Mark Rand

11 hours ago, Tjack said:

Paladin to Team Leader, I don’t think you can have that kind of advertising without the church’s express permission.  Could that van be a cover for something?    Is there any way to check it out?

"Good question, Paladin," comes Batman's radioed response.    "The Roman Catholic Church is the only one who insisted on a donation to the local diocese and a rate reduction for having a company vehicle on their property.  Fortunately, the company, which is owned by a Wayne Enterprises company, permits employees to use their own vehicles, for which they get paid for the milage they put on it while working."

Not around the museum, but there are a couple of vehicles from a maid service company that, according to its advertising, keeps God's house clean, parked by the cathedral rectory.  Edit: There are several vehicles with visor cards reading CLERGY parked there, too.

Closing in on the museum, Lady Heart spots Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, which is across Fifth Avenue from the museum.  There is little traffic in the area as a campus police car rolls along Henry Street, which is on the back side of the museum.

As Lady Heart flies toward the Gotham University Museum, she flies over Gotham Transit Authority's buses, commuter train, and monorail  as well as Kingston Square, which is active until midnight and on the western side of Gotham University, and Burnley Harbor, Gotham City's "Little Bohemia" which is just to the west of Kingston Square.

(OCC: These locations are mentioned in the Daily Planet Guide to Gotham City.)

"Batman to Batgirl," came over the radio.  "Anything to report?  Over."

"Just two muggers dealt with," Batgirl replies.  "Over."

"Gotham University's museum could also be a target," Batman says.    "You know the area?  Over."

"Yeah, I do," Batgirl replies.  "Heading there now.  Over."  Turning to Lady Heart, she adds, "It's on Fifth Avenue between South Craig and South Dithridge Streets."

"Copy.  Batman out."

"Batgirl out."

1 hour ago, steriaca said:

Lady Heart follows behind Batgirl, keeping a general lookout. Once in the area, she starts her patrol as agreed upon.

 

Does s/he spot anything unusual while patrolling?

There were mugging in two different places.  Both were dealt with.  After the second one was dealt with, Batgirl comments, "This is a slow night."

Batgirl heads for the Diamond District, which is on South Gotham Island, south of Gotham Park.  (OCC: Gotham Park is called Robinson Park on some maps of Gotham City.)

"Batman to Batgirl," comes over the radio.  "I'll visit Catwoman.  I'm closer to her than you are.  Over."

"Batgirl here.  I understand and will head for the Diamond District.  Over."

"Good hunting.  Batman out."

"You too.  Batgirl out."

1 hour ago, steriaca said:

"Oh...I'm sorry about that. How much bad stuff you have to do in order for them to be convinced that your legit?"

"Not much," Batgirl replies.  "The two times I had to, I was backing up Batman, who was disguised as "Matches" Malone.  We made comments about overpowering the criminals we were replacing."

2 minutes ago, steriaca said:

"Humm...I would of thought the name Kitten would be more appropriate."

"That's Katherine's nickname," Batgirl says.  Looking around and seeing nobody, she adds, "Felicia's dead.  After she was buried as a Jane Doe, I took her identity.  It's helpful when spying on the Underworld or infiltrating them.  Having been granted Black Widow Natasha's skills by Coyote helps."

18 minutes ago, steriaca said:

"Catwoman."

"Yeah, Catgirl is her current partner.  She's a fellow vigilante."  Looking around, Batgirl continues, Her real name is Kitrina Falcone.  She's the daughter of a mob family."

35 minutes ago, steriaca said:

Lady Heart follows. "I wonder if she ever took an apprentice."

"Felicia or Catwoman?" Batgirl asks.

"Felicia Simpson is a good person to talk to, too," Katherine says.  "Christine told me that she saw someone who looked like her at Light-Fingered Lady on South Craig."

"I heard that Felicia was dead," Batgirl says.  "I guess Catwoman's the next stop.  Thanks, Katherine."

"You're welcome, Batgirl."  Batgirl heads out.

"Are you saying this burglar won't get caught?" Batgirl asks.

"I'm saying that you're probably going to have to either catch this burglar in the act or figure it out from the burglar's method of operation," Katherine replies.  "It gets worse now that you have burglars acting like ones in comics and on television."

"Plus you have that bar in Chelsea that the cat burglar chic crowd likes," Batgirl comments.  "I wonder how many patrons actually are burglars."

"Don't know," Katherine says. 

"Unless you get lucky, or this burglar makes a mistake, you won't catch him or her," Katherine says.  "The fence I used after a burglary in the Cape May area was being watched by the police, and, from what I understand, Sara tripped an alarm that she missed and was caught by Officer Montoya, who just happened to be in the area."

