After taking office, Norman had halted foreign wars. Many of the soldiers returning home had become disabled, suffering from either psychological or physical impairments.
Those with psychological disabilities had been transferred to Stark Industries—Tony had developed a set of equipment for treating PTSD based on holographic technology. Although Osborn could have done this too, Norman was quite generous toward his ally.
However, those with physical disabilities who still possessed iron wills were few and far between. Norman offered them a new position:
Presidential Guard and H.A.M.M.E.R. Agent.
These soldiers had volunteered for the refined research of the Extremis virus. Using cobra toxin in conjunction with Tony's improved designs, the potency of this Extremis virus was significantly weakened. It was very effective for medical purposes, but it could no longer create Extremis soldiers like Killian.
To stably achieve that kind of effect, further improvements were still needed.
Using the weakened Extremis virus to regenerate parts of their limbs, injecting more protein complexes to enhance muscle strength, and then using neural link technology to equip them with power armor and heavy weaponry, each of these soldiers could take on a hundred enemies on the battlefield.
Compared to the first generation of cyborg technology, their strength was greater because their physical bodies were stronger, allowing them to withstand more intense mechanical modifications—and the cost was lower. This might become standard issue for H.A.M.M.E.R. Agents in the future.
"It seems Mr. Alex is about to retire from the team," General Ross commented.
Facing this argument, Norman shook his head: "Alex's generation of robocops has also undergone technical upgrades. Of course, the civilian models have already returned to their posts."
"As for Alex, he has joined the Thunderbolts, so the upgrades we perform on him will be even stronger."
There were some things General Ross wasn't entirely clear on—namely, that once the final improvements to the Extremis virus were complete, the Spartan biological modification surgery could overcome its high mortality rate. At that point, they could begin attempting to mass-produce these soldiers.
Not only that, the improved Extremis virus was a biotechnology that could be promoted to the entire populace; using it just for fighting was far too wasteful.
"What's the situation with S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Norman asked.
General Ross replied: "I've already made demands to S.H.I.E.L.D., but they're playing dead. The good news is that other countries are just watching the show."
The so-called demands were made by General Ross at Norman's behest: they were to hand over the designs and principles for several weapons, including the Helicarrier.
As everyone knows, in this World, the predecessor of S.H.I.E.L.D. was the SSR, the Strategic Scientific Reserve.
This organization wasn't some United Nations body, but a legitimate official U.S. organization. The designs for the Helicarrier were also funded by the United States.
But the result was that all Helicarrier technology was taken by S.H.I.E.L.D., and the U.S. didn't get a piece of it.
This whole thing was actually quite ridiculous: the U.S. spent manpower and resources to establish a high-tech secret Agent organization, only to hand it over to the United Nations and lose control over it—and now the actual controllers of S.H.I.E.L.D. were HYDRA.
General Ross's negotiations were clearly ineffective. If S.H.I.E.L.D. actually handed over the Helicarrier technology, Norman would write his name backward.
However, Osborn now possessed the key technologies for the Helicarrier. In the comics, Norman had even designed Helicarriers himself.
Pressuring S.H.I.E.L.D. was a tactic, a way of stating a position: although many in that organization are Americans, they really have nothing to do with us.
"Then continue to apply pressure, and release all that evidence as well," Norman continued.
General Ross continued his report to Norman: "The design for Osborn's Aerospace Strategic Platform is out. Congress is currently reviewing the funding for it; it should be finalized next week."
Norman nodded, indicating he understood.
General Ross was still a bit unaccustomed to Norman's current demeanor—remembering that just a few years ago, he was Osborn's big benefactor. Back then, Norman didn't treat him like this.
However, the maneuvers Norman had pulled since taking office were somewhat alarming to him—conducting a massive purge in the U.S. Even with the right timing and support, it wasn't something an ordinary person could achieve.
Furthermore, he knew the IRS and the Department of Justice were already targeting Roxxon, and Norman was definitely the one pushing for it behind the scenes.
But what reason did he have to be suspicious? Norman was a "historical milestone" of a President.
The people loved him, and he himself held power; that was enough.
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right nobut who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/TripleCrown
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"