"And we are pleased to announce the return of the fifty state Initiative," Osborne announced, "With Camp Hammond back in action after multiple attacks and the loss of many personnel during the Asgard Campaign we will start to redistribute teams to protect the United States."

The crowds cheered as Osborne continued to witter at the conference in Oklahoma City. After the break-ins; first by the Fantastic Four and then a week later by Songbirds Rag Tag group both Osborne had felt it was in everyone's best interest to get a team up and ready in Oklahoma to act as additional security at Site Alpha-Bravo Whiskey. The Taskmaster flicked his sword casually as the five graduating members of F5 got ready to make their entrances.

The majority of the applicants were recent applicants to the Initiative, the Team Leader American Eagle had been forced to join or Osborne had threatened to clear out his tribe. Personally Tony thought that this had been a dangerous move but Osborne had pushed forward anyway. In addition to the Eagle there was Cyclone a former Thunderbolt who was another threat although a reduced one but he too had been forced to join. Two of the other members Buffalo and Tempest were low level criminals who had signed up for cures to their respective problems; the last member Glow-worm* was a new hero who had been a low level SHIELD employee and had stayed during the conversion to HAMMER and had been rewarded with an old set of armor belonging to the former Thunderbolt Abner Jenkins.

"And now I'd like to announce the leader of Camp Hammond; the Taskmaster." Osborne announced. Getting to his feet Tony walked out onto the make-shift stage to face the audience. Most stared and a few recoiled in fear, he was in all respects rather formidable and was well known as a deadly mercenary without the humorous styling's of Deadpool.

"Good Afternoon." he said, "It's my pleasure to announce the second new Initiative Team F5." There was no applause only dead silence, if there had been any crickets around he would have been sure that they would have chirped by now.

"First the team Leader, the American Eagle." Tony announced hoping that an actual bona-fide super-hero would liven things up. The Eagle arrived and flexed his muscles, but the look on his face showed that he would rather be any-where but here. Still the crowd politely applauded even if it wasn't the virtual thunder-claps that the Avengers had received in Central Park the day before. "Why is there never a distracting crisis around when you need one." Tony thought, so much so that he almost said it out loud. Instead he virtually blurted out, "Next up we have Cyclone and Tempest." with the two 'Heros' arriving by whipping up a wind storm that spread golden glitter into the sky. The reception was even less enthused with a few boos spread among the lack-lustre claps with most people looking horrified at the wind, in fear that it would cause tornados. "Next the super strong Bison." Tony announced as the Bison took the stage despite the boos he received which know outnumbered the cheers. "And finally Glow-worm" Tony finished as the former SHIELD agent landed on the stage before firing a wrist mounted laser into the sky, with the beam igniting the glitter to reveal a glowing F5 hovering over the crowd. The crowd responded with looks of confusion and murmuring.

"I thought Songbird was going to be here?" a bald man at the front said.

"Yeah who are these losers?" another man, this time with a beard and tattooed arms

"Bring back Thor," a woman dressed like the god in question shouted as the crowd agreed throwing random hero names and even those of some villains around that they would rather have protect their state. Eventually the crowd died down and left leaving F5 and the Taskmaster alone. Even Osborne had left to do something important to nobody apart from himself.

"Well that was a bust," Bison said

"I'm sure they will think differently when you save them from whatever the next crisis is." Tony reassured them although he knew it was unlikely at best.

"I suppose Osborne wants you to stay," Jason Strongbow, AKA the American Eagle, spat, "To make sure that we don't mess up moving into the new base." he said sarcastically.

"No Luck guys." Tony replied, "To be honest I would rather be with you. Osborne has put pressure on me to fill forty eight more states with hero teams in four weeks. There will be a lot more of these drags before it gets better." he explained, "You guys can go, Jason I want a word." he added

As the other members of F5 left Jason stayed his hand poised over his crossbow. "Jason, look after them okay." Tony said, "Apart from Cyclone they have little formal hero training."

"I want to leave Osborne has blackmailed me into being here." Jason replied, "I'm his prisoner in the largest cage in the world. You are have a strong influence and charismatic you could stop him from doing stuff like this."

"Osborne's sick and he's leading this country down the crapper." Tony confessed, "But it's that or being thrown in the new prison he's constructed and your people burning as HAMMER strikes them down. You're team is named F5, after the Fujita scale that measures tornados. There is a storm coming all I need is for you to ride it out if and when Osborne falls I will be more then happy to release you."

"I'll hold you to that." Jason said cautiously as he walked away leaving Tony sitting on the stage all alone. He wasn't lonely for long though as his cell beeped Auld Lang Syne indicating that a message was coming from Camp Hammond.

"Hello," he said gruffly

"Tony it's Frank." the reply came

"Constrictor how's Camp?" Tony asked not really caring

"Not good, full register of missing individuals post Asgard include Diamondback, Stingray and the Hawaii team and Hellcat everyone else alive is accounted for." Frank explained

"That's a lot of high profile people, but that's not the news you called up to tell me is it?" Tony asked

"No Tony, Skein is acting up saying things like we're cannon fodder and that we should rise up against Osborne. Naturally the others didn't join her and we managed to detain her before she left camp grounds but as you know it only takes a spark." Frank said

"Okay Frank keep her in solitary lock-up until I get back. I'll deal with her as I deem necessary. Hopefully the ride home will only take a few hours, Norman has me on a public flight to boost super-human-civilian relationships. Just hold the fort until then Taskmaster out." Tony ordered turning off the phone. Constrictor was a good recruit and would make a strong team leader but for the moment Tony was looking for someone to back him up and, despite the Diamondback fiasco, he was a reasonably honest hard working individual. Looking across the car-park he was situated in Tony sighed, "Norman you could have at least provided a car to the air-port. Well looks like there's no rest for the wicked or," he thought bitterly, "the formally wicked forced onto public transport." as he slouched down to the bus stop.

* This Glow-worm is the third person to use this name and as such is an Original Character not belonging to Marvel.