Krausberg, Austria
The dense forest and evening fog/mist provided a deary but excellent cover as Clark, Steve, and Taskforce Vanguard made their way to the Hydra facility. It was a 15-mile hike through the woods but halfway through that they would meet up with their Austrian based SSR asset.
A Hydra squad of four soldiers was walking through the forests on a routine patrol. The AA guns had gone off earlier, so they needed to make sure nothing happened, and any enemy soldiers didn't make it through their perimeter.
"Alpha Squadron, report your status."
The leader of the Hydra squad grabbed his radio. "Alpha Squadron. Nothing to report. No sign of any enemy activity."
"Roger that. All squads are reporting the same thing. Return back to base."
Roger that."
The leader motioned to his squad, and they began to turn back to head to base when a grenade rolled on the ground around them and released a thick cloud of dense smoke. The Hydra soldiers were on high alert with their guns at the ready trying to see who responsible but the natural darkness of night was mixed with the forest fog and grenade smoke made that nearly impossible. A silenced gunshot was heard and one of the Hydra soldiers was killed with a bullet to the head. Two more were heard and two more soldiers in the squad were killed leaving just the leader. Said leader blind fired his rifle through the smoke in a last-ditch attempt to kill whoever was attacking them only to get attacked from behind. A woman raced up to him and swung an ice axe into his head. She kicked out his legs and ripped the ice axe out, breaking his neck in the process before wiping it down. This was the SSR asset/allied spy that Clark and the others would be meeting, Anna Drake.
Born and raised in Austria, Anna Drake enjoyed a life of hiking and skiing but in November 1938 on the night of the Kristallnacht, her whole world changed. Her family was killed, and she was taken prisoner, put to work in a labor camp but she didn't go quietly. Rather than wallow in grief and sadness, tenacity and anger was born with a hint of ingenuity. She escaped her labor camp by planting an improvised explosive device inside the munitions factory the camp was forced to work in. She and many others escaped that day with most managing to flee Austria through a growing underground network which helped refugees evade the forces of Nazi Germany, especially the SS and the Gestapo. Anna Drake and others remained in their country to help that underground network with the help of the SOE and then later the OSS. With her knowledge of the terrain, her natural athleticism after years of hiking/skiing combined with the later SOE training she received from the same teachers that instructed other agents like Peggy Carter, she became a valued Allied Spy and SSR field asset. She's relayed information to Allied command, helped build up the underground resistance, and was responsible for several prison breaks from Nazi camps and prisons. She wore hiking boots with cold-weather gear given the mountains she often operated out of which included her favorite hiking jacket she had outfitted with the Austrian flag and a few military touches. She had a thick neck bundle she could pull up over her face to cover her nose and mouth and had a pair of goggles resting on her head. She had a silenced Walther PP pistol strapped to her thigh, an MP 28 submachine gun, pouches of ammo and equipment and her trusty ice axe which made a handy melee weapon.
She scavenged some ammo and gear from the dead Hydra soldiers and took their radio before checking her compass and map. Once she confirmed her position, she moved about half a mile to the east and checked the immediate area to ensure there were no Hydra soldiers nearby. Once she confirmed she was alone she waited.
About half an hour passed when she heard a distinct sharp whistle that wasn't a bird call, so she replied in kind with a similar whistle before waiting for a response. Then she raised her gun when she saw Clark step out into view with his arms up so she could see he wasn't armed.
"Snow cap."
"Harsh climb." Anna Drake replied before lowering her gun. Clark nodded and let out a whistle. His team stepped out into view a few seconds later. "Lieutenant Elbert."
"Just Kal. Thank you for your help, Ms. Drake." Clark said as he shook her hand.
"Please. I prefer Anna. And any chance I can help while putting a finger in the eye of Germany is all good for me. This case Hydra too as they've been causing havoc and chaos for local villages." Anna told him as she looked over the team. "This is it? You have enough men?"
"We're enough. Can you show us the way?" Clark asked her.
