Hushed conversations about tension between Empire State President Fiorello LaGuardia and the infamous air pirate, The Black Swan, have been drifting through the ranks of the Empire State Air Militia for some time. Few could hide their astonishment when the announcement was made that the Black Swan Gang had been granted a letter of marque by the Empire State government in winter, 1936. Fewer still thought it would work.

However, those naysayers had to eat their words when pirate attacks against Empire State shipping dropped by almost half in the following months. Now it seems they may be in the right after all.

A source close to the President's office indicated that LaGuardia and the Black Swan have clashed repeatedly over the terms of the gang's contract with the Empire State. In the wake of the Black Swans' unscheduled sortie over Appalachia, and rumors of an unsuccessful coup within the gang, LaGuardia's private criticisms of the Swan have boiled over into numerous public forums.

Late last night, crews at the Manhattan Aerodrome were stunned to be roused from their beds and ordered to begin loading supplies aboard the Dark Angel, one of the Black Swan's zeppelins. (The whereabouts of a second Black Swan zep, the Huntress, are unknown.)

Following a rushed series of preparations, the airship lifted off at sunrise, accompanied by the gang's entire compliment of fighters. Last to take off was the Black Swan herself, reportedly dropping a few disparaging comments about LaGuardia as she climbed into the cockpit of her J2 Fury.

The Dark Angel and her escort sailed south along the coast until they were lost from sight.