Chapter 10: The World Takes Notice
The fall of the Red Room didn't go unnoticed.
Governments, intelligence agencies, and criminal organizations alike were thrown into chaos as news spread. Overnight, one of the most elusive and dangerous clandestine programs in history had been wiped out, its bases destroyed, its leaders missing or dead, and its network completely severed.
But no one knew who did it.
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Nick Fury sat at the head of the conference table, an encrypted briefing on the holographic display before him. Maria Hill, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanoff, and several high-ranking SHIELD operatives analyzed the data with grim expressions.
"This isn't just an accident..." Hill stated, scrolling through surveillance images of destroyed facilities. "It was coordinated, an expertly trained team. Surgical. Whoever did this had inside knowledge."
Fury folded his hands under his chin. "And you're telling me we have zero leads?"
Natasha, who had her own complicated past with the Red Room, narrowed her eyes at the reports. "There are plenty of people who'd want the Red Room gone. But not many who could actually do it." She regretted not following up back then. She wondered about her sister's wellbeing and vowed to look for her.
Clint leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "The real question is...how the hell was the Red Room still around? We thought we took it down years ago."
"The attack left no signature." Hill added. "No traceable weapons, no known operatives, not even a single digital footprint. It's like a ghost wiped them off the map."
Fury exhaled. "We failed before. We thought we buried them, but they just kept operating in the shadows. And now, someone else did what we couldn't." He was certainly glad that Red Room was now but it unsettles him not to know what was happening. They didn't even know about its existence until it was destroyed.
Natasha exchanged a glance with Clint, the weight of their past missions hanging between them.
"Find me that ghost." Fury ordered.
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The intelligence community was in disarray. Russia, once quietly benefiting from the Red Room's existence, was thrown into internal conflict. Unaccounted assets, lost operatives, and missing research sent ripples through their covert agencies.
China and several Eastern European nations scrambled to secure their own sleeper programs, fearing they might be next. The CIA and MI6 increased their counterintelligence efforts, wary of a new player with the power to dismantle high-level black operations.
Even the criminal underworld felt the shift. Organizations that had once employed or traded with the Red Room suddenly found themselves cut off from a valuable resource. Mercenary groups, private military contractors, and arms dealers speculated about who could have orchestrated such a clean sweep—and whether they'd be next.
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Meanwhile, Tony Stark sipped his coffee in his Malibu home, watching news reports speculate on the destruction of the Red Room. Headlines flashed across the screen:
"Mysterious Strikes Eradicate Black Ops Network" "Who Took Down the Red Room?" "Shadow War in the Intelligence World"
Pepper walked in, glancing at the screen before raising an eyebrow at Tony. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about this, would you?"
Tony smirked. "Me? Come on, Pepper. I'm just a simple businessman."
She crossed her arms. "A simple businessman who's suddenly been hiring a lot of new security consultants?"
'Gotta love a redemption arc.' He thought took another sip of coffee. "Of course, you should already know that I am getting more influential by the minute. I need 'protection'. Of course, same thing applies to you."
Pepper could only sigh and let the matter drop. Although she really didn't want any security, she couldn't refute what Tony said.
But somewhere in the world, powerful people were starting to ask dangerous questions.
And Tony Stark knew it was only a matter of time before someone came looking for answers.
After watching the news, Tony went downstairs to his workshop.
Sitting on his chair, he swirled a glass of scotch absentmindedly while J.A.R.V.I.S. projected multiple holographic displays around him. Stock trends, security reports, and real-time monitoring of global arms trades flickered before his eyes.
"Alright, J., let's start with the essentials. How's our little recruitment project going?" Tony asked.
"The former Red Room operatives who accepted your offer have been assigned to specialized roles based on their skill sets." J.A.R.V.I.S. reported. "Several are integrating into Stark Industries' security division, while others are undergoing training in intelligence and strategic operations. They have shown strong adaptability and commitment to their new roles."
Tony took a sip and smirked. "Good. Keep supporting them as needed. They deserve a shot at something better. Soon, they'll be going on missions when they're ready."
Security was his next priority. He couldn't risk another attack. He didn't mind an attack on him, he actually preferred that way, but not on Stark Industries, and certainly not on the people under his protection.
"Time to upgrade our defenses. J.A.R.V.I.S., begin implementing biometric encryption for all access points in all critical research labs. Also, I want automated threat detection systems enhanced with AI-driven countermeasures. If someone so much as looks at my servers the wrong way, I want to know before they even think about hacking."
"Already processing. Shall I also integrate remote lockdown protocols in case of unauthorized breaches?" J.A.R.V.I.S. inquired.
"Exactly. And let's make it personal. Any idiot trying to break in gets a lovely recorded message from yours truly telling them how dumb they are."
"A signature Stark touch, sir." J.A.R.V.I.S. said dryly.
"Next on the list of priorities, business expansion."
The destruction of the Red Room had created ripple effects, and Stark Industries was in a position to benefit from the void left behind. Not in arms dealing, he was done with that, but in security, AI defense, and energy solutions.
"What's the market looking like for enhanced defense contracts?" Tony asked.
"Several governments and private firms are seeking advanced security solutions following the recent global unrest." J.A.R.V.I.S. informed him. "Your developments in AI-driven monitoring and automated threat response have placed Stark Industries at the forefront of the sector. Demand is increasing."
"Good. Let's capitalize on it, smartly, though. We're selling protection, not weapons. If someone wants another stockpile of drones to blow things up, they can take their business elsewhere. I'm thinking high-tech surveillance systems, impenetrable cyber-security, and non-lethal defense measures. The kind of thing that keeps people safe without creating more problems."
"A strategic and ethical approach, sir." J.A.R.V.I.S. remarked.
Tony nodded. He wasn't just building a business, he was shaping the future. A future where he had control over the tech that could either protect or destroy lives. He had seen what happened when that power was in the wrong hands, and he wasn't about to let history repeat itself.
Leaning back, he stretched and smirked to himself. "J., remind me again why I didn't start fixing the world sooner?"
"Perhaps you were previously distracted by your playboy persona, sir?" J.A.R.V.I.S. replied smoothly.
Tony laughed. "Well, let's put a pin on that for a bit. We've got work to do."
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