Mutant Affairs Overview
Professor Charles Xavier - Founder of the X-men & Mutant Equality Advocate. |
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As one of the more... recognisable advocates of Metahumans - mutants if you prefer - it is only natural that I have crossed paths with S.H.I.E.L.D. (particularly the Department of Mutant Affairs) on more than one occaision. My Academy in New York State has played host to General Dugan's agents - both willingly and reluctantly - on a semi-regular basis for almost a decade. And while I cannot honestly say that their treatment of affairs, or their stand on the 'Mutant issue' has always agreed with mine, on the whole their performance has been far more acceptable than other agencies and individuals who have attempted to address the issue. I must admit to a certain bias in the matter, since Base Commander Fury himself sought my advice in the matter some time ago - but unlike other members of the Pro-mutant lobby, I have always been reluctant to allow my personal feelings to colour my position.
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In keeping with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s roots in the espionage community, the duties of the DMA have been mainly those of surveillance and intelligence gathering, rather than peacekeeping or enforcement - their UN charter and subsequent revisions in fact stresses their role as an intelligence asset, rather than a 'Mutant Police Force'. As such, it has often been my duty to provide them with information on the mutants that my 'X-Men' have come into contact with and even on occaision to assist in the apprehension of outlaw mutants who have threatened not only my own facility, but the security of the nation. It may be argued that through the collection and collation of information on all known mutations and the continuation of research by such individuals as Dr. Moira McTaggart, mankind will come to understand that these mutations and the individuals who have undergone them, are not a threat to the 'purity' of the human race, or some sinister form of covert control or even a dormant powerbase which threatens World peace and Security. One of the things that I hope I've managed to impress upon the S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel that i've dealt with is my dream of mutant/homo sapien equality - that someday, both halves of the Human Race will be able to peacefully co-exist, without fear or distrust on either side. Not all Mutants share my dream of peaceful co-existance - Men such as Eric Lensherr, who adopted the persona of Magneto, Lord of Magnetism. If his intellect and power could have been directed towards the cause of Equality, he would stand as the most persuasive and compelling proponent of Mutant/Human Relations. Sadly, his experiences as a young man in Nazi-occupied Europe and tragedies in his personal life formed a personality that sought power through ruthless domination and sheer brute force. Magneto seeks to establish Mutantkind as 'Homo Superior', setting us above the rest of mankind as rulers by any means necessary. He has openly declared humanity to be weak and inferior and believes that the only future for Mutants lies in their domination of the 'lower orders' Sadly, this theme is all too common amongst Mutants who have strayed beyond the law: Driven by open hatred and fear of their differences, their 'inhumanity', criminals such as Mystique (an associate of Magneto's from the 'Mutant Brotherhood') have used their power to wreak havok and seek revenge upon those who have wronged them. All too often, S.H.I.E.L.D. has found themselves poorly prepared to deal with such menaces and the DMA has found themselves requesting the aid of the X-Men in such situations, occaisionally leading to a clash of both philosophies and personalities. Fortunately, these matters have resolved themselves (not always unaided) and these rare joint missions have been successful examples of human/mutant co-operation. That in itself is a part of the Department of Mutant Affairs' mission and one that should not be lightly dismissed. |
 Eric Magnus Lensherr (AKA Magneto) - Foremost Advocate of Mutant Superiority & Founder of The Mutant Brotherhood
Raven Darkholm (AKA Mystique) - Mutant Shapechanger.
Nathan Summers (AKA Cable) Mutant Freedom Fighter turned Soldier of Fortune |
Scott Summers (AKA Cyclops) Leader of the X-Men
Logan (AKA Wolverine) - Mutant Healing Factor and Claws make this mysterious X-Man a formiddable opponent.
Rogue - Another Member of the X-Men with a troubled past |
Even my own attempts to win acceptance for mutants, my X-Men, have run afoul of the law and have even been outlawed for their actions - both real and perceived. Indeed, more than one member of our team has come to us with a chequered past and has sought to make ammends for their actions. When we have found ourselves set against the official forces, I have always stressed the importance of submitting ourselves to the prevailing law. Although my principle has been occaisionally proved incorrect, it is the attitude of men such as General Dugan which convinces me that it is founded in logic. Agents with fierce anti-mutant feelings, or with theological, moral or ethical principles that would interfere with their impartial performance of their duties are not allowed to serve with the Department of Mutant Affairs and all agents attend a compulsory induction course at the Xavier Institute where they are schooled in all matters pertaining to their contact with Metahumans and Mutants in the field. The rights of Mutants as Human Beings are particularly emphasised and regular debates on the issue serve to encourage trainees to form their own opinions on the matter. In recognition of the potential for conflict, members of the X-Men also train DMA Agents in our 'Danger Room', familarising them with the tactics and fighting styles of all known Mutant Criminals and demonstrating the known and potential uses of mutant abilities in the field. Much research has also been done by Dr. Henry McCoy into the possible mutations which may be encountered on other planets, particularly by individuals who have been in long-term contact with the mineral Naquadah, which has been shown to have a number of unusual qualities when absorbed into the body - particularly in terms of increased strength and heightened mental faculties. Upon completion of the intensive thirty-day course, Agents graduate from this facility with a superior knowledge of the subjects they will be involved with and a reasonable expectation of what they may face in the line of duty. A number of Metahuman Agents have also seen service with S.H.I.E.L.D. and although their performance has not always been exemplary, I am relieved to say that on the whole, this was due to their allegiance and not their abilities. Current 'superagents' must undergo a training regime designed by the Institute Computer that will not only test their abilities, but also their sympathies and any agent graduating from the 'Cerebro Training School' is considered an 'A' grade field agent. The final aspect of our involvement with The Department of Mutant Affairs is an ongoing one - since the mutantcy situation almost seems to undergo changes from day to day, we maintain a constant vigil on media, the press and public forums to analyse and anticipate popular opinion and reaction and using our own sources, we keep a watch for new examples of mutant ability and mutants themselves, with data being transferred straight to DMA databanks, where it is collated and compared with results from DMA field agents and operations. Although Base Commander Fury is too cynicalto share my high hopes, I know that General Dugan is as proud as I am of the co-operation between this Academy and his Department. Perhaps, when the time comes to look back on this era of our history, it is from collaborations such as this that understanding will be born... |
