In the Shadow of Thunderheads

by TVfan

(Thunderbolts) - Takes place in my Marvel U and starts with background information beginning during "Civil War" and going through "Initiative." - Baron Zemo once lead the Masters of Evil. Now he leads his own team of Thunderbolts, but in the wake of the registration act, he finds former "friends" as enemies and faces a bigger threat, Maria Hill and Norman Osborn's Thunderbolts.

3. Being Undermined… Part One

All characters appearing in Thunderbolts and other Marvel titles are copyrighted to Marvel Entertainment and Stan Lee, and are owned by the Walt Disney Corporation. All real persons mentioned in this story belong to themselves. No infringement of these copyrights or offense to the people mentioned is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder or persons. All original characters are the property of TVfan.

Note: This story takes place in my version of the Marvel Universe. The prologue covers events during "Civil War" involving the main characters of this tale. The prime part of the story occurs at the end of "Initiative" and continues after it.

In the Shadow of Thunderheads

By TVfan

Chapter Two: Being Undermined… Part One

Dupont, Louisiana

"And you say Baron Zemo just attacked you?" the H.A.M.M.E.R. officer asked the man that had made the call into the new security services offices.

The officer gave a bit of a yawn as he did so, as it was late when the call came in and since he was assigned to H.A.M.M.E.R.'s investigative branches he had to jump whenever anything came in that would indicate that something was up. Especially when the report related to Baron Zemo. The officer knew that Maria Hill had wanted Baron Zemo to enforce the Registration Act only to see Zemo refuse to do so and later saw Cap defeat the act before the US Supreme Court. That was a hard defeat that Maria Hill took hard, as it both challenged and confirmed her support for the idea that regular humans and military personnel needed more control over metahumans.

Cap had challenged the law and beat it, but generally did so within the way laws could be challenged, which was a victory for those that felt that superheroes could control themselves and to the officer was a big part of Tony Stark's "Initiative" Program. Maria Hill didn't like that. However, Baron Zemo, the former leader of the Masters of Evil didn't have the kind of position that Cap had had while the Registration Act was legal. In this, his service as leader of the Thunderbolts was in a sense a sort of "community service" program the US government had run. As such, by rule, Zemo was supposed to do what the US government said regardless of whether or not the Registration Act was right or wrong at the time. The fact that he had rebelled confirmed to Maria Hill her suspicions, and thus why taking down Baron Zemo and his renegade Thunderbolts was H.A.M.M.E.R.'s top priority.

That priority is what brought this officer from the Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Virginia, where H.A.M.M.E.R. was for the moment, running its main military/security units, to a rather sleepy Louisiana town in the dark of night to talk to the overweight man who'd called it in. The man identified himself as "Jeb" and seemed rather agitated about the incident, but the officer saw no signs of any battle, which made him wonder if the man was pulling his chain, knowing that H.A.M.M.E.R. was at odds with Baron Zemo.

"Yes, he came in and kidnapped a friend of mine," Jeb answered with a frustrated look while folding his arms across his chest as he watched the officer jot down notes on a notepad, "I told the guy all that on the phone."

"I'm just going about the work that I'm assigned to, which requires playing detective at the moment," the officer answered, "and making sure that you're reporting an actual incident and not making false claims that Baron Zemo attacked you when there is no evidence that a battle even took place here."

"My claim is not false!" Jeb growled back at him, "The guy appeared in a flash of light with his glowing rocks, kidnapped my friend and vanished with him. Why would someone lie about something like that?"

"People wanting attention," the officer answered, raising an eyebrow, "Or have some other agenda and know that H.A.M.M.E.R. is presently investigating anything related to Baron Zemo in order to secure its place in protecting America and providing Tony Stark's "Initiative" Program some measure of teeth to handle various criminal and terrorist elements."

"And I applaud your dedication to keeping America safe," Jeb answered, though in a tone that did little to hide his own frustrations, "but I assure you that I'm telling the truth."

"Can you give any reason as to why Baron Zemo would want to attack your home?" the officer asked, "why there is no damage to it or the area around your home?"

"The man is a glorified supervillain, and you're asking ME why I didn't fight?!" Jeb answered, "If I had powers and training… maybe I could do it, but I'm just a normal guy. I couldn't beat him and if I tried, all I'd manage is to make things worse for me and the community…"

"But did he say anything?" the officer asked slowly, "Zemo has been known to pontificate from time to time. It might be something that would give us an opening into figuring out what his present pattern of activity is… or find an opening into his Folding Castle."

Those were the biggest issues that H.A.M.M.E.R. presently had with regard hunting Baron Zemo. Before the Zemo's present rebellion, they had direct access through set portals that went across the dimensional plane to where the Folding Castle existed, and the US government was able to keep tabs on Zemo that way. However, when Zemo's rebellion began, those gates were closed and locked from Zemo's end. The tech and gates that H.A.M.M.E.R. had might be able to force the entry, but there was no guarantee that doing so would be safe. This meant that while Maria Hill was still building her team, they wouldn't have a way into the Folding Castle to catch Zemo.

That made establishing patterns on Zemo's part was critical. It might be the only way they could figure out a way to catch him in the open. Especially while Zemo could still use his gates to essentially appear anywhere. It was a frustrating point that the officer knew Maria Hill wanted solved one way or the other. He didn't want to mention that there was the possibility of asking Stark or Reed Richards for help in that regard, but the officer also knew that H.A.M.M.E.R.'s intended purpose was to essentially undermine Stark's Initiative Program to show that people without training had no business fighting supervillains regardless of their powers and that ONLY Maria Hill and H.A.M.M.E.R. could provide that experience. It could well mean that Stark and Richards would only undermine Hill again as they had during the Registration Act, by not actively hunting down Captain America and the anti-Registration heroes.

However, the officer was also well aware that plenty of people who either wanted attention or had their own agendas out there that would try to capitalize on H.A.M.M.E.R.'s present mission to deal with Baron Zemo and cement who lead and controlled the Thunderbolts. That was what kept the officer reasonably suspicious with Jeb and he did his best to make sure he got to the truth.

"He said that he wanted my friend for something, but didn't say what," Jeb answered, essentially relaying bits and pieces of what he and his friend had actually discussed with the Red Skull and figuring to employ the advice that the Skull gave him before Baron Zemo's Thunderbolts came to attack the Red Skull. He had no personal love for Maria Hill, but he did generally agree with her positions on metahumans and figured with the right prodding, Hill's H.A.M.M.E.R. might well lead the world back to the way he felt they should be. "Maybe he intended to experiment on him… raise an army of super soldiers or something like that."

