User:Dyslexic agnostic/Task Force X (Justice League Unlimited)

"Task Force X" is the fourth episode of the second season of the animated series Justice League Unlimited.

A covert operations team largely made up of convicted supervillains is sent to steal a necessary item from Justice League headquarters.

Plot
At Belle Reve Penitentiary, Floyd Lawton—better known as the masked assassin Deadshot— is taken to the gas chamber, but Minutes away from execution, a military man presents a prisoner's release form and takes him. On the road, the man introduces himself as Colonel Rick Flagg and notifies Floyd that he has been recluted for a special mission and that he is rigged with explosive nanites that will detonate if he tries to escape. Finally Flag to reveals Deadshot their mission is to infiltrate the JLU Watchtower.

At a former LexCorp warehouse, Amanda Waller, head of the Cadmus Project, introcuces both to the rest of the "Task Force X" team: George Hawkins a. k. a. Captain Boomerang, Bette Sans Souci a. k. a. Plastique, and Temple Fugate a. k. a. Clock King, who was the planner and tactician of the team. Together they plan their infiltration contemplate possible scenarios and then head to a cornfield where the four of them (with Clock King coordinating from the warehouse) knock out the League support team and take their places. They get out their special weapons and Plastique and Deadshot head for the reactor, riding down the elevator with an unsuspecting Green Lantern.

Flag and Boomerang make their way through the ducts to a secure area but run into a second door that wasn't on their plans. Deadshot is spotted and security starts to mobilize. Boomerang blows the door as the Watchtower's power goes out, and Flagg and Boomerang get into the armory and among the weapons finds the "Annihilator" armor (from "Hawk & Dove").

Martian Manhunter orders an evacuation and seal-down emergency procedures, while Captain Atom heads for the reactor to absorb the radiation. Flagg reads a magical invocation which doesn't work until Flagg slugs Boomerang to get the necessary violence to activate the Annihilator. Deadshot and Plastique are almost sealed in but Captain Atom inadvertently helps them get out. There's no margin of error left as the two groups of the team reunite and they head for the bridge. Captain Atom is trying to absorb the energy but warns the Martian that it is sabotage.

Atom-Smasher, Shining Knight, and Vigilante confront the escaping team but Flagg sends the Annihilator in. Atom-Smasher squares off against it while Shining Knight and Vigilante go up against the others. They take out the three Leaguers and get to the bridge and the teleporter but J'onn confronts them. He defeats the others but the Annihilator rips him in half, delaying him long enough for the team to get to the teleporter. Plastique takes Atom-Smasher hostage and puts her explosive charge on a timer, but Captain Atom arrives to break the stalemate and Deadshot sets off her explosive charge as they escape. Captain Atom manages to shelter her but Plastique still takes critical injuries. The teleporter is set to scramble the coordinates so there's no way to track them.

At the warehouse, Amanda Waller and Tala – Another directive from Cadmus-- arrive to take custody of the Annihilator. Flagg leaves with his squad but warns them they have to stay with him for five years and go on "suicide" missions. J'onn realized there had to be an isnside man and figures out who he is because he's immune to J'onn's telepathy, thanks to Cadmus. The League realizes they can't trust anyone.

Trivia

 * The inside man turned out to be Robert Vance, the computer tycoon from Batman Beyond who put his memories and mind in a computer in an attempt to live forever.


 * None of the three remaining ex-convicts from the team had to complete the service. The Cadmus administration changed after the Brainiac/Luthosr incident and later, in Flash and Substance, Boomerang reveals he was already realeased.


 * The team was supposed to be named Suicide Squad like in the comics, but it wasn’t possible due to sensoreship.


 * The voice of Captain Boomerang was provided by Australian actor Donal Gibson, brother of Mel Gibson.

Quotes
Bette Sans Souci: That's' nothing, I almost had kittens when this bonehead sst off the metal-detector! George Hawkins: Seventy-five cents is seventy-five cents. I'm supposed to throw away money? (more)
 * Deadshot: That was a close call with the ID scanner.