Chương 223: Introductions -218
Steve, Peggy, Bucky, Bruce, and Lena all looked at the three men who had just entered the room and joined the conversation without introducing themselves.
Lena, being the most senior member of the Foundation proper, was the first to react. She knew a thing or two about the Foundation, being a long-standing member and all.
This included who you shouldn't mess with, as there were people not even her somewhat crazy teacher took lightly, and among those were a few different MTFs.
Among those, there was one that had the symbol of a red hand holding an arrow, just like these three people. The Red Right Hand, Alpha-1 the guards and trusted followers of the O5 council itself.
These highly skilled people answered to none but the overseers themselves and as such had massive leeway in dealing with all other Foundation personnel, even SITE directors were powerless in front of these people.
They were as skilled as they were loyal, never questioning orders and executing them without hesitation. Or at least that was how they were described to her. After all she wasn't very important within the massive behemoth that was the Foundation, so she had never interacted with such people before.
"Will you be joining us in the field sir?" She asked, trying to sound as respectful as possible due to the stories she had heard about a few of these people going rogue.
Apparently, working so closely with the leadership of the entire foundation came with risks of its own. Not just in the form of threats to the people they were tasked to guard but also due to some of the things they were able to learn.
She had once heard Bright comment that he envied how they were able to access too much top-secret information. Though sometimes too much was indeed too much, rumor had it that the entire leadership of the Chaos Insurgency was made up of old Alpha-1 members.
Driven half-mad due to knowing too many secrets, mad enough to go against the Foundation, they are clearly skilled enough to live past their betrayal.
However, the rumor remained, whispering about them abusing their position to kill anyone they disagreed with and being able to walk away without an issue as long as no one raised the issue all the way up to the Overseers themselves.
Something that wasn't easy to do given that oftentimes, the red right hand served as the eyes and ears of the council as well.
The lead member of the Red Right Hand, the one who had spoken earlier, turned his sharp gaze toward Lena. There was an intensity in his eyes that made her feel as if he could see straight through her. His expression remained unreadable, a mask of professionalism honed over years of serving the most secretive and powerful figures within the Foundation.
"Yes, Dr. Morries," he replied with a tone that carried a weight of authority. "We will be joining you in the field. Our orders come directly from the Overseers. This operation is of the highest priority, and we're here to ensure it proceeds without any complications."
Lena nodded, keeping her composure despite the unease she felt in their presence. The Red Right Hand's involvement meant that this mission was even more critical than she had originally thought. She exchanged a quick glance with Bruce, who seemed to share her apprehension.
Steve, Peggy, and Bucky observed the interaction closely, picking up on the tension. They weren't familiar with the inner workings of the Foundation, but they could tell that these new arrivals were no ordinary soldiers. The way Lena deferred to them spoke volumes about their position within the organization.
Peggy, ever the strategist, decided to break the silence. "If this operation is so important, then it's good to know we'll have the best of the best with us. But we need to know what we're walking into. What are we dealing with on the other side of this portal?"
The lead Alpha-1 operative, who had introduced himself only as "Captain," gave a curt nod of approval at Peggy's directness. "We're dealing with an unknown world, one that may hold threats we've never encountered before. The robots that have been encountered so far are just one piece of the puzzle. There could be far more dangerous entities out there, and we need to be prepared for anything."
Bucky leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "So, we're going in blind. No clear objective other than recon and gathering intel. What's the extraction plan if things go south?"
"Standard Foundation protocol," the Captain responded. "We have contingency plans in place. If we can't secure the area, we'll extract and regroup. But failure is not an option here. We need to gather as much information as possible about this new world, its technology, and any potential threats it poses to our own."
Bruce took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "And what about the possibility of this world being a parallel Earth? One where something went wrong?"
The Captain's gaze flicked to Bruce, considering his question. "That's one of the theories we're working with. If this is a parallel Earth, it could provide insights into potential threats we haven't even imagined yet. That's why it's crucial we proceed with caution. We don't want to trigger anything that could spill over into our world."
