- "We cannot afford to be enemies to each other when there are new threats out there waiting for the moment we are at our weakest. A house built on shifting sand will fall. And without a strong and united foundation, S.H.I.E.L.D. will fall again."
- ―Robert Gonzales to Melinda May[src]
The S.H.I.E.L.D. Civil War was a conflict between two factions of the peacekeeping organization S.H.I.E.L.D. after its downfall and subsequent reorganization during the HYDRA Uprising.
Background[]
HYDRA Uprising[]
Robert Gonzales's people battling HYDRA
- "For a while there, it all went to hell. It was bad."
- ―Alphonso Mackenzie to Lance Hunter[src]
Following the revelation of HYDRA's continued existence during the Battle at the Triskelion[3] and the subsequent war, S.H.I.E.L.D. was left in shambles and publicly declared a terrorist organization.[4] Only two groups of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents remained active, one led by Phil Coulson and stationed in the Playground base, and the other led by Robert Gonzales, stationed on the aircraft carrier Iliad. The two groups did not know about each other, and they had completely different ideas about the future of S.H.I.E.L.D..[5]
History[]
The Two S.H.I.E.L.D.s[]
- "Secrets are what brought S.H.I.E.L.D. down the first time, and we won't let that happen again."
- ―Robert Gonzales[src]
Robert Gonzales building his own S.H.I.E.L.D.
In the aftermath of the HYDRA Uprising, both Phil Coulson and Robert Gonzales started working on rebuilding S.H.I.E.L.D. But while Coulson had the official blessing for his task from the former director Nick Fury,[6] Robert Gonzales believed that Fury was dead since the day the Winter Soldier attacked him.[5] The core of Coulson's organization was his old team, who managed to defeat the forces of HYDRA led by John Garrett at the Battle at Cybertek.[6] On the other hand, Gonzales' men were the remaining loyal crewmembers of the aircraft carrier Iliad and a few professors and students from the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy.[5]
Right from the beginning, Coulson and Gonzales led their factions completely differently. While Coulson mainly continued with Nick Fury's way of leading S.H.I.E.L.D.,[4] Gonzales instead made a board of leaders, sharing duties and responsibilities with his fellow high ranking agents. Every important decision had to be put to a vote, because they all agreed the leadership should operate with transparency and not from the shadows.[5]
Infiltration[]
Mackenzie and Morse infiltrate Phil Coulson's S.H.I.E.L.D.
- "Bobbi and I work for an organization, an outlier that came out of the wreckage from what Fury left."
"What organization, Mack? Who the hell are you working for?"
"S.H.I.E.L.D., The real S.H.I.E.L.D.." - ―Alphonso Mackenzie and Lance Hunter[src]
Once Robert Gonzales and his men found out about Phil Coulson's organization, they dispatched Agents Isabelle Hartley, Bobbi Morse and Alphonso Mackenzie to join Coulson's S.H.I.E.L.D. to gather intel. What they reported convinced Gonzales and his board that Coulson's ideas of running S.H.I.E.L.D. were too similar to Fury's.
While in Coulson's S.H.I.E.L.D., Hartley was killed in action by a gifted man named Carl Creel. Mackenzie worked as a mechanic in the garage of the Bus while secretly searching for Fury's Toolbox.[4] Agent Morse worked in the field completing many assignments. They included infiltrating HYDRA,[7] assisting in the manhunt for Grant Ward,[8] interrogating Sunil Bakshi,[9] and stopping HYDRA from starting a disaster.[10]
Robert Gonzales meeting with Lance Hunter
Eventually, Lance Hunter, Coulson, and Melinda May became suspicious about Mackenzie and Morse. When Mackenzie could not explain to Hunter what he was doing, he knocked Hunter unconscious and had him secretly brought aboard the Iliad. There Mackenzie explained that he was working for "the real S.H.I.E.L.D.". As Hunter was a good friend of Mackenzie, the ex-husband of Morse, and had previously gone to great lengths in a failed attempt to save Hartley's life, Gonzales greeted him kindly and explained the origins and mentality of his S.H.I.E.L.D. Gonzales reminded Hunter of how Coulson had seemingly gone insane due to the alien DNA now in his blood and how he was responsible for Isabelle Hartley's death due to his relentless search for the Obelisk, something which killed Agent Antoine Triplett and caused mutations for Raina and Agent Skye. While Hunter remained loyal to Coulson, he was able to agree with Gonzales about many of the risks involved with following Coulson.[1]
Open War[]
Attack on the Playground[]
Bobbi Morse attempting to steal the Toolbox
- "I work for S.H.I.E.L.D. I do. I swear. But you don't."
