Roscoe Inman

Lieutenant Commander Roscoe Z. Inman is Mark Meltzer's contact at the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). Little is known about his background or military status. Inman says he wants to help Meltzer and provides information when possible. 
Roscoe Inman is introduced as a character at the end of Phase One of There's Something in the Sea. When Mark Meltzer sends a letter to Congress about the connection between the red lights and the kidnappings, it is forwarded to ONI where it apparently caught the attention of Inman. ONI was considering opening an investigation called "Project Blue Book" relating to "unexplained nautical phenomena" at the time, and Inman promised to assist Mark if he would share the results of his investigation in return. He sends Mark some documents detailing a possible connection between Andrew Ryan and a no go zone in the North Atlantic. However, when asked for further information on the phone, he is evasive. Inman distrusts Celeste Roget, another one of Mark's contacts, as she was the only survivor from her expedition to the Himalayas, and he feels that she could be lying about her story. His suspicion proved to be partly correct, because she had been lying to Mark about Orrin Oscar Lutwidge being dead. Inman also sent Mark material regarding deep sea creatures, which helped solve one of Lutwidge's puzzle boxes.
Towards the beginning, Inman was an invaluable contact to Mark. Highly regarded by Meltzer as one of his only sane contacts at first, Inman was Mark's real teammate during Phase One, searching for the kidnapped girls. Afterward, in Phase Two, Inman was still very willing to aid Mark. At one point, when Mark was discouraged after his daughter was taken, he wanted to give all his data to Inman and let him carry on the investigation without him. Later on throughout the phase, however, Inman was heard from less and less—later on, this was found to be Mark's doing. He'd begun avoiding Inman's calls because he didn't trust him as much at the time (most likely due to the paranoia induced by the Red Pawn).
Inman still plays a part in Mark's journey, just one that is not as large. In Phase Three, Inman supplied Mark information vital to deciphering the coordinates of the three points of the "Triangle within the Triangle". 
== Phone Messages ==
=== 5/26 - Listen===
"Meltzer, Inman here. Just found out about your accident — call me ASAP and give me the brief. I'm hoping you've got some kind of assessment of what we're up against. And if you found any leads regarding your daughter's whereabouts, let me know if there's anything I can do on this end. Still monitoring intel, but it's dead quiet, we got zero for weeks now."
=== 6/1 - Listen===
"Meltzer, this is Roscoe Inman. I received your message, but I’m in the field on an ONI assignment and I haven’t been able to access a private line before now. Look, I think you should take all this with a grain of salt. Remember, your story’s been in the newspaper. This recent contact may not even be connected to the abductions. It could be... some cruel trick or someone attempting to manipulate you. To what ends I won’t conjecture. Anyway, take it under advisement, I have to go."
=== 6/12 - Listen===
"Meltzer, this is Inman. I know I promised you materials on the missing person's situation but... look, I wanted to warn you. ONI has been under lock-down after recent events. They have us prepping files on potential dissidence. Unstable personalities. Paranoia is running high all levels. I'd advise you to maintain a low profile, and watch your back."
=== 6/25 - Listen===
"Meltzer, this is Inman. Have I encountered these "James Oakes" people? Absolutely. We've got more than a few people in command who buy into these theories, but as they regard the Vanishings, it's pretty clear it's a blind alley. I've seen internal analysis from the Soviets and this idea that they're behind it, well it's dead wrong. I'll try to slip you a copy, and keep me posted."
=== 7/14 - Listen===
"Meltzer, this is Lt. Commander Roscoe Inman. I know that last call kind of rubbed you the wrong way, but there's a reason I'm asking about your other contacts. There's a lot of intentional disinformation in this area of research. Might be the Russians' work, hell, might be our own. But regardless, this Celeste Roget woman, she's kind of my main concern; this incident in Tibet she talks about. Now remember, she was the sole survivor. There's no version of this story except hers. I'm not making any accusations, I'm just saying: Know what you don't know, you read?"
=== 7/29 - Listen===
"Meltzer, Commander Roscoe Inman here. I got your message about the charts and I've never heard of anything quite like it. Now, the Office of Naval Research has been developing detailed charts on the currents... what you're talking about sounds like it's years ahead of us. Even our guys can't track debris to a specific urban location. Somebody worked that out? I want to see the evidence. Keep me posted."
=== 8/20 - Listen===
"Meltzer, this is Lt. Commander Roscoe Inman. Just touching base. It's been a while. I put in a few calls, but I never heard back from you. I'm real curious on what exactly you were looking for out on the beaches. Assuming you found anything. Thought we did some pretty good work together last year chasing down those sightings. So if you get any evidence, if there's anything I can help with, we can do it all off the books. I got a lot of resources and command doesn't have to know a thing. Just don't leave me out in the cold... old buddy. Thanks."
