Frankfurt, Germany, February, 1940
Erskine entered the laboratory and greeted his partner, overlooking files. He saw a familiar body floating in a tank.
"So they've brought this one out of storage, have they, Hans?"
"Oh...you know of him? Because I could use any help...they expect a complete map of his biological structure by the end of the month…"
Erskine waved his hand in the air.
"well , good luck with that, my friend. All I know is he was captured during the end of the last war. According to reports, his skin appeared to be bulletproof...and he exhibited extra normal strength on the battlefield. He was knocked unconscious with chemical weapons."
Erskine took a closer look at the lifeless body in the tank.
"All of my examinations of this private John Steele, though...they proved fruitless… He appears to be a complete and utter anomaly, I'm afraid. Perhaps you should simply wake him up and ask how he got that way, he Hans?"
"Ehh...I think not Erskine."
"A Joke, old friend, just a joke."
Hans changed the subject.
"So you're off to present your findings to Herr Himmler in person?"
"Yes, He's meeting with friendly officials in Luxembourg for a few days, so off I go".
Erskine turned and began to walk out.
"Safe travel, Abraham."
"Goodbye, Hans…"
"The convoy transporting Professor Erskine will hit the extraction point near Luxembourg at approximately 0940 hours. This is our best shot and the closest he's been to the Nazi border since he contacted us."
A plane was flying through the grey clouds.
"You sure you're ready for this, Fury?" Because we aren't likely to get another chance."
"Sure, Lieutenant Sawyer...me and red were born ready."
"Just make sure you and these sky Devils are waitin' when we need you" said Red.
He got up and prepared to dive.
"And let us do the heavy lifting!"
The two leaped out and fell through with their parachutes. Red let out a cry of "WAHHOOO!"
Sawyer was left looking at the two fall.
"Friggin' yahoos."
The two soldiers came down in the snowy landscape, hiding behind a mound. The cars were passing.
"Which car did Sawyer say the Professor would be in?"
"One in the middle and the others are his guards."
Fury raised his gun. "I'll take out the rear car first. You flatten the tires on the Prof's Car...so we don't go chasin' 'im halfway to france.
Red got onto the ground.
"No problem, Buddy...like fish in a barrel."
Fury readied a grenade.
"Right...let's do this."
He hurled the grenade.
The classified report on the extraction of professor Abraham Erskine from behind enemy lines is full of holes. Redacted bits, some names withheld, but many things are clear in that report. Among them, that Red Hargrove and Nick Fury, two independent special operatives, performed bravely and swiftly.
Fury's grenade took out the third car. Hargrove's bullets caused Erskine's middle car to slide when the wheels were shot up. The rest were mowed down by the duo's bullets.
The Entire assault lasting under two minutes.
It cannot be overstated how enormous the loss of Erskine was to the Nazi War effort. It's been said that because he was taken so close to the border, that his defection may have hastened the Nazi invasion of Luxembourg, France, and Belgium.
Erskine rose up to see Fury.
"Mein Gott"
"Professor Erskine? Abraham Erskine?"
"Yes...Yes, that is I…"
"Good. You can relax now, Professor...Uncle Sam sent us."
Red got onto the radio.
"Swordfish one to Devil's Hammer...We are go for pickup."