As Fury and his team talked amongst themselves Adam stood with his arms crossed observing the interactions and listening in, he just hoped that Fury's paranoia wouldn't get the better of him and go on an attack. Adam truly had no desire to fight the Hulk for real, a spar would be fine, in fact he would welcome one to see how far his limits were and if he can go past them.
Yelena who was standing just next to Adam while they waited couldn't help but ask, "So boss, I have to know, why are you so big? Of all the others on your ship you kinda stand out even without the armor." Sure there were many tall individuals amongst the crew of Infinity but Adam stood above all of them by at least a head.
"Cause I am different from them. I am a SPARTAN." Adam explained as he watched the group across the way.
"What's that?" Yelena curiously asked, she hadn't been able to review much of the information packets all the new recruits were given.
"The SPARTAN division is the elite of the elite. We undergo harsher training and additional physical augmentations on top of being super soldiers." Adam explained a little but didn't continue due to Fury and the others had finished their discussion.
"So what do you really want, besides taking some of the best agents SHIELD has. You claim to be here to protect the Earth, but I get the feeling it's something else." Fury said as he stared at Adam, since he couldn't see the man's face thru his helmet he was trying to study his body language and speech patterns to determine the truth.
Adam shook his head and answered, "I'm sure you do feel that way considering your personality. Fine, I will be open and blunt with you, you trust all the people you have brought here, correct." Adam waited for Fury's nod before continuing.
After receiving a nod Adam opened his palm and a small metal disk was created from what looked like liquid metal, he then tossed it onto the ground and a large hard light display appeared. An image of the Infinity appeared along with a few files.
"As I'm sure it was explained by the others, we are from the future, most of my crew are Earthlings and Earth is our home, since we are here and can't return to our time as of yet, I plan to not only defend our home world I plan to fix a few things since we are here."
"Isn't that going to affect things in an unpredictable manner making your return more difficult since you wouldn't be returning to your own future?" Bruce asked, he was familiar with the theory of time travel that prevailed at this time. It was why when the Avengers used Pym technology to travel back in time to retrieve the infinity stones to fix what Thanos did, they knew not to affect the events as much as possible. Otherwise returning to the same point in the future they left from would be next to impossible since that future may no longer exist.
Adam shook is head in response, "Your basing that on the assumption that we are prioritizing us going back to our time." The display changed to show files regarding SHIELD and Operation Paperclip.
"I plan to end SHIELD because it isn't what you think it is." As soon as he made this comment Fury, Maria Hill, Sharon Carter and Phil Coulson all pulled out their guns and aimed them at Adam and Yelena.
Adam didn't make any move besides stepping in front of Yelena to protect her in case they fired, then continued, "Due to Operation Paperclip HYDRA was able to infiltrate every nation part of the Allied forces and over time due to the coordination of Armin Zola, HYDRA had been able to also infiltrate SHIELD. SHIELD is HYDRA in disguise. Your boss, Alexander Pierce, is a HYDRA leader." The display began showing multiple videos of Pierce having conversations, they were able to hear many plans he had coordinated as well as hearing him say 'Hail HYDRA' each time.
Seeing this everyone on Fury's team went into emotional shock, especially Fury and the other SHIELD members along with Steve and Tony.
Adam continued, he was going to slam Fury and the others hard enough to gain their cooperation at the least and hopefully recruit them into the UNSC, "You have been inadvertently assisting HYDRA in making the world slowly fall into chaos. They hid themselves from you and purposely put you, Nick Fury, in charge of SHIELD knowing that they could keep you ignorant of them while they manipulate information to turn you into a loyal dog until they were able to complete Project Insight, then they would kill all who stood in their way, including all of you here." Information on the project then displayed allowing him to back up what he was saying. It even showed HYDRA's hit list for once Insight was completed.
Fury's mind raced as he read thru the information, he wanted to deny everything that Adam was saying since he didn't want to believe it, with his whole heart and mind he didn't want to accept it. But he couldn't deny not only the evidence before him, it did explain various anomalies he had been seeing even before this. It was why Fury had been slowly building a network of his own off the official books of SHIELD.
He had used SHIELD funds to set up safe houses and communication servers that only he knew about.
"So I, as commander and chief of the UNSC, shall end this organization, I brought you here to offer you a chance at redemption. It was why I am recruiting others such as the widows and Peggy Carter. Steve and the others requested to join themselves. At the very least I would like to set up a regular supply of food for my crew. We are self-sustaining in all but food."
"I can handle that no problem." Tony offered, he didn't like Fury even before this but now he was really not in a good mood since he felt Fury was foolish for being manipulated for so long.
"Wait if Pierce is HYDRA then that means...." Sharon Carter finally spoke out. "HYDRA leads the WSC as well." Maria Hill finished, her voice was laced with helplessness.
"This is a lot to take in, it's like a nightmare, we are in the worst possible situation we could be in here." Phil Coulson said as he lowered his weapon which caused the others to do the same unconsciously.
Adam nodded his head, "I understand but know all isn't lost. We can handle HYDRA but they aren't the worst as I'm sure Fury is aware. The galaxy is large and full of much worse." The display changed to show the various designs of planned space stations.
