They walked into a large meeting room where Peggy and Solange were along with eight other individuals that Clark handpicked for the team. It was a mishmash of people from Allied countries both men and women all of whom had never met except for a few. Among the group were Arthur Kingsley, Richard Webb, James Logan Howlett along with Daniel Take-Yatsu. Clark met the four of them in Sicily and they were his first picks, but the rest were new. When they saw Colonel Phillips walk in, they all stood up and saluted but he ushered them to stop.
"At ease. I'm not in charge of this meeting or why you're here in the first place." Colonel Phillips stepped to the side where Agent Carter was so Clark could speak.
"Thank you, Colonel." Clark walked over to the table so everyone could see him, and he could see everyone. "I apologize for the secrecy and bringing you all here so suddenly. I'm Kalvin Elbert, former private in the Military Intelligence Service and now Sergeant of the US Army and agent of the Strategic Scientific Reserve. The SSR is a joint Allied war agency formed under President Roosevelt to battle against the Axis powers among other groups. The reason you are all here today is because the SSR has a mission that I will leading, and you have been recruited to join that team. I would first like to say that even though you were brought here this isn't a forceful recruitment. So, please speak freely and if you desire to leave then you can do so, and no judgement or punishment will be made."
"What kind of mission is this?" Daniel Take-Yatsu asked him.
"The mission is to sneak behind enemy lines on mainland Italy where we will capture Benito Mussolini and bring him back to Allied command." Clark stated and there was a brief moment of pause in the room as everyone let that sink in. They were recruited to capture the fascist leader of Italy behind enemy lines and bring him to Allied Command. It was a lot to take in.
"Did you take one too many bullets to the helmet there, yank?" The Australian Soldier questioned, thinking he was crazy.
"I assure you that this is real. The mission will be to go behind enemy lines, capture Benito Mussolini and bring him back here." Clark repeated.
"Does this have something to do with the intel we found on Sicily?" Arthur asked him.
"Yes. Allow me to explain, Sergeant Kingsley and Sergeant Howlett know this because they were there but during the invasion of Sicily, we intercepted a Waffen-SS group leaving the island with a box of sensitive information. It was correspondence with local agents on Sicily and mainland Italy who managed to identify the location of Benito Mussolini after King Victor Emmanuel had him arrested and taken away. The German plan is to rescue Mussolini should the Allies begin a land invasion. Our mission is to retrieve Mussolini before that happens." Clark explained. "I know this seems like an impossible task but it's one that can be done by the people in this room."
"I'm in." Logan said and everyone looked at him in shock. "What? I've seen the Man of Steel here fight through a storm of bullets, smash into an armored tank, and jump 30-feet in the air to demolish a church. If anyone has a chance of pulling this off, then its him. And I for one wouldn't mind seeing Mussolini's smug face when we bring him in."
"Man of Steel?" one of the women asked in confusion.
"Wait, are you telling me you're the guy the newspapers have been going on about in Sicily?" The Australian asked him.
"He is. We fought alongside him during Operation Husky." Sergeant Webb added. Kingsley nodded in agreement as did Daniel Take-Yatsu.
"If half the stories we heard about you are true then you could do this all by yourself so why do you need us?" One of the women asked.
"Because I'm still just one man. Even with everything I can do, I'm not god and I can't end this war by just snapping my fingers. What I can do is everything in my power to help. And if it includes me leading a mission behind enemy lines all by myself then so be it but I put this team…this group of people together because this isn't about me. And it's why I'm not leading a platoon of just US or British soldiers." Clark explained as they listened intently, including Colonel Phillips. "This war is everyone standing up against the Axis powers and everyone here has proven that they not only have better skills then the traditional soldier but qualities beyond the physical. It's why I handpicked each and every one of you."
"Oh, now don't I feel all special. The Man of Steel wants some cannon fodder while he looks good." The Australian remarked.
"More like people I want on my side in a fight. Like you, Lucas." Clark said, introducing everyone in the room to Corporal Lucas Riggs of the 20th Brigade, Australian 9th Infantry Division. "Insubordinate. Churlish. No stranger to a prison cell. That's Lucas. I'm good at spotting talent in the unlikeliest of places. You're a skilled demolitionist with an explosive temperament, a sharp tongue and from what I can tell, you didn't exactly get along with the brass. But being in intelligence for a while I learned to read through the red tape. You and two other soldiers were arrested for going against orders but in doing so found valuable intel that proved vital. And in the process destroyed an enemy camp, weapons depot and took down a plane. Only your major didn't see it that way and it got you some time in the brig. But your intel is what secured the victory at El Alamein despite what your commander would say. And you held off a German counterattack but lost a friend in the process. My condolences. Sometimes the only way to honor a fallen soldier is to finish the mission but it's hard to remember that when their blood stains your boots. Command may only see flaws, but I see someone I want on my side in a fight. And I heard you knocked your Major Henry Hamms with a solid right hook."
