First off: This story has been ongoing for a year to the day, so I guess you could say that this is a celebration chapter!...you know, I always expected I'd be done with this story by now. Oh well.
Now, here we are for the final Home Front before we get back to the actual events themselves. I apologize for taking so damn long, but this set of chapters actually didn't appeal to my creative side, especially with a lack of action. After this chapter, hopefully I can get back into the swing of things and with more action in the War I can start updating more. So sit back (or keep doing whatever it is you do when reading my stories), and let the chaos get worse before your eyes.
Writing Home Front chapters is really hard...
Disclaimer: *Copy & paste from other chapters.*
Chapter 21: On the Home Front 1, Pt 3
*USS Georgia, off the coast of New York Harbor*
"You think they know we're watching them?" one of the naval soldiers asked as he turned his binoculars to the giant floating fortress-like city that was currently floating above the Atlantic Ocean only about five miles off of New York Harbor. At the moment, said navel soldier soldier and the rest of the Navy personnel on the battleship cruiser that was currently stationed in the Bay were on assignment as per the orders of the US Navy brass, requested by H.A.M.M.E.R.: they were to remain stationed here until further notice as a defense, and offense if necessary, line against a possible attack against the United States from the Kingdom of the Inhumans. Despite being a people of relative isolation, keeping to themselves except when they need to associate with the heroes of Earth and with SHIELD, the Inhumans had proven on several occasions just how powerful they are. The fact that their city was floating above US waters, and therefore American territory, the topic of extending the force of Superpower Registration to them had sparked a massive debate and argument amongst the H.A.M.M.E.R. Directorate. Senator Kelly and Victoria Hand insisted that as they were a super powered population that was taking up residence in American airspace, which was under the authority of the SPRA, they were mandated by law to register with the federal government and H.A.M.M.E.R. Tony Stark, Hank Pym and Reed Richards argued against the idea completely, citing that Black Bolt and his people were recognized as a sovereign nation by a number of UN members, and Nick Fury would definitely not just stand by to allow that to happen. Besides that, the Inhumans would never choose to abide by human rules.
For now, their orders were to remain stationed as they were for the last couple of weeks, and to treat the floating Inhuman city of Attilan as a potential threat. At least until a decision could be made in regards to the Inhumans.
"C'mon Tommy," another soldier replied as he took a puff of his cigarette, looking off in the distance to Attilan. "We've been here floating for the last couple of weeks with our cannons and missiles aimed right at them, unmoving. Of course they know we're here."
"You think they'll join up with H.A.M.M.E.R. and register?" yet another naval soldier, a woman in her early twenties, asked as she walked over to the two, leaning on the rails beside them.
"Willingly, definitely not," the first soldier, Tommy, replied. "What Iron Man and the other guys said was true; them superfolk are apparently registered as a sovereign people and that giant floating city is supposed to be their own kingdom."
"Don't the Jews say something about being a sovereign people and that Israel is their kingdom?" the second soldier rhetorically asked. "Look how that worked out for them: still in a war over who gets to keep the place as their country."
"But anyways..." Tommy continued, "this is what I think about the whole thing. They won't want to register at all, but we got a lot of strong superfolk on the side of Registration. Iron Man, Wonder Man, Ms. Marvel, Vision... If they're serious about Registration and the SPRA as they say they are, then they're definitely going to have to do something about it. Either Kelly and Hand will say something, or something will happen that will make them have to react and try to bring them in for Registration."
The trio of soldiers turned their gaze back to the fortress-like city, staring at it for another few minutes in silence, contemplating Tommy's words.
"Didn't that Black Bolt guy once yell out and rip a chunk of moon rock the size of Rhode Island and sent it flying into space?" Tommy asked.
"That's what the rumor says," the other man said as he threw his cigarette into the ocean below.
Shocked by those words, the woman took one glance the distant Attilan before quickly walking off back into the ship's interior, a look of uncertainty taking over her face.
All the while, at the gates of Attilan, an Inhuman sentry stood with his weapon in hand, his four blood red eyes narrowing as he maintained his view on the human war vessel, as ordered by Black Bolt.
