seemed dubious at first, but after Marcus had shown him the evidence of different matter types, he had become uncertain.
So you are from a parallel dimension? Sinclair asked finally, his eyebrow hiked in bewilderment.
Yes, I really cant make it any simpler than that Im afraid, Scarman said, hoping that the Navy officer believed his story. But this has the potential to turn into an extremely volatile situation; I must ask that you keep this strictly within Navy knowledge, and within the high circles at that.
You will have to speak with the First Admiral on that matter. Sinclair said doubtfully, Your ship is here now, plain for all to see. There will be questions asked, especially from my crew. No one has ever seen a ship of this design, and Tuatha de Danaan isnt listed amongst any of our service ships.
That is understandable, well need to come up with something to take care of this little issue, but as you saw before the immediate problem is this band of pirates that are threatening some of the individuals within our own command structure. Marcus paused for a moment, keeping from telling Sinclair that Scarecrow was one of the pirates targets. We believe that these pirates came through the inter-dimensional rift along with our ships. They are also not of your own universe.
Great, Sinclair said, An enemy from a parallel dimension, for all I know these bastards could have technologies years, decades even, ahead of our own.
Dont worry Commander; they dont have anything we dont have. It is their numbers that worries me; they will probably have already begun recruitment in this dimension.
So their numbers will be growing exponentially, Sinclair sighed, This will be difficult to contain.
Indeed it will, I know that one more pirate war band roaming Liberty space is the last thing you want right now. It is my understanding that they have a delicate command structure. They all both fear and revere their Tyrant; if we are able to remove him then the entire warband will be thrown into disarray.
And this Tyrant, this is the Sayne Jadyn character you spoke of? Sinclair asked.
No, the Tyrant of the Black Flag Corsairs is in fact an alternate version of me. Marcus said as evenly as he could. It is an interesting concept, and one I found difficult to believe at first. But it appears to be the truth; Robert Merlow met the man face to face.
This is all somewhat far-fetched Admiral Scarman, Sinclair said, shaking his head in disbelief. I will have to call the First Admiral and have him speak directly with your Fleet Admiral. This is the job of top rankers, not starship captains.
I understand, Marcus nodded.
However, I would let you know that the Prometheus and all of her resources are at your disposal in assistance with the current threat. I recognize the delicacy of this situation Admiral, as well as the potential for disaster. I will do what it takes to bring down this Jadyn character.
Thank you Commander, Marcus smiled, Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.
---
Hangar bay
The two Typhoon fighters Lucas had secured stood side by side in their maintenance berths. Fuel connectors to their hulls trailed long snaking pipelines across the hangar decking as liquid deuterium gushed into their tanks. The low thrum of raw energy reverberated throughout the expanse of the hangar deck as the two men walked towards their ships. They wore matching navy blue flight suits, each with standard utility belts and they held oxygen rebreathers beneath one arm. Anderson had managed to secure two Typhoons from Obsidian flight, four and five to be exact. The Typhoons had been scrambled to combat the hostile pirate ships an hour earlier only to enter the combat zone as the enemy was retreating. Their engines were still warm from the flight and their tanks simply needed topping up.
There you go, Anderson said as Manning stopped in front of the Typhoons. Obsidian five is yours, four is mine. Flight control has said we can use them for our mission, but in case of emergency we need to head back to the Danaan.
Understandable, Kurt said as he ran a gloved hand across the hull of Obsidian five. Alright then, Ive worked out a flight plan, were going to run multiple scanning sweeps across the entire valley.
Alright, Ive loaded a couple of cannonballs on to each fighter in case we come across any ground targets.
See you in space, Kurt grinned at Lucas as he donned his oxygen rebreather. He turned around and disappeared behind the fuselage of his Typhoon. Lucas shook his head and turned around to his own fighter. He didnt like the bounty hunters positive attitude; it was almost as if the man was enjoying the whole thing.
