3438/Stronger Together

Stronger Together
Date of Scene:	19 December 2017
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Guardian and Vindicator discuss protecting Earth with the man who's made a career of it, Nick Fury. Information is shared and one lucky SHIELD agent will win a trip to space!
Cast of Characters:	Guardian, Vindicator, Nick Fury

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Guardian has posed:
The UN's announcement had been made the night before Alpha Flight was now in charge of planetary defense when it came to off-world threats, beating out SWORD for the job. That announcement made and the role accepted, Alpha Flight was making its top priority to reach out to the other groups in the world to coordinate efforts.

First stop, SHIELD. Guardian scheduled the meeting and got the requisite clearances, then at the appointed time he and his wife Vindicator, arrive on the helicarrier to be shown into the Director's office.

Guardian's head is on a swivel the whole time. Not because he didn't trust SHIELD, but because he's ogling the tech, pausing a few times to look at this thing or that thing before being shown in to meet Fury.

Vindicator has posed:
Heather's done this before, countless times. Though, perhaps not on quite this level. The word had come down from above about Alpha Flight's new position in the matter of all things Space related, and that little announcement had significantly changed the gameplan of the team.

Well, perhaps it is better to say it gave them a directive and a direction they'd hoped for and anticipated, but hadn't been able to make any moves on. Now that they had it, though? Wheels were in motion, and gears were grinding.

Thus this trip to New York.

Heather grins at Mac as they walk along towards Director Fury's office, "Don't gawk, Mac. I'm sure they'll let you touch the toys if you ask." All the while hoping he remembers to ask, not just wander off down a hallway and plunk himself down in a lab never to be seen again.

Nick Fury has posed:
    Nick Fury is behind his desk, looking over several reports, most of them would be a familiar subject line to Hudson. Alpha Flight. Planetary Defense and Security. SWORD. Everything there is to know about what was going in in orbit right now.

    Both Guardian and Vindicator are shown into Fury's office. Fury stands, and offers his hand, first to Mac, then to Heather. "Congratulations on getting the toughest assignment I have ever been witness to. You have certainly got your work cut out for you."

Guardian has posed:
Mac clears his throat and smiles sheepishly. "Just curious how they do it," he says to Heather as they're lead the rest of the way into the office. Once the door is closed he presses something on his suit that makes his cowl shimmer and vanish, leaving his head bare, he preferred talking this way, it felt more natural.

Fury's greeting earns a smile, "Coming from the man in your job, that's saying something, General. I also take it there's no hard feelings, since we're taking that off your plate?"

Then he extends a hand to Fury, he'd never met the man in person, but he knew of him. "Good to meet you. I'm Mac Hudson, this is my wife Heather. Not that you didn't already know that."

Vindicator has posed:
Heather leans in and gives Mac's cheek a kiss, pausing to wipe her l ipstick off of his cheek. "I know. And I'm sure you'll get to see it all." Pause. "After our meeting."

Once in Fury's office, she shakes his hand in her turn. "So glad to finally meet you." Her eyes twinkling as Mac speaks of taking things off of Fury's plate as though they'd stolen a choice morself under everyone's noses. Which, in some ways they had, though she's fairly certain this was a headache even SHIELD didn't want.

"Heather," she confirms as she shakes the director's hand. "And we're terribly glad you were able to find time to fit us in. However, I'm sure we all can agree to the importance of this meeting. We didn't want to leave it any longer than necessary. So. Shall we?" Implying that none of them needed to stand on niceties when they all knew there was much business to be done, while also allowing for Fury to set a pace that included those politnesses if he so chose to.

Nick Fury has posed:
    Nick Fury nods, and shakes his head. "No, no hard feelings at all. I have enough to worry about down here on terra firma, without having to worry about what is coming from up there." Fury motions towards the ceiling, and the sky.

    Nick Fury looks first at Guradian, then at Vindicator, and back again. "Of course I would make time for the both of you. You never have to stand on ceremony. You need me, just call. I'll answer."

    Looking at both, Fury continues. "You make quite a team, you know? Mac and Heather Hudson." Of course Fury already knew.

    "Huh. Alpha Flight going big time. No longer stuck in Canada. I think it's an incredible opportunity you both have here." Fury nods, and adds, "It's going to be a tough job, but you have SHIELD and SWORDS support. Anything you need." Fury smiles. "Within reason, of course."

Guardian has posed:
Mac returns the kiss on the cheek, smiling as she takes a moment to wipe his own clean of lipstick. "After," he says of the tech.

In the office, and when Fury assured him there'd be no hard feelings, "Good to hear it," Mac says before glancing to his wife. "And we do make a good team, or so I've found."

Then back to Nick, "Glad to hear you're so agreeable, General. I was hoping we could exchange info for the most part, coordinate when our fields overlap and possibly get a SHIELD liason on the Flight, even if on a part-time basis."