XXX
*Rykers' Island*
The sounds of clicking heeled boots echoed across the metal-filled halls as H.A.M.M.E.R. Rykers Superhuman Sector Warden Amelia Cortez continued her trek to the government's newest addition to its prison/corrections system, an underground extension of Rykers Island be specially built and customized to hold superhuman and mutant criminals. This was supposed to be one of at least three new facilities that H.A.M.M.E.R. was developing at the moment, although there was talk of getting Alcatraz Island back up and running, along with a new mutant specific prison to replace the destroyed PRIME Containment Facility, the project being referred to only as "The Cage."
Cortez was just assigned this job yesterday; having been called out from her early retirement from her former career as a warden for the female sector of San Quentin, the 43 year old was here to travel around, oversee the nearly completed construction and ensure everything was going smoothly. The cells and power generators were fully functional, and there was a highly secure vault being set up at the moment to hold gear and equipment of any incarcerated criminals. The extension was well separated from the rest of the jail that housed regular criminals, and tests were now being done to ensure that should any breakout occurred in either sectors, the extension would be sealed off from the rest of the world for seven hours, running on a completely different power source, until everything was contained and dealt with. All of this, Cortez thought, was a vital necessity to deal with, in her words, "those damn capes that think they can do what they want 'cause they have the power."
Warden Cortez was a huge proponent of the SPRA, which was a vital reason that she accepted the offer of Warden for this new facility. She had never been a victim of property damage during any of America's usual super brawls, but she did have a sister and niece in Houston. They had moved there just a couple of weeks prior to the destruction the city had endured, escaping from an abusive marriage. It had hit her so damn hard when she learned the two of them died that day. She had no problems with mutants (hell, one of her old buddies in college was a mutant), but she did have a problem with teenagers going out playing hero when they didn't even know what they were doing. That was unacceptable, and the fact that seasoned heroes did nothing about it was just what made it worse.
But she really hated supervillains; Cortez knew that the overall cause of the destruction of Houston was the Brotherhood of Mutant Supremacy, and they along with many other villains caused massive destruction in their battles in the country. This prison was being designed to ensure they never saw the light of day again, and Amelia Cortez was more than all too willing to rise to the call.
As she continued to oversee the various crews building and readying the new prison, and took in the number of armed H.A.M.M.E.R. agents stationed around, Cortez smiled. "I really missed this."
XXX
*The Bronx, New York City*
Marco Pinciotti thought he had it made.
At the age of 32, he was a decorated US Marine Corps Officer, a born and raised leader of men...and woman, for the benefit of the two kickass girls in his former squad. He had struggled through his school years and managed to get into football in his first year of high school. At 6'1", physically at his prime and at the top of his class, he had a bright future ahead of him with the many scholarship offers he had before him. He threw it all away to serve his country at 19 years of age. Pinciotti quickly rose through the ranks in the military, proving his worth both in training and in the field. Iraq, the Gulf, Afghanistan and numerous "unofficial business..." Marco Pinciotti excelled as a Marine, with his superiors talking of getting him promoted and possibly rising even higher, making a brass position within a year.
Of course, that was before the Superpower Registration Act, and before the creation of H.A.M.M.E.R. This was before Director Victoria Hand had taken a notice to him and his remarkable reputation. His selection and recruiting into H.A.M.M.E.R. was near instantaneous, and to his shock, he had been given a position of power and authority: H.A.M.M.E.R.'s New York City Supervising Agent/Handler. All H.A.M.M.E.R. activity in the city was under his authority and his ability to run it as he saw fit, in accordance to H.A.M.M.E.R. protocol and the SPRA. Everything crime & superpower related in the city and surrounding counties was his responsibility, and Marco Pinciotti was a man who would go above and beyond. He was the go-to man to handle any and all superhuman, mutant and criminal threats that the NYPD, NYS Police, local departments and the NYS Code: Blue division couldn't handle. All the confidence was in his favor. Yes, H.A.M.M.E.R. Supervisory Agent Marco Pinciotti was the man that the brass, Director Hand especially, believed could get the job of enforcing the Superpower Registration Act in the area done right.
And yet that was the one thing that made him wish he had never even entered into the military in the first place.
