[Washington D.C. – Government Defense Convention]
The conference hall was packed. Rows of military officials, government representatives, and corporate leaders filled the room, all gathered to witness the unveiling of the next step in national security. High-ranking members of S.H.I.E.L.D. sat at the center, among them, Howard Stark and Nick Fury.
The massive screen at the front of the room flickered to life, displaying a black and red armored figure, blurry and distorted, flying through the night sky. The grainy footage had been leaked through military channels, and though it was unclear, everyone in the room had heard rumors.
Rumors of a highly advanced armored individual operating in secret.
A few muttered amongst themselves.
"Is that real?"
"Some say it took out a private rogue military facility last month..."
Howard remained silent, arms crossed, while Fury sat beside him, watching the footage with his usual serious no-nonsense expression.
At the podium, Justin Hammer stood confidently, dressed in an expensive suit, his signature grin plastered across his face. He tapped the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Hammer began, his voice dripping with practiced charisma, "we live in a world of unpredictable threats. Superhumans, rogue mutants, enhanced individuals, and let's not ignore the elephant in the room... this mysterious armored vigilante."
The murmuring in the crowd grew louder.
"Now, sure," Hammer continued, pacing slightly, "the idea of some metal-clad superhero flying around might sound entertaining, even comforting to some. But ask yourselves, who is he? What does he want? Can he be controlled?"
Silence.
"Exactly." Hammer snapped his fingers, and the massive screen behind him changed, displaying images of sleek, humanoid combat drones, their metallic exteriors reflecting the bright lights of the stage.
"Introducing: The Hammer Autonomous Combat Unit – The Future of Warfare."
There was a ripple of applause from some of the defense contractors in the crowd. Hammer beamed, pressing forward.
"These AI-driven units are designed to replace human soldiers in combat, eliminating unnecessary casualties and ensuring total efficiency on the battlefield."
Another image appeared, showing a simulated battle where Hammer's robots were fighting against human soldiers and winning.
"Their tactical response time is faster than any human, their accuracy is precise, and best of all? They don't hesitate. They don't question orders."
Fury's expression didn't change, but Howard shifted slightly in his seat.
"Now, I know what some of you are thinking," Hammer continued, raising a hand. "What about superhumans? What about mutants? What about that tin-can vigilante flying around in the shadows?"
The screen changed again, this time displaying a simulated battle between Hammer's combat units and enhanced opponents.
"That's where the true brilliance of this project lies. Our combat AI has been trained to counter enhanced threats. Superhuman strength? Doesn't matter when my bots can analyze weaknesses in real-time and strike where it hurts the most. Flight? Energy projection? My AI learns, adapts, and neutralizes before the enemy even gets a chance."
Some officials in the crowd nodded in approval.
"With proper funding, we can deploy these units across the country, ensuring safety and control in an era where unpredictability is a constant threat. Imagine a world where riots, superpowered criminals, and rogue elements are suppressed instantly before they can cause harm. A world where we, the government, are always one step ahead."
Norman Osborn, sitting beside General Ross, clenched his fingers. He had remained quiet throughout the presentation, but now?
Now, there was interest in his eyes.
One of the officials, a senior Pentagon advisor, leaned forward. "You're talking about total robotic enforcement? Wouldn't that lead to… unnecessary aggression? If these machines act without hesitation, what about collateral damage?"
Hammer grinned. "Oh, believe me, sir, my team has thought about that. The AI is designed to operate within strict guidelines. No reckless endangerment, no unnecessary violence... just pure, calculated efficiency."
Another official raised an eyebrow. "And what about this?" He gestured toward the screen displaying the blurry Iron Man footage.
Hammer's expression soured slightly before he covered it up with a laugh. "Oh, that? Please. Whoever that is, they're outdated compared to my machines. Some rogue tech genius with a fancy prototype? Maybe. But my bots? They're government-approved. They work for you, not against you. So why waste time worrying about an unregistered metal vigilante? Once my project is completed, we will take care of this tin can."
The officials exchanged glances.
Howard Stark, however, remained silent.
Nick Fury finally spoke, his deep voice cutting through the noise.
"So, let me get this straight," Fury said slowly. "You want unmanned war machines patrolling the streets? Deciding who's a threat and who's not?"
Hammer turned toward Fury, giving his best salesman smile. "That's the idea. Minimized risk, maximized control."
Fury's expression didn't change. "Sounds like you're trying to build an army."
Hammer chuckled. "An army? No, no, Director Fury, this isn't an army... this is the future."
Howard finally spoke, his tone calm but sharp.
"And who owns this future, Hammer?" Howard asked.
Hammer paused. "Excuse me?"
Howard leaned forward. "Let's say the government funds your little project. Who owns the machines? You? The military? Some private investors?"
The question hung in the air.
Hammer hesitated for half a second, long enough for everyone to notice.
Then, he recovered. "Of course, the United States government would have full control of the units."
Howard's eyes narrowed slightly. "That so?"
The murmuring in the crowd hadn't died down. If anything, it was growing louder. The prospect of autonomous war machines patrolling the streets was a controversial one. Some officials looked intrigued, others uneasy.
Norman Osborn leaned slightly toward General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross and whispered something under his breath.
Ross didn't react immediately. His fingers tapped against the table, his military instincts kicking in. After a moment, he gave the faintest nod, then cleared his throat.
"Mr. Hammer."
Justin Hammer, who had been soaking in the attention, turned toward Ross with a practiced smile.
