A wealth of information swirled on the screens before Doom's eyes. The main screen showed the updating world board, and other smaller one would blink as more data was fed into the Doomstaldt computers. From his command throne, he could select data that caught his interest and savor the small morsels of truth. At the centre of his web of information, he plucked the choicest facts from the ether.
SUBJECT: ANT-MAN
STATUS: CAPTURED; REPLACED
Doom's operation to gain access to the Skrull communications hub were paying dividends. At last, he could gain some understanding. He had chosen to passively gather the data; active measures risked detection. Nevertheless, the immense amount of data that passed through the New York hub painted a clear picture of the world
SUBJECT: BEAST
STATUS: EXECUTED/REF: SAN FRANCISCO WAR CRIMES
One of the more interesting tidbits of recent history was the Battle of San Francisco; Doom had to admit, he was impressed at the gall the X-Men showed.
Doctor Hank McCoy AKA Beast was renowned as a somewhat amoral scientist, but even Doom would never have thought that the mutant would develop a geno-targeted biological weapon. And for Scott Summers to deploy the weapon beggared belief. Truly, the children of Xaiver had wandered from their progenitor's dream!
Indeed, it seemed even the Skrulls had certain lines they considered unconscionable. After the weapon was deployed, the infected Skrulls killed themselves rather than spread the disease to their fellows. What Doom could not fathom was how the X-Men did not expect the Skrulls to compensate for the use of weapons of mass destruction. Even human armies have that capability.
Regardless, the follow-on attack by CBRN prepared Skrull troops was unsurprisingly brutal. Mutant and human suffered massive causalities as the Skrulls escalated their rules of engagement. The few X-Men who weren't killed in orbital strikes or vengeful infantry attacks were captured or forced to flee.
Dr. McCoy, as the mastermind of the weapon, was the given a special summary trial, followed by the first official execution performed by the new Skrull state. Scott Summers received his justice at the end of a Super-Skrull's claws in the games; given how well he was known as the leader of the X-Men, the Skrulls apparently decided to delay his death so it could be publically broadcast.
In regards to Dr. McCoy's 'legacy virus' weapon, Doom could discard the idea on its face; a hastily modified bio-weapon carried immeasurable risks, not least of which would be a mutation to target mutants again, or even regular humans. Exposed to the highly variable Skrull physiology, mutation of some kind was almost guaranteed.
Besides all that, he personally considered genocide rather distasteful. It showed a lack a discernment and crude thinking in the extreme. Frankly he considered it one of the hallmarks of the worst of human nature. Undeniably, Xavier's children had wandered from a path of righteousness in the Professor's absence, and they reaped the wages of evil.
SUBJECT: BLACKBOLT
STATUS: CAPTURED; REPLACED; AGENT DECEASED/REF:'ILLUMINATI'
...
SUBJECT: BLACK CAT
STATUS: UNKNOWN; PRESUMED HIDING
...
SUBJECT: BLACK PANTHER
STATUS: WAKANDAN SOVEREIGN/SEE: ONGOING WAKANDAN OPERATION
A new pattern of data turned out to be far more vexing for Doom. He steepled his fingers as he looked to the world board. The Earth was essentially controlled by the Skrull Empire. Some areas had fallen quickly, such as the United States. Some had taken longer, such as the Russians, who were able to put up a conventional response for a short period. Other areas were occupied by the Skrulls, but had small insurgent groups resisting them, such as in the Middle East.
SUBJECT: BLACK WIDOW
STATUS: UNKNOWN
...
SUBJECT: BLOB
STATUS: CAPTURED; SKRULL GAMES
...
SUBJECT: CAPTAIN AMERICA
STATUS: DECEASED/REF: BATTLE FOR NEW YORK
It seemed the Skulls had varying control of the entire planet, except two places: Latveria (by dint of Doom's rule) and Wakanda. He supposed it should be unsurprising that he was only just learning that Wakanda still stood; they had always been masterful at limiting outside knowledge about their affairs, and the aliens certainly would not allow news about the defiant nation to spread.
SUBJECT: COLOSSUS
STATUS: DECEASED/REF: BATTLE OF SAN FRANSICO
SUBJECT: CRIMSON DYNAMO
STATUS: DECEASED/REF: BATTLE FOR SIBERIA
SUBJECT: CRYSTAL
STATUS: MIA/REF: BATTLE FOR ATTILAN
SUBJECT: CYCLOPS
STATUS: DECEASED; SKRULL GAMES
This left him in a predicament: Wakanda was under siege by the aliens. Whatever initial attack the Skrulls launched had failed, and they had likewise failed in each follow up.
