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[COLOR=00aeef][indent][sub][I]20,000 ft. above the Atlantic Ocean[/I] - [I]Present Day, 1200 Hrs[/I][/sub][sup][right]Issue 1.01.3: Fury[/right][/sup][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [I]None[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [I] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4868846]Issue 1.01.2: The Cruel Sea[/url][/I][/right][/SUP][/indent][/color]

As per usual, Fury seemed to be the last one at the meeting. Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Sharon Carter, and Tony Masters were sitting in anticipation. This was the first time in months that the officers in Fury’s Howling Commandos regiment had gathered together for a meeting. To be fair, this was also Lt. Tony Masters’ first time having a direct meeting with the other SHIELD legends. Just as the time hit noon, Fury strolled into the small room and took his position at the holotable. He muttered under his breath something about a meeting with Director Mace on the Trasnia incident as a few taps brought to life various security camera and cell phone recordings of the Vatican incident. Civilians were trapped under hunks of burning debris, there were swarms of panicked crowds, and the isolated attacks by disguised terrorists. Fury seemed to hesitate before his gaze rose towards the others. [color=purple]”I do not believe I need to remind you all that what is said in this room does not leave this room.”[/color] There was a small moment of silence which Fury seemed to take as a sign of acknowledgement before continuing. [color=purple]”SHIELD has a leak.”[/color]

Everyone seemed to tense up in that moment. Sharon gave an instinctive look towards Romanoff as she sat up in her chair, and Natasha responded in kind with an eye roll and slinking back a little. Steve’s expression was one of concern, and Masters took a deep breath as he continued staring at Fury. After a moment, Fury’s speech continued as relevant footage was highlighted and shown for the others when necessary. [color=purple]”The Italian Government and AISE have been extremely cooperative in recovering what was left of the Aeneid. From what our forensics and tech crews have been able to establish, the helicarrier was destroyed via a network of explosive devices that were simultaneously detonated.”[/color]

Natasha was the first to speak up. [color=firebrick]”So your presumption is that some outside organization planted operatives within that helicarrier just to destroy it? That seems a little wasteful, Fury.”[/color]

Fury gave a small smile. [color=purple]”It seems to be too big of a move for this to be a simple attack. From preliminary analysis, it appears that the attack was being used as a way to bury evidence.”[/color] With a flick of his hand, headshots of three individuals appeared. [color=purple]”A few assets of Director Mace’s Initiative Project were on board, and their bodies have not been recovered. Terrance Ward, codename Trauma, was a shapeshifting mutant. Sgt. Joseph Green, codename Gauntlet, came in contact with some sort of alien armor that has permanently bonded to his flesh. Rina Patel, codename Timeslip, is perhaps the most dangerous of the bunch as her temporal powers have not been entirely defined.”[/color]

Fury lowered the headshots and then threw one more up, one that the Howling Commandos recognized on sight. He gave a small sigh. [color=purple]”Phineas Mason, codenamed the Tinkerer, was not on board at the time but was instead assisting on a job to upgrade the AISE’s communications network. The attack on the helicarrier took place when he was leaving for the assignment, and the convoy was lost in the commotion."[/color] Fury seemed to linger on the image as he continued speaking, eventually sliding up a single drawn image. [color=purple]”There was a single survivor, but he has been placed into a medically-induced coma. I managed to call in a favor to a telepath friend of mine, and a single clear image was able to be pieced together from his memory. It appears he had discovered one of the bombs just seconds before detonation, and… well, that symbol was on the package.”[/color]

Steve, Natasha, and Sharon began to grind their teeth at the sight of the familiar emblem. While usually the most level headed, Rogers shot out of his chair in the process and stepped away from his seat to pace momentarily. Tony tilted his head slightly as he looked at the image, and was the only one who dared speak. [color=lightgray]”Sorry, Colonel, but I don’t believe I’m familiar with the design.”[/color]

Steve was the one to respond, and his voice oozed with anguish as he spoke. [color=00aeef]”HYDRA… they’re back.”[/color][hr][right][color=00aeef]Next Chapter:[/color] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4872326]War of the Dead[/url][/right]