章 152: Shield Briefing -148
[Triskelion]
Fury had watched the entire operation as it unfolded, using drones and helm-cams to keep himself orientated on everything.
He had also learned a lot. For one, he had been able to confirm that those 3199 monsters were indeed real, though individually, they weren't all that terrifying.
However, he did agree that the danger they represented was massive; he had seen how they almost managed to double their numbers in around one hour. That indeed wasn't normal, and given that the eggs were supposed to be incredibly difficult to break, they could be a huge danger.
If as much as one of those monsters remained free, they would be able to rebuild their numbers quickly and once more become a threat.
Though he did admit that the real threat was currently looking like Bulwark, after all, they had enough eggs in their possession to cause major damage all around the world.
After this mission, he had a much better idea about Bulwark's organization. The SHIELD agents had been given multiple secondary missions, one of which was to learn as much as possible about the people they would be working with.
They hadn't disappointed. Numerous reports had been delivered to him, but he had only been able to skim through a few of them, mostly from the people he trusted the most, trusting their ability to judge others.
So far, they were painting the same picture; the rank and file of the Bulwark at least fully believed in the mission. They all truly believed that they were doing what was needed, that they were on the right side of things.
Fury couldn't help but admire the Bulwark's ability to brainwash thousands of people. Something that would make it a lot more difficult to make any of them turn spies for him. Honestly, he was tempting to ask Talos for help.
The Bulwark were simply too dangerous, with at least then thousands of skilled and heavily armed combat personnel and, like far more, who were all fanatical about following their orders. Well, should the so-called Overseers be up to no good, they would have plenty of people willing to aid them.
Though that was far from the only thing, he had learned, one of his agents had pushed someone, asking why they were so sure that what they did was morally right; that person had, under the dual pressure of the situation and questioning, leaked some valuable information.
Apparently, there was something called the Ethics Committee within the Bulwark, an organ with as much power as the Overseers who had the responsibility to ensure that the Bulwark always did their best to minimize collateral damage.
This was a surprising revelation. Fury had not expected an organization as secretive and powerful as the Bulwark to have an internal body dedicated to ethical oversight. It indicated a level of self-regulation and concern for their actions that he hadn't anticipated. This Ethics Committee could be a potential ally or at least a point of leverage.
He leaned back in his chair, pondering his next move. The Bulwark was a formidable ally but also a potential threat. He needed to tread carefully, balancing cooperation with vigilance. The mission had shown him their strength, but it had also revealed their vulnerabilities. The fact that they operated with such secrecy meant that there were things they didn't want the world to know. Those secrets could be the key to understanding their true motives.
Fury knew he needed more information. He called in Maria Hill.
"Hill, I want a full debrief from all operatives involved in the mission. We need to compile everything they learned about the Bulwark. Focus on their structure, their personnel, and especially this Ethics Committee. I want to know who's on it and what their influence is."
Hill nodded, already making notes. "Understood, Director. I'll have the reports on your desk by tomorrow morning."
"Good. And Hill, start thinking about how we can get someone inside the Bulwark. We need eyes and ears within their ranks."
"That won't be easy. They're highly suspicious of outsiders."
"I know. But if we're going to work with them—or against them—we need to know what they're planning. Make it a priority."
Hill nodded and left the room, leaving Fury alone with his thoughts. The operation had been a success, but it had also raised many questions. The Bulwark was a complex organization, and understanding their true nature was going to be crucial for the future.
…
After a few days of going over the data they had gotten from the recent join operation with the Bulwark, Fury had gathered some of his most trusted people or those he thought would be able to help.
Clint, one of his best and most trusted, and someone who had been out there fighting side by side with the Bulwark.
Coulson, another of his most trusted agents and someone who had worked side by side with the Bulwark as they worked to prepare the battlefield, had been able to see how they operated and kept themselves secret.
Hill, his right hand who had been busy hounding the scientist to get results from the many tests they had done on the samples they had recovered and had spent many a late night going over all those results.
Hand, not one of his most trusted, but someone he knew had SHIELD's best interest at heart and someone with a keen mind and sharp eyes; while he wouldn't trust her with his back, he did trust her professionalism and skills.
These were the carefully hand picked few he would be meeting with and would trust to help him come to better understand the Bulwark and find out how they should move forward. For a while Fury didn't trust anyone but himself, he was still not foolish enough not to seek the counsel of others.
He walked into the conference room where the other four were already waiting, sitting down in his usual seat.
"All right, let's get started. Hill, report."
"Yes, Director. We've analyzed the data from the mission and compiled a comprehensive profile of the Bulwark's operations and capabilities. Here's a summary."
Hill handed out a stack of documents, which the others began to scan through.
"As you can see, they're well-organized and efficient. They have a clear hierarchy and chain of command, and they're well-equipped and trained. They also seem to have access to significant resources and funding. But perhaps the most interesting thing is their apparent dedication.
From what we've seen, most of their people seem genuinely committed to their mission. They're not just soldiers doing their job—they really believe in what they're doing. That makes them a formidable opponent."
"You're right," said Clint. "These guys are serious. They know what they're doing and they don't mess around. Even the military isn't half as committed as these guys."
"And we're sure about this?" Hand asked, frowning. "These guys have been running around, shooting monsters and blowing up buildings, without a single arrest. They're not exactly making friends. How can they have so much support?"
"That is a good question, any leads there, Coulson? Hill?" Fury asked.
Coulson looked thoughtful. "I can't say for certain, but I have a few theories. First, we know the Bulwark have a reputation as a kind of 'deep state'. They've been operating for a long time and have connections all over the world. I wouldn't be surprised if they've managed to build up a lot of support that way."
