—"Queen" Command and Control Center
"Natasha, you're back!"
Kagura greeted the long-absent Natasha Romanoff over the communication channel.
"Did you take care of that thing I asked?"
"Oh, if I'm back, that means it's done." Natasha replied with a hint of amusement.
"Now, let's get straight to the mission report."
"This concerns HYDRA and the ultimate secret behind 'Project Insight'—something even Nick Fury couldn't fully grasp. It was Alexander Pierce's little pet project."
First, let's address the most basic question: Is Alexander Pierce dead?
Although S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters has mostly been secured and Pierce seemingly perished in his dream office, courtesy of War Machine's repulsor blast, the truth is… the one who died was merely a decoy.
HYDRA had long mastered a technique using brainwashing and holographic projection technology to create and deploy doubles in their place.
So, where is the real Alexander Pierce?
To answer that, we need to discuss the full scope of HYDRA's version of 'Project Insight.'
Nick Fury's iteration of Project Insight involved deploying 24 Helicarriers to maintain round-the-clock surveillance and eliminate emerging terrorist threats and illegal armed forces, ensuring global peace and stability.
Say what you will about its feasibility, but at least the core intent was well-meaning.
By pushing threat prediction and risk assessment to an unprecedented level, it sought to preemptively snuff out crime and chaos before they could manifest.
While Captain America condemned it as a world ruled by fear, in reality, it was an approach to maintaining peace.
More than that, Fury's plan included the ability to monitor and counteract Rhodes Island Industries' global defense system.
In extreme cases, the Helicarriers could use specialized long-range sniper cannons from suborbital altitudes to target the "Halo" orbital stations—rendering Kagura's "Heaven's Hammer" useless and even compromising the "Argos" project itself.
This was Fury's Project Insight 2.0. A naive and clumsy plan, perhaps, but at least it attempted to uphold peace from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s perspective.
Natasha flipped to the next page of her report.
However, the HYDRA operatives embedded within S.H.I.E.L.D. quickly realized the vast potential of Project Insight.
As Pierce himself once said—Nick Fury had created a system capable of controlling and dominating the entire world, yet he intended to use it merely to fight terrorists.
To correct this 'oversight,' Pierce secretly modified the threat assessment algorithm.
The new parameters ensured that instead of targeting criminals and terrorist organizations, Project Insight would now identify and eliminate superheroes and anyone who posed a threat to HYDRA's rule.
If HYDRA's version of Project Insight were to be fully implemented, the Avengers and Rhodes Island Industries would be left with two choices—either submit to HYDRA's absolute rule or face total annihilation.
Natasha reached the final section of her report.
In truth, HYDRA's modified version of Project Insight was far more ambitious than Fury's original plan.
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Fifty thousand kilometers above Earth, the remnants of a Chitauri mothership drift in the cold expanse of space.
While the destruction of its hyperspace engine had caused most of the Chitauri fleet to collapse in on itself, and the mothership was nearly obliterated, significant portions of its technology and materials remained salvageable.
Additionally, the surrounding space contained a wealth of Chitauri starship debris, providing HYDRA with the perfect opportunity to construct a new spaceship in secret.
And that's exactly what they did.
HYDRA had no intention of limiting themselves to ruling Earth.
They sought to ascend beyond humanity and become gods.
And what is a god without a throne high above the stars?
A warship in space was simply the logical next step.
"So, you're telling me HYDRA built a spaceship using salvaged Chitauri wreckage?"
Kagura could hardly believe it. "How the hell did they pull that off?"
"Anything is possible, Kagura," Natasha explained over the comms.
"That transmission from Pierce earlier? It originated from seventy thousand kilometers out in deep space. My guess—it came straight from HYDRA's ship."
"Hmm… well, that would certainly make sense." Kagura nodded. "Still, the fact that HYDRA managed to build something this massive in just a few years is pretty impressive."
"Oh? And what exactly are you so surprised about?"
Natasha teased.
"Aren't you doing the exact same thing? I have a feeling you're just annoyed that they got their ship operational before you did."
"I am NOT upset!" Kagura huffed. "They just refurbished an old wreck. I'm building everything from scratch! That's called doing things properly!"
"Puhuhu, whatever you say. So, what's next?"
"Stick to the original plan—use 'Heaven's Hammer' to wipe out HYDRA's Helicarriers."
"As for that giant spaceship floating thousands of kilometers away… I have my own way of dealing with it."
"Then I'll leave it to you," Natasha said. "I've got other matters to handle. Give Barton and Bucky my regards."
"Got it. And thanks for gathering all this intel, Natasha." Kagura smiled. "We should go shopping together soon! It's been forever since we hung out!"
"Hahaha! You and your shopping! I'm busy, gotta go. Bye!"
Natasha Romanoff cut the transmission.
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"Master, the latest intelligence confirms HYDRA's presence in deep space, thousands of kilometers from Earth."
"At present, we lack the means to directly engage them, whereas they can attack the 'Halo' stations with ease."
"Yeah, I noticed that too." Kagura nodded.
"But it's fine. Sacrificing a few orbital platforms is no big deal. Stick to the plan—begin electromagnetic railgun strikes on all HYDRA-controlled Helicarriers attempting to launch."
"Command confirmed, Master." Cortana responded.
"Warning: 'Halo' Stations 11 and 9 over North America have been completely destroyed by an external attack. Three Helicarriers over Washington D.C. are continuing their ascent."
"Stark, you hearing this?"
"Loud and clear. So we just need to take down those three behemoths, right?"
Tony Stark gazed at the rising fireballs in the sky, already grasping the situation.
"Exactly! Now get that overpowered Iron Legion of yours moving!"
"Relax, Hitomi. You know I always deliver." Tony smirked. "J.A.R.V.I.S., initiate 'Clean Slate' protocol."
"Sir, are you certain?" J.A.R.V.I.S. hesitated. "These are your creations."
"J.A.R.V.I.S., some things can be replaced—old ones go, new ones come. But there are some things I will never allow to be harmed." Tony Stark exhaled calmly.
"The suits are just tools. I am Iron Man."
"Understood, sir." J.A.R.V.I.S. mobilized the Iron Legion, sending them toward the ascending HYDRA Helicarriers.
Tony Stark leaned back, spreading his arms. "Alright then, let's enjoy a fireworks show worth billions of dollars."
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