STRIKE Team Omega

The sun lit the streets of Washington, D.C., with a gentle breeze that made the heat bearable. It was a rare break for John Hawke, a small respite from his intense life as a member of an elite unit. After months of missions and constant training, he was allowed to take a vacation, and with no real "home" or family to return to, he decided that Washington would be the destination for this vacation.

He had always heard about the Smithsonian, especially the famous exhibit dedicated to the heroes of World War II, the Howling Commandos, and especially Captain America. He decided it was time to see for himself the story of a man who symbolized so much of what John strived to be: a just, loyal, and courageous leader.

The Smithsonian was full of tourists, with groups of families and students wandering through the spacious galleries. The atmosphere was light, but for John, it was a moment of introspection. He moved in silence, absorbing the story unfolding before his eyes, his steps firm and calculated, almost as if he were on a mission. After a few general exhibit rooms, he finally reached the one that interested him the most: the one dedicated to the Howling Commandos and Steve Rogers, Captain America.

The first thing that caught his eye was a large photo of the Howling Commandos in action: a team of men with determined and fearless looks, fighting together in the trenches of war-torn Europe. In the center of the image, Steve Rogers, with his iconic shield, led the group. At his side, Bucky Barnes, Steve's right-hand man and closest friend, appeared in an equally imposing posture.

John stopped in front of the image, his eyes fixed on every detail.

Here was the essence of what it meant to be a leader, surrounded by those who trusted him with their lives. For a moment, he saw himself reflected in that picture. It wasn't about Steve Rogers' superpowers, but rather his strength of morale, his commitment to his men. That, more than anything else, was what John deeply respected.

As he continued through the exhibit, John came across detailed biographies of each member of the Howling Commandos. One name in particular caught his eye: James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes.

On the wall, a text explained how Bucky, Steve's right-hand man, had died during a critical mission. He read carefully the account of Barnes' sacrifice, how he had been one of Rogers' most loyal companions, always at the Captain's side, until the fateful day he fell from a train into an icy canyon while they were fighting HYDRA forces.

John stood there for a long time, his thoughts wandering. He knew the weight of loss, the void left when a brother in arms fell in combat. He didn't know Bucky personally, of course, but the sense of camaraderie that transcended time and history was something John understood deeply. He had lost friends in combat too, men he had promised to protect and who, despite all his efforts, had failed to save. Bucky Barnes' story touched that vulnerable part of his soul.

"Bucky wasn't just a soldier. He was my friend, the best I've ever had." John read aloud the quote attributed to Steve Rogers, below Barnes's image.

The words resonated powerfully within him. He knew what it was like to lose someone like that, someone you trusted with your life. He knew in that moment that, even decades later, that feeling still lingered over Captain America, just as it lingered over John every night after a difficult mission.

As he walked through the exhibit, he stopped in front of a screen that played an old interview with Peggy Carter, the SSR (Strategic Scientific Reserve) agent and founder of S.H.I.E.L.D., a secret agency that John only knows about because he is a special forces operator, Peggy formed with Howard Stark and Colonel Phillips, who had also fought alongside Steve Rogers. The recording was clear, even with the age of the video. The image showed Peggy, already older, but with eyes full of wisdom and a quiet sadness as she spoke of Steve.

"Steve Rogers was not just a soldier, he was the best of us all," Peggy began, her voice soft but firm. "He always put others before himself, always believed in the good of people, even in the darkest moments of war. It wasn't the serum that made him special, but his heart, his unshakable faith in a better world."

John leaned forward a little more, absorbing every word. The screen began to show old footage of Steve Rogers, both before and after receiving the super soldier serum, with moments from the war, leading the Howling Commandos. But the part that caught his attention was when Peggy spoke of Steve's last mission, the final act that made him a legend.

"In the end, he sacrificed everything. He knew there was no other choice. Steve... always cared about the greater good, about what was right. He chose to save the world, even if it meant losing everything he loved."

The recording ended with Peggy looking directly into the camera, her expression filled with a sadness that time could not erase. The video ended, leaving John lost in thought. This was a woman who had loved Steve Rogers, not for what he could do, but for who he was.

John couldn't help but reflect on his own life. He had always admired Captain America, not for the over-the-top heroics that made him an icon, but for the simplicity of his morality, for the way he always chose the good, even when it seemed impossible. John wanted to be that way for his men. He was already trying, day in and day out, to care for his teammates, to guide his team through dangerous missions, but now he understood more deeply what it meant to lead with your heart.

He turned away from the screening and found a bench in the corner of the room.

As he sat down, he looked again at the large picture of Steve and the Howling Commandos. The silence around John was a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of tourists, but he was completely absorbed in the moment. He thought about Peggy's words about Steve, how he put others before himself.

John already knew that leading his men often meant sacrificing parts of himself. He didn't have a conventional family, but the men and women he fought alongside had become that family. He would give his life for them, just as Steve had for his.

As he looked around the exhibit once more, John realized that Captain America's true legacy wasn't the shield or the battles he'd won, but the lives he'd touched and the example he'd set. Steve Rogers was the embodiment of hope, loyalty, and kindness in a world that often seemed devoid of those qualities.

Suddenly, the sound of children's laughter pulled him from his thoughts. A group of children were walking by the exhibit, pointing at the picture of Steve Rogers with eyes full of wonder.

"Mommy, was he really the real Captain America?" one of the boys asked, clearly fascinated by the idea of ​​such a perfect hero.

John smiled slightly, turning his attention back to the child and his mother.

"Yes, he was," the mother replied with a smile. "And he always did what was right, no matter how hard it was."

As the group walked away, John stood, taking one last look at the exhibit. He knew he couldn't be a super soldier like Steve Rogers, but he could do what he had always done: protect his brothers in arms, lead with integrity, and above all, never leave anyone behind.

He turned and walked out of the museum, his mind clear and his heart more determined than ever. He wasn't Captain America, but maybe, just maybe, he could be the captain of his own team, and that, for him, was enough.

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