Papering over differences at the Standing Committee, forming the takeover Special Task Force
The air in Isolation Review Room A-3 seemed to freeze with Hela's arrival.
She stood at the doorway, like a silent statue, the Data Pad in her hand glowing faintly—a sharp sword forged by Natasha using rules, now steadily handed to her.
Wanda's gaze shifted from Lynn's face to Hela, and then to the familiar cover of the Audit Report. The weariness and coldness in her eyes were rekindled by a flicker of Scarlet fire.
Lynn didn't lean back in his chair, maintaining his forward-leaning posture while talking. He looked at Hela, his face showing no surprise, as if her appearance was entirely expected.
"Director Hela," Lynn's voice was calm, devoid of emotion, "This is Class A Isolation and Review Zone. Your actions do not comply with security regulations."
"Director, I'm here for security." Hela stepped into the room, the Alloy Door sliding shut silently behind her. Her leather boots clicked crisply on the floor.
"The responsibility of the Stability Maintenance Office is to maintain stability in all aspects of the Management Committee. Now, one of our core department heads has caused Class A security incident in the Inspection Office because of an Audit Report involving historical issues."
She walked to the table, gently placed the Data Pad on it, and pushed it to the center.
"Another head of a core department is currently under quarantine for investigation due to an energy sample of unknown origin."
"Both incidents point to the same mystery. I believe the Stability Maintenance Office needs to handle these two separate cases together." Hela's words were logically clear and procedurally flawless. "This is not merely an inquiry into one individual, but a comprehensive review of the historical risks inherited by the Management Committee. The Stability Maintenance Office cannot be absent."
Lynn's gaze slowly shifted from Hela's face to Wanda's.
Wanda looked at the report on the table, then at Lynn, and she understood.
The so-called "TVA conspiracy theory" was just a pretext Lynn used to appease her. A larger and more complex internal purge had already been brought to the forefront because of Natasha's report.
She was drawn into a power struggle she didn't care about. And the truth she truly cared about was pushed further and further away by these high-sounding procedures and excuses.
Lynn stood up.
"This matter is not suitable to be discussed here."
He looked around at the two of them.
"Notify all Standing Committee Member, as well as Comrade Natasha, Acting Director of the Internal Affairs Inspection Office, that an emergency expanded meeting of the Standing Committee will be held in Zero Conference Room in half an hour."
"The agenda," he paused, "Is about the characterization of the recent series of safety incidents and a unified solution for addressing legacy energy issues."
Zero Conference Room.
The enormous circular conference table was so shiny it reflected the light like a mirror.
Lynn sat in the main seat, with Liaison Office Chief Gwen Stacy to her left, and the seat to her right was empty.
Hela and Wanda sat at the head of the table on either side, clearly separated. The other Standing Committee Member members took their seats in order of seniority, each sitting upright and looking down at their noses.
As the acting Director, Natasha did not have a seat on the Standing Committee Member and was seated at the end of the conference table as an observer. She sat upright, holding a notebook in her hand, her expression focused, as if the storm about to erupt before her had nothing to do with her.
The room was so quiet that only the faint hum of the ventilation system could be heard.
Lynn tapped his fingers lightly twice on the table.
"Comrades, I've urgently called you all here today because of something." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to everyone's ears. "I think you've all heard about the Class A safety incident in the Inspection Office. An Audit Report has triggered a direct conflict between two core departments. The nature of it is very serious."
His gaze swept across the entire room.
"Director Hela, please tell us the Stability Maintenance Office's opinion first."
Hela nodded slightly, and the light screen in front of her lit up, displaying the Audit Report.
"Director, members of the Standing Committee Member. Based on the report submitted by the Internal Affairs Inspection Office and the supplementary investigation by the Stability Maintenance Office, we have reason to believe that the Technology Integration Department faces serious and uncontrollable risks in energy use and project management."
Her words were restrained; she did not directly attack Wanda herself, but rather targeted the entire Department of Technology.
"Especially when processing historical data related to ' Sokovia,' the Department of Technology has repeatedly engaged in the illegal misappropriation of computing power and abnormal energy overflow. This is not only a Discipline issue, but also a security issue. An unstable energy source holding the most core technical authority of the Management Committee is irresponsible to all of us."
"Therefore, I propose that some of the functions of the Department of Technology involving high-risk energy research and Source Code maintenance be temporarily separated and transferred to the Stability Maintenance Office and the Liaison Office for joint supervision until the Department of Technology completes its internal rectification and passes the security assessment."
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the conference room suddenly became tense.
This is a blatant attempt to strip someone of their power.
Wanda gave a cold laugh and was about to speak.
Lynn, however, raised her hand to stop her before she could react.
"Minister Wanda, we'll discuss your opinion later."
His gaze shifted to Natasha.
"Comrade Natasha, you are directly responsible for the Audit Report. Do you have anything to add to this report?"
All eyes were drawn to the end of the conference table.
Natasha stood up and bowed slightly. "Reporting to the Director, the Audit Report is detailed and the data is accurate. I have nothing to add."
