9177/Assassin's Creed

Assassin's Creed
Date of Scene:	20 December 2021
Location:	Chief Carter's Office: Triskelion
Synopsis:	Peggy Carter approves Jessica Drew being on oversight for Dottie Underwood and Michael Erickson.
Cast of Characters:	Peggy Carter, Jessica Drew, Michael Erickson, Dottie Underwood

---

Peggy Carter has posed:
While Peggy had promised Daniel that she'd mainly keep her weekends clear, she doesn't always mind staying a bit later on a week night, especially when a group of her agents and consultants have asked to see her. Since Peggy knows she's getting a few people, she already has two pots of tea brewing. One is her usual favored, caffienated gunpowder black and the other is the biting ginger that she's preferred as of late. She has her desk mostly cleared otherwise, prepared to entertain and talk, not take notes and lecture.

She's looking her normal, somewhat warm self as of late. Softer for the season and in a red and gray plaid wool dress with a rather thick matching belt wround her middle. Her hair's pulled back, not in the usual waves, but it's out of her face for a long day of work. When she hears their knock, she calls warmly. "In! Come in, come in...tea's already brewed." She motions to the cups set out for them to choose their preferred blend.

Jessica Drew has posed:
On the positive side, they may be late, but they have multiplied. Jessica still has the muffled, distant feel in her head that drinking too much can give her. A hangover Spider-style, like looking at things through the wrong end of a telescope. Super hearing puts an edge on doors slamming, and the doughnuts in the agent's desk outside Carter's office make her over aware of having a stomach.

Which doesn't explain the tea that she had bought on a whim for the Chief. Professionally turned out for the office, Jess wears a tailored black suit over a jade green blouse that compliments her green eyes. Her glossy black hair is pulled back into a severe bun.

"Thank you for seeing us on such short notice, Chief!"

Michael Erickson has posed:
    Michael, of course, comes dressed in a plain gray suit - softer too, apparently, not so much this time with the fashy cosplay. He follows Jessica quietly into the Chief's office, carrying also a small cooler urn in hand as he does so. A faint, polite smile is given the Chief as he goes to take his seat, but no teacup for him. He simply settles in.

Dottie Underwood has posed:
Dottie slinks in behind the other two. Her body language promotes distance. As though she also just happens to be here. Not that she is part of the group who has come to meet with the Director. She leans on the wall just inside the door. Her dress contains an homage to vintage stylings rather than adhering to antiquated hemlines. Still the retro vibe is noticeable. And therefore intentional.

"Hiya, Peg," she says, the brightness of the usual greeting muted.

Peggy Carter has posed:
At the look of Jessica as the woman enters her office, Peggy tilts her head a little curiously. She's spent 80 years reading people and she recognizes a hangover no matter how well concealed it is. Or maybe the woman is simply a touch ill, but Peggy would put good money on a hangover. "Agent Drew. There's ginger tea there. It... is quite helpful for those days you simply feel off. Please, sit, have a mug." And then she's looking over to Michael, her smile softening more so as she sees him in a more gentle, attractive looking gray suit. She tilts her head in approval of the outfit. "I see you found another tailor. It suits you quite well. Good job."

And then there is Dottie. It's always a bit strange with the woman, especially after the last time they left things. Peggy gives her a half smile, like seeing an old friend she's not certain she entirely knows any longer, but the old styled dress does get a bit more of a smile. She nods the woman into the seat across from her. "Plenty of tea, but I've got some whiskey and vodka around here somewhere also, if you'd prefer. And Dottie, please... sit. I got chairs for all of you for a reason. Though I am rather curious what request you have cooked up."

