- "If you can protect me and see me safely to Bloom, not only will you be financially set for life, but you will also solidify your standing with the true heads of HYDRA. The money will be there! I swear it! If not, I'll pull the trigger myself."
- ―Sunil Bakshi to Lance Hunter[src]
The Assassination of HYDRA Leaders was a series of attacks orchestrated by S.H.I.E.L.D. in order to weaken HYDRA by killing most of its leaders, seizing an opportunity of internal fights due to Daniel Whitehall's death.
Background
Phil Coulson kills Daniel Whitehall
Sunil Bakshi was the second-in-command of Daniel Whitehall, the leader of HYDRA in the United States of America.[1] Bakshi was captured by Grant Ward and presented to S.H.I.E.L.D. as a present.[2] Daniel Whitehall was killed during the Battle for the Kree City.[3] Twice a year, leaders from HYDRA would have a meeting. Among those who attend the meeting were Whitehall, Octavian Bloom, Wolfgang von Strucker, the Banker, the Baroness, and the Sheikh.[4]
Phil Coulson vows to destroy HYDRA
Phil Coulson, director of S.H.I.E.L.D., was visibly upset after the death of Antoine Triplett during the Battle for the Kree City, and wanted to ensure that HYDRA was crushed.[4] Coulson set up an agreement with Glenn Talbot where HYDRA captives would be transferred to his custody.[5] Since Whitehall was dead and they had Bakshi, Coulson came up with a plan that would involve setting Bakshi "free" so he could go to Bloom's mansion, which would help Coulson and his team cut off the remaining heads of HYDRA.[4]
Assassination
Sunil Bakshi makes a deal for his life
- "We can't have in-fighting at a time of transition."
"We agree, and we promise to smooth this over as best as we can." - ―Doctor List and Octavian Bloom[src]
Octavian Bloom and Sunil Bakshi decided to kill all the other HYDRA leaders with the help of HYDRA agents including: The Sheikh, The Baroness and The Banker. The Sheikh was killed by gas that was released in the limousine that he was in; The Banker was killed by an Accountant using a Splinter Bomb inside an elevator and The Baroness was poisoned with a petrifying substance derived from the Diviner in her champagne.
Octavian Bloom is killed
Meanwhile, Lance Hunter and Bobbi Morse were waiting in a car outside when a bunch of HYDRA agents started to shoot at them. They activated the Car defense system which fired bullets at all the agents killing them. After the agents were dead Hunter and Morse drove the car and broke into Bloom's mansion. They killed the remaining HYDRA agents and Hunter shot Bloom in the head. After he killed Bloom, Hunter told Bakshi that Coulson knew him too well and that they promised him to Talbot. Morse and Hunter then took Bakshi into custody and gave him to Glenn Talbot.[4]
Aftermath
Wolfgang von Strucker leads HYDRA
- "You're one of the last heads of HYDRA's old guard."
"Thanks in no small part to you." - ―Gideon Malick and Grant Ward[src]
HYDRA continued to operate based outside the United States of America, however, under the leadership of Wolfgang von Strucker[6], with Doctor List working in bases in the Arctic[7] and in Sokovia.[6] The HYDRA base in Sudan drew the attention of the Avengers.[8]
Sunil Bakshi would ultimately be kidnapped by Grant Ward and Agent 33 from the custody of Glenn Talbot, and brainwashed into working for them.[9]
References
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.01: Shadows
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.07: The Writing on the Wall
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.10: What They Become
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.11: Aftershocks
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.02: Heavy is the Head
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Avengers: Age of Ultron
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.19: The Dirty Half Dozen
- ↑ Avengers: Operation HYDRA
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 2.14: Love in the Time of HYDRA