12972/Air Mail or: A Little Bird Told Me

Air Mail or: A Little Bird Told Me
Date of Scene:	05 October 2022
Location:	Blackhawk Transport hangar
Synopsis:	Huntress, Batwoman and Flamebird visit Blackhawk Transport to speak with a world renowned pilot about working with the Birds of Prey. After an unexpected audition, the conversation seems to go rather well.
Cast of Characters:	Zinda Blake, Helena Bertinelli, Bette Kane, Kate Kane

---

Zinda Blake has posed:
It's late, long past sunset outside, not that day is a whole lot different from night in Gotham. The hangar is a private one at the Gotham Airport, tucked away from major traffic. Nice and quiet.

The lights are on, and a lone figure is working around one of the planes inside. It's big and matte black, twin engines with a twin-boom tail. A lot of glass, and a blonde woman stenciled on the nose. There's even a 4-gun turret on the upper side.

Zinda Blake climbs down out of the belly of the vintage P-61 carrying a tool bag. She's wearing skirt and a white t-shirt, her double-gun holster rig visible over the t-shirt in the absence of a jacket. The man-door to the hangar opens and four big, burly men with stern expressions step inside. Zinda looks over and makes a face.

"I told you fellas once already, an' the answer is still no."

Helena Bertinelli has posed:

"We could use a skilled pilot with the discretion to handle our sort of business operations."

That was the note that came with the details on where to meet one Zinda Blake AKA Lady Blackhawk. The woman was a living legend and total bad ass. Huntress couldn't help but smile at reading the dossier on the woman's exploits. It was a good idea. But then Barbara is known for her good decisions. We won't talk about the one where she brought Huntress into the team.

Reaching out to Batwoman and Flamebird, Huntress asked them to join her (in business attire) to approach Ms. Blake and make the business offer from The Team.

Huntress had not expected muscle to be there to strong arm their would be team member.

The group outside - six of them - were easy pickings.

<Batwoman, can you hit the two on the left. Flamebird, the right. I'll go center. Let's show Ms. Blake we're worth doing business with.>

Bette Kane has posed:
     Flamebird looks over the division of goons and nods to her orders. Girl Power Music Go! Okay, no. She makes a dash out to her side to flank back in on the group, sizing up who might be cheating and drawing a firearm. The flashy outfit, complete with the cape holographic flaming on. She pulls out a 'Bird-o-Rang' and does a flip forward to launch it with the moment into the shoulder of the one grabbing for inside his coat. But then lines up with the other, dukes up to begin a rather proficient turn at boxing.

Kate Kane has posed:
    <Just two?>

    The voice is unmistakably that of Batwoman -- confident, amused, and totally ready for this. It's been a couple nights since Batwoman's most recent patrol, so the note from Huntress was a welcome one. The signal's origin, encrypted to hell and back, seems to come from the tower that overlooks Gotham Airport. It's unstaffed most nights, simply serving out the airspace's ATIS recording. Tonight, though, there's a dark silhouette, fluttering and morphing against the starlit sky. The touches of red might give the impression that it's the airfield's windsock but, well, windsocks don't drive fear into the hearts of men. Cocky, brash men who thought tonight was going to be easy.

    It happens fast. A sudden yelp, a scuffle, the metallic shuffle of a firearm being handled, but then... silence. The second of the two brutes who went left turns suddenly to point his gun at the evening air. His partner is... gone, replaced with darkness and shadow.

Zinda Blake has posed:
Inside the hangar, Zinda faces off the four goons as they casually approach. The leader grins, as if he knows something she doesn't. She folds her arms, conveniently putting both hands casually close to her pistols.

"Yeah, the boss thought you might say something like that. So I got some pals outside ready to torch this place unless you can be persuaded to see reason."

And that's when the sounds of fighting can be heard outside.

"Yeah, fellas? Sounds to me like yer buddies sorta got occupied. So this is your last chance."