"Second, their recruitment seems very selective," said Hill. "Most of the people I spoke to were recruited directly by the Bulwark or referred by someone they know. They were all vetted and hand-picked.
Third, they're clearly well-funded. I can't be sure, but I think they might be backed by some kind of organization or benefactor. It would explain how they can afford all their equipment and training."
"The amount of money they would need to do even a few of the things we know them capable off isn't something just one rich benefactor can do, their budget likely isn't any smaller then ours, the question is, who is funding them and how have we never known about it until now." Hand stated.
"The Bulwark also have a number of high-tech assets. Their armor, weapons, and vehicles are all top-of-the-line. It's possible they have some kind of advanced technology or backing from a wealthy government." Hill added.
"Yet if they were getting that kind of support, it would be impossible for us not to know about it. Which brings us to the next question, how are they doing it?" Hand questioned.
"I'm not sure," said Hill. "But whatever the case, they seem to be extremely well-resourced and determined. We'll need to tread carefully with them. If they're truly dedicated to their mission, we can't afford to underestimate them."
Fury leaned forward, his hands steepled. "And what is their mission? Can we take their word for it?"
"Not entirely," Hill said. "But based on what we've seen, it seems like they're trying to protect humanity from some kind of threat. That's why they're so focused on combating monsters and investigating anomalies. Of course, there's no guarantee that their motives are completely altruistic. We need to keep a close eye on them and make sure they don't start overstepping their bounds."
"Well, I think we can all agree that the Bulwark are dangerous," said Coulson. "But we've been dealing with dangerous groups for a long time. What's important is how we're going to deal with them. Director, do you think we should continue cooperating with them? Or should we consider a more... aggressive approach?"
"It's a valid question," Fury agreed. "On the one hand, the Bulwark is a powerful and well-resourced organization. They could be a valuable ally, and with their help, we might be able to prevent a lot of unnecessary conflict and destruction.
But on the other hand, they're also an unknown quantity. They're keeping a lot of secrets, and they have a lot of power. If we're not careful, we could end up making a deal with the devil. So to speak."
There was a pause as everyone considered the dilemma.
"Well, I'm inclined to stay on their good side," Clint spoke up.
"They're tough, but they've shown they can get results. If we play our cards right, we could benefit a lot from this partnership."
"I agree," Coulson added. "But we need to keep our guard up. Maintain our own operations, keep tabs on them, and ensure we have contingencies in place."
Fury nodded thoughtfully. "Alright, here's what we're going to do. We maintain our alliance with the Bulwark, but we do so with caution. Hill, I want you to coordinate with our analysts and develop a comprehensive profile on their key personnel. Find out who their real decision-makers are."
"Understood, Director," Hill replied.
"Hand, I want you to dig into their funding. Follow the money trails, see if you can identify any unusual financial movements or connections to other organizations. If they have a secret backer, I want to know who it is."
"Will do," Hand responded.
"Clint, keep your ear to the ground. Use your contacts and resources to gather any intelligence you can on their operations. I want to know what they're planning before they act."
Clint nodded. "I'll get on it."
"Coulson, your job is to oversee all of this. Make sure our efforts are coordinated and that we're sharing information effectively. We can't afford any missteps."
"Got it, Director," Coulson said, already making notes.
Fury leaned back in his chair, eyes scanning the room. "We need to approach this strategically. The Bulwark might be a powerful ally, but they could also be our greatest threat. We'll work with them, but we'll also be ready for anything."
Everyone in the room nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.
"Alright, That's a goal long-term plan, but before we can carry that out, we need to know the little details, Clint; you saw them in action; how is their training? How do they compare with us?" Fury asked as he moved the discussion along.
Clint took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding. "They're impressive, Director. Their training is top-notch, and they operate with a level of discipline and coordination that's rare to see outside of elite military units. Their combat tactics are advanced, and they make excellent use of their high-tech equipment."
"Overall, most of them are likely on par with most of our agents; only three of them really stood out above the rest; even Natasha and myself would struggle around those three."
Fury nodded, taking in the information. "Good to know. And their equipment? How does it stack up?"
"They've got cutting-edge gear," Clint continued. "Advanced weaponry, armor that can withstand a lot of punishment, and vehicles that are both fast and heavily armored. It's clear they're investing heavily in their tech, which makes them even more dangerous."
Hill interjected, "From the data we've gathered, it looks like they have access to technology that even we haven't seen before. Some of their equipment is beyond anything currently available on the market. This suggests they either have an incredibly advanced research and development team or they're getting their tech from an external source."
Fury leaned forward, his interest piqued. "Could it be extraterrestrial?" Coulson asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's a possibility," Hill admitted. "We need to explore all potential sources."
"Alright," Fury said, "so we know they're well-trained, well-equipped, and fanatically dedicated to their mission. That makes them a formidable force. But we also know they're secretive and potentially have hidden agendas."
Hand leaned forward, her expression serious. "We need to be very careful with our approach. We should continue to cooperate with them for now, but we should also focus on building our own defenses. If they ever decide to turn against us, we need to be ready."
"Agreed," Fury said. "Which brings us to our next point. We need to get someone on the inside. Hill, any progress on that front?"
"We're working on it, Director," Hill replied. "It's not going to be easy, but we're exploring a few avenues. One possibility is to target their recruitment process. If we can insert an agent during their vetting phase, we might be able to get someone in deep."
"Good. Keep me updated on that," Fury said. "Now, let's talk about our next steps. We need to stay one step ahead of them. We need to monitor their activities, gather as much intel as possible, and be prepared for any surprises."
"Alright, that's also going to clearly be a long-term plan; for now, Coulson, what can you say from what you witnessed?"
A/N
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