"This is a disaster."
Margaret Carter looked over the towering stack of reports on her desk, her expression grim.
The death of Project Renaissance's lead scientist, Abraham Erskine, a month prior to the final tests, had left a gaping hole in the development of the super soldier serum and cast doubt on the security of the stockpile.
At least Abraham had known how to play his hand. He destroyed every trace of his research and sacrificed himself to eliminate his attacker, leveling his personal lab in the process.
The timing of the attack was uncanny. Artoria was in Europe, Morgan was lecturing at Harvard, Nick Fury was elsewhere on the reservation, and Howard had taken time off with his wife. With most of the top agents away, someone had slipped a Hydra infiltrator in under the radar.
The investigations were swift, exposing traitors within the upper echelons of government. And yet, one silver lining remained.
"Luckily, Miss Morgan knows the procedures to continue the project. Without her, everything would have been delayed. With her guidance, we can begin volunteer tests in three months, though replicating the serum without Professor Abraham will be nearly impossible."
Project Renaissance's security was stringent. Only Howard, Abraham, Morgan, and Chester knew the production steps, and only Abraham knew the formula in full. With him gone, the others couldn't reproduce the serum entirely.
"I'll need to organize everything meticulously. There's no margin for error the first trial must succeed."
Carter tidied the scattered papers and rose, heading for the general affairs office. There was still much to do.
Months later, February 4, 1943, marked the beginning of the first super soldier trials. Few volunteers passed the grueling aptitude tests; most weren't suited for the extreme experimentation.
Finally, a suitable candidate emerged not perfect physically, but embodying duty and resilience: Steve Rogers.
Artoria herself had encouraged him to try. Steve wondered why a renowned heroine from Europe would take interest in a simple kid from Brooklyn. Yet, he accepted, and they approved him. Now he was days away from receiving the serum.
"Your body is undernourished but functions well, reflexes normal, no obvious illnesses… aside from being thin, you're in excellent health."
In the adjacent medical room, Steve sat nervously on a gurney while Morgan conducted routine pretest checks, Artoria and Nick Fury observing.
"It's a hunch, but I believe in him. Professor Abraham also thought he was a suitable candidate," Artoria noted, recalling his determination despite lagging behind during training.
"A soldier's worth isn't measured by achievements but by unwavering commitment. This young man embodies that."
Fury nodded. "Let's hope so, it's our only chance."
"Corporal Rogers, preparations are complete. Miss Carter will guide you to the testing location," Fury instructed. Steve nodded formally.
"I'll go with Professor Abraham. He needs final preparation," Morgan added, stepping toward the serum lab.
"Then let's get started," Fury quipped.
In the test chamber, Steve entered a capsule resembling an iron maiden. Miss Carter explained safety protocols professionally, while Morgan, with a mischievous glint, did little to soothe him.
"Mr. Rogers, several needles will inject a potentially lethal liquid, triggering transformation that will tear muscles, break bones, and test your willpower. Any questions?"
Steve gulped. "Is… it too late to retire?"
Morgan's eyes sparkled dangerously. Steve reconsidered maybe Bucky should have gone first.
"Focus, Mr. Rogers. You must be ready for the best outcome," Carter instructed, while Artoria monitored from the security room.
With everyone cleared, the capsule sealed. The serum flowed. Vital signs spiked; Steve screamed. Panels blared warnings.
Only Artoria and Morgan remained calm they could see beyond the monitors.
Seconds later, the capsule stabilized. Vital signs normalized.
"Looks like it worked. Get him out before he gets claustrophobic," Morgan ordered.
The hatch opened. The same frail boy stepped out transformed: a muscular Adonis, proportioned perfectly, every inch a symbol of power.
"How do you feel, Mr. Rogers?" Fury asked.
"Like I just climbed out of a boiling pot of needles," Steve groaned, testing his new body.
"You'll need conditioning to master your strength. We won't go easy on you," Artoria warned, eyes serious.
"First, medical tests," she added, guiding Fury and Steve.
"Seems things turned out well," Artoria noted to Carter, who exhaled after weeks of tension.
"If this is the first step toward counterattacking Hydra and the Axis, I'm grateful," Carter said, straightening with resolve.
Steve's early missions highlighted his loyalty, camaraderie, and bravery not flashy heroics. He became a symbol, "Captain America," though initially without the iconic shield or patriotic attire. A functional duck foot shield replaced the classic one.
"Humans are so particular about symbols," Morgan observed. "It's a way to claim credit and sway public opinion."
Artoria shrugged. "We'll do our part. Their propaganda doesn't concern us."
Morgan laughed. "Cold words from a stoic knight of justice."
"I'm no longer a king or hero. I gave everything for my kingdom. Now, I do what I want."
Morgan grinned. "I like this version of you better."