"Ah, General Ross! A pleasure as always. I was hoping you'd be interested in the future of military technology."
Ross ignored the flattery, his voice carrying a commanding presence.
"Tell me, Hammer," Ross said, his tone measured. "What are the chances of your robots being hacked?"
The room went silent.
Hammer blinked, caught slightly off guard. Then, he let out a nervous chuckle. "Hacked? General, please. These machines operate on an encrypted military-grade AI system, completely secure and..."
"I didn't ask about encryption," Ross interrupted. "I asked about chances. What happens if, let's say, someone... a rogue nation, a terrorist cell, or some underground hacker group, manages to override your AI?"
Hammer's jaw tightened, but he kept up his rehearsed act. "General, I assure you..."
"No, don't assure me. Answer me." Ross leaned forward, his eyes cold. "Because if someone can hack these machines, we're not looking at a future of peace. We're looking at a goddamn slaughter."
Some of the officials shifted in their seats, clearly uncomfortable.
Even Norman Osborn smirked slightly, watching Hammer squirm.
Hammer exhaled through his nose. "Look, I get it. You're concerned. That's fair. But we have contingency plans. Firewalls upon firewalls. Remote shutdown failsafes. These bots are designed to be completely tamper-proof. Hacking them is not an option."
Ross arched an eyebrow. "Not an option? Nothing is ever impossible, Hammer. Technology is progressing faster each day and we even have a flying robot around the world, which even our most advanced tech couldn't track or get a clear picture of. You know what that means, that thing or whoever is controlling it must have technology far advanced than ours. And you say 'unhackable.' You're telling me that no one, nowhere, will ever find a way to turn these machines against us?"
Hammer hesitated for a fraction of a second.
And that was all Ross needed.
The General turned his gaze toward the rest of the officials. "These machines don't have human judgment. If someone gets control of them, they won't stop. They won't hesitate. You're not just talking about replacing soldiers, Hammer. You're talking about replacing decision-making itself. And that's a goddamn problem."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room.
Hammer forced a grin, clearly annoyed but unwilling to show it. "With all due respect, General, you're thinking in extremes. This is about progress. Efficiency. Power."
Howard Stark suddenly spoke, his voice calm but firm.
"Power without control is a weapon pointed at the wrong people."
Hammer snapped his head toward Howard, eyes narrowing slightly. "What do you think about this, Mr. Stark?"
"Let's get one thing straight, Hammer," Howard said, his fingers steepled. "You're trying to sell us on security, but what you're really offering is a goddamn disaster waiting to happen."
Hammer scoffed, shaking his head. "Oh, come on, Howard. You, of all people, should understand progress. This isn't about danger... this is about control."
Howard's eyes narrowed. "Control? You're talking about machines that don't think. Don't hesitate. Don't understand the context. What happens when one of your 'autonomous combat units' malfunctions and wipes out an entire civilian block because of a miscalculation? What happens if they see a child holding a toy gun and register it as a hostile threat?"
Some of the military officials shifted uncomfortably.
Hammer let out a laugh, but it was strained now, forced. "Come on, that's ridiculous. These bots have the best AI programming available..."
"AI isn't human, Hammer." Howard cut him off. "AI doesn't improvise. It doesn't feel. It follows a set of pre-programmed rules, and if those rules fail? It doesn't stop to think. It keeps going."
Nick Fury, who had been silently watching, finally spoke up.
"Howard's right," Fury said, his deep voice carrying across the room. "These machines aren't soldiers. Soldiers know when to disobey orders. They know when not to fire. What happens when one of these units is given an order that goes against human ethics?"
Hammer's grin twitched slightly, his confidence faltering for the first time. "Like I said... failsafes."
General Ross let out a dry chuckle. "Failsafes? You mean like the ones you had for those prosthetic implants last year?"
The room went dead silent.
Hammer froze. His face lost all color.
Ross leaned forward, his presence overwhelming. "You remember that, don't you, Hammer? When your 'cutting-edge' prosthetics malfunctioned and ended up killing multiple civilians in less than a month? Because I do."
Murmurs spread across the hall.
Howard Stark sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "Oh yeah, I remember that too. Wasn't it Hammer Industries that said—and I quote—'Our technology is foolproof and completely safe'?"**
Hammer's jaw tightened. "That was different. It was an isolated..."
"No, it wasn't," one of the Pentagon officials cut in. "The implants failed because your tech was rushed and untested. You put people in danger to make a profit."
Another official, a Congressman from New York, frowned. "And now you want us to trust you with an army of autonomous weapons? Not a chance."
The murmurs turned into open conversation.
More officials spoke up, voicing their concerns, doubts, and outright opposition. Some even pulled out their own reports on Hammer Industries' past failures—faulty weapons, botched security systems, and shady dealings with foreign investors.
In less than five minutes, the entire proposal collapsed.
The funding was pulled.
Orders were issued to shut the project down immediately.
Justin Hammer stood there, his entire face drained of blood, as everything fell apart.
Norman Osborn, who had been watching quietly, finally stood up. His expression was unreadable, but the glint of amusement in his eyes was unmistakable. He went to Justin and patted his shoulder.
"Tough break, Hammer," Norman said with a smirk. "Maybe next time, try making something that doesn't backfire in your face."
Hammer clenched his jaw, his hands trembling as he watched his biggest opportunity disappear.
He would not forget this.
And he would not forgive.
...
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