SHIELD Headquarters, located 100 meters below the Earth’s surface, hid an iceberg beneath the surface of the sea.
With a height of 100 meters and a length of around 1500 meters, the underground space here was more than ten times larger than any football stadium in the world.
Under the numerous large lights on the ceiling and walls, the weapon creations, crystallized with 21st-century technology, lay like crawling fortresses in an underground factory. There were grim and terrifying gunports, vortex engines, and other equipment, their exteriors reflecting a faint metallic sheen.
Kyle’s pupils contracted slightly when he saw this. Below SHIELD headquarters lay three enormous aircraft carriers.
Among them, over a thousand state-of-the-art fighter jets were being prepared, and countless personnel bustled around in this underground space, like ants, busy perfecting the final stages of their project.
This scene caused distant memories to resurface in Kyle’s mind, making him feel that he had missed some important future plot elements.
Fury’s face was as calm as water as he explained, “These aren’t ordinary Helicarriers; they are advanced third-generation Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Helicarriers. They can connect directly to positioning satellites, and once they take flight, they don’t need to land. Their engine vortex can make them orbit the Earth like near-orbit satellites.”
“Quite impressive,” Kyle responded while nodding. He had indirectly witnessed the marvels of space technology on Planet Sakaar, even the Interstellar Spaceships that traveled between star systems. A simple “Quite Impressive” from him was a very high compliment.
“This should be Tony’s doing, right?” Kyle smiled as he spoke.
A project of this massive scale involving advanced technology couldn’t have succeeded without Stark’s involvement, given Earth’s current level of technology. However, that might be a different story for that advanced nation with its hidden wealth.
Fury nodded and said, “He inspected the old engines and designed them to be vertical takeoff engines, enabling the Helicarriers to achieve this remarkable feat.”
“Three VTOL aircraft carriers, each equipped with long-range precision targeting weapons. They can kill a thousand enemies in a minute…,” Fury continued.
He paused for a moment and hesitated, his dark face showing signs of inner turmoil as he bit his lip before resuming, “There’s no need for surveillance, scanning, or targeting. Satellites can directly survail the targets and use an algorithm to target criminals and eliminate them before they commit acts of terror.”
“This is Project Insight, SHIELD’s secret project since the start of the 21st century!”
After Fury finished explaining, he glanced at Kyle, hoping to hear his thoughts and recommendations.
However, Kyle lightly shook his head, offering no compliments and instead, he criticized in a matter-of-fact tone, “Fury, you’re getting old and senile!”
Fury widened his one good eye and didn’t argue. Instead, he lowered his head to listen to Kyle’s perspective.
“In this world, as long as there’s light, there will always be shadows. It’s impossible to completely eliminate evil,” Kyle said, looking at the VTOL aircraft carriers. “I understand that you think this plan can pre-emptively eliminate many threats to the world. But have you ever considered that if the world keeps moving towards a rule-based, emotionless society, then there won’t be any room left for civilization and ethics?”
A person’s actions can be a fine line between good and evil, and making life-or-death judgments about individuals based on their previous actions, behaviors, and lifestyles in their infancy is a ridiculous notion.
Kyle concluded, “If these three VTOL Helicarriers take to the skies, there will be no freedom left for humanity worldwide! Under the constant threat and fear for their lives, human criminal intent will only increase until the VTOL Helicarriers have killed all of humanity!”
Fury shivered and remained silent for a long time, letting out a heavy sigh. “Yesterday, I brought Steve here, and he also disagreed with this plan. Now, after hearing your words, I feel like I was too presumptuous in the first place.”
“Now, if we just halt this project, there’s still time,” Kyle said, raising his eyebrows. He looked at Fury with a serious and solemn expression and asked, “Fury, was this plan your idea alone?”
Fury shook his head, responding, “No, it was merely an idea, perfected by many senior SHIELD personnel. What’s wrong with that?”
Of course, it was not right. Something was terribly wrong here.
Kyle considered this for a moment, his eyes flashing with a cold gleam, and he continued, “Now that you’re no longer the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., can you still halt Project Insight?”
Fury nodded and replied confidently, “I have the highest overrule authority within SHIELD. Even the current Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn’t have authority higher than mine. As soon as Natasha, the current Deputy Director, returns, we can directly delay the plan with our combined authority.”
Kyle looked at Fury and said, “I’m glad you haven’t lost all your senses. Fury, do you remember what I told you sixty years ago when SHIELD was first established, back at the estate?”
Fury lowered his head, clenched his fists, and said, “Of course, I remember. I made an oath to you. As long as I’m alive, I won’t allow any corrupt and evil deeds within your SHIELD. Otherwise…”
“You remember well,” Kyle lightly patted Fury’s shoulder and said coldly, “It’s best that you handle SHIELD’s matters. Don’t let it reach a point where I can’t resist taking action.”
“If I take action, SHIELD will run with blood and cease to exist,” Kyle continued, leaving Fury behind with a heavy expression on his face.
“By the way, regarding those three VTOL Helicarriers, one day in the future, they might actually be necessary, but they won’t be targeting Earth lifeforms.”
Kyle waved his hand and stepped into the elevator, selecting to ascend and leave the underground space.
This brought him back to the question Tony had once asked.
Powerful and frightening technological weapons weren’t inherently bad. It all depended on who wielded them and whether the possessor had the capability to control them and use them for the greater good.
If those three VTOL Helicarriers had authorization for use by Kyle alone, and the original Project Insight was changed to a responsibility similar to the Ancient One’s as a defender of Earth against external threats, the nature of the situation would be entirely different.
“Earth is still too weak,” Kyle shook his head gently, feeling the pressure of racing against time.
While the humans on Earth were still engaged in internal conflicts, only a handful of individuals were focused on the powerful threats coming from beyond Earth’s borders.
One of them, the Ancient One, was a Sorcerer Supreme who had secretly protected Earth for centuries.
Now, there was one more, Kyle, a card enthusiast, driven by a desire to protect and possess the things he loved, with no selfless intent for humanity.
In the underground space, Fury contemplated for a long time, and the light in his one good eye grew increasingly determined as he entered the elevator and headed for the Director’s office on the top floor.
Kyle might be right!
Project Insight and potential issues within SHIELD had to be addressed immediately. The plan needed to be terminated!
(End of this chapter)
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