Several Quinjets on the aerospace carrier took off from the deck, ascending vertically and heading towards the base that had lost contact. Twenty minutes later, Nick received a report from Natasha and the others.
"How's it going?" Nick asked.
"The people at the base are attacking us!" Fierce gunfire came from Natasha through the communicator to Nick.
"What do you mean?" Nick was stunned.
"They're all under control!" Natasha and the others watched as the agents fearlessly attacked them, even taking out some secret weapons from the base. Among them was even a prototype energy weapon belonging to SHIELD that could not be exposed under any circumstances!
These were byproducts of the Tesseract's research, but their power was undeniably immense. The only ones on their side who could withstand a single shot were Thor, Captain Steve Rogers, and Frank Castle. Thor's strength was due to his own divine powers, while the Captains' were protected by their Mind Rings.
They didn't expect to be attacked with weapons by people in the base, so they were caught off guard for a moment.
"Damn it, can you control the situation?" Nick originally wanted to arrange for support, but mobilizing manpower and rushing over would take time. Now he could only hope that the prince who played with thunder and lightning, the captain and his old friend could control the situation.
The three of them did not disappoint Nick. Only ten minutes later, Nick received the good news of safety from Natasha again, but the bad news was that a timed explosion had been set in the base before they arrived.
In just one day, SHIELD lost two bases and the agents stationed there because of Loki and his crew.
After Phil and his men brought them back, Nick and the others finally met Natasha and the others in the mothership's conference room.
"This is the device they use to control the entire base's personnel." Natasha placed a very simple, folded metal stand on the table in the conference room.
"This device has the ability to control people's minds?" Tony approached curiously. Under everyone's gaze, he poked at the metal device that looked like a miniature Eiffel Tower. "It looks like it's just a bracket. What's on the top? The main body, or the power source? It looks like it's exhausted."
"Crowd control." Nick thought of a terrible possibility with a gloomy face.
"Yeah, if they make more of these devices, we'll be in trouble," Steve said with a lingering fear. He'd seen how crazy those controlled agents could be. Seeing them was like seeing a mortal enemy.
"Is it the effect of that scepter?" Nick thought of Loki's scepter that could control people.
Hawkeye Clint, who was stared at with questioning eyes by his superior, raised his hands pitifully. With so many smart brains, why did they ask him a combatant?
"Where are all the surveillance videos of XX base and its surrounding areas today? Haven't they been found yet?" Nick asked dissatisfiedly into the communication.
"All the videos have been damaged or avoided." The personnel on the mothership responsible for collecting and gathering intelligence reported helplessly to their superiors.
"Damn it! Someone must be helping Garriott and the others! Otherwise, they couldn't have taken down a base in such a short time and escaped so easily." Nick instinctively sensed something was amiss. Even if Garriott was experienced and knew S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secrets and personnel distribution intimately, it was impossible for him to easily capture a base with just a few men, not even enough to get them any time to reinforce him! Nick preferred to believe that someone, or some force, was collaborating with Garriott, and that this person or force was well-informed about S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secrets, or perhaps even an insider.
"What do they want to gain by attacking the base?" Banner's good students raised their hands and asked.
"Some instruments and rare and precious materials such as iridium were lost in the base. We compared the lost items with Dr. Shavig's demand list, and most of them are consistent. In other words, these instruments and materials can all be used for testing and research, and to stimulate the power of the Cosmic Cube." Natasha glanced at Nick, and with the other's eye permission, answered Banner's question.
"Doctor, now that they have obtained the instruments and materials, they will definitely conduct experiments on the Rubik's Cube. By then, the gamma rays will be quite active. You must optimize your algorithm as quickly as possible and find the location of the Rubik's Cube before they do anything." Nick asked Dr. Banner.
"Stark and I can help." Luke patted Tony's shoulder and motioned him to follow him.
…
"Well done, this will greatly speed up our progress. I thought it would take some time to collect all the materials and instruments he needs. You are such an excellent subordinate. Don't worry, I know what you want. Everything about you can't hide in front of this scepter. When I become king, I will give you the reward you want." Loki looked at the instruments and materials brought back by Garriott, smiled with satisfaction, and promised Garriott.
"Our allies have put in a lot of effort in this." Garriott didn't take any credit for himself. "In exchange for their support, I promised them something on your behalf, Boss."
"It doesn't matter. I'm not a stingy person. As long as they submit and obey." Loki smiled contemptuously. "Once the army outside is teleported in, this world will undoubtedly be conquered by me. If they can face reality by then, the new king will always reward meritorious officials when he ascends the throne. If anyone chooses to resist, we can eliminate them together."
"The doctor's work will take some time. We have to find something for SHIELD and Nick and the others to do. We can't let them focus all their attention on us." Garriott advised Loki.
"That's a good idea. Their attention is all on me. Do you want me to step forward and attract their attention to buy you some time?" Loki thought of his silly brother who always took the lead when encountering problems, and then attracted everyone's attention and admiration. An evil smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"Are you sure?" Garriott looked at Loki.
"You shouldn't question me." Loki was dissatisfied at first, then asked, "Where is the royal palace of this country? The ascension of a new king always requires the demise of the old one. I want to try it out here first."