"That… that wouldn't be beyond things that Zemo has done in the past," the officer said slowly, "and if you're right…"

"I am I told you!" Jeb insisted, "He appeared with his glowing rocks, grabbed my friend and left. And my friend was pretty fit. The kinda guy you'd want in an army."

The officer nodded and looked at the rows of houses and listened the barking of dogs in the distance. It wouldn't be too long before dawn now, and while he had some reason for suspicion, the man's concern for his friend seemed genuine. He would need to get a formal report to Maria Hill and her offices in Washington DC while H.A.M.M.E.R. waited for an independent headquarters to be built.

The Folding Castle

The focus of the H.A.M.M.E.R. officer's investigation meanwhile sat quietly in the command sector of the castle. For the moment, the only thing on was some of the room lighting that allowed Baron Zemo to see the room with its stone walls and the various computer panels and screens that normally allowed him to monitor various news sources from around the world. It also gave him some ability to contact the outside world at his own discretion and where the master lock controls for the entrances to the Folding Castle were located. It was something that gave the Baron absolute control over his fortress at all times, but for the moment it was as quiet as a tomb and the only thing Zemo could hear was his own breaths.

"Hill will certainly take advantage of this," Zemo thought to himself as he stared out into nothing, "point to the Red Skull's attack… or kidnapping attempt… and while he fled, he fled with his target did some damage to my team…"

His thoughts drifted for a moment and then realized that Hill already HAD taken advantage of the situation. Radioactive Man had stayed behind, largely concerned on his government's position on the battle between Zemo and Hill over the Thunderbolts and who would lead them. He knew that the Radioactive Man was looking at the possibility of aligning the Thunderbolts with the Chinese government rather than the US government if it proved that Hill couldn't be convinced to give him the chance on his own terms. However, when his team returned to the Folding Castle after failing to capture the Red Skull, the Radioactive Man was not only gone but had gone TO serve Maria Hill.

"She had to have played some trick," Zemo thought as his eyes narrowed in anger, "it HAS to be some trick to get him to go to her… Either a fake report or some argument that encouraged the Chinese to see her as preferable…"

It was a result that Zemo didn't like in the slightest and that soon set him to pacing the room. There was little he could really do to get Radioactive Man back, and from he'd been told, it didn't seem as though the Chinese agent and scientist wanted to fight him or the Thunderbolts. It might be possible that he might actually persuade Hill to see things his way, but that would still require a demonstrative victory over the Red Skull, something that not even Captain America had ever achieved. Sure, the Captain defeated the Red Skull's plans and plenty of times even managed to best the Red Skull in direct combat, but he had never defeated Skull in a way that the Red Skull couldn't come back.

"Beating him for good might be my only chance," Zemo thought, "though… without Radioactive Man's powers… those odds became harder…"

US Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia

Maria Hill arrived at the base where H.A.M.M.E.R. presently had its main "base." She knew there were plans for a base in Colorado in a mountain base that promised to be safe from prying eyes and centrally placed to allow for the new organization to be able to strike in any direction within the US and thus counter anything that presently Baron Zemo might do. However, for the moment the mountain base wasn't ready, which meant that an alternative base was needed while she built up H.A.M.M.E.R. and its team. She had the men, most of which were former S.H.I.E.L.D. men who felt that they needed to do more to counter terrorism and super powered extremists.

The thing she needed most was a team to use against Zemo. She had Norman Osborn, who had pretty much volunteered to serve when she found him in New York City's sewers, and Radioactive Man, who had only joined because she had been able to sell the position that the Chinese government had was that China preferred he serve Hill and not Zemo. She would need more for her field team, and at present she had been going over potential candidates in her mind, though she be fully sure on who to recruit. She'd been going back and forth on that in her office in Washington DC when she was sent a report from the Marine Corps Base at Quantico about some kidnapping that Zemo had launched. That brought her to the base to talk with the officer that had investigated the story and with the team members she had, with the hope for some idea on what Zemo was up to possible ideas on who to recruit.

The base was fairly active with men going about their work, which made sense. Under its normal operation the base was the center of Marine Corps training and their official "brig." H.A.M.M.E.R. needing to use the facilities added to the activity and made a few areas a bit more cramped as the two organizations had to share space, but from what Maria Hill could see, there was a uniform acceptance of the arrangement for the moment. After all, every Marine knew they had to follow orders and that their commanders were qualified. And if any Marine had a problem, Maria Hill was fairly sure that they'd get over it when the main headquarters in Colorado was finished.

She made her way up the steps to one of the buildings to make her first stop, which was with the officer in charge of H.A.M.M.E.R.'s field operations and "prisoner management" which would essentially work to work with the team once it was ready. The meeting would also include the officer that had been assigned to investigate the report on Baron Zemo's latest activities. The field operations and prisoner management officer was actually waiting for her as she came through the door.

"General Hill," the man saluted promptly and clicked heals in true military fashion.

"Colonel," Maria Hill returned the salute more casually, "so what do you know from the report?"

"Greg ran the mission, General," the man answered, "and I have him waiting in my office."

Maria Hill raised an eyebrow and looked to him as they moved the office area which was rather crowded with H.A.M.M.E.R. officers were walking about to handle their day to day business. The colonel she was talking with didn't respond immediately but simply walked along. Eventually the man's lips tightened nervously when he noticed that Maria Hill hadn't either immediately asked a question or make a statement.

"What is your personal opinion on this report, Colonel Bogey?" Maria Hill asked slowly and in a low voice.

They then stopped outside a wooden door with a glass window on the upper part of the door with the words "Colonel Thomas Bogey, H.A.M.M.E.R. Operations and Management" written in that glass window. The lettering looked like it'd been hastily applied with "stickers" when .M.E.R. was granted access to the base until their real headquarters in Colorado was established. Maria watched as the colonel seemed to frown heavily.

"Outside of possible keeping tabs on Baron Zemo's movements, the report doesn't do much," Colonel Bogey answered, "We need a field team to battle him and preferably a team that is strong enough to fight Zemo's team."

"We have the Green Goblin and Radioactive Man," Maria Hill pointed out, "that's a beginning and as Zemo continues his attacks on the country, the more likely we'll get someone to join us. We can't do much more than that until our base and vehicles are set up and until we can find a way into Zemo's Folding Castle."

Colonel Bogey nodded, "The Goblin and Radioactive Man are a start… but Radioactive Man is only here because the Chinese Government doesn't want a confrontation with the United States, and when he came in… he flat said to the men that collected him when he arrived. And the Goblin…"

Maria Hill watched as Colonel Bogey gave a heavy sigh and looked back with a very serious look.

