**Underneath the White House**
The real powers controlling America would meet in this secret bunker, in the center sat a polished mahogany table that stretched twenty feet, surrounded by leather chairs that cost more than most Americans earned in a month. High-resolution screens covered one wall, displaying real-time data feeds from across the nation., while a group of people sat around that table, each representing a different facet of America's power structure.
President Richard Ashford sat at the head, a man just entering his early sixties. Fresh off a reelection victory three months ago, riding high on promises of "Sustained Stability and Renewed Strength." Vice President Margaret Booker sat to his right, his chosen successor for their party's next presidential run in four years.
General Raymond Kowalski had four stars on his shoulders and three decades of service etched into the lines around his eyes. Admiral Richardson represented naval operations, General Hartley the Air Force. Both looked uncomfortable.
Director James Halden of the U.S. Hero Public Safety Commission sat stiffly, folder thick with incident reports from Gotham stacked in front of him. Treasury Secretary Donald Pierce occupied the economic corner, surrounded by printouts showing Gotham's financial impact on national markets.
Five senators from the President's party filled out the rest of the table: Senator Patricia Morrison from Massachusetts, Senator Robert Hayes from Pennsylvania, Senator David Hirako from California, Senator Linda Washington from Virginia, and Senator Thomas Bradford from Texas.
And then there was Cathleen Bate.
Stars and Stripes stood rather than sat. America's Number One Hero, the living embodiment of the nation's ideals. Her Quirk "New Order" let her impose rules on reality itself within certain limits. Her costume's red and white stripes seemed to vibrate with barely contained frustration, the blue cape draped across her shoulders like the flag itself.
She'd been the top hero for over a decade, having saved tens of thousands of lives, villain plots stopped, entire states protected from devastation.
The wall screens showed Gotham's skyline. Smoke rose from at least twelve locations visible in the live feed. The largest plume came from the Diamond District, where the Riddler's coordinated arson attack had turned six city blocks into an inferno just forty-eight hours ago. News tickers scrolled beneath: "Riddler Fire Death Toll Reaches 400,"
"Four hundred people burned to death." Cathleen's voice was tight with controlled fury.
"Four hundred. In a single attack. And you're telling me that California's villain coalition, which has killed sixty-three people in total over 10 months, is a higher priority?"
President Ashford folded his hands. His expression was carefully sympathetic, something he had perfected over decades of politics. "Cathleen, we understand your frustration–"
"Do you?" She leaned forward, hands flat on the polished table. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're still deliberately keeping me away from the one city that actually needs me. Gotham has more active S-rank threats than the rest of the country combined. The Riddler just committed one of the worst mass murders in American history and you want me in California dealing with a villain group that local heroes could handle?"
Director Halden of the Hero Commission cleared his throat. "Ms. Bate, the California situation, while smaller in scale, represents a growing threat, If we don't intervene now, before this coalition establishes itself, we could be looking at a major threat on the West Coast. Prevention is—"
"Four hundred people!" Cathleen's voice rose, echoing in the underground chamber. "Burned alive because the Riddler wanted to prove he was smarter than everyone else!
Vice President Booker intervened. "What Director Halden is trying to explain is that your presence represents America's commitment to hero society succeeding nationwide. You're not just a local hero, Cathleen. You're a symbol, The symbol of our hope, strength, justice to the entire country"
"Then let them watch me save Gotham!"
"We need to prioritize where our resources can actually make a difference," Senator Hayes from Pennsylvania said. His state bordered Gotham, and he'd spent millions in campaign ads promising to keep villains out and prevent them leaking out of that failed city. "California represents hope, the golden, an embodiment of the American dream."
"Gotham represents why American citizens deserve protection!" Cathleen slammed her hand on the table. For a moment, those who knew her Quirk tensed, if she activated New Order while angry...
But she maintained control. Barely. "Batman is one man. One. He's been holding that city together alone for years while the rest of the heroes there keep dying or leaving while the rest of us make excuses about why we can't help."
General Kowalski spoke up. "Batman is effective because he operates in the shadows, uses fear as a weapon just like the villains do, but you're different, you're a beacon, someone who inspires hope, and represents everything American heroism is supposed to be, and that's exactly why you can't go to Gotham."
Cathleen's eyes narrowed.
"Your presence would also destabilize the entire ecosystem," Director Halden said, pulling up data on his tablet to the screens around them. "We've run simulations, and every analysis reaches the same conclusion: if America's Number One Hero deploys to Gotham with full authority and resources, the villain's response would be immediate and catastrophic."
"Four hundred people died, and you're saying it could have been worse?"
"Yes." Halden didn't flinch.
Treasury Secretary Pierce leaned forward. "Here's what happens if you go to Gotham, Cathleen, the major villains see America's Number One Hero threatening their power in their city and they respond accordingly."
He pulled up more projections. "Joker escalates immediately, he could target schools, hospitals, evacuation centers. He tries to make a statement that no one is safe, that hero presence makes things worse, that the idea they could be safe is a bad joke."
