Alexander Pierce's life had been going smoothly lately. The Insight Initiative, proposed by his master, had already been finalized and was now under review by the World Security Council.
The remaining Hydra forces on Earth had crumbled before the Master's robotic legions and mutant enforcers.
Those who refused to submit had already been sent to their graves.
Now, half of the world's Hydra bases were under his control.
"Sir, your power is unmatched. Countless people kneel before you," Pierce said flatteringly, his tone dripping with reverence. "Your glory will soon spread to every corner of the world."
Gene nodded indifferently. Unifying half of Hydra's forces had required some effort on his part.
While most of the operations had been carried out by his robotic legions and the Ten Rings, there were always diehards who refused to yield. Those fools had only one fate—annihilation.
For the remaining Hydra members, Gene held no illusions about reforming them. They were assassins, manipulators, terrorists—people who saw human lives as disposable.
Gene didn't care whether they believed in his vision. He only needed them to be his sword.
A sword was meant to kill—but whose hand wielded it determined its purpose.
In the hands of villains, it was a demonic blade.
In the hands of heroes, it was a holy sword.
And so, Gene renamed his organization:
S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation and Response Division).
In the original Marvel universe, S.W.O.R.D. had been an organization designed to handle extraterrestrial threats—much like S.H.I.E.L.D. for terrestrial dangers.
But in this world, no such name existed. So, Gene took it for himself.
The newly established S.W.O.R.D. now held the combined knowledge of:
Umbrella Corporation's biotechnology
Skynet's advanced robotics and AI
Hydra's vast intelligence network spanning half the globe
Although Hydra had been a plague on the world, it had also infiltrated governments, corporations, and key institutions.
Now, these influential Hydra operatives served Gene.
Their information pipelines fed directly into his Starlink Program, allowing him to monitor every aspect of global affairs.
With the rise of superpowered individuals, mutants, and alien threats, the world needed a global defense force more than ever.
And S.H.I.E.L.D. was nearing its demise.
Once it collapsed, S.W.O.R.D. would rise naturally to take its place.
Gene's plan was simple:
"Eliminate threats before they even arise."
Hydra had once boasted about being omnipresent. But now, S.W.O.R.D. truly was.
With Skynet and the Red Queen managing its operations, S.W.O.R.D. functioned like a flawless machine.
However, identifying threats was only part of the equation.
The real problem was dealing with them effectively.
His robotic legions and the Ten Rings could handle most situations, but some threats required a more precise touch.
Gene needed a strike team—a sharp blade that could be deployed swiftly and efficiently.
The ideal candidates?
Steve Rogers (Captain America/Supreme) – A super-soldier with unmatched combat experience. His loyalty to Gene was already cemented.
Mandarin – A master strategist and martial artist with deep knowledge of mystical forces. Another trusted lieutenant.
Peter Parker (Spider-Man) – A young prodigy with incredible agility and intelligence. His allegiance was still in question, but Gene was confident in winning him over.
These three would form the foundation of his elite strike force.
The rest? He would recruit them personally.
Gene sighed. "I never thought I'd have to recruit people myself."
"Sir," Pierce said eagerly. "What kind of individuals do you need? Perhaps I can be of service?"
Gene gave him a side glance and smirked.
"You? No thanks. If I sent you to recruit people, they'd probably refuse the moment they saw your slimy face."
Pierce let out an awkward chuckle but said nothing.
Gene waved his hand dismissively.
"Enough talk. S.H.I.E.L.D. is about to collapse. Go prepare for the fallout."
The groundwork had already been laid.
Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) was compromised.
Alexander Pierce, a high-ranking official on the World Security Council, was under Gene's control.
The 'Insight Initiative,' a ticking time bomb within S.H.I.E.L.D., was set to explode.
Once all the pieces fell into place, S.H.I.E.L.D. would self-destruct.
And S.W.O.R.D. would be there to take its place.
"But first..." Gene murmured, watching Pierce leave.
"...It's time to visit another hidden Hydra base to recruit some new blood for my strike force."
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