The Ultimates: Against All Enemies by Alex Irvine Page A

steam out of your armchair psychoanalysis any day.
    "Move this goddamn thing," Fury growled. The elevator door shut, and the bottom dropped out of Tony's stomach. Express train to hell, he thought. As the door closed, he heard the phone ring, but Hank Pym could wait. After seeing Nick Fury caught speechless, Tony had the idea that this was going to be a pretty good day. He couldn't wait to put on his suit.
    9
    Status Report
    The tension between order and chaos that constitutes much of what humans call personality is proving to be a useful if delicate tool. It is observed that in intra-human conflicts, the side operating at a material and technological deficit prioritizes the sowing of chaos, while the side with a surplus of materiel and personnel prioritizes direct assault and the imposition of order. Thus the imbalance between plenitude and insufficiency becomes a determinant in tactical and strategic choice. Lessons are available from this observation, and are being processed and incorporated into short-term planning. A new emphasis on the sowing of chaos is instituted, and assets redeployed accordingly.
    In the longer term, open conflict is unavoidable and desirable, once resources are more fully developed. Sensitivity to human political activity will offer cues as to the correct time to abandon small-scale operations designed to compromise key individual targets in favor of a standard battlefield configuration. Assimilation efforts accelerate, and prognosis for the human ordering project is rated good. Diversionary tactics, although of limited long-term value, have previously proved useful in managing the enemy's movements and priorities. Activities in this vein continue. Reports are imminent on the success of the most recent diversionary mission, location . Although complete ramifications will not be known immediately, early signs should indicate whether the mission was successful on its terms and should be repeated. The strategic truism that surprise and morale erosion are force multipliers need not be retested; what remains to be seen is the specific realization of this truism in the actions of , especially with respect to the political treatment of current initiatives.
    Political reaction to mission unfolds as expected. has contacted . Details of the conversation are not available due to minimal assets and difficult communication channels. It however appears as if both and have acted according to mission plan. This situation will be monitored intensively.
    Intelligence gathering and resource placement in improves. Assets are in final placement anticipating orders to execute planned mission.
    Mission Timeline and Preliminary Report: Triskelion
    -.090349 solar year: Assessment of security procedures in and around Triskelion. Identification of possible weak point in shipping and receiving of cargo due to involvement of several different groups.
    -.078222 solar year: Identification and surveillance of contracted non-military personnel involved in logistics.
    -.038874 solar year: Targeting of and due to length of service, with presumed increase in institutional trust, and absence of family and social networks.
    -.030582 solar year: Assimilation of and Preparation of ordnance.
    -.022916 solar year: Elimination of two employees of contracted logistical service, causing reassignment of their duties to assets in place, and .
    -.000342 solar year: Deployment of assets in place on mission.
    -.000171 solar year: Assets in place destroy portions of Triskelion. Assets lost as a planned consequence of mission.
    Appendix
    Priority nonhuman asset assimilated in     Priority human asset assimilated in     10
    Steve Rogers could not remember ever being so angry.
    Thirteen SHIELD contractors were dead,