"No matter how many times I do this, it's still a degrading sight."
I am compelled to see the rows of cages filled with people of varying ages in emaciated states with obvious signs of physical and psychological torture
Artoria had liberated concentration camps and extermination camps before; it wasn't the worst thing she had seen the Germans or Hydra do to their prisoners, but she still found this kind of systematic cruelty unacceptable.
"I think there was a wizard in the clock tower who kept humans captive for magical experiments... I don't think there was more than one wizard doing that."
Morgan commented, recalling the nonexistent moral compass that many ancient and modern magicians possessed in order to progress in their research or in their search for a path that would lead them to the king.
"Clock tower? Is it some kind of wizarding organization or something?"
Steve asked, unsure whether to worry or not about an unknown organization as cruel as Hydra, with unknown powers lurking in the shadows.
"Don't worry about that, kid, those types don't exist around here."
Morgan commented indifferently, leaving Captain America with more questions than answers.
"Don't get distracted! We can't get these prisoners out now. First, we have to eliminate the remaining enemies and chart a safe escape route before destroying this Hydra base. Advance!"
Following Fury's orders, the group ventured deeper into Hydra's hideout, marking the locations where they held prisoners and eliminating Hydra soldiers in the process.
The base didn't seem to have anything special about it other than being a testing center for creating the same cyborg soldiers and mutant monsters that Hydra usually uses as cannon fodder until they arrived at their research center.
"Dear sister, I think I've just found something quite interesting."
Morgan said, holding up an old scroll that stood out among the advanced technology in the room.
"This one looks Italian, but not the one I recognize."
Steve commented, looking at the ancient plans that Artoria was now holding, unable to fully recognize the language. Knowing several languages is a necessary requirement for many high ranking soldiers in the army, but even if he knew Italian, he couldn't decipher what was written on the parchment.
"It's vernacular Italian, an old form of Italian, although I don't fully recognize the dialect. Morgan and I can read this parchment."
I commented on Artoria, looking at the plans with considerable interest.
These weren't your typical Renaissance illustrations from Leonardo da Vinci's old plans; it was a full fledged blueprint of what looked like a space rocket, and to Artoria's surprise, the author was none other than Leonardo da Vinci himself.
Artoria knew that the Leonardo da Vinci of the Marvel world wasn't just any Renaissance inventor; he was one of the greatest geniuses in the world, capable of creating armor that could travel through time. With such an achievement, it was no surprise that he was able to create a ship capable of going into space.
Artoria didn't want to deal with the Brotherhood of the Shield, at least not now. The conflict between Leonardo and Isaac Newton was hers to resolve; what interested Artoria was that these plans belonged to Leonardo da Vinci.
"Sister, do you think this would serve as a catalyst?"
Artoria asked Morgan, but she didn't need to explain what she meant; Morgan already understood why she was asking.
Artoria wanted to summon Leonardo da Vinci, not the one from this world, but the one from the world of Type Moon.
There are many reasons why I wanted to call on such a character, but the main one is to have an ally on the technological front in this world, someone who understood the origins of Artoria and Morgan and wouldn't be a source of problems.
The Leonardo of the FGO world was also an absolute genius, capable of seamlessly switching between science and magic, becoming a master of almost every field of thaumaturgy and science.
She's also a heroic spirit who's easy to get along with; she's kind, and convincing her to work for Artoria won't be difficult. After all, in a new world with new laws and new powers, she's the kind of person who gets fully involved in something if it sparks her interest.
Artoria would have summoned her earlier if it weren't for the events related to this world's Da Vinci, since once she summons her, all traces of the original Da Vinci from the Marvel universe are erased and replaced by the Da Vinci of Fate. Also, Artoria couldn't summon her with the Holy Grail whenever she wanted, unlike Morgan, who was related to Artoria and whose history wasn't. She had to use something related to Da Vinci as a catalyst to have the opportunity to summon her.
