AN – I had not realized the extent of cannon history on MACUSA, so please remember this is an alternate universe. I believe I have adequate explanations as to the state of MACUSA in this universe, but if anything is confusing please leave a comment and I will adjust accordingly.
Thank you to Amanda for betaing, it has been a great help.
As a secondary note, I want to point out that this everything to and a little while past this point is to set up the story I want to tell. While the reactions might not be the pinnacle of realism, for the purposes of this story people are more interested in cooperation.
"Gentlemen, thank you for coming," Lieutenant General Raymond Thomas addressed the room. They surrounded a conference table at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Around the table sat the rest of the senior leadership of the Joint Special Operations Command, along with Delta team leader Captain Marshall Sumner and Northern European Theater JSOC commander, Major Alfred Loren. The meeting was requested by the latter while in flight from Britain. "Major Loren, would you mind telling us what this is about?"
"Sir," Major Loren began, looking at each of the men around the table. Each had put in a significant portion of their lives to the special operations community and the Major was no different. He was about to ask them to believe quite a lot however. "As you know, our friends at United Kingdom Special Forces requested our assistance in the recovery or destruction of a UAV prototype." He drummed his fingers against the table in a failed effort to stall. He wasn't sure how to word this without sounding insane.
"Captain Sumner's Delta team was nearby, and made the response," the Major continued. "His helicopter crashed, and having seen a nearby castle, made the decision to recon. Both the helicopter and the experimental UAV were destroyed, completing the original objective. He led a team to check the castle, concerned about a possible electromagnetic weapon. Inside he made contact with..." He sucked in a breath, struggling to get the right word out of his mouth. He knew the right word, but saying it was another matter. "…wizards."
"Excuse me?" General Thomas asked, not sure that he heard the Major correctly. He had known Alfred for several years and the man was a straight shooter. Wizards however, that was a big pill to swallow. Unseen by everyone at the conference table, Sergeant John Woods, the General's aide, just about fell from his seat at the mention of wizards.
The Sergeant had been with General Thomas since he was assigned command of JSOC. He was also part of the Intelligence Network of the Magical Congress of the United States of America. As assistant to the General he had the ability to monitor the special operations conducted by the United States and warn when potential discovery of the secretive wizarding world was imminent.
"You heard correctly, General," the Major said without a hint of amusement. There was a General murmur around the table and Loren continued. "I was in my office when there was a loud pop. I looked up and there were two very strangely dressed men standing with Commander Ansen. They told me they were with the Ministry of Magic, which I can only assume is a form of government specific to the wizarding community. They told me of the stand-off at the castle, called Hogwarts. Apparently it's a rather prestigious school. They asked me to assist them in defusing the situation without violence. We were teleported from my office to the castle…" The Major's voice droned on as he continued his retelling with the rapt attention of everyone at the table, save the General's aide.
Sergeant Woods, who had been the General's aide for a very long time, bit his lip. This was bad. The Ministry in Britain was among the strongest wizarding governments out there. MACUSA couldn't hold much of a candle, and the Brits made it a point now and then to rub their noses in it. The American magical community still hadn't recovered from the devastating losses during the witch trials. MACUSA had, at best, a tenuous grip on the United States magical community. While it technically controlled America, the wizarding communities were poorly protected and magical creatures ran with near impunity. Vampire and werewolf gangs were of particular threat and most of the MACUSA Auror department was devoted to preventing knowledge of magic from being leaked to the muggles. The muggle military finding out in the wrong way could be the end of the magical community in the United States, or perhaps the world.
"Captain, Major," the General started, "this is obviously a lot to take in." He looked at Sumner, who stared directly back.
"I have three more operators you can talk to if you want," Sumner said completely serious.
"I am not discounting you two. You both have a long and distinguished service record. I don't get the impression either of you are ready to throw away your career and spend a long time in a dark hole for a prank." The General eyed them both. If this were an elaborate joke of some sort, it was not going to end well.
"Sir," the Major got to the crux of the issue in his opinion, "when they agreed not to debrief us, it was because we were quote 'an American problem.'" He let that sentence hang for a moment, letting the staff around the table reach their own conclusions.
"That implies that there is a Ministry in the United States then," the General said. Woods' heart sank at those words. "The question is, are they friend or foe." Woods looked up at the General.
"That's my question, Sir," the Major said. "We have no idea their intention. We should find them and open a dialogue. If they're anything like what we saw in Britain, it might be beneficial to be in contact."
Woods couldn't believe his ears. Muggles had not been tolerant of magical society in generations. In fact, much of magical society is based on that fact. He hadn't even considered that the muggles might be tolerant.
"I agree. We need to find out the extent of the magical community in the United States, and determine its impact on America," the General said, sealing the official position. "Major, do you have any idea how to contact the United States Ministry?" The Major shook his head negative.
"No clue, Sir." He paused a moment, searching his brain. Woods considered the impact this could have. JSOC was a secretive organization in every right. Handled correctly, this contact could be beneficial for both the muggles and the wizarding community. Coming out of hiding to JSOC didn't necessarily mean all muggles knowing, and MACUSA could use the help, he'd heard rumors of a possible outreach to the muggles for assistance. "Perhaps I can contact Commander Ansen in the UK. He might know a way."
