Chapter 357: Battleship
Bruce adjusted his glasses, squinting at the glowing data feed. "No heat signatures. No visible weapon arrays... at least none we can detect. Could be cloaked tech."
Shuri’s fingers flew across the console, her eyes sharp with calculation. "Or it’s pretending to be harmless. Ships that size don’t just appear out of nowhere without a reason."
Dave’s lips curved into a faint grin. He leaned back slightly, almost amused. "So... what do you think? First contact, or first fight?"
"We’ll have to wait and see," Tony said, his voice carrying that restless edge of a man who already expected the worst. "They landed in the middle of a desert, far away from any major settlements. Right now, the ship’s cloaked. Only we—or maybe S.H.I.E.L.D.—could have even detected it."
But before anyone could respond, the ship itself gave a low, thunderous groan. Plates shifted. Seam lines split apart. The entire hull seemed to unfold like a colossal machine awakening. Then, with a resonating metallic clang, a vast hangar bay opened wide.
No one spoke immediately. The sound alone silenced the group as the shadowed interior revealed itself.
From the darkness, figures began to emerge.
At first, they were only silhouettes—tall, broad-shouldered, moving in perfect, disciplined formations. As the desert sunlight spilled over them, their features became clear.
Their skin gleamed like polished cobalt, smooth yet unnatural. Faces were angular and stern, with sharp cheekbones and cold, calculating eyes that seemed to measure everything with clinical precision. Each one wore segmented battle armor: sleek, functional, and marked with glowing insignias of rank and hierarchy. Their movements were mechanical in their discipline—no wasted motion, no hesitation, every step in lockstep perfection.
Dave’s gaze sharpened. He exhaled slowly, recognition dawning on his face. He gave a knowing nod. "Kree," he muttered under his breath.
The others immediately turned toward him.
"The Kree are a warrior race," Dave explained, his voice steady, though a faint caution edged his tone. "They’re proud. Militaristic. To them, conquest isn’t just an option—it’s their way of life. They value hierarchy and domination above all else. They don’t arrive uninvited unless they’re here for a reason."
Natasha crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "So... not exactly the friendly neighbors we were hoping for."
"They only follow two rules," Dave said flatly, his words sharp. "Dominate... or be dominated."
Tony gave a short nod, his mouth twisting into a dry smile. "Yeah, I’m already getting heavy imperial conquest vibes here. Translation? Kree equals war."
But Steve, ever the voice of measured calm, raised his hand slightly. "Still—let’s not jump straight into a fight. Let’s talk first. Hear what they want. We don’t throw the first punch unless they leave us no choice."
The group exchanged uneasy looks, but eventually most nodded.
"Fine," Dave muttered, leaning back as though the whole situation already bored him. "You guys go handle it. Honestly, even if Tony alone decided to get serious, he’d blast them all to pieces."
Diana, standing close to him, let out a quiet sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose before massaging her temple.
"Stop being so lazy," she scolded, her tone sharp but calm—like an elder sister trying to pull someone back into line. "Lately you’ve been acting like you’re half-asleep. Or worse—like you’re half-drugged."
Dave only shrugged casually, his expression unreadable. "Why should I push myself? I’ve got enough capable people around me. Stressing over every alien warship that drops out of the sky isn’t my idea of fun."
Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t push the argument any further.
Meanwhile, the Kree formation shifted again. The golden-trimmed commander raised one hand, his armor gleaming in the desert sun. Instantly, the line of soldiers halted, stomping their boots against the sand in unison. The sound echoed across the empty wasteland like a rolling drumbeat of war.
"What are they up to now?" Tony muttered, eyes narrowing as he watched.
The commander barked another command, sharp and precise. Immediately, the soldiers began unloading massive pieces of equipment from the hangar, strange alien devices that glittered with energy under the light.
Dave tilted his head lazily, unfazed. "Just go down there and figure it out."
Tony groaned. "Of course. Leave it to me." He sighed, then straightened. "Fine. I’ll handle this one."
Steve stepped forward, falling into place beside him.
In an instant, Tony summoned his latest jet—the Turbojet, powered by the experimental TURBO Force engine. Its hull shimmered into view as it rose from its docking bay, engines flaring with raw power. The craft roared to life, tearing into the sky in a blur of light.
The air shattered as it pierced the horizon, moving almost thirty times faster than sound. Sonic booms rippled across the clouds as the jet sliced through the atmosphere, its cloaking systems shimmering around its hull.
Within moments, the Turbojet descended above the desert battlefield. Sandstorms whipped into spirals beneath it as Tony and Steve leapt down, their boots sinking into the scorching sand. The massive Kree starship loomed overhead, its colossal frame blotting out half the sky, its edges still rippling with cloaked distortion.
The Kree commander stepped forward at their arrival, his golden-trimmed armor shining brilliantly. He raised his chin, posture sharp, and spoke in a voice metallic and cold.
"Cease your advance, humans. By order of the Kree Empire, this planet is to be annexed. With the Empire in command, you will prosper."
Tony’s eyes narrowed behind his mask, his arms crossing over his chest. His voice was sharp, but his sarcasm cut through like a blade. "Yeah... no. Earth isn’t up for sale today."
The commander’s expression darkened, his gauntleted fist rising. "Then you will be eliminated."
Tony sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "Figures. So much for your peace talk, Cap."
Steve didn’t answer. His gaze drifted past the commander, focusing instead on the looming ship behind them. Its towering hull rose like a fortress of steel and shadow, blotting out the horizon and casting a suffocating presence across the desert.
Slowly, Steve raised his hand.
The entire formation of Kree soldiers stiffened instantly, their weapons snapping up, their grips tightening. A ripple of tense energy passed down their lines.
"Now," Steve muttered. Flames erupted from his palm in a sudden burst, streaking forward like living fire.
The Kree responded at once.
The first volley of alien plasma screamed through the air, streaking toward Steve and Tony in a storm of glowing bolts.
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