The Gotham Chronicles: City at War

Season 5 episode 14 of Nightwing & Batgirl.
== Plot ==
The Court of Owls members are looking at images of the Bat-family at their computer screen.
"Dick Grayson aka Nightwing, Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl, and Selina Kyle aka Catwoman. These three are the largest threats to this organization. With Batman coming in second. Other close associates of the Bat-family include Jason Todd aka Robin, Talia al Ghul, Alfred Pennyworth, Kate Kane aka Batwoman, and Helena Bertinelli aka Huntress. Together, they are all a tough match for us. But divided, they can be taken down easily. Now that we've subdued all Gotham's largest gangs, we can now summon them throughout Gotham City, and force this family of crimefighters to split up throughout the city, thus making them easy to defeat.", Grandmaster John Wycliffe said. "Owlman, it is up to you to summon them all throughout Gotham."
"I will, Grandmaster. Soon, Gotham will be torn to pieces, and plunged into chaos. And no one will be able to stop us. Not even the Bat-family.", Lincoln March/Owlman said.
The scene moves 1 week into Lincoln March's tenure as Gotham's mayor. Nightwing, Batgirl, and Catwoman are having a conversation at their headquarters. They wondered.
"Since the murder cases happened, these past few weeks have been pretty weird. There are no signs of criminal activities from Gotham's biggest gangs, such as Rupert Thorne's and Lew Moxon's. Not even the remnants of Falcones and Maronis.", Batgirl said.
"Still, the murder cases have not been solved. We shouldn't go easy yet.", Catwoman said.
"You are right. But I noticed, ever since Lincoln March took the position of Mayor, crime rates have dropped. There were no more signs of murders. He was actually as good as he sold himself during his Mayoral campaign.", Nightwing said.
"You are right. But how was he able to do all of that?", Catwoman wondered.
"I really feel something suspicious about Lincoln March. Even though Bruce knows this guy well. How come he have never doubted him? It's not merely coincidental, really.", Batgirl said.
"For the meantime, let's leave our suspicions to ourselves.", Nightwing and Batgirl told them.
The scene moves later, to Vicki Vale reporting news about Mayor Lincoln March drastically dropping crime rates within the first week of his term. He was interviewed by the Press, and he spoke. "I started as a man with simple ambitions. I once dreamed of living in a city of peace and harmony. A city free of violence, greed, and corruption. Little did I know these dreams will come true, once I got into the position of City Mayor. To be honest, I did not expect I would be able to suppress crime in this city. But thanks to you, citizens of Gotham, thanks to all of your support, I gained the strength and confidence to perform my duty diligently and make this city a better place. That's all". The people outside the City Hall applauded after his speech.
Meanwhile at the Batcave, Batman, Talia, Jason, and Alfred watched.
"He's starting to become suspicious. I now see why Batgirl suspected of him.", Batman said. "But we don't have any solid evidences yet."
The scene moves back at the Court of Owls room, where Owlman is seen negotiating with the biggest crime bosses of Gotham. He called Thorne, and told him that Moxon plans to steal their territory. Then, he told Lew Moxon, otherwise. Now, he's put fuel between these two, which may cause their gangs to attack each other. Next, he called Black Mask and offered him a hundred million bounty if his gang were able to kill Hellhound. He immediately agreed. Owlman next called the Whisper Gang and convinced him that the Jokerz were planning to hunt them. Lastly, he told the Falcones that Maronis are after their riches, and he told the same to the Maronis against the Falcones. 
"Once these wars begin, I could use this an excuse to declare martial law, therefore limiting the actions of Gotham's citizens more, and putting them under my control.", Owlman told other members of the Court. 
The scene moves the next day. Wars are beginning. Bombs are now dropping. Gang wars start to occur in different places, at the same time. 
Meanwhile, at Scarecrow's hideout, he and his gang had a little conversation. 
"The Court of Owls Grandmaster was lying about the subduing of Gotham's biggest gangs bullcrap.", Scarecrow said.
"But hey, at least we really got our parole.", Mad Hatter replied.
"Maybe it really is true. Haven't you noticed? There were no signs of gang activities in Gotham for the past few weeks.", Dala said.
"Maybe. He might just be waiting for the right timing to break all hell loose in this city.", Gentleman Ghost said.
Their conversation was interrupted when their supercomputer's monitor suddenly showed several gang wars throughout different parts of Gotham. 
"Speaking of all hell breaking loose, there it is.", Scarecrow said. They celebrated and cheered.
