Notes and Disclaimers
This story takes place before the events shown in Excalibur #24 and replaces all following continuity. Excalibur remains trapped in its Cross Time Caper for the forseeable future. Kitty Pryde, Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D., and most of the other characters appearing in this fan-fiction belong to Marvel Comics and are used without permission. This is my first attempt at fan-fiction. Comments welcomed.
A brief history
In the waning days of World War II the scientists who'd discovered the unique properties of the site now known as listening post A-111 began experiments there to learn if other forms of energy were enhanced or affected as radio transmissions were. Before long, though, the growing 'cold war' necessitated full reactivation of the site as a listening post once again. The site was enlarged (i.e. dug deeper into the ground) to hold newer, larger and better equipment. The highest levels of security were observed to maintain that none outside a select few knew of the site's nature.
But as the cold war grew colder still and paranoia became more prevalent there was fear that the site (which was intercepting transmissions undetectable to other listening posts) would be discovered by the Russians and somehow neutralized or destroyed by them. Therefore it was decided to enlarge the site further and make it self-sufficient, much like a submarine at sea, with crews remaining hidden within for months. And, like the submarines it was now imitating, the decision was also made to install a nuclear power source.
All work was conducted under either overcast or moonless nights. The project was given top priority and completed with all due haste.
The compact nuclear reactor generator installed was cutting-edge technology for its time, almost experimental. All safety procedures were scrupulously followed, including heavy shielding and armor surrounding the level the reactor was on as well as an emergency venting/flushing system to dump the radioactive elements into the nearby sea should such a drastic measure be deemed necessary.
Thus it went for years but things, and fears, change. Those few politicians who knew of the base's existence became nervous and worried. They had and were allowing the use of an unreported and unregistered nuclear reactor on British home soil. Concerned that the reactor and their connection to it would be discovered one day, they sought a way to be rid of it.
They found one with the emergence of SHIELD as the world's premier spy organization. SHIELD's officials and scientists were very interested once they learned of the site's special nature and the transfer of the location to SHIELD control was almost immediate. It was then that SHIELD officials learned what was powering the listening post. Unwilling to admit they'd been tricked and with their analysts and scientists pointing out that replacing the reactor would not only be cost-excessive but also very difficult to conceal, SHIELD decided to work with what they had.
Upgrading the reactor with their own ultra-high technologies, SHIELD continued to run the site but as the years passed without SHIELD scientists discovering what caused the site's unique nature and effects, and with the SHIELD satellite system rendering the listening post redundant, the location lost its high standing.
Although the site's nuclear reactor was continually updated, the listening post slowly began to become a place of exile, where SHIELD agents on the outs with their superiors found themselves banished to. Site A-111 had become a place to avoid among European SHIELD agents.
Just prior to the events which would cause Nick Fury to shut down the entire organization of SHIELD, a final upgrade to the reactor was done, making it one of the smallest, most advanced of its type. So confident of their work were they that many of the pre-existing safety measures were removed to make room for other equipment.
When the listening post was shut down with the rest of SHIELD, so much haste was involved that, while the nuclear material was removed, the reactor couldn't be, not without completely disassembling it. Since many parts of the reactor were now radioactive, disassembly would have been a long drawn-out project. So it was decided to simply seal up the listening post.
This also meant plugging up the emergency venting pipes. Something not mentioned on the final shutdown reports given to the techs charged with reactivating the reactor and site.
Conclusion to a brief history
SHIELD agents Buckhelm and Pryde rushed down the stairwell that led to the storage level of listening post A-111, their concern over what Hydra was planning tempered by the realization they had yet to encounter any Hydra agents within the post.
'Control yourself, damn it,' thought Kitty to herself, 'You let your concentration slip when you realized what Hydra (seems) to be up too, 'cause girl, you nearly screwed up big time.
'I've been letting myself slide, maintaining my solidity, because those Hydra EMP missiles fried all the electronics I was carrying. All I had to do was be careful when I was next to Buckhelm or the others.
'You told yourself to be extra careful and what do you do? You practically phased through Buckhelm and were about to phase through the door.
'Professor X,' thought Kitty, 'I think you were too generous when you rated my intelligence.'
Kitty recentered her thoughts as she and Buckhelm came to the entrance to level three. As before, Buckhelm kicked open the door while Kitty scanned the room, her pistol held before her.
Half of this large circular level was filled with huge refrigerator storage lockers while the other side used more conventional storage shelving. As in the other levels, the ceiling here also had an array of shaped explosive charges mounted to it.
"I guess this pretty much confirms your theory," stated Buckhelm. "Blasting straight through this place does seem to be what they're planning."
"Its the only idea that makes any sense," replied Kitty.
"Agreed. But why are they after the reactor? Is it really that high tech or valuable?" asked Buckhelm.
"No, no it isn't. Not unless the specs in the files are way wrong. It is a pretty advanced piece of equipment but, from what I understand of Hydra, it's hardly beyond their means to duplicate, what with their sometimes partership with AIM. Advanced Idea Mechanics may be a collection of evil scientists but they do know their stuff."
Looking up at the explosives, Kitty continued, "No, I'm thinking they're either after the nuclear materials powering the generator or..."
"Or?"
"Or they're planning on blowing up the reactor itself! Unfortunately, to my thinking, that makes the most sense with what we've seen. Blast a hole down through to the reactor, then blow it up and spread radioactive gunk all over the place."
"They can't cause it to explode like a nuclear bomb, can they, Pryde?!"
"No they can't," said Kitty firmly. "Nuclear reactors don't work that way. With some work the nuclear material could be used to make a 'dirty' atomic bomb but it would take a lot of time to prepare and wouldn't require blowing a hole through this place to do it."
