Chapter 19: Plans Unfold

As Adam and his UNSC Avengers were making their way to the Earth, in an old abandoned underground base in Europe, Loki was gathering more followers. Using the Mind Stone that was embedded in the Sceptre, Loki was taking over peoples minds.

He used Clint's knowledge to find the location they were currently at as well as killers and thugs that would act as his muscle, while he used Erik's to locate scientists that would help him build the device needed to open a gateway to bring his army of Chitauri to Earth.

Within the base as Erik works on the Tesseract and Clint makes other preparations, Loki sat alone and used the Sceptre to channel a phantom image across the galaxy. The Sceptre had informed him that Thanos' servant known as The Other was calling him.

So Loki closed his eyes to focus on his projection, when his projection appeared it was on a dark desolate planet, lighting flashed across the sky ominously every so often. Moments after arriving the same servant who handed him the Sceptre in the throne room spoke.

"The Chitauri grow restless." The Other's voice was deep and menacing, it seemed to come from all directions even tho he could see where the Other was.

"Then let them gird themselves, I will lead them in a glorious battle." Loki remarked as he dawned his full Asgardian armor including his golden two horned helm.

"Battle? Against the meager might of Earth?" The servant scoffed at Loki's humorous statement.

"Glorious, not lengthy. If your force is as formidable as you claim them to be." Loki responded confidently.

"You question us? You question HIM, he who put the Sceptre in your hand, gave you ancient knowledge and a new purpose when you were cast out, defeated..." the Other answered angrily at Loki's questioning of his master Thanos.

"I was a King!" Loki shouted back, "The rightful King of Asgard! Betrayed!"

"Your ambition is little, born of childish need. We look beyond the Earth, to greater worlds the Tesseract will unveil..." The Other began to explain but Loki cut in before he could continue.

"You don't have the Tesseract yet." This comment angered the Other causing him to rush Loki with an outstretched hand grabbing for Loki's throat.

Loki quickly explained which stopped the servants movements, "I don't threaten, but until I open the doors, until your force is mine to command, you are but words."

"You will have your war, Asgardian" the Other lowered the hand which was aimed at Loki's throat and slowly circled Loki as he spoke, "if you fail. If the Tesseract is kept from us. There will be no realm, no barren moon, no crevice where we cannot find you. You think you know pain? He will make you long for something as sweet as pain." The servant who was now behind Loki as he spoke his threat, once his threat was done he pressed his hand to Loki's head and destroyed the projection.

Back on Earth Loki's head rang from the pain caused by the blow, getting up he made his way to the group to check on the progress of the machine he was having Erik build that would open the portal.

As he approached Erik Selvig excitedly got up with a large smile on his face when he saw Loki approach.

"This is wonderful! The Tesseract has shown me so much, it's more than knowledge, its truth."

Loki who got a little uncomfortable with the fanatical look at which Erik was giving him responded, "I know, uh..it touches everyone differently."

"Thank you." Erik said as he continued to smile.

"What has it shown you Agent Barton?" Loki quickly wanted to get away from Erik, his smile was unsettling for some reason.

"My next target." Clint replied simply which caused Erik to laugh.

"Stick in the mud, he's got no soul. No wonder you chose this...this tomb to work in." Erik commented towards Clint as he waved around at the old underground facilty they were working in.

Clint looked at Erik and replied, "Well the Radisson doesn't have three levels of lead lined flooring between SHIELD and that cube." His response caused Erik to laugh then turn around to resume his work.

"I see why Fury chose you to guard it." Loki said satisfied with his choice in obtaining Clint.

"You're going to have to contend with him, sir. As long as he's in the air, I can't pin him down. I'm going to be putting together a team." Clint stated as he moved towards another area. Loki followed since he didn't want to interrupt Erik and his work.

"Are they a threat?" Loki curiously asked.

"To each other more than likely, however if Fury calls for the big guy, then yes. He would be able to get the others on track and they could really send some noise our way." Clint responded.

"The big guy? Who is this big guy, I want you to tell me everything you know about this team of Fury's as well as anyone he could call for assistance. I will test their metal. I am weary of scuttling in shadow, I mean to rule this world not burrow in it." Loki commented confidently.

Clint looked at Loki for a few moments before he replied, "It's a risk."

"Oh yes." Loki replied with a large confident small spread across his face.

"If you're set on making yourself known, it could be useful." Clint responded after putting in some thought.

"Tell me what you need." Loki excitedly asked, to which Clint turned and walked to a large case to which he pulled out his retractable bow.

"I need a distraction, and an eyeball." Clint answered back.

Loki and Clint strategized their plans together and Clint provided as much information as possible to Loki regarding the members who were originally in the SHIELD files, Clint was in that file and was privy to the information on all the Avengers, however he didn't know much about Adam and what exactly he was capable of.

He only knew he was from the future and had some crazy technology, but even then he didn't know the extent. At first this did put Loki on edge but after he confirmed that he was human Loki felt even if a human with slightly better tech showed up he wouldn't be an issue since Loki felt humans were weak.

So Loki decided he would get himself captured to begin to tear the team apart from the inside, it was universally known that a house divided couldn't stand.

Clint provided Loki with a tracker so that once Loki was captured they would be able to locate where Fury and the others were and they could attack and bring the helicarrier down, hopefully killing most if not all the members when they were together.

