New York State Supreme Court, Courtroom 3.
This was not a public trial. Only three rows were occupied in the gallery.
On the left sat six members of the Congressional Armed Services Committee. On the right were representatives from the military. In the middle were S.H.I.E.L.D. observers, Coulson and Hill.
Even in such a serious setting, Lance still found time to shrug and tease Tony Stark beside him.
"Look at them." Lance lowered his voice, his tone dissatisfied. "S.H.I.E.L.D. can even slip into a setting like this. They're treating us like monkeys."
"Give me a break." Tony lowered his voice as well. "At least they haven't installed cameras all over your house just to figure out what toothpaste you use."
Lance spread his hands. "How do you know they haven't?"
"Fair enough." Tony shrugged. "It is S.H.I.E.L.D."
At that moment, the judge struck the gavel, cutting off their whispering.
"Pursuant to Section 9 of the National Security Emergency Act, this case will be heard in closed session. Prosecution, state your case."
The prosecutor appointed by Congress stood. "Your Honor, this case concerns three core issues.
First, Tony Stark developed, tested, and deployed the Mark II without authorization, a highly mobile individual combat armor.
Second, Stark Industries unilaterally terminated all weapons development contracts with the Department of Defense, in suspected violation of the Defense Production Act.
Third, after publicly announcing the closure of its weapons division, Mr. Stark continued private development of technology with clear military applications. His actions pose serious risks of misinformation and national security threats, and…"
"Objection."
Lance did not even stand. He cut in directly. "The prosecution has already defined the Mark II as a highly mobile individual combat armor before presenting any evidence. That is a predetermined conclusion and clearly misleading."
The judge nodded and turned to the prosecutor.
"Present your evidence first."
The prosecutor activated the projector. A blurry video appeared on the screen, showing the Mark II lifting off from the roof of Stark Tower. It was clearly filmed in secret.
Lance shot Tony Stark a disapproving look. Stark awkwardly rubbed his nose and lowered his head.
Figures. This money was never going to be easy to earn.
Lance turned to the judge. "According to the prosecution, the Mark II is military-grade equipment? An individual combat system capable of autonomous operations?"
He shrugged. "If I recall correctly, under Department of Defense classification standards, military-grade equipment must meet three conditions. First, it must be designed for military combat. Second, it must have entered procurement or testing procedures. Third, it must be equipped with standardized lethal modules."
"Unfortunately," Lance continued, "the Mark II meets none of these criteria. To my knowledge, Mr. Stark developed it simply as an upgrade for his intelligent assistant. Surely Congress does not intend to regulate how an outstanding citizen like Mr. Stark uses artificial intelligence in his own home?"
As he spoke, Lance pulled out a stack of documents from his briefcase.
"Of course, we acknowledge that the Mark II includes certain personal protective features, but its design is intended for high-risk environmental protection.
As a private intelligent system for Mr. Stark's residence, it has never entered military procurement or testing. Furthermore, its installed offensive functions consist only of a non-lethal pulse device. If I remember correctly, equipment of that nature does not even require a special permit."
"Then what about the allegation that Mr. Stark unilaterally violated procurement contracts with the military and privately shut down Stark Industries' weapons division?" the prosecutor pressed, trying to recover ground.
"That is even simpler." Lance smiled. "Under commercial contract law, when the performance of a contract conflicts with a company's core ethical principles, the contracting party has the right to terminate it unconditionally.
After being attacked with weapons manufactured by his own company, Mr. Stark concluded that continuing production would violate his personal ethics. Is there a problem with that?"
He turned toward the congressional seats, his smile sharpening.
"Or are you suggesting that an American citizen should not have ethics? Or more precisely, that Mr. Stark, as a lawful citizen, is not permitted to refuse on ethical grounds?"
Lance handed the prepared report to the clerk and looked back at the prosecutor.
"Therefore, all of your accusations are invalid. On what basis do you proceed?"
The lawyer opened his mouth, but before he could speak, the military colonel in the gallery suddenly stood up.
"What about Afghanistan?!"
The colonel stepped forward to the witness stand. He ignored Lance entirely and fixed his gaze on Tony Stark.
"Mr. Stark, while you were kidnapped in Afghanistan, you built a first-generation suit of armor out of scrap metal. That thing killed over a dozen people and destroyed a terrorist base. Can you look me in the eye and swear before God that it wasn't a weapon?"
Tony Stark lowered his head. He had no way to refute it. Everything that had happened in Afghanistan was a nightmare he could not escape. If he could, he would erase it all.
Lance stepped out from the counsel table and moved in front of the colonel. He glanced at the name on the man's badge.
"Colonel Wilson?"
"Yes." The colonel answered sharply.
Lance smiled. "Colonel Wilson, I've heard of you. Twenty-seven years of service. The Gulf War, Afghanistan. Three Purple Hearts."
A trace of pride appeared on the colonel's face.
Then Lance shifted tone.
"As a seasoned soldier, you must be well aware that the Additional Protocols of the Geneva Conventions state that improvised devices created by captured personnel for self-rescue, as long as they do not violate the basic laws of war, are not considered prohibited weapons."
Colonel Wilson snapped out of it, his face flushing with anger.
"Sophistry!" he shouted. "That thing Stark built…"
"That thing saved his life."
Lance cut him off without hesitation. He turned to face the courtroom.
"Do I need to remind everyone? The device Colonel Wilson is referring to saved Mr. Stark's life when he was on the brink of death. Without it, he would not be standing here today. Even so, he endured severe trauma, nearly breaking under the experience. Just because he stands here now does not mean those injuries never existed."
"The same device also saved three other civilians who were held in that facility. Do I need to submit their testimony? They are deeply grateful to Mr. Stark."
"And furthermore," Lance continued, ignoring the colonel and addressing the entire room, "if we follow the prosecution's logic, then any tool created under threat of death must later be treated as an illegal weapon."
"In that case, should prisoners who sharpen toothbrushes into blades for self-defense be charged with illegal weapons manufacturing after their release? Should a person lost in the wilderness who carves a spear to drive away a beast be required to surrender it to the court upon returning home?"
"Colonel, you've used an entrenching tool in combat, haven't you? That tool can kill. By your standard, should every entrenching tool be classified as an illegal weapon?"
___
While the people in the courtroom are still arguing over whether Tony Stark broke the law, Lance Prescott is already thinking about how to squeeze the next few people dry.
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