**
Link continued, "But his suggestion wasn't adopted. Everyone thought he was a madman, and when Titan was destroyed, Thanos survived."
"Since then, he has had one single goal—to wipe out half of all intelligent life in the universe, believing that intelligent beings constantly deplete the universe's resources."
"He thinks the universe is finite, and so are its resources."
"He's insane!" Princess Shuri exclaimed in shock.
"Yes, very much so. But is the issue he raised really non-existent?" Link asked. "We now have nuclear fusion technology, and Earth's energy problems are resolved for the foreseeable future. But what about thousands of years from now? We can't predict that far ahead."
"To think that far might be over-worrying, but it's worth considering. However, one thing we must reject is arrogance."
"Alfred, show us Thanos' military forces," Link instructed.
The holographic display changed, and Link continued his explanation. "This is the Outrider army, Thanos' cannon fodder, incredibly large in number. General Okoye, how many of these can your spear take down?"
"This army moves with great speed and has extraordinary physical strength, far exceeding that of humans."
"That's why we need large-scale, high-damage, rapid-fire weapons. Keep in mind their method of deployment."
"Typically, they are launched from space, not through regular atmospheric entry. They're thrown directly onto planets."
"It's not as efficient as Asgard's Bifrost, but it's close. They drop right on their target, releasing hordes of Outriders to swarm their enemies."
"And that's just the vanguard. Following them are the Chitauri forces, complete with flying craft and massive Leviathan creatures."
"Their armies far outnumber the Avengers."
"And Earth's problem is that it isn't a unified planet. With nearly two hundred countries, organizing a cohesive army would take too long."
T'Challa listened closely, understanding the vast disparity in power. The invaders could strike one country at a time, while each nation on Earth would have to fend for itself. Additionally, with oceans separating the continents, transporting forces would be a logistical nightmare, especially when facing space fleets and massive motherships.
"Don't underestimate numbers. In space, numbers are critical. Unlike Earth, these other civilizations are united under a single planetary government. The resources they can mobilize are vast—entire planets' worth," Link continued.
"The sheer scale is staggering. For example, the war between Xandar and the Kree has lasted for over a thousand years, with battles spanning across the galaxy. Rumor has it they're only now beginning peace talks."
"We don't know the details, but the sheer numbers are impossible to ignore. So, let go of your Earth-centric mindset. You're about to face the universe."
The three Wakandans nodded solemnly. They had indeed overlooked this. On Earth, a single nation, or even a coalition of nations, might seem formidable. But compared to an entire planet with billions of people, equipped with the capability to mobilize at a planetary scale, Earth was still far behind.
In space, defeating an enemy before they reached Earth would be critical. But how many space fleets and fighters did they have?
This wasn't just a matter of technology—it was a matter of mass production, something that couldn't be accomplished by a few organizations alone.
The Avengers' main ship was a medium-sized vessel, capable of carrying only 120 fighters.
Link continued his lecture, "The Avengers have one medium-sized ship, carrying only 120 fighters."
"Of course, that's not counting the personal combat abilities of the Avengers themselves. But just in terms of numbers, we're comparable to a Ravager team. Let's talk about the Ravagers."
The Ravagers were a loose confederation of outlaws. As long as they didn't break the Code, they were free to do as they pleased. Each team was spread across the universe, and unless absolutely necessary, they never gathered in one place. But when they did, they could take on an entire planet.
The Avengers, in terms of sheer numbers, were equivalent to one Ravager team.
The disparity was clear, and Link's aim was to humble the Wakandans. T'Challa finally spoke, "Yes, there is a huge gap between us and spacefaring civilizations."
"Wakanda may need to upgrade its weapons too. Shuri, this will be your task—we need more powerful and rapid-fire weapons."
Link added, "In space, energy weapons are essential. In a vacuum, energy projectiles don't lose much power."
"But within Earth's atmosphere, traditional firearms are more cost-effective."
"Especially since physical bullets, once inside a large alien body, can cause massive tissue damage—sometimes more effective than an energy weapon."
"Unless, of course, it's a powerful energy weapon that can blast off a limb or even half a body."
"You have to remember, the enemies we face won't all conform to human size and standards. This is another issue we need to be ready for."
"The universe is vast, and we've only just stepped into it."
...
The lecture went on for quite some time, leaving the Wakandans both stunned and enlightened. After all, they had provided a significant amount of vibranium, and in return, they were getting invaluable knowledge. Princess Shuri was there to learn advanced technologies firsthand.
Once the outer work capsule was completed, Link took a team of new recruits, along with Peggy Carter, to the space station. She would be stationed there permanently.
Now that she had regained her youth, it wasn't practical for her to stay on Earth. Living in the space station suited her better.
Next, the command tower and communication arrays would be built, followed by the construction of eight "arms."
These arms would serve as docking ports for larger ships, as well as storage for fighter jets. When attacked, these jets could be rapidly deployed to defend the station.
The station would also be equipped with numerous robotic arms for repairing and maintaining the fighters. A large crew would be required for these tasks.
Since the station used a modular design, any damaged section could be easily replaced, making repairs straightforward. However, the number of personnel needed remained high, and recruitment was ongoing.
Falcon was among the applicants. With his impressive resume, which included testing the flight wings, the Avengers could help him get a new, upgraded set of wings.
(End of Chapter)