Chapter 2: Infiltration
Dry Dock, Spider-Island
19 Hours to Deadline
Now ready he contacted Triple J via Codec. "This is Spider. Can you read my Colonel?" "Loud and clear, Spider. What's the situation?" "Seems the elevator in the back is the only way up." "Just as I expected. You'll have to take the elevator up to the surface. But make sure no one sees you. If you have to contact me use the Codec. As you already know when we need to contact you the Codec will stimulate the small bones of your ear so no one but you will hear it." "I got it. Okay am ready to go." Spider took in his surroundings and accessed his radar on his wrist. According to it there were two guards patrolling the area. He watched their movements closely and began to crawl under the cistern he had used for cover and onto the nearby wall. Moving slowly and silently he then crawled up the wall and onto the ceiling above making sure to keep to the shadows. With his entire suit blending into the shadows Spider had a great eye view of the patrolling sentries. They were adequately dressed from head to toe in winter clothes keeping them warm considering the temperature. They carried customized assault rifles modified to carry flashlights for better aiming as well as grenades. Spider frowned underneath his mask but knew of a way around them. Biding his time he waited for the nearest guard to turn his back then fired a web line at his back. With a quick jerk the guard was pulled towards Spider only to land on the nearby wall hard knocking the wind out of him. With two swift punches Spider knocked the guard out and webbed him to the wall so he would not be seen. At least until the webbing dissolved. Oh he'll feel that later. Spider joked to himself.
He moved across the ceiling and dealt with the other guard the same way. With his radar clear Spider made his way back down to ground level and walked into the elevator. After pushing the only button leading up he made sure to check all his equipment. He changed his lenses from regular to infrared then to night vision and back to normal. He checked all his web cartridges, emergency refills, detonation packets and impact webbing. While he could have swiped their assault rifles to use them the only type of projectile weapons Spider would use were his web shooters. He did keep a knife handy in the off chance he'd need it for something but that was as close to a lethal arsenal he carried. As the elevator continued its way up into the outside area he recalled a conversation he'd had with Cat two years ago. How sometimes a gun can be a very handy weapon. He remembered the warmth of her face as he held her head in bed. Just as quickly his mind shifted thanks to the sound of the lift stopping of her demise. It was at the hands of his former commander Nick Fury. With pistol in hand he pointed it to his lovers head and pulled the trigger ending her life.
Entrance to the Disposal Facility
The Codec beep brought him out of his memories. Spider found himself grasping the ceiling of the elevator for dear life. He had not even realized he had done it. As he dropped to the floor again he activated the Codec.
"You okay there, Spidey? Am reading your vitals and something just caused a spike in adrenaline as well as your blood pressure to drop!" He could hear concern in the voice of Dr. Hunter.
"It's nothing. No reason to call `Mayday' just yet." He quipped.
He then stepped out of the lift and into the brisk cold. A large building loomed before him with huge double doors. On each side were two large towers with guards and search lights all around. The search lights crisscrossed near the entrance where sat a large military grade snow vehicle perfect for getting around in Alaska. He found that Dr. Hunter was still on the Codec.
"Excuse me doctor but may I talk to the Colonel?" After a moment Jameson was on the line.
"What's the situation, menace?"
"You know sometimes I think you prefer that word to my actual call sign! Anyway I'm in front of the disposal facility."
"Good work. Age hasn't slowed you down one bit!"
"How goes the diversionary operation?"
"Two F-16's just took off from Galena and are headed your way. Their radar must've picked it up by now." In the distance Spider could hear what sounded like helicopter rotors. He then adjusted his lenses to binoculars and saw the source.
"A Hind D? Colonel what's a Russian gunship doing here?"
"I have no idea."
"Wow. He'd have to be crazy to fly that in this weather!" Gwen chimed in.
Spider had to chuckle at that. "I like the way you think, Gwen. Guess I won't be bored for the next eighteen hours!"
There was a giggle on her end of the Codec. "I look forward to learning about the man behind the legend!"
"All right you two flirt on your own time! Spider I want you to infiltrate the disposal site and look for the DARPA Chief."
"You always did know how to ruin a good time old flattop!"
Before Triple J could fire back Mayday spoke up. "The DARPA Chief was injected with the same GPS tracking nanonmachines as you so he'll appear on your radar as a green dot!"
"Though your radar isn't affected by the weather since its built from currently existing technology it does get jammed easily and won't work in an area of strong harmonic resonance so be careful." Gwen said. "Now then menace get in there and find the Chief. See if he can give you any intel on the terrorists… if he's still alive."
"Way to dampen the party, J.J.!"
Through clenched teeth Jameson responded. "We'll be monitoring your movements by radar so feel free to contact us by Codec whenever you want."
"Got it. I'll call if I'm feeling lonely."
"In all seriousness Spidey we're here to back you up so feel free to call us if you need information or advice!" Spider was somewhat moved by Mayday's comment. Rather than endure the awkwardness of thanking her he decided to get his head back into the mission.
He swiftly moved to a higher position and adjusted his masks lenses. He then began to transmit a live feed back to his support team aboard the Bucky. Seconds later Jameson spoke. "If you want to get in there's the front door. It's the fastest way but there's too much of a risk of being spotted by the enemy." "Yeah. I can't exactly walk up to the door and say `Shadow Moses Pizza Delivery'! See the sentries on the left and right Colonel?"
"Yes. Our diagram of the facility shows an air duct on the second floor."
