Who: Captain America, OPEN to Avengers and SHIELD Agents; later there will be other invitees NPCS: Senator Stern. Where: S.H.I.E.L.D. NYC HQ When: July 12, 2012 What: Captain America deals with a Senator who is pissed off about the whole Winter/Frost Giant crisis, and summons the Avengers to conference. Rating: TBD. It's gonna be a free for all, y'all.
Captain America stepped onto the scene in full uniform, except for his helmet. It was abuzz with activity. Screens were lit up everywhere, showing a map of the world, a map of New York, a map of Norway, weather patterns, weather predictions; there were agents tracking news feeds, agents doing their best to track the movements of the Frost Giants, agents going back and forth, weapons changing hands... Steve heard snippets of conversation in French, Russian, German, and it was only when someone addressed him in English that it occurred to him that it might be unusual to someone else.
On the main display, that could be expanded to fill the center floor to ceiling windows, and currently was, was a live video feed of man Steve recognized as Senator Stern from the papers and news on the internet. He frowned at the way Stern was yelling at everyone, especially the junior agent in charge of the Communications display. Given the circumstances, Cap felt S.H.I.E.L.D. was performing admirably; the majority of agents seemed to be used with operating within the chaos. Granted, this was on a global scale and a threat they'd never faced before, but it was those kinds of things that fell within S.H.I.E.L.D.'s mandate. That's what Director Nick Fury had told him about the organization. Cap had no doubt that S.H.I.E.L.D's agents would marshal on and do their duty, helping to save the world, so to see them belittled by a politician bothered Cap a great deal.
The Senator was irate, and not entirely without reason. "WHERE'S FURY? HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE ON TOP OF THIS, AND HE'S SUPPOSED TO KEEP US APPRISED! NORWAY IS SAYING THAT IF HADN'T HELPED 'THOR' -- THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL WANTS TO POINT FINGERS -- !! I WANT TO TALK TO FURY! WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A DIRECT LINE -- FORGET FURY, GET ME HIS REPLACEMENT! GET ME MAYA HILL! NOW! AMERICA'S REPUTATION IS ON THE LINE!"
The tirade was impressive, but the Captain wasn't impressed. He would not allow anyone, United States Senator or no, try to steam roll, intimidate and humiliate an entire roomful of hardworking people who had more important jobs to be doing. Also, he really didn't like it when people insulted his friends.
Cap made sure he was in full view of the Senator, and that the feed did indeed go both ways, before he spoke. "Senator Stern, sir, this is Steve Rogers. Codename Captain America. Director Fury has a strike force --"
Stern seemed to fixate on Steve, calming down at the sight of him. Maybe Coulson had been right about the uniform after all; maybe it was a reminder that everyone needed. Stern had stopped yelling, but seemingly got riled up again the more Steve talked: "Aren't the Avengers his strike force? Didn't I listen to Fury argue for the Avengers...?"
Steve hated that habit politicians seem of cutting people off. "Sir, you didn't let me finish. Fury has a strike force plan that includes the Avengers. And the deputy director's name is Maria Hill, not Maya. She was a marine."
The video feed crackled, then the screen turned to the white fuzz Steve had become accustomed to seeing whenever his TV had technical difficulties.
"What happened?" called out one agent.
"We got lucky," said Steve to no one in particular, the joke lost, and put on his helmet.
The weather had been kind enough to deal with the Senator, but now it was truly time. Taking time to study the card in his hand, Captain America activated it and made the call. It was time to assemble the Avengers.