His comm link beeped again, making him swear as he walked out of the H.A.M.M.E.R. Mobile Command Center, back outside into the view of the dozens of SWAT units, H.A.M.M.E.R. agents and officers that had taken control of the area, a specific neighborhood in the Bronx, and locked it down. Clicking his comm, a frustrated Agent Pinciotti answered, "Go for Pinciotti."
"Agent," the voice of Victoria Hand replied, the same tone of contained anger and annoyance that the man had grown to hate clear in her voice. "Tell me, what day are you on?"
"We're on Day 97, ma'am," he replied.
"Yes, I thought so. Is there a reason that there has still been no success on your part, Agent Pinciotti? You were chosen for that position because of your exemplary track record, and yet I still hear that you cannot get this superhuman under your authority."
"Ma'am, with all due respect," Pinciotti retaliated in repressed anger, "when I took this position I was not told I would be playing chicken with the Greek God of War. Director Hand, this is ridiculous; on multiple occasions my men have failed to get Ares to comply with the SPRA. We've tried to storm his apartment various times, and he's kept us away with gunfire. We've evacuated the building, the block, even the neighborhood; we've cut off power, electricity and cable. Nothing we do is deterring Ares, ma'am."
"Agent Pinciotti, all this is just telling me that you just aren't doing an acceptable enough job-"
"And all this is telling me that the high caliber weaponry and HulkBuster unit I've requested for this specific scenario still is far from come!" Pinciotti snapped. "Director, I need real firepower if you want me to place the Greek God of War in custody of H.A.M.M.E.R.! Get me the damn equipment I need to at least do SOMETHING and then we can talk about how poor of a job you think I'm doing!" With that, he ripped the comm from his ears and threw to the side, not wanting to hear the woman's voice.
"Sir," a fellow agent of Pinciotti said as he approached the man. "We have a...situation to deal with." At Pinciotti's confused expression, the other agent gestured to a car that had appeared the barricade his men had set up. A few agents and NYPD officers were speaking with the driver, who looked like a grocery store delivery guy of about 17. "The kid is saying he's here to deliver Ares his groceries."
"What-? He's never shown up before. Hell, we've never had this happen this whole time."
"While that's true, sir, apparently Ares had planned ahead in this situation; the kid is saying how Ares called up the market he works in the say the SPRA passed, asking the managers to deliver groceries weekly starting three months after that day...which starts today."
Pinciotti looked at his subordinate in shock before exhaling with agitation and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You have got to be kidding me..."
"Sir?" One of the H.A.M.M.E.R. techies called out as he ran over. "Ares justed called our line from the phone we threw in there. He's demanding that we let the kid through or he'll start using some of his more...heavy stuff."
Pinciotti took another look at the delivery boy still talking to the other agents, and then took a look at the apartment building were Ares lived and which he and his men were currently laying a siege to, one that was having no damn effect on the Greek deity. With a sigh of defeat, Pinciotti said, "Let the kid in; it's the freaking God of War. We have no idea what else he has in there, and we've already got enough men wounded because of that." The other two nodded and proceeded to do just that. Pinciotti sighed again, wondering what the heck he had done to deserve this.
If this was what supporting the SPRA meant, then he was seriously willing to consider switching sides...
XXX
*Miami, Florida*
Miami...one of the most desired places to vacation in when visiting the United States of America. Its fresh sea salt air, elegant and majestic skylines...indeed it was a favorite, even amongst Americans. It had beautiful women to set college boys for their entire winter break, and its beaches were a sight of beauty to behold. It could be well argued that a visit to Miami's beaches was a necessity while staying, and at any time during any given day, the beaches were packed with vacationing people or natives enjoying their own tourist attractions.
Today was just not one of those days, though.
"WHERE THE DAMN HELL IS OUR BACK UP?!" H.A.M.M.E.R. Field Sergeant Eric Goldberg yelled into his comm link as the tank to his left fired its load again. It's target, a near 20ft sea creature/monster of some sort, roared in pain upon impact of the shell. It's reptilian head shook as it's rear sail/crest started glowing green. "Seriously, we sent out the call to New York over-!"
"Sire, they're almost on scene!" Goldberg's second, H.A.M.M.E.R. Sergeant Alexander DeConnick, shouted as he continued firing his assault rifle. "Their ETA is three minutes!"
