DEPARTMENT H
Creator: John Byrne [Steve Seagle is responsible for the Department's current reorganization. -C]

        When last seen, the federal government agency called Department H was in its fourth, (and most troubling) incarnation.

        Department H was originally a top secret branch of the Ministry of Defence named after its top employee: James MacDonald Hudson. Using H's resources James Hudson refined the set of armor that he eventually came to wear, and also recruited the other super-human beings that came to form Alpha Flight.

        H was first disbanded by the Federal gov't for financial reasons. [An eminently Canadian thing to do. Trust me. :) - Compiler] Following a fight between Alpha Flight and the Hulk in Vancouver the Department's funding was restored. H shut down for the second time after Alpha Flight severed ties due to repeated violations of a promised "hands off" policy.

        The Department was recreated for the second time following the Sorcerer affair. This lasted until a scandal arose over Joshua Lord and his influence on Canadian super-human policy. The Department put Alpha Flight on suspension during an investigation into the situation, and following the investigation H was shut down for the third time.

        Department H started up for the fourth time in the wake of the Onslaught mess in the United States. The latest incarnation of the agency was troubled. Although the situation seemed to be clearing up at the end of Alpha Flight v2, the latest Department H started off using morally repugnant and illegal means to pursue its goals. These methods included brainwashing the members of Alpha Flight, experimenting upon sentient test subjects without their consent, and forced conscription of orphans into the super-powers program.

        At some point after the conclusion of Alpha Flight v2 Alpha Flight was captured by the alien Plodex. Sasquatch (who either escaped or was let go) set about recruiting individuals for a new Alpha Flight to rescue the team. During his recruitment efforts Sasquatch was approached by an Agent Skimmer from Department H. Sasquatch informed Skinner that his Alpha Flight would have nothing to do the department. The current activities of Department H have not been revealed.

        During Alpha Flight v2 several key Department H personnel were focused on. They are:

• Director X: Head of Department H
  
          Next to nothing has been revealed about this person. Who he really is, (and how he rose to such a powerful position), what he looks like, his goals, plans, ambitions, etc.: all a mystery. Also a mystery is why he first seemed to approve of the methods of General Clarke and Dr. Huxley, and then threw full support behind the very different Mr. Gentry.
  


• General Jeremy Clarke: Former Director, Super-Hero Development and Deployment.
  
          Until his death Jeremy Clarke had been involved with Alpha from the beginning in one way or another. He was a major player in getting H started for the fourth time. How he accomplished the rebirth is unknown.
  
          Clarke's time as Alpha Flight's main manager has come to symbolize the "dark" era of Department H. However, there were hints that change was coming to H even before Clarke's death.
  
          Clarke was apparently killed shutting down a bomb that was set in Department H's nuclear reactor.
  


• Mr. Gentry: Director, Super-Hero Deployment & Development
  
          Mr. Gentry was General Clarke's replacement. With the apparent full co-operation of Director X, he set about "cleaning house" in Department H. As of the end of Alpha Flight v2 Gentry had had a good amount of success, and had regained a bit of Alpha Flight's faith and trust.
  


• Coordinator Proctor: Chief Administrator, Super Hero Youth Acceleration Program.
  
          This is the program that was responsible for Flex, Radius, Murmer and Ghost Girl being recruited from Hull House into Alpha Flight. The fate of this program under Mr. Gentry's regime is not yet known.


• Dr. Horatio Huxley:
  
          Dr. Huxley was the brains behind most of Department H's black ops projects, including the Beta Flight, Helios and Weapon X projects.
  
          Huxley's wrong-doings were discovered by Alpha Flight, but he managed to escape. He was last seen attempting to get employment from S.H.I.E.L.D. One hopes he was unsuccessful.


• Chief Engineer Ko Bin Su:
  
          Dr. Su was responsible for design and maintenance of much of Alpha Flight's tech gear, including, supposedly, the "geothermal" battlesuit used by Heather Hudson.


• Lt. Oculus: Head of Monitor Division
  
          Given the nature of his occupation, it's safe to say that Lt. Oculus was using an alias. His real name is not known. Monitor Division spied on Alpha Flight 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year. They often used the being known as Manbot in their efforts. The fate of Monitor Division under Gentry's regime is unknown.


• Dr. Myra Haddock: Head of Prometheus Division, H's tech acquisition and adaptation arm. The Division was named after the Prometheus Pit, an inter- dimensional portal that Haddock eventually succeeded in mastering.
  
          Haddock demonstrated considerable distrust of others in H, and for a time deliberately hid her progress with the Prometheus Pit from her superiors. She was eventually found out, and Clarke used the knowledge to blackmail her into tricking Alpha Flight into using the Pit.
  
          During an attack by the Zodiac on Department H headquarters Haddock was targeted for death. The attempt failed, but Dr. Haddock was injured during the course of events. The reason that the Zodiac wanted her dead is not yet clear. Dr. Haddock has not appeared since she was injured.