DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own Ultimate Spider-Man or any related characters, Spiderman Noir or Pulp era characters and themes. Everything belongs to Marvel, Disney or Dynamite Entertainment... apart from the story.

In short I don't own anything in this story.

This is just for fun.

Hi Guys ... I'm back with a new Chapter. Things are really starting to heat up now, so I hope you enjoy it. Also I'd like to say that since this story is about 3 quarters done; I really appreciate all the support and ideas that every one of you guys has given me. I know I don't say this that often but you guys are the reason I keep doing this ... that and its fun. And I'm going to try and answer some of your questions more often now. So let's move on to the story.

Enjoy

Chapter 24: Operation Demise

Singh Brotherhood HQ (The Typhon) – Atlantic Ocean – Day

Ever since his meeting with the League, Singh has been replaying the moment in his head over and over again. He spends most of his time in his office, keeping up to date with everything from the war to his own projects ... waiting and planning for the next stage of his grand plan. After receiving reports from his vast network of infiltrators, Singh just sat in the chair in his office and pondered over the information he has just receive ... waiting for some of his lieutenants to arrive. It wasn't long until Iron Maiden, Bloodtide and Dr Moreau appeared before him as holograms and Singh turned to face them.

Singh: Report.

Iron Maiden: Everything is proceeding to your specifications. The operation is on schedule and everything is ready for the summit.

Dr Moreau: Project H's cybernetic argumentation has been complete. All that is needed now is to run some tests then we can start upgrading new volunteers.

Bloodtide: Atlantis is almost completely under your control. There are still some Atlanteans loyal to Namor but their nothing more than a nuisance ... Master.

Singh: I have no time for petty resistance! I suggest you handle this matter immediately. Also contact Attuma, have him suggest to Doom that his invasion plan must accelerate. Doctor ... run your tests, but be quick about it! Project H must be ready for deployment. Maiden ... Nothing can go wrong at the summit; we're too close now ... You're dismissed.

He turned his chair away from the lieutenants then both Bloodtides and Moreau's hologram disappeared, apart from Iron Maidens who still lingered.

Singh: What is it Maiden?

Iron Maiden: I could ask you the same thing my love, what troubles you?

He slowly turns to face he armoured clad femme fatale and spoke in a rather nonchalant manner.

Singh: The League has been sighted in Symkaria ... Tony Masters is dead.

Iron Maiden: Taskmaster? Crossbones won't be happy ... Taskmaster was his mentor.

Singh: Precisely! Already this League is creating descent amongst the Brotherhood.

Maiden tilted her head in puzzlement, waiting for her lover's explanation.

Singh: Many of my followers are of a superstitious nature ... a line of thought I wanted to abolish. I have spent the last decade convincing my men that the great Phantom was a man not a ghost. Even after I killed him they still feared his return, and after many years I finally manage to bring them round ... then he appeared.

Maiden thought back to Dr Moreau's failure, Singh's reaction and the recent mood of the men.

Singh: I've heard many of the rumors spreading around the Typhon, and I now realise that in order to prevent the disheartening of the men and the possibility of the League interfering more with our plans... I must take more direct action.

Iron Maiden: I will send Deadpool and...

Singh: No, I need them to stay with you ... we must send someone that our young friends would ... least expect.

The Triskelion – New York – Night

Danielle Moonstar is relaxing in her bunk, when suddenly her phone starts to ring on the desk across from her. She gets up and looks at the number on the screen, not recognising it she presses the screen only to have it suddenly flash brightly, causing her to gaze blankly as he holds it up to her ear.

Danielle: Yes ... I see ... I understand ... I'll get the team ready ... We won't fail you ... Long live the Brotherhood.

The Valiant – Symkaria – Dawn

After the successful mission at the Royal Palace, things started to turn round for the people of Symkaria. Hornets effective although brief efforts to disable the Doom-Bot forces was enough for the Resistance to retake Aniana, they managed to destroy a large number of Doom-Bots that cluttered the streets of the capital before they reactivated. When they did, their numbers were reduced enough for the Resistance stand a chance against them. The rebel forces managed to overpower their enemies and when the Capital was secure, Silver Sable gathered her Wild-Pack mercenaries to aid Spiderman and his friends.

