CHAPTER 28: The Exposé

In the dimly lit office of Marcus Hayes, the glow from multiple monitors cast sharp shadows across the room. Marcus stood before his main console, a large, sleek setup that allowed him to manage everything within Neotech Industries. His eyes were fixed on a single screen displaying an encrypted connection to his AI, Alfred.

Alfred's voice, calm and precise, filled the room. "Good evening, Sir Marcus. How may I assist you today?"

Marcus leaned forward, his fingers dancing across the keyboard as he brought up a series of files on the screen. "Alfred, it's time to expose Vought's darkest secrets. We need to sow confusion and create internal conflicts. The best way to do that is through the Dark Web. If we let the scammers and conspiracy theorists run with this information, it'll spread like wildfire."

"Understood, Sir Marcus," Alfred replied smoothly. "Which secrets are we targeting for exposure?"

Marcus's eyes narrowed as he considered the files before him. "Start with the plan Vought had to promote Stormfront as a superhero. The public needs to know that Vought was about to parade a Nazi as a symbol of hope and justice. Americans hate Nazis; the backlash will be immense. They won't tolerate that kind of ideology, especially when they realize Vought was willing to put a face to it."

Alfred processed the information, pulling up the relevant documents from Neotech's archives. "Compiling the files now, Sir Marcus. It appears Vought's initial strategy was to downplay Stormfront's Nazi affiliations by portraying her as a reformist hero. They intended to rewrite her past, emphasizing her 'strengths' and ignoring her fascist ideologies."

"Exactly," Marcus said, his voice filled with disdain. "They were ready to whitewash history for the sake of profits and control. Now, let's also leak the truth about Homelander. He's been distributing Compound V to criminals and gangs, turning them into villains. This puts pressure on the government to rely on Vought for security and protection. It's all part of their scheme to maintain control by manufacturing chaos."

Alfred's algorithms worked quickly, cross-referencing the data and compiling a comprehensive file on Homelander's activities. "Homelander has been using underworld connections to spread Compound V among criminal elements. The objective is clear: destabilize public safety to force government contracts. Evidence shows several instances where known gang members were suddenly endowed with superhuman abilities, only for Vought to conveniently 'rescue' civilians in highly publicized events."

"Precisely," Marcus replied, a grim smile forming on his lips. "Vought wants to be seen as the world's savior, but they're the ones creating the monsters in the first place. We need to make sure the world sees them for what they really are—a corporation built on lies, manipulation, and fear."

Alfred completed compiling the data. "The files are ready for dissemination, Sir Marcus. Do you wish to use the usual anonymous networks to distribute this information?"

Marcus shook his head. "No. We need to go deeper this time. Use the darkest corners of the web—the places where conspiracy theories thrive. Plant the files there, and let the scammers and hackers do the rest. They'll amplify it, distort it, make it impossible for Vought to counter the narrative without drawing more attention to it."

Alfred paused, running calculations. "Strategic insertion points identified. The files will be uploaded to several darknet forums known for their anti-establishment sentiments and ability to spread controversial information quickly. The data will be tagged in a way that suggests it's been leaked by a high-ranking insider. This should maximize impact and credibility among those communities."

Marcus nodded approvingly. "Good. And make sure we have no traceable connections back to us. Vought needs to believe this came from within their own ranks or from an external breach. The more paranoid they become, the better."

"As you wish, Sir Marcus," Alfred responded. "Deploying files now."

As the AI executed his orders, Marcus leaned back in his chair, his mind already turning to the next phase of his plan. Butcher would soon find out about Stormfront's true identity, and when he did, there would be hell to pay. Marcus knew that Butcher would never stop until he had his revenge, especially now that M.M. had been drawn back into the fold.

Meanwhile, across the city, Butcher was meeting with Mother's Milk (M.M.) in a rundown diner. The place was nearly empty, save for a few regulars nursing their coffees and staring blankly at the early evening news playing on a muted TV above the counter.

Butcher leaned in, his voice low but intense. "I got a lead, M.M. Found out who was behind the death of your family. It's Stormfront. She's been hidin' in plain sight all along."

M.M.'s eyes widened, a mixture of shock and fury flashing across his face. "Stormfront? You're tellin' me that a goddamn Nazi killed my family? How do you know this, Butcher?"

Butcher nodded grimly. "Got my sources. Trust me, it's her. And she's been cozyin' up to Vought this whole time. They were plannin' to rebrand her as a new hero, 'til things went tits up and they had to bury her past."

M.M. clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "We've got to take her down. I don't care what it takes. She's not getting away with this."

Butcher smirked, his eyes gleaming with the prospect of a new target. "That's the plan, mate. But it gets worse. Stormfront's not the only one Vought's been using. Homelander's been dosin' criminals with Compound V, turnin' 'em into bloody supervillains. It's all a show to keep the military beggin' for Vought's 'protection'."

M.M. leaned back, processing the information. "That's...insane. But it makes sense. Vought's always been about control. And if they're making the villains, then they're making the rules."

Butcher nodded. "Exactly. And that's why we've got to hit 'em where it hurts. I got a feelin' Lenny is plannin' somethin' big with Neotech. He's been real quiet lately, but I've heard whispers. He's up to somethin' that might just turn the tide against Vought. We might have to pay him a visit."

M.M. frowned. "Lenny is dangerous, Butcher. He's not like the others. He's got his own agenda, and it's not just about takin' down Vought. We don't know if we can trust him."

Butcher shrugged although there was this brotherly love still there. "Trust ain't really the point, is it? It's about makin' sure Vought goes down. If Lenny has got dirt on them, we need to use it. And if he's got his own plans, well, we'll just have to make sure ours are better."

M.M. nodded, his resolve hardening. "Alright, then. Let's see what he's got. But if this turns sideways, Butcher, we do things my way."

Butcher grinned. "Wouldn't have it any other way, mate."

Back in Marcus's office, Alfred's voice cut through the silence. "The files have been successfully distributed, Sir Marcus. Already, several forums are lighting up with discussions and conspiracy theories. It's only a matter of time before this information spreads to mainstream channels."

Marcus allowed himself a small smile. "Good. Let the chaos begin. Vought thinks they can control everything, but they've forgotten one key thing: the more they try to tighten their grip, the more it all slips through their fingers."

Alfred responded, "And what of Mother's Milk and Butcher? They will undoubtedly see this information and connect it to you."

Marcus nodded thoughtfully. "That's the point, Alfred. Let them come. Butcher's rage is a weapon, and weapons can be directed. As for M.M., his hatred for Stormfront will drive him forward. We can use that. We need allies, even reluctant ones, in this fight."

He paused, looking out over the city through his large window, the lights of New York twinkling like stars. "We're playing a long game here. Vought's going to be fighting fires on every front, and in the chaos, we'll strike. Let's see how they handle a war on all sides."

As he gazed out, Marcus knew this was only the beginning. The leaks would sow distrust and chaos within Vought, and Butcher, with M.M. by his side indirectly, would be a force to reckon with. Marcus was always ten steps ahead, but now he needed to be even sharper, as the game he was playing was one of shadows and secrets. And he was determined to win, no matter the cost.