"The Black Order will siege the city, we will be outnumbered no doubt." Venom was doing all the talking, his head extended from my shoulder while I stood around the war table with everyone else. Well, by everyone else I meant most of the Avengers, excluding Banner, Widow, and King T'Challa. "Luckily, if its really just the one ship this may just be a task force..."

"Have you seen task forces before?" The Captain questioned.

"No, but I heard of smaller, single battalions deployed in areas with lesser resistance." Venom grunted in response, "Seems they underestimate this planet, that's good."

"Well our defenses should keep them outside the city." T'Challa stated, already suited up in his Panther gear.

"It will not be enough." Venom replied quickly. "Their assault force will be made up of Outriders, a race of violent four armed aliens that fight like feral beasts... And likely Chitauri."

"We're familiar with them." Steve Rogers nodded. Right, the aliens that attacked New York six years ago. "I thought we wiped them out."

"Well you didn't," Venom grunted, "They'll attempt to rule the skies with their hovering chariots and leviathans, dropping armed kill teams wherever they can... I trust your people have an air force? Or at least anti-air defenses?"

T'Challa nodded, "Yes, we'll contest the air as best we can, but the bulk of our army is focused on evacuating the city"

"I'm sorry I was under the impression we wanted to win this battle." Venom growled in annoyance, "They are more advanced, will likely outnumber us and to them, death comes before disobedience... Our only chance, is to give them everything we've got!"

"I will not leave my people defenseless." T'Challa didn't back down, glaring at the parasite. "I have given you all the support I can for now, once the evacuation is finished the rest of our forces will take the field."

"Assuming we survive Thanos' army for that long." Widow muttered, I'm glad we were all on the same page here that leaving out some of the Kings forces was a bad idea.

"We don't need to defeat Thanos or his whole army," Rogers reminded, "We just need to buy time... We'll need battle lines, our heaviest hitters out front with ranged support... You're gonna need prepped medical facilities."

T'Challa held up a hand, "My people know how to fight a war."

That's what this was wasn't it?

Not just a battle, or a fight.

This was going to be big.

"We are already loading the transports," The Black Panther added, before looking to his leading general, Okoye. "Finish evacuating the city, engage all defenses... And get this man a shield."

. . .

We took to the field as massive drop pods came crashing down along the outermost edge of the barrier protecting the city. A good landing zone, nothing but loose forest and open plains. But the impact left the dry grounds burning, the forest itself starting to catch fire. While I stood among row upon row of armored Wakandan warriors. Men and women with no super powers at all, ready to fight and die for this cause. The War chants of one tribe in particular echoed across the field.

I'd already suited up, garbed in that same black variant I wore during the prison break. Only now, the "V" on our back was replaced with an "A". That felt right, if this was really gonna be the end of it, I wanted to go out an Avenger after all.

Titania and Kane were fully outfitted as well. The giantess wearing black combat pants and boots with those purple sleeves. Though, after speaking with the armorers, she had the steel studs replaced with vibranium. And to top it all off, she was given a vibranium warhammer. The massive weapon resting on her shoulders, one end flat and the other spiked.

Kane was dressed in similar manner to Captain America. Black body armor and a pair of vibranium knuckle dusters to add a little more punching power. It was about all he could offer really, but I knew he was ready to fight. The old man probably loved the chance to fight alongside the heroes he idolized.

"Got two figures coming through the treeline." Falcon sounded over the comms.

An envoy maybe? Captain America, T'Challa and Widow went to meet them. Crossing the river behind the barrier to speak with the aliens face to face. From here I could see a woman, and a mammoth of a male alien. The two of them definitely looked tough, and from Venom's apprehension I could tell they were a cut above the rest. Soon though, I could see the drop pods starting to move. Massive metal slabs sliding upward, like they were opening up.

And just as quickly, the three sent to meet our enemy returned to our ranks. "So did they surrender?" I heard the Winter Soldier question.

"Not exactly." Rogers answered.

Movement in the treeline caught my eyes. Not just a little bit, but a massive flurry or it. As a horde of four armed alien monsters erupted from the jungle, hundreds, maybe even thousands, racing towards the barrier. "The outriders, I assume?" I asked Venom out loud.

"Yes... Vile creatures."

They began slamming into the barrier, some dying on impact while others sacrificed limbs to try and claw their way through. It was disgusting to watch, and terrifying. What could drive creatures like this to such madness?

"They're killing themselves..."

"Saves us the trouble."

But some made it through, tearing open holes enough to push their badly burned bodies through. Taking only seconds to recover on the other side before breaking into a suicidal charge towards our line. T'Challa gave the order, and his men opened fire from behind a shield wall. Gunning down the rabid beasts before they could even get close to us.

