The returning convoy was attacked by the terrorist organization known as the Freedom Fighters.
Tony was gravely wounded by weapons produced by his own company, his body riddled with shrapnel left behind by exploding bombs.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a dark, damp cave surrounded by rough stone walls and dim yellow light.
Tony struggled to prop himself up, but the pain nearly left him unable to breathe.
He looked down at his injuries and found his body covered in tiny metal fragments, shrapnel left behind by the explosion.
His heart pounded violently, each beat seeming to remind him that his life was slipping away.
There was also something new in his chest, connected to wires.
"Welcome, Tony Stark, the most famous murderer in American history."
"Make missiles for us, and you'll live."
Lazar, the Freedom Fighters' leader, threatened him.
He clearly understood Tony's value and knew that he was a genius at creating advanced weapons.
However, Lazar clearly knew nothing about the processes of modern industry. His cave base was primitive beyond belief, and even its basic power supply depended on diesel generators.
His subordinates were even worse, a group of illiterate fools who struggled with basic mechanical operations, let alone manufacturing complicated missiles.
Tony's feelings were a tangled mess. He knew that agreeing to make missiles would be tantamount to digging his own grave. But in the face of death, he still chose to compromise.
He began devising a plan, one that would both keep him alive and get him out of here.
He intended to use his knowledge and intelligence to create an unprecedented Iron Man suit, one with formidable defensive and offensive capabilities, enough to let him escape from these terrorists.
However, Tony's plan had barely begun when it was ruthlessly