Robert Gonzales

"We founded S.H.I.E.L.D., the real S.H.I.E.L.D., on the belief that leadership should operate with transparency and not from the shadows." "Nick Fury simply kept too many secrets."

- Robert Gonzales and Anne Weaver

Robert Gonzales was a high ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Over the years he became the commanding officer of the aircraft carrier Iliad, a position he held when the terrorist organization HYDRA revealed its existence to the world. Against all odds Gonzales and a group of loyal agents managed to save their ship from falling into HYDRA's hands. After the HYDRA Uprising he assembled what was left of S.H.I.E.L.D. and reorganized it, eventually becoming one of its leaders, until another faction led by Phil Coulson emerged. Distrustful of Coulson, he ordered the attack on Coulson's base, igniting the open conflict between the two S.H.I.E.L.D. factions.

However, after working with Coulson to attack and destroy the Arctic HYDRA Research Facility, he agreed with Coulson to merge the two factions, successfully reunifying S.H.I.E.L.D.. He was later killed by Jiaying with a synthetic Terrigen Crystal, after attempting to negotiate with her to allow S.H.I.E.L.D. to register all Inhumans at Afterlife on the Index.

Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
"I actually know quite a bit about you Robert. You started at S.H.I.E.L.D. young, like me, dropped out for a while when your wife passed but then came back with a vengeance. Rose to command the Iliad three years later and, by all accounts, became one of the best commanders S.H.I.E.L.D. ever had."

- Phil Coulson to Robert Gonzales

Robert Gonzales joined S.H.I.E.L.D. when he was young working under the leadership of Nick Fury. When his wife died, Gonzales briefly left active duty, but eventually returned. Three years later, he became the Commander of the Iliad, a S.H.I.E.L.D. aircraft carrier. He eventually became one of the best commanders S.H.I.E.L.D. ever had. Gonzales and Phil Coulson encountered each other a couple of times at the Triskelion; the two impressed each other with their dedication to the work of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Battle on the Iliad
"Director Fury left orders, and we're gonna follow them. HYDRA will not get this ship and its cargo." "They won't." "We'll kill every last one of them."

- Robert Gonzales, Alphonso Mackenzie, and Isabelle Hartley

At the beginning of the HYDRA Uprising, Gonzales was in command of the Iliad, which was carrying dangerous cargo. A group of HYDRA agents attempted to assassinate him, but he killed them all, though he was heavily injured by a hit to the knee with an ax. He was found by a team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents led by Bobbi Morse. After the team cared for his damaged leg, Morse revealed that she had been given a secret mission by Nick Fury to detonate all the weapons on the ship, ensuring HYDRA could never get their hands on the ship's cargo, despite the fact that she would undoubtedly be killed herself. Gonzalesrefused to allow the team to waste time saving him, so he gave her new orders to allow him to join her so she could have as much help as possible to destroy the ship. When they reached the command center, Alphonso Mackenzie talked them into taking the ship back from HYDRA. Gonzales argued strongly against it, saying he was still the commander of the ship. However it was agreed that with S.H.I.E.L.D. now destroyed, it was time to take control and not allow innocent agents to drown. They fought back against the HYDRA agents and completed their new mission successfully.

Rebuilding S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Secrets are what brought S.H.I.E.L.D. down the first time, and we won't let that happen again."

- Robert Gonzales

After HYDRA was pushed back, Gonzales formed a new S.H.I.E.L.D. whose values opposed Nick Fury's about secrets and lies; he recruited Bobbi Morse, Anne Weaver and Alphonso Mackenzie, among others, to his cause. When a new faction of S.H.I.E.L.D. was discovered, led by Phil Coulson, Gonzales did not trust Coulson's leadership, as he felt Coulson's ideas of running S.H.I.E.L.D. were too similar to Fury's. For the purpose of gathering intel, he dispatched Isabelle Hartley, Morse and Mackenzie to join Coulson's S.H.I.E.L.D.

Meeting Lance Hunter
"You must be Lance Hunter." "And you must be crazy." "I assure you, none of us wanted this."

