Maria Hill ~ Acting Director (shield_2ic) wrote in newalliance, @ 2013-01-17 07:43:00 |
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Entry tags: | agent coulson, maria hill |
Who: Maria Hill (+OPEN to SHIELD and public reaction)
NPCs: Helicarrier command crew
When: 1/17, 0800
Where: Helicarrier bridge
What: Fury's vanished, and appropriate measures need to be taken.
Rating: Low
There was a countdown on the Helicarrier bridge leading to Inauguration Day, and the cluster of analysts and handlers had spread papers all over the conference table, punctuated by coffee mugs and laptops; their low chatter and constant typing fitted into the background done of the engines. Maria had stopped listening to them, even as she checked to be sure they were on task and under budget and not given to flights of fancy or panic. Half of them were preparing briefing packets for the incoming president, the other half were predicting what doom he'd inflict on the world, when, given the current state of the nation - not as the president narrated it, but as the numbers bore out.
Still, SHIELD's mission continued regardless of the changeover; there were a few missions they needed to fit in before they had a commander-in-chief who might veto them, and her days were consumed with getting agents into jets and off the Helicarrier and pointed at their objectives, then reworking future missions as completion or failure changed the playing field of the world, and even managed to recover one and insist on debriefing packets.
It was that very fact that had her realize that something was wrong. She didn't need to see Fury often, not when things were already in motion, but she was required to inform him of mission completion and get the next mission and Helicarrier deployment.
"You haven't seen him in a week?" she demanded of the hapless junior agent.
"Closer to two," he informed her in at least an attempt to be helpful.
"And you did not report this to me until this moment?" she asked sharply. Damnit, she needed to now if her commanding officer was not available. Though that did explain why she hadn't received any of her packets back; she'd just had more than enough in front of her to push for an official rubberstamp on what they were doing. That was his style, anyways - he'd step in if he disagreed with any part of any aspect of the mission, but otherwise let them get on with their jobs. It suited her, even as it frustrated her.
She thought that this was just his general loose hand, but as she interrogated agents and pulled up surveillance footage, she felt the differences. No one had seen him for weeks. No one received orders from him for that amount of time. No one had been put on a special project that might indicate he was in the field in deep cover. And even if he was...he wasn't here.
She could feel what it meant, and took just a moment in her quarters to sit, and let it swell within her, fitting into her skin. Then she kicked the analysts out of the conference room and did her duty: she reported in to the Council, and got her orders. They suited her shoulders, but there was just a kernel of regret in her belly - or lower. She would not have time or space for a personal life, at least not until things were straightened and ordered.
Striding back onto the command deck, she took Fury's usual place in front of both screens, and immediately had everyone's attention. "Nicholas Fury has not been at his post for fifteen days," she announced. "He is not on an authorized mission. In light of this, the World Security Council has ordered him to brought into custody to account for his actions. Until such a time as a formal appointment can be made, the Council has authorized my promotion as Acting Director of SHIELD." The words felt good in her mouth. "Draft an internal announcement of these orders. Inform the press of the change in leadership. Read me into the ongoing classified ops."
There was a bump in the world, a pause as the agents absorbed it, and then everything went back to normal as everyone settled into their jobs, and followed her orders. She had to smile, just a little, but her eyes were grim. That was it. The world was in her hands like a fragile egg. So don't screw this up, Deputy Acting Director Maria Hill of SHIELD thought with grim humor.