Chapter 110: Triskelion(1/4)
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***HR. Watch Tower Station***
Felicity Megan Smoak aka Over Watch for Team Arrow in Starling City. She was a beautiful woman with golden blond hair (that may or may not be dyed) with crystal blue eyes. She had a rectangular figure bordering on hourglass. She kept in shape, especially during and after the invasion. More than once she had been called out into the field to help Team Arrow, or any other JLI in a dire situation where teleportation was a no go. Something that at first had terrified her, but she did her best with the tools she had.
During one of her excursions from the Arrow bunker (Arrow Club House) She got into a tussle with several low lives looking for some fun. That was when something took over and before she knew it she had defeated three grown men, and had the fourth in an arm lock on the ground. She had let the men go and they had all ran for their lives completely underestimating the 120 pound 5'5” woman. Felicity didn't understand what had happened. After she retrieved the team in the field she came back to the bunker and sat down with Diggle.
John Thomas Diggle aka Spartan of Team Arrow sat down with her to talk. She had thought something was wrong with her. Diggle reminded her that over a year ago Wraith had imprinted them with skills. The entire team got a computer skill while she got martial arts. Felicity had been using it as a form of exercise she had never once used it in an actual fight. But apparently the imprint didn't care and it had become muscle memory. To almost prove a point Diggle, and Felicity sparred in the bunker and Felicity dropped Diggle with in a minute. Diggle a trained special forces soldier. It was true that he had underestimated her. The next fight Diggle eventually won, but it was a bit of a contest.
Half way through their third spar Felicity felt like a door opened up in her mind and a plethora of information came flooding out. She suddenly had all the first year information for boxing, judo, muay thai, krav maga. But she also got something else. The creation, and manipulation of life energy? When her hand started to glow with pink to white energy and she put a fist imprint into a steel alloy door Diggle told her to go to the Watch Tower.
Scientifically speaking it was called Bio-Electricity. In the East is was called Ki, Qi, Chi, or what have you. For what ever reason the imprint left behind by Wraith selected the best possible form of martial arts to feed into Felicity. Including Ki manipulation. For the past month she had been getting assisted lessons from some of the supernatural trainers aboard the station. When she punched a pounds per square inch measuring device and got 3,000 psi she was informed she was cleared for field duty.
Field duty!? She didn't want to go into the field! (Forgetting she had done it already on several occasions) She was an IT girl, she sat behind the desk and kept watch! But all the same, they got her measured, and fitted for a light armored tiered JLI suit. Even if she never used it, it was currently sitting in the Team Arrow bunker. Felicity was also required to spend at least four hours a week in the Watch Tower training her ability. Despite all the new changes, secretly Felicity had been enjoying the attention. When you spend so much time around superheroes you tend to be filled with envy. Now? Felicity was learning that she could create shields, or even help heal wounds! She seriously needed to thank Wraith for the imprint. She was currently wondering what a giant lizard could use for a present? Oooo! A giant sun bathing rock!
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***Rift. Story/Cross Over. Washington D.C. Triskelion***
The Triskelion is one of the original three official headquarters for SHIELD, alongside the Hub and SHIELD Headquarters. It was an elaborate structure that had three reinforced concrete and glass structures raising to the sky. With an additional cap on top of the three towers. Several air bridges connected the three towers between the floors. The towers went into a main super structure that was hidden underground that went for several hundred feet.
The Triskelion was built next to a river, this river was part of the buildings cover as well as a form of natural hydro electric energy. A four lane concrete bridge went across the river that linked the base to a large road off to the side. Though the road it self was under heavy guard civilians technically could drive on it. The gate house was reinforced with hidden automated turrets, and giant spike trip going in and out of the gate house. Along with a long strip of bridge that was always being watched by several dozen armed guards with military special operations training.
Hidden under the river were five underground dry dock bays for the insight hellicarriers (2nd generation) Along the river was a concrete flood breaker, and an additional breaker between each dry dock. From the air was clear that the river barely disguised what was underneath the river. But since it was a no fly zone very few people truly understood the terror that could be unleashed from the river.