"Okay, I'm buying what you're saying," replied Buckhelm. "But it still doesn't answer why. There are no communities nearby. This is a pretty barren area, there's not much of anything around here. Unless there are wind patterns here that might carry the contamination somewhere..."
"Yeah, that's the part I can't figure unless you're right about the wind direction."
"Maybe propaganda?" offered Kitty after a moment. "SHIELD's secret base's secret nuclear reactor blows up, comtaminating the whole area. Film at eleven. Not exactly good press for a rebuilding SHIELD."
"Possibly," replied Buckhelm with a shake of his head. "But still iffy. Assuming SHIELD and the government didn't manage to slap an airtight lid, literally, on this whole thing. I think you may be right but still... I get the feeling we're missing something, that we haven't figured it all out.
"What I mean is that if Hydra pulls this off it would make SHIELD look very bad, incompetent even, but I can't imagine anyone holding SHIELD more to blame than Hydra," continued Buckhelm. "We'd look bad but Hydra would look worse."
"You're right," said Kitty. "Hydra likely has an overall plan and this may be just part of it but, regardless, if Hydra pulls this stunt off it'll be a black eye SHIELD'll be a long time, if ever, getting over."
"Then we'd better make sure they don't pull it off," stated Buckhelm firmly.
The two quickly continued onward, heading down the next stairwell. Kitty took the lead while frustration and worry raced through her mind. Four people that she knew of, the original tech crew, were dead and it was clear Hydra was planning to add to that number with whatever they were doing here. She had to stop them but she also knew she had to keep her mutant power a secret. But by not using her abilities to their fullest she knew she was running a greater risk of failure, that Hydra might succeed with whatever plot they were up too.
She had no doubts her phasing power would simplify the present situation greatly but would undoubtly lead to a bad situation for herself and, no doubt, Fury too, later. If push came to shove she'd phase all she'd need to no matter who saw it, but for now she knew she had to play by Fury's rules.
'Damn it', she thought, 'Why is nothing ever easy?'
Frustrated, Kitty rushed forward, knocking open the door at the bottom of the stairwell without waiting for Buckhelm.
And ran right into the middle of a group of Hydra agents finalizing the installment of explosive charges to the maintance level's ceiling.
"Oops!!
"Errr, hi there," said Kitty sleepishly to the startled Hydra agents. "Don't mind me, I'm just passing through."
The Hydras went for their guns.
"Lord!" cursed Buckhelm as he came apon the sight before him, and with both pistols out he shouted, "Pryde, get... down...!?"
But Kitty was already in motion. Rushing forward her right foot shot out, catching one opponent in the midriff even as she backhanded a second with her left fist. Continuing her spin to the left she crouched, pivoting on one heel as she kicked the legs out from under another Hydra agent. Snapping back to her feet Kitty added her upward momentum to an upper cut that rocked the unfortunate target right off his feet.
As Buckhelm stared disbelieving, Kitty finished off the Hydra agents in a blur of kicks and punches.
Then, as the last of her opponents hit the floor with a thud, Kitty turned back to Buckhelm, who was still holding his two pistols out before him and raised an questioning eyebrow at him.
"Ah... very... impressive," blurted out Buckhelm, who then realized he was pointing his pistols at Kitty. With a blush he hostered them. "But still rather foolhardy," he continued. "That pistol you're holding has a purpose other than as a blunt instrument."
Kitty looked at the gun she'd been holding in her hand, shrugged and hostered it. "Well... I didn't think a fire fight in a room full of explosives was a good idea."
"Of course... good thinking," replied Buckhelm, but Kitty could see he didn't completely buy it. "Now let's get these goons tied up before anymore show up."
As the two were binding the Hydra agents, Buckhelm turned back to Kitty. "On what you said, assuming we don't set off any explosives, how dangerous will a fire fight in the reactor room be?"
"That depends," answered Kitty. "Short of our setting off any of the explosives Hydra is sure to be setting up down there with our gunfire, our pistols shouldn't be able to punch through the outer walls of the containment room's shielding."
"And I can't imagine the Hydras would bother to drag heavy weapons all the way down there."
"Of course a gun battle inside the containment room is another matter altogether and... what's wrong, Buckhelm?"
"I just realized something, several somethings actually, none good," replied Buckhelm. "We ran up against six Hydra agents outside and you took out four more here. But that missile truck we saw topside couldn't have brought them all here."
"Maybe they rode on top of it?"
"In full Hydra uniforms? Not likely. Besides, we haven't encountered an overall commander. All the goons we've run into were grunts and you can bet he still has a few still with him."
"You know, now that you mention it, the few times I've gone up against Hydra they always had an army of troops. Of course, there was always a Strucker involved, so--?" Kitty stopped when she realized Agent Buckhelm was staring at her.
"Uh... what's wrong?" she asked.
Buckhelm opened his mouth to speak, then firmly shut it and held a hand out in front of him. The last thing he needed, he thought, was to be distracted by another revelation from Agent Pryde.
"Nothing, nothing," he said at last. "Just add it to that growing list of things to talk about after this is all over. Let's get back to the problem at hand, the number of Hydra agents waiting for us downstairs."
"And how they got here?" added Kitty.
"Exactly. We didn't see any other transports up there."
"Maybe they were hiding a short distance away?"
"They would have come running during our fight to take the entrance. No, they and that missile truck must have been dropped off via air transport."
"That might explain why there isn't a large force of those goons," replied Kitty. "But where's the plane? Or planes if they used more than one?"
"They delivered their 'cargo' and left. The problem is..."
"The problem is," continued Kitty as realization came to her, "that, unless this is a suicide run, then..."
Both turned and looked upward.
"Then Jones is very likely in more trouble up there than we are down here," finished Buckhelm.
"This day," said Kitty without humor, "just keeps getting better."