"Get on it," the General ordered, then looked around the table. "Any question? Concerns? If you have them, now is the time." He eyed each in turn. None of them brought anything up. "Dismissed." He stood and the rest of them followed, getting back to their individual assignments. Woods checked in with General Thomas, and left immediately to contact MACUSA.
Less than an hour after the meeting in Fort Bragg, Sergeant John Woods was standing in the foyer of the Woolworth Building in downtown New York City, awaiting his meeting with the leaders of Magical America. It was a massive building, over a hundred stories both above and below ground. As the center of the Magical Congress of the United States of America, it was the busiest magical building in the United States.
That wasn't saying much, however. The witch trials of the 1700s had cost the magical community of America dearly. The executions, made famous in Salem, were largely attempts by religious leadership to seal their dominance. A community of muggles hunted witches and wizards well into the 1800s, fighting a shadow war with magical kind. It wasn't until the discovery that these muggles were being assisted by a few turncoat wizards in highly placed government positions that the losses stopped. The damage had been done however, and even now, magical America was not as strong as it once had been. Its population was still relatively sparse and spread out when compared to places like Britain.
This caused MACUSA to experience a rather unique problem. The smaller population caused a short supply of willing and capable Aurors. The shortage caused a lapse in governmental control of the region, sparking a significant increase in dark creatures inhabiting the area without restriction. As the magical population rose again and the Auror ranks increased, werewolf packs, vampire nests, and all manner of dark creatures banded together into large gangs.
Many of these gangs were still around today. The Auror department was not strong enough to break them. In fact, the primary focus of American Aurors was not the defeat of these foes, but maintaining the Statute of Secrecy. Attacks by werewolves and vampires were more common in the United States than any other country, and the Aurors had their hands full trying to prevent that fact from leaking out into muggle knowledge.
"Informer Woods, the Congress is ready for you," a kindly receptionist interrupted his introspection. This meeting promised to be interesting to say the least, but could prove to be exactly what the magical community needed. Woods rose and followed her to an elevator and stepped inside. She placed the tip of her wand on a small marble square outside the elevator. Security had been tighter since they began using the Woolworth Building, and the only way to access certain floors was to get someone with the necessary clearance to tell the elevator to go there.
She issued the necessary nonverbal spell, and the elevator shot up toward the top floor. Woods' knees almost buckled at the rapid increase in speed. It had been a long time since he'd traveled in a magical elevator. A moment later, the elevator came to a sudden stop, and he was launched almost a foot and a half into the air. He was prepared by then, and landed with some degree of dignity.
"Wand, sir," a security officer at a desk outside the elevator said lazily, obviously more interested in what he was reading. Woods stepped forward and gave the officer his wand, noting that the officer was selecting a fantasy Quidditch team. "You'll get it on your way out," he said, looking up only briefly.
"Right," Woods said, then continued on. He opened a door adorned with the seal of the magical congress. He sat at the only empty seat at the table. The entire Congress was here, along with the President.
"Informer Woods," the President greeted as he sat. "Has the muggle military discovered us?" MACUSA had several Informers throughout the muggle government, watching for any sign that the muggles might be about to discover the secretive community. As busy as the Magical Congress was on a daily basis with trying to manage the ever-present problem with dark creatures, an Informer had the power to call or interrupt a meeting at any time due to the significance of a breach.
"The last thing we need is a problem with the muggles, what with the situation in the Appalachians. The giants are problem enough," Senator Nithercott sighed.
"There is a situation," Woods started, and saw the anxiety level in each of the men in the room rise. "However, it may be an opportunity and not a crisis." There was a look of General confusion.
"Please explain," President Christopher Harris stated flatly. There was already much to deal with, and adding muggle military would be an unmitigated disaster. Woods explained the entire meeting in the JSOC headquarters, especially their interest in opening a dialogue.
"You must have been discovered, tricked," Senator Davis said as Woods finished. "They're trying to draw us out."
"I don't believe so," Woods said. "I work in a highly secret military headquarters. If they suspected that I was not exactly who I say they would immediately detain and interrogate me. Releasing me, even to follow me, is simply not how they operate. They would be more interested in what information could have been released." Woods' explanation seemed to placate the Senator, but only just.
"So you would have me believe that these muggle soldiers are interested in talking, and perhaps cooperating on an official level with us?" Harris asked, trying to state it as simply as possible. "You know well what happened the last time muggles knew for certain that magic existed. The Statute of Secrecy has been of paramount importance for generations for this very reason."
"I know, Sir," Woods replied, having decided long ago that he did not believe General Thomas to be that kind of man. They had worked together for several years, and the General was not one to mince words. If he intended to attack, his orders would have reflected that already. "I feel confident that, handled correctly, we could work with JSOC, the muggle organization I work for. And they could help us." There was a period of silence as the members of the Congress considered it.
"What do you mean? How could they help us, and why would they?" It was Senator Maxon this time.
