Black Star: HYDRA War

εเ︎︎ģ𝔥𝐓︎

AFTER getting suited up, the three of you go to the roof of the Avengers Tower. You expected to be taking the Quinjet, but the S.T.R.I.K.E. team from S.H.I.E.L.D. is waiting for you on their own jet. The moment you board, they take off. As you fly, Agent Rumlow debriefs you on the mission.

    "We have a hostage situation in the Indian Ocean. The Lemurian Star, a mobile satellite launch platform. 93 minutes ago, they were sending their last payload when pirates took over the ship."

    "How much money do they want?" you ask.

    "A billion and a half."

    "Why so steep?" Steve asks.

    "Because the ship belongs to S.H.I.E.L.D," Rumlow replies.

    Steve frowns. "So it's not off-course, it's trespassing."

    "I'm sure they have a good reason," Natasha says thoughtfully.

    "How many pirates?"

    "25. Top mercs led by this guy." Rumlow taps on the screen inside the jet, pulling up an image of a bald man. "George Batroc. Ex-DGSE, Action Division. He's at the top of Interpol's Red Notice. Before the French demobilized him, he had 36 kill missions. This guy's got a rep for maximum casualties."

    "What about the hostages?" you ask.

    Rumlow switches the screen to a series of rectangles, each containing a person's image, name, and job. "Mostly techs. One officer, Jasper Sitwell." He clicks on Sitwell's rectangle, expanding it. "They're trapped in the galley."

    Steve puts his helmet on. "Alright, I'm gonna sweep the deck and find Batroc. Lexi, you stick with me. Nat, you kill the engines and wait for instructions. Rumlow, you and your team sweep aft, find the hostages, get them to the life-pods, and get them out. Let's move."

    Rumlow turns to his team. "S.T.R.I.K.E., you heard the Cap. Gear up."

    The pilot flies into some low cloud to disguise the jet as you near the ship. You, Nat, and Steve go to the loading bay, putting comms in your ears. Steve fastens his helmet, you pull your mask on, and everyone but you and Steve grabs parachutes.

    "Wait here until I call you down," Steve orders. "Code word star."

    You nod. The jet glides to a stop as the loading door opens. Steve walks out to the end and jumps.

    "Was he wearing a parachute?" one of the S.T.R.I.K.E. agents asks.

    "No," Rumlow replies, smiling. "No he wasn't."

    "Showoff," you mutter, climbing onto the Shooting Star.

    After turning both it and you invisible, you turn to Nat. "How do I look?"

    "Like nothing."

    "Excellent."

    "Star!" Steve grunts into comms a few minutes later. "Star!"

    You urge the Shooting Star forward, and AVIS immediately flies you down to the Lemurian Star. Steve is on the main deck, unable to move due to the slight complication of a pirate holding a gun to his head. You fire up the arc reactor and send a blast that throws the pirate against a wall so hard it knocks him unconscious. The Shooting Star hovers just a couple inches above the deck as you turn both it and you visible again.

    "Thanks," Steve replies, slightly out of breath.

    "Yeah, well, you seemed pretty in distress without me, damsel," you remark.