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Huntress slides in, pulling her staff and extending it with a cavalier flourish. The blows are hard, fast, and merciless. Knees buckle. Ribs crack. Jaws ache and bodies fall. She isn't in the mood for neogtiation or intimidation. The Birds were here on a recruiting drive and these boys were all: wrong place wrong time. They were in the way and they need to be removed from the equation.

As the trio take the extra muscle down, Huntress is already stowing her staff and drawing her crossbows for distance work.

"You heard the lady. Your boys are all taking a nap right now. Come clean up your mess and clear out. You're interfering with legitimate business."

Bette Kane has posed:
     Flamebird was actually taking her time, but when the other two speed through the guys, she picks up her game a little. A dodge, a block, and a kick to the side of the guy's knee put him down with a wicked cracking sound. By then the one hit by the Bird-o-Rang is closing in, and gets a round house kick to his head, sending him down, and a tazer to the back of the neck to keep him that way. Two zip-ties later she is catching up with the team and heading in Zinda's hangar.

Kate Kane has posed:
    <One down>

    Batwoman stares down at the remaining muscle within her side of the battlefield. He's down there on the ground, pointing his gun at each and every shadow that happens to catch his attention. Eyes instinctively dart upwards to check for any signs of the Signal. Nothing. Tonight was supposed to be smooth. Easy. Even Batman has to get a night off, right?

    "I'm not scared," he announces. It's a simple declaration, one heard by the Bats and Birds countless times. Batwoman, of course, knows the truth. She watches silently from above, now crouched on the corner of another hangar rooftop across the taxiway. Thumpthumpthumpthumpthump. The muscle's heartbeat is picked up by the beamforming microphones in Batwoman's cowl, allowing her to wait for the right moment. She's been sometimes accused of being a bit of a brute herself, so tonight was a little exercise in patience. In stealth. 130 BPM -- as soon as she sees it appear at the bottom of her augmented reality HUD, Batwoman goes in.

    The only indication of any movement, anything at all, is the faint zippery sound of Batwoman's grapple line. "Yeah you are," she replies, bright red lips curling into a half-smile. The muscle turns around to find Batwoman behind him. He raises his gun in a desperate attempt to pistol whip her, but he's slow. Amateurish. Predictable. Unlike his buddy who is currently swimming for the shore out in Gotham Harbor right now, Mr. Muscle is brought to the ground with a leg sweep. Batwoman follows up with a flathanded strike at his wrist, sending his gun across the pavement. Mr. Muscle gets a zip tie of his own -- extra tight -- and a punch to the nose for good measure before he's left alone to think about his life.

    Batwoman catches up, just a few boots behind Flamebird.

    <Two down>

Zinda Blake has posed:
Zinda Blake doesn't move as the door opens and the female, costumed vigilantes step into the hangar. She does grin, however. "Well, now. Would ya' look at that! Now it's four on four, all even-up."

The goons are definitely having second thoughts, and in the momentary indecision Zinda acts first. Hands lowering from her guns, she strides briskly over to the biggest one. He looks from the costumes back to Zinda, holding out both hands. "Now wait just a..."

Whatever he may have been expecting, a one-two punch to the jaw likely wasn't on the list.
"Annnd STAY down!" Zinda adds, giving a swift kick in the ribs for good measure. The others don't look like the WANT a fight, but that ship has sailed...

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Huntress cannot help but flash a grin at Zinda's initiative and moxy.

As the big guy goes down and the others begin to commit to senseless and unfruitful acts of violence, Huntress raises her crossbows. No longer in the game to kill, she has no less skill in injuring, maiming and causing all sort of general pain and agony.

Two bolts fire. The first lodges in the back of the gunhand of one of the three still standing. The other lands in his thigh.

The cries of alarm and agony are quick to fill the air as the man crumples when that impaled leg gives out.

Two left.

Bette Kane has posed:
     Two left, Flamebird hopes that Kate doesn't mind sharing the last of them. Her hand zipping to to a special bird to launch, it splits in three and starts spinning before crashing into one of the guys' head. then it spirls on and pounds with the other two to KO him. After that, she gives a grin and a quick wave, "Hi ya. Name is Flamebird.."

