The Pirates of Shan: A Rick Brant Science-Adventure Story

The story follows Rick Brant and his allies at the Spindrift Scientific Foundation as they race to find two missing research colleagues who vanished after a voyage in the Sulu Sea. Their investigation leads through tropical ports, fortified Spanish-era outposts, and island villages where suspicious guides, local boatmen, and Moro crews complicate the search. Clues include a hired sampaguita, tattoos, and conflicting accounts, while the team mounts sea searches, clandestine approaches, and coordinated patrols. Encounters with pirate bands, tribal leaders, and high-seas skirmishes force tactical plans and improvised rescues, blending scientific curiosity with adventure and local politics until a final confrontation resolves the mystery.