Clark brief summary gave everyone a good idea about Lucas and the Australian was impressed he got all that. "I knocked out my last commander so why would you want me?" Lucas wondered.
"Other than the fact that if you tried that with me your hand would break? It's because your brash, temperamental and opiniated. Your always up for a challenge. I'm guessing you're the kind of man where if someone tells you something's impossible, you'll end up proving them wrong. It's exactly what I'm looking for and someone I would want on my side in a fight." Clark told him.
That earned him a smidge of respect and a chuckle from the brash Aussie. "You're all right for a Yank." Lucas told him.
"And it's not just him. Everyone here in this room has been chosen for similar reasons. You all come from different walks of life with different backgrounds in different countries but deep down you all know what the right thing is." Clark explained before looking at Daniel. "Like Sergeant Daniel Take-Yatsu of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. I fought alongside him in Sicily. Soldiers of honor have a rule that no one gets left behind. No matter how fierce the enemy or how overwhelming the numbers, he wants everyone to get home. And he's a great shot."
Daniel Take-Yatsu smiled and gave him a nod before Clark looked over at Arthur and Webb. "True leaders fight side by side with their soldiers, their bravery inspiring their men. Leadership and loyalty sustain each other…each relying on the other's sacrifice. A covenant forged in trust and strengthened by empathy. Arthur Kingsley and Richard Webb of the British 9th Parachute Battalion do the same, even after taking the impact of a Tank shell on the bridge."
"Webb walked away from all that though." Arthur pat him on the shoulder.
"A few scars and sometime in the hospital but I'm back together with all my bits." Webb joked.
"Sergeant Logan Howlett of the Canadian First Special Service Force. Saw him lead his men and brave through gunfire to save one of them. Even after I arrived with backup and went on ahead, he was leading the others and fought by my side in Sicily. He's someone who's good at what does." Clark introduced him as well.
"You plan on doing this for everyone?" Logan wondered.
"Pretty much." Clark replied before looking at Halima Zambardi. She was half Italian and half Somalian whose father was actually an influential member of the Italian Fascist party. She grew up with the finest things in life but when she saw the brutality of the Fascist rule in Somalia, she stayed behind while her parents left and joined the Somali resistance. She then aided the allies in North Africa, leading a horseback calvary squad to capture an AA gun position. "Halima Zambardi grew up with the finest things in life. But when that life was taken away…she discovered something richer than wine or gold. To Halima, freedom used to be doing as she pleased but now freedom means doing what is right."
He then looked over at Solange standing next to Peggy. "Solange Hardewijk is an excellent sprinter. And she's also excellent in physics, the best in her class. Her mind is keen, and she can see things others can't. She had the perfect life as a student. So perfect that she caught the attention of people that could use her talents at the SOE and now here. But I promise that as soon as the war is over, things will go back to the way they were."
Clark then looked over at Padmavati Balan, former member of the Indian National Army. She actually joined the INF to fight against the British due to her hate for oppressors and their control over her people but then later defected back after working with the Japanese and seeing the horrors they were ok with committing. She still didn't like the British and what they had done to her people, but she couldn't stand with the Japanese in good conscious and left. "Colonizers spill enough blood to plant their flag and then wonder why the tree of liberty gets a thirst for the stuff. Padmavati Balan despised oppressors and their yoke on her people. So much so that it put her on the other side. That was until she realized she made a deal with the devil and now she has a second chance. Guess working against the lesser of the two evils is better than working for the devil. But everyone deserves a second chance and I promise that second chance will be used for good."
That left the last person in the room, an African American soldier from the US with a unique patch on his shoulder. It was a Blue army helmet. "And last but not least, Corporal John Diggle Stewart of the 93rd Infantry Division. Before the war he was training to be a doctor and took a separate specialization in field medicine when he joined the army. He could have stayed at the bases to treat men but decided that helping in the field was more important. From his record, he valiantly saved several injured soldiers in the Pacific before his unit was transferred back to the states for training for the European theater. Charging through a hail of bullets to pull someone to safety is a lot harder when your skin isn't bulletproof, yet he did it anyway. We should all be so brave."
"It's an honor, sir but I don't think the army would approve of me being a part of this team." The corporal told him.
"Well, unfortunately the army doesn't have a say in this as it's the SSR that is leading this mission and it's my team. I don't care where you come from, what your gender is or the color of your skin. I chose every single person in this room for the reasons I stated before." Clark told him and the others. "If you would do me the honor of fighting by my side then I want you to know these three things. One, every single person under my command will be treated fairly no matter what. We're in this together which means we will be relying on one another to get through this. All of us. Two, I'm not gonna ask any of you to do something I'm not willing to do myself. I'm not someone who would needlessly put your lives at risk unless I'm gonna be right there by your side to try and keep you safe. And three, no matter what happens out there…I will be the first one on the battlefield and the last one to leave."
