Chapter 3

August 1949

Kotka, Finland was as close to the Russian border as Howard Stark was willing to fly. Peggy started to reminded him of the time they nearly got shot down over Austria, but he cut her off. "I guess I've developed a better sense of self-preservation since then."

Surprised, Peggy looked over at former Howling Commando Timothy "Dum Dum" Dugan, but the large man just shrugged. The drive from Finland to Russia was blissfully uneventful, if bumpy and uncomfortable, and the foursome of Carter, Reed, Stark, and Dugan reached Leningrad by daybreak. Forged paperwork would get them on a train to Moscow that morning, but getting in wasn't really what concerned Peggy. Two couples traveling to Moscow didn't raise suspicions, even if Dugan didn't exactly blend in anywhere.

They managed to get a compartment to themselves, which Howard promptly swept for listening devices. The team was silent until Howard gave the all-clear. Even then, conversation was kept to a minimum. The train was cold, and the ride was rough. With several more hours to go until they reached Moscow, Dugan left in search of food with Reed as his translator.

Peggy watched Howard slumped in the corner with a sullen expression. "What's eating you?" she finally asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I know you, Howard," she said with a pointed look.

Stark watched her in silence before sighing. "He was my friend, too, you know."

"Of course I know. You searched when no one else would."

"But I failed, Peggy. I failed and the Ruskies got him."

Peggy took his hand in the cramped compartment. "You didn't fail. There are so many things I wish had gone differently, but we can't change them. We keep going and do what we can to make it better."

"Since when do you give motivational speeches?"

"Since you became so maudlin." She drew back with a half smile. "I almost miss your outrageous flirting."

"Oh really?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I did say 'almost,' Mr. Stark."

Disembarking from the train at Moscow's Leningradsky Station was heavenly after ten hours of nearly non-stop jolting. It took two blocks of walking before Peggy could feel her legs properly again. Reed was leading them through a number of dark streets, apparently having memorized the route to the Moscow team's base of operations.

Agent Reed stopped in front of a square brick building and double checked the numbers. She knocked on the heavy wooden door which was quickly answered by a pale woman with blonde hair in a tight bun at the nape of her neck. Carter, Dugan, and Stark stayed hidden in the shadows during the exchange, but Peggy kept her pistol in hand. Words were exchanged in Russian, and Reed motioned them in with a subtle hand signal. Holstering her pistol, Peggy followed Reed inside with Stark and Dugan on her heels.

The apartment was on the bare side and only modestly heated by a stove in one corner of the room. Two men and the woman who had answered the door watched their group cautiously until one of the men stepped forward with a smile and extended hand.

"Director Carter, welcome to our humble abode," the young sandy-haired man said. He shook her hand enthusiastically. "I'm Matt Parker, and these are my colleagues Julia Belenko and Sam Osborn."

"A pleasure." She nodded cordially to each agent in turn. Reed had briefed them on the train, and Peggy was certain she'd met each of them at least once before. S.H.I.E.L.D. was still small enough for that luxury.

Parker, according to Reed's information, was the grandson of Russian immigrants named Pankov, which was the name he used in Russia. He was the de facto team leader and communications analyst. Belenko's parents were part of the Ukrainian diaspora, and the New York native spoke multiple languages and was partial to undercover field work. The dark haired man, Osborn, was the team's weapons expert. The three had been stationed in Moscow together for nearly two years.

"I managed to get inside Laboratory Number Two as part of the cleaning crew," Belenko said as she unrolled a hand-drawn map on the plain wooden table. "The primary laboratory is underground-it's a single floor and quite large. Parts I believe to be from the Valkyrie are housed in this section." She indicated a large open space on the map. "A fortified and soundproof weapons test room is over here."

"And what's this area?" Peggy indicated a blank corner of the map.

"Medical research, ma'am. The janitors aren't allowed in there. This bank of computers is about eight feet high and forms a wall separating this area from the rest of the lab."

"Is there a way to get eyes on that section?" Stark asked.

"There's a series of catwalks suspended from the ceiling. It allows the guards to keep an eye on everything from above."

Peggy started memorizing the layout of the lab. "How many guards?"

"Maybe six on regular patrol up above. Most are more concerned with people entering and exiting the building."

Parker handed a small stack of black and white photographs to Stark. "Here's what we have on the research. It probably makes more sense to you than to us."

Howard leafed through the photos largely featuring partially disassembled weapons and what looked like part of a jet engine. "Looks like HYDRA equipment." He got to the last photo and stared at something tucked between two workbenches.

"Howard?" Peggy asked. Dugan looked over Stark's shoulder at the photo finally noticing the same item that held the shorter man's attention. Dum Dum removed his ever-present bowler, and Peggy knew something was wrong.

Stark reluctantly passed the photo to her, and it took her awhile to spot the slightly curved metal disc stored casually between the benches. Although the photo was black and white, her mind filled in the red, white, and blue paintjob. She remembered how the paint hadn't adhered to a few marks caused by bullets fired in an embarrassing fit of jealousy.

Peggy swallowed to banish the lump threatening to form in her throat. "Well, we know we've found the right place," she said briskly. "Recommendation, Agent Parker?"

"Sam?" Parker deferred to his colleague.

"We have explosives and remote detonators, ma'am. Get in, get out, boom."

"Hold on now," Stark interrupted quickly. "Do you realize what kind of materials they have in that lab? You'd risk blowing half of Moscow to kingdom come."

Osborn looked disappointed. "Strategically placed charges on structural supports would collapse part of the building. Bury their research without exploding it."

Peggy looked to Howard, who nodded. "All right then. How soon can you be ready?"

Parker and Osborn looked at each other and made a few small head and arm movements. Peggy recognized the silent communication of people who'd worked together a long time. "Tomorrow evening," Parker replied.

"Excellent. Please work out the details with Mr. Stark. I don't want any more 'boom' than necessary."

It was close to midnight when the plans were finalized. After several long days of traveling, Peggy was more than ready to sleep-she'd take the floor if it came to that. She and Reed were given space in Belenko's room. It was cramped quarters, but months spent in battlefield tents had made her able to sleep most anywhere.

"Director Carter?" Belenko asked quietly while Reed was still in the other room helping Osborn prepare the detonators. "I have something that I didn't want to give you with everyone else around."

Curiosity piqued, she set down the hairbrush she had just taken from her small traveling bag.

Belenko took a hesitant step forward and continued, "I found this in the lab. I shouldn't have taken it, but I didn't think anyone would notice it missing. I thought you would want it." She held out her hand with a round gold object in her palm. Peggy picked it up and opened it, revealing a compass with a newspaper image of her own face affixed inside the top like a locket. She gently closed the compass and squeezed her hand around it, feeling the metal bite into her palm.

"I recognized it from the SSR films on Captain America," Belenko said hesitantly.

"And what did you do during the war, Agent Belenko," she asked, changing the subject before the other woman could start asking questions Peggy didn't want to answer.

Belenko took the hint. "I was with the OSS, mostly in France."

"And you chose S.H.I.E.L.D. over the CIA?"

"I thought S.H.I.E.L.D. might be less of a boys' club."

"Well, I do hope we haven't disappointed you."

"No, ma'am," Belenko answered with a smile.