- "Your style just gave the bad guy all the ammunition she needs to go after us."
"That's not how I see it."
"Really? How do you see it?"
"This move just exposed the fact that we have a leak. Someone tipped Nadeer off we were coming." - ―Glenn Talbot and Phil Coulson[src]
The Infiltration of Ellen Nadeer's Office was an attempt by Phil Coulson and his S.H.I.E.L.D. colleagues to monitor Ellen Nadeer and her connection with the Watchdogs.
Background[]
- "While Nadeer's in with Daisy, Yo-Yo and I will get into her office and plant surveillance."
"We can finally keep an eye on her, figure out her next move." - ―Phil Coulson and Daisy Johnson[src]
Senator Ellen Nadeer displayed a strong hostility towards both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Inhumans. S.H.I.E.L.D. grew more and more suspicious towards the Senator, especially after they learned about her Inhuman brother Vijay Nadeer[3] and after an assassination attempt on S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Jeffrey Mace[4]. Therefore, S.H.I.E.L.D. decided to find evidence of her connection with the hate group known as the Watchdogs and to monitor her activities.
Daisy Johnson during her audience for the signing of the Sokovia Accords
With Daisy Johnson being reinstated as an S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, S.H.I.E.L.D. intended to seize the opportunity to have Johnson go to the United States Capitol for signing the Sokovia Accords. While she would be doing so in an audience room where Nadeer would be, Phil Coulson and Yo-Yo Rodriguez planned to infiltrate into the Senator's office to rig it with a surveillance system, despite the fact that General Glenn Talbot was highly doubtful about this plan.[2]
Infiltration[]
- "General, moments ago, my people apprehended two S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives breaking into my office. Seems they were trying to install surveillance equipment to spy on my staff and me."
- ―Ellen Nadeer to Glenn Talbot[src]
While Daisy Johnson and Jeffrey Mace were in the audience room with Ellen Nadeer, Phil Coulson and Yo-Yo Rodriguez entered the Capitol with fake IDs created by Leo Fitz. Rodriguez used her super-speed to steal a badge enabling Coulson and her to open Nadeer's office.
The surveillance system to be deployed in Ellen Nadeer's office
Under Jemma Simmons's guidance, Coulson and Rodriguez rigged the office with several tiny cameras which, once properly installed across the office, gave S.H.I.E.L.D. the opportunity to remotely visualize Nadeer's office.
Phil Coulson is arrested by the Capitol's security
However, Simmons noticed that the footage she received was turned off seconds after the surveillance system was installed. In the office, Rodriguez found a half-open drawer on Nadeer's desk. When she tried to open it, a knocking device generated an energetic burst which threw Rodriguez against the wall. Immediately after, security agents stormed the office and arrested Coulson and Rodriguez.[2]
Aftermath[]
Glenn Talbot and Jeffrey Mace explain that S.H.I.E.L.D. is put under investigation
- "She knew we'd be there. Not just any Inhuman. You specifically."
"There has to be a leak." - ―Phil Coulson and Yo-Yo Rodriguez[src]
Phil Coulson and Yo-Yo Rodriguez were taken to the audience room where Ellen Nadeer revealed the failed S.H.I.E.L.D. mission, calling S.H.I.E.L.D. a criminal organization for having tried to break in a United States Senator. Therefore, S.H.I.E.L.D. was placed under public investigation, much to Glenn Talbot's anger as he had repeatedly advised Coulson against the plan.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s failure made them suspect that there was a leak within the Playground. After an investigation by Leo Fitz, this would lead to the Arrest of Holden Radcliffe.[2]