Whoosh whoosh..."Buzz..." Residents of Washington were awakened early in the morning by a whistling sound mixed with the dull roar of engine
Whoosh whoosh..."Buzz..."
Residents of Washington were awakened early in the morning by a whistling sound mixed with the dull roar of engines. When they stepped onto the streets or leaned out of their windows to look at the sky, they were stunned by what they saw. It felt as though they had been hit hard—their minds frozen in shock.
All the residents who ventured outside stood rooted to the spot, their faces filled with astonishment as they gazed upward.
"Oh my god... I must still be dreaming!"
As massive shadows streaked across the sky, rows of fighter planes scattered through the once-calm Washington skyline, resembling a flock of eagles in formation. The sight was both mesmerizing and terrifying. The fighter planes sped through the air like falcons, leaving long, white contrails behind them. Following close behind was the enormous Avengers aircraft, resembling a colossal airborne fortress. Various armed helicopters towed tanks, armored vehicles, and troop transport equipment, flying in close formation like engineers accompanying their behemoth commander.
Transformers of various colors, such as Vigilante, Droso, and Turaldo, hovered nearby, their designs resembling a squad of protective mechas guarding the convoy. Under Elson's meticulous plan, the gold and silver paint schemes created a dazzling curtain of light against the backdrop of the dawn sky. Combined with the meticulously arranged tattoo markings, the entire formation appeared divine, exuding the righteous aura of Holy Light Judgment. Their imposing presence pressed down upon the city, leaving residents breathless and awestruck.
It was as if the streets of Washington had transformed into a scene from Central Europe, with ordinary people gazing in awe as a knight's army marched past.
This was no ordinary war; it was an invasion of alien technology.
"Whoosh, whoosh..."
At that moment, several F-22 fighter jets launched from Andrews Air Force Base, heading straight toward the imposing Holy Light Judgment forces. As the pilots approached the formidable Cavaliers' fleet and glimpsed it through their cockpits, fear gripped their hearts. The sight before them was overwhelming.
"Damn! Did we offend the commander or something? Why were we sent to warn and intercept these guys?"
"Stop!" A Vigilante mecha detached itself from the main formation, taking a position above the fighter jets with a massive gun in hand and issuing a deep, resonant warning.
The lead pilot steadied his breathing, picked up his loudspeaker, and shouted, "This is a military special zone. You have been locked onto by anti-air missiles. Cease your advance immediately and land at the military base for investigation!"
Simultaneously, Elson received a radar alert, indicating that their forces had been locked onto. Though unafraid, he had no intention of wasting time. He activated his microphone and connected to the Andrews Air Force Base communication line.
"This is Holy Light Judgment. You should already know our mission, so step aside!"
There was a moment of static, followed by the voice of an officer. "The airspace ahead leads to the White House administrative area. If your destination is beyond it, we request that you bypass the area and follow our designated route."
"Impossible!" Elson's voice was firm. "If the president is afraid, he can take refuge in the air-raid shelter. We're not detouring."
Pausing briefly, Elson added with a sneer, "If you insist on blocking our way, I don't mind demonstrating the power of a space-based cannon. You can call it curiosity or a warning."
His tone grew sharper. "We pay exorbitant taxes, and what do we get in return? A military that cowers in fear and obstructs its citizens. Honestly, I suspect you're stalling to buy time for Hydra to escape. If so, I'm sure the military courts will find that… illuminating."
"Enough nonsense!" The officer's voice was tinged with frustration. The chaos caused by Hydra's exposure had thrown the U.S. government into disarray. Any association with Hydra at this critical moment would be disastrous.
"Fine, proceed, but be advised that we are monitoring you closely."
With the call disconnected, the pilots tasked with intercepting the Cavaliers' fleet heaved sighs of relief. None of them relished the idea of engaging in a dogfight against such advanced mecha technology. Following instructions from the Vigilante mecha, they retreated to a safe monitoring distance.
The Holy Light Judgment fleet, now unobstructed, soared past the White House and descended upon the S.H.I.E.L.D. base.
At the S.H.I.E.L.D. base, chaos reigned. The overnight exposure of Hydra's infiltration had sent shockwaves through the organization. Agents defected en masse, and control over technical assets shifted rapidly.
Alexander Pierce, the Hydra-aligned director of S.H.I.E.L.D., resumed command amidst the turmoil.
"Where are Hill and Natasha?" Pierce demanded, his expression grim.
"They must have sensed trouble and gone into hiding. I'll take a team to locate them," Brock Rumlow, known as Crossbones, replied, clutching a rifle. Rumlow, a Hydra operative with combat expertise, had recently gained superhuman abilities due to exposure to Chiral Substances and Dooms Power. His powers allowed him to store and unleash energy as fiery blasts.
Hydra's secrets had been laid bare by the platform, and the organization's members were seething with frustration. For Pierce, who had meticulously followed plans to eliminate potential threats to Hydra, the fallout was catastrophic.
"Sir, Hill and Natasha have escaped to the aerospace carrier," a subordinate reported.
Pierce nodded and turned to Rumlow. "Go. Spare no effort. If we're exposed, we might as well show the world Hydra's true strength."
"Understood!" Rumlow grinned malevolently and led his team out.
Elsewhere, Maria Hill, Natasha Romanoff, and Clint Barton (Hawkeye) had covertly infiltrated the aerospace carrier. Surrounded by Hydra operatives, their only hope was to commandeer a fighter jet and escape.
Their situation was dire. In less than 24 hours, trusted colleagues had become enemies, and the walls seemed to close in.
"Da-da-da…" Footsteps echoed down a nearby corridor.
"Whoosh!" A sharp arrow from Hawkeye pierced an approaching Hydra agent. The agent's companion turned swiftly but collapsed, unconscious, as Natasha's dart struck true.
"Boom!" Natasha dispatched the final enemy with a flying dive, while Hill ensured their path remained clear. For now, survival was all that mattered.
The battle for Washington was just beginning.
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