"Mr. Freeze would likely accelerate whatever timeline he's on for his wife's cure," General Hartley said. "Knowing that America's top hero is hunting him means he has nothing to lose. He'd take bigger risks, make more desperate moves, and his Quirk could freeze entire districts."
"And the smaller villains?" Senator Washington from Virginia pulled up another data set. "The B-rank and C-rank threats who've been operating in Gotham because it's relatively safe for them? They scatter, hundreds of suspected gangs, mafia families, and villain groups operate in Gotham not to mention the likely tens of thousands of small time criminals like thieves, traffickers, murderors suddenly relocating to other cities because Gotham becomes too hot."
"And thats not even bringing up the massive amount of mentally ill indivduals drawn to the city by the Joker" Halden added.
Cathleen shook her head growing more frustrated trying not to believe in what they were saying. "You're giving me simulations. We don't know for sure if that's what would happen, but what I do know is that there were four hundred real bodies in the Riddler fire."
"And if you deploy to Gotham," President Ashford said quietly, "we're giving you projections of thousands more real bodies, because that's what happens when you destabilize an ecosystem this violent and complex. The villains in Gotham aren't like the ones across the country Cathleen, they won't try to fight to escape or just simply surrender when they see you arrive. They will compete for who can destroy the city more and who can hurt you worse."
He stood, "You want to help Gotham? I believe you, you want to save millions of people? I believe that too, but no your presence there, would trigger a response that kills more people than it saves."
"Also we don't even know the real identities for some of these villains like the new masked villain, and we don't even know who the Joker is and we arent even sure what his quirk is, we aren't certain that you and your quirk new order would be effective against them and having our countries symbol of strength defeated would be a catastrophe beyond just you"
"They will also use every underhanded tactic against you. Would you kill an innocent person if they were being used as a weapon or shield?" Senator Washington commented
President Ashford spoke to her, "which brings us to California, that new coalition represents a solvable problem, they are still in the formation stage. You go there, you can break them before they establish the kind of deep roots that Gotham's villains have."
"California has local heroes—"
"Who are outmatched," Director Chen said. "The coalition has three A-rank members and twelve B-rank. Local heroes are struggling. You go there, you can actually win. Completely and decisively.
Have a clean heroic victory that reminds the people of our country's values and strength and why we invest in hero society."
Cathleen was quiet for a long moment, staring at the screens showing Gotham burning. "What about the legal approach? The Falcone crime family, the Maroni organization, and all the minor groups, they're not destructive villains they are just organized crime. Why aren't we prosecuting them? Seizing their assets? Using RICO laws to dismantle their operations?"
Attorney General Carol Jensen, who'd been silent until now, sighed heavily. "Because Gotham's legal system is compromised at every level, judges are bought, juries are intimidated, witnesses disappear. We've tried seventeen major RICO cases against the Falcones in the past five years. Seventeen! Want to know how many succeeded?"
"Zero."
"Then we fix the system—"
"How?" Jensen spread her hands. "Every judge we appoint to Gotham gets bought, threatened, or killed. Every prosecutor who goes after the mob families either joins them, flees the city, or ends up dead. We've lost fourteen federal prosecutors to Gotham over the three decades. Fourteen. At a certain point, we have to accept that the legal approach isn't viable."
Treasury Secretary Pierce pulled up financial data. "And before you suggest seizing assets federally, the Falcones and Maronis have their wealth distributed across hundreds of shell companies, offshore accounts, and legitimate businesses"
The president leaned forward, his voice taking on a harder edge. "Which brings us back to California. That's where you're needed, Cathleen, that's where you can make a real difference."
"And if I refuse?" Cathleen straightened.
"If I go to Gotham anyway?"
The room went very quiet.
President Ashford stood slowly. "Then I will have no choice but to dismiss you from your position as America's Number One Hero and declare you in violation of federal hero deployment regulations. Given your power level and the potential for destabilization, that declaration would necessarily classify you as a national security threat requiring containment."
Cathleen stared at him. "You'd label me a traitor for trying to save American citizens."
"I'd label you a threat for defying direct orders and potentially triggering an escalation that kills hundreds of thousands." Ashford's political mask was gone now. "Your Quirk lets you rewrite reality, Cathleen, that makes you one of the most powerful individuals on the planet, and that power comes with responsibility to follow lawful orders from the government you serve."
He gestured to General Kowalski. "We have contingency protocols in place, we hope, sincerely hope they're never necessary, but if you force our hand by operating against authority, we will respond, is that what you want?"
"Go to California and help the people there!" Ashford's voice rose and his quirk gave him a dominating presence when he got like this.
Senator Hayes spoke up. "Stars, please understand the position we're in, I represent Pennsylvania, and my state borders Gotham and people are terrified that one day villain violence will spread beyond that city.
Cathleen was quiet for a long moment
"Fine. I'll go to California."