"While Norman Osborn has had business success and has put together schemes that are very intricate and could well be on par with Zemo with regards to what they are to accomplish," Colonel Bogey said slowly, "he's also noted for fits of insanity and has been long obsessed with defeating one of the worst heroes in the history of heroes. That makes ME doubt his qualifications to be the team's field leader… as we're dependent on the control collar to keep him from turning on us and a healthy dose of anti-psychotics to keep him sane… There are just too many risks with him."

"So… we should just go back to working WITH Baron Zemo?" Maria Hill growled, "Who's had far greater ambitions and has acted on them repeatedly? Who would outright prefer an arrangement where HE is in some measure of control and thus counter to everything we're trying to establish with HAMMER?"

"No, General," Colonel Bogey answered, "Zemo is too independent minded… too similar to likes of the heroes that don't understand that we have more experience and knowledge on security measures than they do… which means they'll want too much in the way of control. I agree with you that we can't work with him in that regard. However, until we have a full team that we can directly control… I would advise against this constant chasing of Zemo. We'll either show up too late, and look stupid or catch Zemo and his team and get thrashed… and look stupid."

Maria Hill frowned heavily and gave a small sigh as the colonel's opinion did show some valuable concerns and some that she even shared. She needed a team, and while she got two, two was hardly a team to take on Baron Zemo with. Especially when the Baron had shown over the years that he could tangle with the Avengers and even put them on their back foot. She would need more that would be willing to follow her orders and follow them without question, and so far that was proving to be something that would take time. However, she also knew that they couldn't just let Zemo run wild. They HAD to keep some tabs on him until there was a team to take Zemo down.

"And suppose Zemo ups the ante?" Maria Hill questioned, "The Avengers… with their poor leadership are trying to stop purse snatchers, and if the recent robbery in New Jersey says anything… FAILING to do so. Zemo could easily beat them, and they DO have a team."

"Keeping tabs on him is fine," Colonel Bogey gave a defeated sigh, "I'd just advise that we keep it to keeping tabs and observation… at least not while our field team is limited to two people… both of which with major question marks as to how loyal they'd be to taking Baron Zemo down."

Maria Hill nodded with some acceptance there. After all, she would need a team to confront Zemo, and while she was fully intent on putting one together, she didn't have it yet. At best she could do was keep tabs on Zemo and compile the list of crimes and altercations connected with Zemo. That might give her some means of taking down his team without getting into the Folding Castle, though in the long term, that was a goal that she did want. Zemo did keep quite a lot of high tech gear that H.A.M.M.E.R. might need in the long run. With that, though, she reached for the door handle and opened it and walked in.

As she stepped into the room, a lone agent stood up from a hard backed wooden chair that was near the door. He saluted crisply, but Hill could tell that the man, who Colonel Bogey had earlier identified as "Greg," was obviously tired. She guessed he'd been on duty when the original call came in and had been run ragged to make the report. She didn't return the salute immediately and merely walked with Colonel Bogey into the room and then moved around so that she was behind the desk and Colonel Bogey was behind her.

"Good morning… I believe your name is Greg?" Maria Hill began as she addressed the agent standing in front the table she'd moved behind.

"Agent Greg Tile," the agent answered, maintaining his salute.

"You've done quite well to keep up with H.A.M.M.E.R.'s mission, particularly while we're short of a full field team and support equipment," Maria Hill spoke, "but that will change as we move forward."

It was at this point that Hill finally returned the man's salute. That allowed Greg Tile to lower his arm to his side, though he remained at attention. Hill then moved to address the main reason that had brought her the Quantico Base, the report that Baron Zemo had attacked Dupont, Louisiana.

"Now… we received word on activity by Baron Zemo that you investigated, is that right?" Maria Hill asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Greg Tile answered, "sometime late in night he attacked a small home in the town and apparently made off with one man from the home."

"Can you be sure it was Baron Zemo?" Maria Hill asked, "Was there any visual evidence or just the man's word?"

"It was just the man's word… BUT it would seem to fall within the sort of things that Baron Zemo has done before," Greg Tile answered, "in that it's entirely possible that Zemo was behind the incident… and probably did something with his moonstones to remove any sign of damage."

"To cover his tracks," Maria Hill surmised, "though… I noted that you did make some mention of concerns and puzzlements, Agent Tile. Would you care to explain?"

"The main concern is in relation to the man who was supposedly kidnapped by Baron Zemo," Greg Tile answered, "the man who was kidnapped is a KNOWN member of the Klu Klux Klan and so is the man who reported Zemo's attack."

"We have a principle of equality before the law," Maria Hill spoke, "and within reason freedom of speech. Just because this man's opinions are not good ones does not mean he doesn't deserve to be protected from men like Zemo."

"Perhaps, ma'am," Greg Tile answered, "But given the rather public declaration that H.A.M.M.E.R. wouldn't work with Zemo, I fear that the man who reported the incident to us may be simply trying to play to the fact that we've committed ourselves to hunting the Baron down…"

"And what would some small time racists have to gain by interrupting a major search to catch and incarcerate a WHITE man?" Maria Hill asked.

"My only guess would be as a distraction for something else… or that worse, they're in league with the Baron," Greg Tile spoke, "though I couldn't voice that opinion to the man that reported the attack… for security reasons."

"What would the Baron stand to gain?" Maria Hill wondered looking to Colonel Bogey and sounding rather puzzled by that.

"Potentially an army… using his moonstones," Colonel Bogey answered back sounding just as puzzled.

Maria Hill's eyes narrowed, as this likely meant that she'd need to talk with Radioactive Man, as he would be the only one that would have reliable information on what Zemo might have been up to in Louisiana.

The Red Skull Reich

Meanwhile, the man who had actually made the "attack" on Dupont, Louisiana and who Jeb was covering for was following the news of what had happened with interest. It was his first move since provoking the Stamford Incident that had led to the Registration Act and Captain America's battle against it. The Captain had beaten his first plan, and there was some resentment there, but then he'd achieved his secondary goals as America was soon absorbed in the battle over the Registration Act. That actually now guided a lot of what he was trying to do now.

"Amusing, isn't it?" the Red Skull smirked off hand to Sin as he sat in his command chair and looked towards a series of television and computer screens that were reporting "breaking news."

Most of them were going over rather mundane things, but a few news networks were talking on the battle in Dupont, which the Red Skull had found to be against Baron Zemo and his Thunderbolts team rather than the Captain. Privately, the fight both amused and puzzled the Red Skull. A part of him had hoped for a way to Helmut Zemo into making his Thunderbolts a powerful potential ally, but there was some amusement in the sense that Zemo also had this new US law enforcement slash paramilitary organization in H.A.M.M.E.R. to deal with. And for the most part, the channels that were reporting on the battle in Dupont seemed to be repeating accounts that made it look as though it was Zemo who had some dark plan.