When word spread of Taskmasters death, the remaining of his mercenaries at the Royal Palace and across Symkaria either surrendered to the Resistance or attempted to flee the country ... the Battle for Symkaria had been won. The Leagues victory had come at a steep cost; Hornet had been seriously wounded but thanks to Tigers efforts, he had survived long enough for Resistance medics to take him away for surgery. It took a few hours but they were able to stabilize him, leaving him to rest in the Valiant's research lab that doubled as a med bay ... Spiderman and White Tiger are heading that way now.

White Tiger: So ... he's going to be ok?

Spiderman: He was lucky; medics said that he must have been standing at an angle since the shot manage to miss his vital organs by millimetres. But his injury and blood loss was serious enough that if you hadn't helped him when you did, he wouldn't have made it.

White Tiger: I only did what anyone else could do...

Spiderman: No.

Just as they reached the med-bay, Spiderman spun round and wrapped his arms around her waist, taking Tiger by surprise and held her close. He then took of his mask with his free hand.

Spiderman: You were amazing Ava, not many people could do that in those conditions. You saved Luke's life and I'm so proud of you.

Tiger took off her own mask, revealing the large blush across her face.

White Tiger: Keep saying things like that and I might just keep you around.

Spiderman: Your getting better ... that one was almost funny.

She giggled as the two of them move in closer for a kiss. As they parted from each other Spiderman took hold of her hands, only to notice that her gloves and parts of her waist are still covered in patches of dry blood.

Spiderman: Maybe you should rethink the whole "White" thing?

White Tiger: This is going to be a nightmare to washout.

Spiderman: Yeah, you really need to get out of that uniform.

Tiger gives her boyfriend a suggestive look.

White Tiger: Oh ... you'd wait for any excuse, wouldn't you?

Spiderman: Wait ... no ... I didn't mean...

White Tiger: You didn't? Ok then.

She walks away from him, grinning to herself as she left her boyfriend to his thoughts before he followed on.

Spiderman: Well ... on the other hand.

The Valiant's Med-bay

Both Spiderman and Tiger open the door to the med-bay, and found themselves looking at a heart-warming sight. Hornet was sleeping on a fold out med bed, hooked up to medical equipment while sitting on a stool next to him is an unmasked Kato, sleeping and laying her head next to Hornet ... one of her hands clasped in one of his.

Moonstar: Told you there was something between them.

Spiderman jumped before him and Tiger looked behind them to find Moonstar standing behind them.

Spiderman: Oh hey Dana ... what makes you so sure?

Moonstar: The way he looks at her ... the fact that he's the only one out of all of us that she says more than one word to ... not to mention my emphatic abilities picked up on their feelings from the beginning.

Spiderman: ... Oh?

White Tiger: Seriously Pete, you don't need emphatic powers to see that.

He caught sight of the weird look Tiger gave Moonstar and the vice versa, but before he could say anything he heard a sound coming inside the med-bay. Hornet began to stir himself awake then suddenly Tiger closed the door in front of them ... receiving a puzzled look from Spiderman.

White Tiger: We shouldn't be seeing this.

The three of them stand round the door, pretending to act nonchalant ... looking at the ceiling, checking nails. Then after about a minute the three of them huddled up to the door as Tiger opened it slightly, allowing them to peek inside the room.

Slowly Hornet regains consciousness, waking up with what seemed like a thumping headache. He tries to remember what happened to him ... watching Kato and Taskmaster fight ... Taskmaster pulling out his gun then...

Green Hornet: Ouch!

He cringes in pain as he sits himself up, placing his right hand across the bandages around his torso and it was also at that point when he realised something was clasping his other hand. He looked over to see his partner Kato, unmasked and sleeping next to him. He removed his free hand and uses it to gently brush some strands of hair away from her face. This causes Kato to stir at his touch; she slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Hornet gazing down at her, which lightened her expression.

Kato: Luke ... you're awake.

Green Hornet: I could always trust you to point things out to me.

She didn't say anything to him, but just continued to smile at him.

Green Hornet: Really? No glib remark? No sarcastic comeback? Mulan ... your smiling ... you're scaring me ... OOF!

