Tony, Alexander Pierce

Washington.

The sky was clear, with the blazing sun hanging overhead.

S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Triskelion.

The scorching heat baked the plaza bearing the S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem, making even the air seem distorted.

At the edge of the vast plaza, many S.H.I.E.L.D. executives gathered in one corner, watching as the plaza was cleared.

"Is there really any need to rush this much and expend so much manpower and resources?" Nick Fury asked, squinting his single eye against the blazing sun as he looked into the distance.

Alexander Pierce quickly replied, "We can't give He-El another chance to change his mind.

"After all, this Helicarrier belongs to He-El. We can only follow his wishes, get it airborne first, and let him come watch the sunrise whenever he has the time.

"We're doing everything we can to arrange a large number of S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel aboard the Helicarrier to continue deploying its equipment."

Alexander Pierce reassured Nick Fury.

Over this recent period, Nick Fury had deliberately handed the matters concerning the Helicarrier's protection and maintenance after takeoff to Alexander Pierce, letting him coordinate, monitor, and handle them.

Alexander Pierce had thrown himself into the task, ordering the Hydra members within S.H.I.E.L.D. to install the various weapons and equipment for Project Insight onto He-El's Helicarrier as quickly as possible.

Even today, when He-El's Helicarrier had reached the takeoff stage, the installation still was not complete. Only a small portion had been installed.

What had been installed was merely the most basic equipment. It still required a great deal of personnel adjustment, testing, maintenance, and more.

Alexander Pierce could only arrange for a large number of Hydra members to remain aboard the Helicarrier after it took off, transporting weapon components by cargo plane and assembling them onboard while maintaining the Helicarrier's normal operations.

Naturally, the sooner this was