Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

HYDRA invades a SHIELD facility, killing Clay Quartermain and reviving Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker from cryogenic rest. This signals Hydra's renewed aggression, now led by Strucker's children. Fury learns the threat is escalating with a doomsday virus developed by Arnim Zola.

Fury, retired in a Yukon mine shaft, is approached by Pierce and De Fontaine to rejoin the fight. He refuses at first until he learns of Quartermain's death. The summons marks the beginning of his reluctant return to action.

Fury accompanies the agents to the SHIELD Helicarrier and reunites with old allies. He meets telepath Kate Neville, clashes with Director General Jack Pincer, and is introduced to a Life Model Decoy of himself. The reunion signals his full re-entry into SHIELD affairs.

A recording of Quartermain's murder taunts Fury by name, identifying the killer as Viper. Fury learns Von Strucker's body was harvested to obtain the Death's Head Virus, developed by Arnim Zola as a potential doomsday weapon. The threat links Hydra to the impending crisis.

Viper calls a meeting of Hydra lieutenants from Cairo, Osaka, Prague and London. She executes the London lieutenant for questioning her authority, consolidating control over Hydra's remaining leadership. The gathering cements Viper's grip on the organization.

Fury and De Fontaine travel to a SHIELD safehouse in Berlin where an elderly Zola is kept. Zola's visions attempt to overpower Neville's telepathy, and Gail Runciter is revealed to be Viper in disguise. Runciter lures Fury away and, with poisoned lipstick, renders him unconscious, letting Hydra retake Zola.

Fury learns he has 48 hours to live unless Hydra can be stopped and a sample of Viper's DNA is obtained to develop an antidote. This deadline escalates the urgency and drives the pursuit.

Hydra threatens to unleash the Death's Head Virus on Manhattan unless paid. The real Gail Runciter is found dying from the virus, underscoring the severity of the threat. Fury briefs the President to coordinate a response.

Fury splits his team: De Fontaine heads to Manhattan to locate the refrigerated virus truck, while Fury and Pierce head to the Aleutian Islands to locate Hydra's base. The plan sets up a two-pronged assault on Hydra's operations.

Upon arrival in the Aleutians, Hydra transmission is confirmed and Fury's plane is shot down by heat-seeking missiles. Despite the crash, Fury and his team survive and press on to locate Hydra's activities.

In Manhattan, De Fontaine's team discovers the refrigerator truck is disguised as a garbage truck, a planned delivery vehicle for the virus. Fury's team proceeds to infiltrate Hydra's base to disrupt the looming attack.

Fury's team is captured and stripped of their weapons; Viper reveals she will release the virus even if paid, and locks them in a freezer. The situation tightens as the countdown to potential disaster begins.

Fury escapes using an explosive device in his missing left eye and reaches Viper's control room. Viper shoots, but it turns out to be Fury's Life Model Decoy. Fury incapacitates Zola and captures Viper, while Neville uses telepathy to extract the code to abort the detonation from Viper's mind.

The Helicarrier arrives and captures the remaining Hydra forces; Viper escapes with her father's body. Fury decides to return to SHIELD to counter Hydra's continued threat, signaling a new phase of the battle.

Viper is shown to have restored Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker to life, implying Hydra's schemes persist beyond this battle and setting up future confrontations.