"Yes, but Hydra has been sending out patrols since your flight. We'll need to be careful. Follow me." Anna took the lead and led them through the forest. She had clocked the Hydra patrols earlier so she would be able to guide them safely through. It was still a long hike, but they eventually arrived about a mile from the prison. Clark had them stop for a moment and climbed up a tall tree. His actions seemed confusing to Anna Drake and Steve, but he was actually getting a higher vantage point before using his telescopic vision to get a look at the camp. Tall barb wire fences, guard towers and armed guards were just the beginning as their intel was a little misleading to call this place a factory. It was more like an entire compound and a massive one at that. Dozens of trucks and other vehicles parked close together, trucks moving in and out with cargo and supplies and with his super hearing and x-ray vision he could see and hear a lot of activity. Schmidt had ramped up production of those blue energy cores for those energy weapons and was expanding into other territory building parts of various machinery. Hydra was up to something big, and they needed to find out what. The trick was to get inside without raising an alarm, so Clark watched the compound and saw trucks moving in and out. The guards checked in with the drivers of the trucks before letting them through and they then pulled up to the loading docks of one of the main factory buildings. The guards never checked the actual contents of the trucks which were either supplies or Hydra soldiers or empty. A plan began to formulate in his head.
The others watched as Clark slid down the tree and used a stick to make a rough drawing of the compound in the dirt before signaling everyone close to go over the plan. "Ok, the factory is more of a compound. Clearly, whatever Hydra is doing here must be important which makes the need to get inside even more so. There's a heavy-duty barbwire fence encircling the entire perimeter with the mountain ranges providing natural cover. It'd take too long for us to go around, and their snipers would see us, so we'll need to go through the front door. Trucks keep coming and going but the guards at the gates just check in with the drivers. That's our way in. Daniel, I want you and Webb to be situated outside the base in an overlook position 80 yards from the gate here. It's isolated with a good cover so it's the perfect sniping post. You'll keep watch and let us know if anything comes up. When we free the prisoners that will be our rally point."
"Got it."
"The rest of us will make entry into the compound in a truck which will take us straight to the loading dock of the factory. We stay as undetected as possible and once we're secure we split up into two teams. Arthur, I want you, Steve, and the others to make your way to the western section of the compound. The building right here is where the POWs are." Clark pointed with the stick on the makeshift dirt map. "Stay as quiet as possible because while you do that Logan and I will head into the factory, making our way to the eastern sector. That place is lead-lined so I wasn't able to see through it. Schmidt has to have dedicated that section to a special project. We find out what it is along with any other Hydra intel we can. With the element of surprise and a lot of pissed off men taken prisoner Hydra won't know what hit him."
"Sounds simple enough." Logan quipped.
"Leave behind anything heavy, that rattles, or you won't need in a fight. We'll go in light with weapons, ammo, grenades and explosives. Daniel and Webb can look after our gear while we make entry." Clark said and the team nodded, removing the gear they didn't need in the fight. "Anna, thank you for getting us this far. You don't have to stay if you don't want to."
"No, I'm staying." She told him, removing the gear she didn't need and just keeping her weapons and ammo. "I have plenty of experience breaking in and out of prisons. Can anyone else say that?"
"Very well. Follow our lead, Ms. Drake." Clark said and they continued on.
A Hydra truck caravan was driving down the road to the base, about 150-yards from the gate. It's driver and the passengers in the front were on alert but there was nothing out there in the forest. Unbeknownst to them, when the last truck passed a large tree Steve rushed out and quickly climbed into the back where two Hydra soldiers were sitting.
"Fellas." Steve greeted them and the Hydra soldiers leapt into action, but he quickly took them out, tossing their bodies out of the back. Clark and his team then emerged from the forests and quickly jumped into the back of the truck, piling in while Daniel and Webb dragged the knocked-out Hydra soldiers from the road and moved to their sniper position. The truck caravan passed through the gate with no problem before they drove through the compound towards the loading docks. One Hydra soldier walked over and opened the flap of the back only for Clark to pull him in and knock him out. His hands were tied, his mouth gagged, and his weapons and keys taken before Clark and the team got out. Logan and Clark went inside the factory while Steve and the others took a left to head to the POW area. It was a distance to cover so to improve their chances and to avoid being spotted by any guards or soldiers they traversed through the Hydra vehicle pool. Rows and rows of Hydra vehicles from cars, trucks, to armored tanks provided the perfect cover and Steve's enhanced senses helped them navigate.
