Nick Fury dispatched a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent team to the location provided by Tony, preparing to escort the Hydra agents—who had already lost their ability to resist—back to S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters in order to determine their identities and origins.
However, although the team Fury assigned operated discreetly, in front of Hydra—an organization that had already infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. like a sieve—this level of secrecy meant very little.
So, as expected, during the transport they ran straight into an ambush that Sitwell had long prepared.
"Director, we've encountered a sudden attack while escorting the prisoners. The enemy's firepower is extremely fierce, and they clearly came prepared. They set up an ambush in advance along our only route.
Caught off guard, our agents have suffered heavy casualties. The enemy's firepower is overwhelming—we're completely suppressed. If we can't get timely support, the prisoners will likely be taken away!"
The S.H.I.E.L.D. agent in charge of the escort hid behind a vehicle while firing back at the ambushing Hydra agents, urgently contacting Nick Fury to request reinforcements.
Listening to the report, Nick Fury's expression changed several times.
Just who exactly were these people? They dared to openly ambush and attack a S.H.I.E.L.D. team without the slightest hesitation.
And the fact that the ambush had been set up in advance meant they clearly knew the escort route. Had they been closely monitoring the captured individuals the whole time, tailing the escort team all the way—or…?
However, Fury only pondered for a moment before putting these questions aside. At present, there was no solid information or evidence to make any reliable judgment. Any speculation would be poorly founded and meaningless.
This was not the time to overthink things. The top priority was to immediately send reinforcements. As long as they could successfully bring the captured individuals back to a S.H.I.E.L.D. base, they would be able to extract clues and intelligence from them and uncover information about the power behind the scenes.
"I'll dispatch reinforcements immediately. You just need to hold your position for fifteen minutes," Fury ordered through the comm channel to the escort team's captain.
"We probably won't be able to hold out that long—" A deafening explosion suddenly roared through the channel, cutting off the agent mid-sentence.
"Director, you heard that. They've deployed heavy weapons with tremendous destructive power. We're at an absolute disadvantage in terms of firepower!"
A moment later, the escort team's captain spoke again in a hurried voice.
"I'm afraid we won't last more than a few minutes!"
Hearing this, Fury's brows furrowed deeply. Judging by the sounds alone, the enemy firepower ambushing his agents was indeed extremely powerful.
But mobilizing personnel from the nearest S.H.I.E.L.D. base would take at least fifteen to twenty minutes—far too long. They wouldn't make it in time.
After a brief pause, Fury made his decision.
"Hold on. Reinforcements will arrive within five minutes."
At the battlefield, the Hydra agent leading the operation looked at the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who were pinned down by overwhelming firepower and unable to lift their heads. He raised the communicator clipped to his chest.
"How's the situation? Can you deal with those S.H.I.E.L.D. agents?" Sitwell asked urgently, his tone serious.
"Rest assured. We set up the ambush in advance, secured absolute firepower superiority, and occupied all key firing positions in the area.
Those S.H.I.E.L.D. agents have no ability to fight back. It won't take long to completely crush their resistance," replied Hydra agent Gerald Dugert confidently.
"Good. Don't waste time—finish it quickly. Nick Fury may dispatch reinforcements at any moment.
Once you rescue our people, relocate immediately. Don't leave Nick Fury with any clues," Sitwell instructed.
Gerald Dugert nodded and put away the communicator. He picked up the oddly shaped firearm beside him, loaded it, and aimed at the cover the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were using. He fired adhesive rounds.
The ammunition attached itself precisely to the cover and then exploded, causing widespread destruction and obliterating the protective barriers.
"Damn it—how many people do we have left?"
The S.H.I.E.L.D. team's leader, a senior agent, brushed dust off his body and looked at the shattered remains of his comrades around him. His face was grim as he spoke over the comm channel.
The surviving S.H.I.E.L.D. agents began reporting their numbers.
"It looks like we won't make it until reinforcements arrive," the team leader said bleakly as enemies closed in from all directions.
A thirty-man agent team—after a fierce battle, only thirteen were still alive. Most were wounded. Two agents had completely lost their ability to fight and were barely clinging to life.
Just as the remaining S.H.I.E.L.D. agents prepared for a final desperate stand against the ambushing Hydra forces—
"It looks like you're in trouble. Seems like you could use Iron Man's help."
Tony descended from the sky in his Iron Man armor.
Realizing that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s own forces might not arrive in time, Nick Fury had chosen to contact Tony and have him rush to the scene.
Upon learning that the escort team was under attack, Tony had immediately flown to the location at full speed.
"Iron Man… Tony Stark?!"
Seeing the uninvited guest descend from above, Hydra agent Gerald Dugert's expression darkened slightly.
"Since you know my name, why don't you surrender right now?" Tony raised his chin arrogantly and spoke to the surrounding Hydra agents.
Gerald Dugert raised his communicator.
"Situation has changed. Rescue operation canceled. Execute Plan Two."
He understood very clearly: once Tony Stark had arrived, it was essentially impossible for his team to wipe out the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and rescue the captured Hydra operatives.
That left only the contingency plan—silence them.
The Hydra agents immediately followed Dugert's orders without hesitation, turning their weapons toward the vehicle holding the captured Hydra operatives and opening fire.
Tony froze for a split second—then immediately understood.
They were eliminating their own people.
With a thought, the power of the Mechanical Memory surged forth. The wreckage of vehicles destroyed in the crossfire was pulled by an unseen force. Metal frames formed the structure, filled in with stone and debris, creating a massive shield in front of the vehicle holding the prisoners, blocking the incoming fire.
"Killing your own people without hesitation… you guys really are ruthless," Tony clicked his tongue as he looked at Gerald Dugert.
Dugert remained expressionless. "To protect the organization's secrets, small sacrifices are unavoidable.
And the only reason we had to make this decision is because you suddenly showed up to interfere. Otherwise, we would've already succeeded."
Tony laughed in anger. "Your logic is downright disgusting—it really pisses me off. So let me make this clear: with me, Tony Stark, standing here today, not only will you fail to kill anyone—you'll all be captured.
I'm very curious to see what kind of organization is backing you!"
"Machine."
Tony activated the Machine Memory. A strange energy surged outward, drawing in metal fragments and debris from all around.
Using metal as a skeletal framework and filling it with stone and sand, a gigantic mechanical stone golem formed around Tony at its core—radiating overwhelming pressure and dominance.
The Hydra agents present couldn't help but reveal looks of shock and fear.
(End of Chapter)