Chapter 2

July 1949

"Dr. Volkov's debrief, ma'am," a dark-haired man in a nondescript black suit announced as he placed a manila envelope on Peggy's desk.

"Thank you, Agent Pearson." The man left her office as she set down the memo she'd been reading to pick up the new envelope. She noted the large red "Eyes Only" stamp on the exterior as she removed the stack of pages from within.

Volkov, Dmitri Danilovich
 b. 12 May 1904, Leningrad (St. Petersburg)
 education: University of Vienna, chemistry and medicine

She skimmed over the long list of Dr. Volkov's accomplishments in order to read the agent's assessment on the final page of the report. Recruit for S.H.I.E.L.D. science division, Pearson recommended.

She flipped back to the second page when two words caught her attention: super soldier. It wasn't the first she'd heard of the Soviet super-soldier program, but Volkov was the first scientist to be brought in with any connection to the project.

"Director Carter?" a hesitant voice and a soft knock on the door interrupted her reading. Peggy absently held out a hand to take whatever report the soft-spoken Agent Reed was delivering.

"Ma'am, you need to see this." Eleanor Reed was an analyst responsible for collecting and decoding reports from undercover agents in the field. Peggy rarely interacted with her other than to receive those reports, and the meek brunette had never requested an audience until now. Peggy put the Volkov debrief back on her desk.

"The weekly report from Moscow came early," Reed said, as if it should be significant. Peggy responded with a look that was partly encouraging but mostly said get on with it. "The Moscow team is rarely on-time, let alone early, so I started on it right away. They report rumors of a significant leap in the Soviet nuclear weapons program with testing set to begin next month. Previous reports indicated they were still approximately a year away from test stage."

"Do you believe the previous reports were correct?"

Reed looked a little surprised by the question, but recovered quickly. "Yes, ma'am. Reports from multiple sources appear to indicate the Soviets acquired existing weaponry to reverse-engineer."

"HYDRA weaponry?" It was almost a statement.

"That is the current theory, ma'am. A large convoy was seen delivering supplies to the Laboratory Number Two installation in Moscow." Reed pulled out a number of black and white images showing a stream of oversized trucks. "These were received via radiofax this morning."

Something on one of the facsimile pages caught Peggy's eye. "That looks like the wing of an aircraft," she said, pointing to a dark, grainy object on the back of one of the vehicles. An idea started to take shape, but she needed more intel before she could act on it. "Excellent work, Agent Reed. Inform the Moscow team to send daily updates. Make this your top priority."

"Yes ma'am," Reed replied before hurrying out of the office.

"Anna," Peggy said into her telephone handset, knowing the switchboard operator listened in on everything. "Get me Agent Pearson."

It took less than an hour to arrange an interview with Volkov. The fair-haired man looked more weathered than Peggy expected of a 45-year-old. His features were gaunt and pale as if the scientist never saw sunlight. He looked nervous, but the interview room's antiseptic pale blue tile and bare steel furniture weren't designed to put subjects at ease.

"Hello, Dr. Volkov. I'm Agent Carter." Peggy sat in the chair across from Volkov, well out of reach, just in case. Using her former title was just another measure of security. No need to make herself a target unnecessarily.

Volkov muttered something in Russian that, despite her very limited grasp of the language, seemed likely quite rude. She was starting to question Pearson's recommendation. Undaunted, she repeated the introduction in German, earning her a nod and no additional cursing.

"I'd like to ask you about the super-soldier program," she continued in the same language. "You were trying to recreate the work of Dr. Abraham Erskine."

"Da," came Volkov's monosyllabic answer.

"Were you successful?"

Volkov answered with a stony look.

"May I remind you if you wish to stay in the United States, we need you to cooperate."

The scientist appeared to weigh his options. "You want super soldiers," Volkov responded in fluent German. Peggy kept her expression neutral. "I can do that."

"So you were successful at recreating Dr. Erskine's formula?"

"Almost. We were on the verge of a breakthrough when your agents persuaded me to leave Moscow."

"And what led to this breakthrough?"

Volkov paused just a little too long. "We managed to recover some of Dr. Erskine's research from HYDRA."

"What would you need to continue this research? Were you able to bring it with you?"

"Alas, the research is still in Moscow." The scientist said no more. After a minute ticked by without another word, Peggy stood to leave when Volkov suddenly added, "I could retrieve what I need if the United States will protect me."

"If you tell me what it is and where to find it, we can send agents while you remain safe here," she countered.

Volkov shook his head. "Your agents won't understand what they're dealing with. I must go."

"I'll see what can be arranged," she said, closing the door to the interview room firmly behind her.

She found Pearson in the next room, having directed him to observe the interview. "Did you catch any of that?" she asked.

"My German is a little rusty, Director," he replied sheepishly. "Something about research in Moscow?"

"I suspect he has far more than research," she said, tugging absently on the hem of her wine-colored jacket. "Make the arrangements and accompany Volkov at all times. Do not lose him. Do you understand, agent?"

Pearson nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

"Have Agent Reed notify our team in Moscow-they'll be your backup. And have her brief you on Laboratory Number Two. I have a feeling you might find yourself nearby."

"Ma'am?" he asked with furrowed dark brows.

"Just a hunch."

Over the next several days, Agent Reed continued to deliver the Moscow reports with little new information. Pearson and Dr. Volkov had made it to Leningrad without incident and were expected to reach Moscow by Thursday. But then Thursday came and went with no update from Pearson. Reed sent an urgent coded message to the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in Moscow, but Friday morning arrived with no sign of Pearson or Volkov.

Reed shoved a loose comb back into her curly brown hair and made a beeline for the director's office. She was on the phone, but hung up quickly upon seeing the distress on Agent Reed's face.

"Pearson's gone dark, ma'am. Last contact was Tuesday from Leningrad."

"They never reached Moscow?"

"Not that I can confirm."

"Dammit," Peggy swore softly and considered her options for a moment. "Pack your bags, Agent Reed. We're going to Russia."

"Pardon?" Reed asked in confusion, having had few forays into the field.

"You speak Russian, know our agents in Moscow, and are familiar with the current intelligence situation. You are coming with me."

"This is a damn fool idea, Carter," Phillips growled. "I expect this kind of idiocy from Stark, but not from you."

After years of working with the man, Peggy was hardly cowed by his attitude. She stood and leaned across her desk, hands firmly planted on the blotter. "I will not sit here and run this operation from across the ocean."

"Then do it from London." The look she gave him in response used to make the recruits at Camp Lehigh shake in their boots. It had no affect on him. "All you have is some half-baked intel and a missing scientist."

"But it all makes sense. If the Soviets recovered the Valkyrie, it would explain both the leap in their atomic weapons program and the super-soldier research Volkov mentioned. It's critical to stop them on both fronts."

"That still doesn't explain why the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. needs to personally lead this operation. What if you get caught, Carter?"

Peggy wasn't sure if she imagined it, but it almost looked like there was a tiny crack in Phillips' armor. "Then this becomes a bit more than a temporary favor I'm asking of you, General."

Phillips huffed and stood to leave. "You always did have a habit of disobeying my orders. At least where Rogers was concerned. Just do me a favor and come back alive so I can enjoy my retirement in peace."