Martin Cole and Alexandra Laughlin stood down in the lower decks of the Danaan working on a fried communications node. When one of the explosions caused by the Black Flag Brawlers had taken out one of the transporter rooms, the energy surplus from the power going into the transporter room suddenly had nowhere to go. The end result of this was a number of blown-out consoles and conduits across the entire ship. Conduit Apha-XX34n was no different than the numerous other fused masses of cabling and circuitry dotted across the Dreadnought.
Cole poked his sonic device into an entanglement of wires, in the hope that the minute vibrations the device created in the air would dislodge the mess. Instead it sent a shower of sparks cascading down over his head. He backed out of the open section of the bulkhead with a yowl, sucking his fingers.
Alexandra chuckled as she saw the sorry look in his eyes. Should be more careful, here let me.
She took the sonic device from him and disappeared inside the bulkhead. Moments later she returned with a clump of wires in one hand, the sonic device in the other and a smirk on her face. See, patience.
Give me that, Cole snatched the sonic device from her hands and went back inside the bulkhead. She sighed and leaned on the wall opposite him.
We always get the ****ty jobs, its like the chief has a grudge on us. She said sulkily.
Dont be stupid, we get the easy jobs, would you rather be repairing a console on the bridge, surrounded by all those navy types? Or how about going EVA to weld shut a damn ruptured hull segment? No thank you sir.
I suppose your right, as usual. She said, sitting down cross legged on the decking. At that point, one of the doors several metres down the corridor slid back into its berth and a man wearing a cleanly pressed suit emerged. His hair was neatly combed and his beard trimmed.
It took several seconds for Laughlin to realize that it was Admiral Scarman. Scarman began to walk down the corridor towards her. He looked somewhat different however; more haggard than usual and he had a strange, crazed look in his eyes. She scrambled to her feet and stood to attention.
Martin, get out of that damn conduit. She hissed under her breath. Martin backed out of the bulkhead, banging his head on the hatch and swearing audibly.
Sir, Alexandra said smartly as Scarman walked past. He paid the two of them no heed whatsoever.
That was odd, Alexandra said, slightly ruffled by his apparent lack of interest in the two engineers.
Yeah it was. Why he down here, coming out of the torpedo bays? Martin agreed.
And why was he wearing a suit?
Martin began to chuckle, looking across at Alexandra.
What, what is it? She demanded.
That wasnt the Admiral, that was Senator Scarman, you know, Scarecrows doppelganger from this universe. He explained with an air of superiority.
Laughlins face paled. She had to lean on the wall for support as she began to sway.
I dont like all of this dimensions nonsense, She said after clearing her throat. Something about it isnt right.
I know how you feel; just imagine what Admiral Scarman felt like when he met himself. We might even have doubles out there somewhere.
Quiet, youre making me feel sick. She said sharply, turning away.
I dont know why the idea of parallel selves gets you so riled, Martin said, scratching his head. Dunno, guess its like a fear of needles. I do wonder why the Senator was in the torp bay though.
Hmph, Alexandra grunted, still looking pale, Not any of our business. Get back to work or well never fix this damn conduit.
Klaus Reinhardt was speaking with Thomas Serov as Senator Scarman entered the brig. The two men looked up, nodding at the alternate version of Marcus Scarman as he looked around the room. Thomas made his way cross to the congressman and greeted him warmly.
Senator,
Scarman nodded absently, looking across at the energy field blocking one of the brig chambers.
With all due respect Senator, it is unwise for you to come here. We have one highly dangerous prisoner in detention.
I understand, Marcus said, still looking past Serov. Please may I see them?
Um, of course, but Serov was cut off as the Senator walked around him. Reinhardt stood back, watching Scarman as he made his way over to the cell block.
Hes acting strange, Thomas said in low tones as he walked back over to Reinhardt.
I past him in the corridor earlier, there was something about his look. Reinhardt agreed.
I think our security teams still havent found his daughter or his wife, Serov said, looking around at the Senator.
Odd that, where could they have gone on board a starship, Klaus mused, and why would they leave?
Maybe they had an argument? Thomas joked.
