[center][img] https://seeklogo.com/images/S/s-h-i-e-l-d-logo-F89847BD30-seeklogo.com.png [/img][/center]
[COLOR=00aeef][indent][sub][I]Quinnjet[/I] - [I]Present Day, 15:47 [/I][/sub][sup][right]Issue 1.02.1: The Search[/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/4872326]Issue 1.01.4: War of the Dead[/url][/I][/right][/SUP][/indent][/color]

Rogers adjusted the straps of his seat in the back of the quinnjet as Fury turned around in his co-pilot seat. Masters and Romanoff turned their gazes towards the Colonel as he gave a nod when all eyes were on him. [color=purple]”CCTV footage was able to pick up an image of The Gauntlet near the site of the ancient Roman forum about six hours ago. Local SHIELD agents attempted to apprehend him, but the bodies of two agents were found in the Tiber River two hours ago. We haven’t heard from the other two.”[/color]

Masters gave a quizzical look as he raised a hand as if he were in a classroom. [color=lightgray]”Permission to speak, Colonel?”[/color] Fury simply shot him a look and a raised eyebrow, forcing the agent to slowly lower his hand and simply ask the question. [color=lightgray]”Why not mobilize the Hercules and the rest of the Commandos? Wouldn’t there be strength in numbers?”[/color]

[color=firebrick]”If there is a leak in SHIELD, that leak could be on our helicarriers and even among our commandos.”[/color] Natasha’s thick accent seemed to overpower Masters’ former question, and he simply gave a nod in response.

Fury gave a small smile as Natasha seemed to be on the same wavelength. [color=purple]”This mission is strictly off the books. We’ll be breaking off into teams. Romanoff and Carter will report to local authorities and see what information they can provide regarding the incident. See what the coroner’s report states the cause of death was and see if that can give us a lead. Rogers and Masters, you should report in to the local SHIELD safehouse and make sure it is secure. I have an old contact operating in the region that I’m going to check in with.”[/color]

The agents all gave a short nod to their commanding officer. Carter began to flip switches at her station, and called out to the others. [color=gold]”Going dark. We’re sixty seconds from touchdown at the airfield.”[/color]

[COLOR=00aeef][indent][sub][I]Rome, Italy[/I] - [I]Present Day, 15:49[/I][/sub][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][/color]

As soon as they touched ground, there were three black SUVs awaiting the SHIELD agents. Steve and Tony approached the one in the back with large suitcases in hand. They loaded into their vehicle and rolled out of the airport rather quickly, peeling away from the others as soon as they got on the open road. The new commando took one brief look at the GPS before turning it off and leisurely driving through the outskirts of Rome. There was silence for nearly fifteen minutes as Tony Masters seemed to seamlessly blend in to the hectic Italian traffic. After a while, Steve decided to pipe up. [color=00aeef]”Have you ever been to Rome before, Tony?”[/color]

[color=lightgray]”No, I haven’t, Captain Rogers.”[/color] Tony’s response was short and formal, which seemed to be a pattern.

Steve just gave a small smile in response. This response was what he expected, but Rogers was determined to get to know his co-worker. [color=00aeef]”Before the attack, I served in Europe during the Second World War. Got the chance to visit. Everything looked so different then.”[/color] For but a moment, Steve seemed to get lost in his thoughts as he looked out the window from the passenger’s seat. He snapped back to reality and turned his gaze back to Tony. [color=00aeef]”Where’s the best place you’ve been assigned?”[/color]

Tony kept his eyes on the road for a moment, almost as if he was ignoring his superior. He gave a quick look to Rogers seconds later, flashed a small smile, and looked back to the road. [color=lightgray]”When I was recruited by SHIELD, I was stationed in Tokyo. Kept an eye on things there. Enjoyed spending my nights out on the streets.”[/color] His face seemed to scrunch slightly as he realized he had shared a little too much, before simply sighing and continuing. [color=lightgray]”I took my time off to chase some rumors I had picked up. Some group of international assassins. Superiors said that they couldn’t be brought in for arrest because that was up to local authorities.”[/color]

[color=00aeef]”So you just followed orders? Let them be?”[/color]

Tony shook his head. [color=lightgray]”No. I couldn’t sit by and watch innocents get killed. So I hunted one down, used his disguise, and took out the rest at their hideout. Fury was waiting for me back at base the next day. Recruited me on the spot and gave me a promotion.[/color] Tony took a quick glance to try and get a read on Steve, before finishing it with a simple, [color=lightgray]”Now I’m here, Captain Rogers.”[/color]

[color=00aeef]”You can call me Steve.”[/color]

The SUV pulled over to the side of the road in front of a rather average apartment complex about a ten minute drive from the heart of the city. [color=lightgray]”Right… Well, it looks like we’re here… Steve.”[/color][hr][right][color=00aeef]Next Chapter:[/color] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4874942]Unbroken[/url][/right]