Earth-1610, New York, Chrysler Building, deep underground at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, 8:00 a.m.
The corridor leading to the command room was entirely made of alloy. When people hurried across it, the noise sounded like machine-gun fire.
Nick Fury did not want everyone to be so busy, because the busier S.H.I.E.L.D. became, the less peaceful Earth was.
The previous power struggle with Carol Danvers had ultimately ended in Fury's victory. He had returned to the position of S.H.I.E.L.D. Director and had also been promoted to general.
Gregory Stark had been a traitor, selling American interests to the country across the ocean. Carol had misjudged him, so after Mouse was exposed and killed, Captain Marvel had also lost the trust of the upper ranks.
She had left, taking her Ultimates into space. Though they were still nominally attached to S.H.I.E.L.D., Fury had no actual control over the Ultimates.
However, Egghead still had the Avengers. He could continue dealing with the Mutant problem and protecting Earth's peace.
Ever since Magneto had flipped Earth's magnetic poles and killed tens of millions, all Mutants had become synonymous with terrorists. Once discovered, they had to be immediately arrested or shot on the spot.
That was also the current focus of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s work: screening the population for hidden Mutants, then eliminating danger before it could take root.
Fury personally had no prejudice against Mutants. He had even used them many times and considered them quite useful.
But work was work. At this stage, he needed Mutant "scalps" to trade for what he wanted.
Walking down the corridor amid agents striding briskly past him, Fury made his way familiarly to a door.
"Good morning, sir." Coulson, standing at the entrance, wore his usual deadpan expression as he raised a hand in salute like a corpse.
"Chief, where's the action