Marvel: Empire of Power-Chapter 151 - 150: The Serpent’s Arrival, a S.H.I.E.L.D. Scramble, and the Assembling Storm

The deal with Loki Laufeyson, brokered across dimensional voids by Elias Thorne's sheer will and Dr. Finch's precarious necromantic scrying, was a pact sealed in ambition and mutual, if unstated, desperation. Loki, armed with Thanos's Chitauri Scepter (its Mind Stone fragment pulsing with cold, manipulative energy) and the promise of a Chitauri army, would "invade" Earth. Elias, in turn, would orchestrate a "managed failure" for Loki, allowing Earth's nascent heroes to rally and (seemingly) repel the invasion, while Elias himself secured the true prizes: the Scepter, the Tesseract (which Loki would "lose" during the chaos), and invaluable intelligence on both Chitauri and Asgardian capabilities, not to mention the Prime Essence from any high-level casualties. It was a plan of breathtaking cynicism and cosmic chess. His [Prime Essence Shard Reserve] stood at a promising [1.3/5.0] from minor acquisitions, awaiting the bountiful harvest the Chitauri invasion would undoubtedly provide.

While Loki made his tortured, Thanos-compelled journey back towards the Sol system, Elias initiated Phase One of his "Chitauri Counter-Gambit."

Intelligence & Asset Preparation:

Anya Petrova (Washington D.C.): Her primary task was to subtly prime S.H.I.E.L.D., particularly Nick Fury and Peggy Carter, for an "unprecedented extra-normal crisis." She began feeding them fragmented, anonymous intelligence ("Blanchard's sources") hinting at a massive, off-world energy signature approaching Earth, possibly linked to the Tesseract (which S.H.I.E.L.D. was currently, foolishly, attempting to weaponize at Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S., a joint S.H.I.E.L.D./NASA facility). She also highlighted the recent erratic behavior of Dr. Erik Selvig, who was leading the Tesseract research, subtly suggesting potential "external influence" – Loki was already beginning to extend his psionic tendrils through the Scepter.Dr. Finch (Montreal Sanctum): Focused his Arch-Necromancer abilities and vast occult knowledge on two critical areas: developing countermeasures against the Scepter's Mind Stone influence (he theorized that specific necrotic energy frequencies or wards might disrupt its control over lesser minds), and attempting to divine the Tesseract's true nature and potential weaknesses beyond its portal-generating capabilities. He also began preparing a global network of "ley line disruptors" – small, Finch-enchanted devices that, if activated, could temporarily destabilize Earth's natural energetic pathways, potentially interfering with the Tesseract's ability to maintain a stable wormhole for a large invasion force. This was a last-ditch, planet-wide defense.O'Malley & Blackwood Skunkworks: Tasked with upgrading the Nightfall III with advanced Chitauri-specific ECM (Electronic Countermeasures) derived from Skrull intelligence provided by Warlord Kryll, and preparing a fleet of high-speed, heavily shielded "Salvage Drones" capable of operating within an active urban battlefield to secure fallen Chitauri tech and personnel. He also began designing prototype "Infinity Dampeners" – localized fields that might theoretically disrupt the power flow of an Infinity Stone, though this was highly theoretical and incredibly dangerous.Logan (Wolverine), Miller "Argent," & Wraith (Bucky Barnes): Formed Elias's primary terrestrial "Special Situations Unit." Logan's berserker fury and adamantium claws were ideal against Chitauri shock troops. Miller's Legionnaire resilience and cryo-talons offered crowd control and heavy support. Wraith's infiltration skills and upgraded bionic arm (now equipped with O'Malley's miniaturized EMP/psionic scramblers) would be crucial for disabling Chitauri command units or securing high-value targets amidst the chaos. Their primary objective: locate and secure the Scepter once Loki inevitably "lost" it.True Legionnaire Cohorts (Adamantium Guard): All twenty-one Legionnaires, including the Klyntar-bonded Nox and Vex, were placed on high alert, strategically positioned in cloaked Blackwood facilities near major global population centers (New York, London, Moscow, Tokyo). Their orders: remain unseen, observe the initial Chitauri assault and the response of Earth's "public" heroes, and intervene only if the Chitauri threatened to achieve overwhelming strategic victory before Loki's "managed failure" could be fully implemented, or if a critical opportunity arose to secure unique Chitauri technology or Shard-rich command units. They were Elias's ultimate insurance policy.Namor, the Sub-Mariner: Alerted to the impending arrival of a "sky-horde that dwarfs the Kree," Namor ([Loyalty: 80%]) pledged the full, aggressive defense of Earth's oceans. He would form an impenetrable aquatic barrier, ensuring no Chitauri forces could establish undersea beachheads or escape into the depths. His hydro-acoustic senses would also provide invaluable early warning of portal stabilization and troop deployment vectors.

