The moment Ethan finished speaking, several violent explosions thundered through the forest.
“Commander, AC-160M Salamander gunship entering the combat zone.
Beginning close air support!” A firm, professional military voice came through Ethan’s radio, which he had deliberately switched to external speakers.
Everyone looked up.
An aircraft resembling a heavily modified AC-130 gunship appeared in the sky.
Its general layout was similar to the AC-130 currently operated by the U.S.
military, but its airframe was far sleeker.
There were no propellers.
It was powered entirely by jet engines, and its exterior was coated in radar-absorbent material.
Rather than calling it an upgraded AC-130, it would be more accurate to describe it as an entirely new class of aircraft.
As the gunship made its dramatic entrance, Melinda May—who had been waiting nearby in the Black Hawk helicopter and monitoring the radio—immediately contacted the command post.
“Raccoon calling command!
Do we have an air operation deployed in this area?” “I’m looking at what appears to be an advanced AC-130-type super gunship pouring fire into the ground!” From Melinda’s position, dense streams of fire rained into the forest like a storm, seemingly forming a barrier against something advancing through the trees.
Back at Bagram Air Base, Coulson was equally stunned.
This was supposed to be a covert S.H.I.E.L.D.
operation.
There was absolutely no way they would deploy something this conspicuous.
More importantly, Coulson had never heard of Bagram possessing aircraft this advanced.
He instinctively looked toward the Air Force major general commanding the base.
The officer immediately shook his head.
“We haven’t received any orders authorizing a deployment.” “Could it be coming from another base?” He had barely finished speaking when Melinda’s voice came through the radio again.
“I’m counting sixteen aircraft that look like oversized versions of the V-22 Osprey!” “They’re all armed!” “I received absolutely no intelligence indicating that the military intended to deploy cutting-edge aircraft like these into this area!” Coulson slowly turned toward the stunned Air Force major general.
His expression was anything but friendly.
You said you didn’t know anything about this?
Every one of those aircraft looks like some absurd next-generation evolution of equipment already used by the Air Force, and you’re telling me you’ve never seen them before?
At this point, even the major general himself wasn’t entirely sure whether the military knew about the operation.
After all, this was the U.S.
military.
The larger an organization became, the easier it was for classified projects to become compartmentalized beyond recognition.
What if this really was some secret military operation?
The armed forces weren’t subordinate to S.H.I.E.L.D.
In fact, S.H.I.E.L.D.
and the military occasionally competed for federal funding.
With that thought in mind, the major general slipped effortlessly into bureaucratic language.
“I’ll contact the Pentagon and determine whether any operation has been authorized.” “Until we clarify the situation, I recommend maintaining your current positions to avoid any possibility of friendly fire.” Coulson was generally easygoing and had no desire to start a confrontation with the military.
He reluctantly raised his radio.
“Maintain observation for now.” “If Agents Romanoff and Skye make contact, move in to support them.” While S.H.I.E.L.D.
and Bagram Air Base descended into confusion, the AC-160M Salamander gunship showed no intention of waiting.
Its onboard 150mm smart cannon had already acquired its targets through thermal imaging.
A cluster of SCP-939 specimens had gathered below.
The gunship fired.
A high-explosive shaped-charge shell plunged into the forest.
BOOM!
A massive cloud of dust erupted upward.
The blast was so powerful that it looked almost like a thermobaric weapon had detonated.
At the same time, the aircraft’s 40mm rapid-fire cannon and 7.62mm Vulcan guns laid down dense streams of suppressive fire closer to Ethan’s position, carefully maintaining enough distance to avoid hitting friendly personnel.
Another voice came through his radio.
“Commander, Air Assault Company is in position.” “Preparing to clear the landing zone and begin containment operations.” Ethan looked at Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff, and Skye, all three of whom were standing there in stunned silence.
A victorious smile appeared on his face.
“Clear the area immediately.” “Begin the operation!” “Copy!” Sixteen aircraft bearing the Foundation insignia immediately turned toward Ethan’s position.
They were V-44X Blackfish transports.
Each one resembled a significantly enlarged and heavily modified Osprey.
Aside from two pilots and two gunners, a single V-44X Blackfish could transport thirty-six passengers.
Alternatively, it could carry sixteen personnel alongside an infantry fighting vehicle.
And the transports themselves were far from defenseless.
Each V-44X was armed with: A 20mm autocannon.
A 90mm rocket launcher.
A 105mm rapid-fire cannon.
And two 7.62mm Vulcan guns.
The amount of firepower packed into each transport was almost absurd.
Every Blackfish possessed firepower comparable to a heavy attack helicopter while still retaining substantial troop-carrying capacity.
Clearly, after spending years dealing with anomalies, the Foundation had developed a severe case of fearing that there was never enough firepower.
The sixteen aircraft rapidly approached Ethan’s position.
The moment they arrived overhead, they unleashed an overwhelming barrage into the surrounding forest.
Explosions thundered continuously.
The deep mechanical roar of Vulcan guns hammered against everyone’s eardrums.
Trees surrounding the intended landing zone were shattered or blown apart.
Two V-44X Blackfish transports descended toward the ground.
Multiple ropes dropped from their open doors.
Then soldiers began sliding down one after another.
They wore combat uniforms almost identical to Ethan’s, though without his tactical exoskeleton.
One Foundation officer whose helmet design clearly distinguished him from the others approached Ethan.
He stopped in front of him and snapped a crisp salute.
“Foundation 601st Air Assault Company reporting.” “Command authority is hereby transferred to Commander Ethan.” “Awaiting your orders, sir!” Ethan returned the salute with a grave expression.
“Proceed according to the original plan.” “Contain SCP-939, ‘With Many Voices.'” “Yes, sir!” The company commander immediately turned and began issuing orders with practiced efficiency.
“Platoon A, clear the landing zone immediately!” “Keep the air support coming!” “Get the rest of our people on the ground!” Foundation assault troops moved with remarkable precision.
Charges were quickly placed against trees obstructing the landing zone.
One after another, the trees were blown down.
Meanwhile, more soldiers continued rappelling from the transports.
Tony, Natasha, and Skye could only stare.
They had already suspected that the Foundation possessed considerable power.
But actually seeing hundreds of Foundation personnel descending from the sky was something else entirely.
Every soldier was equipped with technology that appeared to be at least thirty years ahead of anything currently fielded by the military.
The three of them were already struggling to process what they were seeing.
Then two vehicles were unloaded.
An advanced-looking AMV7 Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
And a Hunter Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected Vehicle.
Tony stared at them in disbelief.
Natasha and Skye weren’t doing much better.
Only one thought seemed appropriate.
Did an American military force from several decades in the future just travel back in time?