Unknown Location, Unknown Time
"Boss we lost Gauntlet and Bushwhacker; their vital signs went offline a few minutes ago." Janissary told the woman on the screen her face covered with a mask. "Judging from the feed they were killed by War Machine and Chemistro."
"You should have listened to me." Redback purred as she lounged on the sofa in Janissary's warehouse space, "Odette has a corrosive touch, nobody can stand it for long."
"Quiet both of you." Nike ordered, "What of the Sandman is he still active?"
"Can't tell his form melted shortly before Gauntlet went offline, then again that's never stopped him before." Janissary announced fiddling with the dials and controls, allowing him to flick through the carnage that had occurred in the Africa First Headquarters. Nike ripped off a piece of neck armor and scratched a sore spot underneath her ear brushing the black hair with red highlights away.
"Very well, we had to expect losses with the kind of group we're dealing with." she announced reattaching the neck armor, "What's the status on the others?" she asked
"HAMMER's prepping them for deployment as we speak." Redback told her, "Judging from your spy cams their heading on a suicide mission, it wouldn't even be worth hunting them."
"Your right if it was really a suicide mission." Nike told her, "Janissary update the deck, send Rhodes and Williams a clear message that their team mates are alive. If Dr. Zola has done his work right Ms. Hand should be easy to track. Redback I have a task for you head out to Botswana and deliver the pre-recorded voice message that we created when Osborne took the majority of Task Force HAMMER hostage."
"Yes Maam." Redback replied picking up a pistol off the table and heading to a stack of USB keys before carefully selecting one and slotting it into a tactical hard case.
"Shall I send the invitations out?" Janissary asked.
"Yes we'll need reinforcements to be effective in battle, I trust that you picked up the required items?" she asked Bile as she entered the room.
"It wasn't hard, let's just say Sand will stay loyal if he doesn't want his daughter to have a mysterious heart attack." Bile replied pushing a young woman into the room her arms bound and a gag across her face.
"Good, you all know what to do." Nike ordered, "Soon we'll be in charge and everything Osborne did will be washed away." The screen blinked off and Janissary flicked the record button on the old fashioned tape recorder to the off position.
"You really think it wise?" Redback asked, "To blackmail the most powerful person in the United States?"
"She's not there yet and I'm going to make sure she doesn't forget the people who got her there." Janissary sneered, "This is the only thing that will keep us safe from her when she has the countries entire security network at her fingers."
Complex 010, New York City - 11:22AM, 24th August
The Zeus landed by the sleek ultra-modern new Oscorp building and a whole team of HAMMER agents deployed efficiently out the rear ramp as Norman Osborne followed them in his Iron Patriot Armor. After briefly conversing with the head of security he ordered the HAMMER units to head inside. Minutes later the remainder of Task Force HAMMER were being dragged out and loaded into the Zeus.
"I want them secure and unable to escape until they reach the landing point, tell me you understand." he bellowed at the HAMMER Field Commander.
"Yes Sir." he replied, "Don't worry we've tested the safe-guards even if they do escape they won't leave the shuttle alive."
"You'd better hope that they don't escape, I'd hate to throw you in the feeding room Commander." Osborne threatened before flying away back towards Avengers Tower in the distance.
"Alright everyone back inside and remember the first sign of trouble, we shoot to kill." the Commander ordered, "Now check safeguards people."
"Hand is secure, Muscle Relaxant in her cuffs are active."
"Romanoff is secure, tranquilizers are already online to ease transition."
"Wolverine is secure, Liquid Carbonadium has been hooked up to his blood stream."
"Geode is secure, Anti Gravity simulator is active."
"Toxin is secure, Batracotoxin injectors are ready for activation."
"The Ghost is secure, time sensitive override code with rotating encryption are in place."
"Good," the commander told his crew, "pilot lift off, everyone stay alert, War Machine and Chemistro are still out there and we don't know what awaits us at the landing platform."
Zeus Class - HAMMER Assault Shuttle Brontes, Somewhere over Oklahoma - 14:52PM
The Zeus continued it's flight as the first units of HAMMER and the US Army clashed with the defending Asgradian Thralls, regular checks on the 'prisoners' made sure that the counter measures were still active, all in all the crew of the Brontes were having an easy time compared to virtually everyone else involved in the Asgard operation.
"Fifteen Minutes till drop off." the pilot confirmed as she scanned the area in front before checking the instruments only to see them reading at nominal levels. Despite it's bulk and armor plating the Zeus wasn't designed to get into dog-fights, every mile that the shuttle got closer to Site Alpha-Bravo Whisky, the more nervous the pilot became. Even with the escort of friendly F22 Raptors, the pilot remembered all too well the nasty turn that the air-battle took last time HAMMER came to Asgard.
