Attack on Providence

The Attack on Providence was the first open conflict between Phil Coulson's S.H.I.E.L.D. team and the United States Air Force.
==Background==
Nick Fury established an underground base in Canada, and following the Battle of New York, tasked Eric Koenig with keeping the base's existence secret to everyone, save for select operatives such as Maria Hill.
Unofficially naming the base "Providence," Koenig spent the next two years in total isolation, his only source of entertainment being the online video games that he and his twin brother Billy, who had been tasked with safekeeping the Playground, played.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.18: Providence
In 2014, S.H.I.E.L.D. was labeled a terrorist organization by the international community after it was revealed that HYDRA had been embedded within the organization since its inception.
The United States government subsequently created an United States Air Force detachment, assigning Colonel Glenn Talbot with taking possession of all S.H.I.E.L.D. bases and technology.
Upon learning that Talbot's detachment was preparing to occupy the Hub facility, Phil Coulson and his team evacuated the base before establishing themselves at Providence, which they discovered via coordinates left by Fury.
Sometime later, Maria Hill was leaving a Congressional hearing when she was approached by Talbot. Hill, who felt Coulson deserved a life outside of espionage, revealed the Providence base's location.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.20: Nothing Personal
Meanwhile, HYDRA sleeper agent Grant Ward stole the hard drive used by the team during previous missions and forced former S.H.I.E.L.D. asset Skye to decrypt it so he could deliver it to John Garrett.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.19: The Only Light in the Darkness
==Attack==
Led by Maria Hill and Glenn Talbot, a squad of United States Air Force soldiers journeyed to Providence. Phil Coulson, Jemma Simmons, Leo Fitz and Antoine Triplett were warned of the intrusion, believing the incoming to be HYDRA operatives, but as they thought the doors would hold, it simply opened on Hill's command. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents hid in a corridor and discovered that they were not facing HYDRA, but the military instead. Coulson was surprised to see Talbot chasing four S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on the run and had Talbot order his men to lower their weapons. Hill then joined the conversation and revealed that she was the one who had led the military to Providence.
Simmons, Fitz, and Triplett were gathered at the base's cafeteria where Talbot interrogated them. While they told him about Grant Ward's betrayal and the need to find their fellow agent and friend Skye, Talbot refused to let them go, claiming that they had better cooperating with him.
Meanwhile, Coulson confronted Hill about her decision to lead the military into Nick Fury's secret base. Hill rebuffed Coulson, claiming that she was saving Coulson's life. Coulson then blamed Hill for having told nothing about the Project T.A.H.I.T.I. and his resurrection, focusing on him instead of the HYDRA threat no one had seen coming. Moreover, Coulson informed Hill about Ward's betrayal and Hill could not believe him as she had vetted Ward to be a part of Coulson's Team.
Talbot interrupted the conversation and asked for searching the place Coulson and Hill were talking in. Following Coulson's revelation about Ward, Hill chose to side with Coulson and she attacked the soldiers while Coulson briefly fought against Talbot. They eventually rendered all the soldiers unconscious and they escaped with the other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, leaving the base to be successfully seized by the United States Air Force.
==Aftermath==
Maria Hill acted as a distraction to Grant Ward so that Phil Coulson could board the Bus and rescue Skye from Ward's captivity.
Without a base of operations, Coulson's Team stayed in a hotel in Los Angeles until Nick Fury allowed the agents access to the Playground, another secret base.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 1.22: Beginning of the End
Glenn Talbot received a promotion from Colonel to Brigadier General.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.01: Shadows
==References==
Category:Events