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Camp Finger

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Real Identity: Not Applicable
Appearances (BTAC Comics): Crack-Up! Part Two and Crack-Up! Part Three
Powers: Not Applicable



While Colonel Haslett recovered from a mission in Gardez, she and Captain Carl Finley were recruited by Professor Hugo Strange. Finley joined Project Samson, the Enhanced Warrior Program. It was conducted at Camp Finger, a U.S. Army base in Gotham City. Gretchen Gallway, Strange's assistant, thought Finley was easily the finest candidate--fearless, athletic, a will of steel, the kindest, and most gracious. Gallway developed feelings for him and it became hard for her to watch him endure the drug treatments. Many of the other candidates never made it. The final step in the program was the Psi-Ber Helmet, a brainwashing device he developed and considered the ultimate achievement in biocybernetics. The program candidates were lied to and told the helmet would increase their brain power, just as the drugs augmented their strength. In reality, the helmet projected images and voices of a select group of generals into the soldiers' premotor cortices, making the generals their controllers, whatever commands they gave, the soldiers would be programmed to obey.

The thought of Finley becoming a puppet weighed heavily on Gallway. She could not stand it and intervened on the Psi-Ber Helmet process only to discover Joker had somehow broken in and taken over the entire session. Project Samson was aborted at some point after. Five years later, Joker and Straightman invaded Camp Finger and confronted Professor Hugo Strange in his office after the latter drifted off. He was overcome by a feeling he had been to the base before. Joker gave Strange a hug. Strange demanded to be let go. Joker teased he was almost ready to forgive him for trying to con him, Penguin, and Two-Face into buying Batman's secret identity. Strange ordered Gretchen Gallway to call the military police. Joker noticed Gallway and informed them they already took care of them. Joker requested the "happy helmet" but Strange refused. Joker was crestfallen then ordered Straightman to break Gallway's neck on the count of three. Colonel Haslett intervened and ordered him to stand down. Straightman recognized her and released Gallway.

Joker stated he was the one that gave orders then took a right cross from Haslett. Joker ordered him to kill everyone. Strange desperately asked Haslett to do something. Haslett ordered Straightman to snap out of it. Straightman couldn't think and ran through the wall into the city. Joker was aghast and shouted he worked solo better anyway. He unleashed his Joker Toxin then fled the base, too. Batman later parked outside Camp Finger and used the ejector seat to propel himself over the guard shack. Colonel Haslett finished a set on the bench press and discovered Batman was in the room with her. He alluded to hearing about Joker's visit. She asked what he wanted. He wanted to find Carl Finley before Joker did but he needed information like how Finley became Straightman in the first place. Haslett stated she followed protocol and refused to discuss military matters with a freak show. She advised him to leave before she threw him out.

Batman observed she was lifting 400 pounds and remarked it was impressive for someone who just started the Army's super-soldier program right before it was aborted. He mused she could be wearing something to make her stronger. Haslett ordered him to keeps his hands off her. Professor Strange entered the room and revealed he informed the military police already. Batman mused Strange's involvement in the program was why it had gone to hell. Strange pointed out how quickly he went to personal attacks because he was a classic case of Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Batman warned him the Joker never quit until he got what he wanted. The military police arrived but Batman was already gone. Professor Strange heeded Batman's warning about Joker and had the Psi-Ber Helmet moved to a safer location. Straightman was later neutralized by Batman and Robin. He was taken back to Camp Finger. Joker and the brainwashed Task Force X hijacked a S.W.A.T. van and headed for Finger.

Nurse Gallway attended to Finley. Batman, Robin, and Batgirl were on standby. Strange checked in on Finley. Finley became irate and reckoned he should snap Strange's neck. Gallway tried in vain to calm him down. Strange observed his mind was almost unsalvageable and only the helmet could save him. Haslett informed everyone Joker was breaching the south entrance. Dressed as a general, Joker commanded Task Force X to attack soldiers. He thought the army life was fun and spotted a tank. He used it to blow a hole in the side of the main building. Haslett had enough and pulled her handgun. Joker signaled Deadshot who shot her right shoulder. Robin jump kicked Deadshot while Batgirl provided cover with gas balls. Joker told the Task Force X team there were weekend passes for whoever got the first kill. At the same time, Finley suffered a seizure. Strange believed there was nothing they could do since he was in the first state of a bicameral breakdown and would devolve into utter schizophrenia without the helmet. He found it a shame they couldn't record it.

Joker arrived and joked he admired his bedside manner then smacked Strange with a gun. He placed the helmet on Finley. Batgirl, Robin, and Haslett took cover behind a giant satellite dish. Robin saw Deadshot with a bazooka. Batman swung and and kicked Deadshot. The bazooka went off and the explosion took out Muscle and Boomerang. Robin warned Batman Katana was behind him. Harley fired a tranquilizer dart into Katana's neck. Harley apologized and promised she was welcome to join the next Girls Night. Harley declared she was done with Task Force X and reckoned she should join the Bat-Family because they could use a few laughs. She realized they were gone. Gallway pleaded in vain for Finley to be spared. Strange told her not to be an idiot. Joker advised her to listen to the professor. Batman kicked the door down. Joker grabbed Gallway and held her at gunpoint. Finley became enraged, grabbed Joker, and slammed him like a ragdoll. Haslett got him to stop by telling him "At ease." Harley remarked she was enjoying the show.