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Thank you. Don't mind if I do, Chief. I had a run-in with the Russian Tea Room last night." She says with a weak smile as she gets up to place the white bag on the Chief's desk. "Reinforcements ma'am, I'm told it's a good brand of ginger tea." (Traditional Medicinals)

"So thank you again about receiving us on such short notice. We have some big questions to ask you concerning what SHIELD's future might look like if we were in space. It's a vast subject that can be approached from different standpoints: military readiness, defense, and exploration. Michael, who has practical experience in the matter, would be our primary advisor. I can see Dottie as a trainer if she is willing for agents going into space. We all have a lot of ideas and questions. We wanted to begin by laying out possibilities with you, ma'am."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "Nothing for me," says Michael, "But thank you, Chief." He gestures to the small refrigeration flask that he's put on Peggy's desk. "Ostrava caviar. Should you wish it. I worry you do not eat enough on duty and a treat is always good." Oh God, he's started in on /her/ now. "It is not too oily or salty. Not a strong flavor, but still delicious." This said, he looks among the three women before continuing.

    "Simply put, Chief," he continues, "I have found that SHIELD relies enormously upon metahuman and offworld powers to combat extraordinary threats - this, in my view, is a mistake. The Shi'ar have the Imperial Guard, a metahuman team all their own, yes, but it's the military that does the conquering, defending, and generally forging the empire. Yes, I am aware of course that it is /defense/ we seek here, and that humanity is not prepared to expand beyond the borders of its solar system - but all the same, there is a gaping hole in the defense of your race, and it is its strong attachment to metahumanity as its major method of protection."

Dottie Underwood has posed:
Dottie shrugs, and offers Peggy a wry smile. "You know me," she says, not bothering to move away from the wall. "Always one to expand my horizons."

Peggy Carter has posed:
Well, at least Jessica is accepting the tea. She, in turn, accepts the tea satchels from the woman and takes a deep breath of the gift, smiling wide, "Oh, this will go to... quite regular use, thank you, Jessica." Peggy sets the gift on the tea cart before looking back to up to Michael. Then she's being given another gift, one she's not even certain she SHOULD be eating. She blinks, taking it curiously. "Well, I... I can say this is certainly something I've never had. Daniel and I will have to give it a try soon, thank you. Though now..." Especially as they start talking about the holes in defenses, "I'm starting to think you are plying me with gifts just to butter me up." Peggy smirks.

She then leans back deeper in her own chair, eyes levelling on Dottie for a moment as the woman refuses to sit and is *clearly* in on whatever this plotting is. Peggy lets out a long, thoughtful breath before starting, "You're not *wrong*... but we also don't have the resources to mount a space military. Right now, half of Earth's defense is that we aren't on the radar for most space faring races. I'd rather like to keep it that way. We have SWORD... and I am willing to give permission to you to train agents who *wish* the dual training. But I can't take agents off their current duties to go into space and leave matters here undefensed."

Jessica Drew has posed:
"Resources are a big obstacle that...", she glances at Michael, "that we may be able to overcome in unconventional ways. Right now, I'm seeking permission for us to do double duty. Permission to find the basic necessities for training for space. Suits to begin with, then getting into space then the next big step of having our own craft. Each in its time."

"Michael, would you fill in my rather broad outline for the Chief?"

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "Food is of vital importance among comrades," Michael says flatly, as if this should be common sense. Then he continues. "Now, then. I am not, in this case, suggesting that a space military should be established - the political maneuverings behind that would be extremely...difficult. However, as you say, you have SWORD...but SWORD does not have a standardized force, or even resources, either. This is, frankly, concerning.

    "So, as Agent Drew has suggested, development of a small unit of SHIELD and SWORD agents - most of them human would be preferred, frankly, people who do not have what you would call 'superpowers' - to tackle potential offworld threats would be of great advantage. Until my revelation, you have not had, as far as I have been able to determine, someone with extensive training and experience fighting and reconnoitering across a wide variety of interstellar enviromnets. I would like to train this unit to a standard approaching that of the Shi'ar Imperial Military Standard. It would be, frankly, incredibly gruelling. But the result would be of incredible use.