Artoria didn't know what modifications the goddess who reincarnated her had made to the Holy Grail, but what she was summoning weren't heroic spirits, but rather perfect reincarnations of heroic spirits. In short, they were alive and unrestricted, also disregarding the ability to bring them from another world, since in Marvel there is no Hall of Heroes, at least not the one in Type Moon.
"It's not easy to trace the origin of something that shows no trace of mystery, but this world has unique forms of energy that intertwine with magic, and from what I see, the parchment is authentic; it was written by Leonardo da Vinci."
I confirm, Morgan, to which Artoria nodded in understanding. This scroll was more than enough to make the summons, but he would have to wait a few years before that, at least until he was 60, and convince the reserve to let Artoria have these original plans once they made the copy, since they were Hydra research data.
This was not the only relic Artoria had acquired over the years she participated in the war; she had collected antiquities that would serve as catalysts for future use. She had also found ancient magical objects whose effects are still alive today.
The original models of Nikola Tesla's inventions, a piece of Nero's cloak, Caesar's golden laurel wreath, the cross of Saint Martha, a piece of Joan of Arc's banner, an ancient Aztec headdress, Leonidas' spearhead, etc., all authentic, many found during his raids in Italy and others taken from the British Royal Museum with the permission of the royal family
"Okay everyone, gather the data. We need to clear the place and take the prisoners."
I ordered Fury and in response everyone prepared and went into action, dispersing into two groups, sweeping every corner of the base, making sure that no trace of Hydra remained.
"Steve, Artoria, clear the way outside. We'll organize the prisoners. Jin has already contacted the Polish resistance; they're waiting for us."
The two didn't say much, they just nodded and quickly left the main building.
When they came out there were many more Hydra soldiers than when they tried to enter, ready to riddle with bullets anything that came out of the building
It took longer this time not because the number of enemies was greater, but because they seemed to be using a new type of weapon, such as large area electromagnetic grenades and motion acceleration suits that made them faster.
When they finished clearing the front, the Polish resistance arrived in transport vehicles and the rest of the team left the main building bringing the prisoners with them.
They loaded the vans almost to capacity and everyone went to the Polish resistance base where Morgan performed emergency medical operations, and then they were transported out of the country to the United States since there really aren't many safe places in Europe at the moment
With the mission over, everyone returned to the reserve's forward operating base in London, as crossing the sea on each mission was not very efficient, so a temporary base was built in the United Kingdom.
"Miss, do you know of any good bars around here? It wouldn't hurt to know the local specialties."
I ask, Dugan, looking around London, which is almost deserted since the place is still at risk of bombing.
"I don't usually go out drinking much, Mr. Dugan, so I'm not sure if my recommendation will be helpful, not to mention that most businesses in London are closed."
I explain Artoria by dissecting Dugan and some others from the team
"Don't you have a private stash of expensive wines in the cellar of your little sister's villa? It wouldn't hurt to share some."
Morgan commented casually, earning a murderous glare from Artoria, to which she responded with a childlike smile that her joke had just succeeded.
"Really? Then let's use the break to celebrate our first mission!"
Dogan commented, and the others agreed. Artoria just sighed resignedly. It didn't really matter to share her highly prized wine, which she kept for special occasions. After all, it wasn't as if she couldn't get more, although she would have to wait a few years since many vineyards had been destroyed by German bombers. Anyway, she was in a tolerable mood since she had asked Stark to modify her car so that it would last for several generations and improve the engine, taking advantage of the fact that she was in London.
She will keep her Mercedes Benz for a long time.
Time passed and the conflict intensified; the clash between the Axis forces and the Allied countries became more brutal.
The Howling Squadron was very active in the last two years of the war, participating in the invasion of Italy and being leaders on D-Day, being at the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe.
There have also been extraordinary battles, such as when Nazi Germany discovered the location of Atlantis, in which Artoria, Morgan, Steve, Bucky, the submarine Namor, and the first Human Torch formed the first superhero team to combat the Nazi threat, though that's a story for another time.
