Hawk is not Thor.
He's not an alien; he's a native of Earth.
Ever since Thor surfaced and the Chitauri attacked Earth, the Five Good People have realized one thing.
Beyond Earth, it's truly a lawless land. Once Earthlings venture into the cosmos, they're more likely to face countless alien clans armed with diplomatic gunfire than to enjoy the cosmos's flowers and wine.
Though Earth is located in a desolate corner of the cosmos.
But...
The Five Good People don't know. Moreover, diplomatic interactions within Earth harbor the greatest malice, so why wouldn't those beyond Earth?
That's why Hawk becomes particularly crucial at this moment.
The most important point.
Hawk is at odds with the Federation military.
Quantico is still under reconstruction, but only about one-tenth has been rebuilt. The remaining nine-tenths of ruins are still lying around.
The grass on General Ross's family's graves has been replaced several times.
This is just great.
For the Federation, it's bad, but for the other four councilors of the Security Council, it's indeed a great thing.
That's the point.
Hate when others have, hate when oneself does not.
If Hawk had a great relationship with the Federation, the other four councilors would surely agree with Nick Fury's plan to take control measures against Hawk.
Just like when the Security Council tacitly agreed to Nick Fury's control measures against the Hulk back then.
After all, the Hulk's girlfriend is Betty Ross, and Betty Ross's father, Thaddeus Ross, is one of the Federation military's giants.
The Security Council is not the Federation's Security Council but the Five Good People's Security Council.
Rather than S.H.I.E.L.D thinking it necessary to manage the Hulk, it's better to say the Security Council thinks so.
But Hawk is different.
Hawk has no intersection with other Good People's nations, and he's at odds with the Federation military. Plus, the contact between Maria Hill and Hawk has been friendly.
This is why when Nick Fury resumed and again proposed Hawk needs control, he was subsequently frozen out of command authority by the Security Council.
So...
"Congratulations, Commander Hill—no, I should say Director Hill now."
After the Security Council's latest resolution, the immediate result wasn't how to handle the aftermath of this Hydra crisis. The latest matter was promoting Maria Hill to Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., overseeing all agency affairs.
Because to handle subsequent Hydra issues, a suitable and widely recognized person must step up to take control.
During the Hydra chaos, Maria Hill showed extraordinary calm and abided strictly by the rules, thus earning the Security Council's appreciation.
After all!
Nick Fury is already dead.
Fake death is still death.
In some respects, it was a convenience for Nick Fury.
Because solely as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., and being propped up by Hydra leader Alexander Pierce, and also Hydra thriving again during his tenure, these three points.
Moreover, because of Hawk's involvement, Nick Fury couldn't successfully play the king's return act.
Let's put it this way: if Nick Fury had really died, it'd be okay, but if he had been declared dead earlier and is now alive and well, then...
Haha.
His best outcome would be rotting in prison.
After all, when Hydra thrived, you died, and when Hydra failed, you lived again. It's hard not to raise suspicions.
In short—
The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. is dead, and the new one is freshly appointed Maria Hill.
"Do you have a suitable candidate for commander, Director Hill?"
"Victoria Hand, Commander of the New York S.H.I.E.L.D Combat Command Center."
"...Okay."
In the video conference, the four Security Council councilors and the newly appointed Federation councilor switched off their microphones, exchanged nods briefly, and then the Eastern Country councilor on duty this month turned their microphone back on: "Mr. Phoenix is right in New York City. If Commander Hand comes to headquarters, then over in New York City..."
Maria Hill placed her hands behind her and gazed at the large screen showing the five representatives of the Five Good People councilors.
"In S.H.I.E.L.D., the person closest to Hawk isn't me or Commander Hand, but Sharon Carter. Because of Sharon Carter, Hawk met his fate."
"Well, Sharon Carter can replace Commander Victoria Hand..."
"No."
"Uh..."
"I plan to cancel the New York S.H.I.E.L.D Command Center—in fact, all S.H.I.E.L.D branches outside headquarters."
Maria Hill revealed her first action after taking office without any expression.
It's not about calming people or even expanding the scale.
It's bold and direct, a downsizing.
In a word.
Hydra infesting S.H.I.E.L.D., growing stronger, and nearly succeeding in their second struggle is an undeniable fact.
As the infested target, although for various reasons, the Security Council didn't take direct action against S.H.I.E.L.D, resentment must have formed.
Therefore...
Instead of waiting passively for the Security Council's sword, why not be proactive?