"Amusing that they're blaming the wrong German?" Sin asked, "Or that they're even calling it an "attack?" All you did was appear and the guy joined you quite willingly. There was no kidnapping."

"Amusing that they're so easily undermining themselves," the Red Skull smiled, "the story that Baron Zemo was behind the "attack" is what I left instructions for that fat Klan member to give to their media. And they're eating it right up. It is strange that Zemo truly seems to have some interest in being the good guy… but then that may ultimately help us in the big picture."

"Fighting a guy whose powers rival yours helps us?" Sin raised an eyebrow skeptically, as there had been too many battles that had been evenly matched and thus lost.

"If it were truly a straight up contest between myself and Zemo and his Thunderbolts… it wouldn't," the Red Skull answered, remembering that Zemo's team did manage some attacks that did hurt him a little and Zemo's moonstones were powerful enough to resist the powers of the Cosmic Cube, "but this isn't a contest between myself and Zemo and his Thunderbolts. This is a contest between me and America and how willing they are fight for their core beliefs in democracy and equality."

"The Captain has demonstrated his country's ability to fight for that," Sin pointed out.

"The Captain has demonstrated HIS ability to stand for democracy," the Red Skull answered, "and our point in this exercise is not attack the US and take democracy away from them. Our goal is to UNDERMINE their democracy. Empower and advise those that are not like the Captain to chip away at all the elements of their democracy that they rely on."

The Red Skull then gestured to the news screens that were essentially repeating the attack and instructions that he had left with Jeb. Sin followed and noted the projected opinions and particularly those on conservative networks tended to reinforce the argument that Maria Hill had made in her declaration of H.A.M.M.E.R. in criticizing Tony Stark's "Initiative" program. In some ways the reporting did seem to reinforce the point that her father was making, but it didn't seem like it would be a complete transformation.

"It doesn't seem like this is going to go quickly," Sin commented, "and neither will it mean that you'll get the army and population that you want…"

"Getting the soldiers is one thing," the Red Skull gave a confident smile, "America has plenty of malcontents that we can recruit from… and in many ways so does Europe… but of the two, America is the stronger, and thus the one that must be undermined the most. Finding the right voice however… will be a different issue…"

The Red Skull then pressed a button on his command chair and the screens changed. Instead of showing news reports it showed various psychologists, newspaper men, and others that had played to issues that were desired for the end results that the Red Skull wanted. Among them was a rather heavy set man with a red beard and a monocle over one eye. The Red Skull noted the face and smiled in response.

US Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia

The prison area on the base was relatively standard and Maria Hill was well aware that it could never equal some of the prisons that had been specially built for superhuman criminals, but for the most part the control collar kept on Norman Osborn's neck seemed to keep him under control. About the only member of Hill's "field team" that had any degree of freedom of movement was Radioactive Man, but that was entirely in his role as an officer of the Chinese government, and the same time, Dr. Chen Lu's past as a member of the Masters of Evil under Baron Zemo had been enough that he would be kept under some degree of surveillance while he was in the camp.

Regardless, Maria Hill knew that these were the only Thunderbolts that she had at the moment and that she had to work with them. For the moment she was there to discuss some measure of arranging Zemo's surrender with Radioactive Man some measure of overall strategy with Osborn. The former was necessary because of the fact that Radioactive Man had a long history of working with Baron Zemo. The two had worked together back when Zemo was running the Masters of Evil and the Chinese government had some odd belief that Thor was a personal threat to China. Hill found the story odd when most of the reports that she'd seen indicated that Thor had never attacked China. There may have been reports of the classic Avengers teams, including Thor, battling some super villain or team of Super Villains in China, but there was never an instance in which Thor had not only attacked China but had stated some opposition to the Chinese government.

Her first stop was with Radioactive Man, himself, and she found him in the small library in the detention area. He was seated in his orange radiation suit with his hood pulled back. It made Hill frown as the man's bald head gave of a soft green glow. Colonel Bogey followed behind her with a pair of guards. Radioactive Man continued reading for a few moments after Hill had opened the door, but he did eventually respond, though he did not salute.

"Hill," Radioactive Man said calmly and nothing more.

"Dr. Lu," Hill spoke with some degree of respect, since Radioactive Man would technically only be on loan to them from China, "I've come to see if you would care to inform us on Baron Zemo's actions."

"The Baron's actions remain the same," Radioactive Man answered with narrowed eyes, "Leading the Thunderbolts."

"By all agreements, the Thunderbolts belong to the US government," Hill answered with a frown, "and even Zemo agreed to that before his present rampage… including attacking a small town in the US… Dupont, Louisiana. We have the reports of him attacking the town."

Radioactive Man frowned, "attacking the town? He didn't go there to attack the town. He went there to deal with the Red Skull, who HAD gone there for the Skull's purposes. If you'd had the sense to trust Baron Zemo and not go out for some insane war against those who have been trying to protect this country you probably would have been told that by Zemo directly… Perhaps, General, if you hadn't gone all out trying to tie S.H.I.E.L.D. into a subservient branch to the US military, which as an international body, you can't legally do with S.H.I.E.L.D. you would have had access to the technology to detect the cosmic energy signatures that the Red Skull presently radiates. You would know that the Skull is the villain in this saga, NOT Zemo."

"That might explain the nature of the report itself," Colonel Bogey said slowly, "as the Red Skull is listed as at least a potential threat to the US."

"But the Red Skull can't leave his island for long and thus can't risk a battle with ANYONE," Hill answered, "any battle would distract him and thus send his island sinking into the Atlantic. As such, the real threat he poses is limited."

"The Skull is smart enough to know his limitations and skirt around them as needed," Radioactive Man warned, "and while direct affects with the Cosmic Cube's powers may be limited… an indirect affect can be more long lasting. As if he were to fill a building with water and drown the people in it, while the water may vanish when he loses concentration on it… anyone that may have drowned while the water was there would STILL be dead."

Hill's eyes narrowed further and she clinched her fists, doing little to hide her frustration at the fact that she wasn't being followed. She had far more strategic training than this scientist whose field was in the nuclear sciences related to fission and fusion. As such, by training she knew more about combat and strategy than he did and was that. Yet, she was facing arguments from him on issues that he had no training in, and given his experiences with the Masters of Evil in battling the Avengers in the past, Hill couldn't see Radioactive Man having any relevant experiences that would compensate for it.