"You guys see the teeth on those things!?" Falcon exclaimed, strafing over the enemy and raining bullets on them to thin their number.

"Alright back up Sammy, you're gonna get your wings singed." War Machine added, flying just along the barrier where they were breaching. A line of explosions followed behind him, burning the enemy and killing most that were making it through. At this rate, we could keep their forces bottle-necked and whittle them down.

"Got another one of those drop pods," Banner called out over the radio from inside the Hulk Buster armor. "Looks different than the others!"

Indeed, just barely piercing trough the smoke cloud created by the other pods, this ship was shaped like a sideways "X" and nearly three times the size. It never hit the ground, hovering in place as various hatches began to open along the frame. Out of them came the other half of this assault force we were worried about. Chitauri leviathans were unleashed, the massive beasts flying directly towards the wall of light that was the barrier. Most of them carrying large metal pods beneath them, transports maybe?

Unlike the outriders, the leviathans had no trouble barreling through the shield. Suffering nothing more than a few minor burns along their thick armor and dense hide.

"Scramble all air forces now!" T'Challa ordered into his communicator.

As the Leviathans made it through, the containers they carried were released. Falling to the ground before thrusters ignited beneath them, slowing the descent. On impact with the dry ground, dust was kicked up and the doors opened. Each container carrying a dozen or so Chitauri foot soldiers who immediately began to swarm the field, opening fire on the Wakandan Shield Wall while taking cover. Some firing off pot shots at Rhodes and Sam, driving them away.

"They're not advancing!" Rogers called out, "They're just giving cover fire to the outriders!" With much of our force unable to open fire, and the Leviathans attempting to fly by over head and drop more troops, the feral beasts were closing the gap.

"Then lets stop sitting here and KICK SOME ASS!" Titania shouted back, breaking free of our defensive line.

Why was I not surprised to see her make such a brash move?

Bolts of light struck her body but did no damage, and she charged the oncoming outriders with reckless abandon. Laughing as she swung her new toy, the flat end of the hammer smashing the head of her first attacker. Before she followed through, spinning around with the momentum and knocking aside several more. "Ahahaha! Is that all you've got you alien FREAKS!?"

Explosions and gunfire sounded overhead as well, the Wakandan gunships and fighters engaged the Leviathans and chariots. Opening fire and keeping the violent beasts away from the city and us. Wakandan soldiers were spreading out, shield walls protecting their gunners as they took better positions to trade fire with the Chitauri warriors. The Avengers themselves were starting to move as well.

"Alright here we go!" I jumped the line as well, blades forming along my arms. "Come on Venom!" I hit the ground running, charging the nearest outrider. The moment it jumped at me, blades jutted from my shoulders and pierced it clean through the chest. As it was tossed aside, another tackled us to the ground. Mid roll however, I buried my claws in his neck, killing the beast.

I would be doing a lot of killing today.

"HRAAAH!" Titania seemed to be enjoying herself though, putting that hammer to work along with her brute strength. Smashing through any that stood in her way, some almost seemed to actively avoid her and go after "easier" targets. The absolute mad woman smashing through the enemy until she was nearly at the barrier.

A sudden explosion threw her back however, all the way across the river as something erupted near the barrier itself. It wasn't a fiery blast, more like something electric in nature. Whatever it was, it blew a hole in the shielding as it flickered, finally letting those outriders on the other side pour through. "We've got a problem!" I shouted, moving to Titania as she stood back up. "Barriers open!"

"Warriors! Border Tribe! Form up on the King!" Okoye commanded, while the other Avengers began rushing to our position.

An umbral tide of teeth and claws bore down upon us, "Get ready kid!" Titania ordered, gripping her hammer tightly.

"I was born ready! Try to keep up!" I answered, spiked tendrils forming outside my body to attack multiple targets at once.

A hail of gunfire from Rhodes, Bucky and Sam slowed their advance. And soon Captain America, Widow and Banner were at our side ready to hold the forward line. The five of us met the tide head on, crashing into them with all our might. Spikes and blades stabbed out of my body in every direction, cutting deep into alien flesh. Titania's hammer delivered judgement left and right, while Steve Rogers fought them in hand to hand combat with his spiked shields and Banner dispatched many with the various deadly weapons the Hulk Buster was equipped with.

We were alive, but couldn't hold this position indefinitely.

"WAKANDA FOREVER!"

A horn sounded, blaring even louder than the chaos of war around us. Looking back, I saw the tide of Wakanda's army charging down the hill. Having regrouped from the initial chaos, they were going to reinforce us. And along their flanks charged a number of armored rhinos, something I thought I'd never see. The war beasts slammed into the enemy ranks, crushing any Chitauri that couldn't get out of the way in time.