Kate Kane has posed:
    Eh, Bette is family, and what's a couple of goons shared among /family/? There was once a time when Batwoman would've kept a watchful eye on Flamebird and had an endless list of notes to give, each of them jabbing at the other Kane's form, speed, choices. Anything. But, those nights are long gone and Batwoman's fleeting glances will fuel nothing more than a couple of 'nice moves' and maybe a 'you gotta let me borrow that sometime' when the night is over. Still, Batwoman /is/ still Kate Kane and that means there's always time left to be a bit of a show-off.

    There's a flutter of black and crimson as Batwoman's cape flourishes, creating an amorphous shape that hides her true movements. It might seem sudden and perhaps even chaotic, but it's all part of a careful maneuver. Trained ears might catch two faint shots of compressed air, pop-pop, followed by metal piercing concrete and then flesh. The final goon yelps in pain and, before he has a chance to realize what's happening, he's jerked backwards, pulled by a nearly invisible grapple line into another private hangar. There's an unmistakably manly sort of cry as his body tumbles across a parked Cessna and into a pair of stacked toolchests.

    One of Batwoman's blank white eyeslits briefly disappears as she winks in her cousin's direction before approaching. "Batwoman," is all she says, up-nodding at Zinda as she follows Flamebird's intro.

Zinda Blake has posed:
Zinda Blake looks up from the guy she just kicked, right in time to get introductions from the others. "Well I sorta didn't think y'all were here sellin' magazines. Zinda Blake. An' I'm really wonderin' how come my hangar's so popular tonight."

Brushing her hands off, she steps over to the ladies after making a slight detour to kick another one of the goons.

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Huntress nods to Zinda as the trio of vigilantes approach the blonde slowly. "Ms. Blake. I'm Huntress. And you're correct. No magazines. No religious tracts. No offers to upgrade your car warranty." She smiles wryly.

Offering her gloved hand in greeting she explains, "We're members of a Gotham team of vigilantes. The Birds of Prey. We know that Lady Blackhawk has been doing some.. work. For SHIELD and the Avengers. Batgirl is the team leader. Unfortunately she had things she needed to attend to so she asked me as her Second to come talk to you about possible job opportunities."

Gesturing to the downed criminal sorts. "It hadn't been planned as a working demonstration, exactly. But I guess it worked out that way."

"The Birds team usually operates within Gotham and can see to our own transportation. But we have grown in numbers enough that Batgirl is interested in expanding our support and operations outside of the city. That is where discrete and fast transport comes into play." She smiles. "But more than just asking you to play battle taxi, we'd like to invite you to join the team properly if that would interest you. Your experience and insights are singular. The team could really benefit from what you know."

Zinda Blake has posed:
Zinda Blake stops a few paces away, shifting her weight and folding both arms over her chest as she listens. Blue eyes brighten and she smiles wryly. "Well first off, if you know about the... relationship... with SHIELD and the Avengers, then you can color me impressed. Thought all that stuff was highly classified. And intentional or not, you probably saved some lives tonight." She looks around at the goons on the floor. "With this many, I probably would've had to shoot a few."

"I've played Battle Taxi before, Huntress. My first customers were the Howling Commandos led by Captain Rogers. Never missed a drop, never missed a pickup. But it's been a little while since I've been on the ground. That goes back to the Blackhawks."

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Huntress nods. "Oracle. Our.. support agent. Is /very/ good at gathering intel. We don't ask her how she gets it and she keeps giving it." Pausing she adds, "I suspect dark magic. But she says it's just the Internet."

"Saving likes.." she can't help but smile wryly at that notion, ".. it's what we try to do. Even with the bad guys. The team has a strong no-kill policy. Self defense or defense of others if all else fails is the only exception."

"We know your record Ms. Blake. It's why we're here. You know how to be discrete. You can fly anything. I'm... told.. you have flown an 18-wheeler before. Though I feel that is just bar talk after a few too many.." She offers a light laugh.

"The details for retainership for your services can be discussed between you and Batgirl as needed. We aren't looking to lock you in exclusively. We respect you and the other organizations you work with."

