chapter five
star spangled man with a plan

𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐉𝐔𝐌𝐏𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 sound of a large object being placed in a hole in the ground, Howard directing it.

"What on earth is that?" she asked her older brother, watching the machine being lowered by a rope. It hovered in the air as it was tied to poles.

"The submarine that the Hydra agent tried to escape in," Howard replied, jumping into the workspace beside the submarine. "I don't get it. We're nowhere near this kind of machinery."

Grace looked under the machine and frowned. "Who puts knives under a propeller? Were they trying to kill any fish that was in the Hudson River?" she asked, looking up at her brother before kneeling down to get a better look. "Howard..."

"What?"

"You weren't kidding about this technology," she said, looking at the submarine, impressed. "Our little gadgets look silly next to this."

"You're telling me," Howard sighed, leaning back in exasperation. "Did you ever show Phillips your inventions?"

"We got a little distracted," Grace said. "But it'll happen at some point. In the meantime, we need to figure out how the hell they managed to make a machine this impressive."

Howard shrugged. "They probably have resources we can only dream of."

"Says Howard Stark," Grace said with a chuckle. She looked over when she saw her brother shake his hand in pain after getting his fingers trapped in a door. "I am not kissing it to make it feel better. I will tell you that right now."

Howard rolled his eyes when Colonel Phillips walked in with Senator Brandt. "Colonel, my committee is demanding answers," Brandt said.

"Great," Phillips replied with mock enthusiasm. "Why don't we start with how a German spy got a ride to my secret installation in your car?" Brandt frowned and was effectively shut up. Phillips nodded and turned to the Stark siblings. "What've we got?"

"Well, speaking modestly, I'd say I'm the best mechanical engineer in the country..." Howard said and Grace nodded, not even arguing with that statement. "However, neither of us have an idea what any of this is or how it works."

"We're nowhere near capable of this technology," Grace added, seeing Steve and Peggy walk in out of the corner of her eye.

"Then who is?" Senator Brandt asked.

"Hydra," Phillips said and Brandt simply stared at him blankly. "I'm sure you've read our briefings."

"I'm on a number of committees, Colonel."

Peggy let out a breath and walked over to them. "Hydra is the Nazi deep science division. It's led by Doctor Erskine's first test subject, Johann Schmidt."

Phillips nodded. "Hydra's practically a cult. They worship Schmidt, think he's invincible."

"So what are you going to do about it?" Brandt asked.

Phillips pursed his lips before turning around. "I spoke to the President this morning. As of today, the SSR's being re-tasked."

"Colonel?" Peggy asked, surprised.

"We're taking the fight to Hydra," he said. "Pack your bags, Agent Carter. You, too, Stark. Both of you. The four of us fly to London tonight."

Grace glanced at Howard and he shrugged. She nodded and Peggy smiled softly at her.

"Sir?" Steve asked, stepping forward. "If you're going after Schmidt, I want in."

"You're an experiment," Phillips told him and Grace looked at the blonde in sympathy. "We're sending you to Alamogordo."

"As what, a lab rat?" Steve asked with a frown. "The serum worked."

"I asked for an army," Phillips said. "All I got is you. And you... are not enough."

Grace sighed when she saw Steve's defeated look. Senator Brandt waved over his aide, walking toward the newly-minted super soldier. "With all due respect, Colonel, I think we may be missing the point," he said and Grace glanced at Peggy who shrugged. "You've seen Steve in action. More importantly, the country's seen it."

Brandt's aide handed over a clipping of a newspaper and Grace, having moved away from the submarine, looked over Steve's shoulder. There was the headline in thick, bolded letters: 𝙽𝙰𝚉𝙸𝚂 𝙸𝙽 𝙽𝙴𝚆 𝚈𝙾𝚁𝙺: 𝙼𝚈𝚂𝚃𝙴𝚁𝚈 𝙼𝙰𝙽 𝚂𝙰𝚅𝙴𝚂 𝙲𝙷𝙸𝙻𝙳. There was a picture of Steve deflecting gunfire with a car door, a star in the middle of it.

"Enlistment lines have been around the block since this hit the newsstands," Brandt continued, looking at Steve. "You don't take a soldier, a symbol like this and hide him in a lab."

Steve looked surprised while Grace was more apprehensive. Since when did a politician do something good for an individual person?

"He needs to be out there, showing the world what the American fighting man is made of," Brandt said and Grace turned to Peggy.

"'The American fighting man'?" she repeated in a whisper. Peggy shrugged as they both turned back to the senator.

"Son, do you want to serve your country?" Brandt asked, turning back to the blonde. "On the most important battlefield in this war?"