A great clash of wills and weapons echoed across the plains as the Wakandan warriors slammed into the ranks of the outriders desperately trying to overwhelm us. Warriors armed with vibranium weapons hacking and slashing into our foes, while ranged teams traded fire with the Chitauri. And above us, no less than four Leviathans and a number of chariots contested the skies against the Wakandan air force.

I saw bodies hitting the ground, never to move again. I saw flaming scrap rain down from destroyed chariots and gunships, crushing friend and foe alike. But I couldn't think about that now, right now I had to focus on the enemy in front of me. These warriors knew exactly what they were getting into, this was their duty. And I would do mine, I would make sure the Black Order bled for every inch they took.

. . .

Kane

. . .

As chaos broke out across the field, and the chitauri opened fire on our position, I went into action. I didn't know aliens, but I knew war. And more specifically, I knew a fire fight. "Push up on that position!" I ordered the nearest Wakandan firing team. Pointing them in the direction of Chitauri soldiers holding their ground behind some fallen ship wreckage. "I'll lead the way! Follow me through!"

Bolts of light flew past me as I ran across the field, closing the gap between myself and the Chitauri. An outrider slammed into me from the flank, attempting to take me off my feet as his claws and fangs dug into my skin. I managed to grab a hole of his jaw from the underside with my free hand, and with a violent pull snapped it. The beast howled in pain, stumbling back before the soldiers following me finished it off.

"Watch out!" Using my body as a shield, I took several bolts to the chest. None doing anything beyond charring the surface of my skin. With one final push, I reached their position. Driving my vibranium knuckles into the face of the first alien stupid enough to get in my way. Before taking his weapon, the strange alien rifle seemed easy enough to use. Like any other gun, just point and click. I gunned down the remaining Chitauri, "Alright, use the wreckage to set up a perimeter! From here we can provide covering fire and a good defensive point to the troops in the field!"

I flinched as a bolt of light nearly hit me in the head. Looking towards the source, I could see another Chitauri squad advancing on our position. "Get ready! Here they come!" Taking to the defenses with my newly acquired rifle, I returned fire. With my physical prowess, I could easily join the fight in the front. But I feared what might happen to these other men if they didn't have someone with my strength backing them up. It wouldn't matter how powerful we all are, if our supporting forces were wiped out.

. . .

Titania

. . .

"HRAAAH! AHAHAH!" The feel of alien bones giving way beneath the force of my weapon was cathartic. I loved this new vibranium hammer, so light and powerful. The way the air hummed when I swung it. "Ow!" Another outrider jumped me from behind, trying to bite and claw into my armor. Succeeding only in annoying me, bad idea.

Reaching back, I grabbed the beast by his neck. Pulling it off before snapping it with a firm clench of my fingers. Before using its body to smash the next unlucky alien to get in my way.

"Who's next you bastards!?" I demanded, eyes darting around to the chaos of battle.

All lines had collapsed, fighting spread across the field beyond the river. Wakandan warriors fighting desperately, though I could see most of the burden was put on the shoulders of us. The super humans. But that was fine by me, let the fodder tire out of the enemy while I keep doing the hard part. Speaking of which...

"How about..." Swinging the hammer overhead, I wanted to put its power to the test with my incredible strength. "THIS!" I slammed the flat end into the surface of the earth, as a number of outriders closed in around me. The incredible power of vibranium, plus my own absurd strength, shook the earth. Dust and dirt exploding beneath me, the shockwaves released sent the poor space mutts flying. Some dead, others injured.

I admired the destruction around me, taking a deep breath and looking to my weapon. "I fucking love this hammer." If we lived through this, I wasn't giving it back.

Something hit me just as the dust cloud was clearing. Something big and metal, knocking me clear off my feet. I was sent flying right out of the crater I'd created. And I was admittedly a little dazed, two outriders jumped on top and started clawing away at my form. Digging into the armor, scraping my skin. But I forced them back with ease the moment I'd gathered my bearings. Taking them both by the head and smashing their skulls together.

"Who the fuck-" I stopped as I spotted the big bastard wielding some kind of axe, now standing where I had been. He stared back at me with a killer intent in his eyes, this guy was definitely above the other little shits running around. "Oh? You finally decided to give me a challenge?" I questioned, wiping a bit of blood from my lip. The only real damage done so far, and it came from this guy.

Good.

He responded in some garbled language I couldn't understand.

But the way he hefted his axe told me all I needed to know.

"Well alright then!" I grinned, clenching the handle of my hammer. "Lets go!"