WARNING! YOU HAVE NOW CROSSED THE BARRIER -- ANGEL PATROL AHEAD!

MAY THEY ALWAYS LIVE ON

THIS BRIEFING IS FROM
FILE: A56-7W
--TOP SECRET --
SUBJECT: AIRWOLF

A MACH ONE PLUS ATTACK HELICOPTER. SOUGHT BY GOVERNMENTS FRIENDLY AND FOREIGN, AIRWOLF IS HIDDEN BY TEST PILOT, STRINGFELLOW HAWKE, TO BE RETURNED TO THE GOVERNMENT ONLY IF HIS BROTHER, ST. JOHN, AN M.I.A. IN VIET NAM, CAN BE FOUND.

MICHAEL COLDSMITH-BRIGGS III, CODE-NAMED ARCHANGEL, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY THAT DEVELOPED AIRWOLF, BELIEVED TO COVERTLY PROVIDE LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO HAWKE IN EXCHANGE FOR FLYING AIRWOLF ON MISSIONS OF NATIONAL INTEREST.

HAWKE IS THIRTY-FOUR, RECLUSIVE, SENSITIVE, A LONER, KNOWN TO ASSOCIATE WITH HIS ONLY FRIEND AND MENTOR, DOMINIC SANTINI. TOGETHER, HAWKE AND SANTINI FLY AIRWOLF AT SPEEDS RIVALING THE FASTEST JETS. BACKED BY UNMATCHED FIREPOWER, AIRWOLF IS A WEAPON TOO DANGEROUS TO BE LEFT IN UNENLIGHTENED HANDS.

FINDING AIRWOLF IS YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

END OF FILE . . .

And this is how the adventure began.

Michael Coldsmith-Briggs III was perhaps one of the most fascinating roles Alex Cord has ever taken on -- largely because he admits that his counterpart is much like himself (see the interview on the Airwolf Home Page and also under 'Interviews' at this website). Archangel is a complicated tapestry of virtues and flaws, and despite his reputation as a hard-ass Company operative, Archangel has shown us on many occasions that he DOES have a sense of honor. In a world of espionage, spying and sabotage, grey is as clear as white in many cases and Michael has admittedly had to deal with some very unsavory types. BUT -- if we MUST have an intelligence agency like The FIRM, thank God Michael is one of it's head members.

MUSINGS ON MICHAEL -- VERSION 1

By Debra Drake

Michael Coldsmith Briggs III, known throughout the espionage underworld as Archangel, the Deputy Director of the clandestine secret agency referred to as The Firm. Who is the man behind the immaculate white suits and the half-darkened glasses?

The series reveals a few pieces to the puzzle and hints at others. This is an attempt to put those scraps together to reveal a clearer picture.

BRIGGS AND THE FIRM

Notes in the script for the "AIRWOLF" movie pilot decribes Briggs as being in his early forties. There are several references ("Proof Through the Night", "Fallen Angel") that mention that he had been with The Firm for about twenty years. That would suggest that he joined the agency soon after he graduated college. "Proof Through The Night" also mentions that he was a field agent; the logical deduction would be that he worked his way through the ranks to his current position.

The Firm's ruling Committee -- and in particular, Zeus, it's director -- do not appear to like Michael very much (the Admiral being the lone exception). On two occasions ("Fallen Angel" and "Fortune Teller") when Briggs was captured, there was no particular remorse and no attempt at rescue. The second time, it was even suggested that Archangel might have turned and been working for the enemy, hence the Firm's assassination attempt on him. Further, a second supersonic helicopter was built behind his back ("Airwolf II"), and he was only told about it as a means of informing him that The Firm no longer needed him.

That wasn't the first attempt to remove him from his position. The first was Bruck's plan to force him into 'early retirement' ("Bite Of The Jackal"). While Bruck didn't succeed, it does bring up the question of why the Committee didn't use Michael's injuries from Red Star to force him out. Perhaps Briggs has more friends 'in high places' with as much or more clout than Zeus?

MICHAEL'S BACKGROUND

In "Airwolf II", we see Briggs on a polo pony. Polo is not a poor man's sport. In the same episode, he also reaches into his convertible Mercedes to make a call. While it is never expressly stated, one gets the feeling that Michael comes from a wealthy background. Further, one gets the impression of what is often termed as "old" money.

One thing we never do see or hear about is family. If he has any living relatives, they are far removed from his life, either geographically or emotionally. On both occasions when Briggs disappears, the only ones looking for him are Hawke and friends (and Marella).

While he has no difficulty attracting and surrounding himself with beautiful women, the only lover we know of is Maria ("Fallen Angel"), and we know that she chose Kruger (and East Germany) over Michael.

Perhaps the reason Briggs gets along with Hawke as well as he does is that he is just as lonely and isolated as Stringfellow is.

MARELLA, GABRIELLE AND THE 'ANGELS'

So why (and how) does Michael surround himself with such beautiful, intelligent women? Some of it may be simply the times. In the Airwolf era (mid-1980s), women were only beginning to be accepted into many occupations. If one assumes him to be somewhat open-minded on such matters, Archangel would have been in a position to take advantage of that. Not only would others have underestimated his corps of female agents, but treating the women as respected equals would have gone a long way toward earning their loyalty.

In some cases, though, it may go beyond that. In the pilot, Hawke actually asks Gabrielle much the same question, to which Gabrielle begins a reply explaining that she was fourteen when Briggs found her.

Government agencies do not recruit fourteen-year-olds, and in any case, most parents would not allow a child of that age to assume such a role. It follows that Michael did not meet Gabrielle under normal circumstances. One possibility is that Gabrielle might have been a runaway that Briggs found and befriended. If he made a habit of rescuing street children -- perhaps even going so far as to pay for their education and living expenses -- it would explain the intense dedication certain members of Michael's staff shows to him (Marella, Gabrielle, Samantha).

So, we build a picture of a man alone -- surrounded by others, but distant from them. Someone who is an integral part of an organization, but who answers first to himself, and only secondly to his superiors. He is, perhaps, EXACTLY the sort of man one needs in his position.

**Check back for more interpretations of Michael's life, loves and background! Got your own interpretation? E-mail them to me! I won't promise to use them all, but it's always interesting to find out someone else's take on one of the most fascinating characters on Airwolf!**

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Linda Ryner, Webmistress
October 24, 1998
lillith12@hotmail.com