"Sir, that's all I want."

Brandt smiled, shaking his hand. "Then congratulations. You just got promoted."

⸻ ~~~ ⸻

𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐈𝐍 the United States. Howard sent her home for a few days to ensure everything at his company was running well, even though she told him that Jarvis was more than capable of overseeing things until they returned.

He didn't listen.

Aside from listening to an occasional complaint, Grace found herself with nothing to do with her remaining time. That was, until a flyer appeared at her doorstep with a familiar face. Which was how the younger Stark found herself sitting in a seat at one of the newest USO tours. And the headlining act? Steve Rogers, or as he's now known to the world, Captain America.

Her eyes scanned the theater and they landed on Senator Brandt in the front row with one of his staff members. He was smiling at the turnout of the crowd. When she heard the music start, Grace turned back to the stage as several dancers took the floor.

Who's strong and brave, here to save the American Way?

Grace's eyes went wide as Steve looked as though he was pushed onto the stage, having missed his cue.

What on earth is he wearing? she asked to herself, knitting her eyebrows together. He had been put in a navy blue shirt with a white star on the chest. He had on a mask with eagle wings on the side. There was also a large 'A' in the middle. He had on long red leather gloves and was holding a stars and stripes shield. To be frank, she thought he looked ridiculous.

"Not all of us can storm a beach of drive a tank, but there's still a way all of us can fight."

Grace mentally cringed as Steve not-so-subtly reading the words off the back of his shield. I guess he never did theater as a child...

Who vows to fight like a man for what's right night and day?

"Series E Defense Bonds," Steve continued while Grace attempted — and failed — to keep a straight face. "Each one you buy is a bullet in the barrel of your best guy's gun."

Who will campaign door-to-door for America?
Carry the flag shore to shore for America?
From Hoboken to Spokane
The Star Spangled Man with a Plan

Grace attended a show the next night, though this time he seemed a bit more comfortable in his role. She still thought he looked ridiculous, but she had to admit that the navy really brought out the blue in his eyes.

We can't ignore there's a threat and the war we must win

"Each one you buy is a bullet in the barrel of your best guy's gun."

Who'll hang a noose on the goose-stepping goons from Berlin?
Who will redeem, heed the call for America?
Who'll rise and fall, give his all for America?
Who's here to prove that we can?
The Star-Spangled Man with a Plan

Grace was chuckling into her hand as she continued to watch the skit in amusement. Her eyes shifted toward two young kids near the front who were trying to get Steve's attention.

"We all know this is about trying to win the war," Steve said, pulling back Grace's focus. "We can't do that without bullets and bandages, tanks and tents. Now, that's where you come in. Every bond you buy will help protect someone you love. Keep our boys armed and ready, and the Germans will think twice about trying to get the drop on us."

He turned and 'punched' Adolf Hitler with the crash of a cymbal. The two children clapped with delight, and though Grace shook her head at the skit, she too applauded the spectacle.

Stalwart and steady and true
(See how his diamond shoots, medallion bears no substitute)
Forceful and ready to defend
The red, white, and blue
Who'll give the Axis the sack and is smart as a fox?
Far as an eagle will soar
Who's making Adolf afraid to step out of his box?
He knows what we're fighting for
Who waked the giant that napped in America?
We know it's no one but Captain America
Who'll finish what they began?

Grace leaned against a wall in the lobby of the theater with an amused expression on her face. Steve took several photos with fans, mostly young children, along with the occasional young woman.

"Well, soldier, that was some performance," she said once the crowd had left him alone. Steve looked up when he heard her voice.

"Grace?" he asked, brow furrowed. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in London?"

There was a flash from a camera and Grace looked over to see a photographer smiling at the shot of the two of them that he got before walking away. The brunette shook her head and turned back to the blonde man in front of her.

"Howard sent me home for a few days to look over his company, which was completely unnecessary. I was bored, you had a show. You seem to be quite the inspirational speaker, Steve. With some practice." He chuckled lightly. "And your outfit could be better."

"Oh?"

"Certainly," she replied with a smile, looking over the outfit. "The color would stay the same, of course. It brings out your eyes. But the functionality of it... that doesn't work."

"Well, it won't matter," Steve said, shaking his head. He sat down on the staircase, letting out a defeated breath. "It won't matter because I will never see action on the lines. Instead, I'll be a dancing puppet, which isn't much help to anyone."

"Well, that's where I think you're wrong." Steve glanced up at Grace who sat down beside him. She folded her sweater in her lap and looked over at him. "You've been promoting this idea that you don't have to fight in the war to help and yet, you're not hearing yourself. Steve..." She sighed. "You don't realize all the good you've been doing."