"And the strategic mind of a scientist with no tactical training and a track record of being beaten up by the Avengers is better than someone with military and S.H.I.E.L.D. training?" Hill asked, "That people like Zemo should be allowed to run around determining who the bad guys are, especially with his track record AS a bad guy?"

Radioactive Man didn't answer.

"We cannot have lunatics running around deciding who the bad guys are and getting away with it," Hill snarled through clinched teeth, "it's bad enough that groups like the Avengers get around that and get international support and SHIELD's blessing… but H.A.M.M.E.R. is NOT going to be a pawn for people with no respect for the law or the understanding of proper control."

"And if you'd talked with Baron Zemo, he would likely agree with you," Radioactive Man answered, "if you didn't make it a personal contest with him, he would agree with you… And it isn't necessarily too late to try that. Talk with him and agree to work with him in putting down the Red Skull. Do something that not even Captain America did."

"And leave Zemo in charge of H.A.M.M.E.R. operations, no way," Hill answered, "Our mission is to secure America from the chaos that super powered lunatics cause, particularly when they aren't properly trained."

"I will not join you in your war," Radioactive Man spoke after a final moment and returned his attention to the book, "I will not talk Zemo into surrendering to you and I will not raise my fists against him. And neither will the Chinese government."

Hill only growled and stormed out. Colonel Bogey glanced nervously to Radioactive Man, and then followed. Radioactive Man only sighed at what was clearly some kind of political game being played, and one that would likely only leave the Red Skull as the winner.

"The nerve of that man!" Hill roared in frustration once she made it outside the library that was set for the prisoners sent there.

Colonel Bogey could see that she was frustrated and followed silently. He personally agreed with Hill's point of view that the government and the military needed direct control over superhumans, as he had major doubts that the Avengers could adequately train new superheroes. Privately, he felt he could trust Captain America to do the right thing, but that was with a man who'd had military training and fought in World War II. He couldn't say the same for many other heroes or young heroes. However, he did get the sense that things were going to be complicated, particularly with regard to Radioactive Man and the present fight with Zemo.

"I'd think we should be grateful that he's willing to work with us…" Colonel Bogey said slowly, "at least with matters outside of Zemo…"

"But Zemo IS the heart of our present matters!" Maria Hill growled, "regardless of his talk about the Red Skull being behind the battle or not… we need OUR Thunderbolts team ready and in action as a team, so that we can demonstrate that our team under OUR control is better at keeping people safe than Stark, we can then shape the political argument going forward. But so far, the heroes rally to Stark and Rogers and Zemo's rebellion has limited those we can recruit. We won't get anything done so long as Zemo is free!"

"In principle, I agree, ma'am," Colonel Bogey answered as he followed her through the Spartan hallways toward the areas where cells actually were. They weren't the rows of barred cells as one might expect, but there wasn't that much that would make the site aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but then it was a detention center. "But things aren't that easy, particularly with regard to Radioactive Man and the fact that the Chinese government will want him on any team sponsored by our government, which means we HAVE to work with him, regardless of his opinions and regardless of how well they mesh with our plans."

Hill glanced to the colonel and slowly nodded. He was right, in a way, though it was rather frustrating in that it felt like she was being undermined in her attempts to undermine Tony Stark's Initiative Program. It wasn't something she liked, and she knew she had to make more progress at getting her Thunderbolts program to work, otherwise, H.A.M.M.E.R. would be embarrassed and the US government, which had already seen a major piece of legislation defeated before the Supreme Court, would only turn on her to rid itself of the embarrassment. In this, she could only hope that her discussion with Osborn would turn out better.

She thus continued along through the hallways. For the most part the individual cells weren't guarded, but then most of those under guard weren't superhuman. The last cell, however, had two H.A.M.M.E.R. agents outside the door. They opened the door to reveal Norman Osborn seated on a bench writing down some notes on a notepad. The control collar around his neck was still on, as the control plate and node on the front gave off a small blue glow that contrasted to the room's main lights. He looked up to Maria Hill as she entered the cell with Colonel Bogey following behind.

"Madam Hill," Osborn spoke politely with a small smile.

"General," Hill corrected, "You will address me as General Hill."

"Of course," Osborn answered with his smile unchanged, "So, what can I do for you?"

Hill stood by for a moment placed her arms behind her back while she waited for Osborn to put down his notepad. It was only when he did that that Hill began to address the matter at hand. She couldn't trust everything Osborn said, given his mental health record, but he'd also been the only one to actually volunteer for her Thunderbolts program and had had a lengthy history in the New York business world and not to mention putting together schemes that on many levels were quite ingenious. In this, because Radioactive Man wasn't cooperating, she had to work with the Green Goblin.

"As I'm sure you're aware, that you're part of a plan to demonstrate that proper military leadership is better than out of date idealists and untrained idiots," Hill spoke slowly with her eyes focused on everything Osborn did in response, "and have been the only one to actually volunteer."

"Not a bad policy," Osborn commented, "putting those with experience and training over those without it."

"But right now it's being held back," Hill answered him, noting that Osborn's wording sounding like he was actually trying to play her at something, "Primarily by Baron Zemo's refusal to surrender to H.A.M.M.E.R. authorities."

"And you don't like this, I take it," Osborn smiled, "First Captain America defeats the Registration Act and then Baron Zemo blocks your Thunderbolt program."

Hill's eyes narrowed as Osborn answered her. It felt like he was playing games with her, and she didn't like that one bit.

"Thankfully, I'm more than willing to help," Osborn answered and gave a chuckle, "after all… Zemo is known for leading the Masters of Evil. So… a win over him would look good for you and would remove a known bad guy from the equation."

"Yes," Hill said slowly, "though at the moment we're waiting for a way into his Folding Castle."

"His castle is irrelevant at the moment, if all you have is me," Osborn answered, "as an attack on his team would surely end in defeat on his turf. For the moment, you want to get him while he's OUTSIDE his castle."

"That has been thought of," Hill answered, "but we have no way of predicting where he will show up."

Osborn smiled again, "that's where you lay a trap. Present something that you know he'll come out for. Information… a promised sincere meeting… or maybe even find a way to make him think that something or someone he wants to fight is somewhere and then attack him when he comes in to find out there was nothing there. You can even include things that would theoretically undermine his team. Any dirt on the team members and their relations with Zemo will do."

Hill began to slowly pace the cell, raising one hand up to her chin. She did have copies of most of the files S.H.I.E.L.D. had on most supervillains before her dismissal from S.H.I.E.L.D. became official. It served as a personal way keep some information on the super powered threats to the country, which Hill was determined to demonstrate that average humans with military training were superior to superhumans without training of any kind. And that could work, though, just as with forming her Thunderbolts team, finding those villains could be difficult.

