Inside the laboratory, a group of politicians from various nations sat grim-faced in the conference room, listening to Colonel Phillips passionately explain the situation.
The Colonel emphasized that the core formula for the super-soldier serum was exclusively developed and safeguarded by Dr. Erskine, with no one else aware of its intricacies.
However, with Dr. Erskine's untimely demise, the formula was lost forever, effectively ending the super-soldier program before it could truly begin.
Faced with this grim reality, the politicians had no choice but to return home, disappointed and empty-handed, swallowing their frustration.
Relieved at having dodged the crisis for the time being, Colonel Phillips exhaled deeply. Yet he knew that if this cover-up were ever exposed, not even a hundred executions would suffice to atone for the consequences.
The Fallout
That same day, news of Dr. Erskine's death was intentionally leaked to the public. The collapse of the super-soldier program caused significant dismay among politicians, who promptly withdrew all funding from the project.
This development dealt a heavy blow to the Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR), already struggling with limited resources.
Colonel Phillips, though disgruntled, was left with no choice. He disbanded the non-essential staff of the reserve and laboratory, retaining only the core team.
But then an idea struck him—Howard Stark had money, and lots of it.
Without delay, Colonel Phillips boarded a plane to meet Howard Stark. Through a combination of persuasion and exaggeration, he pitched the idea of forming a new, independent department.
He painted a vision of opportunity: if Stark were to invest, he would be one of the founders and have a say in the organization's direction.
Although tempted, Stark remained hesitant.
The Meeting
Later that evening, in a dimly lit meeting room, Wang Ye, Colonel Phillips, Agent Carter, Howard Stark, and "Dr. Erskine" (very much alive) convened to discuss their roles in the new organization.
After a night of intense debate, they settled on a name: S.H.I.E.L.D., following Wang Ye's proposal.
Each member was assigned a clear role:
Colonel Phillips: Leveraging his extensive military connections, he would handle military communications, logistics, and occasionally lead battle strategies.
Agent Carter: As a skilled spy, she would establish a new intelligence department, train elite agents, and oversee intelligence gathering.
Howard Stark and Dr. Erskine: The scientific masterminds—Dr. Erskine would focus on refining the super-soldier serum, while Stark would develop advanced equipment and upgrade communication systems.
Steve Rogers (Captain America): Though absent from the meeting, he was designated for combat missions. For now, he would remain in the lab, assisting with serum replication efforts.
Wang Ye: As the mastermind behind the initiative, he was unanimously chosen as the first director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The headquarters for S.H.I.E.L.D. was established in a secret underground base beneath an armory near the military camp.
A Breakthrough
The next day, with Wang Ye's assistance, Dr. Erskine developed five batches of a weaker super-soldier serum.
Unlike the original serum, this version provided a modest twofold increase in physical strength. It was completely safe and caused minimal discomfort during the infusion process. The results were subtler, making it ideal for broader use.
One by one, Dr. Erskine, Colonel Phillips, Agent Carter, and Howard Stark underwent enhancement.
Colonel Phillips and Dr. Erskine: Their previously graying hair vanished, and wrinkles faded, making them look 20 years younger.
Agent Carter: Her already striking figure became even more stunning, drawing admiring glances from everyone around her.
Howard Stark: Other than gaining some muscle mass, his appearance remained mostly unchanged—perhaps his talent points were allocated to intelligence and charm.
Shifting Roles
Once the enhancements were complete, everyone assumed their new responsibilities:
Colonel Phillips received orders to take Steve Rogers to meet Senator Brandt.
Howard Stark and Dr. Erskine immersed themselves in further research.
Agent Carter began reconnecting with her network to form an elite intelligence team.
Wang Ye, as the newly minted director, oversaw the construction of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters.
At Senator Brandt's Office
Senator Brandt sat behind his desk, reviewing reports with a stern expression.
"This assassination attempt - what have you uncovered?" he demanded.
Colonel Phillips replied, "The spy took poison immediately after capture, but we traced his affiliations back to Hydra, a group infamous for covert operations. Details are in the summary on your desk."
The senator glanced at the disorganized pile of files with visible frustration. "I have too much on my plate, Colonel. Now there's Hydra to contend with!"
Agent Carter entered, adding, "Hydra is a secret scientific division under Johann Schmidt. Their soldiers are fanatical followers, treating Schmidt like an omnipotent deity."
Colonel Phillips nodded. "Their loyalty makes them highly dangerous. This morning, I spoke with the President. Effective immediately, the Strategic Scientific Reserve has a new mission: to fight Hydra to the bitter end."
He turned to Agent Carter. "Pack your bags. We're flying to London tonight."
Steve Rogers protested, "If you're going after Schmidt, I should be going too!"
Colonel Phillips paused, then replied firmly, "You're important, Rogers. Right now, your place is in Alamogordo."
"But...." Steve tried to argue, only to be interrupted.
"I need an army, Rogers. One man alone isn't enough for this war."
With that, Colonel Phillips left the office without looking back.
(End of Chapter)
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