- "With the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D., Fury felt we needed a fail-safe. Something completely off the books, a 'break in case of emergency' type of thing."
- ―Phil Coulson to Robert Gonzales[src]
Theta Protocol was a S.H.I.E.L.D. protocol led by Director Phil Coulson. It was an operation located at the Theta Protocol Facility to secretly repair Helicarrier No. 64 so that in case of a grave world emergency, it could be recommissioned.
History
Creation
- "What are we calling this anyway?"
"The Theta Protocol, sir."
"Theta Protocol. I'm going to need you to write that down for me."
"I gotta tell you, it's not easy keeping something as big as a Helicarrier a secret." - ―Phil Coulson and Sam Koenig[src]
Repairing Helicarrier No. 64
Theta Protocol was an idea created after the collapse of S.H.I.E.L.D. by Nick Fury and Director Phil Coulson to secretly repair Helicarrier No. 64 so that it could be used in case of a world-threatening emergency. The Helicarrier was brought to the Theta Protocol Facility, run by Sam Koenig, where repair work began.
Coulson informed Melinda May that he was heading to London to recruit more former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents into their organisation, but in reality he met with Sam Koenig in the United States to discuss Theta Protocol. Koenig handed Coulson his new lanyard before overseeing the progress of Helicarrier No. 64's repair work.[1]
Keeping Secrets
As Coulson's team prepared for the trip to the Kree City, Coulson told Sam Koenig to report back to the Playground, stating that if things went south he would need Sam and his brother to enact the Theta Protocol, much to Koenig's dismay.[2]
According to Agents May and Simmons, Coulson did not tell them about the Protocol. The separate faction of S.H.I.E.L.D. led by Robert Gonzales saw this as prime example of Coulson keeping dangerous secrets, which they saw as the reason for S.H.I.E.L.D.'s original collapse.[3]
Ultron Crisis
Pre-Crisis
After being contacted by Maria Hill and debriefing her on the whereabouts of the Scepter, Coulson was asked if he was ready to activate Theta Protocol. He affirmed so, claiming it was time to bring in the Avengers.[4]
Battle of Sokovia
- "This is S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
"This is what S.H.I.E.L.D.'s supposed to be." - ―Quicksilver and Captain America[src]
Helicarrier No. 64 in Sokovia
Theta Protocol was activated by Phil Coulson and Nick Fury, recommissioning Helicarrier No. 64 to support the Avengers in the battle against Ultron in Sokovia. The Helicarrier was tasked with evacuating the civillains remaining on the flying city landmass, using incorporated evacuation pods to do so. The Helicarrier also aided War Machine in preventing rogue Ultron Sentries from escaping the battle, shooting them down.[5]
Appearances
In chronological order:
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Season Two
- Scars (flashback)
- What They Become (mentioned)
- Melinda (mentioned)
- The Dirty Half Dozen (mentioned)
- Season Two
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (result)