Clark and Logan were moving through the factory as the former's senses and x-ray vision allowed him to chart the perfect path that would make sure they weren't seen. The two hugged a corner and quietly made their way up a flight of stairs to a third floor near some offices. It gave them the perfect vantage point to see the work going on in the factory below and it was impressive. It would make Henry Ford bow his head in respect minus the Nazi cultists working for a psychopath but if anything, Schmidt had this factory working non-stop but for what reason they still didn't know.
"I'm not exactly a genius but it's safe to say that Schmidt is working on some other things here." Logan pointed over to the far left. "Those must be for his super tanks. I saw parts like that in the factory in Azzano along with those glowing blue energy cores."
"Yeah, I recognize them too. Schmidt's use of POWs as a free labor force makes it so he can ramp up production. Those rotors…" Clark pointed to the right at an assembly line where workers were building massive rotor joints. "…those components are aviation assembly rotor joints for fix winged aircraft. They ensure proper power to weight ratio from the engines to the parts that make the aircraft turn."
"Are you a pilot as well? You're really becoming a jack of all trades, boy scout." Logan pointed out.
"No, not a pilot. For Project Rebirth I spent most of my time at an army base. Howard was there and he taught me a few things." Clark corrected him.
"Oh. Does this place have a hangar space for aircraft?" Logan asked and Clark shook his head no. They watched as the rotors and other aircraft components were moved onto a dolly for transport to the loading bay along with blue energy cores. "Schmidt's sending those parts somewhere. Another factory?"
"Has to be. Who knows how many Hydra has but clearly those are for aircraft and if they're anything like his tanks than they're more trouble…" Clark stopped mid-sentence.
"What is it?" Logan asked.
"Two Hydra soldiers are talking. Schmidt's working with someone, an SS officer." Clark told him.
"I thought that Hydra and the SS didn't get along." Logan pointed out.
"They don't. The SS are loyal to Hitler and with Hydra attacking the Germans at Azzano, Hitler would want them taken care of. Schmidt has his own plans that don't coincide with the Reich. But from what I'm hearing it sounds like this SS officer and Schmidt are old acquaintances. They think the two are using the other for a means to an end. Sharing intel and resources against a common enemy kind of thing. No way Hitler knows about this." Clark said as he continued listening in on the conversation. "Whoever this new SS officer is, he has his hands in a lot of pockets within the Reich. He's working with a lot of Hitler's top men and scientists. I'm hearing two names. Vought and Von List."
"You don't think he means Wolfram Von List as in the guy we think made that SS super commando?" Logan asked.
"I'm not sure. They're not talking about specifics but it's the same last name. It has to be him." Clark suggested. "What the hell is going in the Reich?"
"I don't know but it's nothing good. You get a name for this power broker Schmidt is working with?" Logan asked.
"Yeah. Savage…Vandal Savage. Apparently, he's been here for the past two weeks working with Schmidt on something. We need to find out what. Come on." Clark continued on with Logan following behind. They stayed out of sight and out of view from the security cameras Hydra had around the factory and away from any Hydra soldiers. They avoided contact, including knocking out or killing as a body or blood found would only increase their odds of being discovered. For now, just remaining out of sight was the best option and it was working for them. Clark saw a large pile of glowing energy cores in what looked like a rotary drum for a weapon system. He took one of the cartridges and put it into his pocket for Howard to look over later. Could give them an understanding as to what they were dealing with.
The two hugged a corner as some Hydra soldiers and workers walked by with some crates for transport. "Kal, I know you're in charge, but do you mind explaining why you brought me along to sneak into a factory against an army?" Logan asked him.
"Two of us have a better chance at remaining undetected than if it was the whole team. I felt that with Lucky Logan we'd have a better chance. And the others don't have accelerated healing or enhanced senses." Clark pointed out as Logan looked at him. "I'm super observant."
"Look, Kal…"
"Logan, whatever reason or why you can do what you can do…it's safe with me and no one will know if you want to keep it that way. Believe me, I understand the need to keep secrets from others better than most." Clark promised and Logan gave him an appreciative nod as the group finished walking by. "Let's go."
