Ah, the Changbai Mountains...in 1904. These mountains are very appealing...to both the Tsar and the Japanese Emperor. One day, they'll all be one of theirs. Someday soon, they'll go to war with each other for them.
At sea, the water never freezes. Most ships are powered by steam engines, in this day and age.
In both countries' navies, the dreadnought rules the seas. U-boats will come along later...alas, not by either of their invention...
On the Korean coast, there's a port. Locally, they call it Ryojun. Russia wants it. Japan has it.
Up the canyons of the Changbai Mountains, a motorbike drives. It hauls a red sidecar. The sidecar is MUCH more versatile than it looks. The cycle itself is black...as is dressed its rider.
He's dressed like a ronin; and to think that he's Russian. Meet Aleksey Lebedev. Usually, he's Red Guardian. On this mission, alas, he's Ronin.
In his mind, the Tsar is an asshole, and a bit of an incompetent. And he certainly doesn't have kinder things to say about the inept military officers who command the White Army. It takes good judgment to be a warrior. And tsars and generals can never be expected to have good judgment if they can't see things from the POVs of the naïve privates they command...and often waste, because of their lack of omniscience.
It's a long way, from here to danger. Japan hasn't attacked Manchuria yet...but they will. The Tsar can't prevent that from happening any better than the White Army can. That's what Lebedev is here for.
In these mountains, there are ninjas. They serve Hydra. A long time ago, in the Stone Age, Hydra served, and worshiped, a certain human/alien hybrid, who demanded sacrifices. He demanded a LOT of sacrifices. Many died for Hydra's cause; deaths that could've been avoided, if Hive hadn't been so demanding.
In the end, a swarm of humans and Inhumans worked together to banish Hive through a portal into hell...which is where Hive remains today. Only a few of those humans and Inhumans were reformed Hydra agents. Mostly, though, Hydra wants their devil back...as expensive and dangerous as he was the first time.
Thankfully, though, the Japanese faction of Hydra has no interest in re-summoning Hive. They want Manchuria, too...if not for the same relatively naïve reasons Japan itself does.
Even so, the Ronin comes to bump them off, so that they can't bump off any Manchurians. The Manchurians are a dying nation as it is, and they're lucky the Tsar ever thinks of them at all. And Japan can only do worse to them; every good Russian knows so. Lebedev is here to protect Manchuria...albeit he's no Manchurian.
Lebedev dares not take the motorbike any farther. So he caches it, loads himself for the long journey ahead, and begins his quest for the many heads of Hydra...
He's got his hood up. He's clad in black. He's got a pair of katanas, in scabbards, on his back. He's ready for Japan. And he knows that Hydra's ready for him, even if most of Japan isn't.
Moments later, they prove it. Atop a bulky glider, which bellows steam out of its rear, Hobgoblin arrives. He's a Hydra agent. He's a Japanese warrior who's been inoculated with the Hobgoblin performance-enhancer.
From up a canyon, a wolf joins them. She's Ferocia...and she's much fiercer than she looks.
Living Laser teleports into view. He's a Japanese warrior...completely made of red-glowing energy.
Robert Minoru/Wizard arrives...via technology that's bulky, but impressively functional. He wears a magnetic harness, that's electricity-powered. Steam blows out of a pack behind it.
Militant arrives, on a motorbike. He's a Japanese super-soldier, and wields a vibranium shield.
This is Hydra's Army of Evil. They've all come to confront the Ronin. Good; Ronin's ready to stop beating around the bush.
Ronin draws his blades, and prepares himself for anything. He needs to. None of these Hydra ninjas are exactly swordfighters.
Living Laser opens fire...and the fight begins.