Everything happened quite quickly, and now it was 1945, and the Nazis were cornered by Hydra. Having announced their disbandment, they no longer had the strength or resources to fight, but Hydra did not. They would not surrender; they continued attacking fiercely, enduring regardless of the damage they had received, like a cornered beast that knows it has no escape.
Just as the United States wanted, Steve became its superhero and Bucky his quintessential partner, making them stand out in solo missions and solidifying their position as heroes in the war...at least in North American territory and in some parts of Europe where Artoria is more famous.
But not everything is good; the end of the war is approaching, and with it, the last time Captain America will be seen alive.
"Will you be sent to Switzerland?"
Artoria asked, passing some tea to Steve who was studying the map of the Danish islands where Hydra's headquarters was located.
"General Chester told me that Hydra is developing an extremely dangerous weapon aimed at the United States, so Bucky and I volunteered to stop the attack. Does instructor Artoria also have a mission?"
Steve asked after giving Artoria the details.
He's been doing a lot of solo missions with Bucky and hasn't had time to rejoin the Howling Squad. He only understands that they've been waging a constant battle with the Japanese Empire and that Artoria, along with Morgan, has been dealing with Hydra's attempts to gain power in the realm of the supernatural and magic.
"In Malaysia, the Japanese have some contact with Hydra and are trying to revive a Naga."
Artoria sighed, knowing this would be the last time she'd see Steve for a long time. She had no plans to stop it; it was a tipping point in Marvel history that always had to happen, or the timeline would become chaotic, like Wolverine's memory loss or Uncle Ben's death in Spider Man.
Artoria had grown quite fond of him, that was true; she had trained him for quite some time and honed his strategic mind. She had a certain affection for him as a teacher, but she knew that in the end he and Bucky would be saved, albeit under different circumstances.
"Don't forget to say goodbye to that girl before you leave; at least it will ease the tension in her heart a little."
I advise Artoria to read this before leaving. It had been a long time since Steve and Miss Carter confirmed their relationship, a relationship that unfortunately ended very abruptly.
As she left the Artoria Reservation information room, she encountered Morgan, who was waiting for her with her arms crossed outside the door.
"So... shall we hunt a naga?"
I ask Artoria, smiling cheerfully.
"Her body will be a curious piece of research material."
Morgan responded in the same way as Artoria, holding her arm and walking towards the exit.
A month after Artoria and Captain America's last conversation, the latter's disappearance was confirmed, as was Bucky's, and later their deaths were confirmed.
It was devastating news that shook the allied countries, especially the United States. The only good thing about this event was that the death of the Hydra leader, Red Skull, was also confirmed.
Artoria also eradicated one of the Hydra leaders who was on the Naga resurrection mission; coincidentally, Elisa Sinclair, the original Hydra Lady, died being consumed by Morgan's cursed flames.
After the fall of two of Hydra's leaders, things went downhill for them; one by one, Hydra's bases were destroyed without a trace.
Later, Adolf Hitler's suicide in Berlin was confirmed, and with the end of the Nazi German regime, although the war was not over since the Japanese empire refused to surrender, it was only in August, when the Americans sent two atomic gifts, that they finally surrendered.
Artoria truly disapproved of this, but she also knew there was no other option; the Japanese wouldn't surrender unless the cannon's muzzle was pointed at them all, even though in the future those bombs would be of little use for the crises that would plague the planet or the universe.
With the confirmation of the end of the war, everyone celebrated, and then the process of mourning and reconstruction began; all the damage caused by the war and all the lives lost had to be mourned.
In a cemetery near a Manhattan park, high ranking members of the reservation, the Howler Squadron, and all those who had ever been friends of Private Steve Rogers attended his symbolic burial, as his body was never found.
Artoria and Morgan were there too; after all, they are still members of the Howling Squad and Steve's comrades.
Artoria already knew that Bucky and Steve were alive; she didn't need to investigate. It was just a matter of looking at their destinations to know how they were an ability born from Artoria's divine traits and influenced by the Marvel universe.
Steve and Bucky were buried together in the Manhattan cemetery with full honors, and graves with statues were erected in their name commemorating the legacy of Captain America; it appears to be the first of many monuments.
