Chapter 67: Peenemünde
"Thank you all very much. I'll see you out. Please, follow me."
Next, Helmut (Zemo) answered a few more questions.
Seeing that time was about up, he turned his head and nodded to the secretary beside him, who then spoke to everyone in the laboratory.
Watching the crowd leave the laboratory, the ever-silent Dr. Pym approached Ultron.
Looking at the motionless robot in the center of the laboratory, he couldn't help but snort coldly and say, "A crude imitation."
As the creator of Ultron Mk. I, Hank Pym could tell at a glance that this so-called Ultron before him was completely incapable of doing everything Helmut (Zemo) had shown in the promotional short film.
"So, what have you come for this time?"
Standing before Ultron, Hank looked at his own face reflected on the robot's silver-white metal surface and turned his head to speak.
"Natasha."
"Phineas Horton."
Turning her head to meet Dr. Pym's gaze, Natasha slowly spoke, uttering the names.
"Where did you hear that name?"
Hearing the name Natasha spoke, Hank Pym subconsciously furrowed his brow and retorted.
Hearing this familiar yet distant name after so long, Dr. Pym's heart couldn't help but stir.
Ever since mentioning Phineas Horton, Natasha had been silently observing Hank's expression. Upon hearing his question, a sense of understanding dawned on her.
After meeting Nick in the coffee shop, Natasha had been trying to investigate Phineas Horton. However, within the Thunderbolts, there wasn't much intelligence on Dr. Phineas Horton. Apparently, not even the Federal Government had kept many records.
Despite this, Natasha still relied on her formidable intelligence-gathering skills.
Among the subtle traces left behind by The Military, she discovered an important lead.
Hank Pym had once worked with Dr. Phineas Horton for a period of time, researching some kind of unknown subatomic particles.
"The 'Project Rebirth' experiment. As far as I know, Hydra is restarting this project. I need your help, Doctor."
Faced with Natasha's request, Hank's expression grew somber for a moment before he finally spoke.
"Peenemünde."
"I only know that Hydra secretly reactivated the Peenemünde Base on Usedom Island."
...
"Peenemünde."
"...During World War II, it was an important military R&D base for the German Military. The V2 missile was developed and invented there. At the time, it caused as many as 9,000 casualties among the Allied Powers in Britain and made over a million Britons live in constant fear."
"However, with the end of World War II and the German Military's victory, Von Braun's missile base in Peenemünde was gradually phased out and decommissioned. Those German Military missile scientists at the time also shifted from missile research to space exploration. The successful launch of the Saturn V super-heavy launch vehicle in 1967—the largest launch vehicle in human history by volume—was designed under the direction of the then German Military missile scientist Von Braun. He was also one of the most important figures in the development of German Aerospace..."
Manhattan, 890 Fifth Avenue.
Inside The Resistants' Base.
Based on the intelligence transmitted by Natasha, Tony displayed the relevant information and past history of Peenemünde.
"Obviously, the base at Peenemünde was never decommissioned, or perhaps it was reactivated by someone at some point after being decommissioned and is being used for some unknown secret experiments."
In front of a control console, Howard said in a deep voice while looking at the data on the screen.
"Why did you suddenly start wearing glasses?"
Hawkeye Clint looked at the glasses on Nick's face and couldn't help but ask.
"A special disguise technique."
Facing Clint's question, Nick Fury replied with a deadpan expression.
"A disguise."
Hearing Nick's answer, Clint gave a noncommittal nod.
"Do you think it's effective?"
Noticing Hawkeye's flat reaction, Nick couldn't help but turn his head and ask.
"Do you want the truth or a lie?" Looking at Nick, who was now wearing glasses over his eyepatch, Clint tried hard to control his emotions.
"The truth."
"It doesn't suit you. The way you look now, you're even more conspicuous than before."
"And the lie?"
"You should consider getting a different pair of glasses."
Nick Fury: "What's the difference between the two?"
Hawkeye: "There isn't one."
...
Meanwhile, overhearing the conversation between Nick Fury and Clint, Colin struggled to maintain his expression, not wanting to reveal any flaw in his composure.
Apparently, Nick's decision to wear glasses was undoubtedly influenced by him.
The only difference was...
The reason Colin could completely disguise himself with just a pair of glasses was entirely due to the effect of his "Super Disguise" ability.
Nick Fury, on the other hand, obviously didn't have this ability. Thus, by putting on glasses, the only effect he achieved was making himself look even more suspicious.
"Perhaps we should consider launching a direct assault on Von Braun's base."
Over here, the conversation between Nick and Clint had gone a bit off-topic.
Elsewhere, after learning the intelligence about Peenemünde, The Punisher, Frank, proposed his own plan.
Just blow up Von Braun's base, and all their problems would be solved. This brutal approach was very much in line with The Punisher's character. As a former soldier, Frank shouldn't have been so extreme, but his desperate experiences had caused him to abandon his old ways, shaping him into the man he was today.
"No."
Shaking his head, upon hearing Frank's suggestion, Hawkeye, who was nearby, immediately stopped his quiet chat with Nick and rejected the idea.
"Judging from the intelligence Natasha provided, Von Braun's secret base is not simple. A frontal assault might alert Hydra, causing them to destroy the experimental data left by Dr. Phineas Horton."
Nodding, Howard also agreed with Clint's assessment.
Dr. Phineas Horton's data concerned the contents of the 'Project Rebirth' experiment.
It was also the primary objective of The Resistants' operation, so they naturally couldn't risk it being destroyed.
Once the experimental data inside Von Braun's base was destroyed, they would likely never be able to uncover the truth of this experiment.
"Regarding that point..."
Inside the base, just as everyone was at a loss...
Nick suddenly spoke up: "I do know a guy—it's also from Natasha's intelligence—who might be able to help us infiltrate Von Braun's secret base without anyone knowing and bring out Dr. Phineas Horton's experimental data."
(end of chapter)