The scene moves to Nightwing and Batgirl's headquarters the next day. Their supercomputer detected criminal activities. When they took a closer look, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Catwoman were surprised to see several gangs waging war on each other. 
"What the hell is going on? Just yesterday Lincoln March had his speech about continuing to serve Gotham and keeping crime at a low. All of a sudden, gang wars emerged out of nowhere?", Catwoman said.
"I know. What even is their reason for warring against each other?", Nightwing said.
"See. I told you Lincoln March really is a suspect. These events aren't coincidental. It is organized.", Batgirl told them.
"Yeah, right. All of these incidents must be a part of his one big elaborate scheme.", Catwoman said.
"Should we go now and stop these wars?", Batgirl asked.
"Not yet. We must wait for Batman's further commands.", Nightwing answered.
Later, the emergence of gang wars made it to news headlines. And Mayor Lincoln March was under fire by the media regarding this. 
He answered all the media, "This was an unexpected time for all these to happen. We'll try to contain it as much as possible. I'll send the police to go and try put down these fires. But if these wars continue to be destructive, I'm afraid I'll have to declare martial law throughout Gotham."
"You've got to be kidding me! I'm gonna go talk to him.", Batman said.
"What about the gang wars? Aren't we supposed to go and stop those?", Jason Todd asked.
"Not until I tell you so.", Batman told his foster child. 
"Alright. We'll await your further instructions.", Jason replied. Now, Batman, in his Bruce Wayne identity, went to his garage, and picked one, out of his hundreds of cars. Now, Bruce got going. He called him on the phone and asked Lincoln March to have a private talk. March agreed. 
Back at the cave... 
"Why does dad always want to work alone?", Jason asked Talia.
"It's his nature. He rarely trusts others. This attitude of him often gets him into trouble. Good thing I was able to save him from being assassinated weeks ago", Talia answered.
"Maybe he just doesn't want us to get into trouble.", Jason said.
"I get that, but by doing so we're the ones who get worried about him.", Talia replied.
"You know Bruce's past. He's experience the lost of loved ones at an early age, his parents that time. Now, he's trying his best not to lose the people he loves again.", Alfred said.
"Oh. I guess you're right.", Talia agreed. 
Back at the City Hall, Bruce Wayne and Lincoln March now had a private conversation.
"Tell me what's gone on! Yesterday, everything was still fine. How could this have happened?", Bruce furiously asked.
"I really don't know, Bruce. Even I did not expect all these to happen.", Lincoln March answered.
"With the way crime rates has dropped with Gotham, it's impossible you could have allowed this to happen. Unless you're the one pulling the strings behind these.", Bruce told him.
"Are you accusing me now? How could you do this to me? I've been serving Gotham the best that I can and all you could ever do was judge me?", Lincoln replied.
"I... I apologize. I was just caught up by my emotions. But I promise, whoever is/are responsible for unleashing hell on our city, they're going down. Even if it's you!", Bruce told him, as he left. 
When Bruce Wayne left his room, Lincoln March said "So that's how you want it to be. Then, so be it.". 
Police are now launched to the parts of Gotham where there are gang wars. 
Batman made his way back to the Batcave. Nightwing, Batgirl, and Catwoman called him through the Batcomputer. Nightwing asked what course of action are they going to take for the wars throughout Gotham.
"The only option we have is to split up. If we do so, we may be able to stop or slow down these wars at the same time.", Batman told them. 
Batman also called Huntress and Batwoman and told them about the gang wars. The two were aware of so. Now, Batman assigned his allies to go after the different gangs. He assigned Nightwing and Batgirl on the war between Lew Moxon and Rupert Thorne, Catwoman on Hellhound and Black Mask, Batwoman on Jokerz and the Whisper Gang, while Huntress on Falcones and Maronis. The heroes all agreed.
"Bruce, what now? So Jason and I just gonna sit and wait here at the sidelines again?", Talia asked.
"I can't risk your lives now. Not at this moment. We can't go all out.", Batman answered.
"Well, we can't risk you too.", Talia replied.
"You are too valuable for me to let you join early in this crusade. Even Alfred.", Batman told them.
"Then when are you going to send us in?", Talia asked.
"Gotham needs you. In case we fall to the enemy forces, Gotham will need protectors. I need you three. You are our contingencies. I'm just preparing for the worst scenarios.", Batman told them.
"Is that so? Alright. We'll handle Gotham. Go on, then. Be careful. I love you.", Talia replied.
"I love you too.", Batman replied. Now, Batman gave the three tracking devices connected to his communicator, which automatically rings when Batman gets taken down. Now he got going.