"It's strange to be at the funeral of someone you know is alive."
Artoria whispered, placing a bouquet of white roses on Captain America's empty coffin. Afterward, she approached the silent Miss Carter and handed her a somewhat old notebook with the name Steve Rogers written on it.
"This was his sketchbook; he almost always carried it with him. He retrieved it before his last mission."
Miss Carter didn't say much; she just took the notebook and looked at it carefully.
Steve liked to draw; after all, he graduated from art school, and he would occasionally draw cartoons when he had time or during missions. What Artoria gave Carter was the sketchbook he always carried with him.
".....thank you Miss Artoria"
The woman expressed her gratitude, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.
She was a strong woman, but even she couldn't help but break down in this kind of situation.
After the funeral ended, Artoria and Morgan returned to London. They had already signed their early retirement from the reserves. Higher authorities in the United Kingdom had asked them to return to active duty, as there were many issues to resolve in Europe. However, they still maintain contact with the reserves and a good relationship with the United Kingdom, leaving their outpost in London.
When they returned, they were greeted by a huge wave of work, festivities, and a great deal of bureaucratic chaos.
First, extermination and concentration camps were destroyed, freeing more than 15,000 Jewish captives and people from other ethnic groups. Sentences were also carried out on prisoners of war captured from the Nazi side.
During the trial, Artoria and Morgan were searching for traces of Hydra left behind in the United Kingdom and its allied countries.
Thanks to the skill of Morgan, lord of the islands, this was easy, but some managed to escape, like the faces of the Hydra leaders who fled without a trace after the end of the war was confirmed, and also confirmed the disappearance of a certain scientist obsessed with experimenting on mutants.
"This laboratory was also emptied, and there are indications that it was recent."
Cometo Morgan surveyed the devastation of the place as if a tornado had ripped through it.
The samples were removed hastily, and many papers were still stored in the filing cabinet; someone had been there very recently and left in a hurry.
"Don't bother, sister. The owner of this place is a coward who wouldn't come out of the shadows even if the world were destroyed."
Artoria commented, taking the remaining files and organizing them in a secure briefcase.
They had already raided more than 20 similar laboratories at the request of the UK secret service. Artoria agreed because she knew who owned it and Morgan only wanted the research data.
"I suppose this is the last hidden lab in the UK. Are you sure you don't want to pursue it any further, sister?"
Morgan asked if she had already traced the owner's escape route and was heading towards the Philippines.
"As long as he doesn't return, I don't mind him doing our work here; it's not over yet, and we can rest until we deal with all this chaos left by the war."
Artoria commented, leaving through the door that led to an uphill section, since the laboratory was built underground.
If it were possible, Artoria didn't want to deal with these tedious jobs. She would have been content to serve in the army for another 20 years and then retire, using her knowledge of the future to make investments and earn an easy living. Unfortunately, this was the Marvel world, and a peaceful life is only temporary. So, Artoria is currently cleaning house to prevent unforeseen problems, and along with Morgan, we've extended our influence in the UK government to avoid bureaucratic complications when the world forgets the heroes who fought in the war.
Artoria wasn't good at political machinations, so she asked Morgan to take care of it, which she happily agreed to. Several months later, Artoria was surprised at how quickly the House of Lords and the House of Commons were eating out of her hand. Artoria didn't know what kind of influence Morgan had exerted over them, but she was sure it wasn't magic.
Artoria was also busy during that time. She had bought several different types of wine from both inside and outside the United Kingdom. She had also bought several vineyards at low prices, since many farming areas had been destroyed by the war. She wanted to start a liquor production and distribution business, something she had dreamed of in her previous life... well, not quite. She wanted to be a bartender at that time, as in her mind they seemed cool. Well, both things involve dealing with alcohol, so in a way, her dream came true.
Artoria's business affairs were a future investment that grew slowly but steadily, held back by the post war reconstruction process, but Artoria still dealt with it with a passion she herself had never known.