"And I suppose you know how to find someone that's been involved with Zemo may be found?" Hill asked and thought through the list of known partners of Baron Zemo not presently in custody, "Like say… Purple Man?"

"I may be able to find some associates," Osborn answered, "though, they aren't going to allow it to go easily. You may have to look the other way with regard to specific crimes these guys will want to commit."

"Out of the question!" Colonel Bogey roared and stepped forward, pointing an accusing finger at Osborn, "Our mission is to protect this country, not enable criminals to destroy it."

"You and I BOTH know this isn't about protecting the country in the purest sense of the world," Osborn answered, his smile undiminished, "You want to prove you can do things better than Captain America and Iron Man… two heroes who's track record at fighting world conquerors to even more common street thieves is rather impressive. Who have stood behind points of principle to stand up for what is right over what is expedient. You want to prove more successful than them? You HAVE to do what gets the best results, and in my experience… results are best gotten when you cross lines and not leave things with regards to morals and lines of acceptance where things simply have to be endured because it is the RIGHT thing to do. Criminals are not going to give things up for nothing. They are going to want something, and if you want results against Baron Zemo… particularly when your field team is limited to me and one who is more likely to follow Zemo than kill him… you HAVE to make sacrifices that will gain results."

Hill gritted her teeth. She didn't like the idea of giving promises to criminals, but she also knew she needed to defeat Zemo in order to get her team off the ground. She couldn't prove herself better with just the Green Goblin and a Radioactive Man who was not going to fight Baron Zemo. She watched as Osborn also shifted his weight on the bench he was sitting on.

"And if you're looking for recruits… what about Venom?" Osborn asked.

"I lost contact with Eddie Brock when the UN forced me out as S.H.I.E.L.D. Director," Hill answered, "in this… really don't know where he is."

Hill watched as Osborn gave a surprised blink at that. That was something that even surprised her, as she had figured that Osborn in his run as the Green Goblin had kept fairly decent tabs on Spider-Man's extensive rogues gallery.

"Strange… the last news reports I'd heard said that Brock was dead and committed suicide," Osborn shrugged, "must have been wrong or complicated… Anyway… I'm referring to Mac Gargan. Used to call himself the Scorpion for quite a while and I had a great plan with him using a new suit that would fit his role as the Scorpion, all as part of an excellent plan to put Peter Parker where he belongs…"

"That failed," Hill commented.

"Can't blame me for trying," Osborn shrugged, "but then, Gargan also arrived claiming to be Venom. So he somehow had gotten the Venom symbiote… or at least a symbiote that is using the name. He lost to Parker who then came to rescue his wife before Doctor Octopus in a drugged state and his wife pulled a gun on me… Really hurt my plans… but live and learn."

"Your point?" Colonel Bogey growled.

"Gargan and his symbiote should be in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s system… or at least in the New York state system," Osborn answered, "and I'm sure he'd be willing to work with you… if it means getting out of jail. And since the US government has the power of incarceration, you can demand the transfer of custody, even if S.H.I.E.L.D. is the one running the institution as local laws still apply."

"If you didn't want him as Venom before… why would you accept him now?" Hill asked.

"Things change," Osborn smiled, "but that's only an offer… and likely not the one you were hoping for. In the meantime, I'd think we need to get going if we're to find Purple Man."

The Folding Castle

The day didn't bring any greater sources of information on what the Red Skull was truly up to. Zemo was sure that the initial move the Red Skull had made was to gain manpower for an army. It was something that made the most logical sense and frustrated him in the sense that he and his team had been unable to stop the Red Skull from making off with his recruit, but as he played through his memories with the moonstones transferring his memories to his own computer system, which gave him the ability to look over the battle as it occurred. It allowed for a play by play of the battle with the Red Skull that Zemo did pay close attention to.

The small computer screen that was on his command desk played over the battle and Zemo watched over it intently. The Red Skull's escape proved to be a reminder of the failure, Zemo did notice a few points that actually looked hopeful. His use of his moonstones did have some effect on the Red Skull, which was good, but it also appeared in the battle that whatever Fixer had done to modify MACH IV's weapons had also worked extremely well. In fact it was Fixer and MACH IV that seemed to have the most effect on the Red Skull.

"We might have a chance," Zemo said slowly and then reached over with one hand to press a button that would connect him to other rooms in the Folding Castle via intercom. The screen then flipped to show Paul Norbert Ebersol, Fixer, on the screen in front of him. Ebersol seemed to be working on something for a few moments before he looked up to notice that the channel was open.

"Yes, Baron," Ebersol spoke calmly.

"I've been going over the battle from last night," Zemo spoke as calmly as he could muster, "and while the fact that the Skull did escape was a major setback… there was some good news from the engagement… News that may be a way to actually battle him. The weapons you devised for yourself and MACH IV. They had a direct effect on his constructs and on him."

"I figured they would," Ebersol commented, "as if our weapons can match the Skull's energy signature, we might be able to penetrate any sort of shield he may erect and do more damage to a construct…"

"And I'd say your modifications did far better than what you could have imagined," Zemo said with some confidence, "and that is why I've contacted you."

Zemo watched as Ebersol nodded and waited for Zemo to issue his orders.

"I want you to modify the weapons that others use," Zemo spoke, "some way that would allow Swordsman and Joystick's weapons to be "coated" in your altered cosmic signatures. It may give us some more weapons to use against him."

Ebersol raised a hand up to rub along his chin. Zemo was certain the man was thinking. He hoped that the man had an idea on how to accomplish what Zemo had wanted. It might be difficult to accomplish, but it was about the only thing that easily had any effect on the Red Skull in the battle in Louisiana. Zemo was fairly certain that it would be the only thing that would give him a shot at proving he was the best candidate to lead the Thunderbolts.

"It may mean that I cannot go into the next engagement with the Red Skull," Ebersol warned, "Neither Swordsman nor Joystick use weapons that fire… or can fire energy weapons. I'd need to graft something onto their weapons…"

Zemo nodded, but said nothing.

"It'll also mean potentially going into battle without Joystick or Swordsman until I can get their weapons updated," Ebersol warned again.

"In the short term… we may have to make do," Zemo answered, "as we need to defeat the Red Skull. It could well be the only thing that shows Maria Hill that we aren't the Masters of Evil anymore."

Ebersol nodded, and that let Zemo cut off the communications link between them in the castle. Zemo paused to look up to some of the news screens that were still portraying him as the attacker in Louisiana, which he wasn't. His eyes narrowed at them as he knew that they would need to prove the Red Skull's involvement and bring him in, as even if the news being reported was false, Zemo knew that his own past wouldn't help him much when it came to public opinion. He needed the victory.

