When scientists such as Arnim Zola were recruited by America as part of their efforts to use their weapons genius, they were able to subtly subvert S.H.I.E.L.D. from the inside as it was set up, manipulating gathered intelligence and recruiting various key S.H.E.I.L.D. operatives to be loyal to Hydra's ideology. While S.H.E.I.L.D. would publically serve as a peacekeeping force, it would also serve the secondary goal of creating a world that would eventually become so chaotic that it would require Hydra to take control, sacrificing freedom for security.
Using an algorithm created by Zola, Hydra could determine which people rerpresented a threat to their new world order. It was planned to use S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Project Insight to use the network of three heavily-armed Helicarriers to eliminate all the 20 million people determined as threats to Hydra by the algorithm.
However, S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury discovered Hydra's influence over S.H.I.E.L.D., and with the help of Captain America, Black Widow, Falcon and Maria Hill, managed to withdraw their plans and destroy the Helicarriers before any innocent life would be lost. They were also forced to sacrifice S.H.E.I.L.D. in the process to ensure that Hydra couldn't continue.
Leader:
General Hale
Known Members:
Ruby Hale
Carl Creel
Superior
Senator Stern
Kirk Vogel
Mitchell Carson
Giyera
Brock Rumlow
Mark Scarlotti
Sam Rollins
Donnie Gill
Former Members:
Hive
Alexander Pierce
Wolfgang Von Strucker
Daniel Whitehall
Gideon Malick
Octavian Bloom
Sunil Bakshi
The Winter Soldier (Defected)
John Garrett
Dr. List
Jasper Sitwell
Lucio
Agent 33
Equipment:
HYDRA Chitauri Armor
HYDRA Tank
