The SHIELD transport touched down on the rooftop with surgical precision, its landing gear hissing softly as it met the concrete. Red tactical lights bathed the landing pad in a subtle glow, casting long shadows across the scorched rooftop. The acrid scent of smoke still lingered in the air from the earlier battle.
The side ramp hissed and lowered. Alexander descended without hesitation, his coat billowing slightly in the downdraft of the engines. His boots struck the rooftop with deliberate weight, each step calculated and precise. Behind him, two shadow-cloaked agents flanked the ramp in silence, weapons holstered but eyes sharp.
Alexander's gaze swept the area—the shattered remains of a flipped SUV, scorched asphalt, blood streaks, and shattered glass. Steve and Monroe stood amid the debris, bloodied but upright. Steve's shield was still gripped tightly in his left hand. Monroe leaned slightly to one side, a cut above his brow drying in the night air.
Emergency sirens echoed through the blocks below. The flashing lights of arriving SHIELD units spilled over onto the rooftop, joined by the mechanical hum of drones scanning the perimeter. A city on alert.
"Report," Alexander said, his tone low but commanding.
Monroe nodded toward Steve. "Winter Soldier made contact. Engaged Captain Rogers. He retreated—wounded, but still fast. We were lucky."
"Not before nearly killing us both," Steve added, his voice carrying the weight of guilt and frustration. His jaw was clenched, and his gaze lingered on the rooftop edge where Bucky had escaped.
Alexander's eyes narrowed. "He's not running. He's recalibrating."
Monroe raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"
"He's waiting for orders. HYDRA won't risk exposing him again until they're ready to strike with maximum force. They don't waste assets."
Alexander turned to Steve. "We believe they're preparing to initiate something large—connected to Project Insight."
Steve's jaw clenched at the mention. "I've heard that name. Supposed to be a security program—predictive surveillance."
Alexander gave a tight nod. "Correction. It's a targeted assassination system masked as security. Zola's algorithm runs it—calculating threats before they become action. Then eliminating them."
The weight of the words hit hard. Steve's eyes darkened.
"Where is it?" he asked.
"The Triskelion," Alexander replied. "Insight's launch platform is prepped. The algorithm's core sits in SHIELD's mainframe, under their highest-level clearance."
Below, SHIELD tactical units were spreading through the streets, securing intersections and rooftops. Spotlights swept over the damaged blocks while drones zipped through the sky, scanning for hostiles.
Alexander gestured toward the transport. "We don't have time to wait. We go in now. Tonight."
Steve turned toward Monroe. "You coming?"
Monroe wiped a streak of blood from his cheek and gave a smirk. "I didn't jump through fire just to sit in the backseat."
The three of them climbed aboard the waiting transport. Inside, the whine of the engines was accompanied by the rapid beep of mission panels and incoming encrypted alerts. The air felt charged, like a calm before the storm.
As the ramp sealed shut, Steve strapped in beside Alexander. Monroe took a seat across from them, rechecking his ammo and sidearm.
"What's the plan?" Steve asked.
Alexander activated the main console. A holographic display sprang to life, projecting a rotating 3D model of the Triskelion. Each level blinked with coded designations. Red icons marked points of conflict, security nodes, and internal defense mechanisms.
"Infiltrate the Triskelion," Alexander began. "Reach the algorithm's central node. Shut down Project Insight before it activates. And expose every HYDRA agent buried inside SHIELD."
Steve studied the model in silence. "We're not just going after data," he said. "We're going after an entire system."
Alexander met his gaze. "Exactly."
The transport banked gently as it rose above the city skyline. Below, the Potomac shimmered beneath the stars. The city looked calm—but they all knew better.
"And if SHIELD resists?" Steve asked.
Alexander's tone didn't waver. "Then we finish what they started."
Suddenly, red lights flared across the transport's internal HUD.
The cockpit dimmed.
A shrill proximity alert blared twice, then locked in with a piercing tone.
Monroe unbuckled and rushed toward the forward viewport. "Contact—coming in fast!"
Steve and Alexander stood at once.
Through the reinforced windows, a sleek VTOL aircraft swooped down with deadly grace. Its angular frame glinted under the moonlight, and its fuselage bore a crimson HYDRA insignia. Twin cannons hummed, energy surging as they locked on.
"HYDRA knows we're coming," Steve muttered.
Alexander grabbed the comm. "All units—brace for intercept. Engage countermeasures."
The VTOL's wings adjusted, its targeting reticle zeroing in.
Then the sky lit up.
End of Chapter 99
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