Although nuclear weapons had long been overshadowed by energy-based technology, their destructive potential still made them a last-resort weapon. Their portability was inferior, and the environmental contamination they caused was severe, which is why most official organizations had moved away from them.
But abandonment didn't mean irrelevance. No matter how advanced technology became, humans were still flesh and blood. If nuclear weapons were deployed indiscriminately, mutual destruction was no empty threat.
Even though Earth had become more resilient due to the rise of superhuman powers and advanced technology, nuclear strikes could still render vast areas uninhabitable wastelands. If unleashed on a massive scale, they could drag all of human civilization into the abyss.
The threat of nuclear warfare was precisely why even the most ambitious official organizations hesitated. Everyone knew where each organization's bases were located. If a nuclear strike were ordered, the only thing left to ensure was that the missiles hit their targets.
However, history was not kind to such plans. In the early days of the superhuman era, these organizations had repeatedly tried to kill Clark and Robert with nuclear weapons. Yet the missiles never even reached the ground, being neutralized by the two heroes long before detonation.
Back then, the organizations wielded absolute control over the planet, and their fears centered around Earth's potential destruction by Robert or Clark. They knew nothing about the true identities of these individuals, which led to failure after failure.
Now, though these organizations still held power, they were embroiled in bitter infighting and on the brink of collapse.
The principle of "if I'm going down, I'll take everyone with me" was one they embraced wholeheartedly. And this time, with their survival at stake, they wouldn't hesitate to act.
"Nuclear strikes?"
The official organizations that received the warnings frowned deeply. While nuclear weapons might not pose a serious threat to Kryptonian mechanical warriors or the Doomsday army, they were a lethal threat to ordinary humans.
This revelation caused divisions even among the attacking organizations. These groups had joined forces to crush their rivals and reap the greatest rewards—not to perish in mutual destruction.
When the risks outweighed the rewards, even the promise of immense profits lost its allure.
"What's the big deal about nuclear strikes?" Some hawkish officials argued. "Our bases are fortified bunkers—they're designed to survive a direct hit. Worst case, we just stay underground until the fallout clears. The shelters are self-sufficient."
"Besides," one added with a sneer, "as long as we hold out through the initial barrage, we can just put on protective suits. Nuclear fallout won't be an issue."
But despite their bravado, few agreed with such reckless optimism. Those in power weren't about to risk their lives, especially when they were already in a position of advantage. For them, there was no reason to give their enemies a chance to drag them into oblivion.
A second suggestion gained more traction. "Why not let the Avengers handle it?" someone proposed. "They've dealt with nuclear threats before. All we need to do is let them know what's happening, and they'll intervene to stop the strikes."
The idea quickly caught on. The officials were used to hiding behind the Avengers, letting them clean up dangerous situations while they reaped the benefits.
In their eyes, the Avengers' return to prominence was inevitable. And if the Avengers wanted to reclaim the public's trust, they'd have to prove themselves by resolving this crisis.
The officials' logic was simple: the Avengers' intervention would prevent the nuclear strikes while restoring their own reputation. It was a win-win for the heroes and the officials alike—or so the latter believed.
"But how do we contact them?" someone asked, realizing the flaw in the plan.
Since the Avengers were preoccupied with fighting the remaining Doomsdays, they had no direct lines of communication with the uninvolved organizations.
"We don't need to contact them," the proponent of the plan argued. "Clark can see almost everything happening on Earth. Sure, our base materials can block his vision, but nuclear explosions? There's no way he wouldn't notice that."
The man continued, his tone growing colder. "The Avengers didn't abandon Earth when they went into hiding, and they won't stand by now. If they were willing to step in before, they'll do so again—especially with the Doomsdays almost dealt with."
This gamble was bold, bordering on reckless. But the reasoning resonated with many.
"What if the Avengers don't respond in time?" a more cautious voice asked.
"Then we stay in our shelters," the man replied dismissively. "We'll wait for the Avengers to clean up the nuclear fallout. Besides, we're not their enemies—we didn't attack them. In fact, we're actively targeting the organizations that did. From the Avengers' perspective, we're practically on their side."
He added with a smirk, "And if things do go south, the blame won't fall on us. After all, we're just victims of retaliation."
His words carried a chilling pragmatism. The officials realized that, no matter what, the outcome was largely out of their hands. Their best option was to bunker down and hope the Avengers intervened.
As predicted, the besieged organizations, receiving no response to their pleas, issued nuclear launch orders.
From hidden bases around the world, missiles armed with nuclear warheads began to ascend. Almost every targeted organization resorted to this scorched-earth tactic.
Some areas even became the targets of overlapping nuclear strikes as rival groups sought mutual destruction.
Curiously, Vought International did not launch any nuclear weapons.
As a hybrid entity with immense resources and influence, Vought wasn't an official organization in the traditional sense. While it had access to superhuman forces, it lacked direct control over nuclear arms.
Some individuals within Vought had connections to nuclear-capable factions, but those factions had already used their arsenals elsewhere.
Vought's downfall was the fastest among all the targeted organizations. Its enemies intentionally avoided destroying its infrastructure, aiming to preserve the company for their own benefit.
Vought tried to resist but lacked the resources to mount a meaningful defense. Its Kryptonian mechanical warriors had been depleted in prior conflicts with Clark, the Sentry, and Black Adam.
The few remaining warriors were no match for the Doomsdays. Despite Vought's attempts to protect its assets, its collapse was swift and inevitable.
Desperate, Vought called in the Seven.
Initially, the Seven refused to answer. They could see that Vought was doomed and didn't want to throw their lives away.
But Vought still held one last card: the ability to control the Seven's minds and bodies.
Against their will, the Seven were mobilized like puppets, charging into battle against the Doomsdays with reckless abandon.
Despite this, the Seven were vastly outclassed. Even the Homelander, their strongest member, wasn't a match for a single Kryptonian mechanical warrior—let alone a Doomsday.
The gap in strength was so vast that the Doomsdays didn't bother killing them. Instead, under the careful coordination of the attacking organizations, the Seven were incapacitated and captured alive.
This wasn't out of mercy. The attackers saw the Seven as valuable assets, capable of generating immense profits.
To protect their investments, the organizations moved the Seven to secure locations, far from the impending nuclear blasts.
However, disagreements arose over who would control them, leading to tense negotiations. Eventually, the Seven were split between nearby safe houses, each under the supervision of Kryptonian mechanical warriors.
As the last details of this arrangement were finalized, the nuclear strikes began in earnest. Missiles streaked across the sky, heading toward their targets—harbingers of mutual destruction.
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