Two of the four energy engines powering S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier had been destroyed. If not for the remaining two still functioning, the entire craft would have plummeted from the sky.
Daniel hadn't wanted to board the Helicarrier. But this time, he had no choice. The order came directly from the White House. The President himself wanted Daniel—now serving as a special envoy—to assess the situation onboard and determine how severe the threat actually was.
Loki's power was undeniable, but his real danger came from how cunning and manipulative he was. With a single calculated move, he'd already triggered internal chaos within the Avengers Initiative and managed to nearly destroy S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most valuable and expensive asset—the Helicarrier.
This was a marvel of alien and terrestrial technology, funded primarily by the United States and built with the collective ambition of humanity's brightest minds. Its loss was a political and military catastrophe.
Yet right now, no official representative could be seen stepping in. It was too risky. Thor was an Asgardian prince. Stark, though no longer the richest man in the world, represented immense corporate power. Then there was the Hulk—completely unmanageable. And Loki? Still unaccounted for. The entire situation was volatile.
So Daniel was sent in. He represented both the government and the superhero community, someone who could walk that fine line. Privately, the White House hoped he'd even consider joining the Avengers—something still unofficial, but quietly supported despite the World Security Council's original objections. Their concern was simple: they feared the United States would misuse such a group to assert dominance. And maybe they weren't entirely wrong.
But make no mistake—Nick Fury had the U.S. government's blessing when he started this project. Anyone who believed otherwise wasn't paying attention.
As Daniel stepped off the Quinjet, the first thing he noticed was the exposed engine under repair. Stark was there, working tirelessly to get it functional again. The good news was that Helicarrier hadn't fallen. It was still airborne, which spoke volumes.
None of the core Avengers were in sight. Instead, Maria Hill was waiting for him. She had longstanding ties to the White House, which explained how she'd risen to become Fury's top agent—his only Level 9, no less. Her position was a strategic one: she was Fury's shadow, but also Washington's proxy within S.H.I.E.L.D.
Everyone understood that. Fury. The Council. Even S.H.I.E.L.D.'s own agents—though some of them hated it enough to eventually turn to Hydra. Hill's appointment, whether intentional or not, had consequences.
But in the end, no one really cared. Politics was just another battlefield.
"Commander Hill," Daniel greeted her crisply, his pale khaki uniform radiating quiet authority. "I'm Daniel van der Berg. Let's skip the pleasantries. I need a full report on the Helicarrier, the Avengers, and Loki. I need to assess the situation accurately."
Hill didn't argue. She led him into the ship, discreetly following Nick Fury's pre-arranged instructions.
Daniel had never seen the inside of the Helicarrier before. It was immense—twice the deck size of the world's largest nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Its depth and complexity were staggering. With eleven integrated power engines, complex wiring, and advanced alien tech systems, it was less a ship and more a floating city of war.
The damage was obvious. Burned fuselages, warped hull panels, and over a dozen carrier-based jets either missing or badly damaged. He didn't spot any weaponry—the Helicarrier kept those hidden unless actively deployed.
The rear bay was the most heavily hit. It was designed for aircraft landings and refueling, separate from the main flight deck. With it disabled, many planes couldn't safely return after deployment. Landing elsewhere—like in foreign airspace—was technically possible, but politically complicated.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was not a normal organization. It had its own military-grade equipment, aircraft, tanks—even tactical nukes. That's why its activity zones were tightly regulated. Unauthorized entry into another nation's airspace was tantamount to invasion.
And the core of the problem was Clint Barton.
Hawkeye had been compromised by Loki and injected a sophisticated virus into the Helicarrier's flight systems. While it could still hover thanks to two working engines, controlled forward flight was now impossible.
After reviewing the situation, Daniel said grimly, "So in an actual emergency, this ship is grounded, functionally speaking."
Almost on cue, the ship gave a soft shudder—then stabilized midair.
Maria Hill quickly explained, "Mr. Stark has just repaired one of the damaged engines."
Even three working engines wouldn't restore full combat capability, but it would at least keep the Helicarrier in the sky.
Daniel didn't look impressed and asked, "What's the Avengers' status? And Loki? Do you know where he is—or what he's planning?"
Hill hesitated, then answered carefully, "Captain America, Stark, and Romanoff are onboard. Barton is in containment but still unconscious. Thor and the Hulk fell during combat but given their resilience, they're likely unharmed. As for Loki…" She paused again. "We've launched a full-scale search, but so far, no leads."
Daniel nodded. "This isn't on you. You're doing your job. But someone else dropped the ball." He looked toward the command room. "And I'm guessing I know exactly who."
If Nick Fury had revoked Barton's clearance sooner, Loki's infiltration might have failed. The Helicarrier wouldn't be in ruins, and the Avengers wouldn't be picking up the pieces.
This ship wasn't just a show of force—it was meant to curb global supernatural threats. But so far, it had done nothing of the sort.
And that failure fell on Fury's shoulders.
It wasn't just about Loki anymore. Washington was concerned about deeper instability. Stark and Rogers weren't the problem. Neither were Natasha or Barton. The real dangers were Hulk—uncontrollable—and Thor, who had a blood connection to Loki. That made everything more complicated.
Especially now. The Helicarrier was hovering just 100 kilometers from New York, with Washington, D.C. right around the corner. One wrong move, and everything could spiral.
As the doors to the command room opened, Daniel spotted Nick Fury standing inside—alone, flanked only by his S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. None of the Avengers were present. Daniel felt a brief moment of relief. Facing Fury without the others was easier—for now.
He stepped forward.
"Director Fury," Daniel said, extending his hand. "It's unfortunate we're meeting under these circumstances. I'm sorry for your losses. But I need to ask: is this still under control?"
The White House had been on edge since the Helicarrier's attack. Loki might be one threat—but if the Avengers themselves became a liability? That was far worse.