— Outskirts of Wakanda's Capital, Vibranium Mining Facility
This massive mining base was the heart of Wakanda, its primary site for vibranium extraction and processing.
Under a calm, starlit night sky, everything seemed peaceful and serene.
For the guards stationed at the vibranium mining facility, it was just another quiet day.
In a bold bid to reclaim the capital in one swift strike, Prince T'Challa had redeployed the elite Dora Milaje the Wakanda's royal female guard, usually tasked with protecting the mine to the frontlines.
Only a handful of elite warriors remained behind to defend the facility.
According to the battle plan devised by T'Challa and Steve Rogers, and supported by Princess Shuri's intel on capital resource levels, Ultron shouldn't have had enough manpower to launch a rear assault on Wakanda's coalition forces.
After all, the capital's resource stockpiles were limited.
Even if Ultron converted all available materials into troops, diverting any for a sneak attack would mean surrendering his advantage on the main battlefield.
But what T'Challa and Rogers hadn't accounted for… was that Ultron, an artificial intelligence capable of learning and evolving, had already mastered the concept of special operations units.
Worse, he had begun modeling elite mechanical soldiers after actual special forces—equipping them with the full capabilities of Iron Man's combat suit and was now using "prisoners" captured early in the war to devastating effect.
Thus, the nightmare began.
Just as the guards at the mining facility were yawning, awaiting good news from the frontlines, a sonic boom shattered the silence above them.
Then—
'BOOM!'
Descending like a meteor from the heavens, Iron Man landed.
Dust rippled outward like waves, and the impact carved a crater into the earth.
The crimson-and-gold Mark 43 armor knelt in the classic superhero landing pose, its glowing blue eyes cold and lifeless.
The sight sent shivers down the guards' spines, it was a chilling reminder of the capital's recent surprise attack.
Just like before, though Tony Stark was physically inside the suit, he had lost all control over it.
Trapped, unable even to speak, he could only watch in silent anguish as his proudest creation, Stark Industries' masterpiece was twisted into a weapon of destruction by Ultron.
'BOOM!'
Another figure crashed down. Bulkier, black-armored, armed to the teeth—War Machine.
And just like Tony, James "Rhodey" Rhodes was helpless.
Because War Machine's systems were so closely linked with Iron Man's, Ultron had taken over both suits in one move, enslaving Rhodey's armor just as easily.
'THOOM THOOM THOOM!'
More followed.
Dozens of elite mechanical soldiers, modeled after Iron Man and War Machine, rained from the sky.
Sleek silver plating. Crimson energy veins. Sinister masks twisted into mockeries of heroism.
These mass-produced killing machines were terrifyingly efficient, equipped with nearly all of Iron Man's arsenal: flight systems, hive-missiles, repulsor blasts, auto-cannons, EMP systems, vibranium blades…
And without human pilots inside, they were faster, stronger, and more relentless.
"Oh my god! Alert Prince T'Challa the vibranium mine is under attack!"
The guards reacted swiftly, activating emergency comms to call for reinforcements.
But all they received in response… was static.
Ultron's forces had already jammed all communications.
By the time T'Challa and Captain Rogers realized something was wrong, Ultron planned for the mine to be long lost.
With access to Wakanda's rich vibranium reserves, his mechanical army would be endless.
"No good! We can't get a signal!"
Panic set in as the guards scrambled to respond.
"Form up! For Wakanda! We must hold the mine—fight to the last!"
True to their warrior spirit, the Wakanda guards didn't flee. Outnumbered and outgunned, they stood their ground and readied for battle.
"You're not running?"
Ultron's voice echoed from Iron Man's armor. "Statistically, your odds of survival are zero. Fighting us is a waste of life. Why persist?"
"Because we are Wakanda warriors!" the guard captain shouted. "And we will defend this ground to our dying breath!"
They assembled into formation, energy shields blooming from their vibranium-lined cloaks.
Only a dozen remained, yet united, they pointed their vibranium spears at Iron Man's corrupted form and roared with one voice:
"Wakanda Forever! To the death!"
"Huh… such spirit," Ultron sneered through the suit. "Then die, foolish humans… alone."
A violent glow flared—Ultron's army opened fire.
Realistically, the guards might survive for a minute. Maybe just thirty seconds, given the presence of Iron Man and War Machine.
But then—
"Alone? I don't think so!"
A voice rang from the sky—a silver-haired girl's voice, fierce and resolute.
The guards looked up in unison, hope reigniting in their eyes.
A lone star in a pitch-black night.
A ray of dawn piercing hopelessness.
A voice like music to those marching toward death.
"You're wrong, Ultron. They're not foolish. They're not alone. And they won't die today."
Just as she finished speaking, dozens of Halo transport ships from Rhodes Industries roared overhead, dropping a full squadron of YoRHa troops from the sky.
"My, my… Mr. Stark," the silver-haired girl said as she descended gracefully.
Brilliant light wings spread from her back as her long hair danced in the night wind, her beauty striking and otherworldly.
"It hasn't been that long, and yet look at the state you're in…"
"But no matter what you're facing," she said firmly, her golden eyes blazing with unwavering resolve, "I will always stand by your side."
"No matter who we have to fight. No matter how hard the road gets. I will save you—no matter what it takes!"
[YoRHa deployment: Complete.]
[Mission: Confirmed.]
[Objective: Destroy Ultron's elite army and rescue Iron Man and War Machine.]
[All units—ENGAGE!]