34 minutes ago, steriaca said:

"Reminds me about that cowboy highwayman in the area who uses a weaker grade of fear gas...what ever happened to him anyways?"

"I heard from Nightwing about some black-clad outlaw cowgirls in Blüdhaven, Gotham’s ugly sister city to the south," Batgirl says.

"they probably have nose plugs under their bandanas," Katherine says.

"They don't wear bandana masks," Batgirl responds.  "Instead, they wear fabric ski masks with no mouth openings, just like in some Westerns."

"Some cat burglars use that kind of mask, too," Katherine admits.  "I did."

18 hours ago, steriaca said:

(After a private message ...)

 

"Not like that time Scarecrow sold a fear inhibitor gas that one time..."

"Read about that in the newspaper," Katherine says as a call comes over the marine radio from the police ordering the Southern Belle to pull over and cut his engines.  "Good for the GCPD," Katherine laughs.

"Would Christina have access to your gear or information?" Batgirl asks.

"Sure," Katherine replies.  "Our quarters are like a bunkhouse, there's no privacy.  However, she suffers from allergies and mild asthma, and I always see her in her bed when I come down from the control level."

"It was a thought," Batgirl replies.

56 minutes ago, steriaca said:

"Ok. That means we are looking for someone with insiders knowledge.  That would make us outsiders, right?'

"Not necessarily," Katherine says.  "Cat burglars have many ways of finding out that information, including buying it from fellow burglars, getting it from their teachers, or stealing it from the manufactures.  There are also password-protected forums on the deep web, some of which have other security precautions, too."

"If I remember correctly, the Goodwin Bridges and North and South Trigate Bridges connect to Arkham Island," Batgirl says.

"Right," Katherine responds.  "The Goodwin Bridges are near the tip and the North Trigate Bridge links up to the New Trigate Bridge.  The South Trigate Bridge, which is a pure railroad bridge doesn't."  She pauses, then adds, "You came to ask about a burglary, not bridges.  I've been out of the business too long to know who is in it.  I know that New Jersey's not very wide and that most people never change the default codes on the burglar alarms or the default combinations on their safes.  That makes it easier for burglars who know these things."

"Hold your position, Paladin," Batman replies.  "Batgirl will call for backup if she needs it.  Right now, she's gathering information."

"Unless he's anchoring nearby, he has several more drawbridges ahead of him," Katherine says.  "The next three are the Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth Street Bridges.  Following them are the North and South Archibald Goodwin Bridges, all five of which are two-leaf bascule bridges, and the North and South Trigate Bridges, which are lift bridges."

"Aren't they locked down soon?" Batgirl asks.

"Yeah, at 11 PM," Katherine says.  "Because tomorrow is a weekday, and not a federal holiday, they won't open until 9:30 AM."

"He might get caught speeding," Batgirl says.  "The GCPD Harbor Patrol also patrols the rivers."

On 9/24/2021 at 8:18 PM, steriaca said:

"He's not going to make it. What can we do?"

"Hope the trains clear the bridge in time," Batgirl says, watching the railroad board.  "The line of lights are the tracks with the lit ones being the trains.  The black vertical lines are the bridge.  The rest of the lights are various signals."  Batgirl pauses, then adds, "The trains are nearly at the ends of the bridge."

"He's closing fast," Katherine says.

"They're clear!" Batgirl calls out.  

After a quick glance at the board and monitors, Katherine hits switches.  "Raising bridge," she calls out.  "He just made it." 

"No wake zone speed is five miles per hour," Katherine says as she looks at various monitors, then starts flipping switches.  "The bridge roadway deck is clear.  I'm going to raise the bridge once the train tracks are clear."

"Our clearance is 42-feet," Batgirl says, looking at a monitor.  "What's his?"

"Let's find out," Katherine says, picking up the microphone.  "Southern Belle, this is Sprang Bridge.  What's your clearance?  Mine is 42-feet.  Over."

"He should know it," Batgirl tells Lady Heart.  "It's in his boat's manual."

"I have 44-feet.  Over."

"Southern Belle to Sprang Bridge.  Over," comes over the radio.

Katherine writes in the log, then picks up the microphone.  "Sprang Bridge receiving, Southern Belle.  Please switch to channel one seven.  Over."

Katherine adjusts her radio.  "Sprang Bridge, open immediately.  I'm coming in, NOW.  over."

"Negative, Southern Belle.  We have trains on the bridge.  Also, please slow your ship.  This is a no wake zone.  Over."

"He's not slowing," Batgirl, who is watching him with binoculars, says.