Loki's Arrival & The S.H.I.E.L.D. Scramble:

Loki's arrival on Earth was precisely as "incompetently" orchestrated as Elias had hoped. Using the Chitauri Scepter, he psionically influenced Dr. Erik Selvig and several S.H.I.E.L.D. agents at the Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S. facility, using them to activate the Tesseract. The ensuing energy surge and portal instability caused massive damage to the facility, allowed Loki to seize the Tesseract, and triggered a full-scale S.H.I.E.L.D. lockdown and alert. Clint Barton (Hawkeye), compromised by the Scepter's touch, became Loki's mind-controlled pawn.

Nick Fury, his worst fears realized, initiated the "Avengers Initiative." His frantic calls went out to Tony Stark (Iron Man), Steve Rogers (Captain America, whom Fury, with Carter's reluctant assistance, tracked down to a remote cabin where he was trying to find some semblance of peace), and Dr. Bruce Banner (whom Natasha Romanoff, Black Widow, was dispatched to recruit from his hiding place in India, a delicate, high-risk operation). Thor's return remained an unknown, hoped-for variable.

Elias watched S.H.I.E.L.D.'s chaotic response with grim satisfaction. Their internal disarray, their reliance on a handful of powerful but deeply flawed individuals, their desperate scramble to understand a threat that was already several steps ahead of them – it all played perfectly into his hands. His assets remained hidden, his true power unrevealed, while Earth's "official" heroes were being maneuvered onto the front lines of a battle orchestrated by a trickster god under the thumb of a cosmic tyrant, all unknowingly dancing to Elias Thorne's silent, System-guided tune.

Anya Petrova, from her S.H.I.E.L.D. liaison position, reported directly to Elias: "Fury is assembling his 'Avengers.' Stark is predictably arrogant but his new Mark VI armor is... formidable. Rogers is reluctant, suspicious of Fury, but his sense of duty is absolute. Romanoff is bringing in Banner; the risk of a Hulk-out in transit is... considerable. They are disparate, volatile, unprepared for what Loki truly represents, or what follows him."

She also confirmed Loki's next move, information he'd subtly "allowed" S.H.I.E.L.D. to intercept: he needed Iridium to stabilize the Tesseract portal for the full Chitauri invasion, and he was heading to Stuttgart, Germany, to acquire it, using Hawkeye and a small team of Scepter-controlled mercenaries to create a very public, very theatrical diversion.

"Perfect," Elias murmured, observing the global tactical display in his Sanctum. "Let the 'Avengers' have their first taste of Asgardian mischief and Scepter-fueled chaos in Stuttgart. Let them learn to fight together, or fall apart. Logan, Miller, Wraith – your team is to discreetly shadow Loki's Stuttgart operation. Do not intervene with Loki or the Avengers directly unless absolutely critical. Your objective is to observe the Scepter's capabilities, the Avengers' initial combat dynamics, and secure any advanced technology Loki might deploy or abandon. And be prepared... Thor's arrival, if it happens, will likely be at the point of greatest conflagration."

Elias Thorne leaned back, his ageless eyes glinting with cold amusement and anticipation. The Chitauri Scepter, a fragment of an Infinity Stone, was now in play on Earth, wielded by a compromised god. The Avengers were assembling, a flawed, desperate line of defense. And he, the unseen Emperor, held all the strings. The Battle of New York was still days away, but its first, bloody movements were already being played out on the streets of Germany. The harvest of power, and of Shards, was about to begin.