"I'm calling an emergency board meeting," Tony announced, walking into the Stark Industries executive conference room with a tablet full of financial records that shouldn't exist and a confidence that made the air itself seem to crackle with energy. "We have a problem, and it's been sitting at this table for fifteen years."
The boardroom fell silent as Tony took his place at the head of the polished mahogany table. The twelve members of Stark Industries' board of directors sat in their usual positions, but there was a notable absence where Obadiah Stane normally commanded attention with his booming voice and political maneuvering.
"Where's Obadiah?" asked Senator Stern, his political instincts already sensing that something fundamental had shifted in the company's power structure. "I was under the impression this meeting was about restructuring operations following your… ordeal."
"Oh, it is," Tony replied, activating the holographic display system that transformed the conference room into something resembling mission control. Financial data, shipping records, and communication logs filled the air above the table in neat rows of glowing blue text. "We're going to restructure everything. Starting with removing the cancer that's been eating this company from the inside."
General Ross leaned forward, his weathered face studying the data with military precision. "What exactly are we looking at, Stark?"
"Fifteen years of systematic embezzlement, illegal weapons trafficking, and treason," Tony said matter-of-factly, highlighting specific transactions with gestures that made the relevant information pulse with brighter light. "All of it orchestrated by my former business partner and executed using Stark Industries resources."
The room erupted into chaos. Board members spoke over each other, demanding explanations, questioning the validity of the evidence, and generally behaving like politicians who had just discovered their campaign contributions came from organized crime.
"This is preposterous!" Senator Stern's voice cut through the noise. "Obadiah Stane has been a pillar of American defense contracting for decades! These accusations are—"
"Documented with his own words," Tony interrupted, playing an audio recording that filled the room with Obadiah's voice negotiating weapons prices with known terrorist organizations. "Along with video evidence, financial transfers, and shipping manifests that paint a very clear picture of his activities."
The recording played for thirty seconds before Tony cut it off, leaving the boardroom in stunned silence.
"How long have you known about this?" asked Victoria Hand, the board's legal counsel, her voice carefully neutral.
"Long enough to gather comprehensive evidence," Tony replied, which was technically true if you counted evidence gathered in a different timeline. "The question isn't how long I've known. The question is what we're going to do about it."
"We need to contact federal investigators," General Ross said immediately. "If even half of this is accurate, we're looking at violations of the Arms Export Control Act, material support for terrorism, and probably a dozen other federal crimes."
"Already handled," Tony said, activating another display that showed confirmation codes for evidence packages delivered to the FBI, DOD, and several other three-letter agencies. "As of one hour ago, federal investigators have copies of everything we've uncovered. They'll be making arrests within the week."
"Then why are we here?" asked Dr. Maya Hansen, the company's head of biological research. "If you've already turned over evidence to federal authorities, what do you need from the board?"
Tony smiled, and it was the expression of a man who held all the cards and knew exactly how to play them. "Because we're not just going to clean house. We're going to rebuild from the ground up. Stark Industries is about to become something completely different from what it's been."
He gestured, and the holographic displays shifted to show technical schematics, energy output calculations, and projected profit margins that made even the most jaded board members sit up and take notice.
"Clean energy," Tony announced. "Specifically, clean energy based on arc reactor technology that makes everything currently available look like steam engines." The display showed power output numbers that seemed impossible. "We're talking about reactors that can power entire cities using fuel sources that are completely sustainable and environmentally neutral."
"That's impossible," Senator Stern said flatly. "Fusion technology at that scale—"
"Is already functional," Tony interrupted, touching his chest where the arc reactor's glow was visible through his shirt. "I've been running on arc reactor power for the past week. Zero emissions, unlimited runtime, completely stable output."
The boardroom fell silent as the implications became clear. Clean, unlimited energy wasn't just a technological breakthrough—it was an economic revolution that would reshape global power structures.
"The defense contracts we've been pursuing are small-scale thinking," Tony continued, manipulating the displays to show projected market analyses. "We've been selling weapons to fight wars when we could be selling technology to make wars obsolete. Energy independence, environmental sustainability, technological supremacy—these are the markets of the future."