It was a standard, meaningless statement, yet it revealed her detached stance.
Lynn nodded, gesturing for her to sit down. Then, he looked at Wanda.
"Minister Wanda, now you may speak."
"I only have one question." Wanda didn't look at Hela, but stared directly at Lynn. "Should this Audit Report, the energy samples Director Hela brought back from Asgard, and my preliminary analysis of the 'TVA False Memory Anchor ' be processed together?"
She cleverly passed the buck back. Instead of explaining the Department of Technology's accounting issues, she directly brought up the "TVA conspiracy theory" that Lynn had just thrown out in the isolation room.
Let's shut everyone up with Lynn's own words.
Hela's brow furrowed slightly.
Lynn's expression remained unchanged.
"Minister Wanda's questions are very valuable. That is also the main purpose of my meeting today."
He drew everyone's attention back to himself.
"I have a few points to make regarding this Audit Report."
"First, the Internal Affairs Inspection Office has done a conscientious and responsible job, which must be acknowledged. However, at this juncture, the release of this report has objectively exacerbated internal conflicts and given external forces an opportunity to exploit the situation. This reflects a lack of perspective on the bigger picture."
These words both affirmed Natasha's work and subtly criticized her.
"Secondly, based on our initial inquiries with the individuals involved and our comprehensive assessment of TVA's recent series of unusual actions, we have reason to believe that both the energy anomalies mentioned in the Audit Report and the samples from the Asgard Ruins bear the shadow of TVA's interference and manipulation. The chain of evidence itself has been contaminated."
He formally defined his private statements to Wanda as the organization's official assessment.
"Therefore," Lynn said firmly, "my decision is," to avoid being exploited by external forces and causing greater internal suspicion, "That this Audit Report and all related data be classified as top-secret files, sealed on the spot, and the related investigation suspended indefinitely."
Hela's face instantly darkened.
Her carefully prepared weapon was easily disarmed by Lynn with the excuse that it might be "contaminated".
"However," Lynn changed the subject, looking at Hela, "Director Hela's concerns about the organization's security are not without merit. Minister Wanda, the Department of Technology does indeed need an opportunity to prove its stability and irreplaceable value to the Management Committee."
He picked up the teacup and gently blew on it to cool it down.
"Coincidentally, in order to quell the previous border conflict, TVA transferred Jurisdiction over three Abandoned Timeline and all energy extraction rights to us. This is the core clause of the Memorandum of Understanding and also the largest external asset expansion since the establishment of our Management Committee."
He tossed out a huge cake.
A slight commotion arose in the conference room.
"Taking on a completely new Dimension involves a series of complex tasks, including exploration, assessment, armed deployment, facility renovation, and energy grid connection. This is a huge test for every department, but also a huge opportunity."
"Therefore, I propose that we immediately establish a 'Cross-departmental Special Task Force for Receiving Abandoned Timeline,' drawing on the best personnel from various departments, with myself personally serving as the team leader."
"The Stability Maintenance Office is responsible for the initial Armed Clearance and security deployment."
"The Department of Technology is responsible for breaking the Dimension barrier and formulating energy assessment and extraction plans."
"The Liaison Office is responsible for coordinating the handover with TVA and establishing the subsequent administrative jurisdiction system."
"The Internal Affairs Inspection Office is responsible for conducting full-process audits of the Special Task Force's use of funds and project progress."
With just a few words, he bound all the core departments to this new war machine.
Hela wants to weaken the Department of Technology? Fine, then go to the front lines and prove the Stability Maintenance Office is stronger with your achievements and execution capabilities.
Wanda wants to prove herself? Fine, then she'll come up with a technical solution and tackle this tough challenge.
Natasha wants to check the accounts? Sure, the special task force's financial records are far more extensive, enough for her to investigate thoroughly.
He cleverly transformed a power struggle that was about to erupt internally into a performance competition for external expansion.
They silenced everyone by providing a new, huge source of profit.
Hela was silent for a moment before finally speaking, "I agree with the Director's proposal."
Fighting battles and seizing territory are more in line with her style than endless arguments in meeting rooms.
"I have no objection." Wanda's voice softened as well.
The other Standing Committee Member naturally seconded the motion.
"Alright, since everyone agrees, then this matter is settled." Lynn put down his teacup, making the final decision. "Director Gwen Stacy, immediately draft the relevant personnel appointments and work plans based on the meeting's resolution, and distribute them to all departments."
"Yes, Director," Gwen Stacy replied.
Just as a turbulent storm was about to be quelled, Lynn was preparing to adjourn the meeting.
There was a gentle knock on the conference room door.
One of Gwen Stacy's assistants quickly walked up to her, handed her a Data Pad, and looked somewhat nervous.
Gwen Stacy took it and glanced at it, her expression changing slightly. She immediately stood up, walked quickly to Lynn's side, handed him the Data Pad, and lowered her voice.
"Director, urgent report."
"The Liaison Office has just received preliminary environmental data for the first Abandoned Timeline from TVA."
"Data shows that this Dimension contains extremely strong unknown regularity shielding, which our standard detectors... cannot penetrate."