- "And I know a way that we can deal with Sam without getting involved with a direct fight."
"Yeah? How do you propose we do that?"
"We separate them. And then we kill Captain America." - ―Karli Morgenthau and Dovich[src]
The Ambush at the Latvian GRC Resettlement Camp was an ambush orchestrated by the Flag Smashers with the goal to kill Captain America. However, the plan went horrifically wrong when Karli Morgenthau unintentionally killed Battlestar, causing Captain America, who had taken the Super Soldier Serum, to fly into an unhinged rage and brutally murder Nico in public.
Background[]
- "I need to meet with Sam. Alone. I'm sending you the coordinates to pass along."
"Why me?"
"'Cause he needs to know that I'm serious. And I need to know that he won't betray my trust again. Otherwise, instead of meeting Sam here, I can always meet with you, and AJ, and little Cass there, maybe out back, by the dock?" - ―Karli Morgenthau and Sarah Wilson[src]
Receiving an information that the Flag Smashers raided and destroyed the Lithuanian GRC Supply Depot, Sam Wilson, Bucky Barnes, and Helmut Zemo headed to Riga, Latvia to find Karli Morgenthau. Wilson and Barnes failed to get any information at the Latvian GRC Resettlement Camp, but Zemo found out that Morgenthau will be present at Donya Madani's funeral. Zemo refused to disclose the information for the time being to keep his leverage, so Wilson and Barnes had no choice but to trust him.
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John Walker find the Super Soldier Serum vial
Joining forces with John Walker and Lemar Hoskins, Wilson and Barnes headed to the funeral event, and Wilson convinced Walker to hold off the attack and let him speak with Morgenthau first. Although Walker was determined to take her down, he reluctantly agreed and gave Wilson a few minutes. Wilson and Morgenthau discussed the Global Repatriation Council, and although Wilson respected her cause, he could not overlook the innocent lives she took. However, Walker ran out of patience and launched an attack, forcing Morgenthau to escape, and Wilson, Barnes, Walker, and Hoskins failed to get her in time.
Karli Morgenthau passes her message to Sarah Wilson
Before Morgenthau could escape, she was attacked by Zemo, who wounded her and destroyed almost all of her Super Soldier Serum supplies. While Morgenthau managed to leave the building, Walker knocked Zemo out and collected the last remaining serum vial and secretly ingested it, becoming a super soldier. Assuming that Wilson might be an obstacle for her cause, Morgenthau contacted Sarah Wilson to find out if her brother deserves her trust. Morgenthau passed her coordinates where she expects to meet Wilson in private, threatening Sarah and her children, if something goes wrong. As Wilson received a message, Morgenthau ordered the Flag Smashers to prepare for an ambush, so they could kill Walker once and for all.[3]
Ambush[]
Falcon and the Winter Soldier confront Karli Morgenthau
- "I don't wanna hurt you. You're just a tool in the regimes I'm looking to destroy. You're not hiding behind a shield. If I were to kill you, it'd be meaningless. I was gonna ask you to join me. Or do the world a favor and let me go."
- ―Karli Morgenthau to Falcon[src]
Falcon and the Winter Soldier arrived at the Latvian GRC Resettlement Camp where Falcon confronted Karli Morgenthau on the threats to his family. Morgenthau assured him that she would never hurt them and offered Falcon to either join her cause or get out of her way, so she could bring down the regime. Falcon was suddenly contacted by Sharon Carter who informed him that John Walker is coming their way and realized that the Flag Smashers were planning to kill him. Falcon and the Winter Soldier fought Morgenthau off and rushed outside to prevent Walker's death, while Morgenthau chased after them.
Captain America and Falcon fight the Flag Smashers
Walker and Battlestar entered the building, finding it empty but Walker found out that Battlestar was not present near him. As he rushed to find his partner, Battlestar was being dragged away and incapacitated by Nico and Dovich, who then ambushed Walker. Using his newly gained abilities from the Super Soldier Serum, Walker managed to defeat the Flag Smashers, before Falcon reached the building. Falcon was shocked that Walker did it but he informed him that Battlestar was abducted, so they rushed to save him.
Battlestar is killed by Karli Morgenthau
Eventually, Falcon and Walker found themselves being confronted by the Flag Smashers with knives, before the Winter Soldier arrived to aid them. Falcon, Winter Soldier, and Walker fought the Flag Smashers, before Morgenthau reached the building and attempted to attack Walker but she was stopped by Battlestar, who managed to free himself. However, Morgenthau overpowered Battlestar and punched him hard enough to hurl him against a stone column, breaking his spine and killing him instantly. Realizing that his friend died, enraged Walker pursued the Flag Smashers who tried to escape, and managed to get to Nico. Ignoring his pleas that he was not the one who killed Battlestar, Walker brutally murdered Nico on the street, as the shocked crowd filmed the entire execution.[3]
Aftermath[]
Falcon regains the Captain America's Shield
- "Listen, it was the heat of the battle, okay? If you explain what happened, they may consider your record. We don't want anyone else to get hurt. John, you gotta give me the shield, man."
"Oh. So that's what this is. You almost got me."
"You made a mistake." - ―Sam Wilson and John Walker[src]
In anguish over Lemar Hoskins' death, John Walker ran away from the scene and hid at the abandoned warehouse, mourning his best friend. He was confronted by Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes who noticed that the Super Soldier Serum was clouding Walker's judgment and warned him to abandon his violent path of revenge before it was too late. Wilson tried to reason with Walker that the government might consider his record if he explained what happened, but told him that he needed to hand over Captain America's Shield. Walker refused to listen to Wilson, and engaged in a fierce battle with them, and although he managed to damage Wilson's EXO-7 Falcon, they defeated Walker and walked away with the shield.
In the wake of the incident, the Global Repatriation Council took jurisdiction and launched numerous raids on the resettlement camps to find Karli Morgenthau. As the result of the raids, numerous followers of the Flag Smashers were apprehended, but Morgenthau was nowhere to be found.
John Walker faces the United States Congress
Returning to the United States, Walker was subjected to a hearing at the United States Capitol, regarding the incident in Latvia. The United States Congress decided not to court-martial Walker; however, due to the circumstances, Walker was other than honorably discharged and stripped of rank and the title of Captain America. Walker attempted to explain his actions, but Congress denied his pleas due to the major international scandal he had caused by murdering a foreign national in public. Left with no choice but to accept Congress' decision, Walker was approached by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine who represented people interested in exceptional individuals like him, and offered him a new job, which he eventually accepted.[4]