He wasn't given much more time to think as Overmind's telepathic communication soon echoed through his mind, catching Zemo a bit off guard.

"You may have another opportunity to accomplish that mission," Overmind told him telepathically.

"The Red Skull is moving again?" Zemo asked, "Where?"

He ignored the telepathic intrusion for the moment. The alien Thunderbolt had promised to not engage in the casual reading of the minds of other teammates on the team, which at present, Zemo would also include Radioactive Man. As such, Zemo was fairly certain that Overmind had only reached out to contact him on what he had found out, and that would warrant the telepathic message which was faster for Overmind than working with the castle's intercom system.

"Interestingly enough… a psychologist's office in New York City," Overmind answered.

"A psychologist?" Zemo stopped walking, "what would the Skull want with a psychologist?"

"I cannot tell for sure," Overmind answered, "the Skull's mind is both well-disciplined and protected to a degree by his powers of the Cosmic Cube. The psychologist ALSO has a strong mind that is difficult to read. The best I can tell is that this psychologist has the potential to be duplicitous in some way, but the only advantage the Skull might gain is in getting someone who knows how to brainwash people… A propaganda type individual…"

"Likely looking for someone to sell his message to the Americans… or corrupt them," Zemo thought, "Regardless… we can't let him get away with this. The team may be a bit short handed for this… but we've got to pin the Red Skull down…"

"He may still escape if the team is reduced," Overmind warned.

"Maybe," Zemo admitted, "but in New York, it'll be bound to attract news quickly… No one will miss the Red Skull on US soil and will see that it is WE not Hill that are protecting the country."

Staten Island, New York City, New York

On the outside, the bar actually in quite good condition as Maria Hill approached it with Osborn in his full costume as the Green Goblin. Hill was a bit suspicious about how much success the Goblin's advice would be in taking down Zemo and building H.A.M.M.E.R.'s Thunderbolts, but with Radioactive Man not actively helping and the pressures to show some sign of success with the new project was enough to give Hill reason to gamble on the issue. Thus, they had flown with a small team of bodyguards to New York and began going through various sites connected to the criminal underworld to find the Purple Man and gain some information on Zemo.

Hill was impressed with the locations that the Green Goblin knew of, but to some extent that was to be a given, as the Goblin had actually had quite a history in New York's criminal underworld. And if Spider-Man wasn't a wisecracking idiot with no training, Osborn's criminal behavior probably would have been stopped earlier and with fewer lives lost. The irony in the fact that she was working with the man was ignored, particularly while the control collar she had on the Green Goblin was still functioning.

"Well… this is one of the last ones in the area," the Green Goblin spoke, "or at least the last ones that a guy like Purple Man would be in."

"And he wouldn't have some sort of secret base?" Hill questioned.

"If he does, it's a location that's advantage is that isn't known of at the moment," the Green Goblin shrugged as he opened the door, "he's never had some sort of secret army or high tech. The Bugle's own reporting has been that he's relied on his ability to control others… and while he may control others…"

"He's also been controlled by others," Hill said slowly thinking on S.H.I.E.L.D. reports she still had copies of that showed that the Purple Man had his fair share of run-ins with Zemo over the years.

The Goblin opened the door and the sounds of some talk inside the bar came out of it, though as they entered the sound of things going silent was what happened. The only sound that was heard were a few televisions showing some various sports games or sports news was about the only thing that was heard. Hill looked around the interior of the bar, and found it largely empty, like many of the others had been. One had been practically leveled, but then it was the one where the Avengers had had their battle with Dormammu. There was a guest or two in the booths watching the televisions, though there was one man in a back corner booth that seemed to be almost hiding in a trench coat. The biggest thing was that the male bartender seemed to be going into a bit of a daze as he cleaned the bar top with a rag.

"This is a bit different," Hill said slowly as she looked to the bartender, who seemed to move through repetitive movements that made it look like he was a simple robot repeating the same task over and over again.

"And might be a sign of finding what we're here for," the Green Goblin answered as the other men in the bar stood up and moved to block the Goblin and Hill from approaching.

Hill's right hand drifted down to her holster as she looked at the men moving to block them. Their eyes were blank and vacant as they just stared forward. It was some sign that they were under someone's control and there was a faint scent in the air, but she ignored it. For the moment the scent was more distracting than anything that would force her to lose control. Though if these controlled people made any major move, she would draw her pistol and put them down.

Osborn's eyes meanwhile focused on the man in the back corner booth. He wasn't moving too much, but the movements he did make seemed to indicate that his focus was on fleeing. That made sense, as the Purple Man was not known for being able to engage heroes in direct combat and win. It was more that he'd find a way to control them and use the drones to fight for him. All of the villains with that specific sort of power base tended to operate along those lines. It would also mean that they'd take hostages to give them time to escape. Thankfully his mask included a set of filters that prevented him from breathing in Purple Man's pheromones.

"We aren't here to fight, Purple Man," the Goblin called to the man in the corner booth, "we're only here to talk."

The man then turned leaned forward into the light, revealing his dark purple skin and darker purple hair. Hill gasped as she saw him and realized that he was the Purple Man.

"You hunt me for your Thunderbolts, General?" Purple Man inquired, "You abandon the side of villains to play at hero, Goblin?"

"Not hero," the Green Goblin answered, "more… looking for a new way to take out Spider-Man and get away with it. It may mean a few sacrifices along the way… but it could also mean REAL opportunity."

"You aren't the one I'm after," Hill spoke, ignoring the Goblin's answer for the moment, "but you have information that may help me defeat the one I am hunting."

There was a silence as Purple Man's "guards" eyed the Green Goblin and Hill, and they looked back at the guards and then to Purple Man. The bar was presently a sort of fall back spot for some members of the Super Villains Union. The Hood's plan had generally worked out fairly well, as they had successfully made off with a large amount of money and had gotten away with it, when the Avengers were pulled into the fight with Dormammu. However, it was also suspected that the Avengers would in some way, shape, or form hunt the members of the Super Villains Union down, likely to try and recover the money. Thus, once all the money had been divvied up, the Hood gave the command to lay low for the moment before the organization would consider its next move. That was big, as the Avengers were never a group to be underestimated.

Hill's Thunderbolts plan had come as a bit of a surprise, in that they not only promised to recruit criminals but seemed to repeat many of the things that Maria Hill had backed while the Registration Act was still in effect. It was something the Hood thought MIGHT be a good way to gain some indirect influence, but for the moment there was no idea on how to get that influence. Now, Hill had come to him and he had the easy opportunity to get that in. He could take control of Hill and essentially sit as the power behind HAMMER, but he had no way sustaining that control, and the SVU had changed the rules with regard to how they would operate. Purple Man could give some low level negotiation, but not much more than that.

