The sudden gunfire from outside the cave made the terrorists surrounding Dr. Yinsen stop their actions.
"You few—go out and check!"
The bald leader among the terrorists, face grim, ordered several men beside him.
Those selected immediately turned and rushed out of the cave with guns.
The remaining people continued pointing their rifles at Yinsen. The hopeful expression that had just appeared on his face couldn't help but turn to despair again. Just as they were about to pull their triggers, the several terrorists who'd just rushed out ran back at even faster speed than before.
Simultaneously, a burst of bullets followed closely behind them, shooting into the cave and striking all of them down from behind. They made no more sound.
The remaining terrorists in the cave could no longer spare attention for Yinsen. They hurriedly turned to aim their guns outside the cave. Unfortunately, their speed was still too slow.
In Yinsen's vision, as the several suddenly returning terrorists were struck down, two agile figures suddenly appeared outside the cave.
One wore a sharp black suit, holding a pistol in hand. Using rocks on one side of the cave entrance as cover, he exposed half his body, held the gun with both hands, and continuously shot at the terrorists inside the cave.
The other wore black tactical gear with an extremely tall, robust build, yet possessed agility disproportionate to his size.
After taking down the fleeing terrorists, his figure rapidly swept past the cave entrance, hiding on the cave's other side. Before the remaining terrorists in the cave could react, the automatic rifle he'd been steadily holding quickly opened fire, preemptively launching an attack against them.
Under the two's rapid and precise firepower, most of the dozen or so remaining terrorists in the cave hadn't had time to turn around before being taken out by bullets from behind. Even the quickest-reacting bald leader only had time to turn and raise his gun. Before he could aim at the enemies, he was hit in the chest by an incoming bullet and fell to the ground.
In just a few seconds, the dozen or so terrorists in the cave were all eliminated. This time, Yinsen was truly saved.
Exhaling a long breath, Yinsen looked excitedly at the two men walking cautiously into the cave with guns raised.
"Where is Tony Stark?"
The steady-looking man in the suit asked Yinsen. The tall man beside him pointed his gun at Yinsen—after all, he still held a rifle. If they hadn't been observant enough to notice he didn't seem to be with the terrorists, he might have been taken out along with the terrorists on the ground by now.
But necessary precautions were still essential. All potentially threatening targets couldn't be treated lightly.
"He's inside. He'll be out soon. Are you here to rescue him?"
As Yinsen spoke, he threw the rifle in his hands to the ground and raised both hands before him.
Judging by their attire and powerful abilities, they were clearly different from these ragtag terrorists—trained elites. The intense gunfire still continuously sounding outside also indicated they'd come with quite a few people. Very likely they'd come to rescue Tony.
Agent Phil Coulson nodded at Yinsen.
"That's right. Take us to find him. We need to leave here quickly."
When they'd charged over earlier, they'd discovered large amounts of Stark Industries-manufactured military supplies and advanced missiles on both sides of the valley.
The firefight outside was intense with bullets flying everywhere. If these munitions were hit and detonated, a chain explosion would inevitably follow. With the quantity of these weapons, the explosion's power would certainly be tremendous. By then they'd inevitably be injured in the explosion—possibly even in life-threatening danger.
So they had to quickly find Tony Stark, rescue him, and rapidly evacuate.
That day, not long after Agent Phil Coulson and Chen Mo returned to Washington headquarters, they received news that Tony Stark had been attacked and gone missing in Afghanistan.
Learning the situation immediately, Chen Mo ordered they rush to Afghanistan for the rescue.
Nick Fury didn't obstruct this at all. Whether for Tony Stark's own powerful weapons development talent or his identity as son of Howard, one of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division's founders, Chen Mo's rescue operation had no issues.
If Tony Stark fell under terrorist control and was used by them, with his formidable weapons manufacturing talent these terrorists would obtain large quantities of powerful weapons and equipment. By then they'd inevitably bring even greater harm to this world.
This was precisely their Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division's work—eliminating evil forces threatening Earth's safety and maintaining world peace.
So on the day Tony Stark disappeared, Chen Mo smoothly arrived at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan and took over command of Tony Stark's rescue operation.