"And the existing weapons contracts?" General Ross asked.
"We'll honor our legitimate commitments to the US military," Tony said, highlighting specific contracts. "But we're ending all foreign sales, all private military contracting, and anything else that puts American technology in the hands of people who might use it against American interests." His expression grew harder. "No more weapons dealing. No more profiting from conflict. No more creating markets by destabilizing regions."
Victoria Hand was reviewing legal documents on her tablet, her expression growing more concerned with each page. "Tony, what you're proposing would require approval from the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and probably half a dozen other federal agencies. The regulatory hurdles alone—"
"Are already being addressed," Tony said, activating another display that showed meeting confirmations and preliminary approval letters. "I've been busy since my return. Federal regulators are very interested in technology that can provide clean energy independence while strengthening national security."
"How is this possible?" Dr. Hansen asked, staring at the technical specifications with scientific fascination. "The energy density you're showing, the efficiency ratings—this represents advances in physics that should take decades to achieve."
"Sometimes necessity accelerates innovation," Tony replied cryptically. "And sometimes you find inspiration in the most unlikely places." He looked around the table at each board member in turn. "The question now is whether you want to be part of the future or part of the past."
Senator Stern was the first to voice what everyone was thinking. "What are you asking from us?"
"Complete restructuring of company operations," Tony said without hesitation. "Immediate termination of all questionable contracts. Full cooperation with federal investigations. And unanimous support for transitioning Stark Industries into clean energy development and advanced defensive technologies."
"And if we refuse?"
Tony's smile was sharp as a blade. "Then you'll be removed from the board and replaced with people who understand that the world is changing whether they like it or not." He gestured to the evidence still floating in the air around them. "I have controlling interest in this company, and I have enough evidence of corporate malfeasance to justify removing any board member who stands in the way of necessary reforms."
General Ross leaned back in his chair, studying Tony with new interest. "You're not the same man who left for Afghanistan three months ago."
"No," Tony agreed. "I'm not. The man who left for Afghanistan was a weapons manufacturer who had never seen the real consequences of his work. The man who came back understands that sometimes you have to choose between what's profitable and what's right." His voice grew harder. "And I choose right. Every time. From now on."
The vote was unanimous.
Whether it was fear of federal prosecution, excitement about the new technology, or simple recognition that Tony Stark had fundamentally changed the rules of the game, every board member voted to support his proposed restructuring. Within an hour, Stark Industries had officially transitioned from weapons manufacturing to clean energy development.
As the board members filed out of the conference room, discussing implications and making phone calls to lawyers and accountants, Tony remained seated at the head of the table with Pepper beside him.
"That was impressive," she said quietly. "And terrifying. How did you know exactly what evidence to present, exactly what pressure points to use?"
Tony looked out the conference room windows at the Los Angeles skyline, thinking about the future that was coming whether humanity was ready for it or not. Artificial intelligences that would try to destroy civilization. Alien invasions that would test every defense Earth could muster. A purple titan who would eventually come for stones that could rewrite reality itself.
"Because I've learned that when you're fighting for the future," he said finally, "you can't afford to be anything less than completely prepared. And preparation means knowing your enemies better than they know themselves."
"And what happens now?"
Tony stood up, his movements carrying the purposeful energy of a man with a mission that transcended corporate politics and quarterly profit reports. "Now we start building the technology that's going to save the world. And we do it fast, because we're going to need every advantage we can get for what's coming."
Through the conference room windows, the lights of Los Angeles stretched to the horizon like stars fallen to earth. Somewhere in that sprawling city, government officials were already beginning to process the evidence Tony had provided. Defense contractors were scrambling to understand how the game had changed so dramatically. Technology firms were trying to reverse-engineer innovations they couldn't even comprehend.
But Tony's mind was already working on the next phase of his plan. The corporate restructuring was complete, but that was just the foundation. He had allies to recruit, enemies to prepare for, and a timeline to optimize.
The future was accelerating toward them whether they were ready or not.
And Tony Stark intended to be more than ready.