The news of Schmidt's death was known only to two people: Rhine, who orchestrated it, and Dr. Zola, who escaped in Schmidt's car.
Zola realized the gravity of the situation when he noticed Schmidt's aircraft had not taken off. His own precarious position became clear. Despite his dire circumstances, he headed to the new base with a heavy heart.
"Dr. Zola, I need someone like you to work for me," Rhine said.
"Rhine Tuskul, did you kill Schmidt?" Zola asked.
"I did," Rhine replied without hesitation.
She gestured for the dusty Zola to sit across from her and poured a glass of red wine for the elderly scientist.
"Schmidt was a madman. We both know that following him would have ended badly," Rhine said.
After a moment of silence, Zola sipped the wine and replied, "You're right, but in a troubled world, a ferocious lion often has more leadership ability than a gentle sheep."
"Are you worried that I'm not tough enough?" Rhine inquired.
Zola didn't respond, but his hesitation was clear.
It was time for Rhine to prove herself. She pulled out a control terminal from under the table, and Zola's attention was immediately drawn to the vivid, colorful display.
"Wow, how did you manage to render the picture so clearly and in color?" Zola marveled.
"That's not important. What matters is that you need to do something for me in exchange for a certain amount of freedom."
The video on the terminal showed Rogers' raid on the base, demonstrating Rhine's control over the situation.
Presumably, Zola wouldn't refuse. Rhine continued, "Given the many fanatics in Hydra, I've decided they must die along with Schmidt to prevent future harm to us and society. I can't directly eliminate them all without exposing myself, so they must reveal themselves. Since the news of Schmidt's death hasn't leaked, we can use the Valkyrie plan to lure them out. Once the strategic bomber is built, it will be filled with Hydra fanatics."
Rhine's strategy was to let the Allied Forces deal with these fanatics, ensuring her safety.
Zola's role would be to be deliberately captured by the Allied Forces, using his status and ability to ensure he would be treated well. Rhine promised him freedom and some funding for his future endeavors.
"I hope to go to Switzerland. If you could provide some funding, that would be even better, though it's not necessary," Zola requested.
"I will provide a generous personal subsidy," Rhine assured him.
With the promise in hand, Zola left with mixed emotions. He planned to be captured by the Allied Forces on his way to the new base and reveal the Valkyrie plan.
Meanwhile, Rogers, who had seen the map of Hydra's remaining bases, was positioned to hasten Hydra's downfall. Rogers' excellent record and trust gained from the colonel made him a valuable asset. He was preparing for another mission, this time against Hydra.
"The team led by Captain America has destroyed nearly all of Hydra's weapons factories. According to our informants, Hydra now only has a large base in the Alps."
"Even with the captain's help, everything seems too easy. I suspect there may be an ambush," one officer noted.
"Indeed, there will likely be an ambush, but we can handle it," Captain America replied confidently, marking the map.
Carter looked to Rogers, "Steve, have you discovered anything new?"
"Yes, remember Dr. Erskine?" Rogers began.
Everyone nodded; Dr. Erskine was remembered for his contributions.
"Dr. Erskine asked me to rescue his colleague, a girl named Rhine. I found the equipment she left behind at the last military base."
"Dr. Erskine considered Rhine a genius who designed many of Hydra's weapons and equipment. We must rescue her from Schmidt's clutches," Rogers said.
"If that's the case, we must save her. Let's see what she left behind," Carter agreed.
Stark examined the equipment and figured out its use.
"Rhine... Can you hear me?" an immature voice came through the device.
Everyone fell silent. Rogers spoke softly, "I'm Steve Rogers, a friend of Dr. Erskine. Where are you? We can prepare a rescue."
"I'm at the base in the Alps. Act fast and be well-prepared, as the defenses here are very tight," Rhine responded.
"A week from now? That's fine, but the west coast of the United States might be in ruins by then."
"The west coast? What do you mean?" the colonel asked, alarmed.
When the colonel heard that the west coast of the United States might be ruined within a week, he was alarmed. The west coast is an important port and industrial hub. Its destruction would be catastrophic.
Rhine revealed, "Schmidt has a Valkyrie bomber capable of worldwide bombings. Its power source is an extraterrestrial object. It's terrifying."
"A strategic bomber with global reach?!" everyone realized the gravity of the situation. They immediately began preparations to attack the Hydra base in the Alps and sought more details about the base to ease the attack's difficulty.
Everything seemed to be moving in the right direction.