Today was an important day! The Insight Hellicarriers were meant to be launched. A new wave of security would spread across the globe. Each carrier a mobile base capable of traveling anywhere in the world. Carrying quin-jets, soldiers, and materials to anywhere the UN was allowed to fly. The United Nations World Security Council had arrived a few minutes ago and were being shown around the Triskelion. Alexander Goodwin Pierce aka Secretary Pierce was leading them around the facility.
Pierce was an older gentleman with a gray business suit, salt and pepper blond hair, blue eyes, and warm smile that would make people trust him. He walked with a type of confidence that comes with walking through the worlds shit. But still kept his head about him. He saw the big picture, as well as the small one for everyone around him. He traded conversation with the council, a few playful barbs, and dry wit. All the while Pierce held a secret so close to his chest that most of his family didn't even know.
When Pierce and the council arrived in the central communications room where several of the other council who couldn't make it were on holographic phone. Pierce handed out champagne glasses to everyone with a smile. They talked shop about this and that. While a few asked after Captain Rogers and his current location. Regretfully Pierce didn't know the location of Captain America, some of the council couldn't believe Rogers was guilty of anything. Except for maybe being to naive.
“Attention, all SHIELD agents. This is Steve Rogers. You've heard a lot about me over the last few days, some of you were even ordered to hunt me down. But I think it's time you know the truth. SHIELD has been infiltrated,” Steve Rogers voice played over the intercom of the building. Pierce being quick witted pulled out his phone and started to type on it.
“HYDRA has infiltrated SHIELD. Alexander Pierce is their leader.” Steve continued and the security council turned to look at him. Pierce didn't even try to deny it, he just shrugged his shoulders and gave them a half smile.
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Sergeant James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes aka The Winter Soldier, and Carl Creal aka the Absorbing Man were walking casually through an underground entrance of the Triskelion. The entrance was guarded by HYDRA forces. When Carl walked up with a smile for them. The guards stood down. They had heard reports of him being captured. But with the Winter Soldier walking behind them they figured they had escaped and returned for duty. But as Carl got with in spitting distance of them Steve came over the intercom.
“Ooooo! Bad Timing!” Carl said as he swung his fist out and connected it straight towards one of the HYDRA thugs. The man's face caved in, as bone, and brain matter splattered across his team mates. Carl's entire body took on a blueish metallic sheen. The soldiers fired on him, and the bullets hit the metal skin and slid to the ground all kinetic energy was absorbed into him.
Bucky not one for standing idle raised a gauss rifle that had been designed by Lash. He popped each soldier in the head with a single shot. Then moved to the door and waited for a moment. The door lock went from red to green. Bucky checked the corners then stood to the side as Carl walked in with out a care. Dozens of soldiers started to fire on him, while Bucky walked behind him and fired around Carl.
For a brief moment Bucky flinched and missed a single shot. Carl was quick to throw a chair at the remaining soldier. The chair went through the soldier, and stuck out of the wall. Carl looked back at Bucky as he tried to shake his head clear of thoughts. Carl had been doing that all day. Little things would happen and he would relive a memory. Then he would feel a snap in the back of his head and the doo dad that Lash put in would catalog the memory and store it away for later. Or at least that is what the God of Monsters said it did.
“You good to move?” Carl asked his fellow brainwashed assassin. Bucky didn't say a word just nodded that he was good.
“The STRIKE and Insight crew are HYDRA as well. I don't know how many more, but I know they're in the building.” Steve continued over the intercom.
“As he always had that kind of voice?” Carl asked Bucky.
“Ya, even before the serum.” Bucky said, understanding the question about Steve. Steve just had the kind of voice that made you want to trust him.
“Sargent Barnes, Mr. Creel please proceed a hundred feet forward and take the first door on your left.” The synthetic voice of JARVIS spoke through their earbuds.
“Copy that, moving.” Carl replied, and started moving forward again with Bucky behind him.