Over by the detention cell, Tyrant Scarman looked inside at his loyal servant. Connors hadnt said a word since his capture, aside from his name and position. His dark face was placid, betraying no emotion. But his eyes locked onto Scarman the minute he saw him. Marcus looked directly back at the Brawler and gave a slight nod. Immediately Connors knew that his job had been a success. He now had two choices; either commit suicide and deny the Freedom Fighters any information regarding the Black Flag Corsairs, or cause as much havoc as possible. The ends of his mouth curled up into the subtlest smile.
Scarman understood. He turned around and walked over to Reinhardt and Serov.
Make sure this man is kept under watch twenty-four seven. He cant be allowed to escape; Ive seen his type before.
With that, the he turned and exited the brig, the door clicking shut behind him. Serov gave Reinhardt a sideways glance before turning and leaving the bring himself.
The Admiralty's Private Dining Hall was nearly empty except for Fleet Admiral Merlow, sitting alone at his table. He had time to think, and he planned to use it. There were still bits of information that were not clear, but he began to formulate an idea of what exactly happened and what the motive was behind it. His brain entered Mentat mode and began to analyze the situation quickly, his mind partitioning and rearranging information to fit a logical model.
First, there was the attack on the Danaan. That was completely unexpected. If they wanted to destroy the Danaan, they would have brought a bigger ship or bombers to fire at the exposed portions of the ship. Instead, they attacked with a small fighter attack force and suddenly split when the Liberty Destroyer Prometheus decided to show up.
Second, the havoc cause on board the Danaan by those two Black Flag Corsairs. If they were serious about causing damage on board, they would have had at least a full squad complement, perhaps even two.
There was something wrong with the picture. There was something missing, an ulterior motive that eluded Merlow. Why would they deal so much damage and so much firepower just to fade away and not finish the job? Why not execute a dedicated attack? There was something behind the attack, they wanted something, or someone, aboard the ship in all the chaos. All that he needed to know was what that thing was.
All of the leaps of logic in under two seconds sapped his energy. He motioned to the Seaman serving as a waiter. She approached Merlow timidly. Merlow had forgotten that it had been six years and that, despite his seeming lack of aging, he was the most powerful figure this Seaman had probably ever heard about during her training to enter the Liberty Navy. Now set face to face with the legend, the girl didn't know how to react.
"He-hello, Sir. What will you have, today?" she stuttered, presenting Merlow with a menu, her hands shaking.
Merlow shook his head, smiling. He extended his hand to the young woman, "Name's Merlow."
The Seaman stood there, petrified. The most powerful man of the Liberty Navy wanted to shake her hand.
Merlow chuckled, "I'm not gonna rip your head off. What's your name?"
"C-C-Catherine Barringer, S-S-Sir," she stammered, "Rank, Seaman!"
Merlow shook her hand, "Well, Ms. Barringer, nice to make your aquaintance. Can I get a Fettuccine Alfredo with a Japanese salad and a green tea?"
"Coming right up, Sir." She gave him a quick salute then scurried away into the kitchen.
General Serov entered the room, looking around. He spotted Merlow at his private table and took a seat.
"Hungry much, Rob?" Serov asked with a grin.
"For what?" he asked tiredly, already knowing the answer.
"Burgers, man! Fur---"
"Shut up, you lewd bastard. I'm here to actually get a meal."
Serov laughed, "Yeah, yeah. I already ordered ahead. My stuff should be ready by now."
"Why are you even dining here? You're a Marine, this is the Admiralty's---"
"Because I'm your best friend and they know that they can't really stop me."
Merlow let out a sigh, "Well, damn it you're right. Well, why else are you here besides bugging the hell out of me?"
Serov cleared his throat dramatically. Merlow rolled his eyes, "Well, I've noticed something. The Senator has been acting rather strangely as of late. First, some POs reported him down in one of the torpedo chambers. He doesn't have clearance to be there. Second, he came into the detention cell to look over the captured prisoners. That didn't make any sense at all, and for some reason I got the feeling that he and one of the prisoners exchanged a look. I don't know why, call it a hunch."
