"Well then, I'll cut right to the chase, Mr. President. Yes, the Iron Legion is for the World Security Council. At the moment they've seen fit to have SHIELD agents pilot the suits and from what I've seen, I think that's for the best. But I am still an American citizen sir, and a patriot at heart. That's why I' m offering the USAF a suit for their own use… contingent on the pilot being someone of my choosing. Naturally, I'm talking about Rhodey."
Ellis cracks a smile at that, chuckling as he inclines his head in Tony's direction.
"Naturally."
Finally, unable to stay quiet any longer, the man Tony is talking about leans forward, brow furrowed.
" Apologies Mr. President … Tones, what are you talking about? Iron legion? Suits?"
"With your permission, Mr. President?" Tony gestures to a pocket and though the Secret Service personnel in the Oval Office twitch and tense up at the movement, Ellis just rolls his eyes and gestures for them to back down. Honestly, Tony Stark was no assassin. The man might peddle weaponry, but he was the sort born with a diamond-encrusted golden spoon in his mouth. He couldn't hurt a fly.
"Go ahead, Mr. Stark."
Pulling out a circular device, Tony sets it on the Resolute Desk and presses a button. An honest to god hologram sprouts up out of it, making Ellis whistle… especially when he sees the designs for a frankly gorgeous armored suit slowly spinning around in a circle.
"I call it War Machine. It'll be just as strong as any of the Iron Legion suits, with the same weapons plus some. It'll also be tougher, because Rhodey-bear is my best bud and I'm not going to let anything happen to him if I can help it. I'm not saying this thing could solo the entire Iron Legion, but it could definitely take a few more blows from anyone that might try to take it down. What it'll lack from Rhodey not having any teammates, it'll more than make up in solo firepower and strength."
Here, Tony gives Ellis a wink and a grin.
"Let's keep that between us if you please, Mr. President. No need for the WSC or SHIELD to know about that."
The President snorts derisively. If they didn't already know, he'd eat his tie. And if Tony didn't already know that they knew… well, that sort of recursive thinking went nowhere. Shaking his head in amusement, Ellis looks at the hologram, noting how the Lt. Colonel is mesmerized by it, completely slack-jawed and wide-eyed. Until finally, Rhodes' thoughts catch up to what Tony is saying. "Hold on a second Tony. Are you saying… are you saying this is for me?"
"Course it is buddy. Designed War Machine with you in mind. That name and the color scheme are non-negotiable by the way, Mr. President. It's a fully functioning one man armored suit. Better than any fighter jet that currently exists on the market. Frankly, it's better technology than anything anyone else on Earth will have for the next… mm, twenty years at least. And yeah, I know how your mind works Rhodey. The Iron Legion is a whole damn squadron of these things. If the President wants to loop you in on the WSC and SHIELD, that's up to him."
Ellis gives Tony a look at that. Simply by mentioning all of these things in front of the Lt. Colonel, he would have to be looped in. But then again…
" Colonel
James
Rhodes.
Congratulations
on
your
promotion." Rhodes' eyes widen as he jolts in his seat, twisting and looking at Ellis in utter shock for a moment before quickly composing himself and straightening up to snap off another salute.
"Sir! Thank you for the honor, sir!"
The President just nods, still staring at the suit with no small amount of avarice. He'd seen some video of the recently inaugurated Iron Legion doing test flights and what not out at the air base they were training at and… it was amazing. He'd also seen the specs on those suits and had the numbers explained to him by his advisors. Even having one of these armored suits available to the US Military would be a godsend… and for it to be the toughest, most durable one Stark had created all because it could only be piloted by his best friend… well, that was even better.
"Consider it done, Mr. Stark. Your conditions for allowing the US Military to use the suit are noted and acceptable to us. Colonel Rhodes will be the only pilot, the suit will operate under the designation War Machine, and the color scheme of black and silver will not be modified in any way."
He would have preferred to make the suit red, white, and blue of course. Would have also liked to be allowed to name the damn thing. Something with 'Patriot' in it, maybe. But alas, even if Tony Stark had changed a lot since his time in Afghanistan, the man was still something of a diva. And the best way to handle someone like Stark was to placate him so he considered you an ally.
That was just the way the world worked these days. The President of the United States was still the most powerful man in the world to the unwashed masses, but to the ruling elite, the spooks, and the one percent of the one percent of the one percent like Stark … Ellis was nothing but a convenient stooge to do their bidding.
Suddenly, Tony pulls his keys out of his pocket and tosses them to Rhodes. This time, he doesn't ask for permission first and Ellis has to again subtly signal to his Secret Service to back off and not make a scene. If Stark notices, he doesn't say anything.
"Here, Rhodey. Take the R8 over to the base. Location is already set up in the GPS. And there's a copy of JARVIS waiting for you in the War Machine suit, so you'll feel right at home as he puts you through your paces. We'll celebrate your promotion to Colonel later, yeah?"
Positively vibrating with repressed excitement, the Colonel still has the good sense to look over at Ellis for permission. Which of course, the President graciously gives with a smile and a wave of his hand.
"Go ahead, Colonel. I might have to personally debrief you later just to hear what it feels like to fly in one of those things." "Yes sir!"
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