"Try again."
"What Coulson's doing here, this isn't S.H.I.E.L.D... Not the real S.H.I.E.L.D., anyway." - ―Bobbi Morse and Melinda May[src]
When Lance Hunter escaped from the Iliad, Bobbi Morse suggested that they should attack the Playground as soon as possible.[1] Morse returned to the base and prepared for the attack. While Phil Coulson interrogated Alphonso Mackenzie about his loyalties, Melinda May surprised Morse in the act of stealing the Toolbox. She tried to stop Morse but failed due a blackout Morse caused. Coulson then learned that Mackenzie worked for another faction, and he and his agents tried to capture Mackenzie who escaped in the blackout.
Robert Gonzales entering the Playground
Jemma Simmons succeeded in capturing Morse but her victory was short-lived. While a dendrotoxin in a gas state was circulated through the ventilation ducts, the wall exploded from the outside by Robert Gonzales' S.H.I.E.L.D., and they stormed the base.
Later, they captured all members of Coulson's S.H.I.E.L.D. faction. All the agents in the area eventually surrendered to Gonzales's agents. They succeeded in capturing Coulson, who was brought to Gonzales for a discussion about the Toolbox. When Gonzales gave the Toolbox to a subordinate, Melinda May surprised Gonzales and his agents by neutralizing them and giving Coulson a way to escape the base, and also warning him that Gonzales planned to capture Skye.[5]
Chase of Skye[]
Tomas Calderon briefing his own teams
- "You need to run... now. They're coming for you."
"Who... who's coming for me? Who–"
"S.H.I.E.L.D." - ―Melinda May and Skye[src]
Following the success of the capture of the Playground, Robert Gonzales discovered that Phil Coulson had taken Skye to the Retreat. Since he feared her and her powers, Gonzales ordered Bobbi Morse and Tomas Calderon to retrieve her.
Melinda May heard their plan and contacted Skye and told her the situation. Skye left the Retreat and ran into the woods.
Morse and Calderon landed near the Retreat. Morse reminded the agents that Skye was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent just like the rest of them and to use the non-lethal I.C.E.R.s only; however, Calderon ignored her order and took a real gun.
Skye being targeted by the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents
In the woods Skye encountered one of the agents and a struggle ensued with a gun being fired. Morse and Calderon headed in the direction of the shot and called for backup. Skye managed to defeat the agent and took his sidearm. Calderon, seeing this, fired his gun while Morse desperately tried to warn Skye, but to no avail. Skye deflected the bullet with her powers and caused a shockwave knocking Morse and Calderon back and destroying the surrounding area. Calderon was also impaled in the shoulder by a piece of flying wood. Skye, horrified by her actions, called Gordon's name. He teleported in and took her away from the chaos.[5]
Ambush at the Retreat[]
Hunter and Coulson shoot Gonzales' agents
- "S.H.I.E.L.D.'s here."
"Ours or theirs?"
"Theirs." - ―Phil Coulson and Lance Hunter[src]
Phil Coulson and Lance Hunter met and together they planned to retake S.H.I.E.L.D. and find Skye.[5] Once Coulson and Hunter arrived to the Retreat, they planned what to do next. Coulson triggered the alarm, notifying Gonzales of his location. Gonzales' agents arrived, got out an Electronic Battering Ram and started to hit the door so they could knock it down. Coulson used Holographic Cards to project a hologram of himself and Hunter playing cards to trick the agents.
Deathlok comes to Phil Coulson's aid
They were able to take down all of the agents with I.C.E.R.'s and exit the Retreat. Outside, they were confronted by more S.H.I.E.L.D. agents that were in shielded Quinjets. They were taken aboard the Quinjet to be taken back to Gonzales. Right before the Quinjet doors closed, Deathlok, Coulson's reinforcement, arrived and took down all the agents that had captured Coulson and Hunter. Deathlok then used his arm cannon to take down the other Quinjet. They escaped the scene.[11]
Hunt for the Fugitives[]
Melinda May talking with Robert Gonzales
- "This is not about Coulson. It's not about me. It's not about anyone on this ship. It's about S.H.I.E.L.D."