Little did both of them know that although SHIELD couldn't detect them thru the lead lining, Adam could and he was listening to their plans. Although he didn't need to do so, Adam still listened in just in case, due to his presence, that they changed tactics than originally what he knew from the movies.

Adam was a little shocked that Loki would continue the same course as he would had he not been here, but then he remembered that Loki wasn't really himself. Had he not been under the same mind control that he had placed on the others, he may have changed tactics upon learning of him. Loki wasn't stupid in the least, arrogant and haughty for sure, but not stupid.

Adam debated whether to stop the portal or not, after all the portal wasn't needed to accomplish his goals since both the Space and Mind Stones were already here on Earth. The only reason he debated it was because he did want his crew to gain experience, he had them preparing for this invasion for months and he witnessed the buzz of excitement when they were informed to be mission ready.

Ultimately Adam decided to allow it so that the population of Earth can see his men and women in action, this would do wonders in recruiting others to join the UNSC. In fact he planned to record the conflict and use it as a promotional video, he would show the world what a UNSC soldier can do.

This made him any regret he had for not approving the SPARTAN procedure earlier vanish, since if he had turned them into SPARTAN's then the battle would've been won before it started.

So Adam pulled himself out of the equation and decided to hang back. He would let things play out first. Let Loki open the portal then he would swoop in, take both the cube and Sceptre, while his teams dominate the invaders.

This would also give his people more technology to study, the Chitauri were a sentient reptilian race who cybernetically enhanced themselves at a young age.

A blend of organics and cybernetic augments that granted them enhanced strength and agility, although by doing so they became dependent on chemical stimulants and internal reactors to power the implants.

What made them most dangerous was their superior communication since they did so thru their Hive Mind, this made it easier for them to strategize and coordinate mid battle. Despite being connected by the Hive Mind each soldier was able to act independently and were intelligent enough to engage in combat, assess various situations, and assist one another.

But they did have a weakness he can exploit, due to their heavy reliance on cybernetics they were highly susceptible to EMP pulses as well as electronic viruses. Due to the Hive Mind an electronic virus, once uploaded onto one soldier, could easily spread to the others.

Unfortunately without a Chitauri sample Adam wouldn't be able to create such a virus, but soon he would have as many samples as needed. Adam planned to create a targeted virus and weaponize it for when the Chitauri returned, his idea was to create a virus that would change their loyalty from Thanos to himself. This would allow him to use most of Thanos' own army against him when he comes for the stones.

After informing the four of his plans, Steve wasn't too happy about it at first, but after Adam did explain the reason and benefits to be gained in so doing it, Steve couldn't deny the gains far outweighs the risks.

After confirming the plan with the others Adam turned his ship around and headed back to the Infinity since his suit wouldn't be able to create an EMP large enough for a ship.

After arriving back on Infinity, Adam pulled a few engineers and modified a Variant V Havok warhead to fully convert its thermonuclear explosion fully into an EMP blast. If he didn't do so then most of the Chitauri mother ship would be destroyed, this wasn't something Adam wanted cause then studying the ship and Chitauri would be much harder since it would vaporize most of the ship and crew.

Along with the conversion into a full EMP missile he also added an EMP shielded sub-light tracker so that once the EMP knocked out the Chitauri ship, Infinity would be able to enter slipspace and go retrieve the ship and bring it back to study the ship and dead crew.

As Adam worked on his project, Steve and the others arrived on the helicarrier. They met with Fury who didn't like that Adam hadn't shown up, but calmed a bit after being told that Adam was only delayed and would be joining as soon as he completed some needed preparations.

Carol Danvers hadn't arrived yet but his pager did inform him that the signal was received and that she was en route to Earth. He felt with Carol's backing the cube would remain in his hands since she did give it to him for safe keeping before she left.

Fury could tell the cube was powerful considering even an Asgardian, who were practically gods, were even wanting it themselves. He had no intention of handing it to just anyone. He felt if anyone should own such a powerful object it was his own government.

Fury proceeded to brief the team on the events that led them to here and all they have done to find the cube as well as Loki and the ones he had taken, he wasn't going to wait for Tony to show up since there was no telling if he would or not.

Especially after the previous attack on the Red Room, Tony had kept a distance from Fury in particular, he did communicate with Phil Coulson often. Tony was focused on his improvements, his interactions with the science and engineering teams aboard Infinity had given him many ideas on how to improve his armors.

Steve waited for Fury to finish before pulling out a portable holopad disk display and it showed a gala in Stuttgart Germany.

"28 Konigstrasse in Stuttgart Germany. That's where we will find Loki." Steve said with a pleasant smile, while Bucky couldn't help but chuckle.

Bucky knew just how much trouble Steve had with technology which was something Peggy couldn't handle so she put him thru what she called a 'technology boot camp'.

Since then Steve wasn't as clueless as he was before and now Steve enjoyed showing his accomplishments.

Phil Coulson's eyes sparkled in admiration at his idol, and this time he had his mint condition Captain America trading cards on him, so he was extra excited since he could now get them signed.

Once Phil found out that Sergeant James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes was also back from the dead his eyes twinkled with glee since he also had his limited addition Captain's Commando cards which put each of the Howling Commandos that were led by Captain America on a card. He planned to sneak away at some point to retrieve Bucky's card too.

When Phil's eyes landed on Bucky, a chill ran down Bucky's spine when he saw the sparkles practically shooting out Phil's eyes as he looked at him.