Meanwhile, at the Court of Owls, Grandmaster John Wycliffe told Owlman, "The cops have reached the scene. Time to send in the Talons."
"Alright. Send in the Talons.", Owlman now commanded the Talons. The Talons now went to the locations of the different gang wars. The Talons started going at the police. Later, at Thorne and Moxon's battlefield, at The Hill, the Talons went after the police and killed them. Jim Gordon was also there. The Talons were chasing him, but Batgirl and Nightwing were quick and kicked the Talons away. Jim Gordon thanked Batgirl and Nightwing for saving him. Now, Batgirl told his dad to get somewhere safe. Jim Gordon did so. They knocked the Talons down for a while, then they retreated. 
"I wonder where Batman chooses to battle.", Nightwing said.
Catwoman, Huntress, and Batwoman now went on to help the police stop the gang wars on other parts of Gotham as well.
Meanwhile, Batman on his Batmobile went to the location of Lucius Fox's son, Luke Fox, at a gym. He changed his clothing into a suit, and entered the gym. He saw Luke working out, then suddenly called him to tell him he has some important matters to discuss between them and his father Lucius. Now, they went to Wayne Enterprises and entered Batman's secret base under the building. 
"What could the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company possibly want to discuss with me?", Luke Fox asked.
"The 10 billion dollars we've lost were still not retrieved.", Lucius told Bruce. 
"That's the least of my concerns right now. Me and my allies are going all-out to stop this huge gang war which may potentially destroy all of Gotham. And I see your son is fit, physically capable, and intelligent enough to be part of our team. I believe your son would be of help in our crusade.", Bruce said.
"You're dragging my son into this crusade against crime of yours? I won't allow it.", Lucius said.
"No, I don't mean dragging him completely onto our war on crime. I'll only ask his help when necessary.", Bruce told him.
"Still, it's risky for my son.", Lucius said.
"I agree.", Luke spoke. 
"What? No, you can't.", Lucius told his son.
"Look. Even I don't want to do this. But I'm just preparing for the worst possible outcomes. If ever Gotham loses us, they'll need new protectors.", Bruce explained to Lucius calming him down.
Finally, Lucius agreed. Now, Batman gave Luke and Lucius access to one of his most advanced Batsuits, the Batwing. He also gave Luke a tracking device connected to Batman's tracker which would help him locate Batman. Luke promised he will do his duty well. Bruce thanked him and now got going. He now got to the Batmobile and returned to his Batman costume, and went out the base. Batman now chose to go to the Falcones and Maronis location. There he helped Huntress and the police stop the Falcones and Maronis war against each other. However, Talons got in the way of Batman and Huntress. It's been a two-on-two battle. Meanwhile, Talons also came at Nightwing and Batgirl, Catwoman, and Batwoman. The others find themselves on the losing end against the Talons.
Back at the Batcave, Talia and Jason had a conversation.
"Mother, I think the reason why Batman assigned us as contingencies is because they know they're going to fail miserably, trying to stop the gang wars separately.", Jason said.
"Son, there are always risks in war. If they decided to stop each gang war one at a time, then the other parts of the city would already be in severe destruction. They chose to split, therefore increasing their chances to stop these wars at the same time.", Talia replied to her son.
"But the choice they made put them in a less favorable position.", Jason responded.
"Then let's just hope for the best.", Talia told her son.
They watched the gang wars from the Batcomputer's monitor, when suddenly, the Batcave's main power shut down. Good thing the cave has a generator that automatically turns on. When the lights turned back on, they were shocked to see three Talons wielding swords. Now, Jason and Talia picked up their swords, and Alfred picked up his samurai.
Meanwhile, the other heroes are now being taken down by the Talons. Nightwing, Batgirl, Batwoman, Huntress, and Batman were now all taken down. Catwoman was able to defeat the Talons. However, she was already weak and then collapsed as well. The Talons now brought the unconscious heroes to their vans and droved to the Court of Owls base. While Lincoln March was out declaring martial law on Gotham, it was John Wycliffe who's taking charge of the Court now. He called White Rabbit to send Catwoman to their base. He also commanded Scarecrow and his gang to come to their base. White Rabbit now took Catwoman and brought her to the Court of Owls base. When Catwoman woke up, she was shocked to see that she was cuffed and the Court of Owls members are around her, including their agents White Rabbit and Scarecrow and his gang. Later, Owlman makes his return to the base
"Uh! Why am I here?!", Catwoman exclaimed as she regained consciousness.
