A YJA Moment - Alpha Flight

Inspired by the Covert Action Teams of the United States, Department H, had developed its own program for metahumans agents of the Canadian government.  Code-named the Flight program, much of the program was composed of training teams, known within the program as Beta, Gamma, and Omega Flights.  There was only one field team, known appropriately as Alpha Flight.

It was a very well kept secret that much of the development of Flight assets were developed by the shadowy Department K, which had been established to research paranatural phenomena and develop countermeasures.  Even more secretive was that the entirety of Department K was actually part of Weapons Plus, who had assimilated it in order to gain access to Adamantium-expert Omo Kurokaze and his supply of the unbreakable metal.

Alpha Flight itself, like the Sword, was a covert unit, operating under the notice of the general populace.  This was because publicly Canada had put its full confidence in the Justice League to protect it from metahuman threats, as well as discourage the proliferation of national super-teams.

In the wake of the Reach Invasion, confidence in the League in Canada fell to an all-time low. Critics questioned the government's unwavering support for the U.N. Charter and the Justice League as a whole.  As it was an electron year, the Prime Minister felt compelled to answer the complaints, especially in light of his falling approval rating.

Thus the decision was made to retool Alpha Flight into a national and public super-team.  To that end, team-leader James Hudson retooled his Vindicator suit into a more patriotic Guardian identity.

He was joined by the twins Aurora and Northstar, metahumans which possessed photokinesis, flight, and superspeed; Puck, who possessed enhanced strength, reflexes, and durability; Sasquatch, who once gained his Hulk-like powers from Gamma Radiation but now housed a mythical spirit; and shapeshifting Inuit demi-goddess Snowbird.

Though they were overshadowed by the dominant presence of The Shield (aka The Avengers), they were popular in Canada and instilled a renewed sense of national pride.  This was only enhanced after the Watchtower Incident when Alpha Flight had to step up and protect not only Canada, but much of the Arctic as well.