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The Rogue Menace

[The True Thoughts of Thanos]

As Forseti raised his hand, overwhelming flames rushed forth, enveloping dozens of creatures that were half-human and half-bird.

"Ow—" A howl echoed as most of these beasts turned into corpses and fell, leaving only one subdued by Forseti.

Observing the rogue creature before him, which despite its humanoid form, behaved more like a beast, Forseti couldn't help but frown.

Typically, humanoids are intelligent beings, especially those capable of walking upright. Yet, this creature seemed devoid of fear of death, exhibiting behaviors far below what one would expect from a humanoid.

Surveying his surroundings, he noted numerous blue creatures, some engaged in frenzied reproduction.

Forseti witnessed one heavily pregnant rogue giving birth to a dozen cubs in a single go.

These newborns were immediately mobile and voracious, consuming anything from grass to carrion with equal enthusiasm, a behavior unthinkable among other species.

Notably, they even scavenged corpses, a testament to their unusual and relentless appetite.

With no Asgardian troops on this planet and the rogue population burgeoning, the defending forces had long been overwhelmed. Fallen soldiers and local flora alike became fodder for these beasts.

Forseti soared towards the blue beasts, wreathed in fiery flames, swiftly incinerating the gathered rogues, leaving behind only charred remains.

As he burned, he queried Heimdall: "Heimdall, how frequently can these creatures reproduce?"

"Their gestation period is only about seven days, birthing about ten offspring per cycle. Moreover, the newborns themselves can reproduce within a month." Heimdall's tone was grave.

"Their astounding reproductive capacity has led to a rapid increase in their numbers. In just a few months, a dozen rogues can decimate a mortal civilization..."

Forseti inquired further: "Is there any clue regarding the origin of these rogues?"

Heimdall replied, "None whatsoever. It's as if Thanos discovered this ferocious species and appropriated them for his own use."

"Loki attempted to probe the memories of captured rogues, but they are mere beasts, devoid of coherent thoughts. "

After a brief pause, Heimdall continued, "There are already hundreds of planets where these rogues have left their mark. They are spreading across the stars like a plague. I foresee them becoming our most formidable adversaries in the future."

Indeed, as Heimdall predicted, the relentless rogues swiftly became the greatest menace faced by the anti-Thanos coalition.

Even in individual combat, these ferocious creatures outmatched most mortals, and their sheer numbers made them a formidable force.

Only elite units such as the Aesir Warriors or the Ravagers Corps could effectively counter the rogues. However, their numbers were limited, stretching the coalition forces thin.

Confronted with an interstellar army of exponentially growing rogues, the coalition quickly found itself on the defensive. Hundreds of mortal civilizations were razed, their populations devastated.

Forseti implored Asgard to reinforce their troops multiple times, but Odin initially refused. Only after persistent appeals from Thor did Odin relent, reluctantly dispatching an additional thousand warriors to alleviate the crisis.

Nevertheless, the arrival of the rogues irreversibly altered the once favorable battlefront. Thanos' faction regained momentum, resuming their expansionist agenda.

The Kree also seized the opportunity, decimating the Skrulls and leaving the Kree Empire as the dominant force among the three major technological empires. The expansionist ambitions epitomized by the Accuser Ronan surged.

Even as the coalition struggled against the rogues, they endeavored to uncover the origins of these creatures, seeking a viable countermeasure...

[Thanos' Sanctuary Battleship]

Though the Dark Quadrant served as the heart of Thanos' Legion, Thanos himself preferred to command from his Templar spaceship—a habit from his days as an interstellar pirate.

In the vast temple aboard the ship, Thanos and several capable subordinates entertained a crucial ally.

"Ego, these rogues you created are the epitome of life. They reproduce, consume resources, compete, and expand so rapidly that they can deplete an environment in no time, only to perish with it."

Thanos regarded the long-haired figure before him, speaking slowly and with a slight smile, as though making a grim jest.

To an ordinary observer, his words would sound far from complimentary, but Ego, indifferent to conventional notions of morality or ethics, merely chuckled in response.

After conversing for some time, Ego suggested, "We could deploy rogues to more planets. This would significantly impede the Asgardians and possibly force their capitulation within a few years. What say you, Thanos?"

"No," Thanos promptly rejected the idea. "This is precisely enough. Further escalation may prompt Asgard to reinforce further or even alert Odin and the Bifrost."

At the mention of the Bifrost, Ego visibly shuddered.

As a living planet, the Rainbow Bridge—a symbol of Asgard's formidable teleportation technology—evoked an instinctive dread in him.

Had it not been for this fear, he would not have lurked in the shadows, orchestrating events with the rogues.

Thus, after brief consideration, Ego concurred with Thanos' assessment.

Leaving the Templar spaceship, the Chitauri Commander addressed Thanos, "Master, I doubt Odin can take decisive action. He is frail from age and lacks the resolve for warfare. Were it not for the warlike sun god, Asgard would never have persisted in this conflict."

"Perhaps," Thanos responded noncommittally, rising to gaze at the galaxy beyond the viewport, lost in contemplation.

At this juncture, the Supergiant interjected, "Are you concerned about the rogues overexploiting universal resources?"

Thanos remained silent.

Clearly, the Supergiant understood Thanos better than most. Yet even she did not fully comprehend the intricacies of the cosmic planner's thoughts.

In truth, Thanos harbored little concern for the future habitats of other species. What truly preoccupied him was the acceptance of his ideals. To the rogues, mere beasts in nature, such considerations were utterly inconsequential.