Spider craned his neck and adjusted the lenses as best he could. "I can't see it from here."
"I'll let you decide the best C.O.A. We're counting on you, webs!" With that the Codec went silent. S.D.V., O.S.P., C.O.A. Honestly how hard is it to just say "You decide what to do Spider! You're there after all!" Sheesh. Military does love its acronyms and to micro-manage. On second thought maybe it's just Jameson. Spider moved quickly to the left and concealed himself behind a container that had been left there prior to the now raging snowstorm. Using his filtered lenses he saw the sentry moving towards the left most guard tower. Spider knew that any movement he made would have tracks they would see. He smiled beneath his mask when an idea came to him.
When the coast was clear Spider made his way towards the guard but stopped and made a circle of footprints around the second container. He then jumped quickly to the nearby rock wall and clung to it waiting for his moment. As anticipated the sentry returned. "Huh? Whose footprints are these?" The sentry followed them past the circle Spider had made around the container and to the point where they stopped. The sentry's head shifted from side to side out of confusion. Like lightning a blast of impact webbing landed on the sentry pinning him to the still falling snow. Spider leapt down and delivered a knock out kick to the sentry's head. He then began to make his way up the tower but what he saw gave him pause. A surveillance camera? It oscillated on its perch from left to right. Spider used his agility to maneuver beneath the camera and make his way onward. Just as he made his way up the steps he noticed another sentry about to turn the corner. Without hesitation Spider flipped over the railing behind him and clung to the underside of the walkway. He listened to the approaching footsteps and bided his time. Then when the footsteps were beside his head he quickly fired a web line and pulled the sentry to him. The speed of the jerk as well as the impact on the nearby rock wall knocked all the air out of the sentry. For good measure Spider gave a swift knockout punch and webbed him to the wall. He then used his spider-sense to make sure it was safe and made his way onto the second floor walkway and ducked into the nearby open air duct.
Geez. More claustrophobia. Spider thought as he made his way through the air duct. It was not too much unlike the rolling hills and streets of his home in New York. As he made it around another turn his Codec beeped.
"Hey there Spidey! It's Matthew Miller! It's been too long!"
"Master! What are you doing here?"
"As you are already aware after I left SHIELD I became a drill instructor until recently. So I moved out here to Alaska. Once in a while I still help out the Alaskan Scouts."
Spider chuckled. "Still passing on your skills to the next generation."
Miller also laughed. "Though these days they gave me an alternate call sign of `The Devil'" "I can't imagine why." With another chuckle Miller continued. "Jameson filled me in on the situation there. Thought I could be of some use."
"There's no one I'd rather have in a fox hole than you."
"I know lots about survival in a harsh environment so call me if you have any questions about the flora or fauna out here. You can get in contact with me by frequency 141.80."
Spider then grunted as he felt something crawling near him. He moved to one side to see a mouse. It seemed to give Spider a funny look, turn around and continue on its way. "What the…?"
"What is it?"
"A rat!" Spider said.
"Ah. Judging by the sound I'd say it was an Alaskan field mouse. Don't worry they can't hurt you. Wild field mice don't have a thick layer of fat, but they can still survive the bitter winters here without hibernating. They dig tunnels under the snow and that's how they keep warm."
Spider continued to crawl through the duct and replied. "Sounds to me like survival specialists. I could learn from them."
"They do have a dark side: sometimes a male will eat and kill offspring that isn't their own."
"Selfish way to cull the gene pool if you ask me."
Master and Spider chuckled together. "Some would consider it a brilliant program. At any rate if there are mice then there must be an exit somewhere. So follow the mice." Master then signed off.
Spider adjusted his lenses to night vision and followed the mice. Sure enough they led him to an open vent in the duct system with a ladder below it. He returned his lenses to normal and peered through the open vent. What lay below him was a hangar of some kind. He noticed at least three sentries on patrol along with what appeared at first glance to be an M-1 tank. The walkway below looked metal so Spider instantly knew his feet would make noise with every step. He looked ahead to the walls to find a single oscillating surveillance camera ahead. That'd be a problem. He thought as he double checked his radar. When he felt the coast was clear Spider quickly wall crawled to the camera and moved so that he was beneath it. He stood stock still as the sentry nearby made his way past. Spider then crawled across the floor and around the corner out of the sentry and the camera's sight. He waited in a crouch for the guard to make his return trip. Upon doing so grabbed him quickly, slammed him against the wall, punched him hard to knock him out and finally webbed him to the shadow covered wall he had just used for cover. Sweet dreams, pal. A webbed sentry is one less sentry to worry about! Moving slowly back onto the wall and aided by both his Spider sense and radar he made his way to the lower floor. He quickly crawled his way underneath the tank and noticed the elevator door. His Codec then beeped in his ear.
Jameson spoke instantly "According to the GPS you're in the tank hangar. There should be a cargo elevator in that area."
"I got it." He replied then ended the call.
Biding his time Spider waited as the sentry continued his patrol. When he had his back to him Spider fired a web line at the sentry's right foot and yanked hard. The Soldier never knew what hit him as he fell forward onto the unforgiving metal. Spider moved quickly and checked his pulse. He would live but have a terrible headache. He then dragged the unconscious soldier to the stairs and pushed him under them webbing him up just for good measure. Now free from being discovered he walked to the cargo elevator door and called it. Moments later it arrived and he stepped within hitting the button for the next floor down.