Carl was feeling different. He had always been different, ever since he learned how to absorb and change his body. But this was...Well, it was different! Carl made a face and not finding the right word for the situation. Lash said he had optimized him, what ever that meant! The guy was seriously terrifying! Carl didn't know how people could stand to be in the same room as him. All of Carl's instincts told him to run and hide and hope the god wouldn't find him.
Carl moved through the designated door, they walked in to find a simple utility closet. But that was planned. They walked up to the wall and here came the...Different part. Carl reached out and grabbed Bucky. Bucky took a moment then took a deep breath and held it. Carl pressed his hand against the concrete wall and pushed. The wall rippled like a pond. Carl pushed through, and dragged Bucky through with him. After about thirty or so feet of...Walking? Carl, and Bucky came out the other end inside the Insight Hellicarriers hangar bay.
“That was....weird.” Bucky said as he tried to shake out the feeling.
“Speaking to the choir man, and I'm the one doing it!” Carl said with a grimace. He had just pulled himself, and Bucky through a wall. With all their gear intact!
“Team Delta in position.” Bucky said over their communications.
“They could be standing right next to you. They almost have what they want with the help of the Insight Helicarriers: absolute control.” Steve's voice echoed through the hangar.
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“As of now you should all be receiving a phone app on your mobile device. This is provided by our friendly Asgardian Lash, Jormungandson. Those of you that have been confirmed to be loyal to SHIELD will be green.” A Phantasm image of a green SHIELD eagle expanded from each mobile device of any loyal agent.
“While any HYDRA agent will get a red signal, and image. When in range of any HYDRA agent the app will show you all the recorded evidence you need to verify the truth. This way you know I am not just simply spreading dissent in the ranks.” Steven continue to say as any HYDRA agent got a red Phantasm image of a red HYDRA skull.
“The threat is real. HYDRA is among us. They shot Nick Fury. And it won't end there.” Steve continued to speak over the line.
Across the globe this speech was being sent to every recorded SHIELD base. Installation, bunker, safe house, and operations team currently across the globe. Hundreds of thousands of messages through instant messaging, e-mails, hell even social media! Military personnel from dozens of countries, government officials, officers of the law, the damn barista that made coffee for the local mayors daughter. Their phones all turned red, and a Phantasm of HYDRA appeared. Many people tossed their phones! But it was to late, the Phantasm stayed on them!
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Jonathan "John" Garrett aka traitor to SHIELD was in a bad position. He was currently sitting in the Hub one of SHIELD's bases trying to help Phil kill Victoria Hand who they believed to be part of HYDRA until the message from Rogers went over and Garrett had a big red HYDRA mark on him. Phil was looking at him in shock, as his phone beeped at him and a Phantasm image of all of Garrett's crimes were highlighted.
“Well this crap shoot! Ward! Help your SO out?” Garrett said with a smile at his undercover agent. Phil's team looked toward Agent Ward, Ward looked at Garrett like he was insane. So he lifted his ICER and shot Garrett point blank. Much to the confusion of Garrett.
“Oh thank god!” Sky said, letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding. On Ward's hip was a SHIELD logo.
“What did he mean by that?” Phil asked Ward. Ward for his credit looked crushed! He was completely taken by surprise that Garrett was HYDRA. He felt a crackle in the back of his head. But after a moment he felt that he had made the right choice.
“I don't know sir. I had no idea Garrett was HYDRA.” Ward said to Phil, there was a brief moment shared between them. Then Phil nodded in acceptance. They started to move through the base again.
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Agent Roberto "Robert" Gonzales was a high level SHIELD officer, and commander officer of the lliad. A good ole fashion naval aircraft carrier. He had served in SHIELD for most of his life. He had seen many operations fall to pieces and watched good men, and women die for stupid reasons. Each time his heart would crack, but it never broke. He pushed on and always did his best to prepare his people for any possibility. But this...This was too much!
Gonzales phone beeped at him and he received a green logo, as did most of the room. While six specific individuals clearly did not get a green log. A red HYDRA logo appeared from their phones. There was a brief tense moment then everyone drew their sidearms and started to shoot! Oddly enough when a few of the HYDRA agents tried to fire their weapons their phones sent out an electrical burst that stunned them for a brief moment. Long enough for the SHIELD agents to drop them.