"And what good am I doing?" he asked, still looking defeated.

"Your song and dance," Grace said. "You have the important job of keeping people's morale up. This war is far from over and people are scared. And your song and dance is giving them just a little bit of comfort. Haven't you seen the looks on those little kids' faces when you punch Hitler?"

"The girls do the dancing," Steve interjected. "And the singing."

Grace sighed. "The point is, no one ever said you weren't doing anything."

Steve was about to say something when he was interrupted by a little girl. She ran up to Grace with a look of excitement spread across her face.

"Oh, my Gosh," she said with a wide smile. "You're Grace Stark, right? Howard Stark is your brother?"

"Well, that's the first time someone's said it like that," Grace quipped, smiling at the little girl. "Is there something I can do for you, sweetie?"

"I saw you at the Expo but I was too scared to talk to you. And, well, I was just wondering..." The little girl took in a breath, as though she was nervous. Steve glanced at Grace who was looking at the girl with a genuine smile. Somehow her smile was brighter than normal. "Could I get our autograph? I want to go into science just like you when I'm older."

"You do?" Grace asked with an excited smile. She took the pen that Steve held out to her. "That's amazing! We could always use more girls. Is there anywhere specific you want me to sign?"

"Next to his is fine. Thank you."

Grace nodded, looking down at the Captain America comic book. "And what's your name, sweetie?"

"Molly."

Grace smiled and started writing:

𝘛𝘰 𝘔𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺,

𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴. 𝘕𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮.

𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬,
𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘬

Grace returned the pen to Steve and handed the book back to the girl. "You just have to promise me something, Molly."

"Yeah?"

"That no matter how hard it seems, no matter how many times somebody says no or that you can't do it, you won't give up," Grace said while Steve looked down at her again. "Can you promise me that, Molly?"

Molly nodded with a smile. "I promise."

"Good." Grace stood up and smoothed out her dress. "Well, best of luck to you, Molly. I look forward to working together in the future."

The little brunette turned back toward her mother when she gave the younger Stark a tight hug. "Thank you," she whispered. "For being someone I can look up to."

"Molly, dear," her mother called. "Come along."

Grace smiled and waved softly at the girl who left the theater with her mother.

"I think you may be more popular than I am."

Grace turned around, hearing Steve's voice. She shook her head. "Believe me, I'm not. But that was nice. To be known as myself, not Howard's younger sister."

"You are inspiring girls," Steve said as the two walked toward the exit.

"Just as you give the nation hope," Grace told him, smiling softly. "I have a plane to catch." Steve nodded and she kissed his cheek. "Good luck with the rest of your shows... Captain America."

Who'll kick the Krauts to Japan?
The Star-Spangled Man
With a Plan!

⸻ ~~~ ⸻

"𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 are ready to help me sock Old Adolf on the jaw?"

Grace was standing in the back of Steve's USO tour that had been moved to Europe, more specifically, the United States Army base. Grace had been tinkering with new weapons that could be used to take out Hydra when the music had begun. He certainly looked more comfortable in his role, but it was a different situation standing in front of soldiers who had already seen action on the front lines.

"Okay..." Steve said, looking around at the silent troops. "I'm gonna need a volunteer."

"I already volunteered," one of the soldiers called out to him. "How do you think I got here?"

The crowd laughed while Grace tilted her head; he had a point. Why on earth did Brandt send him to the troops who were already doing their civic duty?

"Hey, guys, we're all on the same side—" Steve tried before being pelted by tomatoes.

"Bring back the girls!"

"I think they only know the one song, but..." He looked behind him. "I'll... I'll see what I can do..."

"You do that, sweetheart!"

Grace sighed and went back to her work station. Meanwhile, Peggy was ordering the troops to return to their tents when the rain started falling hard and she saw Steve sitting in the downpour, doodling on a notebook spread in front of him.

"Hi, Steve," she said, shaking out her drenched coat and sitting on a crate behind him.

Steve looked behind him and looked surprised to see her. "Hi."

"Hi."

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

She sighed. "Officially, I'm not here at all." She smiled and in the distance heard a soft clank of metal and saw Grace rubbing her head from the sudden contact against the hard surface. "That was quite a performance, I heard," Peggy said, turning back to look at Steve.

"Yeah..." He nodded, letting out a breath. "I had to improvise a bit. The crowds I'm used to are usually more... twelve."

"And did I hear that you're 'America's New Hope'?"

"Bond sales take a 10% bump in every state I visit," Steve said as though he was reciting a sales slogan.

Peggy frowned. "Is that Senator Brandt I hear?"