"You Catwoman, had been the biggest threat to our operations. You were the only one who was able to defeat my Talons while every one else of your allies struggled. I like your spirit, but at this point, it won't be able to help you now.", Owlman told her, holding her jaw with his hand.
"So, everyone we've faced before, are all your allies?", Catwoman asked.
"Yes. Correct.", Owlman answered, as he turned on the monitors in front of Catwoman, revealing where the other heroes are: at separate rooms, strapped on walls, and being electrocuted/tortured.
"You are currently seeing your closest friends, allies, and lover, fall one by one. That's the price you pay, for interfering with our plans.", Owlman continued.
"No!", Catwoman explained.
"You're lucky I spared you from the pain.", Owlman told her.
"Why are you doing this?", Catwoman asked.
"If you want to know about us, let me tell you a little nursery rhyme. It goes, "Beware The Court of Owls, that watches all the time, ruling Gotham from a shadow perch, behind granite and lime. They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed, speak not a whispered word of them or they'll send The Talon for your head.", Owlman answered.
The heroes resisted from the metal straps that bound them.
"Resisting will only worsen your suffering.", Joseph Powers, one the Court of Owls members told the heroes. Catwoman bowed her down, and she seemed hopeless.
"But that's not all.", Owlman said, as he finally took off his mask, and revealed who he was. All the heroes were shocked that it was actually Lincoln March. "Yes, I am Gotham's current Mayor Lincoln March. In order to take control over Gotham, we decided to take over it from the inside then outside. I planned all the murders, the biggest of which was Mayor Hamilton Hill's, in order to ensure my place as Gotham's new mayor. And while my agents made you all busy, we were able to work underground to subdue all of Gotham's biggest gangs and manipulate them to go to war with each other. All of it was part of our one big scheme. We are the Court of Owls.", he continued.
Batman spoke, "This is all my fault. I should have believed your suspicions that he is indeed responsible for the murders and gang wars. I should have exposed him earlier that he's the suspect. We could've avoided all of this."
"It's alright, Batman. We didn't have any solid evidences. No one would have believed you then.", Batgirl replied.
"Exactly. I've already gained the trust of Gotham's citizens. And on top of that, the gang wars are bound to continue until Gotham City is torn into pieces. And when that happens, we will rebuild this city the way we wanted it to be.", John Wycliffe said, in reply to them.
== Characters ==
=== Bat-Family: ===
Dick Grayson/Nightwing
Barbara Gordon/Batgirl
Selina Kyle/Catwoman
Bruce Wayne/Batman
Talia al Ghul-Batman's wife.
Jason Todd/Robin-the second Robin after Dick Grayson.
Alfred Pennyworth-Batman's butler.
Helena Bertinelli/Huntress-a vigilante whose main weapon is a crossbow; one of the more brutal heroes of Gotham.
Kate Kane/Batwoman-a former military trainee who used her skills to become a crimefighting vigilante.
==== Other: ====
* Vicki Vale-a news reporter in Gotham.
* Lucius Fox-Bruce Wayne's business manager.
* Luke Fox-son of Lucius Fox.
* Commissioner Jim Gordon-GCPD commissioner and father of Batgirl.
* GCPD-Gotham police
=== Villains: ===
=== Court of Owls: ===
* Talons-assassins hired by Court of Owls.
* Maria Powers
* Joseph Powers
* Grandmaster John Wycliffe-grandmaster of Court of Owls.
* Lincoln March/Owlman-leader of Court of Owls.
* Jaina Hudson/White Rabbit (agent)-has the ability to split herself into two personas; one is her alter ego, Jaina Hudson, and the other, her criminal persona, the White Rabbit, who has exceptional acrobatic and fighting skills.
* Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow (agent)-a scientist who specializes in using fear toxins and utilizes them in his crimes.
==== Scarecrow's gang: ====
* Jim Craddock/Gentleman Ghost-a ghost of a Victorian era thief who remained on Earth to commit more crimes.
* Jervis Tetch/Mad Hatter-a villain who specializes in mind control weapons.
* Scream Queen-a female vampire with an incredibly high pitch voice.
* Dala-a female vampire
==== Gotham gangs: ====
* Rupert Thorne-a big-time mobster in Gotham.
* Lew Moxon-another big-time mobster.
* Roman Sionis/Black Mask-currently the biggest crime boss in Gotham.
* Hellhound-a notorious street thug who is an expert martial artist.
* Whisper Gang-a small time gang in Gotham.
* Joker
* Jokerz-Joker's gang equipped with futuristic weapons.
* Falcone crime family-formerly the largest criminal empire in Gotham.
* Maroni crime family-Falcone family's rivals.