Kato playfully punches Hornet on the arm (playful for Kato), surprising him slightly.

Kato: Don't you ever scare me like that again ... ever.

Hornet: Ok, I promise not to get shot on a regular basis for now on ... Mulan, are you ok?

Kato's eyes had started to water up and when she blinked ... tears started to escape down her cheeks as she tried to cover her face with her hands.

Kato: I thought ... I thought I was going to lose you ... when I saw you fall ... I ... I.

Green Hornet: Hey I'm fine! It's you I was worried about.

She dropped her hands slightly away from her face.

Kato: You ... were worried about ... me?

Green Hornet: Of course I was, Kato ... going after Taskmaster alone was the stupidest thing you had ever done.

She was speechless; he had never spoken to her so sternly before, he always seemed so laid back and cocky. But this was a side she had never seen before.

Green Hornet: You should have known he was trying to throw you off; he clearly wanted to lead you away to fight on his terms ... You could have gotten yourself killed!

She had no idea what to say, she only lowered her head out of shame as Hornet ranted on.

Green Hornet: You said I shouldn't scare you, but you scare me every time you lose yourself in a fight because you're like a machine; no emotion, no remorse. It's like you lose a bit of your humanity each and every time and I'm terrified of what you might turn into. That's why I've always stepped in, imagine what it is like watching that happen to someone you lov...

He tried to stop himself form saying that last part, but it was no good. Kato looked sharply up at her partner who was at that moment wishing that he was still unconscious.

Kato: You ... you ... love me?

Oh this is better than most of the junk on T.V these days ... how's Luke gonna handle this?

Green Hornet: Mulan ... I've loved you for a long time; you're confident, strong, independent, beautiful ... especial in leather, multi-talented, intell...

He couldn't finish his sentence; Kato had just grabbed him by the neck and pulls him into a deep kiss. For what seemed like hours the two of them remained locked together until Kato accidently puts pressure on his injury, making him wince.

Kato: Oh ... sorry about that.

Green Hornet: It's alright; kissing you makes the pain bearable ... either that or the morphine's kicking in.

Kato couldn't help but let out a soft giggle. Astonishing Hornet ... and their concealed audience.

Green Hornet: A smile, tears and a giggle? Forget my promise; I should get shot more often.

Phantom: If you'd let me use a shotgun, I could get you to 3rd base.

The three teenagers couching and peeking though the crack in the door, look up in surprise to see Phantom and Zorro standing behind them ... grinning. Suddenly the door is yanked opened by Kato, causing the three heroes to lose their balance and crumple over onto the ground.

Spiderman: Ouch...

Moonstar: Ouch...

Spiderman: Ouch...

The wall crawler landed hard on his back with both tiger and Moonstar lying on top of him. Kato just stares down at them while Phantom, Zorro and Hornet start laughing.

Phantom: (Laughing) Peter ... you gotta tell me your secret dude.

Green Hornet: (Laughing) Ouch! Guess laughing still hurts.

They get back to their feet (Tiger "hissing" at Moonstar as they get off Spiderman) then everyone gathers round Hornet.

Zorro: How are you feeling?

Hornet: Better, Thanks to the morphine I'm not feeling extreme pain ... but I am waiting for the hallucinations to appear.

Phantom: Judging from what we've just seen I'm wondering if we're all not on morh... Ouch!

Kato used her heel to stamp down on Phantoms foot, making him cry out in pain.

Spiderman: Some ones back to normal ... Ouch!

He received a smack to the back of the head from Tiger.

White Tiger: Well glad to see your ok, we should let you rest up.

Green Hornet: Thanks for coming ... Oh, birdies!

Kato: I think you should all go now.

The rest of the group wished him well then made their way out of the med-bay, leaving Hornet and Kato by themselves. Not long afterwards Tiger was sitting in the passenger area, reading one of her romance novels to pass the time when suddenly she finds herself approached by Kato.

Kato: Ti... Ava, can I talk to you about something?

Tiger puts down her book and looks up at Kato.

White Tiger: Err ... sure?

Kato: Luke ... told me what you did for him after he was ... you know. And Spider... Peter told me that he wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for you so I just wanted to say ... well.