Everyone in the room let that settle as they thought over the offer. They were essentially being asked to take part in a suicide mission deep behind enemy lines for a chance to capture Benito Mussolini himself. It was a lot to ask for especially from a man they've never met. Sure, they heard of the Man of Steel's reputation and the fact that he said he handpicked each of them personally was flattering but it was still a daunting task. The moment of silence went on for about a minute until Sergeant Howlett stood up from his chair.
"Glad to see you haven't lost that optimism of yours, Kal. I still stand by what I told you before. You should go on tour as I'm sure kids would eat all that up." Logan joked, earning some chuckles from Kingsley and Clark. "But you actually knew what you were doing on Sicily and didn't get us killed. I've seen you do the impossible so maybe your luck will hold out. I'm in."
Richard Webb looked at Arthur Kingsley and both nodded before they stood up as well. "Arthur and I are in too." Webb told him.
"You saved me and Webb when he dropped in on Sicily and we fought by your side all over the island. Wouldn't mind doing it again." Arthur added.
"I'm in too." Daniel Take-Yatsu said, and Clark nodded. His first four recruits had said yes which left the five new ones.
"Hell, yank. You've got the biggest pair I've ever seen and that's saying a lot. I'm in." Lucas stood up quickly followed by Halima.
"A chance to get Mussolini. I wouldn't pass that up for the world."
Clark smiled as Solange stepped forward followed by Stewart and then Padmavati. They made their decision and would join the mission. Peggy and Colonel Phillips looked at Clark and he looked at him. He had the passion and ability to inspire others to join him. "Thank you. All of you." Clark said to them.
"So, what's the plan boss?" Lucas asked him.
"This mission is ours which means we plan it together. But first things first, we take you all to the lab. One of the benefits in working for the SSR? The toys." Clark told them. He had his team and soon they would be heading on their first mission. But he wasn't the only one prepared to go behind enemy lines to get Mussolini.
Austria
A special car was being driven into occupied Austria and was escorted by a truck and armored halftrack with a dozen Waffen-SS soldiers as protection. The small convoy arrived at its destination in the capital of Vienna. Its destination was German Army headquarters and once they arrived all the soldiers stood at attention as the occupant of the car got out. It was Oberführer Wolfram Von List, head of weapons development at Projekt Endstation in Poland. Henrich Himmler charged him to design weapons and technology for the German war effort and he had spent the last three years doing such with the help of Doctor Ulrich Vogel. Their latest efforts have borne fruit and now he was here in Austria to provide the first prototype to a friend for a mission that Hitler was having him undertake.
Von List was escorted into the headquarters building by some soldiers. With Von List was an attendant carrying a locked box. The soldiers eventually arrived at the office of Hauptsturmführer Otto Skorzeny of the SS. Skorzeny saw his arrival enter and stood up before the two saluted one another.
"Leave us." Skorzeny told the soldiers, and they saluted him before leaving. Von List took the box from his attendant, and he left. Once the two were alone, Skorzeny and Von List chuckled before they shared a quick hug. "Good to see you, my friend. How have you been?"
"Busy but the work the doctor and I have done has finally yielded results. I understand that you will be leading a mission to rescue the captured idiot Mussolini." Von List said with the obvious tone in his voice showing disgust for the Italian Fascist leader.
"I am. The Fuhrer himself ordered this mission and once the final pieces are in play then we shall be leaving. But I doubt that alone is why you made the trip." Skorzeny pointed out.
"True. I said my work has finally shown results and I wanted you to see it for yourself." Von List used a key to unlock the box he had and inside was a file, a roll of film and a small container with one syringe filled with a red liquid.
"That is what you and the doctor were able to create?" Skorzeny questioned, seeing the one syringe of a red liquid. Von List oversaw weapon development and based on their past letters he said he was on the verge of something great but now all he had to show for it was just one syringe. "I was expecting more."
"Trust me, my friend. Appearances can be deceiving." Von List picked up the roll of film. "Let me show you."
Skorzeny watched the film, and it started out by showing Doctor Ulrich Vogel in a lab. A large meteor was shown in a glass container, but it wasn't the only one as there were smaller ones around the lab. Various schematics for mechanical suits and war weapons were shown before the camera featured another kind of meteor. Because the film was black and white, Skorzeny didn't know it was a different color then the regular meteors in the lab. It then showed Vogel melt the meteor and then distill and refine the liquid into the same one as in the syringe. Von List then inserted the syringe into one of his test subjects strapped down to the table with heavy chains and steel restraints. Skorzeny's apathy in the film soon turned to one of intense interest as he watched what unfolded. "What have you done, Von List?"
"Something that will turn the tide of this war back in our favor." Von List promised with a smile on his face. Skorzeny soon adopted the same demented smile as his friend. The Allies had their own secret weapon but now the Germans would have their own and they didn't need Hydra.
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