บท 23: Supreme Headquarters? -22
Having read enough, Tony finally decided to head over and take a look at the craft itself. His first impression of it was that it was an impressive-looking jet, though clearly on the smaller side of things. He guessed that was a given with how it was supposed to be made for speed and stealth.
He spent a few moments watching the other people sent over by Ricci and seeing how they were doing. Their performance did surprise Tony quite a bit. They acted like some of his own senior engineers would do back at his company.
Yet here they were, working for a drug smuggling kingpin like Ricci. Then again, maybe it shouldn't be such a surprise. After all, Ricci had a ton of money to his name, which he couldn't really show off. So it wasn't that much of a surprise that he could get his hands on a few skilled engineers with all that money he had to throw around.
Even less so when he could throw that money at something that could boost his earnings like an undetectable jet like this supposedly was. With something like this in his hand, Ricci could easily ship his drugs to those nations with the best control of their import. The very same countries where drugs often had the highest price.
It was at this point that Tony decided that he would make his own jet like this, only better. 'I could even design it to be piloted by Jarvis. That way, I can move around as I please without a care in the world.' Tony couldn't help but let his imagination run wild.
Nodding his head, Tony removed his jacket and reached out for his tools while the man who had been answering his questions so far went to join the other men and women in pulling the jet apart. Tony didn't even notice how quickly the hours just blew past him as he got fully absorbed in his work.
Pulling apart the shielding had been interesting. It was built to be both bulletproof and able to shield against radar and other methods of detection.
The propulsion system was even more interesting. As Tony looked the engines over, he could clearly see his old man's work in them. Though more than that, he could also see his own work in them. In fact, he even saw the Stark Industry logo on a few parts.
This discovery sparked his curiosity the most; he would have to go back and try to track down the channels these parts had traveled from his company and onto this jet. Ricci's men were all truly the top of the top, and together, many good ideas were thrown around back and forth. In the end, Tony also ended up declaring that he could easily make something far better than this.
Ricci's people were also all too happy to accept his promise of sending over a finished model once it was done. Another exciting system was the 'stealth' system, which was an anti-radar and surveillance system that all worked to make the jet appear invisible to other detection systems.
This required its own support system in the form of a few satellites, something he now started to suspect Ricci possibly had access to.
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[With Alex]
While Tony stayed behind with the quinjet, Alex went deeper into the underground compound of SITE-001. Down a multitude of hallways and past numerous security doors. Each one was opened by his escort; there was no need for Alex himself to bother with that.
Sure, the men beside him might just be guards, but they were HIS guards. Members of ALPHA-1, the red right hand! They could go pretty much anywhere within the Foundation. Sure, his own O5 clearance could get him to exactly everywhere, but few places needed that kind of clearance.
Much less this compound, where many people lived and worked. SITE-001 might not be the biggest of them all, as it has countless subbases around the world. After all, the Ricci family was in charge of not just funding the Foundation but also recruiting D-class personnel.
Those people could hardly stay at this site. Not given the location of it or the fact that he lived here. Instead, those people were primarily kept in their gangs or small prison camps, ready to be called upon at any time.
Just one word from Alex, and he could have one hundred thousand D-class delivered anywhere in the world. That was the power he held as leader of this SITE. That was all without counting in the sheer power he held as O5-1.
Despite its relatively modest size, this SITE was home to several thousand individuals, discreetly residing in either above-ground servant quarters or hidden underground facilities, unbeknownst to the outside world. This hidden enclave was the nerve center for the Ricci crime empire, housing key personnel responsible for its operations, along with guards, support staff, and even some of their families.
Upon entering an elevator and descending further, the passengers were greeted by an astonishing sight: a vast underground hall revealed through the elevator's glass wall. This space was bathed in artificial sunlight, with walls and ceiling masterfully painted to mimic the outdoors. Lush, soft grass carpeted the floor, interspersed with trees and a babbling stream of clear water. It was a meticulously crafted underground park, a serene haven for the families dwelling in this concealed world.
Most residents of the compound had the freedom to leave at their discretion when off-duty, but this liberty posed certain logistical challenges. Limiting daily exits and entries to as few people as possible was crucial to avoid unwanted attention. A particular concern was the security of ALPHA-1 members, whose families permanently resided within a Foundation facility, safeguarding them against potential hostage situations.
Not unlike some other sites that resembled small, self-contained towns, this SITE was a microcosm of such a community, albeit on a smaller scale. It was equipped with everything necessary for a normal, healthy life, fostering the growth of children who would potentially become the next generation of Foundation members.
As Alex gazed out at the remarkable view, a testament to the Foundation's endeavors, he let out a small sigh, his hand resting on the glass. To an outsider, the Foundation might seem oppressive, but for Alex, it was a place that grew more endearing with each passing day.
He mused, "Maybe next month, to celebrate Christmas, I'll summon an extra SCP." This thought was a reminder of his commitment to advancing the Foundation, hopeful in the Ancient One's ability to manage the more challenging SCPs.
Exiting the elevator at his floor, Alex continued his tour of the compound. He interacted with the dedicated staff, exchanging greetings, receiving reports, and issuing occasional orders, immersing himself in the heart of the Foundation's operations.
