A shrill red alert shattered the peace of the Triskelion. Scarlet lights flickered wildly through the cold metal corridors, casting a chilling glow over the gunsmoke and flying debris.
The fighting on the aboveground floors ended with astonishing speed.
The small handful of Hydra loyalists who remained launched a hasty attack, but they faced S.H.I.E.L.D. security forces who were ready for them, along with a squad of disguised T-1000s that had secretly taken over every defensive position and had long been lying in wait.
The "staff" who had just been posing as Hydra middle management and obediently receiving orders dropped their disguises in an instant. With absolute tactical precision, they sealed off every breakout route and blocked every firing position.
Gunfire erupted in rapid bursts, but lasted a pitifully short time.
The scattered resistance was like moths flying into a flame, unable to withstand such absolute control.
Within minutes, every disturbance aboveground had been quelled. The Hydra gunmen who had risen up were either subdued and defeated on the spot or driven back again and again, forced into the carrier construction base on the third basement level-Alexander Pierce's final stronghold and cage.
Throughout S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, every escape route available to Hydra had been completely cut off.
Inside the underground central command room, the heavy alloy blast doors were tightly shut, sealing out the gunfire and chaos beyond, along with all the noise of the world. Only a deathly silence remained.
Alexander Pierce stood before the enormous main control screen, slowly releasing his grip on the cold console. His back, which had been stretched taut to its limit moments before, silently relaxed.
He did not pound anything in rage or tremble with a loss of composure. He simply stood there, his gaze passing dispassionately over his forces on the screen, every