    "We are given to understand, after discussion with Doctor Foster, that SWORD's resources for actually getting out in the universe, even your own solar system, are, frankly, paltry. Therefore, Agent Drew and I have set up a number of plans to potentially secure the required minimum arms and equipment to facilitate the sortie of such a unit." He glances at Dottie a moment before returning his gaze to Peggy. "May I continue?"

Dottie Underwood has posed:
"You have to keep up your strength," Dottie grins in guttural Eastern European tones. Content it seems, to remain in the peanut gallery.

Peggy Carter has posed:
The woman is silent for several long moments, Peggy watching the trio in front of her. She's worried, that much is clear, but she's also not saying no. Dottie's comment about her strength gets a little glare, considering that seems to come out of no where. "I'm taking care of myself perfectly well, Ms. Underwood." Peggy bristles just a touch.

Then, she lets out another long breath through her nose and scoops up her cup of now-cooled tea, having poured it just before they came in. She refocuses on the task at hand. "This is a... lot of responsibility to hand a single agent. Especially when the two helping her have firmly decided to stay in the consultant-only pool. You aren't wrong that we need this. But we don't have the resources to fund it and... it's going to be a LOT for me to convince the UN this is fine when the person working on getting us space ships isn't even a full SHIELD Agent. Do you understand my concern?"

Peggy's eyes level with Jessica a bit harder now. "And you... you're willing to take all of this on your own? When you already have a larger management responsibility than most. Do you have any other agents who wish to work with you on this? Dr. Foster, perhaps? I can't leave this just to you, as much as I might agree it would be helpful. I can, at least, authorize extra training for any agent who wishes it. I'll permit that much."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Jessica blinks, pretending she didn't hear that exchange. The Chief's condition is a well-kept secret among most of the agents.

"Absolutely, Chief. We certainly need and want the input of senior agents like Simmons and Foster, perhaps Wilson would be good to have on the team for his flying experience. I am here as my role as handler and a very interested party. If I may add my opinion, we would be caught flat-footed right now if there was an incursion into our solar system."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "And considering that we're discovering traces of past offworld visitation in the system over the last few hundred years, we can assume they know about us. The Kree certainly do. As do the Shi'ar. It's only a matter of time before the Spartoi and others discover your planets existence - and frankly, Chief, the fleet the Empire dispatched here was /tiny/ compared to what they've used before. I know, I was involved in conquest actions before." He pauses. "Let me take a few of your points, if I may."

    Michael reaches into his pocket and comes up with a small device that looks like one of those overly streamlined television remotes from the 1990s. He pressed a button on its surface and a thin spray of blue light emerges, light that coalesces a few feet away into images of streamlined rifles, maps of Germany. A logo of an eagle clutching thunderbolts and flasks in its claws, reminiscent of past fascism. And a name, of course: Tannhauser. "This," he says, "Is the Tannhauser group. It is an operation that Agent Drew and I have been worrying at from different ends since before SHIELD knew of me, back when I still was known only as the Red Sentinel. They're a techno-anarchist group who creates advanced weapons for terrorists, criminal organizations and others...so long as you aren't too brown for them." He makes a face. "Racist, you see. In any case, they have a powerful command over magnetic rifles, coilguns as humans call them - weapons as strong as chemical guns, or a touch stronger, but relatively silent and able to operate in space, underwater, and the like with a minimum of sealant. Their technology is mature; Agent Drew and I have discussed finally crushing the operation, taking their technological data and any stockpile of existing weapons and the resource situation where weapons are concerned will be resolved. We intend to task Miss Underwood on this operation, as it is well within her wheelhouse - if she agrees to it, of course." A look and nod to Dottie, then, before he continues.

    "As for the suits required to traverse other environments, it has been suggested that I speak with Reed Richards or Tony Stark. Here I might see what I can do, of course. Alternatively, I will go to one of the outlying civilized systems nearby your own, secure some examples through my own resources, and bring them back to be used and backwards-engineered by SHIELD technical staff. I also intend to secure a starship, but that will be on my own proverbial dime."

    He's been thinking about this a lot, apparently. A LOT.