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[With Tony]
While Alex was downstairs making merry with his subordinates, Tony was making good work on the quinjet. While there wasn't much he could make out in a few hours that the skilled engineers of the Foundation hadn't already done while studying it on their own, everyone still enjoyed their time.
After all, they all admired Tony's skill as an engineer, even if not the rest of his playboy personality. They were also all aware that their boss had plans to use Stark's brain in the future, and this was all meant to build relations for that time.
It was when Tony had pulled himself away from the jet itself and returned to looking over the prepared data again that the same door Ricci left from hours before once again opened and revealed Alexander and his guards.
Tony did not notice any of this; he was still focused on reading and processing the data before him. He didn't notice his host returning until the man approached him and called out. "I hope you found it worthwhile coming here, Tony."
"Wah? Ah, Ricci, you back already?" Tony said, surprised by being interrupted.
"Already? Tony, my genius friend, surely someone as smart as you didn't forget that time passes at a constant pace? It's already late for supper by now. I'm already paying all my engineers overtime by now."
Tony looked at his watch and was shocked at how late it had become. "Damn, it's so late already? Didn't notice at all." Tony muttered while ignoring the friendly jab.
"Indeed, my project must have kept you busy, Tony, for you to forget the time like that. Though it's time to return back up before your driver really does call the cops on us for kidnapping." Alex half joked as he had indeed gotten a report saying Happy demanded to see his boss.
Hearing that, Tony could almost see Happy trying to dig his way down into this garage right now. He took a look over at the still partially deconstructed jet. He would have loved to take it out for a spin, but given the state, that was clearly impossible.
"Now, let us get up and have something to eat before sending you back to Lady Pepper." Alex teased while the engineers started to clear the area again. Leaving Tony with only the paper copies of the data as the platform rose.
After calming down Happy, who had worried himself so much that he couldn't even enjoy the otherwise excellent entertainment Ricci's home provided, Tony agreed to stay for dinner since he still wanted to ask about what Ricci knew about his father and the jet.
"Ricci, I was told that you might know something about where the jet was made and some kind of connection with my old man." Tony asked as they sat in a large dining room and enjoyed an excellent meal and a nice red wine.
"Hmm, it seems some of my men have a loose tongue… but yeah, I know a thing or two. After all, I have been in this business since before your father was even born. So yeah, I am very well connected." Alexander said slowly.
"Now, what I know about your father only starts after I moved over from Italy back in 82. I made sure to know as much as I could about any threats to my operations. You know, the CIA, FBI, and the like. Among those, there was another agency, an up-and-coming one. They were called the Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division."
"Supreme Headquarters, International Espionage, Law-Enforcement Division? Well, that is quite a mouthful for sure." Tony interrupted, earning a chuckle from Happy and a smile from Alexander.
"Yes, it is indeed. They have changed names a few times since then. Today, they go by Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division. We call them SHIELD for short, far less of a mouthful." Alexander said while still smiling lightly.
"Yeah, that is a lot better, for sure. Also, it's a lot more boring sounding, without all that talk about being a supreme headquarters for espionage and all." Tony joked back while sneering at how pretentious of a name that was.
"Yeah, they didn't really hide what they stood for back then. Anyway, they were the division behind the creation of Captain America, which I'm sure your father was behind." Alex could see Tony's thoughts from his face.
"After the war, your father and Carter took over and turned it into what it is today. SHIELD is part of your father's life's work. Today, they are the world's biggest spy agency that works all over the world with the support of the UN."
"All of that is thanks to your father's effort. They have tech that is far better than that of their competitors. I can assure you that after your father's death, they did their very best to get their greedy hands on anything of his they could. Every notebook and drawing."
Alex kept telling Tony about SHIELD while planting hints about them stealing from him. Alex did after all know about that VHS meant for Tony which he would only get at his deathbed. Alex didn't want to see that happen again, and while he already had the new element he could just give him, Alex still thought it was better to be a bit more hands-off.
"Damn, you are probably right about that. I mean, if they really are behind the making of that jet, then it's all because of what he left behind. That stuff they damn right stole from me!" Tony growled.
He might not really have liked his father much since he was always too busy working to be a good dad. Only now was he finding out what he was so busy with. Not only did they steal his father's time, but they also stole his work.
As Tony sat there fuming, Alex had to hide his grin behind his wine glass. "Well, at least they are trying to pay some of that debt off by protecting you from the shadows."
"Hmph! They would protect me just for my mind anyway." Tony huffed. He knew just how important he was to the military, and SHIELD was no doubt using plenty of his weapons as well. So they would still protect him even without them stealing his father's work.
"True enough, I guess. Though how about showing them that you are worth a dozen times your father's stuff?" Alex asked with a mischievous look on his face.
"Sure, what do you have in mind?"
"I'm sure you are already thinking about going over to demand everything they owe you. Now, wouldn't it be fun to fly over there in a quinjet even better than anything they could make? Show them just how far behind you they are?" Alex offered.
"You know that is not a bad idea you got there. But I will take it a step further! I'm going to study what kind of tech they have and make improved versions of all of that!" Tony smacked his palm against the table as he exclaimed.
The next hour and a half went on with the two chatting while sipping wine while poor Happy felt left out. Alex did his best to lead Tony down a path where he would still become Ironman but an even better version and, most importantly, an Ironman who would work for the Foundation.
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