Attack on the HYDRA Research Base

"Report to your stations immediately. This is not a drill. We are under attack. We are under attack."

- Wolfgang von Strucker to HYDRA Soldiers

The Attack on the HYDRA Research Base was a confrontation between the Avengers and Wolfgang von Strucker's HYDRA cell and the final battle of the War on HYDRA.

Background
"I'm guessing HYDRA doesn't know that Loki's Scepter was the weapon that killed me, but I bet they know it can control minds." "In their hands, that's catastrophic. Coulson, please tell me you know where it is." "Sokovia. Pretty sure List is headed there right now."

- Phil Coulson and Maria Hill

During an assault on a HYDRA facility, S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Phil Coulson downloaded files that revealed the location of Wolfgang von Strucker and his illegal experiments. The files also revealed that HYDRA was in possession of the Scepter wielded by Loki during the Battle of New York.

Coulson relayed the information to Maria Hill, telling her that the Scepter was located at a research compound in Sokovia before suggesting that the Avengers be brought in.

Sometime later, the Avengers agreed to launch a surprise attack against HYDRA and foil their plans for world domination.

The Battle Begins
"We will not yield. The Americans send their circus freaks to test us. We will send them back in bags. No surrender!"

- Wolfgang von Strucker

Upon arriving in Sokovia, the Avengers carried out their plan, unaware that Strucker had learned of their presence and alerted his men.

Black Widow and Hawkeye drove through the forest in a stolen Jeep, the latter neutralizing several HYDRA soldiers with his trick arrows.

As the team converged on the perimeter, Black Widow crashed the Jeep and jumped out with Hawkeye before helping Captain America, Thor and Hulk fight off incoming soldiers.

Iron Man attempted to enter the compound only to be repelled by an energy shield. J.A.R.V.I.S. analyzed the shield and mentioned that Strucker's technology was more advanced than the other bases they had raided.

Inside the compound, Strucker deployed the tanks as List proposed that they send Pietro and Wanda Maximoff as a distraction. Strucker refused, confident that his men were capable of emerging victorious.

Meanwhile, J.A.R.V.I.S. alerted Iron Man that the troops were firing on Novi Grad. The latter then sent the Iron Legion to evacuate the area. Despite some resistance, the Legion successfully managed to get several civilians to safety.

Inside the base, Strucker rallied his men with a speech before privately telling List that he planned to surrender and carefully instructing the scientist to erase all data from the base's computers. Before List could take any action, however, the two realized the twins were missing.

Meanwhile, in the woods, Hawkeye was preparing to destroy a bunker with an explosive arrow when he was distracted by Pietro, who used his supersonic speed to distract the former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent before taking off.

Hawkeye prepared to aim his bow at Pietro, but was shot in the side by one of the bunker's turrets and gravely wounded. Romanoff came to his aid while the Hulk destroyed the bunker.

Pietro then attacked Captain America before making his way back to the base. Captain America relayed the information to Stark and followed Pietro as Thor helped Black Widow get Hawkeye to the Quinjet.

Raiding the Facility
"Strucker's technology is well beyond any other HYDRA base we've taken." "Loki's scepter must be here. Strucker couldn't mount this defense without it."

- J.A.R.V.I.S. and Thor

Having located a power source in the compound's northern section, Stark destroyed it and deactivated the energy shield. After neutralizing several HYDRA soldiers, Stark found Doctor List, who was erasing his files.

After fatally shooting List with a repulsor ray, Stark placed his armor in automated sentry mode before tasking J.A.R.V.I.S. with copying the remaining files and sending them to Avengers Tower.

In the forest, the HYDRA soldiers surrendered and were taken into custody as Romanoff approached Hulk and hummed a lullaby that helped him calm down and transform back into Bruce Banner.

Retrieving the Scepter
"Guys, I got Strucker." "Yeah, I got... something bigger."

- Captain America and Iron Man

While Stark discovered a secret passage, Rogers confronted Strucker about his experiments only to be attacked by Wanda, who quickly fled the scene. Rogers subdued Strucker and informed the others.

Meanwhile, Stark continued to follow the secret passage and entered an underground laboratory housing Chitauri armor and weaponry as well as a Leviathan corpse.

He found the Scepter and moved forward to take it from its resting place. Before he could do so, however, Wanda crept up behind him and used her powers to implant a vision into his mind.

Sensing Wanda's presence, Stark turned around only to find that he was alone. Suddenly, the Leviathan corpse came to life as Stark found himself in Chitauri Space, surrounded by his teammates' lifeless bodies and forced to watch the Chitauri invade Earth.

As Wanda and Pietro observed from the shadows, Stark snapped out of the trance before summoning one of his armor gauntlets and taking the Scepter. Despite Pietro's protests, Wanda allowed the Avengers to leave in the hopes that Stark's tampering with the Scepter would lead to the team's destruction.

Aftermath
"It feels good, yeah? I mean, you've been after this thing since S.H.I.E.L.D. collapsed. Not that I haven't enjoyed our little raiding parties, but..." "No, but this... This brings it to a close." "As soon as we find out what else this has been used for. I don't just mean weapons. Since when is Strucker capable of human enhancement?" "Banner and I'll give it the once before it goes back to Asgard. Is that cool with you? I mean, just a few days until the farewell party. You're staying, right?" "Yes, yes, of course."

- Iron Man, Thor and Captain America

Following the raid, NATO forces arrested Strucker and the surviving HYDRA soldiers while the Avengers returned to the United States with the Scepter.

Deeply affected by his vision, Stark became even more determined to ensure global peace. After discovering an artificial intelligence hidden within the scepter's gem, he used it to create the Ultron Program.

However, the program became self-aware and convinced itself humanity was responsible for preventing peace. Ultron proceeded to engage in a confrontation with the Avengers before making his way to Sokovia, creating a new body for himself, and reconfiguring the sentinels created by HYDRA.