Vindicator has posed:
Mac earns himself a smile for his commenting on the team they made. A smile she slid over to Fury, especially when he says they needn't stand on ceremony.

"I'm so very glad you said that, actually. As Mac says, what we need most right now is the support of all agencies able to lend a voice and a visible presence to the mission. A liason from SHIELD would go very far to cementing our position in the eyes of the world, and well, to be frank, to send a firm message to agencies like SHIELD that we're all on board and working togehter in this endeavour."

Heather was no fool. She knew that worldwide announcements aside, this could be an uphill climb without the support of others. And she was going to firm up that support come hell or high water. And no small amount of political schmoozing. It was, after all, slightly up her alley.

Nick Fury has posed:
    Nick Fury nods towards Heather, as she offers to get the meeting started, and supports Mac's position. An LO. Hmmm. "Straight, to the point. I appreciate that." Fury waves to the chairs in front of the desk, and he sits down. "Thank you for coming." Fury nods, and picks up a data pad, one for each of his guests.

    Fury slides the two pads towards Mac and Heather, and says, "Glad to hear it Mac. You can call me Nick." First names was okay with Fury. It was always better for working relationships to move past code names and ranks.

    Nodding to the data pads, Fury says, "These pads will get you what you need to access our unrestricted SHIELD files. It also has my contact information, and a direct line to me, if required." Fury pauses, and frowns. "I am sure it will be required. Sooner or later."

    Fury sighs, and leans forward, "As for a liaison officer, that may be difficult. I will canvass the team, see what I can come up with. Agent Brand has...been reassigned, temporarily, or she'd be your girl." Fury leans back and scratches his chin. "I'll see what I can do."

Guardian has posed:
Mac returns that smile Heather gives him and it brightens all the more when she proves just how good of a team they make when she lays out the politics more clearly than he ever could.

The pads are accepted with a grateful nod, and he does manage, if barely, from diving right in, he keeps it to a casual look, then a smile is given to Fury. "No doubt the need will come up, yes," he says about the direct line. "I didn't bring any thing like this," he holds up the pad. "But we'll see you're brought up to date on our files and can reach us directly if we're needed. Communication is key."

The liason matter is nodded at, "Brand would be excellent, but in her stead, any one with seniority would do, for visibility's sake. If it's a consolation for them, part of their work will be in space, and our mansion is very nice," he offers with a smile.

Vindicator has posed:
Mac might not have brought anything like that, but Heather still had that aspect covered. Her pad taken. "I've gethered some preliminary files for you, though they're only on a thumb drive. I figured it would be easier for your tech people. And, of course, we'll be opening up direct lines of communication now that the edict has gone through. We've a whole local system set up to handle that, as well as on the station itself." That she made sure of before they'd left. Computers weren't her thing, but the administrative work behind a shift in power of this sort most certainly was.

"The mansion is a lovely place. Much more than it seems from the outside. And you can rest assured, we've access to all the necessary ammenities just outside the Island."

Nick Fury has posed:
    "Excellent. A mansion huh? I never rate anything so grand. Canadians do things right, it seems." Fury smiles, and nods.

    "OKay." Fury takes the thumb drive from Heather. "Thank you." He holds up the drive and adds, "I will take this under advisement then, and coordinate with our Senior SHIELD Agents."

    Fury suddenly gets up, and says, "I know this sounds like a brush off, but it isn't." Fury taps his left ear, nods, and says, "I understand."

    Fury sighs, and stands up straight. "I hate to do this, but something has happened. I need to deal with it. Perhaps we can make this a regular thing? SITREP between two organizations, every so often? Keep up to date on external and internal planetary affairs?" Fury moves around the table, and moves towards the exit.

Guardian has posed:
Mac nods when Fury has to go, glad however that Heather once again had his back with the flash drive. "No, no problem. Go," he says. "But thank you, Nick and I agree, say weekly SITREP from both sides, maybe a little cooperative training, anyhow we'll contact you to work out the details," he says letting the Director go.

As Fury makes for the exit on urgent business, Mac remarks to Heather softly, "Sort of like seeing our future isn't it?" he says.

Vindicator has posed:
Heather rose easily to her feet, and extends her hand again. "We thank-you for your time, Nick. And you can be certain that we'll be in touch again shortly. Not only on the matter of a liason, but to discuss details, and likely with questions over the information you've given us here."

She pats the pad held tucked against her.

"I'll get right on setting up those SITREP meetings. And, I think that it will be best if we hold then a little closer to home, don't you? While I'm all for making things convenient for everyone involved, I'd like to set those meetings off with the right tone, and send the message that Alpha Flight has this well in hand. think on it. I'll get back to you by week's end."

Mac's comment about the future, she nods to him, whispering. "The weight of stars, my love. The weight of stars."