Merlow's eyes lit up. That was it! "Tom, you're a genius! Call up my HiME teams, tell them to locate and detain Senator Scarman. I want him in my office immediately. Don't make it look like we're detaining him, I want it to look like we're giving him an escort. I also want your best Sadukar to watch over him as he walks down the corridor. Make them inconspicuous."
Serov looked at him quizzically, "OK... I'll send out the order." Serov leaned slightly to the side, as he transmitted the order to the appropriate people...
Commander in Chief of the Migrant Fleet / Former Fleet Admiral of the Liberty First Fleet Second Survivor of the Mentat Program. We must give and take with good measure. Give too much, we become complacent. Take too much, we incur the wrath of our own. Tread Lightly. --Supreme Bashar Robert Merlow--
The sound devastated the tranquil peace that lay across the forest. Old Earth Deer analogues scattered from their grazes as the thunderclap of sound boomed above them. The two Typhoon fighters soared nearly one hundred miles overhead, decelerating at a tremendous rate as they entered the atmosphere. Their powerful twin deuterium fueled engines emitted hypersonic blasts as they tore into the atmosphere at a speed way above mach five. Descending quickly, Lucas flew Obsidian four in a steep downward curve, heading for the treetops. They needed to be quick in dropping to the surface, should they be spotted by any potential hostiles. The tremendously loud blasts their engines made upon planetary entry were a necessary sacrifice. After all, any ship could be entering the atmosphere and heading for the Los Angeles Space Port.
Lucas engaged his stealth system as soon as Obsidian four had slowed down to below mach three, cloaking the ship in an array of effective radar jamming shields. He indicated that Manning should do the same as they dropped below the thirty kilometer mark.
Once we get below ten kilometers, initiate a wide band area scan. Lucas voxed the order through to Kurt with an air of professionalism about him, That way we can cover more ground in less time.
Understood, Kurt replied. Anderson watched as his wing schematic showed Obsidian five gearing up for mass sensor deployment.
He lowered the nose of his Typhoon even further; praying that their small wing wasnt seen before hey hit the canopy. Just thirty more seconds, he breathed beneath his breath as he gripped the control stick.
Lucas fought the immense power of the inverse gees as his fighter leveled out at mach one, thundering over the treetops like some bizarre supersonic bird. The foliage below rippled with the incredible wake left behind by the two speeding star-fighters. Lucas began to decelerate to the regular air-speed mark as he tore across the vast green sea before him. At least they had made it down this low, but now their speed was the issue. If they tore over a concealed landing base, they would instantly be identified and shot down. They needed to be flying at regular speeds for their stealth systems to work fully.
The two Typhoons continued to slow down until they were flying at approximately three hundred miles per hour. At that point, Lucas gave the order to initiate the scanning procedure. Slender antennae extended from the noses of each Typhoon like slender, probing aerowave aerials. Feedback from the sensor nodes instantly flooded into the datastreams of the fighters information outlets.
Im not picking anything up immediately, Kurt said over the commlink. Perhaps if we split up
I was thinking the same thing, Lucas agreed, Circle around to the west, but dont go as far as the shoreline, thats out of our target zone. Ill double back around to the north east and make for the foothills of the mountain range. If they are hiding in the forest, they might have chosen a spot nearer the capital, it would be more practical if they had to make the journey via land.
Roger that, Kurt replied. Lucas looked out of his cockpit canopy and watched Obsidian five bank sharply away to the left. He turned his attention back to his scanner readings and turned his own Typhoon towards the mountains.
Skyler Hawkins sat by the large bay window of the hotel room he, Zed Raphael and a number of Black Flag Brawlers were using as their temporary residence. He looked out at the bustling city across and below. Los Angeles was one of the busiest placed he had ever been. And he detested it; it was nothing like his native Bretonia. Hawkins had been one of the first Black Flag Corsairs, recruited by the mysterious Agent back in their home dimension several months after Marcus Scarman had founded the pirate warband. He and several others had been the first in Scarecrows wing of terrorists, hitting transports and working their way up the bloody arena of competing pirate factions.