"What you are looking at are various planned space stations we will be building. The Munera Platform A7 can be used for Orbital combat training, the Cairo Station is a Moncton-class orbital defense network. Shipyards, scanning outposts, astroid bases and many others. We will be creating a defensive network to help defend the planet and to create additional ships that will be needed. I have a fleet but they are only frigates and smaller attack vehicles. We will need recruits for these new ships and I hoped to get your help. I plan on the UNSC being what SHIELD was supposed to be in its original concept its founders had, to be part of no government and work towards the protection of peoples liberty and freedom worldwide and to defend it from all threats."
Fury released a defeated sigh, he had never felt so helpless, his thought to be friend Alexander Pierce was actually his enemy manipulating and using him for years. He had thought he was defending the Earth as a whole but had been unknowingly marching it to the beat of HYDRA's drum.
"And what exactly do you want from me? I know there is no such thing as a free lunch." Fury asked as he finally looked at Adam.
"From you, logistical support for my crew on Earth. Help me coordinate supplies and manpower. I have been watching Earth and have sensor drones scattered across the globe so we have all the information on who is HYDRA and who isn't within SHIELD. Also I want to meet Talos, there is a matter that needs to be resolved before it gets out of hand, a matter that ultimately will be caused by yourself. I don't require you to join the UNSC, but know that if you do, you will work for me and follow any orders I give without question. I know that sounds pretty authoritarian but such is the military, just know I wouldn't order something I myself wouldn't do, I say this because you may receive an order you don't understand in the future. Everything I do is to protect the Earth, I won't say that it's for the greater good, we all know what history has shown us about actions taken by people under the pretense of the greater good."
Adam paused to observe the others while Yelena had a sparkle of excitement in her eyes, she felt her decision to join Adam was the best decision she ever made. She had no clue that so many dangers lurked not only on Earth but out in the galaxy as well, she wanted to meet an alien.
Fury wasn't surprised to hear Adam mention Talos, he saw how simple it was for him to have whatever information he wanted. Fury wished he had access to such technology, this would've made his job much easier.
"Fine. I can make arrangements, I want that list of personnel of SHIELD that are HYDRA, it's my responsibility to clean my own house. In return we can arrange a regular supply of food and I will agree to allow recruitment, however SHIELD must remain and we will work side by side..." Fury listed off his demands but was cut off by Adam.
"No, SHIELD can't continue. It isn't what it's supposed to be, SHIELD was supposed to answer to no one government. Clearly SHIELD has always worked in securing the interests of America and its allies, it was supposed to be a force working for the interest of the Earth as a whole. You have attempted to do just that but what happened each time you forwarded a proposal, it was rejected adamantly was it not, Fury? The Avengers Initiative, a team of extraordinary individuals who would work outside of SHIELD but also alongside it to take care of threats too big for SHIELD alone, a good plan, but what did your leaders do and say? They rejected your plan and pushed you towards what? I am surprised that what they asked you to work on didn't throw up red flags for you."
"What's he talking about Fury?" Captain America asked after seeing Fury's expression.
"You know you're really getting to be more of a pain in the ass than even Wade." Fury tried to end it there since he didn't really want to reveal it since it was an active project but to his annoyance the information was displayed on the holographic display.
Upon seeing the information, although Steve wasn't a scientist, he recognized it for what it was. "Looks like I was wrong to believe you when you told me the world has changed, it hasn't changed one bit Fury. It looks much like the same one I supposedly left behind." Steve said as he stared daggers at Fury along with the others.
Had they not seen it themselves they never would've believed SHIELD was researching weapons of mass destruction.
Fury shook his head, when he was told to scrap the Avengers and expedite Phase 2 it did give him red flags but at the same time he did see a need so he tried to explain.
"We needed a response. I didn't agree with the decision but you can't deny after the events in Harlem and New Mexico, we are clearly outmatched. We are trying to be prepared for war."
Steve interjected, "Yeah and as far as I know whenever you try to fight a war before it starts it's mostly the innocent who suffer."
Fury didn't apologize but also didn't say anything to retort because he knew it to be true.
"You have no idea what the Tesseract is," Adam began to explain, "in fact you have already inadvertently brought a serious danger to the Earth, but lucky for you it also brought you hope, the UNSC. I have a suspicion that the tests Doctor Selvig was performing on it also inadvertently brought my ship and crew here. The Tesseract can control space itself after all, our main engine is called a Slipspace engine and it also has the ability to bend spacetime so a surge caused by you activating the artifact had somehow connected to our emergency jump and brought us here. Perhaps even saving our lives in the process since our jump was performed while the navigation systems were down."
Fury nodded his head, he had a feeling that the cube had something to do with the ship, this all but confirmed it for him.
"Fine, but I still want to be the one who clears HYDRA, I have an unresolved debt and some payback owed for what they're doing."
Adam then removed the armor, turning it into a regular uniform and held out a hand to Fury, now that he was on board Adam didn't need to be on the defensive as much and wanted to show good will since it's hard to trust someone who won't even show their face. "That can be arranged, I'll even support you with a few squads to do what needs to be done."
Fury stepped forward and took Adams hand and shook it, "So what do I call you? Spartan?"
"You can call me Adam, SPARTAN is what I am but not my name." Adam replied as he shook hands with Fury.
"What no last name?" Fury jokingly asked but what Adam said next shocked him along with everyone else.
"Well my full name is Adam-161, so no I don't have a family name because I come from no family. I am unique."