"At least he's got me doing this," Steve sighed. "Phillips would have had me stuck in a lab."

"And those are your only two options?" Peggy asked, tilting her head. "A lab rat or a dancing monkey?"

Steve let out a breath. "It's just, all I dreamed about was coming overseas, being on the front lines, serving my country. I finally get everything I wanted... and I'm wearing tights."

Peggy looked at him sympathetically, marveling at the similarities between the blonde man sitting in front of her and her best friend who was now putting out a machine of Howard's that was smoking.

"I'm not nearly as good of giving pep talks as Grace is," Peggy admitted with a small chuckle. Her eye was caught by Grace who was now chasing after her brother. It seemed he had stolen her sketchpad.

"What's she like?" Steve asked and Peggy looked at him. "Grace, I mean. She's only ever given me advice. She's never talked about herself."

The brunette nodded. "That's the type of person she is." She let out a breath, smiling at the memories she had with the younger Stark. "Grace is... she's the type of person you want as a friend. She's loyal. She's funny. She's the smartest person I've ever met. She just..."

"She what?"

"She just has a history," Peggy said with a shrug. Steve tilted his head and she sighed. "It's not my story to share. It's Gracie's."

"Is it the same story as to why she didn't say she was a Stark?"

Peggy nodded. "The very same." She looked through the rain that was beginning to clear and chuckled. Steve followed her line of sight and landed on Grace on her brother's back, still trying to get her sketchpad back. "She and Howard were close as children," she explained. "They grew up in a rather poor household, but they always had each other. And then... their mother died when Gracie was sixteen and Howard was eighteen. After Howard left to start his own company, they're relationship turned rather frosty. Which, again, is her story to share when and if she's ready."

Peggy let out a breath. "When you were mentioning that all you wanted was to serve your country, all I could think of was Gracie."

"How so?"

"For her entire life, she's been known as Howard's younger sister. Every opportunity she got, she was either turned away because she wasn't Howard, or because she was a woman. And some don't even know who she is. But... now she's making damn good weapons for the Army. You two are much more similar than you may think."

Steve opened his mouth when they both heard a honk behind them. An ambulance rolled up to the hospital tent and several wounded soldiers were placed on stretchers.

"Looks like they've been through hell," Steve said.

Peggy nodded. "These men more than most." The blonde looked at her. "Schmidt sent out a force to Azzano. 200 men went up against him, less than fifty returned. Your audience contained what was left of the 107th. The rest were either killed or captured."

Steve's eyes widened. "The 107th?"

"What?"

⸻ ~~~ ⸻

𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 Colonel Phillips' tent, explaining her newest weapon to him when Steve suddenly walked in very abruptly, Peggy trailing behind him.

"Well, if it isn't the 'star-spangled man with a plan,'" Phillips said, looking up at him. "And what is your plan today?"

"I need the casualty list from Azzano," Steve replied and Grace glanced at Peggy who let out a breath.

Phillips shook his head. "You don't get to give me orders, son."

"I just need one name," he insisted as Grace went to move beside Peggy. "Sergeant James Barnes from the 107th."

The colonel looked at Peggy. "You and I are gonna have a conversation later that you won't enjoy."

"What happened?" Grace whispered to the English agent.

"I don't know," she replied, also in a hushed tone. "He just suddenly ran in here."

"What was the soldier's name, again?"

"James Barnes?"

Grace sucked in a breath. "The friend from the alley. I understand now."

"Please tell me if he's alive, sir," Steve all but begged. "B-A-R..."

"I can spell," Phillips interrupted. He remained quiet before clearing his throat. "I have signed more of these condolence letters today than I would care to count. But the name does sound familiar. I'm sorry."

Grace glanced at Steve who was looking down at the ground before focusing on the map behind Colonel Phillips.

"What about the others?" he asked. "Are you planning a rescue mission?"

"Yeah." Phillips nodded. "It's called 'winning the war'."

Steve knitted his eyebrows together and looked at him. "But if you know where they are, why not at least..."

"They're thirty miles behind enemy lines through some of the most heavily fortified territory in Europe." The colonel pointed at the map. "We'd lost more men than we'd save. But I don't expect you to understand that because you're a chorus girl."

Steve frowned. "I think I understand just fine."

He nodded. "Well, then understand it somewhere else. If I read the posters correctly, you got some place to be in 30 minutes."

"Yes, sir. I do."

Grace watched Steve leave before Peggy quickly followed. "If you have something to say, right now is the perfect time to keep it to yourself," Phillips said before looking back at Grace. "Should we continue, Stark?"

She glanced outside the tent and nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, let's continue."