Ironman: Fallen Shield

The Attacks From RAW

The quiet hum of the Stark Tower systems is shattered by a cacophony of crashing metal and shattering glass. Tony jolts awake, disoriented, his heart pounding. He's on his feet in an instant, his instincts screaming danger.

He rushes out of his room, the scene before him a chaotic blur. Figures clad in black combat gear move with inhuman speed and ferocity, tearing through the Stark Tower defenses like they were made of paper. They fight with a primal intensity, their movements a blend of brutal efficiency and animalistic rage.

"Jarvis, what the hell is going on?" Tony shouts, his voice barely audible over the din of the attack.

"Unknown assailants, sir. Their combat capabilities are... highly unusual. I am attempting to analyze their tactics and identify their origin."

But there's no time for analysis. The attackers are closing in, their eyes fixed on Tony with a predatory intensity. He reacts instinctively, summoning the Mark 42 suit with a flick of his wrist. The nanites surge over his body, forming the familiar armor with a reassuring hum.

He launches himself into the fray, repulsors blazing. But these attackers are unlike anything he's faced before.

They move with a fluidity that defies their bulky frames, dodging his attacks with uncanny precision. Their strikes are brutal, their strength amplified by some unknown technology.

He manages to take down a few, but more keep coming.

They swarm him, their attacks relentless, their ferocity unnerving. He feels a pang of fear, a sensation he hasn't experienced in years. These aren't ordinary mercenaries or thugs. They're something else entirely.

Then, he sees it. A flash of a familiar symbol on one of the attacker's arms: the shadow hand. But this isn't the stylized iconography he saw before. This is a living, breathing embodiment of that symbol, the hand itself seeming to possess a dark, malevolent energy.

"Jarvis, I need an ID on these guys. Now!"

"Analyzing... sir, preliminary data suggests these individuals are agents of the Indian intelligence agency, RAW. Their combat style and enhancements are consistent with rumors of a highly classified program known as Project Hanuman."

Hanuman. The monkey god, revered for his strength, agility, and devotion. Tony feels a chill run down his spine. He's facing a team of super-soldiers, empowered by technology and driven by a fierce loyalty to their country.

He fights back with everything he has, but he's outnumbered and outmatched. He manages to hold his own for a while, but it's a losing battle.

He sees them reach Vikram Ghosh's room, the door bursting open with a thunderous crash.

He tries to intervene, but it's too late. They secure Ghosh, their movements swift and efficient. Then, they're gone, vanishing into the night as quickly as they arrived.

Tony stands amidst the wreckage of his home, his armor battered and his pride wounded. He has just been handed a resounding defeat, not by a supervillain or an alien army, but by a group of highly trained human agents. And in that defeat, he realizes the true cost of his actions.

He had underestimated his enemy, underestimated the lengths a nation would go to protect its own. He had played a dangerous game, and he had lost. And in that loss, he had not only failed to avenge Steve Rogers, but he had also exposed himself and his world to a new and formidable threat.

He looks at the empty space where Vikram Ghosh had been, a wave of exhaustion washing over him. The world has just gotten a lot more complicated.