"And so… General," Purple Man slowly mused, keeping an eye on the hand Hill had above her gun and the bag of pumpkin bombs that the Goblin had, "just what information are you looking for?"

"Zemo," Hill said flatly, "and a way to take him down."

Purple man blinked and then smiled.

Manhattan, New York City, New York

The office wasn't super fancy, though it did have a certain air about it that showed a measure of professionalism and security that many in New York would look for, particularly as they tried to deal with the periodic superhero battles that frequently erupted. In a way, it was just what the Red Skull expected to find as he entered it. He was presently dressed in a plain gray suit with his thoughts giving the impression that anyone and everyone who saw him that he was just another businessman walking about the city. This was critical in New York, as he knew the Avengers and Zemo both had the means to track the cosmic energy signature that his powers gave off. He needed to keep the situation as such that he couldn't be located with pinpoint precision, which mean now flashy displays of power, and thus force the Avengers to hold back for a time and put Zemo in a position where if he did what he did in Dupont, Louisiana, he'd only make his present position worse for himself.

He approached a lone oak desk with a lone woman seated there at the desk, going through the work that would be expected from a secretary and clerk at such an institution. She looked him and saw the illusion that was cast rather than the red skull-like visage that the Red Skull was known for.

"Hello, what can I do for you?" the woman asked to him.

"Yes, I have an urgent appointment with Doctor Fairn in a few moments," the Red Skull spoke, "I apologize for being late… but I have been very busy."

The secretary nodded and turned to the computer in front of her. There were a few audible clicks as she accessed the scheduling system to pull up the list of appointments. The Red Skull smiled as her focus was on the screen and not on him.

"Can I get your name, sir?" the woman asked.

"Johann Schmidt," the Red Skull answered, knowing that he'd been known so well as the Red Skull for so long that it was unlikely there would be anyone that actually knew him by his birth name.

He gave a flick of his fingers and the name appeared on the screen, which the secretary saw and acknowledged as though it was always there. She blinked and then turned to him and nodded.

"The doctor will see you now, Mr. Schmidt," the woman spoke and gestured with one arm to the door behind her table.

The Red Skull nodded and walked forward. He slowly reached for the door and opened it. He glanced to the walls that the door served as a portal through and noted they were thicker than what would be expected for a building of this type. He smiled as that probably served the real purposes that the doctor had in mind in this clinic. As he looked into the room, he also noted the heavy set man standing by a black leather chair and looking around the room in an almost puzzled manner. The man looked to the couch that was there for the clinic's patients that were there.

"Blast…" the man cursed in a low voice, "where…?"

"I sent him away," the Red Skull spoke, "as we have more important things to discuss, Doctor Fairn… or should I say… Doctor Faustus."

The man looked up with some look of surprise on his face as he looked to the Skull.

"You… you…" Doctor Faustus said slowly, "How… I've worked hard to hide my appearance…"

"You've made changes," the Red Skull answered, "but they're more stylistic than anything else. Any determined detective that knows you and your operations may be able to find you. Just as I did."

"Skull… you can't…" Doctor Faustus spoke, "my situation is delicate here. I can't get into some major brawl with the Avengers right now."

"You can relax," the Red Skull answered, "any interruption will come with people looking for my energy signature, and all they will see are two ordinary people. You are in NO danger. The Avengers won't outright attack if without one hundred percent certainty…"

"And what of Zemo?" Doctor Faustus asked off hand as he looked to the Red Skull, "the man is unhinged and in a bit of a political spat with H.A.M.M.E.R. and Maria Hill. According to the news he's already attacked some small town in Louisiana in some quest to look better than he is. What's to stop him from trying to come after me?"

"The Baron doesn't know about you," the Red Skull gave a dismissive wave, "and if he does attack… he'll be after me, not you. In this, you don't have to worry about him, and you might even profit from it… if you catch my meaning."

Doctor Faustus nodded and then looked to the Red Skull as the two men stood quietly in front of one another.

"And what would an all-powerful dictator want with a brilliant psychologist?" Doctor Faustus asked, "If I may ask…"

"To put an answer to the question how to destroy America," the Red Skull smiled, "Force won't work. The Americans have proved to be quite a resilient people and when shown a clear bad guy, they will fight hard and fight to win. However, their destruction will not come from force… but from within. You've shown great skill at brainwashing people, Doctor Faustus, and those skills will be of great use."

"I can manipulate how people think, Red Skull," Doctor Faustus spoke, "but not even I could brainwash every American into voting for a Nazi or for some KKK member."

"I'm not asking for brainwashing," the Red Skull answered, "and we don't need a complete position shift. We just need to ignite the fires on America's more conservative elements… the side that doesn't want to change anything. The side that thinks America's greatness can ONLY be found in the past. Put out media that would nudge those elements to be more open, more distrusting of what they already hate. And step by step… the Americans will erode away at their own freedoms and not even know it."

Doctor Faustus frowned, "I'm no journalist…"

"But you've had one come in," the Red Skull answered, "manipulate him. Have him publish things that will favor that argument… Pointing to any failure, regardless of how minute as the fault of some liberal group to a degree where it will practically urge violence to destroy that group… to where the American people will see any racial action as a problem caused by ethnic minorities. And given America's history with the Klan… with the turning away of the Saint Louis before World War Two… America has plenty of hatred and vices to be inflamed. You needn't push things to the point where the shift is sudden. In fact the push need only be slight and incremental. Let them slowly move away from the principles that their mainstream liberals and conservatives BOTH agree on to the point where they destroy themselves in the long term. And let them see the move as patriotic."

Doctor Faustus looked back at the Red Skull with some degree of puzzlement. He'd known the Red Skull to be some sort of strategic genius, but he'd also routinely seen that the Red Skull had often taken a more direct approach. The present path he was on, however, wouldn't show any real success quickly. In fact it might even take years, even if he followed throw with it.

"This will take time to do," Doctor Faustus warned.

"True," the Red Skull admitted, "but one that is required. Outright force won't destroy America. Even the terrorists out there won't destroy America. They can't. Only the Americans, themselves, can destroy America. And there… we MUST undermine them. And in doing so… you will be in a position of power to control anyone you see fit to control and manipulate."

To Be Continued…

"Political language… is designed to makes lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."

George Orwell, English novelist (1903-1950) – quoted in Shooting an Elephant (1950) "Politics and the English Language"