Chapter 38 SCP-096 Successfully Contained—Battle on the Brink

A group of reserve Mobile Task Force operators rushed forward and quickly formed a protective ring around Colonel Hans.

“Are you all right, sir?” Hans waved them off.

He looked toward SCP-096, which had already returned to its docile state, then silently raised his radio.

“SCP-096…” “Containment successful.” He repeated the words once more.

Watching everything unfold through the drone feed, Nick Fury, Coulson, and the others at S.H.I.E.L.D.

finally understood why Natasha and Skye held the Foundation in such high regard.

Even someone as demanding as Nick Fury fell silent.

And even Pierce, who had hoped the Foundation’s containment operation would fail, felt no satisfaction when he watched the Mobile Task Force operators fall one after another.

No matter how ruthless someone might be, it was difficult not to respect warriors who willingly sacrificed themselves to protect peace.

After a long silence, Nick Fury finally spoke from the heart.

“They’re real heroes.” “Salute the fallen.” Everyone present from S.H.I.E.L.D.

unconsciously echoed him.

“Salute the fallen.” Whether they were rivals or enemies, whether their interests aligned or not— As long as someone still possessed even the most basic sense of humanity, they would respect people like these.

The Foundation’s soldiers had marched toward death for the sake of all humanity.

That alone made them worthy of respect.

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

had no intention of trying to seize the contained anomaly.

HYDRA and the Chaos Insurgency, however, were another matter entirely.

Respect was one thing.

利益 was another.

For the sake of power and advantage, neither HYDRA nor the Chaos Insurgency would hesitate to use any means necessary.

Inside the command-model V-44X Blackfish, Ethan heard the system notification.

[SCP-096, “The Shy Guy,” successfully contained.] However, the system did not immediately begin calculating rewards.

Ethan instantly understood.

This wasn’t over yet.

Most likely, SCP-096 would only count as truly secured once it had been safely transported back to a Foundation base.

The outer perimeter units were still maintaining vigilance.

Colonel Hans had no time to mourn his fallen men.

He immediately directed the remaining MTF operators to place SCP-096 inside a specially designed containment cage.

Guided by ground personnel, a V-44X Blackfish lowered into position.

The containment cage holding SCP-096 was loaded into the aircraft’s cargo compartment.

Just as the transport was preparing to take off, the intelligence officer beside Ethan suddenly reported, “Commander.” “Radar has detected unidentified contacts approaching from approximately 655 kilometers outside the containment zone.” “Based on technical analysis, they’re likely fifth-generation aircraft.” “Possibly three F-35s.” Ethan’s eyes sharpened.

So they’ve finally come.

“Order the Foundation Air Force fighters stationed at the New York D-Class Base to launch.” “Intercept them.” A faint smile appeared on his face.

“Chaos Insurgency?” “Or HYDRA?” “You didn’t think you were the only ones with an air force, did you?” At the military airfield attached to the Foundation’s D-Class Base outside New York, the local air unit had already been placed on standby the moment the operation began.

The Foundation currently possessed six fifth-generation all-weather fighters.

If compared with real-world military aircraft, their performance could roughly be considered 5.5-generation.

They were part of the basic air assets that came with the A-Class Base.

Ethan had originally thought the fighters wouldn’t see any use during this operation.

Apparently, he’d been wrong.

“Tower to Falcon Squadron.” “Airspace is clear.” “Command has ordered immediate launch.” “Intercept hostile aircraft approaching Containment Zone D-32.” “Falcon Squadron copies.” “Preparing for immediate takeoff.” Three black-painted F/A-181 Black Wasp II fighters slowly taxied onto the runway.

Once the pilots reached their takeoff positions— The three engines surged.

Blue exhaust flames erupted behind them.

The fighters rapidly accelerated.

When they reached takeoff speed, the pilots pulled back on the controls.

One after another— The black warbirds lifted into the sky.

Elsewhere, three Chaos Insurgency F-35A fighters were already racing through the air.

The containment zone was getting closer.

The V-44X Blackfish might be an advanced aircraft, but at the end of the day, it was still a transport platform rather than a dedicated fixed-wing fighter.

No matter how advanced a rotorcraft was, facing a proper combat aircraft was always dangerous.

Even if the V-44X possessed stealth coating and enemy fighters needed to close to a certain range before achieving a reliable lock, remaining on the defensive was still extremely risky.

Especially for the transport carrying SCP-096.

If that aircraft was shot down— The consequences would be catastrophic.

Nick Fury had just received the same intelligence.

His brow furrowed.

“What the hell is going on?” “Aircraft suspected to belong to the Chaos Insurgency are rapidly approaching the Foundation transports.” “If they shoot down the aircraft carrying SCP-096, the consequences could be disastrous.” His expression darkened further.

“Where the hell are these Chaos Insurgency bases located?” “They actually have F-35As operating inside U.S.

territory?” “What the hell has our intelligence network been doing?” One of the officers hurriedly answered, “Director Fury, even if we scramble the closest fighters right now, it’ll take at least twenty minutes for them to reach the area.” “We won’t make it in time!” Then— Someone nearby suddenly shouted.

“Director Fury!” “Unknown Foundation fixed-wing aircraft detected!” “An air battle has broken out over the containment zone!”