Hill

"Pilot One in position."

"Pilot Two in position."

"Pilot Three in position."

"Four..."

"Five..."

"Six..."

"..."

S.H.I.E.L.D.'s underground airfield was vast and deep. Even beneath the glaring white lights overhead, it still looked from afar like a mechanical cavern plunging into an abyss.

Quinjet fighters, from Type I through the progressively upgraded Type III models, stood in neat rows alongside various Quinjet transports, jets, Quinjets, AV-8B vertical takeoff and landing attack aircraft, Alpha Jet attack aircraft, AH-1 Type III armed helicopters, combat rescue airships, and the rulers of the sky—two Helicarriers.

Viewed from above, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s logistics personnel resembled tiny ants as they swiftly carried out their superiors' orders, operating engineering machinery to load all kinds of powerful cannons and cruise missiles onto the various Quinjets.

"Board!"

At the command from their communicators, the pilots of the neatly lined-up Type I, II, and III Quinjets, the various Quinjet transports, jets, Quinjets, AV-8B vertical takeoff and landing attack aircraft, Alpha Jet attack aircraft, AH-1 Type III armed helicopters, and other aircraft swiftly and uniformly put on their flight helmets, entered their cockpits, and began making flight adjustments.

"Open the surface and launch the Helicarriers. Has the Helicarriers' firepower been loaded?"

"The Helicarriers' firepower has been loaded!"

"Good. Ascend at full power. All aerial cannons and ballistic missiles, aim at the designated positions."

"Executing orders. The surface is opening..."

The sun-scorched tarmac plaza above S.H.I.E.L.D. began to split down the middle in a straight line, opening to both sides and revealing the machinery beneath. It then sank like a staircase, row after row descending and retracting to either side.

The entire underground hangar was exposed.

"Quinjet Transport Groups II and III, Group Seven's thirteen Quinjet transports will take off first."

"AV-8B vertical takeoff and landing attack aircraft group, Group Four's nine attack aircraft