All of the others who had joined then were now dead, most of them by Scarecrows own hand. Hawkins knew Scarman trusted him, even if the two didnt share a common sense of amity. Scarman trusted his only two elite pilots with his life, and for good reason. It was the only way Hawkins and his counterpart, Zed Raphael had made it into the Black Flag Elite. They were the single remaining members, as the rest had either been left behind in their native dimension or killed at the hands of Scarman for betraying him.
Skyler new better than to cross their Tyrant, but several of the Gladiators using some of the hotel rooms down below were beginning to get cocky. They were deferring to Sayne Jadyn; some had already disbanded the Black Flag to join Jadyns Darkside. Skyler had decided to ignore the arrogant turncoats for the moment, but swore that they would pay for their disloyalty. As soon as Scarecrow found out, heads were going to roll. And Skyler had no doubt that as soon as whatever deal Scarman and Jadyn had made, relations between the Black Flag and Darkside were going to deteriorate rapidly.
Skyler flipped his tattered hat over in his hands and sighed. He reached across for his beer bottle, noticed that it was empty, and spat a curse at it. Raphael wandered over from the other end of the room, smirking.
Youre getting restless Hawkins,
You noticed did you? Skyler looked up, dry sarcasm dripping from his words.
Well, somebodys tetchy, Raphael sat down beside Skyler, revealing another beer and a bottle opener. He opened the bottle with a crack and flicked the cap out of the window. He then took a swig of the chilled beer, tiny steams of it dribbling down his chin. Ah thats good,
You ****er,
Shame there arent any more, all the ****ing rookies drank them all.
Skyler suddenly slammed his fist down on the table beside him. Damn it Raphael, how long are we going to have to sit here in this ****ing place. Scarman has been gone now for more than three hours; youd think hell have managed to get something useful by now.
Ease yourself, our Tyrant will send us word sooner or later.
Sooner it would seem, Elise Clark, one of the Black Flags most promising Brawlers had been listening in on their banter. She had been sat manning the rooms single computer system, which lay with half of its insides strewn across the floor. Hawkins had modified it to block out all hotel functions and had transformed it into an advanced, high bandwidth communications block. They were tuned in to all of the frequencies Scarecrow was likely to use.
Ive got something coming through,
Stream it off, Skyler said, jumping up and purposefully knocking Raphael so that he sloshed beer down his front.
Bastard, Raphael grunted as he stood up and followed Hawkins. The two Black Flag Elite walked around the coffee table and sat behind Clark.
Its a coded transmission, no audio Its a massive file package.
Open it up, Hawkins leaned over Clark, inspecting the schematics that flashed up on the screen. A smile slowly began to cross his features. Zed, our Tyrant has pulled through yet again. Get in contact with Jadyn, tell him we have an entire schematic for the Tuatha de Danaans combat capabilities. Her lead-out, shield modulation, fighter regiment, hell even what the Admirals mess is serving for dinner this evening.
Raphael grinned and turned away, Ill get right on it,
Wait, Clark said as Raphael exited the room. Hawkins turned back around to face her.
What is it?
There is another coded transmission coming in, this one is audio.
He must be rotating channels, Skyler said, leaning back over the Brawler, Put it on,
My elite, Marcus Scarmans voice said over the speakers, I have transmitted you a schematic for the Freedom Fighters ship. The information should assist you with the proper engagement plans. Also, there are two operatives heading down for the surface. Merlow and Admiral Scarman are busy up here, so for the moment the two operatives will be without backup. Give them a lead; play them into Jadyns arms. We have a plan formulating.
The transmission then cut off. Hawkins looked over at the doorway and then back to Clark. See if you can get any more information on these two operatives of which he speaks. Weve been monitoring incoming stellar traffic; I want to know what has entered atmo within the last hour. Message me once you have it.
Ill get right on it, Clark nodded and turned back to the computer.
Skyler turned around and made his way through the hotel room. He arrived at the doorway and strode off down the outside corridor, heading for the landing platform.
Tyrant Marcus Scarman quickly shut down the computer terminal as a sharp rapping noise came from the doorway to his quarters. He turned around and straightened himself up; it was difficult trying to play the part of someone who was used to the finer things in life. Marcus had always been a bitter, brooding man it had given him a permanent grimace. He put on an amicable smile and got out of his seat.
