S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, Strategic Command Center.
"Everyone, listen up! Put down whatever you're doing! Go to Level One alert!"
The bald agent Sitwell strode in arrogantly. With Nick Fury's fate unknown and Alexander Pierce now in power, he naturally believed the time had come for him, Hydra's loyal lackey, to step into the spotlight.
"Contact the Department of Transportation. Turn all traffic lights in the nearby blocks red. Close every runway at Washington Airport, Dulles Airport, and Reagan National Airport! Route all surveillance footage to the main control center's screens! Review all communications equipment—phones, computers, every electronic device. The keywords are Steve Rogers and Captain America. The moment anyone sends information related to them, submit the contents to me immediately..."
"With all due respect, if S.H.I.E.L.D. is ordering the capture of Captain America, we have a right to know why."
Agent Thirteen, Sharon Carter, interrupted him. She was the niece of S.H.I.E.L.D. veteran Peggy Carter and had been assigned by Nick Fury to become Captain America's neighbor, tasked with both protecting and monitoring him.
Sitwell was left speechless. Everyone present looked at him with suspicion or astonishment. This was Captain America—the war hero of the last century. Nearly everyone knew his glorious deeds by heart.
"Because he deceived us."
Alexander Pierce strode over. With his prestige, he easily brought the room under control. "Captain Rogers possesses clues regarding Director Fury's disappearance, yet he refuses to provide them."
"Perhaps this is hard to accept, but Captain America is now a wanted fugitive of S.H.I.E.L.D. That is an indisputable fact."
Pierce swept his gaze around the room, removed his glasses, and wiped at the corners of his eyes. His face wore a sorrowful expression, as though he deeply regretted the fall of a hero.
His superb performance moved everyone. The leaderless S.H.I.E.L.D., with