The moment the Infinity arrived they were not just noticed by SHIELD, in fact multiple entities had detected its arrival. Heimdall was one such being who immediately did notify Odin, but Asgard saw them as humans so only took note of the arrival since they felt humans were weak and under their protection.
The Great Protector who dwelled within Ta Lo's waters also felt them enter the universe, but had no plans to travel so far to investigate. It's duty was to defend the Dark Gate. As long as they didn't threaten to open the gate, the water dragon could care less.
Many of the Lords of Hell too had detected them as well as the Celestials and some of the stronger gods.
Most only looked but were uninterested, multiversal travel and time travel was nothing new to the universe they knew, happens all the time.
However one amongst all that had detected the Infinity had taken an interest in the ship besides SHIELD, in an ancient asian styled palace in Kathmandu, Nepal a bald woman in a yellow robe was sitting cross legged in a meditative pose. A large pendant which hung down her chest glowed with a emerald green light, creating a light green bubble around her whole body.
After sometime the light dimmed and the pendant's shape could soon be seen, it was in the shape of an eye. Where the iris would be there was a green gem held within, soon the pendant closed and hid the gem from prying eyes like an eyelid covering an eyeball.
This artifact was known as the Eye of Agamotto, at its core was one of the six infinity stones. The Time Stone. It was created by the first Sorcerer Supreme Agamotto and thus passed down to each Sorcerer Supreme after him.
It allowed whoever wielded it the ability to manipulate time in many ways, it could let you peer into the past and future as well as directly manipulate time if you could control it well enough. This woman is known as The Ancient One and she is the current Sorcerer Supreme. Defender of Earth from any external forces such as other dimensional beings such as from Hell or the Dark Dimension.
She had taken an interest not just because of their arrival, she knew they weren't from this universe but since she didn't detect the presence of Hell, Dormammu or any of the other evil dimensional energies, it only peaked her curiosity. What turned her full attention to Adam and his crew was the fact that once she used the Eye to peer into the future everything had changed. Many branches that once were present had all disappeared, now rather than multiple timelines and possibilities, many had vanished as if they were never there.
Even her own death was no longer as final as it once was, this both frightened and intrigued her. Although she had come to accept her death a long time ago, this was mostly due to her being so board. She has been fighting the same beings over and over, if it wasn't Dormammu it was Mephisto or one of his minions trying to get into this dimension.
Many events that were supposed to happen no longer happened as it should, she didn't see Ultron anymore and even the more recent invasion of New York became almost nonexistent. New York was barely affected by the invasion now, all because of these newcomers. Especially one in particular.
'This Spartan is at the focal point of each change in the timeline, as if he knows key events before they happen. Is the universe they are from closer to the source? I don't detect magic, though the technology seems advanced it doesn't seem outlandish.' Ancient One had thought about the newcomers, she had watched them attack the bases and didn't interfere.
Although the timeline and events now are different, she could tell they were mostly all for the better. She did see a few things that she will need to stop since it would definitely make things worse. Stephen Strange needed to become the next Sorcerer Supreme no matter what, she was ready to retire and explore the multiverse herself. She wouldn't allow Adam to heal Strange's hands like it showed him doing.
'You won't be stopping my planned retirement if I can help it, although this Stephen Strange does have his faults he is the best choice. Besides most likely he will give up the title eventually even if events don't play out exactly as they were originally.' She thought as she began to plan to fake her death if needed since her death was no longer definitive.
She knew death was not just the end of your journey, it was also the beginning of your next one. It was why she had easily accepted her death and had even made sure events played out worldwide to all lead to the outcomes needed to win not only against Thanos but also the Skrull who comes after.
As she pondered on the best course of action to accomplish her goals of retirement, the transport ships carrying the stolen supplies had begun arriving one by one back on Infinity.
Food, medicine, weapons and ammunition were all cataloged and stored. Any unknown medicine or weapons were sent for study and possible reverse engineering.
Seeing so much supplies now available gave a sense of security to the crew. Even if you know you have enough food and supplies to last a year, if you don't have a steady source of it you will subconsciously count down the days till you run out. Now that they are seeing mostly food and medicine followed by more weapons they knew they wouldn't starve to death. If it was so easy to get this much in such a short time with one team, what if they sent ten teams?
After seeing this the overall mood of the crew improved dramatically, especially after hearing the team was already on their way back.
Thanks to Eve, Adam was able to stay up to date with everything on board Infinity. He had also begun going through the data confiscated from those bases. Quite a few projects were being researched such as the Centipede Project, Project: Deathlok, Project: HIVE, as well as various other research into the super soldier serums and mind control chemicals such as the one used by the Red Room after Natasha had defected.
HYDRA had stolen the Red Dust formula from Leviathan and had been using it to control the Winter Soldiers after improving it. Not wanting such a weapon to be used on himself or any of his crew, he had the medical division research a vaccine as well as a cure for anyone that is already infected.
