New York
Fury had originally planned not to come to this city for a year. Not only did it hold places that saddened him, but also that annoying Lane kid who broke his heart.
But there was no helping it, work required it! Fury comforted himself.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Mobile Command Center
On the large screen, multiple surveillance feeds streamed real-time images of the post-battle ruins from the first phase of Operation Iron Curtain – twisted metal, collapsed concrete, extinguished electrical sparks, and some unidentified fragments scattered at the edge of the core blast point, shimmering with an eerie glow.
"Sir!" A technical analysis supervisor in a hazmat suit, his voice tinged with unbelievable excitement, urgently called Fury via encrypted communication.
Behind his goggles, his eyes were fixed on a peculiar, palm-sized composite of metal and biological material in an isolation box, emitting a faint, unstable purple fluorescence.
"While clearing the perimeter of the main destruction zone, we discovered a batch of... anomalous residues!"
Fury's image appeared in a corner of the technical supervisor's helmet display: "Anomalous? Explain."
"Not currently known technology or products!" The technical supervisor spoke rapidly. "The material cannot be immediately classified; it combines unprecedented biological polymers and energy-conducting alloys. Preliminary scans show its internal structure... is alive? Or rather, possesses highly adaptable bioactivity! More critically, near some fragments, we found the bases of destroyed equipment remnants, and the energy residue spectrum... points to an extremely efficient, but completely beyond our cognitive framework, spatial phase modulation technology!"
The technical supervisor transmitted a real-time generated multi-dimensional spectral analysis chart and high-definition fragment scan.
"The 'Alpha' scanners on site almost overloaded. The energy signature doesn't match any known country, organization, or even suspected alien technology records in our database. Its... design logic, sir, it doesn't resemble human technology at all."
Fury's breath seemed to hitch for half a second on the other end of the communication.
His single eye locked onto the strange spectrogram and fragment images on the screen.
"Location?"
"Secured! All fragments and associated equipment remnants have been marked, undergoing maximum sterile, radiation-free isolation encapsulation by the Ostrich Team, and are being transported to 'The Cube' by Ghost transport aircraft."
The technical supervisor's answer was decisive.
"Excellent." Fury's voice deepened, but its weight made the technical supervisor's heart clench. "Top priority, highest security clearance. I want to see them in 'The Cube'." The communication cut off.
Hours later, in the deepest analysis room of 'The Cube'.
Fury stood outside the thick, multi-layered blast-proof glass wall, watching researchers in top-level biohazard suits carefully operate precision instruments, analyzing the fragments emitting an ominous glow.
The chief scientist reported via internal communication, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:
"Director, preliminary reverse engineering results... it's a treasure trove!" The scientist brought up complex holographic models:
"The genetic editing blueprints and biological tissue synthesis schemes contained in these fragments far exceed our existing 'Super Soldier' project!"
"They point to extreme environmental adaptability modifications, such as vacuum, deep sea, high radiation, ultra-high-speed biological tissue regeneration, and even... energy symbiont interfaces!"
"Imagine implanting temporary organs into our deep-space agents that can survive in the cosmic vacuum for hours! Or creating multi-functional biological gels for battlefield first aid!"
"And at the spatial technology level, this is the real 'game changer'!" The scientist magnified the model of the spatial phase module. "Although the Foot Clan's application is very primitive, the core principle involves microscopic spatial folding and stable sub-dimensional channel generation! Director Fury, what does this mean? It means we have the opportunity to develop truly practical short-range tactical space jump engines for Quinjets, and even create instantaneous deployment capabilities for future Helicarriers!"
Fury silently watched the flickering data streams and models, his fingers unconsciously, rhythmically tapping the edge of the control panel.
And the alien civilization providing these technologies, which had been a vague image in his mind, instantly materialized into an entity with terrifying technological power.
The Foot Clan? A bunch of idiots guarding a gold mine, only knowing how to smash rocks!
"Project codename 'Shattered Shell'," Fury's voice broke the silence, carrying undeniable authority. "Unlimited resources, clearance elevated to 'Omega'. But remember two points: First, complete stripping! Any code, structure, or biological sample contaminated with the Foot Clan or potential alien will, all to be incinerated and purified! We will establish a completely 'clean' S.H.I.E.L.D. tech tree. Second, security tenfold! This is now Earth's front line of defense! If a fly gets in, I want its entire lineage investigated!"
Looking at the breakthrough technological blueprints on the screen, Fury picked up his coffee cup, took a deep breath, and then seemed to think of something, asking the doctor in front of him: "The Cosmic Cube, if we were to weaponize its energy now, I mean, combining it with these alien technologies we've acquired, could it accelerate progress, or even lead to a leap forward?"
The chief scientist bowed his head in thought for a moment, seemingly recalling the energy parameters released by the miraculous Cosmic Cube, and finally nodded: "Director, I believe it would accelerate progress, but whether it can significantly boost it still needs verification."
Upon hearing this, Fury displayed a rare smile: "Then, simultaneously initiate the weaponization of the Cosmic Cube's energy, and at the same time, try to understand what deeper functions this stone might have."
The scientist nodded, then turned and left.
At this moment, Fury picked up the perpetually bitter liquid in the cup before him, which now seemed to carry an unusual significance.
The exhilaration brought by this "trash" from alien ruins surged through his veteran strategist's nerves like an electric current.
This feeling, indeed, was a hundred times more exhilarating than finding a whole box of unopened, legendary extinct Montecristo No. 1 cigars in an underground vault.
Plus, the ability to re-explore the Cosmic Cube's powers through alien technology!
At this moment, Fury felt the scales of luck tipping in his favor!
"Project Shattered Shell," Fury felt the name he chose was perfectly apt.
Prying open the hard shell of this alien technology would give S.H.I.E.L.D. overwhelming superiority.
The Foot Clan?
A pathetic bunch of idiotic monkeys using nuclear weapons as hammers!
Behind them, there must be a powerful alien entity – an unknown civilization that is highly aggressive or at least extremely generous.
Of course, he leaned towards the former.
Fury's voice echoed in the silent analysis room, carrying an undeniable resolve:
"Initiate a covert investigation targeting the Foot Clan, activate the 'Looking Glass' network. Objective: All known and potential Foot Clan leaders, expand the search scope to all their anomalous contact points, financial flows, technology sources, communication records from the past five years... I want to know how they got connected to this alien line!"
"Yes, sir." Hill immediately responded, her fingers flying across the control panel.
Just then, Natasha Romanoff, standing in the shadows behind Fury, felt a very slight vibration from her specialized communicator on her wrist, like a mosquito bite.
Without changing her expression, she quickly glanced at the miniature display hidden inside her wrist guard, using the moment of adjusting her stance.
An encrypted message from Hawk, just a few simple characters and a preset codename.
Content: Delay the investigation into the Foot Clan.