Wakanda's technology was far and away superior to any other nation on Earth, including Latveria. This was made possible by their possession of the only major source of Vibranium on the planet. Apparently, the Skrulls had taken the Wakandan countryside, but were unable to penetrate the shields protecting the capitol. With the Vibranium power cores, the city had almost limitless power, and even the guns of the Skrull cruisers were unable to deplete them.
SUBJECT: DAREDEVIL
STATUS: CAPTURED; SKRULL GAMES
...
SUBJECT: DEADPOOL
STATUS: WAKANDAN DEFENDER
Worse still, his files indicated a small cadre of heroes had escaped to Wakanda. This posed a problem for him: he was loathe to sunder a bastion of human resistance when alien domination ruled the Earth. The presence of Wakanda tied up considerable Skrull forces.
SUBJECT: DOCTOR STRANGE
STATUS: UNKNOWN
...
SUBJECT: DUM DUM DUGAN
STATUS: CAPTURED; REPLACED
...
SUBJECT: ELEKTRA
STATUS: CAPTURED; REPLACED; DECEASED
...
SUBJECT: EMMA FROST
STATUS: WAKANDAN DEFENDER
The complicating factor was that Doom had been opposed by many of these heroes, not least of all being T'Challa, the Black Panther, and King of Wakanda.
In their ignorance, they would continue to defy him. More irksomely, they would likely do so when Doom was executing the master-stroke of his plan. To allow them the capacity was unacceptable.
SUBJECT: FALCON
STATUS: WAKANDAN DEFENDER
...
SUBJECT: FRANKLIN RICHARDS
STATUS: LOST IN NEGATIVE ZONE
...
SUBJECT: GAMBIT
STATUS: DECEASED/REF BATTLE FOR SAN FRANSICO
There was also the question of the Vibranium; Wakanda possessed the only supply of the miraculous substance, and they guarded it jealously. When Doom ruled, the metal would be shared for the good of all mankind, instead of hoarded by an isolationist rump state that was content to see their neighbours starve to death in atrocious squalor.
Doom gritted his teeth in anger as he thought of how T'Challa wasted the potential of the substance. To have the power to alleviate the abominable suffering of that continent and choosing not to do so was villainy in the extreme.
SUBJECT: GORGON
STATUS: CAPTURED; SKRULL GAMES
SUBJECT: HAWKEYE AKA: RONIN
STATUS: UNKNOWN
...
SUBJECT: HULK
STATUS: LOST IN SPACE
...
SUBJECT: HUMAN TORCH
STATUS: CAPTURED; DECEASED IN SKRULL GAMES.
Dealing with T'Challa would be difficult. In spite of his poor moral fortitude and callous nature, he was fiercely intelligent and a canny strategist, and his dedication to his ethno-nationalistic state was unquestionable.
SUBJECT: ICE MAN
STATUS: DECEASED/REF:BATTLE OF SAN FRANSICO
...
SUBJECT: INVISIBLE WOMAN
STATUS: CAPTURED; SKRULL GAMES
...
SUBJECT: IRON FIST
STATUS: DECEASED/REF: SAVAGE LAND BATTLE
However, despite T'Challa's villainous nature, he was still a King, and Doom was obliged to entreat with him and give him an opportunity to see reason.
He got up from his command throne, stepped down from the raised dais, and left the world board room. That discussion would have to wait for now. The doors slid closed behind him as he walked down the steel corridor to the 'Development' portion of his lab. In the upper corner of his heads-up, updating data continued to stream by.
SUBJECT: IRON MAN
STATUS: CAPTURED
SUBJECT: KARNAK
STATUS: DECEASED/REF: BATTLE FOR ATTILAN
SUBJECT: LUNA
STATUS: MIA/REF: BATTLE FOR ATTILAN
SUBJECT: MAGNETO
STATUS: DEPOWERED; IN HIDING
SUBJECT: MARIA HILL
STATUS: DECEASED
Inside the Developments Lab a Plexiglas partition filled the lab and numerous constructors and manipulators waited behind the partition. From here, Doom could construct anything he needed. His espionage had provided him with more than just intelligence on the state of the world.
