AFTERNOON; Agent Hill; The atmosphere inside the Assembly Hall had shifted. Gone was the idle hum of first arrivals and orientation shuffle. What remained was a focused stillness, underscored by the low, mechanical hum of hidden projectors warming up and the faint whir of ceiling drones adjusting for optimal audio/visual coverage.

It was the same sunlit hall from earlier in the day — vaulted, reinforced glass lining the west wall with a panoramic view of the training fields and surrounding Atlantic. By now, the incoming class had seen the gymnasiums, walked the halls, and been scanned, logged, and cleared. This wasn’t a tour. This was mission briefing — student edition.

A podium had been set at center stage beneath a stylized holographic projection of the Champions Initiative insignia. It shimmered with soft blue lines and red-gold detailing. Flanking the dais were three distinct pillars bearing the insignias of each sub-team: VANGUARD, PARAGONS, and TEMPLARS.

Director Nick Fury wasn’t at the podium. Not yet. He stood off to the side, speaking quietly with Dr. Adam Brashear — the Blue Marvel — and Captain America himself, Steve Rogers. Rogers gave a slow nod toward the students as they entered, while the Blue Marvel’s stance remained steady, arms folded as if weighing gravity itself.

At center, however, was Agent Mariah Hill, tailored, poised, and already mid-scroll through a slim datapad as she took the microphone.

“Seats. Eyes front. This won’t take long — but what’s said here will follow you the rest of your lives.”

The main doors sealed with a soft magnetic hiss. No exits until Hill gave the go-ahead. A formal tone settled over the room like a layer of tactical-grade glass.

“Welcome to the Champions Initiative. You’ve been selected — not just because you’re powerful, or smart, or unique — though many of you are all three. You’ve been selected because you give a damn. And that means something. Especially now.”

She paused to swipe her datapad, and the overhead projection transitioned from team insignias to a rotating 3D schematic of the Earth — networked by pulsating arcs of data, hotspot clusters, and coded threat zones.

“The world is changing fast. Faster than any one hero can keep up with. That’s where you come in.”

“Each of you will be assigned to a training division within the Champions Initiative. These teams reflect your skillsets, your temperament, and your tactical value. These aren’t just student groups — they’re proto-squads. You train together. You grow together. You answer the call — together.”

The lights dimmed as the room’s center holo flared into detailed focus:



VANGUARD
Frontline deployment. High-power. Public-ready.

Champions best known to the public. Primary response squad.
"When the signal goes out — these are the first boots on the ground."

Team Members:

Spider-Man (Peter Parker)*

Chant (Billy Kaplan / Wiccan)

Chimera (Teddy Altman / Hulkling)

Faucon (Joaquin Torres)

Hawkeye (Kate Bishop)

Iron lad (Harley Keener)

Maelstrom (Carl Clover)

Miss America (America Chavez)

Prodigy (David Alleyne)

Speed (Tommy Shepherd)

Power man (Victor Alvarez)

Note: Spider-Man currently on reserve status. His return is anticipated.



PARAGONS
Tech-forward. Tactics-driven. International balance.

Focused on logistics, global surveillance, support ops, and tech innovation.
"They make the impossible plausible before anyone else sees it coming."

Team Members:

Brawn (Amadeus Cho)

Firestar

Jonah (Young Vision)

Lightspeed (Julie Power)

Red Locust (Fernanda Rodriguez)

Noh-Varr (Marvel Boy)

Ironheart (Riri Williams)

Patriot (Eli Bradley)

Souljah (Sonja Barnes)

Stature (Cassie Lang)



TEMPLARS
Mystic. Cosmic. Stealth.

This division handles the things that go bump in the night — or Blink between realities.
"They stand where the known ends — and hold the line anyway."

Team Members:

Brother Vin (Synthetic child of Vision)

Cloak (Tyrone Johnson)

Dagger (Tandy Bowen)

Gee (Alex Power)

Justic

Lightspeed (Julie Power)

Mass (Jack Power)

Speedball

Wasp (Nadia Pym)

“Some of you may feel out of place. That’s normal. Some of you think you should’ve been put somewhere else. That’s expected. Trust the process — earn your stripes.”

Agent Hill’s tone hardened slightly.

“You’ll be evaluated weekly. You’ll report to a designated field Leader and faculty advisor. You’ll follow Initiative regulations while you’re on this campus — and more importantly, when you’re out there wearing the brand. No masks without clearance. No off-site excursions. No solo missions.”

She paused — then added, with a slight tilt of her brow:

“Break these rules, and you’re off the roster. You’ll still get a diploma, but you’ll be doing it behind a desk with PowerPoint, not on the battlefield.”

*From the wings, Captain America finally stepped forward — not to speak, but to stand alongside the students as one of them. He didn’t need words for that part.*

Agent Hill tapped the podium once more.

“You’ll meet your division leads and faculty liaisons starting tomorrow at 0700. Uniform fittings tonight. First drills by 0900. You’re not here to play pretend. You’re here to become better than even you thought you could be.”

*And with that, the room held its collective breath — not in fear, but in momentum. The next generation wasn’t just waiting to rise. It was already in the room.*

Let me know when you're ready for Reply Two: the private aside between Director Fury and Blue Marvel.