- Robert Gonzales and Lance Hunter

Alphonso Mackenzie reported that Lance Hunter, a mercenary who had joined Coulson's team, had grown suspicious of Mackenzie and Morse, so he had been captured and brought to meet Gonzales. As Hunter was a good friend of Mackenzie, the ex-husband of Bobbi Morse, and had previously gone to great lengths in a failed attempt to save Isabelle Hartley's life, Gonzales greeted him kindly, although Hunter refused to shake his hand. They were joined by Agents Anne Weaver, Oliver and Tomas Calderon to attempt to recruit Hunter. Gonzales sat down alongside the other members of his council and explained to Hunter the origins and mentality of his new branch of S.H.I.E.L.D.; he debated with him about the strength of Phil Coulson's leadership. Gonzales and Anne Weaver reminded Hunter of how Coulson had seemingly gone insane due to the alien DNA now in his blood and how he was responsible for the death of their mutual friend Isabelle Hartley due to his relentless search for the Obelisk, something which also 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, however he insisted that Coulson was still a good man who was fighting for the right cause. They were later joined by Bobbi Morse who continued to side with Gonzales. Later, Gonzales learned that Hunter had escaped from the base, with little resistance from Bobbi Morse. He called an emergency meeting with his council; they discussed how much time they would have to apprehend Hunter, who was undoubtedly heading back to inform Phil Coulson of their plans. Gonzales sent Morse and Mackenzie back to the Playground to continue their mission, retrieve Fury's Toolbox and gain Gonzales and his team entry into the base so Gonzales could finally confront Coulson.

Conversation with Phil Coulson
"I wish you were the man you were even two years ago. But by all accounts, you're not." "You didn't know me then, and you don't know me now." "I know that Fury brought you back from the dead." "Right. I didn't ask for that."

- Robert Gonzales and Phil Coulson

Gonzales and his agents attacked the Playground, as Agent Bobbi Morse informed them that it was time to strike the base thanks to a hidden computer in the Playground used to contact the Iliad. Gonzales stormed through a hole blown in the side of the base and used his soldiers to capture Coulson's team. Once inside Gonzales found Alphonso Mackenzie, who had been injured in the explosion while trying to save Leo Fitz. Gonzales ensured Mackenzie got immediate medical attention. Once the base was captured and all of Coulson's team were apprehended with the exception of Melinda May, Gonzales called for Coulson to be brought to him. In Coulson's office Gonzales greeted Coulson and they exchanged pleasantries for a short period. Coulson then revealed that he knew exactly who Gonzales was and his history with working for S.H.I.E.L.D., even revealing that he had intended for Gonzales to join his team. Gonzales explained his own knowledge of Coulson, expressing his concerns over Coulson's recovery with the help of alien blood and Skye's new powers. Gonzales revealed that he needed Coulson to show him how to open the Toolbox. Coulson refused to help and to try and change his mind, Gonzales expressed his hatred for the way Nick Fury ran S.H.I.E.L.D., reminding Coulson that Project Insight was Fury's idea, and how he had made Coulson his heir. Seeing Coulson would not cooperate, Gonzales handed the Toolbox over to a guard and ordered him to deliver it to Anne Weaver and Jemma Simmons. Before Gonzales could react, Melinda May stormed into the office and took over Gonzales' soldiers before shooting him with an I.C.E.R.. When he awoke he learned that May had helped Coulson escape before being captured herself.

Accessing the Toolbox
"Leo Fitz, Jemma Simmons, the ones that got away. I had my eye on you two when you were at the academy. I wanted to recruit you, but Coulson beat me to it. I heard he actually bribed Weaver with cupcakes."

- Robert Gonzales to Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons

When Bobbi Morse returned from her mission to apprehend Skye, Gonzales questioned her about the events which had resulted in Tomas Calderon in critical condition after Skye lost control of her powers, moments before being rescued by a mysterious man. Although Morse defended her actions, Gonzales argued that her powers had simply become too dangerous, proving his theories about dangers involved with Coulson's obsession with gathering people with powers, he began to suspect that Phil Coulson was making a team of powered people. Gonzales personally approached Leo Fitz to ask him to open the Toolbox. Gonzales, accompanied by Bobbi Morse, offered Fitz and Jemma Simmons an introductory handshake as he relayed to them how he desired them to be his field agents, but Coulson recruited them first. Simmons told him that under different circumstances, they would be flattered; she wanted to know the repercussions if he refused. Morse explained that "Exit Protocols" were still in effect; if they did not want to cooperate, they could leave. Gonzales and Morse frowned as Fitz chose non-compliance. Though Morse admired FitzSimmons' loyalty, Gonzales believed that their loyalty to Coulson over S.H.I.E.L.D. made them dangerous.

Recruiting Melinda May
"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. 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."