President Ashford visibly relaxed. "Thank you, Cathleen. That's—"
But Stars and Stripes was already moving toward the door. Her cape billowed behind her. "I'll be in California. Winning your clean victory, making hero society look good, being the symbol you need instead of the hero Gotham needs."
The door closed behind her. Eighteen of America's most powerful officials sat in uncomfortable silence.
President Ashford waited a full minute after she left. He made sure the corridor outside was clear and that Stars and Stripes was truly gone. Then he exhaled slowly.
"Well. That went about as expected."
This will keep her occupied for what six months, maybe nine, and she'll have handled them completely."
"Then we find another assignment," Ashford said. "Another legitimate crisis. We have an entire country to work with and if not here we send her to somewhere else like Japan or Europe they'll have something."
"She brought Gotham up years ago and we made her gradually forgot the chaos until now we can do it again" Holden added
"Now that she's gone, let's discuss the real plan for Gotham"
He stood, moving to the screens. "Gotham is serving exactly the purpose we need it to serve. Three years ago, we had major villain operations in twenty-three states. Now? Only nine states and the national villain and crime numbers in general are falling drastically."
Treasury Secretary Pierce pulled up economic data. "Villain-related economic damage outside Gotham has decreased seventy-one percent, and for the first time in decades business investment in our country's major cities is up. AMZANAS, POLAR, BLXKRXK, DAGGETT INDUSTRIES, ACE, and WAYNE INDUSTRIES, all the companies that donate heavily to our campaigns , excluding Wayne of course they're comfortable expanding operations precisely because villain threats are contained in Gotham."
"The mob families get to operate in Gotham without federal interference," Senator Hayes added. "Which keeps them stable, and less likely to expand into our states. The Falcones and Maronis have carved out their territories in Gotham and seem content to stay there."
"So we maintain minimal containment," Ashford said. "Batman operates there with our approval, we keep providing just enough federal support to keep the city from completely collapsing, but not enough to actually solve the problem, and we wait."
"Wait for what?" Senator Washington asked as they had only been added to the group recently.
Ashford pulled up a classified document. "Operation Excision, our plan for when Gotham becomes completely unsalvageable." The document detailed the legal framework for expelling a city from the United States, revoking its territorial status, establishing it as a de facto independent entity while maintaining a constant military blockade.
"You want to cut Gotham loose," Senator Washington said quietly. "Make it not our problem anymore, give it to the villians."
"Eventually, yes," Ashford confirmed. "But we need the right circumstances. Right now, international opinion wouldn't support it. Other nations would condemn us for abandoning our own citizens."
"But if the situation deteriorates badly enough?" Vice President Booker said, understanding. "If some villain creates a catastrophe so terrible that the international community looks at Gotham and agrees it's beyond saving?"
"Exactly." Ashford gestured at the screens. "Every week, new villains emerge, and attacks grow larger while our hero presence grows smaller.
"We're waiting for a catastrophe," Attorney General Jensen said carefully.
"The catastrophe is coming whether we want it or not," Ashford corrected. "Gotham's villain ecosystem escalates constantly. Eventually, maybe next year, maybe in five years, someone is going to create a situation so terrible, so undeniably dangerous, that expelling Gotham from American territory becomes not just defendable, but something the people will call for."
He pulled up projections. "When that happens, we activate Operation Excision. We declare Gotham a failed state, revoke its territorial status, establish military blockade to prevent villain exodus, and leave the city to itself in isolation. Whether the villains or mafia rise to absolute power we don't know but the infighting will likely help us out as they destroy each other."
"And the six million people still living there?" Senator Washington asked.
"We'll offer evacuation assistance," Ashford said. "Transport, relocation funds, housing assistance, anyone who wants to leave can leave but those who choose to stay, whether because they profit from the chaos or because they're too stubborn to abandon their homes, they stay in the new city-state they've chosen."
"And frankly," Senator Bradford added, "most Americans have accepted that Gotham is a lost cause, when we point to some catastrophe and say 'this is why we had no choice,' public opinion will support the decision."
"And Stars and Stripes?" Senator Washington asked. "She's not going to accept this. When she finds out—"
"She won't find out until it's done," Ashford said. "We keep her occupied with legitimate hero work she's too self righteous and idolizes that Japanese hero All Might to risk loosing it as this point and she has forgotten about the severity of the Gotham problem before odds are she will forget about it again. I want all her personal devices tampered and monitored to prevent any news of Gotham, any new stations are to be warned not to push the issue, and nationally we maintain the narrative that we're doing everything possible for Gotham. When Operation Excision is able to be put in motion, we present it as an emergency response to an unprecedented catastrophe, by the time she realizes what we've really done, it'll be fait accompli."
Ashford collected his materials. "This conversation stays in this room, classified at the highest level. If any of this leaks, the political fallout would end all our careers."
"Understood," Senator Morrison said. The other all nodded in agreement.
"Good."
(A/N I don't like stars and stripes and this is my attempt to keep her out of the story for a long time to be honest)