“Sound general alert! Weed out HYDRA! Do it room by room if you have to!” Gonzales screamed as his people as they jumped to follow his orders. But even from where they were in the ship they could hear the cacophony of gun shots.
“If the agents of SHIELD will accept help. Lash Jormungandson will be sending reinforcements to every SHIELD installation. Please work with them to secure your area's of operation.” Steve said once more of the communication line. Gonzales blinked, how will they send reinforcements?
A bright green, and blue flash of light burst into the command center of the lliad. The light gave ways to orbs of energy. That soon started to take shape in the design of program code. The code was written in a language that no one understood, even more so if one tried to read it they would get a severe head ache. The code spread through out the room and took shape of twenty one 6'6” tall reptilian soldiers. With Asgardian Einherjar gear, with the SHIELD logo on their shoulders, chest, and back.
The Saurus Warriors stretched out and met the eyes of the SHIELD agents in the room. The twenty first reptilian soldier looked taller. Standing at 7' even with ornate armor, and a command rank. His skull crest was elongated, and held far more tribal marks on his scales. This was a veteran. The warriors, and veteran saluted. The veteran turned towards Gonzales.
“Commander Gonzales, Asgard as come to aid SHIELD in eradicating the parasite known as HYDRA. Permission to assist your forces in fighting them off?” The Veteran spoke in a very animalistic voice that was harsh on the ears. None the less Gonzales understood him.
“I...Yes! Please by all means!” Gonzales said, he was clearly not happy about having an alien strike team on his ship but he could swallow it down for now.
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“If you allow the Helicarriers to launch today, HYDRA will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way, unless we stop them,” Steve's voice continued over the intercom in the building. The people listening could hear his exhaustion hidden in his voice. “I know I'm asking a lot... but the price of freedom is high. It always has been.”
“And it's a price I'm willing to pay. And If I'm the only one, so be it.” A brief pregnant pause passed, then. “But I'm willing to bet I'm not.” Steve finished and cut the feed.
“Did you write that down first? Or was it off the top of your head?” Sam Wilson said from behind Steve who looked back at him with a smile.
“I was an actor once. All teams we are a go!” Steve said over their communication line.
A thundering roar rang from the river. It was so loud, and filled with power that the windows across the entire building shook. Steve, Sam, and Hill who were in a communication hub on the twentieth floor could see a 60 foot tall kaiju creature burst from the river. Saurian as he liked to be called burst from the river and jumped through the opening bay doors of the Insight hellicarriers hangar.
While up top Iron Man, and War Machine flew through the sky towards the tarmac of the quin-jets, and fighter craft to start shoot any HYDRA controlled air craft. A green giant by the name of Hulk jumped over the river like a kid jumping over a stream. Landing among the APC's, LAV's, and tanks. Hulk disabled their wheels, and their guns with ruthless precision. A child like grin on his face.
“Alright people, let's get to it.” Steve said, Sam nodded and left with him. Hill stayed in the communication hub to help quarterback the operation.
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“That god damn monster!” Pierce said in anger as he watched as Saurian jumped through the opening bay doors.
Pierce stood in the main communication room with a look of displeasure. Standing around the room with him were the security council, along with a STRIKE unit. The councilors on holographic had been either captured, killed, or were one of theirs. Pierce was typing away on his phone when he noticed a helicopter was flying in to land on the helipad just outside his office. Before he knew it one of his soldiers flew through the air and slammed into the large glass windows so hard it sent cracks across the rest. Pierce turned around in surprise as he saw Black Widow, and Hawkeye materialize out of thin air to attack the STRIKE team.
Black Widow moved through the STRIKE team with such speed that Pierce could barely see her. She left after images! She punched a soldier and caved in his chest cavity. A mechanical whirl range out as the exoskeleton she was wearing reset for another blow. Hawkeye stood in the back shooting arrow, after arrow with quick precision. The arrows appearing out of thin air every time he pulled the string back on his bow. Soon enough Pierce was alone in the room the two assassins and the council.
