- "Natasha Romanoff is in violation of the Sokovia Accords. She assaulted the king of Wakanda. Make an example out of her."
- ―Thaddeus Ross to the United States Marshals Service[src]
The Chase of Natasha Romanoff was a search for Natasha Romanoff following the Battle at Leipzig-Halle Airport, where Romanoff attacked T'Challa and aided Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes from eluding capture.
Background[]
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- "T'Challa told Ross what you did, so... they're coming for you."
- ―Tony Stark to Natasha Romanoff[src]
In the wake of the catastrophe in Lagos, the United Nations issued the Sokovia Accords to regulate the actions of the Avengers and other enhanced individuals. Natasha Romanoff, Tony Stark, Vision and James Rhodes made a decision to sign the Accords, while Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, Clint Barton, and Wanda Maximoff were against the governmental regulation. During the ratification of the Sokovia Accords, the Vienna International Centre was attacked and T'Chaka, the King of Wakanda, was killed, with the Winter Soldier being named a prime suspect. Barnes was eventually arrested by the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre, while Rogers and Wilson were apprehended when they confronted GSG 9 who were sent after Barnes.
Black Widow attacks Black Panther
Rogers and Wilson refused to sign the Accords once again and went after Helmut Zemo, assuming he was seeking to restart the Winter Soldier Program, enlisting Barton, Maximoff, and Ant-Man for help. Thaddeus Ross issued an arrest warrant for them for not complying with the Accords, so Stark, Romanoff, Rhodes, Vision, Black Panther, and Spider-Man confronted them at the Leipzig-Halle Airport. During the Battle at Leipzig-Halle Airport, Rogers and Barnes attempted to escape from Stark's forces, however, they were confronted by Romanoff. Romanoff made the decision to take their side and stopped Black Panther from following them, giving Rogers and Barnes a chance to escape. T'Challa then informed Ross that Romanoff had attacked him and had violated the Accords in aiding and abetting Rogers and Barnes.[3]
Chase[]
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Thaddeus Ross coming after Natasha Romanoff
- "Don't do this."
"Do what?"
"Come after me. I mean, you're embarrassing yourself. It looks desperate." - ―Natasha Romanoff and Thaddeus Ross[src]
Thaddeus Ross issued an arrest warrant on Natasha Romanoff and deployed the United States Marshals Service to find and arrest Romanoff for the violation of the Sokovia Accords she signed. Escaping from the authorities, Romanoff left her equipment and a tracker used by the government to monitor her at the train station in Albany to cover her movements. While Ross and a tactical unit arrived at Albany to arrest Romanoff, she took the ferry to escape to Norway and hide from the authorities.[1]
Aftermath[]
- "I'll activate my tracker and Ross will come running."
"You are aware that you are still a global fugitive, yes?" - ―Natasha Romanoff and Melina Vostokoff[src]
Now an international fugutive, Natasha Romanoff contacted Rick Mason who helped her with setting a hideout at Norway. Thaddeus Ross managed to track down Mason in an attempt to find Romanoff, however, none of his agents succeeded in locating her.[4] In Norway, Romanoff was attacked by Taskmaster, who attempted to steal the Red Dust she received. Romanoff then traveled to Budapest and reunited with her adoptive sister Yelena Belova, who informed her that the Red Room was still operational and that Dreykov was still alive. In order to bring down the Red Room once and for all, Romanoff and Belova joined forces with Alexei Shostakov and Melina Vostokoff to find Dreykov and put an end to his operation.
Natasha Romanoff is arrested by Thaddeus Ross
Devising a plan to find Dreykov, Romanoff infiltrated the Red Room Academy, intending to activate her tracker in order to summon Ross so that the authorities could take down the Red Room. Romanoff carried out her plan and confronted Dreykov while Belova, Vostokoff and Shostakov worked on dismantling the academy. Romanoff and Belova successfully managed to liberate the Black Widows as well as Taskmaster while Belova personally killed Dreykov and his subordinates. With the Red Room program terminated, Romanoff stayed behind to distract Ross and give her family and the Black Widows time to escape. Romanoff then managed to escape from Ross' custody and reunited with Steve Rogers to help him liberate their fellow Avengers from the Raft.[1]