Enter,
The doorway slid back into its berth and a security officer walked in, smiling politely.
Ive found something that belongs to you, He said, a hint of amusement in his tone, I found her wandering around near main engineering, she was quite lost.
A young girl appeared from behind the security officer, a mischievous grin plastered across her face. With a wave of disgust, Tyrant Scarman realized that she was Heather Scarman, the Senators daughter. She ran playfully around the security officer and disappeared behind the bed.
I bet you cant find me!
Oh my god, where did Heather go, The security officer called after her in mock surprise. He looked over at Marcus and grinned, mouthing shes all yours.
Tyrant Scarman gathered himself and nodded thankfully. The officer turned around and exited the small guests quarters, the door clicking shut neatly behind him.
Heather Scarmans head poked out from under the bed near by. She grinned cheekily and clambered up to her feet. She then launched herself at Scarecrow, almost knocking him over. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and hugged him tightly. He winced in revulsion and tried to remove her without causing her harm. She refused to let him go however and clambered up him until he was forced to sit back down. Sitting in his lap, she looked directly into her eyes. Her smile slowly faded as she looked at her Daddy. Something wasnt right; there was a cold emptiness in those eyes that shouldnt have been there. She looked at him, half puzzled, half fearful.
Wheres my Daddy?
He looked back into her suspicious hazel eyes, feeling a burning sense of loathing rising inside him.
Before he could act however, another knock came from the door; only this one seemed sharper and more urgent.
Enter, He growled, straightening himself as Heather leaped from him and ran into the bathroom.
The door clicked back into its berth and two armed men walked in. Marcus could instantly tell that they were something different from the regular marines and security personnel that wandered about the ship. His heart skipped a beat as the third person walked into the room. Captain Wade stopped in the doorway, standing with her hands on her hips, her blaster on plain show.
The Fleet Admiral would like a word with you, She said, her tone guarded.
Marcus rose gently, mesmerized by her gaze. He then smiled; an apologetic smile.
Of course, right away, I wouldnt want to keep him waiting. Do you know what its about?
Victoria said nothing, but simply stood in the doorway waiting for Marcus to walk out of the guest suite. Heather Scarman suddenly burst from the bathroom and ran behind Victoria, hiding behind her leg.
Wheres my Daddy? I want Mummy, Daddys acting strange.
Victorias manner changed abruptly as she turned to face the frightened girl. Here now, whats the matter?
She wrapped her arms around the small girl and hugged her. Heather began to cry.
Marcus saw his opportunity. He vaulted the double bed and drop-kicked the first boosted soldier. The man fell back into the wall with a crash, punching his way through the slender wardrobe door. Landing squarely on his feet, Scarecrow then swung a devastating punch at the next soldiers temple, knocking him flat with one blow. He grabbed the falling mans carbine and turned on Victoria. She had a brief second to take in the horror of the scene. Her two Sadukar Soldiers were down and the Senator had abruptly turned into a madman. He stood in the doorway, a deranged look in his eyes. His neatly parted hair was tussled and messy and his well pressed suit had become creased and untidy. The carbine in his arms was a complete contrast to his attire. He lifted the rifle up above his head and brought it crashing down towards her.
Heather screamed and Victoria dodged. She rolled to the side, hand reaching for her blaster. A loud crack rent the air as Scarmans carbine fired. The blaster exploded in Victorias hands, scorching her palm and forcing her to yell in surprise. Warning klaxons began to wail as the deranged Scarecrow charged at her, wielding the carbine as a club.
Caution, weapons fire detected; guest quarters.
All the while, the petrified Heather had backed herself into a corner, tears rolling down her cheeks as she screamed for her life. Scarman swiped at Victoria, catching her shoulder in a glancing hit. Pain lanced through Edges left arm as the club came battering down. The blow knocked her off balance, toppling her over. She couldnt protect herself from the next blow.