“I'm sorry, did we ruin your moment?” Natasha said with a smile as her face mask pulled back to reveal her face. Pierce glared at her, but kept his smile.
“I see the alien made your suits again. Wonderful technology! Imagine what we could have done with that.” Pierce said, his voice warm and soothing despite the situation. Natasha smirked at him as she walked over and restrained him with ease.
Piece was forced to his knees, his phone taken from him. As he was pulled to his feet he saw who had landed. His eyes went wide as Nick Fury walked across the helipad and into the office. He looked just fine. In fact he looked amazing! He walked across the office with the grace of a warrior from younger days. He stood face to face with Pierce.
“You get my flowers?” Pierce asked with a smile. Fury glowered at him and walked past him.
“Director your alive!” One of the councilors said with a look of relief.
“Ya, we have a certain reptile to thank for that.” Fury admitted and enjoyed watching Pierce's face take on a sour look.
“JARVIS we up and running?” Nick asked into his communication line. The long pane of glass that acted as a touch screen computer in the middle of the office turned on. A golden, red icon of JARVIS/ Iron Man ask appeared.
“Yes Director Fury! Lash's tech-spirits are helping me process the information at an accelerated rate. Saurus Warriors, and Veterans are being deployed to all SHIELD and HYDRA locations across the globe... WARNING! HYDRA contingency plans enabled! Director, rooms not found in the Triskelion's blue prints have opened.” JARVIS's voice took on an edge as he produced dozens of images. Fury's eye twitched, while Pierce had a smile on his face.
All across the Triskelion walls slid to the side and out poured hundreds of Centipede soldiers, and Winter Soldiers. Individuals with partial super-soldier serums. While from the air hundreds of Deathlok cyborgs flew down from the sky breaking camouflage. The original SHIELD hellicarrier turned its cloak off and appeared above the base. Pierce started to laugh and the room turned to look at him.
“What, you didn't really think we hadn't planned for this?” Pierce asked.
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“ROOOOOOAR!” Saurian's scream of fury rang out across the hangar bay. He used Intimidating Shout and froze hundreds of centipede soldiers in place. He jumped down from his perch and whipped his tail around base balling dozens of them into the air, and into the walls behind them.
Despite the clear and present danger the centipede, and winter soldiers didn't hesitate to jump and attack Saurian. Climbing on him like African ants on an elephant. They bounded on his armor, and tore at his scales. Saurian's tendrils reacted and impaled them. Then he rolled across the ground like a steam roller leaving behind blood red wet smears. BAM! Saurian took a shell shot from one of the Insight carriers as it was attempting to leave the dock. One by one the five carriers were taking off. Well except one, the one Saurian had landed on.
Saurian did not care for the insight carriers integrity and destroyed one of its repulsion engines. While he one of his Elites systematically clean the ship out from the inside. The HYDRA crew were quickly being dispatched as the Elites own tech-spirits were shutting the carrier down one program down at a time. Saurian shook off another swarm of mosquitoes and rushed towards the next insight carrier. The turrets all turned and fire on him.
Normally Saurian would use an assortment of abilities to stop them. But his energy was incredibly low. His own tech-spirits were draining him of everything he had just to weed out HYDRA across the world. While his Warriors, Veterans, and Elites used their own to aid their forces. So Saurian pushed on and took another shell straight to his skull crest. It bounced off his metallic scales and left his own head ringing... The bells! The bells!
Saurian jumped the last few hundred feet like a giant predator. Claws on his hands, and feet sticking forward. He raked his claws through SHIELD steel alloy like it was butter. Then started to climb up to the deck of the ship. The turrets tried to move but were not designed to shoot themselves like that. Saurian raced to one of the repulsion engines and ripped through the armor with ease. The entire engine shut down and the carrier listed to one side and started to drag through the rest of the hangar.
“Incoming!” Saurian roared across the hangar, and across their comms.
