With Hill's authorization secured, Marcus didn't hesitate to equip himself properly. He first added a lethal combat knife and a few smoke grenades to his loadout — and then his gaze locked onto the ultimate prize hanging on the weapon rack: a monstrous, rocket-launcher-sized gun whose barrel looked capable of swallowing a small cannon.
Compared to it, the Barrett anti-materiel sniper rifle mounted beside it looked like a child's toy.
This weapon's designation was BFG — a prototype designed by S.H.I.E.L.D. using fragments of the Destroyer, the Asgardian automaton once defeated by Thor. Reverse-engineered from its energy system, the BFG fired concentrated beams of destructive plasma — its power surpassed that of nearly every other man-portable weapon on Earth. A single shot could obliterate a modern main battle tank, and with precise aim, even take down an aircraft midflight.
For Marcus — whose ranged capabilities had been limited so far — it was the perfect addition to his arsenal.
He slung the weapon across his back, its sheer weight barely noticeable to his augmented body, and stepped out of the armory fully armed and ready for war.
---
S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier — Deployment Bay
The deployment hangar on the lowest deck of the Helicarrier was massive — a sealed chamber lined with rows of maglev fighters, armored Humvees, and special operations motorcycles.
By the time Marcus arrived, the other Avengers and assembled S.H.I.E.L.D. strike teams were already gathered around Nick Fury.
Because several members were deployed to coordinate with the U.S. Navy's carrier fleet, only four of the core Avengers were present for this operation: Captain America, Bruce Banner, Thor, and Black Widow.
Even so, dozens of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and support troops stood ready — this was no lone-hero assault.
When Marcus entered, heads turned — at first, with casual curiosity. Then, realization dawned. The man in the sleek black stealth suit wasn't just another field agent. He was their newest Avenger.
For a moment, silence fell. His quiet, composed presence drew their attention more effectively than any dramatic entrance could have.
"Something wrong with my face?" Marcus asked dryly, adjusting the mask that hid most of his features. The voice modulator in his helmet lent his tone a deep, magnetic resonance — smooth yet indistinct, the kind that lingered in memory but was impossible to place.
Captain America chuckled. "Nothing, other than the fact I almost didn't recognize you."
Before anyone could continue, Fury's commanding voice cut through the noise. "All right, Avengers — listen up. Let's talk about the mission."
He pressed a button on the console, and a holographic projection of Sokovia's terrain flickered to life — a vast mountain range dominated by an ancient fortress built into a sheer cliffside.
"This," Fury said, pointing toward the holographic citadel, "is our target — Hydra's secret research base. Don't let the size of the visible fortress fool you. Hydra's dug into the entire mountain. What you're looking at here is just the surface entrance to a massive underground complex — heavily armed and likely housing a small army."
He zoomed in on the structure. "We can't risk an airstrike. The virus research data we need could be destroyed. That leaves us one option — a full-scale ground assault."
Captain America frowned, his eyes narrowing on the map. "That's going to cost a lot of lives, Director."
"Only if you let it," Fury replied curtly. His gloved finger tapped a section of the projection — a dense forested area near the base of the mountain. "This is their weakest defensive zone. It's not exactly a vulnerability, but it's as close as we're going to get. We'll drop in through the forest — hit them before they know what's happening."
He looked up, scanning every face in the room before his gaze settled on Marcus. "You all know the plan. Follow orders, hit them hard, and make sure Hydra remembers what happens when they cross S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers. Captain — the floor's yours."
Captain America stepped forward, the soldiers instinctively straightening at his presence. His voice carried that familiar blend of conviction and warmth — the kind that inspired even the most exhausted to stand taller.
"This won't be an easy fight," he said, his tone steady and resolute. "Some of us may not make it back. Freedom always comes with a price — it always has. So here's my first and last order: if they hit you, hit back harder. If they try to break you — don't let them."
The soldiers chuckled softly, a wave of determination spreading through the ranks. That was Steve Rogers — reminding them that courage wasn't about the absence of fear, but the will to fight through it.
Marcus, however, remained indifferent. He wasn't here for freedom or heroism. His war was personal — and his loyalty, an illusion.
Once the briefing ended, the troops and Avengers moved to their vehicles. Engines roared to life, the hangar filling with mechanical thunder.
Marcus headed toward a special operations motorcycle — fast, maneuverable, and perfect for operating alone. His objectives didn't align with the team's formation-based tactics, and S.H.I.E.L.D. had already labeled him a stealth operative. No one questioned it.
Except one.
"Thought you'd be sticking with us," Captain America called out as Marcus mounted the bike.
Marcus turned slightly, his voice carrying through the comms. "For me, this is teamwork." He tapped his earpiece, smirking beneath his mask.
The massive hangar doors began to open with a low, grinding roar. A blast of icy air surged inside, sweeping through the assembled troops. Beyond the deck, snow fell in thick, swirling sheets — the forests and mountains of Sokovia buried beneath a white expanse.
Winter had come early here, the cold fierce enough to sting through armor. The ancient fortress loomed in the distance, its stone walls barely visible through the storm.
Perfect cover for an ambush — or a massacre.
"Target confirmed: Sokovia," Fury's voice echoed through the comms.
Captain America raised his shield and shouted, "Avengers — move out!"
Engines flared to life as magnetic hovercraft, armored Humvees, and tactical bikes roared from the hangar into the open sky, descending rapidly through the snowstorm like steel comets.
Marcus's motorcycle hit the snow-covered ground first, landing in a cushioned spray of white powder. The suspension absorbed the impact effortlessly, and he accelerated smoothly into the dense forest.
Behind him, the others followed — expert agents maneuvering between the trees, regrouping quickly in formation.
But Marcus twisted his handlebars, veering off from the main column. Within moments, he vanished into the blizzard, his signal the only faint red dot still visible on the Helicarrier's tactical map.
Fury noticed, but said nothing. Letting Marcus operate independently was part of the plan. The mission would test where his true allegiance lay — Hydra or S.H.I.E.L.D.
If Marcus wanted to prove he'd severed ties with his past, this was his chance to do it.
The war for Sokovia had begun.
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T/N:
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