Dottie Underwood has posed:
Dottie looks mock seriously at Peggy. "They've been very...*comprehensive* in their planning." And then she grins. "Besides Peg, it'll get me out of your hair."

Peggy Carter has posed:
Peggy is taking all of this in with slightly wide eyes. It's a lot of information for late in the day, but Peggy's certainly had worse before. She sighs through her nose, buying a bit of time by taking a deep sip of her tea before she sets it aside. "Look. First off, Dottie, you're not in my hair. You know you're welcome to be here but I suspect you'd enjoy learning some new inventive ways to kill people, especially those that need killing. Secondly... I agree with the concept. But if we do this without SHIELD being in full control, we are going to have a *riot* from other world governments. Because they are going to think we're just setting up other aliens to help take us over." She nods towards MIchael, clearly implying he is the alien, "And using our own people to do it."

"So. Any steps you take in this direction *must* be under full SHIELD control. Jessica, it will be your project to lead, but every step of the way needs to be approved and documented. Any supplies which are... taken for SHIELD use, become a part of SHIELD's armory. Every mission must be approved by SHIELD command before it's taken, understood? So, you all start with the training, and go from there. But we have to do this the right way or we can't do it at all."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Jess covers her mouth in a vain attempt to not smile, "We may have bored Ms. Underwood to tears but have tried to compensate with a little vodka and caviar, ma'am. Anything we can do to help!" said in her best helpful agent voice.

The smile sobers, "Again, absolutely, nothing without a green go from SHIELD. We are here to document our first steps with you, Chief. I have said as much to Erkickson and he understands the need for steps to becleared and documented."

"We will need clearance from you to procure the weapons and plans from Tannhauser. Our first plan of operation is to have Underwood infiltrate them so that when we do go in it will be with minimum casualties and maximum results. I'll try to stay out of your hair, Chief but am still learning to navigate procedures here."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "I am quite aware that everything goes to SHIELD, Director. We've already discussed how I don't /need/ any of these things. I want to help humanity stand up to enemies on their own. Let me be your Lafayette." A faint smile creases his lips. "If Lafayette was able to teach your agents to hump a fifty-kilogram warpack across double-gravity terrain."

    Another look to Dottie. "Miss Underwood will be, I believe, indispensible."

Dottie Underwood has posed:
"We're all very concerned about your coiffure, Peg," Dottie smirks. And she's ready to spend some time as someone else again.

Peggy Carter has posed:
The cutting remark that Dottie gives with that smirk earns her a good glare from Peggy, but Peg isn't going to let herself be conned into an argument right now. They are doing business and that's where her focus needs to be. Peggy sets her jaw and straightens her shoulders just a bit. "Yes, well, nominal approval is given. I want an outline of the whole mission before we sent people off on it and a full report of what is recovered, but you can start the planning. Then we will go from there. Agent Drew, you can put the word out that optional *extra* training will be provided for space faring threats, but this training should not take time out of an agent's regular duties and no one is being assigned it. Understood? Any other questions?"

Jessica Drew has posed:
Jessica glances at Michael and then nods crisply at Carter. "None from me at the moment, Chief. Thank you for your time. I will have a report on your desk as soon as I can. The word will go out to agents with the caveat that training time can not affect their regular duties."

Michael Erickson has posed:
    "We will endeavour to ensure that the agency's resources - and budget - are not taxed," Michael says, getting to his feet. "I thank you, Chief. I know that we have been particularly..." He pauses, looking between Dottie and Jessica a moment. "...active of late, and in your office a great deal. But we will ensure that this is done with the utmost delicacy and minimal disruption. I thank you." And with this, he will follow Jessica out the door as soon as they're dismissed.

Dottie Underwood has posed:
"See ya around, Peg," Dottie says softly, levering herself off of the wall. She follows the other two out of the office humming quietly to herself. And just before the door shuts Peggy catches the tune: *I'll be looking at the moon, but I'll be...*