- "We're not playing no more. We can't let the same assholes who were put back in power after the Blip win. The GRC care more about the people who came back than the ones who never left. We got a glimpse of how things could be."
- ―Karli Morgenthau to Flag Smashers[src]
The Flag Smashers' Political Ultimatum were a series of terrorist attacks orchestrated by the anti-nationalist group known as the Flag Smashers. The movement was led by Karli Morgenthau, who protested the Global Repatriation Council's mission to return displaced Blip refugees to their home countries, favoring the one-world government that Earth abided by during the Snap. Most of their attacks were focused towards GRC facilities, in an attempt to steal resources from them to provide to the impoverished.
The group's terrorist activities were investigated by Falcon, Winter Soldier, and Captain America, leading to a chase across Europe. After Captain America was stripped of his rank after murdering a Flag Smasher in public, the Flag Smashers redirected their attack to New York City to prevent the ratification of the Patch Act. Morgenthau and the Flag Smashers were all killed during this attempt, ending their threat.
In the aftermath, Falcon, now the new Captain America, persuaded the GRC to shelve the Patch Act and redirect their efforts to directly aid those who were displaced by the Blip.
Background[]
Snap and Blip[]
- "They think that the world was better during the Blip. Trust me, it wasn't."
- ―Joaquín Torres to Sam Wilson[src]
In 2018, the Snap occurred in which half of all life in the universe disappeared with trillions of lifeforms wiped from existence. With half of Earth's population erased, the planet fell into chaos and disarray. This caused an unprecedented period of global unity. The world's nations ceased all hostilities and differences and opened their borders, with countries that kept each other out via barbwires making peace, and jobs and houses for people that were willing to aid each other. The entire planet worked as one society to help each other in a time of severe crisis.
Five years later, the Avengers enacted the Blip which impacted billions, including many of the homeless and poor disappearing. After the Blip, the Global Repatriation Council was formed to aid those displaced in the Snap, and the once united nations returned to hostilities.
This state of crisis lead to an ideology of a world without borders which lead to the formation of a terrorist group called the Flag Smashers. Karli Morgenthau, the leader of the Flag Smashers, and an orphan, began recruiting like-minded individuals for her cause, as she believed the GRC was more concerned about those who returned than those who had survived. The Flag Smashers, who were all connected by a woman named Donya Madani, amassed a large number of followers and supporters whose aim was to restore the state of things as it was in the Snap: a united world without borders or patriotism, helping each other in times of need. Their logo, a human handprint with the Earth as its palm, would reflect this.[4]
History[]
Stealing the Serum[]
Having coalesced as a group, the Flag Smashers' first initiative was to purloin a replica of the renowned Super Soldier Serum. The organization learned of Wilfred Nagel, who had successfully recreated the Serum- thus they infiltrated his laboratory, and stole all twenty vials, using them personally to enhance their strength and ensure the accomplishment of their goals.[5]
Robbery of Gasel Bank[]
- "I thought you were supposed to be monitoring them online."
"I was. I did. But you know sometimes you gotta get your hands dirty, or a broken orbital."
"You're lucky that's all you got. He's strong." - ―Sam Wilson and Joaquín Torres[src]
As part of their mission, the Flag Smashers amassed sympathy, civilian followers and supporters, who they later led to one of their rallies, in fact a cover up for the heist on Gasel Bank they intended to perform. The group handed out masks to the citizens, to create turmoil in their wake and increase the difficulty of police spotting them. In the chaos, Dovich then robbed the bank. Unbeknownst to the Flag Smashers, Lieutenant Joaquín Torres of the United States Air Force had insinuated himself into the midst of the group, and was able to film the bank robbery as evidence for later.[1]
Chase of the Flag Smashers[]
- "He's been connected to this online group called the Flag Smashers. Now, Redwing traced them to a building somewhere outside of Munich. So that's where I'm going."
- ―Sam Wilson to Bucky Barnes[src]
Once Falcon had tracked the Flag Smashers to Munich, he was joined by Joaquín Torres and Winter Soldier to chase down the Flash Smashers and stop them from stealing medicine and vaccines. Captain America and Battlestar later arrived to aid Falcon in the fight. Unfortunately, they were overpowered and the Flag Smashers managed to escape.[1]
Escape from the Power Broker[]
- "They found us."
"How much time do we have?"
"None. It's the Power Broker's men." - ―Matias and Karli Morgenthau[src]
Once Interpol had issued an international arrest on the Flag Smashers, the Power Broker soon found them. The Flag Smashers arrived at the Bratislava airport in an attempt to escape with their stolen medicine. The Power Broker found their location and deployed operatives to kill them. When the operatives arrived, Matias stayed behind to give the others more time to escape, and he eventually died from their gunfire. His sacrifice allowed for the Flag Smashers to successfully escape.[6]
Raid of the GRC Supply Depot[]
This section requires expansion |
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Ambush on Karli Morgenthau[]
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Ambush at the Latvian GRC Resettlement Camp[]
- "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]
This section requires expansion |
To be added
Attack on the GRC[]
This section requires expansion |
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Aftermath[]
This section requires expansion |
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References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: 1.01: New World Order
- ↑ The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: 1.05: Truth
- ↑ Marvel Studios' The Marvel Cinematic Universe: An Official Timeline
- ↑ The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: 1.04: The Whole World Is Watching
- ↑ The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: 1.03: Power Broker
- ↑ The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: 1.02: The Star-Spangled Man