Yes, Raven/Nevermore on Grotto1 is the local source who would "pick up the new guy in town suddenly crashing into the Infected scene". That's the same approach as what I was suggesting in my second option. Mercer would reach out to Raven/Nevermore on Grotto1 and she would point him in Flickr's direction.
I like the symmetry of Achak pinging Spitfire while Mercer taps Flickr, but I'm open to rednblack's and Mal's thoughts on the matter too.