Two years passed and things began to settle down. Artoria, who had been promoted to major general after the end of the war, was in her office at the London base when she received a call on her telephone.
The operator on the other end said it was an international call to Artoria from the United States. She already knew who it was, so she accepted the call. It turned out to be Howard Stark.
[This phone system is so slow. One day I'll improve this when I have time. Oh yeah, like Miss Artoria.]
Stark complained, only to greet Artoria moments later.
"It's been a while, Mr. Stark. How's the construction of your reactor coming along? Last time you mentioned that you had discovered a new form of self sustaining energy through your research with the Cosmic Cube you recovered in Antarctica."
I comment on Artoria by bringing up some past matters that occurred in these two years.
The reserve had found Hydra's weapon, the Cosmic Cube, buried under the Antarctic ice near the crashed plane where Captain America's final battle took place, but unfortunately there was no trace of Captain America's body or Red Skull.
The reserve also assigned Stark to guard the Cosmic Cube, and thanks to her research, she began her project to develop a new form of clean and abundant energy. Artoria learned of this when she bought 7% of the shares of the Stark Industries company.
Howard himself reportedly offered them to Artoria on the condition that he would reserve a special stock of the wine produced by her company, which had become popular since the first batch hit the international market.
The blessing of the fairies of Artoria and its popularity ensured it a place in the market with fame and product quality.
[Wonderful! Or so I'd like to say. The truth is, I've hit a bottleneck I can't get out of, but that's not why I called you. You know about SHIELD, right?]
"Hmm, yes, Miss Carter has mentioned it many times in our conversations. It's surprising how quickly the reservation fell apart after Steve's departure."
In fact, Artoria knew far more about SHIELD than she let on, but to avoid raising suspicion, considering who was really behind that organization, it was best to play dumb. Her intuition had already told her what Howard wanted by calling her now.
[I figured this would be quick then. After several deliberations with some bigwigs from various countries, SHIELD gained its autonomy, so we can put into action what we had prepared. Our newly appointed director, Miss Carter, asked me to make her a proposal.]
"....proposal?"
Upon hearing Stark Artoria's explanation, she already knew what she would ask. She had been in contact with Miss Carter for quite some time and had told her quite fervently about her plans for SHIELD during the past two years. Miss Carter had used Artoria as her emotional support after losing her beloved Captain America, considering her a very important friend.
She has asked Artoria to join SHIELD on more than one occasion, but Artoria always refuses, claiming to be too busy with her own country to worry about the world, which is not a lie.
[Well, you can reject it if you don't like the idea, but the content of the proposal is that you act as the founder of a separate branch of SHIELD, becoming part of SHIELD's senior management and one of its founders, in charge of dealing with the kind of situations we don't have much experience with... like magic, fantasy, and everything related to the occult.]
"mmm"
Upon hearing Howard's explanation, Artoria initially considered refusing, but then she remembered something.
There are seven Hydra influences within SHIELD that will expand over time if left as they are. Spies will be stationed very close to the United Kingdom in Europe. If Artoria extends her influence within SHIELD before that, she could be a stumbling block to Hydra's future plans and be close to certain artifacts hidden in SHIELD's possession, such as the Cosmic Cube or, more specifically, the Space Stone.
There's also the matter of the Brotherhood of the Shield and the Zodiac Wheel. These organizations possess objects and technology that Artoria desires, such as the Elixir of Life, the Key to Iter, and, among many other things, she also wanted to prevent the Celestial Child from going mad over Isaac Newton's silent mathematics.
This could also be an opportunity for Artoria to start a secret project she had thought about some time ago.
"His piro is fine, I think things have calmed down enough to dedicate time to SHIELD"
[Great! Miss Peggi will be happy to hear that. Well, that's all. Sorry for leaving so abruptly, but I still have work to do. Oh! Right, I need to confirm this before registering the branch with SHIELD. What will it be called?]
Howard asked enthusiastically, and Artoria didn't hesitate to give an answer; after all, it was something she wanted to build and had considered since the first months she was in this world.
"You can call it......chaldea"