SUBJECT: MAXIMUS
STATUS: DECEASED; SKRULL GAMES
SUBJECT: MEDUSA
STATUS: MIA/REF: BATTLE FOR ATTILAN
SUBJECT: MS. MARVEL
STATUS: ALLIED; SKRULL INTELLIGENCE MINIMAL
The access to Tony Stark's computers also gave Doom information on his old rival's technologies. While most of it was unimpressive, there was a form that Doom was intensely interested in: Stark's 'Zero-Point Energy' technology
SUBJECT: MR. FANTASTIC
STATUS: CAPTURED; SKRULL GAMES
SUBJECT: NAMOR
STATUS: ATLANTIAN CIVIL WAR; SKRULL INVOLMENT MINIMAL
SUBJECT: NICK FURY
STATUS: UNCONFIRMED DECEASED
In their last battle, this advancement had given Stark a significant edge. The new force fields even resisted Doom's sorcery. Never mind that when they got to grips, Stark's armour totally overwhelmed his own; within moments his shields were fully drained and he was at Stark's mercy.
SUBJECT: NORMAN OSBORNE
STATUS: EMPLOYED BY US GOVERNMENT
SUBJECT: POWER MAN
STATUS: RESISTING SKRULL OCCUPATION
SUBJECT: PROFESSOR XAVIER
STATUS: DECEASED
Doom had been studying the new designs for some time now. The Zero-Point energy technology seemed to be divided into two branches: the field projections and the power generators.
SUBJECT: PSYLOCKE
STATUS: UNKNOWN
SUBJECT: PUNISHER
STATUS: RESISTING SKRULL OCCUPATION
The 'Zero-Point field projectors' essentially formed an 'energy siphon'. At the border of the field, the area was reduced to zero energy, causing all energy entering the area to be drawn into the ultra-chilled molecules. This process occurred at the (currently understood to be) fundamental quantum level, and affected all know energetic emanations that could exist in this universe; explaining why the field was proof against magic.
SUBJECT: SABERTOOTH
STATUS: SKRULL GAMES
Unlike normal energy fields that expended energy to create a shield, this device was limited by the capacitors upper-limit of energy storage. As more energy was absorbed by the zero-point border, it had to be 'syphoned' into the capacitor to maintain the zero-point field. This severely limited how much the otherwise invincible shield could absorb. This also meant that field was particularly effective against 'low-powered' energetic emanations, such as magic or psychic powers, but was much less efficient compared to conventional energy fields against high powered weaponry.
SUBJECT: SCARLET WITCH
STATUS: DEPOWERED, MEMORY LOST/REF: HOUSE OF M
SUBJECT: SHADOWCAT
STATUS: RESISTING SKRULL OCCUPATION
SUBJECT: SHE-HULK
STATUS: RESISTING SKRULL OCCUPATION/REF: FAILED CAPTURE OF NOGAR TALISMAN
The 'Zero-Point Power Generators' made up the second branch of Stark's (somewhat erroneously named) Zero-Point energy technology. The device was an ultra-efficient power amplifier that was able to utilize the full released vitality of the consumed fuels with 0% waste. In other words, it could burn all the stored potential energy in a fuel source until the fuel reached a zero-point state. Combined with Stark's repulsion/fusion technology, these device represented the most advanced power generator known to man. It also explained how Stark's armour was able to overpower Doom's otherwise similar fusion powered suit.
He had to admit, it was a very impressive technological innovation. It was well suited to Stark, with his limited vision and reliance exclusively on materialist sciences.
SUBJECT: SPIDER MAN
STATUS: DECEASED/REF: SAVAGE LAND BATTLE
SUBJECT: SPIDER WOMAN
STATUS: CAPTURED, REPLACED
Of course, when one considered the character of Stark, the nature of his technologies was to be expected; Stark had always been more of an engineer, rather than a scientist. He was closer in intellect to Osborne. Impressive to the masses, but hardly on the level of Doom or Richards.
SUBJECT: STORM
STATUS: REIGNING QUEEN OF WAKANDA
SUBJECT: THING
STATUS: DECEASED, SKRULL GAMES
SUBJECT: THOR
STATUS: RETREATED TO ASGAURD AFTER DEFEAT/REF: BATTLE OF NEW YORK
This was not to impugn on the talents that Stark held. His machines had always shown incomparable levels of efficiency and his ability to micro-size technology was beyond peer. He simply lacked the spirit and vision of the great explorers of the frontiers of knowledge.
SUBJECT: TRITON
STATUS: DECEASED/REF: BATTLE FOR ATTILAN
SUBJECT: VALERIA RICHARDS
STATUS: LOST IN NEGATIVE ZONE
By right of conquest Doom would take these spoils. He had already ordered his machines to construct new armour incorporating these technologies. The dexterous manipulators behind the Plexiglas whirred and buzzed as they set about their new task. The combination of Stark's high efficiency deigns with Dooms existing technologies would represent an order of magnitude in increased power for his new armour.