=== 10/3 - Listen===
"This is Lt. Commander Rosco Inman. Mark, you've been avoiding my calls, and it's high time I lay it on the line. You and I both know there is something going on in the "no go zone" in the North Atlantic. Frankly, I've largely been operating on my own... now, I've got a problem, someone's looking into my work, and not in a good way. Might be my own people, or it might be another government agency. Mark, these people will shut me down unless I can show some proof, so if you've got anything to share, now's the time. Get back to me, Mark, as soon as possible. Thanks."
=== 10/27 - Listen===
"Meltzer, this is Roscoe Inman, and I do apologize but there's been an internal security investigation over here. Certain parties want to know why I've been tracking your research, and I tell you it's a witch hunt. The same thing's been happening over at the Air Force with "Project Blue Book". The bigger the brass, the smaller the minds. Frankly, Meltzer, I've disagreed with a lot of your conclusions, but at this point, I may be getting forced out of the Navy. Just as well, I wanna confer with you on some other matters, for example the UFOs and any thoughts you might have on the so-called "Philadelphia Experiment". I'll slip you whatever files I can. Good luck, Meltzer... I think we'll both need it."
==Letters==
===9/1/67===
:::: OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELIGENCE
::::National Maritime Intelligence Center
::::::Sultland, Maryland 
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
::::::::::::SEPT 01 1967
Dear Mr. Meltzer:
:Your letter of June 30, 1967 addressed to Rep. Alvin H. Carseman
has been referred to this office. Per queries from Congressional
representatives, ONI is considering opening an investigation
parallel to the Air Force investigation known as "Project Blue
Book." The aforementioned project would have a tentative
mandate related to the investigation of unexplained nautical
phenomena.
:In study of the potential need for the above-mentioned
project, we would be greatly interested in obtaining any addi-
tional research pertaining to these subjects that you have
collected, additional to the materials previously forwarded
to Rep. Carseman.
:We compliment you on the high quality of your research and
thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.
Please advise us if we may be of assistance in expediting this
request.
::Someone noticed
::::::::::Sincerely,
::::::::::ROSCOE Z. INMAN, Lt.Cmdr., USN
::::::::::Congressional Inquiry Devision
::::::::::Office of Legislative Liaison
===8/18/68===
:::: OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELIGENCE
::::National Maritime Intelligence Center
::::::Suitland, Maryland
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
::::::::::::AUG 1968
Mark Meltzer
PO Box 4668 #32890
New York, NY 10163
Dear Mr. Meltzer:
:Per your request, I have had my office consult with ONR
(Office of Naval Research)oceanographic resources regarding
the aquatic creature you mentioned in your phone call. As I
suspected, this highly unusual creature is found dwelling in
diverse areas of the ocean. It has been sighted in the South
Pacific as well as the North Atlantic. It is associated not
with a particular region or sea. Instead, its characteristic
habitat is extreme depths. It is not uncommon for our submarine
crews to spot these creatures outside their portal windows
while in descent.
::Attached, please find copies of ONR materials that may
assist you in your studies. Please advise us if we may be of
further assistance.
::::::::::Sincerely,
Meltzer - sorry about the
"official" note, I've been
living at command lately.
I'll return your call ASAP.
Curious about this latest
development.	Roscoe Z. Inman
ROSCOE Z. INMAN, Lt.Cmdr., USN
Congressional Inquiry Devision
Office of Legislative Liaison
Encl.
==Radio Transmissions==
=== 11/13 - Listen===
"Meltzer, repeating that last. I'm speaking to you on a strictly unofficial capacity. Court-Martial is imminent. However I did retrieve some information on the downed vessel you requested. The vessel was taken out by American Ventura class aircraft, Victor Baker One Two Eight, in the straits of Denmark. Coordinates to follow, over. Meltzer, please respond, over."
=== 11/25 - Listen===
"Meltzer, this is Inman. I've details on the lost Skytrain over... Believe the mission was to help local residents... Blackbird reference comes from the native language... Please confirm receipt... Dangerous waters and that storm's only gettin' worse. Meltzer do you read over... Meltzer, do you read!..."
==Gallery==
ONI Roscoe.png|Inman's first letter before renaming of US Congressman.
==Behind the Scenes==
*"Project Blue Book", mentioned in Inman's letter to Mark, was a real investigation of UFOs by the United States Air Force that was ongoing from 1952 to 1969.Project Blue Book on Wikipedia
*The "Philadelphia Experiment" mentioned by Inman in his phone message on October 27 was an alleged U.S. naval experiment at a shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1943. Supposedly this experiment was to make a U.S. Navy ship invisible for a short time. This story was popular with conspiracy theorists, and the Office of Naval Research became involved in researching it in 1957.The Philadelphia Experiment on Wikipedia
*Inman's radio message on November 13 refers to the German U-Boat U-336 that was sunk in 1943. Interestingly, the information about this U-boat sinking has been revised since 1994, changing its coordinates and the naval aircraft credited with sinking it. Inman is giving Mark the old information, which says it was sunk by depth charges from an American Ventura aircraft (VB-128).U336 at U-boat.net
==References==
Category:There's Something In the Sea Characters