He also had gained access to various older technologies such as what Red Skull was working on to weaponize the cosmic cube. Although it was similar to their own plasma weapons, the energy source was different. This would allow them to study the cube while not needing it in front of them, although they would be limited in what they could find it would still give them a jump in a starting point once they do.
Adam knew not only the space stone was on Earth but so is the Time stone.
Not too long from now so too would the Mind and Reality Stone be making its way to the Earth. Adam planned to get them all. The only ones he saw an issue in obtaining were the Time and Soul stones. One was held by the Sorcerer Supreme while another was hidden on Vormir. The only way to gain it was to sacrifice something or someone you love.
Adam didn't plan to allow Thanos to sacrifice Gamora to attain it, but he also wouldn't sacrifice anything either. He just had to figure out a way around it. He knew the Reality and Power stones would be the key to subverting the requirements. He just had to figure it out.
However, where Adam was most hesitant, the two beings that are truly unfathomable and were close by. Sorcerer Supreme and Odin. Even Thanos waited to start his attacks on the Earth till after the two were gone, this goes to show just how powerful the two are that someone on Thanos' level would avoid them both at all costs.
One of the most feared individuals, nicknamed The Mad Titan by the galaxy, not only was he strong enough to beat down Hulk and Thor along with Heimdall and an army of Asgardians, he was highly intelligent as well, yet he avoided Earth like the plague till after the two passed away. So Adam was not stupid enough to think he could win against either of the two, although he felt he wouldn't lose horribly, escape would definitely be possible, but winning, not so much.
Even a fusion bomb wouldn't be enough to kill either of them, slow them down for sure but not eliminate, the Ancient One would just portal it away while Odin could shield himself with magic and was immune to radiation. Adam knew both of their personalities so he was confident in not becoming enemies with either of them. He was going to shoot for friendly terms but as long as they at least remained neutral that would suffice. However getting the Time Stone and remaining neutral with Ancient One will be hard to accomplish.
A plan would be needed, Adam isolated himself on the trip back to the Infinity. He felt he needed to separate from the team so they could relax, although the SPARTAN elites were highly respected and regarded by the regular soldiers, they would always be at attention while he was around. He wanted them to relax and unwind after a successful mission, plus he had some planning to work on.
He knew he would need to meet with Fury and the Avengers soon, this was why he focused on HYDRA bases. A show of good faith, this would at least buy him the opening for dialogue rather than the typical shoot first ask later scenario.
Timing was the key to success, "Adam, why don't I lead them to another base of this HYDRA organization. You can then use this to your advantage since we could attack a much larger facility, a research base or a command center rather than a supply base." Eve had suggested to Adam as he poured thru satellite images.
"Hmmm..." Adam thought on her suggestion for a moment, "that could work, but rather than HYDRA itself, perhaps Leviathan instead? I'm thinking of recruiting some more Super Soldiers to our side, the Red Room is ripe for the taking. All those Widows under mind control, I'm sure l can recruit most of them after saving them."
"Are you sure you're not just wanting to add a bunch of women around you? Red Room focused on training young girls into super spies and assassins once they entered adulthood. I saw their information in the files we got from HYDRA. It seems that Leviathan and HYDRA have been at odds for some time." Eve retorted, although she wasn't a cloned brain like Cortana, she was learning from Adam and slowly building a personality of her own.
"What!?! Never! I would never take advantage like that, but if something does happen, what kind of SPARTAN would I be to refuse? As long as they are consensual and an adult then it's fair game." Adam replied back matter of factly. "We have roughly a little under a year before Loki shows up...."
"Who is Loki? I must say Adam, for everything going on you seem to have more knowledge of this universe that I had originally calculated. Just what are you hiding Adam? Why is a place like Wakanda and Latveria not as surprising to you as it is the others? Even now I have been unable to break into their systems undetected. One due to having an alien code not like any other found in the UNSC databases, another a mixture of science I am familiar with but also not..."
"Ah yes, Doctor Victor Von Doom... Magic... He must already be diving into the mystic arts, so it's a combination of magic and science. The other is protected by a God which has taught the people many things such as the secrets to Vibranium and all its applications. With time and a whole mountain of the special metal to practice and research they became the most advanced." Adam explained, he was surprised about Doom being so far along but not surprised regarding Wakanda.
It wasn't that Wakanda was more advanced than Eve but rather Eve had to learn a new coding language completely before she could slip in. She could smash through by overpowering the defenses but this would alert them, her orders were to be discrete. Same went for Doom, magic was a language of its own so Eve had to learn it slowly. Eventually she will be able to get in, time would just be needed.
"This is what I mean, how do you know these things? I am curious." Eve asked. "Doesn't matter, I just do. So let's focus on planning my solo mission. Better to be alone when I meet Fury's team, otherwise things could possibly get out of hand." Adam brushed it off not wanting to explain to her just yet how he knew.