"Brontes this is Falcon 1 we're detecting some kind of unidentified air-craft in the area heading on a collision course with your vessel. Recommend you take evasive action. Over." one of the Raptors broadcasted.
"We read you Falcon 1, we're also picking up the signature and are moving out of flight plan Over." the pilot broadcasted back, "I hate doing this," she cursed as she pulled the stick to the left causing the Zeus to jerk away from the unknown aircrafts trajectory.
"Brontes this Falcon 1 we have a problem." the Fighter Pilot called, "Falcon 2 and 4 were just destroyed by short range anti-air missiles. We're going to engage the target you just keep heading towards the landing point. Over." The pilot nodded and was about to responded when an armoured figure flew past the cockpit opening fire with canon fire on the lead F22 Raptor, the pilot ejected only to transform into a ball of fire as a second contact opened fire. The last F22 fled, activating its afterburners and leaving the Zeus defenceless.
"Right men, this is it." the Commander said, "We figured that somebody may come after the prisoners. Looks like we are right, ready your weapons and remember what will happen if we fail. Pilot keep flying this bird, the longer the shuttle isn't breached the easier our job at defending these scum will be."
"Sir do we have a positive ID on the attackers?" a Sub Commander asked.
"Negative but we figured the most likely attackers are James Rhodes AKA War Machine and Odette Williams AKA Chemistro, that's why we're equipped with EMP Rifles and Oz Corp's Alchemist Hazmat Armor." the Commander informed, "You Corporal," he addressed a soldier at the end of the Zeus, "If it appears we are losing terminate the prisoners."
"Yes Sir." the Corporal responded.
The pilot shook her head, "This is some shit we've got ourselves in." she muttered before calling out, "Contacts in range opening fire with automated sentries." she pressed the button and four Common Remote Operated Weapon Systems popped out of the hull and opened fire on the armoured attacker as his comrade landed on the deck and began to cut into the hull of the shuttle.
"Sentry 1 down, 2 to 4 are still online and scoring hits." the pilot announced.
"We've got a breach in progress." the Commander yelled as the HAMMER units surrounded the entry hole being cut in the upper hull.
"Sentry 2 just went offline, 3 and 4 are down to 100 rounds each." the pilot called, "Warlord this is Brontes we are under attack request support immediately, over."
"This is Warlord what's the situation Brontes, Over."
"We have two maybe more assailants attempting to breach the shuttle, we need immediate assistance, suspects are to be considered armed and dangerous, over."
"Okay ETA of support is three minutes, units are scrambling as we speak. Over" the radio suddenly went dead leaving the shuttle crew isolated as up-above the sound of the CROW turrets died replaced by the clunk as the hull was breached.
"Hull breach, activate magnetic traction and O² masks." the commander yelled, "Seal off the crew compartment." he added as the soldiers slipped on oxygen masks and activated their boots allowing them to walk unaffected by the breach of the shuttles structure.
"Come on you basterds." a HAMMER soldier growled, "Come get some." As soon as those words left his lips smoke filled the room blinding the soldiers as the attackers arrived, soon the shuttle bay was filled with the buzz of Pulse Rifle shots and the chatter of a Gattling Gun. Men screamed as they fell the noise defending, a pair of boots went flying through the air, filled only with skeletal stumps melted by a corrosive acid as several burning bodies flew out through the hole in the hull. Soon the smoke cleared and all the HAMMER agents were dead save the pilot safely sealed inside the cockpit.
"James, Tate is that you." Victoria asked peering at the armoured figure and the lithe person standing next to him.
"Not today, thanks to HAMMER you'll be easy kills." the armoured figure announced turning the visor transparent, revealing a hard edged female face. "Seal the hull." she ordered the second figure. Firing it's weapon a layer of gunk hardened across the surface, stopping the sucking pressure from removing the attackers. The person removed his mask to reveal a dark face lined and wrinkled.
"I was hoping the little bitch who took my name would be here." the man spat, "maybe if I kill you she'll turn up."
"Wait, I'm getting something." the armoured figure replied, "somebody survived, the pilot go finish her off Nike said no witness."
"My pleasure." Chemistro replied heading for the steel crew door and the pilot behind it.
"Warlord the attackers are identified as Calvin Carr AKA Chemistro and the terrorist known as Airforce, what's your ETA over." the pilot asked using a shinning crystal mounted on the instrument panel.
"One minute enemy forces are impeding our progress; you're on your own for now Brontes, Over."
"I know." the pilot replied turning to face the melting door. Carefully she picked up the wrist sprayers hidden in a hardened survival case before removing her helmet to reveal blond hair streaked with green, "Let's see who really deserves to call themselves Chemistro."
"Tate be careful." Warlord stated.
"Trust me James I'm always careful." she replied as the steel door completely vaporized in a cloud of green steam.