- ―Robert Gonzales to Melinda May[src]
Melinda May was held in Vault D. Meanwhile, Robert Gonzales asked Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons to open the Toolbox. They refused and Fitz left to pack his bag to leave. Morse seemingly convinced Simmons to stay and help to open the Toolbox. Instead, Simmons replicated the box in order to smuggle it out of the Playground with Fitz. When Fitz learned what she was doing, he covered her actions and convinced Alphonso Mackenzie and Morse that Simmons was in earnest. Fitz eventually left with the Toolbox,[11] but Gonzales' S.H.I.E.L.D. faction appointed agents to tail him.[12]
Robert Gonzales recruiting Melinda May
When Gonzales tried to convince May that Coulson was dangerous and failed, he brought her to the Iliad, were he convinced May to join his board.[11]
May asked permission to run the Playground. There, May was amazed to discover how many secrets Phil Coulson had kept from her, including Theta Protocol. Alphonso Mackenzie theorized that it was a program of training powered people led by Coulson. May heard enough and ordered Simmons to open the Toolbox.
In the meantime, Fitz opened the real Toolbox and contacted Coulson. He asked him and Lance Hunter how to lose his trail.[12]
Jemma Simmons informed May about the switch she had made. In order to find Coulson, May ordered Simmons to hack Deathlok's hardware. In the meantime, Skye called the base and told May that she was with her father and they needed to take him. They traced the call. Bobbi Morse and Alphonso Mackenzie entered a building, where a battle against HYDRA had just occurred. They found Coulson, who surrendered to them and demanded to be brought to Gonzales.[13]
The Deal[]
Phil Coulson and Robert Gonzales make a deal
- "We have a chance to hit HYDRA hard. They're operating on powered people. We can shut that down and save lives."
"Perhaps, but I'm gonna ask again – why should I trust you?"
"Because we all have our secrets. You have one sitting in the cargo hold of your ship, but I'm still willing to work with you." - ―Phil Coulson and Robert Gonzales[src]
Phil Coulson offered to open the Toolbox if Robert Gonzales would support his attempt to attack a Arctic HYDRA Research Facility. Gonzales agreed as he only used his own team but put it to a vote. With Bobbi Morse and Melinda May agreeing with the proposal Coulson had the majority.
Robert Gonzales learning Nick Fury is alive
Coulson succeeded in rescuing the Inhumans and having the base destroyed, but also secretly hacked into HYDRA's computer to get information on the location of Loki`s Scepter and Baron Strucker. When he returned he kept his promise and opened the toolbox, revealing that Nick Fury was still alive and that he was in contact with Maria Hill. He sent the information to Hill[14] who called in the Avengers who dealt a crippling defeat to HYDRA, killing List and arresting Strucker.[15]
Reunification[]
Robert Gonzales working with Phil Coulson
- "I tried to do it all alone, that was a mistake. Even Fury had a World Council watching over him, providing guidance."
"What are you suggesting?"
"One S.H.I.E.L.D. where I operate as director, under your advisement. This way, we'll have a cool underground base and a boat." - ―Phil Coulson and Robert Gonzales[src]
With Ultron successfully defeated by the Avengers, Phil Coulson gathers Bobbi Morse, Melinda May, Robert Gonzales, and Gonzales' board aboard the Iliad, where Coulson finally revealed the true nature of Theta Protocol. Afterwards, Coulson proposed that the two factions unite as one S.H.I.E.L.D. Impressed by the fact that Coulson's secret plans had saved thousands of people, Gonzales accepted.[2]
Aftermath[]
- "I'm done fighting with people over who gets to fight the real fight. It's a colossal waste of time and resources. I went against Talbot. I went against another faction of S.H.I.E.L.D."
- ―Phil Coulson to Daisy Johnson[src]
Phil Coulson was restored to his rightful position as director, with all of S.H.I.E.L.D. discovering that Nick Fury was still alive. Gonzales' council retained an important position, getting a similar role to Fury's World Security Council, although unlike Fury's council they only had a role of giving advice. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s strength increased, now having various Quinjets, a Helicarrier, and an aircraft carrier.[2]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.14: Love in the Time of HYDRA
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.20: Scars
- ↑ Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.01: Shadows
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.15: One Door Closes
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.22: Beginning of the End
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.05: A Hen in the Wolf House
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.07: The Writing on the Wall
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.08: The Things We Bury
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.10: What They Become
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.16: Afterlife
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.17: Melinda
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.18: The Frenemy of My Enemy
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.19: The Dirty Half Dozen
- ↑ Avengers: Age of Ultron