Dear old Dad…

"We're taking the Hermes, and as far as anyone else knows, it's a joint S.H.I.E.L.D./S.T.R.I.K.E. training operation." Fury stood looking at the active members of the Ultimates, "We don't expect any trouble, but security will be tight."

"Do you want Pedro and I to go in with you?" Scarlet Witch asked, "Or do you want up outside as backup?"

"I would recommend having someone as reserve." Captain America nodded, "We still don't know what the Watchers Council wants."

"I agree." Fury nodded, "Captain America, Iron Man and Black Widow will accompany me too the meeting. Wasp, Hawkeye, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch will stay outside with the surveillance team, with Jan in command."

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"We have ten Slayers on the premises at the moment, with another twenty in and around London." Giles stood over the map that had been spread out across his desk, "Using a neutral third party, who wishes to remain anonymous, the following plan of action has been devised: a S.T.R.I.K.E. limo carrying General Fury and three members of his team will arrive at exactly ten A.M. this coming Friday. Faith will meet them at the door, and bring them through to this office."

"I'll have the conference table brought up from downstairs." Buffy nodded, "What about the backup you promised?"

"I have convinced a former Watcher who knew Captain America during World War 2 to attend. Hopefully she will be able to convince him and Fury that we know what we're dealing with, while they don't. She also said she'd bring a friend, a Joseph Chapman."

"Should I'd know him?"

"No, but you are in the same line of work."

"Sounds interesting. What we going to do with Thor? I doubt Fury will be happy if we have him sitting at the table with us."

"That may be, but he is our biggest asset at the moment; the sooner we can prove Loki is manipulating everyone, the better."

"What about Faith? He's been acting a little 'odd' since we got back."

"Yes, I saw the mess she'd made of the library: she said she saw her father do something similar in America and decided to see if it was an hereditary trait. She mentioned something about feeling like Keanu Reeves in The Matrix."

"There is no spoon."

"Indeed."

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Heli-Carrier Hermes, Mid-Atlantic

"Penny for thoughts?" Natasha asked as she put her arm around her fiancé, "Although, given a mind like yours, that's probably way too cheep."

"I'm worried about Faith." Stark lookout out across the seemingly endless water, "I don't think Nick's going to just let her get away with everything that's happened."

"I've been doing some digging of my own, strictly off the record: the Watchers Council has some serious friends in high, and low, places."

"What do you mean?"

"They are a very old, powerful and rich organisation, with members in the very highest levels of power in several nations. I'm sure that they could easily arrange Diplomatic Immunity for Faith, even another Presidential Pardon."

"Natasha my love, I hope you're right."

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Buffy herd the front doorbell chime, and decided to answer it herself. She was slightly surprised to see a slim woman with pure-white hair standing next to a taller, blond haired man who obviously hadn't shaved.

Both of them were registering on her Slayer-senses, but she couldn't tell why.

"Can I help you?" The she asked.

"You can start by telling that bastard Rupert Giles that Lady Falsworth-Crichton and Mr. Chapman are here." The woman sounded angry about something.

"I already know." Giles came down the main staircase, "Jacqueline, you know I wouldn't have called you in unless it was of the up most importance: it's about Steve Rodgers."

"Oh, him." Jacqueline seemed to relax slightly, "I thought it might be."

"Hang on, if you're the woman who knew Captain America back in the war, how come you look only a few years older than me?" Buffy asked.

"It's a long story." Jacqueline smiled, and then turned to Giles, "Smart kid. Who is she?"

"Jacqueline, this is Buffy Summers, the longest surviving Vampire Slayer to date." The Watcher started the introductions, "Buffy, this is Lady Jacqueline Falsworth-Crichton, otherwise known as Spitfire. Her companion is Joseph Chapman, current incarnation of the hero known as Union Jack, and Knight of the Pendragon."

"Call me Joey." The man smiled, a slight Liverpool accent detectable.

"So what do you guys do?" Buffy asked the newcomers.

"We kill vampires." Jacqueline ran a hand through her hair, "I've heard about what happened in New York from a friend in S.T.R.I.K.E. I take it that you want me to try and convince Steve that you're not a threat to S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

"Yes, if you can." Giles nodded, "I was also hoping that you'd consider returning to active service as a Watcher: we could use Spitfire and Union Jack on our side."

"We'll consider it." Jacqueline looked round, "So, I take it you have rooms ready for us?"

TBC

Extra Kudos to Harry for correctly spotting Spitfire's entry into the fray: he wins a cookie.

According to a friend who's been reading Marvel comic for over twenty years, there is not, to date, an Ultimate version of Spitfire or Union Jack, so I'm going to be playing with the characters a little.