At the Pennsylvania Asian Military Restricted Zone, a truck transporting supplies passed through the gate. As logistics personnel unloaded the cargo, a section of exhaust pipe beneath the truck changed shape, dropped to the ground as a mechanical spider, and swiftly crawled into a drainage ditch by the curb.
Far away at the Stark residence in New York, Tony, Strange, Nick Fury, and Steve had gathered in the living room, watching Tony remotely control the mechanical spider as it successfully infiltrated the military base through the sewers.
Strange: "Technology has advanced this far?"
Steve: "This isn't according to the script. Without someone actually sneaking in, how am I supposed to get captured?"
Nick Fury: "Tony looks pretty practiced. Has he infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. before?"
As the person in question, Tony had not noticed the thoughts of the three behind him at all. While controlling the mechanical spider, he had Jarvis pull up the military base's files.
He raised a brow. "A secret Air Force base used for satellite weapon research and aerospace experiments. Do you know what that means?"
Nick Fury's face darkened. "It means the military has Hydra personnel. There are many Hydra bases like this within America."
"Director Fury, don't be so pessimistic. I used to deal with the military all the time. With a single nondisclosure agreement, many researchers don't even know who they're working for, so not everyone in this base is necessarily Hydra."
Tony turned his head and lifted his chin slightly. "Take S.H.I.E.L.D., for instance. Many of your peripheral staff have always believed they worked for the FBI. Same idea."
Nick Fury: "..."
He felt that Tony knew far too much!
The mechanical spider infiltrated the ventilation ducts and, under Tony's mysterious manipulation, wandered through the underground base.
He continued, "Satellite weapon and aerospace experiments