Chapter 1: Strike Team Alpha

The metal walls of any S.H.I.E.L.D. base, for some, were comforting, while for others, disturbing, and for others, just something to be ignored. For the average agent, it was probably a bit odd, but for an elite sniper who has been sniping since she was seven years old, they didn't mean jack shit to her. Especially when that elite sniper led a team of three (including herself) that was known for hitting hard and fast amongst her fellow agents.

Said sniper was currently performing maintenance on her rifle, carefully polishing and oiling each and every part. She checked her array of bullets. She checked her supply bag, and, for a moment, stopped to look at a locket. She pulled it out, and opened it with a soft click. She stared at it for a moment, before closing it and putting it away.

"Hey, Shepard! Director Fury wants to see you!"

She sighed.

"I'll be right there, Barton."

The man known as Agent Clint Barton, better known as Hawkeye, simply smiled, kicked himself off the wall he was leaning against, and walked away. The woman, who had just revealed to be Shaylyn Shepard, finished the maintenance on her sniper rifle. She packed it into its case, which was then placed into her supply bag. She then proceeded to pack her supply bag with her medkit, a variety of bullets, amongst other things. She took her communications device, and slipped it into her ear. She ensured that her emergency knife was razor-sharp and in its little secret pouch.

She slid the bag over her shoulder, and went into the bullpen. Soon, Shaylyn saw two other familiar faces. Her adoptive family, one could say. Yes, certainly, because they were just that crazy. One of them smiled at her.

"Takes you long enough. At this rate, I could've taken a four-hour bat nap before-OW!"

WHACK!

A smack on the back of the head shut up that one.

"David, you do realize that I was making sure my sniper and bullets were in proper order and not just playing around-" Shaylyn began, angry.

"That's enough, you two!"

The two turned to face their superior (and the superior of practically everyone else in the room), and sighed.

"Sorry about that. So, what's the story this time? Some rogue mutant? That psycho from whatever that place was called?"

"No. We're not sure what it is. All we know is that it's an army, and they're not afraid to injure or kill civilians." Directory Fury began, bringing up a series of holograms that displayed a strange army that no one had ever seen before.

"What the hell? How did we not see them before? Where the hell did they come from?" Shaylyn asked, staring at the images.

"They disappear just as quickly as they appear, and how they appear is a complete mystery. If it wasn't for your little tech genius friend, we probably would've never been able to really get a fix on them in the first place. God damn, that kid's a genius."

The kid in question was busy typing away at a keyboard. She was surrounded by a variety of displays and other technology. Her fingers raced across keyboards and holographic screens faster than a cheetah sprinted across the African plains. It was her territory. Her… sanctuary. She loved technology. But that was not the point.

"So… are we going to try to fight this army? If that's the case, I'm going to need a hell of a lot more bullets."

"We have a plan. We're rallying the Avengers. You three… You Three… AGENT SCIUTO!"

"Huh?! What-oh, Director! I'm so sorry! It's just… I was 49 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 20 63 6c 65 61 6e 69 6e 67 20 75 70 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 6c 65 73 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 4c 6f 6b 69 20 64 69 72 65 63 74 6f 72 79 2c 20 61 6e 64-"

"I have no idea what you just said, but forget it. I need you to do your geek thing and manage some information for me!"

"Information? Ummmm, sure…."

Said Director facepalmed.

She's certainly the "Cyber Queen"... but an absolute idiot when it comes to normal social functions…

"The information will be sent to that fortress of yours. Agents Romanoff and Barton, you're going to go rally your old friends, the Avengers. Agents David and Shepard, you're going to meet up with a relatively-new all-female vigilante group who seems to have quite a bit of experience fighting this army."

"An all-female vigilante team? With all due respect, Director, that's kind of… vague."

"I know, but we don't know much about them except that they've got powers comparable to gods themselves and the fact that they're the only force that seems to be actively giving a fuck about protecting humanity from whatever or whoever is commanding this army. You and Agent Shepard are best suited for speaking to them, Agent David."

"Why? Because Strike Team Alpha is an all-female Strike Team and you're hoping to appeal to that aspect of them that may or may not exist? How do you even plan on getting us to talk to them when you don't know anything about them, or where they base themselves? And why send a Strike Team to talk to them?" Shaylyn asked in rapid succession.

"You are right in why I chose your team. It's true that I don't know where they operate from, but I have heard reports of this team fighting off an invasion in the Everglades Swamps. That's where you're going. Help them deal with the army, and then talk to them. I'm counting on you."

Shaylyn saluted the Director.

"You can count on my team, sir. Come on, David, we're moving out!"

"About damn time."

The two, fully armed and ready, got into an aircraft, unaware of what was truly ahead of them…