SUBJECT: WAR MACHINE
STATUS: ALLIED, SKRULL INTELEGENCE MODERATE
SUBJECT: WASP
STATUS: DECEASED/REF: BATTLE FOR NEW YORK
He mused as he watched the constructors go about their work. The contrast in their building techniques was fascinating. His weapons were far more powerful, and included radically designed elements, but he was forced to confess that there was wasted potential. One could directly observe this when he used his various energy weapons; there were always offshoots of energy, crackles, or particle flares.
Stark's weapons, by contrast, were far more coherent, with only the occasional flared particle observable. Likewise, Doom had never required the sheer lifting/pressing power that Stark included in his armour. Strength beyond being able lift a car seemed unnecessary to Doom. He had observed Stark using such force to lift a tank and dump the crew out of vehicle, allowing them to escape. Why he didn't simply vaporize the offending vehicle was a wonder to Doom.
Amusing differences in philosophy, but now irrelevant. Doom would have the best of both.
SUBJECT: WINTER SOLDEIR
STATUS: UNCOMFIRMED DECEASED
SUBJECT: WOLVERINE
STATUS: WAKANDAN DEFENDER
With these tasks complete, Doom left his lab. It was getting late, and he had worked well through dinner. He ascended the flagstones in the winding stair-case back to the main level of his castle and put an order to kitchen to prepare a light meal. Tomorrow he would parley with the Black Panther.
T'Challa stalked up the steps to his private quarters, his cape surging behind him. In the command center he had been overseeing the war in his homeland, silently formulating plans, when a technician informed him of an encoded transmission.
He was certain that none of his soldiers were Skrull, but he would not take any chances. The citizens who had revealed themselves as alien imposters did so early in the conflict. Their rotting corpses decorated the border of Birnin Zana; the capital of Wakanda, and the last unconquered refuge of humankind.
As he reached his chambers, he dimmed the lights and closed the blinds with a wave of his palm over a panel. Hidden mechanisms shut out the African sun and a projector lowered from the roof. Another few button presses routed the transmission to him.
His eyes narrowed when he saw that the transmission was encoded using Wakanda methods. A few moments later, the projector processed the signal. A soft teal light was cast over the room as an ethereal copy of Doctor Doom's torso appeared in the center of the chamber.
"Doom," T'Challa said. He was not in the mood to deal with this man.
"King T'Challa," Doom said with a slight incline of his head.
T'Challa sat down in a nearby chair, clasping his hands before his face. "What do you want?"
"I wish to know your position in the war."
"Isn't it obvious," T'Challa replied with a laugh. "Wakanda has stood against the invaders, as it always has." He glared at Doom as he continued, "What is less obvious is your position. By all appearances you serve these colonizers."
Doom crossed his arms before answering. "You know better than that."
"Then I repeat myself; what do you want?"
"When I free us of these Skrull invaders, I need assurances that you will not oppose me."
T'Challa took a calming breath before he spoke, "If you oppose the Skrulls then we are allies." Doom and he had cooperated before, so he decided not to simply cut the transmission. His position was precarious enough without dismissing potential allies.
"Yet allies of convenience can quickly turn to enemies of circumstance," Doom replied.
"You will seek to turn this catastrophe to your advantage," answered T'Challa as he leaned forward. He was entirely unsurprised that Doom would do such a thing. But he was obliged to consider his options. "State your terms."
"You will swear fealty to me; in exchange, Doom will recognize Wakanda's independence in the new order of the world; none of the inhabitants of Wakanda, nor yourself, will challenge me. Lastly, you will turn over your stores of Vibranium."
He couldn't help himself from digging his claws into his armrests at the absurd demands of this madman. "You ask for as much as the Skrulls!"
"Doom recognizes your nation's...historic reliance on the Vibranium, and as such, expects you to only turn over 95% of it," he said in his typically arrogant tone. "You will be left with enough under the control of your throne to be wealthy beyond all other nations."
T'Challa shot up out of his chair, "You are a lunatic if you think I could accept those terms!"
"Consider your people. What Doom cannot possess, he destroys."
"Get in line," T'Challa answered, his cape flowing as he turned to the leave the room.
Doom spoke in a low growl, "Fool! Be reasona-" but T'Challa dismissively waved his hand over the panel as he stormed out of his chamber, cutting off the signal.