- Robert Gonzales to Melinda May

With Melinda May now captured and locked up in Vault D, Gonzales questioned her about Phil Coulson's history of leadership. Gonzales asked her if the reports were true that Nick Fury had ordered her to spy on Coulson due to him being injected with GH.325, and if it were true that Coulson had ordered her to kill him if he lost control of his mind. Gonzales also asked her if she was loyal to S.H.I.E.L.D. or to Coulson, she instead told him they were one and the same. Gonzales reminded her of the dangers of powered people, citing Skye's recent attack and May's experiences in Bahrain. He tried to convince her to help them find Coulson before some deadly shootout occurred; May assured Gonzales that when he was ready, Coulson would find him. The next day, Gonzales sent a team of agents back to the Retreat upon receiving a signal from there. Once they confirmed that Coulson and Lance Hunter were inside the cabin, Gonzales informed Bobbi Morse, who suspected that Coulson had lured them there. Gonzales later learned that Coulson had allied himself with Hunter and Deathlok and had commandeered one of their Quinjets. This served to validate Gonzales' theory that Coulson was recruiting powered people and was concerned that once they found Skye, they would be headed for an inevitable explosive confrontation against them. With the vote of his council telling him to try another approach with May, Gonzales flew her to the Iliad and took her to the boardroom. Once there, Gonzales drew a gun and explained it was his father's, who had used it during World War II. He gave it to her, telling her that she could kill him if she believed he was a traitor. Gonzales explained that he was offering her a place on his board, claiming that he would find Coulson and when he did, Coulson would need defence. May handed him back his gun, believing it to be empty; Gonzales then proved that it was in fact fully loaded the entire time.

Working with Coulson
"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?"

- Phil Coulson and Robert Gonzales

After Phil Coulson chose to surrender to Bobbi Morse and Alphonso Mackenzie, he was taken to the Bus to have a meeting with Gonzales. When Gonzales met with Coulson, he immediatley wished to know why Coulson had decided to surrender, he revealed that Wolfgang von Strucker and List had a secret base where they were experimenting on enhanced people, and they had kidnapped Mike Peterson and another enhanced human. Gonzales asked why he should trust him and Coulson said it was because they both had secrets, saying he knew that Gonzales had a secret hidden in his cargo hold, which he had learned of from the Toolbox, Coulson promised to open the Toolbox in exchange for his assistance. Coulson and Gonzales began debating how to attack the base, Gonzales suggested that they simply destroy the base as he was unwilling to risk his own team, Coulson assured him that he was planning on using his own team, which would include Grant Ward. Which Gonzales' permission, Ward landed the Quinjet on the Bus and they travelled back to the Playground. After watching the video feed from Deathlok's eyepiece showing him being tortured, Ward revealed that he had Sunil Bakshi working undercover for them. Coulson explained his plan was to use a small team to attack the base, Gonzales put the matter to a vote, with both Anne Weaver and Oliver voting against the idea, but Gonzales, Ward, Coulson, Bobbi Morse and Melinda May voted to move forward.

Attacking HYDRA
"Those are S.H.I.E.L.D. agents going on that mission, Robert." "I'm aware of that, Agent Morse, but we're fighting a war with an enemy that is without honor, sometimes we make sacrifices for the greater good."

- Bobbi Morse and Robert Gonzales

Gonzales spoke to Bobbi Morse after the vote and ordered her not to go on the mission and to allow Coulson to only use his own people. Gonzales and his people watched the mission unfold from the Playground as Coulson allowed the Bus to be destroyed as a distraction to get themselves inside. Once inside, Coulson's team was able to rescue Mike Peterson and Lincoln Campbell, although Sunil Bakshi was killed and List escaped. Once Coulson's team was clear, Gonzales gave the order to destroy the base. With the mission a success, Gonzales spoke to Bobbi Morse about the dangers that Skye posed to them, as he believed her powers could not be controlled. Gonzales revealed that he had allowed the mission to go ahead as he wished to have enhanced people on the base to be studied. Phil Coulson appeared and Gonzales told him to honor their agreement to open the Toolbox, which Coulson gladly did, making a brief reference to the fact that Nick Fury was in fact still alive and might ask for it back. Coulson received a call from Maria Hill and left, leaving Gonzales in a state of shock.

The Inhuman Threat
"It's hard to argue with a man who prevented Ultron from killing thousands of people. But there are plenty more battles to be won, and one closer to home that I fear the Helicarrier won't solve."