About 40 minutes ago, Miami beach goers saw the emergence of this reptilian monster when it was still a few hundred yards out. The dispatch system was then bombarded with 911 calls as the creature began heading to the mainland. Police and SWAT units, soon followed by H.A.M.M.E.R. units and vehicles, arrived on scene just as the dark green-scaled sea monster, reptilian with a back crest or sail, clawed forearms, a long tail and standing on hind legs, was almost nearing the mainland. H.A.M.M.E.R. choppers tried forcing it back with gas shells and then with live fire, but it had not worked, and thus that was why these men and women were now firing madly at this creature that had finally made land for the last 30 minutes, trying to force it back.
"Well, then let's hope we last that long, soldier!" Goldberg yelled out as the creature then fired a blasting sphere of cyan blue energy at the armored division firing at it. The devastating impact echoed for miles as a tank was ripped apart and another received a good chunk of damage. "Holy..." the agent muttered before returning his attention to the creature, firing again with his machine gun. "Hold the line, everyone! Make sure it does not leave this beach unless it's heading back to where it came from-!"
"Sarge," a voice rang from his comm, from one of the techies on the H.A.M.M.E.R. Mobile Command Center. "Director Hand just checked in for our status-"
"Tell her we have this under control!" Goldberg replied dismissively. "Fire the phaser cannon!"
"That's what I alerted her of, sir, but there's something else. There's apparently a new order from Senator Kelly."
"Give me a minute, kid," the sergeant replied, seeing Iron Patriot, Wonder Man and the Vision arrive on scene. Giving them the run over, the three superheroes then flew off to deal with the creature in close quarters. "Ok, kid, what are the orders?"
"The Senator wants us to capture this creature, and of preferably alive if possible, for future scientific purposes."
"What?!" came the shocked reply as another round of shells were fired at the creature, enticing roars of pain, followed by energy blasts from Vision & Iron Patriot. "Capture-?! How the hell do they think we can do that?!
"That's just the orders I deliver, sir."
"Dammit...thanks, kid. Alright, new plan, troops!" Goldberg called out into his comm. "Brass just gave new orders: we need to capture this thing for the nerds on the Helicarrier!" That earned quite the bit of commotion from the others on the battlefield.
"What the hell?" Iron Patriot replied. "The hell does Kelly want with this guy!?"
"No idea, sir! But they want this thing alive!"
"This is ridiculous..."
"I may be able to assist in this quite well," Vision offered. Without another word, he phased himself and flew right for the creature and right into it, specifically where the heart should be. With the android quickly flying away, the sea creature roared in immense pain before it collapsed onto the beaches with a thunderous boom, sending sand flying everywhere. The police, SWAT and H.A.M.M.E.R. agents lowered their weapons seeing it was now over, and the only signs that creature was still alive was its weak and shallow breathing. "Other than the various injuries on its body from our battle here," Vision said, "this creature should be fine."
"Well...ok, then," Goldberg replied as Iron Patriot touched down in front of him. "So...sir, how we do this?"
"Not sure," the armored hero mused. "We'll try to airlift it, or we-"
"No such thing will occur here." All eyes turned to see a tall man wearing dark blue attire and with pointy ears walk over from the water, flanked by seven armed blue-skinned humans...or humanoids, however a surface dweller would think them to be. The man, though, he was the one who spoke and who had the authority over the other seven, signified by the royal looking trident in his left hand. "This 'creature' as you call it is under my protection, War Machine."
"Namor?" Wonder Man exclaimed.
"Whoa, wait a minute, pal," Goldberg interrupted as he stepped forward. "This thing attacked American soil, and almost cost a lot of people their lives. We took it down, and since its still within our borders, that makes this thing ours to take. In fact, you being here is in direct violation of the Superpower Registration Act, and we-"
"No human," the Atlantean monarch snarled, interrupting him. "It does not. First of all, you know nothing about the circumstances as to why this little one was even in your city. It was separated from its mother by another creature and was trying to seek her out. I have been looking for this little one since yesterday, and now that I've found it, it comes with me. And lastly, you have no power over me to try to assert your little laws upon me."
"Namor," Wonder Man tried to say as he touched down and approached Namor.