"I've always thought S.H.I.E.L.D is too large-scale, and if it were only large, it'd be okay, but S.H.I.E.L.D is too bloated."
"S.H.I.E.L.D was initially founded to be a firewall between the Extraordinary World and the ordinary world."
"What it needs is not to be massive, but to be responsive, flexible, and follow the instructions of the Security Council."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. needs elite forces."
"And although Hawk helped us eliminate Hydra, Hydra has been parasitizing us for so many years, no one knows if there's still Hydra within us."
"Now is a good opportunity."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. should take advantage of this reform to thoroughly clean our internal structure."
"As for the two Insight Mother Ships, I plan to..."
The five council members on the big screen, including the newly appointed Security Councilor, listened intently as Maria Hill elaborated on her plans after taking office, and their expressions gradually became serious, and even began to appreciate it.
The Eastern Country Councilor and the Moscow Councilor were the most prominent among them.
After all, these two had always been only financially involved without actual participation, and from the beginning, they had been considering whether to take this opportunity to simply withdraw entirely.
But for various reasons, this suggestion had not been approved by the highest think tank at home.
And now...
Maria Hill's approach, which seemed like self-inflicted harm, matched their thoughts very well.
As for the London Councilor and the Paris Councilor also welcomed it.
After all, even good people are classified in levels, S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't enter the Eastern Country and Moscow, while the Federation is its headquarters, but in their countries, the S.H.I.E.L.D. Branch is quite powerful.
The remaining newly appointed Federation Councilor.
He wanted to refuse, after all, everyone knows the fundamental idea when the Federation proposes a global institution claiming it's for maintaining world peace, it's more about playing the game of "those who obey will prosper, those who oppose will perish."
But he couldn't refuse now.
It's well known.
Those who have just made a big mistake, don't like to, and don't dare to speak much.
The Federation is the same.
So...
The first reform plan proposed by Maria Hill after becoming Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. received unanimous approval from the Security Council.
"About Hawk..."
"Having Sharon in New York City is enough, and my attitude remains the same as before. Facts have also proven, Hawk is a neutral and orderly faction, he may not help us do anything, but he also won't help the villains who might endanger Earth in the future."
"Alright."
The rotating Eastern Country Councilor recalled the scene of meeting Hawk in the S.H.I.E.L.D. Conference Room, laughed, and said: "You're the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. now, you have the final say, Director Hill, quell this unrest as soon as possible."
Maria Hill nodded, her expression serious.
"Understood."
"That's it, meeting adjourned!"
The Eastern Country Councilor glanced at the other four councilors, then tapped the table, and with a single word, ended the video remote meeting.
The big screen instantly dimmed.
Maria Hill also withdrew her gaze, then turned around, looking at Commander Victoria Hand who stood not far away, always just outside the screen.
Commander Victoria Hand walked over.
"Director."
"Commander!"
After exchanging their new titles, Hill then smiled and asked: "How long does New York S.H.I.E.L.D need?"
Commander Hand thought for a moment.
"A month."
"Alright."
"I plan to complete the S.H.I.E.L.D. reform by the end of this year."
"By the end of this year..."
Victoria Hand frowned, looking at Maria Hill: "Isn't that too fast?"
Hill shook her head.
"Decisive action cuts through complexities, it's the most chaotic time for S.H.I.E.L.D. now, but it's also the easiest time to push for reform, we must change, I even intend to relocate S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters."
"Hiss, you're actually planning to move the headquarters to..."
"Yes."
Hill nodded but didn't continue on the topic, instead, she shifted the conversation: "I've heard Hawk got injured?"
Hand met Hill's gaze, chuckled: "Yes, his left arm is fractured, he's been recuperating at home on Palm Street these days."
Hill was quite curious.
"What happened?"
"It's still the Demon King's Shackles, effortlessly achieving what perhaps no one else can."
Commander Hand explained, then relayed the circumstances of Hawk's current left arm fracture, wearing a cast and hanging in a sling to Hill.
After hearing it, Hill also found it somewhat amusing and shook her head, then looked at Commander Hand.
"That's pretty good, at least he's injured and recuperating, we can focus on handling our affairs."
"Indeed."
Commander Hand nodded in agreement, then looked at Hill: "Should we inform Sharon, have her communicate with Gwen, and see if she can allow Hawk to recuperate a bit longer?"
Hill smiled slightly, without answering.
She directly shifted the topic to the next target individual.
"Someone should be coming by later, they're here to find Nick Fury."
"..."