- Robert Gonzales to Phil Coulson

After the Avengers successfully defeated the artificial intelligence robot Ultron, and saved thousands of lives during the Battle of Sokovia with the help of a Helicarrier provided to Nick Fury by Phil Coulson, Gonzales called for a meeting with Coulson on the Iliad to discuss the recent events. While they watched the battle on the Television, Coulson told them the true story behind Theta Protocol. Coulson called for them to join forces as one S.H.I.E.L.D. with Coulson as director and Gonzales' colleagues to work as his advisors; Gonzales agreed to the arrangement. Shortly after their talk, the alarms on the ship were set off due to Lance Hunter spotting that the enhanced teleporter and Raina had broken onto the ship. Gonzales and Coulson set about tracking them and discovered they were attempting to locate the Monolith that was hidden in the Iliad's cargo hold. Although the pair were unsuccessful and escaped the ship before stealing the stone, Gonzales was furious at the infiltration. At a debrief meeting with Coulson and the other heads of S.H.I.E.L.D., Gonzales told what he knew about the stone; Coulson explained that the Toolbox only stated that HYDRA was interested in it and they set about discussing the new party interested in its power. Anne Weaver and Oliver were able to use the HYDRA technology used for tracking the teleporter, and with it was able to get a read on his current location. When Bobbi Morse arrived to confirm that the Monolith was safe, Gonzales informed her of this new development. Back at the Playground, Gonzales and the rest of S.H.I.E.L.D. began discussing their next move, Gonzales wishing to move in for an attack of the Inhumans' base. While Oliver and Weaver suggested the ways the Inhumans could attack them, Coulson insisted that they should not start a war and instead suggested a sit down with the Inhumans' leader Jiaying. Later, when they were discussing the mission plan, Gonzales insisted that Coulson should not be the one to go, as he had too close a connection to the people involved. When Coulson argued, Gonzales used Tony Stark as an example of what happens when one man goes unquestioned. The matter was put to a vote and it was decided that Gonzales should be the one to go.

Meeting in Afterlife
"S.H.I.E.L.D. has a very long and sometimes violent history with enhanced people. But the truth is, sometimes good people get powers, and sometimes bad. We're there to protect the public when it's the latter."

- Robert Gonzales to Jiaying

As the teams approached the Inhumans' home of Afterlife, Gonzales was given an insurance policy from Anne Weaver of a necklace that was found in the wreakage of Jiaying's home years before. As they got closer they saw the base had more residents than they had expected, Gonzales insisted they still move foward with the mission regardless, putting his faith in Skye. When they touched down on the ground they were greeted by the teleporter and Gonzales was taken to Jiaying's office. Once Gonzales arrived in the office, Skye demanded to know why Coulson had not come and Gonzales said he had come with the same intentions, he then asked why Calvin Zabo was present and Jiaying explained that as Skye and Lincoln Campbell had been returned to them, they were willing to return Zabo to S.H.I.E.L.D. and Skye was sent to drop him off while Gonzales and Jiaying began their meeting. As they sat down Gonzales noted that he had heard the stories of what HYDRA and Daniel Whitehall had done to Jiaying and compared his own injuries to his leg to hers. As a gesture of good faith, Gonzales gave Jiaying the necklace that had been recovered from Whitehall's office after Phil Coulson had killed him. Gonzales told Jiaying about S.H.I.E.L.D.'s past history with enhanced people, and explained they were there to protect innocent people when bad people gained powers. He told her he wished to meet her people and make a record of their powers so they could be there if they ever tried to do people harm. Jiaying offered Gonzales a gift, calling it a piece of their history. She began explaining that over her many years of life she had seen countless people put into categories to be tracked and controlled because of their fear. Jiaying explained that her own fear of having her Diviners destroyed led to her building new Terrigen Crystals.

Death
"You'll get everyone killed! You're crazy!"

- Robert Gonzales' final words

Jiaying told Gonzales that although they were successful in replicating Terrigen Crystals, the Crystals were now laced with the Diviner metal making them deadly to Humans. She then smashed the crystal on the table causing a mist to wash over Gonzales and his body to petrify. Gonzales pulled out his gun as Jiaying told him that his scars were nothing like hers and she would never allow any of her people to experience what she had. Gonzales then turned to stone and died before Jiaying ripped his gun from him, causing his hand to shatter.

Personality
According to Phil Coulson, Gonzales was someone who dedicated his life to S.H.I.E.L.D. This was proven by his actions to make sure the organization stands tall no matter the action. Combined with his tactical skills, this makes him a great asset to S.H.I.E.L.D.

However, Gonzales was quite hypocritical and short-sighted; he blames Nick Fury and Project Insight entirely for the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D., somewhat forgetting that HYDRA's infiltration was what caused it in the first place (though he was not wrong in that Fury's leadership gave HYDRA the opportunity to strike). He also points out how S.H.I.E.L.D. should not stand divided, despite his own refusal to cooperate with Coulson. Noticeably, Gonzales constantly refers to Skye as an "it" due to her new-found status as an Inhuman. Despite believing himself to be objective about Skye, he blamed her for injuring several agents, even though she was only defending herself from Calderon. He also calls Coulson untrustworthy for acting like a fugitive, when he himself made Coulson a fugitive in the first place. Also, while he stated that he believed in the transparency of S.H.I.E.L.D., Gonzales himself had secrets and had practiced deception, as evidenced by his keeping the existence of the cargo on his ship a secret as well as putting moles in the Playground to spy on Coulson and gather intelligence. Even after agreeing to work with Coulson to attack HYDRA, he pulled Bobbi Morse from the mission because he didn't want to risk any of his people, viewing Coulson and his team as an acceptable sacrifice, describing it as "for the greater good".

