Ch 12
Red Skull was meeting with three Nazi officers who were sent to oversee his operation.
"The Führer is not accustomed to being ignored, Herr Schmidt." said Hutter. "He funds your research because you promised him weapons.
"You serve at his pleasure. He gave you this facility as a reward for your injuries." Schneider added.
"Reward? Call it what it is. Exile." Schmidt said bitterly. "I no longer reflect his image of Aryan perfection.
Roeder: You think this is about appearances? Your Hydra division has failed to deliver so much as a rifle in over a year. And we have learned through local intelligence you had mounted a full-scale incursion into Norway. The Führer feels, how does he put it? 'The Red Skull has been indulged long enough!'".
Schmidt then stopped walking and turned coldly. These fools thought they could boss him around. He would soon show them that Hitler had no power. He did.
Schmidt: Gentleman. You have come to see the results of our work. Let me show you.
Then they entered Zola's lab and he showed them a Tesseract-powered cannon. "Hitler speaks of a thousand-year Reich, but he cannot feed his army for a month. His troops spill their blood across every field in Europe. But he is still no closer to achieving his goals."
Roeder: And I suppose you still aim to end this war through magic?
Schmidt: Science. But I understand your confusion. Great power has always baffled primitive men. Hydra is assembling an arsenal to destroy my enemies in one stroke. Wherever they are, regardless of how many forces they possess, all in a matter of hours. My weapons contain enough destructive power to decimate every hostile capital on earth. Quite simply, gentlemen, I have harnessed the power of the gods.
Hutter (slowly): Thank you, Schmidt.
Schmidt: For what?
Hutter: For making it clear how obviously mad you are.
He pointed to a pin on the Northern Europe section of the map.
Hutter: Berlin is on this map.
Schmidt: So it is.
Hutter: You will be punished for your insolence! You will be brought before the Führer, himself!
Suddenly, Schmidt grabbed the cannon and fired blue energy bolts which instantly disintegrated the Nazis. The old order was weak. It had nothing but empty promises. Hydra would truly win the war.
Schmidt: My apologies, doctor, but we both knew Hydra could grow no further in Hitler's shadow. Hail Hydra!
Hydra troopers: Hail Hydra!
Zola hesitated but Schmidt looked at him.
Zola: Hail Hydra!
Hydra would get rid of the old Nazis, win the war and rule the world with the Tesseract's power. Forever.