Logan followed Clark as they kept making their way through the factory. "How do you think the others are getting on?"
"Judging by how we're not hearing alarms? I think pretty good." Clark suggested.
Elsewhere with Steve and the rest of the team…
The Hydra POWs were put into their cramp cells which were essentially circular cages that filled up an entire building. A Hydra soldier kept watch over the prisoners from the second floor above their cages while two guards were at each of the two exits. There was a quiet knock on the door so one of the guards opened the door only for Arthur to stab the guard in the neck. Lucas was right behind him and grabbed the other guard and knifed him in the neck as well. At the other exit, the door opened, and Anna Drake used her ice axe, piercing one of the guards in the head while Halima repeatedly stabbed the other in the neck with her knife. The Hydra soldier up on the second floor heard some movement so he went to investigate when he was knocked out from behind by Steve. His body dropped on top of the cage, alerting the POWs inside and they saw Steve get the keys from the guard's belt.
"Who are you supposed to be?" A soldier asked.
"Um…I'm Captain America." Steve replied.
"I beg your pardon?" A British soldier was confused as were the rest of them, but they weren't looking a gift horse in the mouth.
Steve and the others quickly opened the cells to let the prisoners out. Diggle gave some quick medical attention to those who needed it, but they couldn't linger as it wouldn't be long before a passing patrol noticed something was wrong, so it was time to keep moving.
"What are we taking everybody?" A soldier asked, looking at a Japanese prisoner but the man held up his dog tags, revealing he was Japanese-American.
"I'm from Fresno, Ace." He replied and the man relented.
"Is there anyone else? I'm looking for a Sergeants James Barnes?" Steve asked one of the prisoners.
"There's an isolation ward in the factory, but no one's ever come back from it."
"All right. Sergeant Kingsley, you and the other get these men out of here. I'm gonna check the isolation ward. Get out fast and give them hell. I'll meet you guys in the clearing with anyone else I find." Steve told them.
"Wait, Steve. Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Arthur asked him.
"Yeah. I've knocked out Adolf Hitler over 200 times." Steve said before leaving much to the others confusion.
Arthur then used his walkie-talkie watch to contact Clark. "Kal, you there?"
"Go ahead, Arthur. Did you find the prisoners?"
"We did. We got them all. About four hundred or so. Steve is heading to an isolation ward in the factory to find anyone else. What about you and Logan?" Arthur asked.
"We're heading to get some intel. Hydra's work in the factory is big and they're up to something but it looks like Schmidt has some new friends. He's working with an SS power broker that could be working with Von List, the head working at Project Endstation."
"What the hell could Hydra be doing with him?" Arthur wondered.
"No idea. Logan and I are gonna find out. Where's Steve?"
"He's heading to an isolation ward. Some prisoners have been taken there. He'll regroup with us at the rendezvous point." Arthur told him.
"All right, Arthur. Get those prisoners out of there. Go loud. Logan and I will regroup with you when we get everything we can."
"Roger that." Arthur replied as Lucas picked up the glowing Hydra gun from the knocked-out guard. "Ready to go loud?"
"Hell yeah. I've been dying to try this thing." Lucas remarked as the team burst out from the doors of the prison with the prisoners following right behind them. Arthur and the team gunned down the nearby Hydra soldiers before they could shoot back with even the POWs getting into the fight, tackling and beating down the Hydra guards/soldiers with their bare hands which had the added benefit of letting out some serious frustration. Lucas aimed the Hydra laser gun at some Hydra soldiers and pressed the trigger, firing a blue energy bolt which vaporized a soldier into dust. "Oh, I'm so keeping this!"
Lucas fired more energy blasts from the Hydra gun, vaporizing the reinforcements that arrived along with the rest of the team. Arthur maneuvered everyone into squads as they pressed the surprise advantage they had on Hydra. Hydra was caught unaware as the POWs helped Taskforce Vanguard, taking the weapons from the Hydra guards and a group of soldiers even jumped into a Hydra armored vehicle and got it running. Lucas fired several energy blasts which destroyed some incoming Hydra vehicles and blew holes in the surrounding buildings.
[Blaring Alarm]
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