She gets down onto her knees and gives Tiger a big hug, taking Tiger by surprise and then says quietly in her ear.

Kato: I'm sorry about what said to you. I'm sorry about how I treated you and I'll always be indebted to you for what you did for us ... Thank you.

White Tiger: That means a lot to me. So ... I'm I one of you guys now?

The two of them remained quiet for a few moments before Kato replied.

Kato: ... Baby steps.

New York – City Harbour – Dawn

Meanwhile back in America, the Pentagon had revived reports from the front lines in Africa and Genosha that the New Allies have suffered massive casualties and a loss of ground. In response to this the military are readying all along the east coast a force of 500,000 soldiers to be deployed as reinforcements, 125,000 of them are readying to ship out from the docks of New York. Unfortunately most of these soldiers are fresh out of boot camp, and are now being shipped off to combat. The entire harbour hasn't been this busy berthing military vessel since the Second World War, over 500 ships are waiting in dock as soldiers are being lined up to board. On board on of these ships are the ship's captain and his first officer, stationed on the bridge and making last minute checks.

Captain: What's our status?

Lieutenant: Sir, everything is in order, Troops are boarding as we speak and we expect to depart in the next hour.

Captain: ...!

Lieutenant: Sir?

Captain: Yes, I heard you lieutenant, I was just ... thinking.

Lieutenant: About the reinforcement's sir?

Captain: Look at them down there, their just kids. And we're going to send them off to a conflict that their not prepared for.

Lieutenant: Times are desperate sir, without these reinforcements we could lose the war altogether.

Captain: Damn it man, their just kids! Some of them look like they're just out of high school. Times must truly be desperate if we are sending our country's youth to...

Ensign: Sir?

Captain: What is it ensign?

Ensign: I seem to be having trouble with the radar sir; something seems to be interfering with it.

Captain: Lieutenant, get someone to take a look.

Lieutenant: Yes sir.

As he makes his way toward the intercom, the ensign regains the Captains attention.

Ensign: Captain, before the radar began to malfunction, I think I saw something on it for a second.

Captain: Saw what?

Ensign: Difficult to say sir but whatever it is it was approaching our location from these coordinates.

The Captain walked over to the ensign and made a note of the coordinates, then took out a pair of binoculars and looked out onto the coast to see if he could find anything. After a minute of searching he saw in the distance a large cargo frigate coming into view.

Captain: Odd... Lieutenant, there aren't any civilian ships scheduled for berth today is there?

Lieutenant: No sir, all civilian vessels are being diverted.

Captain: Send a message to them immediately.

As the Lieutenant gave the order to the communications officer, the Captain looked back through his binoculars to see that another cargo ship as appeared ... and another one.

Captain: What on earth?

Comm Officer: Lieutenant, something seems to be interfering with communications.

Lieutenant: Keep trying!

Captain: Those freighters are getting to close ... my god there are more of them; 7, 8 ... 12!

The Captain, along with his first officer, rushed out of the bridge and onto a walkway outside. They look out onto the mouth of the Hudson River to see a few dozen cargo freighters getting closer to the docks. Just then the first officer notices something.

Lieutenant: Sir! There's something in the water just ahead!

His superior brought up his binoculars again to take a look. The sees an unknown shape floating just at the water's surface, then suddenly a few more appear just ahead of the small fleet. Next thing he could see was something breaking the water's surface and heading towards not only them but a few other ships in dock.

Just then a huge explosion occurred beside them, the officers looked over and saw that the ship next to them exploded and began to sink. A few more explosions followed all along the dockyards as soldiers and other personnel ran for cover and the Captain looked at the bow of his ship to see something heading right for them.

Captain: BRACE FOR IM...!

He couldn't finish the order, as the bow of the ship just exploded in front of them, sinking the ship. The docks were in chaos as soldiers were readying themselves, alarm sirens were ringing and the dozens of cargo freighters contained closer to the docks uninterrupted ... If the Captain was alive, he would have found out that there was no point sending Americas youth abroad ... the war had come to America.

A/N: So ... let me know what you guys think. I believe we've no reached 3 quarters into the story now, can America hold up against the combined force of Dr Doom, Magneto and Attuma? Just have to wait and see.

Thanks