The Gears of War 2 model had arrived, crushing the performance benchmarks of the original War Machine. The design for its four metal arms drew inspiration from Doctor Octopus's iconic "octopus arms" and the metallic limbs of the Iron Spider suit. Coated with a secondary krypton-gold alloy, the Gears of War 2 could withstand hundreds of tons of force without deforming. Its internal shock absorption system had also been enhanced to provide greater resilience.
Each metal arm, with a secondary krypton-gold coating, packed a punch—literally—with 20 tons of strength and enough agility to simulate rapid strikes, capable of up to five punches per second. With this frequency, not even a creature as durable as the Deep Sea King would stand a chance.
"The power and speed of these arms allow for combat efficiency unlike anything before," Zod elaborated. "Each arm is equipped with a camera for multi-directional input, high-energy lasers capable of cutting through 30mm steel, and precise aiming for targets up to 500 meters away."
The demonstration was impressive. A red laser shot from one arm, slicing through a steel plate and then piercing the center of a metal target 500 meters away, leaving a perfectly melted hole.
"Conventional tank armor wouldn't stand a chance," Zod remarked. "And the range of the palm energy cannon is about 300 meters—decent, given atmospheric energy loss."
The Air Force Major General's eyes sparkled with excitement. "How much?"
"Two billion," Zod answered, his tone firm.
"Two billion? A light aircraft carrier costs about 500 million, including a 700-million-dollar fleet, and another 500 million for onboard aircraft. That totals 2 billion. Are you saying this single War Machine matches that?"
"Mr. Major General," Zod replied with a slight smile, "I'm only responsible for the quote. I won't haggle." He gestured towards Ulder. "She's the one for that."
Zod then led them to another model—a larger machine resembling the anti-Hulk armor, but painted a somber black.
"This," Zod introduced, "is the Iron Overlord. Its armor is twice the thickness of Gears of War 1, though without the secondary krypton-gold coating. Its physical strength is 50 tons, with defense capabilities that are unmatched in hand-to-hand combat. However, due to its weight, it's slower than other models. It features a 20mm rotary machine gun on the right arm, and a missile launcher on the left, powered by a magnetic beam nuclear fusion reactor."
The Air Force Major General was awe-struck, picturing this mechanical giant overturning tanks on the battlefield. "And the price?"
"One and a half billion," Zod stated.
The Major General nodded, already strategizing his next steps. "I'll need to discuss this with my superiors."
"Of course," Zod replied calmly. "We're open to further discussions."
Back in Washington, the U.S. military was immediately briefed on Zod's latest War Machine models. But as expected, word of the sky-high price spread, sparking debate. To everyone's surprise, Zod had also begun marketing his War Machines to international clients.
While some nations balked at the cost, Middle Eastern oil magnates were quick to express interest, prioritizing personal safety and valuing resilience in the face of threats. For them, two billion dollars was hardly a deterrent.
Meanwhile, Zod's recent conflict with the Deep Sea King had left the Fantastic Three reeling, shaking their previous confidence. Johnny Storm, who had once believed himself untouchable, had been humbled. The team's leader, Reed, realized they needed more firepower and sought out their old teammate, Ben Grimm.
"Ben, we need your strength back on the team," Reed implored.
Ben looked down, his voice heavy. "You know I don't want to go back to being... that."
"I understand, Ben, but we're a team. The cosmic storm gave us powers for a reason. Doom has vanished, but we've been given a chance to make a difference, to protect the world. That's a gift, don't you think?"
Ben's frustration bubbled to the surface, and he snapped, "You think turning into a monster was a gift?"