"Do not even bother, Williams," Namor snarled. "You three have lost any right to discuss anything with me the moment you decided to become pawns. Now, I'm going to make this nice and clear one final time: this little one is returning to my kingdom with me, and if you try to stop me I will consider it an act of war. Remember that your nation is surrounded on two sides by my own domain. It would be wise to remember that."
And there was nothing anyone could to as Namor as his Atlantean soldiers took the sea creature into their arms and returned to the seas, away from any threats American law could ever possibly pose.
XXX
*Chicago, Illinois*
Looking out the window of his luxury apartment, he saw the New Warriors loyal to the SPRA and to H.A.M.M.E.R. race by, soon followed by military & H.A.M.M.E.R. choppers, and CPD cars and a H.A.M.M.E.R. personnel carrier speeding along after them in the streets below. He knew what was going on: apparently there was some kind of mutagen gas attack downtown, and the news channel he was watching reported that the result was anyone exposed was being mutated into some horrible creatures.
The man sighed as he returned back to his kitchen for his now ready coffee. A lot had changed in the last seven years since the Avengers first arrived on scene. Invasions, wars, battles, new heroes and new villains...he'd been out of politics for the last three years because of one of those said villains. He had to admit, how it all happened really had frightened him, and it brought to light just how much change really was needed nowadays. Although...the way it was all going...sure he had some reservations about their kind a few years ago, but now? Everything was getting better, but everyone seemed to be at war with each other. Order was being established and yet chaos still turned up now & then.
In all honesty, he just didn't know...did he support Superpower Registration or not?...or at least Kelly's brand? Or Kelly at all?
The sudden ring of his cell brought him back to reality, and when he checked the caller ID, he was rather surprised. "Huh...speak of the Devil..." he muttered before answering. "This is Henry Gyrich speaking."
"Henry, old friend," the voice of Robert Kelly replied back with enthusiasm. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
"Yes...since I was fired after the 'Dell Rusk' incident," Gyrich replied evenly. "In fact, you were one of the supporters of getting me fired. I haven't been able to get back into politics since."
"Yes, yes, that's true...but that's ancient history, Henry!" Kelly responded, and Gyrich could hear the smile on his face. "I think it's time you got back in the game. In fact, what if I told you I have a proposal for you? The President has decided on a new department of government in regards to superhumans..."
XXX
*Stark Tower, current Base of Operations for those Avengers loyal to H.A.M.M.E.R. & the SPRA, Manhattan, NY*
Taking in the gigantic size of the world famous tower that was once the headquarters of a unified team of Avengers, the elderly woman sighed as she continued on, heading into the lobby of the skyscraper. A number of armed H.A.M.M.E.R. agents were in the lobby, and there were surprisingly quite a few other people here as well. That wasn't any concern to the woman, however, as she came up to the massive front desk and approached one of the desk attendants.
"Welcome to Stark Tower," the attendant greeted. "How can I help you?"
"Yes, hello; I'm here to see Carol Danvers, Ms. Marvel?"
The attendant looked at her for a moment. "Huh...usually I get stupid college guys in here looking for her since it went public she and Spidey were done," she mused before returning her attention to her computer. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but first off Ms. Marvel is a very busy woman, and second of all you would need to make an appointment, and third-"
"Young lady, I don't think you understood me," the elderly lady interrupted, and the attendant was actually surprised by her sudden change of voice tone and facial expressions. It actually scared her. "I came here to see Carol Danvers, and I would like to see her now. Tell her that May Parker is here to see her; I'm sure she'll want to see me."
...
"Uh...I'll...I'll see if she's here in the Tower."
XXXXX-A/N-XXXXX
Ah...finally...no more Home Front chapters. From now on, parts only relating to the main and sub plots. We also have cameos from the Inhumans and some of the Atlanteans and Namor, along with some more stuff that H.A.M.M.E.R. and Kelly are starting up.
Alright, remember to leave a review, and thanks for reading and sticking along with the story after all this time, a year to the day :D Next chapter, we have that talk between May and Carol! Oh, what a talk that will be...hehehe. God I almost feel bad about how bad everything is going to be. *shrugs*
Alright, after this, I'll get to work immediately on the next chapter...or else I'll work on Chaos & Spiders or Earth's Mightiest Heroes, whatever ideas flow best first.
Until the next update then, readers.