"They are not just any soldiers, they are the best that the muggle military has to offer. They could help us get rid of the gangs." Woods paused for a moment, to let them consider it, before continuing. "They are experienced fighters and they have the manpower to make the difference in our struggle against the gangs. We could help them, assist them in their struggles with our magic. In return they can help us defeat the gangs, which helps the muggles as well." There was a long silence as each of them thought about it, all eyes eventually turning to the President.
"You're asking a lot," he said simply. "You are certain about them?" He couldn't argue that they could use the help, and more than once it had been offered by the muggle President during various meetings. His primary directive was upholding the international statute, but as time went on the international community still wasn't helping. Working directly with a faction of the muggle government would be a serious offense in the eyes of the international community, but without assistance from them the words of the muggle President sounded more and more attractive.
Adding more appeal to the offer of assistance by the muggle President, it could set in motion the end of the gang plague that had occurred since the 1800's, cementing his re-election. Woods nodded in answer and the President sighed. "I agree to a meeting. Gentlemen?"
He looked around the room. Now that he had projected his own opinion, it was easier for those considering it to speak out. After a few moments, each of the members had confirmed it.
"Make contact with this General Thomas and set up a meeting. If they try to arrest you, apparate and we will attempt to wipe their memories," the President said. "Be careful. This must be handled delicately."
"Of course." Woods stood and left, off to set up a meeting that would change magical America. The only question, would it be for better or worse?
Lieutenant General Raymond Thomas read the latest report from Major Loren. Commander Ansen apparently had no idea what Loren was talking about when asked about the Ministry of Magic. Further investigation showed that Ansen had no memory of any situation at a castle either. Major Loren tried to play it off as a joke, with minimal success, and hung up.
The General sighed and tossed the report onto his desk. Learning of a magical community was disconcerting to say the least. The idea of a shadow community living in the United States didn't seem possible, but he had known Major Loren for longer than he cared to admit, lest it give away his age, and the Major was not a bullshitter. If he said there was magic then Thomas took it at face value. He began to stand up, deciding this was a problem for tomorrow, when there was a knock at the door.
"Sir, it's Sergeant Woods," a familiar voice called. The Sergeant had been his aide since he took command of JSOC, many years ago, and had done a stellar job so far. The man seemed to know exactly what was needed and when.
"Come in," he said simply, letting himself drop back into the chair. Woods walked in and saluted sharply. "Have a seat" the General responded, gesturing at a chair in front of his desk. Woods sat and stared at Thomas for a moment before opening his mouth.
"Sir, we have worked together for a long time now," he started. Thomas nodded slightly, already not liking the direction of this conversation. If Woods was about to ask for a professional favor, it was going to be a bad time indeed. "I would like to think that you trust me." Woods waited patiently for a response.
"Cut to the chase, son," Thomas said curtly.
"I was present for the meeting earlier. About wizards," Woods said. Thomas sat a little straighter. This was not where he expected the conversation to go. "I know firsthand that the Major and Captain Sumner are telling the truth. I know this because I am a wizard." The General felt his jaw drop slightly and immediately closed it. "I am Informer John Woods of the Magical Congress of the United States of America." The General fought the urge to call in an MP and have the man arrested. Informer? What exactly has he been leaking?
"Son, you had better get to explaining. What have you been 'informing' and to whom?" General Thomas did not sound particularly agreeable, but Woods knew that it was now or never.
"I am tasked with keeping the Statute of Secrecy upheld, and ensuring that the military does not come across a magical community. Thus far, I have never had need to act," he explained, placating Thomas' immediate concern. "You expressed interest in making contact with the magical government, and I am here to set up that meeting."
"I see." General Thomas was not sure how to proceed. He hadn't expected to make contact so quickly, and he had expected to be the one initiating the contact. "Major Loren, Captain Sumner, Master Sergeant Wheeler and myself will meet with-" he paused, not sure what to call their leadership.
"- President Harris and the rest of the magical congress," Woods finished for the General. "We would appreciate you meeting at our location. We have not made contact with muggles in a very long time, and I'm sure you can understand our…" he searched for the right word, "nervousness."
"Muggles?" the General asked, considering the request Woods made.
"Sorry, Sir, a muggle is someone who, like yourself, does not possess magic," he replied. "As for our request?"
The General chewed the inside of his cheek while he thought a moment, a habit he picked up when he quit chewing tobacco. Long ago he'd learned that meeting halfway built a lot of goodwill. He wasn't convinced of the benevolence of wizards, but he wanted to get to the bottom of it in a way that benefited everyone. "We will meet at your location, but I will tell Colonel Spicer about it and he will have a unit ready to respond if we are not back in one piece within twenty-four hours." The General didn't have to complete the threat. A response by the strike team would be deadly.
"Agreed," Woods replied almost immediately. "We are ready to go as soon as you are, General. And thank you, Sir, for approaching us with an open mind." The General simply grunted and stepped outside and ordered the MP to get Colonel Spicer.
"I'll gather everyone and brief them. We will meet here in an hour," The General told Woods, dismissing him. After Woods left, Thomas sat back down at his desk. He needed to call his men together for a meeting that promised to be one of the most interesting of his career.