Chapter 27 Natasha and Skye Team Up Again the Chaos Insurgency Emerges

The strange cases in Hell’s Kitchen had drawn S.H.I.E.L.D.’s immediate attention.

The agency quickly dispatched the newly established containment unit led by Phil Coulson.

This would be the first official operation of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s newly formed anomaly-response division— The S.H.I.E.L.D.

Anomalous Response Unit.

At one of the murder scenes in Hell’s Kitchen, Natasha Romanoff and Skye—both disguised as FBI agents—stood over the corpse with deep frowns.

“Agent Romanoff, the autopsy report is back.” Skye looked down at the file in her hands.

“The victim was killed by the same type of ammunition as the previous cases.” “6.5×39mm rifle rounds.” Natasha’s brow tightened.

She fell into thought.

“That’s the same caliber used by the Foundation’s assault rifles, isn’t it?” Skye looked toward her.

“Agent Romanoff, do you think the Foundation might be involved?” “Possibly.” Natasha’s expression remained serious.

“But it’s equally possible that whoever did this wants us to reach that conclusion.” “The Foundation has been completely quiet ever since the last incident.” After arriving in Hell’s Kitchen, Natasha and Skye had discovered something extremely disturbing.

Anyone connected to the original series of supernatural murders had been systematically eliminated.

Witnesses.

Informants.

Even NYPD officers involved in the investigation.

All of them had been murdered.

And whoever was responsible operated with extraordinary professionalism.

Even S.H.I.E.L.D.

had obtained almost nothing.

Aside from determining through autopsy that the victims had been killed by 6.5×39mm rifle ammunition, there were practically no usable clues.

That caliber made matters even more suspicious.

Other than the Foundation’s MTF-E11 assault rifles, there was currently no known military organization in the world using that specific type of ammunition.

For a time, some members of S.H.I.E.L.D.

genuinely suspected that the Foundation itself was eliminating witnesses and destroying evidence.

Natasha and Skye, however, firmly rejected that theory.

Both had personally interacted with the Foundation before.

At their repeated insistence, the ever-accommodating Coulson ultimately allowed them to personally investigate the case.

Unfortunately, after an entire day of searching, they found almost nothing.

All physical evidence and records gathered from the original victims had been destroyed the day before.

Even more unbelievable was what had happened at the NYPD evidence storage facility.

The place had been raided.

Every security guard and police officer on duty that day had been killed by the same 6.5×39mm ammunition.

Because of that attack, even many of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s neutral senior personnel had begun suspecting the Foundation.

Alexander Pierce had even proposed that Nick Fury submit a formal request to Washington demanding a full investigation into the Strategic Security Administration, which was suspected of being the Foundation’s official identity.

Nick Fury rejected the proposal.

It was far too extreme.

Even if the allegations ultimately proved true, S.H.I.E.L.D.

would never casually declare hostility toward the Foundation unless there was clear evidence that the organization posed a severe threat to national security.

That meant the pressure fell directly onto Coulson.

Nick Fury ordered him to determine the truth as quickly as possible.

Natasha and Skye weren’t the only ones working.

Nearly one hundred agents from the newly established S.H.I.E.L.D.

Anomalous Response Unit had been mobilized across the area.

Yet by the end of the day, S.H.I.E.L.D.

had almost nothing to show for it.

Skye was just asking Natasha whether they should stop by a recently popular barbecue restaurant for a smoked beef rib sandwich when their radios suddenly crackled to life.

“Team Three reporting.

Agent May speaking.” “We may have found something different.” Melinda May’s voice came through the channel.

“The original victims connected to the supernatural incidents all participated in the same Rocky Mountains climbing expedition not long ago.” A pause.

Then— “Wait.” “Who’s there?!” Gunfire suddenly exploded over the radio.

RATATATAT!

“Team Three under attack!” “We have casualties!” “We’re exchanging fire with hostile forces!” Natasha and Skye exchanged a look.

Neither needed to say anything.

Natasha slammed her foot down on the accelerator.

The customized S.H.I.E.L.D.

Cadillac roared as it shot down the street toward Team Three’s location.

Melinda May was inside an old apartment building.

The S.H.I.E.L.D.

agents there were already locked in a furious firefight with an unknown group of attackers.

“GRENADE!” May shouted.

She barely managed to kick over a dining table and dive behind it.

The two S.H.I.E.L.D.

agents defending the doorway weren’t as fortunate.

BOOM!

The explosion swallowed them instantly.

Gunfire grew louder.

Closer.

May heard the attackers throw another pair of grenades inside— Along with flashbangs.

Then came more rifle fire.

The attackers began systematically finishing off the wounded S.H.I.E.L.D.

personnel still crying out in pain.

May was just about to move when Natasha’s voice came through her earpiece.

“Reinforcements are here.” A fraction of a second later— BOOM!

The ceiling collapsed.

Natasha dropped through the opening from above.

The attackers were caught completely off guard.

She landed among them and immediately exploded into motion.

A strike to the throat.

An elbow to the jaw.

A sweeping kick.

A violent takedown.

Within seconds, four attackers had been neutralized.

Then Natasha got a clear look at them.

Her eyes widened.

Their tactical uniforms…

Their equipment…

Their weapons…

They looked almost exactly like Foundation personnel.

“What the hell?” Natasha forced one of the surviving attackers to the floor.

“Are you with the Foundation?” The moment the restrained man heard the word Foundation, his entire body suddenly convulsed with rage.

He struggled violently beneath her grip.

Then spat a mouthful of bloody saliva toward her.

Natasha tilted her head aside and avoided it.

“Fuck the Foundation!” The man snarled through bloodied teeth.

“We are the Chaos Insurgency!” His eyes burned with fanaticism.

“If S.H.I.E.L.D.

interferes in our war…” “Then destruction is all that awaits you!” His breathing became ragged.

“War…” “Never ends.” Then his body went limp.

Skye rushed into the room moments later.

She quickly checked several of the fallen attackers.

One.

Then another.

Then another.

Her expression darkened.

She looked toward Natasha and shook her head.

“They’re all dead.” “Poison.” “Not a single one left themselves alive.” Natasha slowly stood.

Her eyes settled on the dead attackers’ Foundation-like equipment.

A single name remained in her mind.

Chaos Insurgency.

Was this…

An enemy organization of the Foundation?