Dr. Morries, despite her initial nerves, couldn't hide her curiosity. "How long are we going to stay over there? And will we be studying anything other then the robots? Both Bruce and I are far more skilled in the field of biology then technology."
The Captain's expression softened slightly, acknowledging Dr. Morries' expertise. "Your skills will be invaluable, Dr. Morries. While the primary focus is on understanding the technology, particularly the robots, we are also interested in any biological entities or environmental anomalies you might encounter. The world beyond the portal could have evolved differently, and we need to assess all potential threats—biological or otherwise. As for the duration of the mission, it will depend on what we find. The initial phase is recon and data collection, but if the situation allows, we will extend our stay to conduct more thorough investigations."
Bruce nodded, his nerves easing just a bit as the conversation turned to something more within his comfort zone. "So, we're looking at a potential deep dive into an alien ecosystem. If it's a parallel Earth, the similarities might help us understand what went wrong here—whether it's environmental, biological, or something else entirely."
The Captain leaned in slightly, his tone becoming more serious. "Exactly. We're not just looking for threats; we're looking for answers. Answers that could prevent a similar catastrophe in our world. The Overseers want every angle covered, every possibility considered. That's why you two are here—to uncover the biological and ecological factors that could be at play."
Peggy listened carefully, her strategic mind already calculating the possibilities. "And what about the possibility of sentient life? If there's advanced technology, it's possible there's still someone—or something—out there using it. We need to be prepared for first contact situations."
The Captain gave a slight nod, acknowledging the point. "First contact protocols are in place, but we need to proceed with extreme caution. Any sentient life forms we encounter could be hostile, especially if they're responsible for the destruction we've seen so far. Our priority is to observe and gather information. Engagement is a last resort."
Bucky, always the pragmatist, crossed his arms. "And what about weapons? We're going into an unknown situation with potentially hostile forces. What kind of firepower are we bringing along?"
The Captain's gaze flicked to Bucky, a hint of disdain in his eyes. "You will be using your standard gear as well as some specialized anti-technology equipment such as EMP guns and more energy than projective weapons. We will be using some of the most advanced equipment to support you, and we have SCP-10104 to take care of the real heavy lifting if need be."
Steve wasn't aware that they would be bringing along an SCP object, something that could really be anything, and he didn't like having something so unknown around his friends. "What kind of thing is this SCP-10104?" He asked, hoping to get an answer.
Yet it wasn't the Captain who answered; instead, it was Dr Morries. "Not a thing, SCP-10104 isn't a thing, nor is it a monster, it's a person, and he is standing right here." She said, pointing over to the nervous-looking Bruce Banner, aka the Hulk, aka SCP-10104.
Steve, Peggy, and Bucky turned their attention to Bruce, their expressions a mix of surprise and concern. Steve was the first to speak, his voice careful. "Dr Banner, you're classified as an SCP object?"
Bruce shifted uncomfortably, clearly not fond of the sudden attention, but still nodded his head. "Yeah, I'm classified as a Euclid-level object; this mission is kind of a test for me to see how well I can control the whole abnormal part of me."
Steve quickly realized that his words might have sounded more offensive then he had intended and quickly apologized. "I was just surprised, is all; I have nothing against SCP objects; if anything, it's reassuring to have one of them on our side."
Peggy chimed in, her voice steady and reassuring. "This isn't the first time we've worked with people who have... unique abilities. We all bring something to the table, and that includes you, Bruce."
Bucky remained quiet, his expression thoughtful. He knew all too well the burden of being considered a weapon rather than a person. "We've all got our demons, but that doesn't mean we're defined by them. You're more than just some object to be classified."
The Captain, who had kept quiet while they all got over the fact that Bruce Banner was an SCP object, quickly took the word again. "Alright, we will have plenty of time to get properly acquainted later on; for now, we have a mission that needs doing."
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