The butt of the carbine came crashing down, smacking into the top of her skull like a battering ram. Her vision was knocked from her as her head bounced off the solid metal decking, white pain boring into her mind. She yelled in anguish as another blow struck her in the ribs. Winded and blinded by a red haze, Victoria rolled over and tried to get up. Only to feel the flat sole of Scarecrows leather shoe kick her in the back. Her face hit the deck, splitting her lip. Her vision returned momentarily, just in time to see blood beginning to pool on the metal gridwork beneath her.
Heather was still screaming in the corner. Victoria wanted to cry out, to protect the innocent young girl, but her body was broken. The last thing she saw before passing out was the evil of Tyrant Marcus Scarman as he turned on the little girl and lifted the rifle above his head.
Fleet Admiral Merlow strode angrily onto the bridge, the warning siren blurting out of the wall speakers.
Shut that damn thing off, He yelled at the operating Ensign, Wheres the fire?
Weapons discharge sir, The Ensign said as he manipulated the controls of his console. Deck eight.
Where on deck eight? Merlow said, dropping angrily into the command chair.
Guests quarters sir, The Ensign said, turning around to look at Robert.
****, Merlow cursed, Get me Captain Wade,
She isnt responding, Admiral Scarman entered the bridge, followed by General Serov. Ive tried her commlink several times now.
Oh dear, we may have a situation here. Get me the datastream from the security strips at Senator Scarmans quarters.
The Senators sir? The young Ensign asked in puzzlement.
Just do it will you,
Aye sir,
The feed from the sensor strip appeared on the main screen, showing an empty hallway and an open door. One Sadukar unit lay prone on the floor whilst another stumbled out of the Senators quarters, looking dazed.
Oh, hell, general security alert, get a response team down there fast. Lock down that entire deck. Merlow ordered.
I cant sir, that whole sections command protocols have been scrambled.
Ill go down there, Serov said, turning to leave.
Ill come with him, Admiral Scarman turned and followed Serov towards the exit.
Marcus wait, Merlow called after him. Maybe you shouldnt.
Sir, with all due respect, this man is holding Captain Wade hostage, and we all knew wed have to face him sooner or later.
Then you understand what you are going up against, Merlow looked concerned.
This man has most likely killed Senator Scarman, hell, probably the entire Scarman family. He needs to know what hes going up against. With that, Marcus exited the bridge.
Merlow turned back around to face the main screen. Rewind the sensor strip by ten minutes,
The Sadukar Soldier stood in the entry to the Senators quarters disappeared as the footage sped up in reverse. Soon, three more figures appeared on the screen.
Hold, Merlow held up his hand, Play.
The screen showed Tyrant Scarmans horrific assault on Captain Wade and the terrified form of Heather Scarman cowering in the corner. Merlows heart sank as it pleaded. Oh God no, he didnt, he couldnt
He didnt. The rifle came down once, knocking the young girl senseless. Tyrant Scarman then hauled the two unconscious bodies over his shoulders and disappeared out of the sensor feed. Why did he take them with him, why not just kill them? Merlow sat, puzzled for a moment. Then he remembered.
The Tyrant of the Black Flag Corsairs had had some sort of infatuation with Fleet Admiral Wade, the alternate version of Captain Wade who had been in charge of the Freedom Fighters back in the dimension he had previously left. The sick bastard probably saw this as a second coming.
With a bitter hatred, Robert Merlow turned to the Ensign.
Shut it off,
The screen went blank.
Organize a team of reinforcements for that area; I want a fully equipped unit of Sadukar Soldiers down on deck eight in under five minutes. Tell my personal HiME agents to meet me by the Senators quarters.
Aye sir,
With that, Merlow stormed from the bridge, heading towards deck ones armory to gather his wargear.
![[Image: Scarecrow-Jupiter.png]](https://i.ibb.co/6FqxTqG/Scarecrow-Jupiter.png)
![[Image: merlowisatw1.png]](http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/9171/merlowisatw1.png)
![[Image: americancommie7.png]](http://miniprofile.xfire.com/bg/sf/type/2/americancommie7.png)