Casting a glance to be sure the knocked out guys stay that way, she offers, "Do you have any questions? I'll answer the best I am able."

Zinda Blake has posed:
Zinda Blake laughs at that, tossing those blonde curls. "Far as I'm concerned, the Internet IS dark magic." A blonde brow lifts. "That ain't all bar talk, by the way. Ever cound the wheels on a C-5?"

Wink

"Well I'm always lookin' to help out a good cause. Things have sorta gotten more blurry since th' war, but I can usually sort out the good guys from those who ain't. Anyway, I can speak for myself, not necessarily Blackhawk Transport." Even though she's the figurehead of the latter.

"I s'pose my only question is, what will I be flyin' and when? I'm assuming Oracle can summon us up a nice plane with that dark magic."

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Huntress flashes a grin about the internet. "I haven't. But I know a flying whale by name."

"We're not looking for your company. Just Lady Blackhawk and her skills." She shrugs, "What we fly will be up to you to decide on, Ms. Blake." She gestures to the others with her, "We're the girls that go bump in the night. You're the pilot. Batgirl and Oracle will work with you on job parameters. What they feel we need and you can tell them what hardware matches that list. There's. Well. Not -exactly- 'no spending limit' but.. as close to it as you can imagine really."

Zinda Blake has posed:
Zinda Blake steps slowly close. "Well I'm sure my company would jump at the opportunity for me to get out of the building; definitely out of the boardroom." She considers for the moment. "I'm thinkin' you gals would get a lotta use out of a Eurocopter. Faster than a Blackhawk, no pun intended, an' also real quiet. I'm guessin' that y'all probably do a good bit of -urban- jobs."

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Huntress nods, that card still held out patiently like a lure.
RNodding, "We do. A lot of quiet jobs. As for particulars. I'll.. admit I know my way around firearms, combat crossbows and Italian wines. Aircraft aren't my thing usually. We'll get you what you need and with the upgrades you ask for. This is the kind of job where we like to do the impossible on a tight timetable."

A subtle movement of the card again. "Think you'd be interested?"

Zinda Blake has posed:
Zinda Blake's gaze lowers to the card and she plucks it from those offering fingers. "Interested enough to meet the team." She looks around, then, at the other two who are holding the perimeter. "Well the -rest- of the team." She looks at the card, then she asks. "Am I gonna get a mask an' cape? 'Cause I ain't sure how I'd manage all that."

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Huntress smiles and lets the card go. "Meeting is all we're here asking you to consider tonight. We'll have you meet as many of the team as we can. You can ask questions and if you like what you hear, we'll move forward. If not, we'll gladly keep you as an Ally and offer assistant should you ever need it. Professional Courtesy."

She laughs, "No masks or capes required. You're well known for working with capes. As long as you're good with that, we are too."

Zinda Blake has posed:
Zinda Blake laughs at that, slipping the card into her jacket pocket. "That's good. Capes are hard to manage in airplanes, an' masks just get in the way." She looks around again, at the bodies on the floor.

"As for help, these fellas are gonna be back. I got some really vintage planes in here, an' I don't want any accidents with gasoline."

Helena Bertinelli has posed:
Huntress smirks. "I imagine and yet we're going to try somehow ourselves."

She looks at the group. "Oh we'll get the PD here to round these guys up. And Oracle will see to it they never come past this airport ever again. We take care of our own - and our friends even before they're truly one of our own." She looks at the guys. "In fact I'll help haul their asses outside for pick up now. It'll be fun. But not for them."

SHe drops down and begins to zip tie their wrists and ankles togeher behind their backs.

Zinda Blake has posed:
Zinda Blake's smile becomes more genuine. "Thanks for that. Couple of the planes in the back really can't move real easy. It ain't like it's easy to just go 'off the grid' when I've got a small air force, after all."

Zinda watches as Huntress starts with the zip ties, then she walks towards the black plane. "Lemme button up the 'Widow, an' I'll leave you to it. Look forward to meetin' the rest of the team."