"The portal was closed."
"Is that enough?"
The imperial administrators raised their voices all at once with a spectrum of opinions, all of them conflicted and none united in the next step. The rapping of a heavy staff upon the cold marble floors under their feet swallowed their fears and left only silence behind.
"The Supreme Intelligence has reviewed the present, looked into the past and calculated our future." Eyes were averted downwards, like children accepting the authority of a parent, supplicants at prayer. "Outpost 10 has not been active for three years, but Earth remains crucial to our resources and holdings. The Chitauri's attack on this outpost is a deliberate provocation of the Kree Empire and their encroachment must be answered. By our actions, we will see them bend to our superior will or break through our superior arms."
All nodded in agreement, comforted, resolute.
"Measuring this next step is already underway, as Outpost 10's resources are being activated. Our Science Division's top reconnaissance specialist has been seeded into Earth for some time and his reports have been important to learning the nature of the Chitauri attack, as well as the native species. The Captain is being briefed and returning with more information as we grow closer to learning why those Skrulls took this dangerous first step into war..."
++++
A hand clapped down on Walter Lawson's shoulder as he had just exited the office of Lieutenant Colonel. He had been turned down by every man in the Air Force he could appeal to, so this sudden contact was startling.
"I hear you've been trying to make in roads to SHIELD. After the attack on New York, those bastards have picked up ever piece of an alien invasion on American soil and expect the military to sit on their hands?"
Lt. Lawson slowly turned to see the gruff face of an Army man, mouth set in a hard line.
"You're coming with me, sport. I'm General Ross and I'm going to give that one-eyed son of a bitch a piece of my mind."