On the other hand, Gonzales' actions could be somewhat excused by his experiences since the HYDRA Uprising. He was suspicious toward everyone outside of his S.H.I.E.L.D. faction because he believed he could only trust the people who fought against HYDRA by his side. Since HYDRA had deeply infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D., the World Security Council, and the United Stated Government, Gonzales' behavior is understandable. He was overcautious because HYDRA's spies are everywhere, he was distrustful of enhanced people because one of them was used by HYDRA against S.H.I.E.L.D. at the Battle at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy, and he believed that Coulson's judgement was clouded by the serum made from the alien blood that brought Coulson back from the dead.

Gonzales also had a sense of entitlement; in his insistence that his S.H.I.E.L.D. faction is the "real" S.H.I.E.L.D., he expected Coulson's S.H.I.E.L.D. to show him courtesies that he himself hypocritically refused to show them. Furthermore, he painted Coulson's loyalists as betraying S.H.I.E.L.D., though he did accept Melinda May as a member of his board. When he tried to recruit Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons for his cause, he openly said:"We are all S.H.I.E.L.D. agents", wanting to put the differences behind.

Despite his flaws, he would still obey orders given to him by a legitimate source, even if he disagrees with them.

Gonzales, however, would learn to work with Coulson, as evidenced by his acceptance of the merging of both S.H.I.E.L.D.s and placing Coulson as Director again. He genuinely believed in achieving peace with the Inhumans after the end of conflicts with HYDRA, and agreed to propose a diplomatic mission between S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Inhumans of Afterlife, though he would die before that peace could be achieved.

Abilities
"He's a brilliant tactician whose dedicated his life to S.H.I.E.L.D."

- Phil Coulson


 * Expert Tactician: Robert Gonzales planned and succeeded in conquering the Playground, causing Phil Coulson to flee. Coulson himself credited Gonzales for his brilliance.

Weapons

 * : Gonzales kept a Colt M1911A1 that belonged to his father, who used it during World War II. He used it to kill many HYDRA operatives and retake the Iliad from HYDRA when they revealed its presence within S.H.I.E.L.D.. Gonzales also told Melinda May that the gun was said to find the right target at the right time, and handed it to her in order to let May shoot him if she honestly believed he was a traitor to S.H.I.E.L.D.
 * : Gonzales wielded a M4A1 while defending his position at the Iliad from HYDRA operatives, when the organization revealed its presence within S.H.I.E.L.D. He used the weapon to aim at whoever approached him, so he aimed at Bobbi Morse believing her to be another HYDRA operative, until she identified her as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent beyond all doubt.
 * : Gonzales carried a Smith & Wesson M&P Two Tone variant as his personal sidearm to Afterlife, despite he was supposed to go unarmed. He tried to use it when the negotiations turned up to be a trap set up by Jiaying, but he was unable to use it as he was being petrified by the mist from a tainted Terrigen Crystal.

Family

 * Father †
 * Wife †

Allies

 * S.H.I.E.L.D. (First Incarnation) (Former Relationships)
 * Nick Fury - Director
 * Maria Hill - Deputy Director
 * Phil Coulson - Colleague
 * Isabelle Hartley † - Colleague
 * Bobbi Morse - Colleague
 * Alphonso Mackenzie - Subordinate
 * Tim Maguire † - Subordinate
 * Susanna - Subordinate
 * Case - Subordinate
 * S.H.I.E.L.D. (Second Incarnation)
 * Phil Coulson - Enemy turned Director
 * Anne Weaver - Subordinate
 * Alphonso Mackenzie - Subordinate
 * Bobbi Morse - Subordinate
 * Tomas Calderon - Subordinate
 * Oliver † - Subordinate
 * Isabelle Hartley † - Subordinate
 * Melinda May - Colleague
 * Lance Hunter - Enemy turned Ally
 * Skye - Enemy turned Ally
 * Leo Fitz - Enemy turned Ally
 * Jemma Simmons - Enemy turned Ally

Enemies

 * HYDRA
 * Grant Ward †
 * Agent 33 †
 * Afterlife Inhumans
 * Jiaying † - Killer
 * Gordon †