The Howler Commando was formed at the UK Prime Minister's suggestion: an elite unit led by Fury, including Steve, Bucky, Timothy Dugan, Gabriel Jones, Artoria, Morgan, and others rescued from Hydra. Many had been saved by Artoria and Steve themselves.
Morgan joined, partly out of boredom, partly to stay close to Artoria.
The unit, part of the 107th Infantry Regiment, prepared for its first mission.
"Do we need the Pendragon crest on the cloak?" Artoria asked, donning a mix of light cavalry armor and a hooded cloak. Morgan added the emblem: a lying lion beneath a red dragon, wings wrapping around.
"If humans like symbols, it won't hurt to show ours," Artoria said.
Comet Morgan hovered indifferently, her cloak similar to Artoria's but larger, the collar unpadded.
Her combat uniform, designed by herself, was a form fitting layered suit covering almost her entire body. Safety straps crisscrossed her torso, a war skirt swayed over her thighs, and pouches hung from her belt. Plates armored her left chest and arms. With the cloak embroidered with the Pendragon family crest, she looked every bit the modern battle witch.
"I'm surprised you're excited about this," Artoria remarked, watching Morgan float lightly above the snow.
"It's not excitement," Morgan said, voice flat. "Just momentary interest. This war has only two years left, and this world… it's different. I want to make up for time I lost in seclusion. There's no organization of paranoid mages obsessing over suppressing magic here. These humans have far bigger problems."
Artoria nodded; magic and the supernatural were only minor elements in this world, and while the stakes for them were different, nothing here seemed extraordinary.
"If you're ready, then let's go."
They would fly to the Polish border, then on to France. Hydra had outposts disguised as research centers and migrant shelters, pretty names for concentration camps.
Landing at a UK airbase, they were greeted by several Artoria fans. Steve's reputation hadn't reached the same heights; Artoria, a female soldier and national heroine, drew far more attention.
They wasted no time, train to the London coast, sail to the Norwegian islands, then cross the Soviet Union into Poland. Morgan grumbled about diplomatic delays at each border, but Artoria remained silent, her cold demeanor unchanged.
The Polish resistance guided them to the Nazi extermination zones, where Hydra kept its experimental prisoners.
"Officer Jin, send a message to the outpost, we're on site," Artoria commanded.
"Yeah!" James Morita, codenamed Jin, tapped out an encrypted message using a STAR designed communicator, resistant to Hydra interception.
They moved through the snowy forest cautiously, though Morgan had already conjured a mobile camouflage barrier.
"The gates are reinforced. There are probably hidden turrets and motion sensors covering a large area," Artoria noted, analyzing Hydra base patterns.
"Don't forget the traps. Hydra loves self destruct mechanisms," Fury added grimly.
"We won't approach openly," Steve said. "Miss Morgan, your magic can you detect turrets and traps?"
"Of course." Morgan extended her hand. A three eyed black raven materialized, wings spreading like black mist, and soared above the fortress.
Minutes later, Morgan used the snow beneath her feet to create a scale model of the entire area, highlighting hidden defenses.
"Ready," she announced, presenting the model.
"How convenient magic is," Dugan muttered. The model was flawless, with no blind spots.
Morgan's next trick: small black rats, glassy eyes gleaming, swirled in mist around her palm. She dispatched them to disable turrets and alarms from within the base.
"Left flank is least guarded," Fury instructed. "Montgomery, plant three timed charges. Once the wall opens, Steve and Artoria hold the front. The rest follow."
"Yeah!"
Under Morgan's magical cloak, the team moved silently. They reached the north wall.
"Though I dislike taking orders, this is strangely fun," Morgan said, hovering near Artoria.
"Only we can feel relaxed about this," Artoria replied, noting the team's tense readiness. Mistakes here could mean death or worse for those who trusted them.
"Everything's ready," Artoria confirmed.
"Keep your distance. Steve, Artoria, front line," Fury ordered.
"BOOOM!"
The wall exploded. Steve and Artoria led the charge. Steve wielded a shield in one hand, a submachine gun in the other, systematically clearing the path.
Artoria moved with brutal efficiency, targeting Hydra agents in Steve's blind spots and those crudely enhanced humans.
With the first line down, the team advanced on the main building. Morgan's primal magic engulfed numerous soldiers in cursed black flames, leaving ashes and a large breach.
Fury, not a super soldier or supernatural, relied on experience and strategy, leading the team to cover. They reached the main building. Steve kicked open the door; the team followed. Artoria wedged it with bent steel pipes and a crowbar, securing their entry.
"Let's continue," Fury ordered.
It was their first operation as a team, and for the first time, they had to trust each other fully. Failure wasn't an option, they would complete the mission, no matter the cost.
That was their duty.