WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for "Leverage," Episode 15 of Young Justice: Outsiders, streaming now on DC Universe.
When the Justice League allowed Robin (Dick Grayson), Kid Flash (Wally West) and Aqualad (Kaldur'ahm) to form their own superhero group, the unit took on the name "The Team." While it's not as catchy as "Teen Titans," or even "Young Justice," it stuck throughout Seasons 1 to 3. The Justice League uses The Team as its covert operations unit, sent on reconnaissance and fact-finding missions that can't be undertaken by the better-known heroes.
One of those missions brought The Team's Gamma Squad -- Artemis, Beast Boy, Geo-Force, Tara, Halo and Forager -- to Russia in "Leverage," to find information on the country's new government-sponsored metahuman program. However, the outcome of the mission allows a major DC character to learn about the Justice League's top-secret team.
The Cat's Out Of The Bag
Gamma Squad's journey to Russia pits them against the Suicide Squad and Russia's own Rocket Red Brigade. Thankfully, the heroes are able to defeat the Suicide Squad and return Black Manta, Monsieur Mallah and Captain Boomerang to Belle Reve Penitentiary. The Team's leader, Kaldur (now going by Aquaman), was there to greet the villains, which include his father.
However, Aquaman isn't expecting to be confronted by Amanda Waller, the former warden at Belle Reve. Before Task Force X is defeated by Gamma Squad, Black Manta informs her that Artemis and Beast Boy are part of the Justice League's covert-ops team. That comes as a surprise to Waller and Captain Boomerang, although the former realizes how valuable the information is.
Waller confronts Aquaman at Belle Reve to let him know she's aware of The Team and its link to the Justice League. She calls it being "transparent," as her Suicide Squad is a covert-ops unit of the United States government. However, whereas The Team voluntarily signs up to be heroes, the villains of the Suicide Squad are forced into dangerous situations. If Aquaman wants to keep the existence of The Team a secret, he'll have to do the same for Waller's Task Force X.
Waller has a knack for finding out the biggest secrets of DC's superheroes. If we look at the comics, she recently revealed in Action Comics that she has known Clark Kent is Superman. Justice League Unlimited also showed Waller knew Batman and Bruce Wayne are one and the same.
How this discovery plays out in the remaining episodes of Young Justice: Outsiders remains to be seen. With the Suicide Squad officially a part of the DC Universe series, it's only a matter of time before they cross paths with The Team for Round 2.
New episodes of Young Justice: Outsiders premiere Tuesdays throughout the summer on DC Universe.