“Oh shit!” Carl called over the comms. Saurian stuck to the tarmac thanks to Gravity Stride he looked like a giant gecko. He moved to the end and saw Carl was about to be smooshed. There was a brief moment that made Saurian wonder if he could even be smooshed anymore?
Saurian reached out with the dregs of his energy and used Telekinesis to catapult Carl across the hangar and out of the way. He was still a flying piece of vibranium but he stuck the landing like a champ!
“Creeeeeeel! Bomb!” Carl shouted at the top of his lungs and landed among the winter soldiers. A shock wave of debris scattered around like a fragmentation grenade.
“All teams! HYDRA brought the original hellicarrier to us. Be advised cyborg deathloks are flying out of the hangar bays.” Fury shouted over the line.
Saurian looked up and saw hundreds of people flying through the sky. Iron Man, and War Machine were trying to fight them off. The deathlok's were using a combination of Chitauri tech, and partial iron man suits. Poor comparisons to the real thing, but it was enough. Tony was swearing up a storm about copy cats. Saurian ignored it for now and went to the next engine. He disabled that one too and now the ship was flat on the ground. Well sideways on the ground inside the hangar. The other four insight carriers had flown the coop.
“Brother Saurian! Hulk have idea!” The giant green monster jump down from the open bay door above. Saurain turned to look at him. The jolly green giant was wearing a purple polymer suit with vibranium weave in it.
“Saurian throw Hulk!” Hulk said with a smile, as he pointed at the original SHIELD hellicarrier in the sky. It was true, they could see it from where they were underground. Saurian laughed in delight, he twisted around and brought his tail towards Hulk.
“No, use one of...Ohhh!” Hulk was pointing at one of Saurian's tentacles but then he saw that Saurian's tail tip split apart.
Saurian used his tail to grip Hulk then spun around like a top! Around, and around he went then with a crack that broke the sound barrier! Hulk went screaming into the sky like a giant green and purple meteor of destruction. All the while laughing like a child on a sugar high!
“Hulk has left the building! And he is airborne!” War Machine said over the line.
“He could go all the way! Yes! Yes! It's a home run!” Iron Man continued as Hulk slammed into the hellicarrier above them. The entire ship tilted to the side for a brief moment then started to shake violently.
“HULK IS BEST!” Hulk screamed over the radio.
Saurian chuckled a little and then jumped into the air and caught the edge of the hangar bay doors. He pulled himself up back to the surface. He crouched down like a giant cat and then leaped into the air. He snagged the tail end of another insight hellicarrier much to the astonishment of several people. He slowly crawled his way up. Then smiled, revealing his many fangs at the insight crew on the tarmac of the carrier.
“Hello there...” Saurian said in his crocodile voice.
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Doctor Werner Reinhardt aka Daniel Whitehall was currently taking deep controlled breaths inside of his HYDRA building. The man had seen many years, and many different wars. He had weathered the storm as always, and he would weather through this. His people were moving with quick precision to catalog, and store any data. Packing up any equipment that could be carried. They were moving to another facility. One that was not on any HYDRA list. One that was specifically purchased by Whitehall himself.
Whitehall was standing at one of the large windows in his officer as he listened to a report from his right hand man. Sunil Bakshi, an intelligent man, and loyal to Whitehall alone. Bakshi was reading off a list of HYDRA bases under attack. As well as hundreds of their agents that had been confirmed found, and even killed by the phone app given to SHIELD by the Asgardian. Bakshi was about to continue his report when the lights started to flicker.
“Most distressing... Find out what is going on will you?” Whitehall asked Bakshi then took a sip of his whiskey.
“Yes sir!” Bakshi said with a crisp stand at attention. He picked up the phone and dialed a number. The lights continued to flicker...Then Bakshi's face went pale. He slowly put the phone down, and set it to speaker.
“Attention all HYDRA agents. You are currently being served a red notice. I am an Elite tasked by my master Saurian to rip, and tear you apart. Please remain where you are, those who run will be tortured before you die. Those who stand still will die quickly. But all of you will be going to my masters personal hell.” The-->>