**
Since the Avengers had a relatively small team, an overly large battleship wouldn't be practical. Link had asked for prices, but his true goal was the Minerva-class replica, which was perfectly suited for small organizations. If the Avengers could all board the ship, their combat strength would be immense.
The ship could carry a large number of Y-wing fighters and had formidable defensive firepower. It would easily stand against an enemy's massive mothership. The key feature was that it could enter the lower atmosphere, making it easier to dock at a port and transport materials into space for construction. Once built, it could even be assembled in space, turning it into a massive transport ship. Considering the Avengers' limited resources, having just one fully operational ship was already a huge advantage.
The Collector looked at Link and asked, "So, you're trading the Power Stone for a mothership?"
"Not exactly," Link responded, walking over to point at the Minerva replica on the design screen. "This is the ship I want to build—a small-scale starship."
"I was just inquiring about the price of the larger ones out of curiosity."
The Collector rolled his eyes but then offered, "How about I throw in fully equipped fighters for you?"
"Fighters aren't that valuable. My factories on Earth are already prepared to manufacture them. If it weren't such a hassle for us to make the ship ourselves, I wouldn't need outside help," Link explained. "And just to be clear, if you tamper with anything, I'll use the Power Stone right here and now."
The Collector froze, clearly aware of the stone's immense power. The Power Stone could easily obliterate an entire planet.
Link held out the Orb containing the stone and said, "Go ahead, open it."
The Collector, filled with anticipation, took the Orb. He placed it into a device designed to unlock it, one that worked like a decryption mechanism. The Orb was essentially a container, and unlocking it required both sides to be rotated in a precise combination of directions and turns—effectively a password.
Once the device cracked the code, the Power Stone levitated within. Link swiftly grabbed it, and his nanotech suit enveloped the stone, transforming it into a ring on his finger.
The Collector gasped, "You're not from Earth, are you?"
"I am, but I'm... unique. Trust me, you wouldn't survive a punch from me," Link said, raising his right hand as the Power Stone emitted a soft purple glow. "So, how about we negotiate fairly now?"
"Of course, esteemed guest!" The Collector bowed slightly, showing his respect for power.
The two began to haggle, but the details would depend on the ship's design. Link laid out the final blueprints, and they dove into a detailed discussion. The Collector, who had lived for billions of years, truly knew everything. He pointed out several flaws in the design.
Satisfied with the progress, Link stayed with the Collector for the next month as they refined the designs. The Collector, oddly enough, was very enthusiastic about the project. Though Link couldn't quite figure out why, it worked to his advantage.
Once the design was finalized, construction began. However, the ship was not being built on this planet.
Since the build would take some time, Link decided to return to Earth to assemble his crew. Even a relatively small starship was much larger than an aircraft carrier, and it would require a capable team. He had no intention of relying solely on AI to control the entire vessel.
Additionally, the ship wouldn't be called the *Minerva*. It would be christened the *Avenger*. For the first time, Earth's mightiest heroes would have a space-faring vessel at their disposal. Once fully equipped, it would allow the Avengers to travel to almost any corner of the universe. Link had even designed it to eventually accommodate a faster-than-light engine, which would grant the ship instantaneous acceleration.
Of course, with the Space Stone, Link could open portals and travel to any place he desired in an instant, though he was reluctant to use it unless absolutely necessary, lest its existence be exposed.
Link departed the Collector's lair in his Y-wing fighter and initiated a series of space jumps back to Earth. The journey went smoothly. Not only had he secured the starship construction, but there were also some surplus funds from the deal, although he wouldn't receive those until the ship was delivered.
The transaction would take place just outside Earth's orbit, making it easier for Link and his team. For now, he had to return home and gather the right people.
...
"This is Link, calling Avengers headquarters!" Link's voice came over the comms as he approached Earth.
"..." There was no response, which was strange.
"This is Link, calling Tony Stark."
"Hey, Link!" Stark's voice finally came through. "You're back?"
"I tried calling Avengers HQ, but got no response. What's going on?" Link asked.
"Nick Fury's in the hospital, critically injured. Barton, Natasha, and Steve are all there," Stark explained.
"..." Link hadn't expected to return from his trip to the cosmos only to find this mess. Was S.H.I.E.L.D. on the verge of collapse? What happened to the *Iron Man* storyline?
"Got it. I'm heading to Avengers HQ. Meet me there with Bruce. Why didn't you guys go to the hospital?" Link asked as he flew toward Earth.
"There's been... some complications. S.H.I.E.L.D. has been acting paranoid lately, and they suspect the Avengers might be involved. They've barred Bruce from going anywhere near the hospital," Stark replied. "I stayed back to keep him company, just in case."
"Understood," Link said, realizing that his actions had altered the course of events more than expected.
Nick Fury must have uncovered something significant. If S.H.I.E.L.D. was secretly building three Helicarriers, and Fury was trying to stop them, it made sense why Hydra would make a move now. They needed to isolate the Avengers. With Steve, Natasha, and Barton at the hospital, Bruce being restricted, and Tony left behind to watch him, Hydra had effectively split them up.
If the Hulk stayed put, Hydra wouldn't fear the remaining Avengers. They likely had a way to deal with Tony's suits as well.
As Link broke through Earth's atmosphere, he devised his next move. An outright attack wasn't an option—not yet, at least. S.H.I.E.L.D. was still officially in charge unless Fury was confirmed dead.
"Oh, and Coulson?" Link asked.
"He's here, babysitting me and Bruce, along with the Iron Monger suit," Stark answered.
"Got it. Stay put. I'll meet you at Stark Tower once I land at HQ. Send me the hospital's coordinates."
Link had a plan in mind.
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(End of Chapter)