Reconnaissance aircraft, satellites and ground search teams simultaneously launched carpet searches centered on the attack location spreading outward. But these terrorists had obviously come prepared with guidance. They left no traces along their retreat route, completely disappearing from military sight. Their hiding place was never found.
Large numbers of search forces were mobilized, the search range continuously expanding. Not until over ten days later did they finally discover through careful satellite reconnaissance the terrorist base hidden among the mountains in a valley.
To avoid a large force alerting them and putting Tony Stark in danger, Chen Mo didn't deploy large numbers.
Dr. Yinsen was just about to lead Agent Phil Coulson to return to the cave to find Tony Stark when heavy mechanical movement sounds suddenly came from inside the cave, getting closer and closer to them.
Agent Phil Coulson and his partner quickly raised their weapons toward the sound coming from deep in the cave, faces full of vigilance. Only Dr. Yinsen beside them showed delight. Seeing their actions, he quickly explained.
"Don't be nervous—it's Tony!"
Yinsen's explanation didn't make the two relax. Toward unknown situations, they wouldn't easily let down their guard because of one person's words. On the battlefield, one had to be extremely cautious.
The rumbling dull impact sounds and mechanical operation sounds grew closer and closer. Finally, a wide, heavy, tall figure with a circular white light glowing from his chest walked out from deep in the cave, revealing his true appearance before several people.
This was a suit of steel armor with a surface welded from thick steel plates, completely encasing and protecting the person inside. The arms, legs, joints and other parts exposed large amounts of hydraulic mechanisms and track drive devices. Clearly this wasn't just steel armor for defense—it had its own power source and looked more like a fierce, powerful robot.
The steel armor's rough surface welds and uneven exterior indicated it was manufactured under extremely crude environmental conditions. But no one would think it lacked threat.
The moment this steel armor appeared, Agent Phil Coulson and his partner pointed their guns at it.
Inside the opposing steel armor, Tony Stark, seeing Yinsen was safe, breathed a sigh of relief. But he also noticed Yinsen's raised hands after throwing down his rifle and the two men's gun muzzles pointed at him.
Immediately, Tony's footsteps didn't stop. Amid the armor's heavy "clang! clang!" sounds, he strode directly toward the two, obviously preparing to attack them.
Seeing this, Agent Phil Coulson and his partner aimed their guns at Tony, ready to fire at any moment.
Just as battle was about to erupt, Yinsen, who'd been standing to the side, rushed between both parties, separating them.
"Tony! Don't be impulsive—they're here to rescue you!"
Then Yinsen turned to Agent Phil Coulson and his partner.
"You two, this is the Tony Stark you're looking for!"
Under Yinsen's explanation, Tony finally stopped. Agent Phil Coulson and partner simultaneously lowered their guns, though didn't completely relax their vigilance.
"Who are you people?"
Tony Stark's voice came from under the steel mask. Hearing his voice, Agent Phil Coulson's wariness relaxed slightly. Indeed it was Tony Stark's voice, no mistake.
"Phil Coulson, Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division agent, here under orders to rescue you."
"Well then you're quite late. I don't need rescuing now."
As Tony spoke, he raised the arm equipped with the flamethrower, saying somewhat mockingly.
He was confident his Mark I Iron Man suit would let him smoothly escape the terrorist base. He felt little gratitude for their belated rescue.
"And you, buddy—you don't look like an agent."
Tony Stark turned his head toward the tall figure in black tactical gear beside him.
Looking at the cold metal mask on Tony Stark's face, the tall figure in tactical gear slowly said.
"Brock Rumlow, Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, Special Forces Team Leader."
This powerful warrior who'd attacked into the cave with Agent Phil Coulson to rescue Tony Stark was none other than the original Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division Rapid Response Special Forces captain, Brock Rumlow. He had another unknown name—Crossbones!
After Chen Mo took over the Rapid Response Special Forces and reorganized it as the Special Forces, he and the newly conscripted Phil Coulson together became Chen Mo's direct subordinates.
His hidden true identity was a Hydra spy planted in the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. Of course right now, he didn't yet know Chen Mo's true identity.
Or rather, except for the limited few at the Norwegian secret base, no one outside knew Chen Mo's identity as Hydra's controller.