Sean pushed open the conference room door to find General Ross, now out of uniform and dressed in formal attire, waiting for him...
The general had landed at Dulles International Airport near the Pentagon an hour earlier and rushed straight to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Triskelion headquarters on the banks of the Potomac.
"Captain Rogers actually signed the Registration Act... that's truly unexpected." The general was visibly surprised.
Steve Rogers had always been a stubborn hardliner. S.H.I.E.L.D. had engaged in heated internal debates over whether to detain Captain America, with the White House favoring a softer approach and the Department of Defense divided.
After all, this was a war hero from the last century, someone who had made great sacrifices for the country. Heavy-handed enforcement would only invite unnecessary controversy.
But Captain America had stood firm, unmoved by political maneuvering. He left scheming politicians empty-handed and ultimately forced them to abandon their attempts to co-opt him.
"Sometimes, showing a good man the harsh truth is more effective than sweet talk or torture." Sean shrugged.
Captain America's compromise was a good thing. Otherwise, given his influence among superheroes, his resistance could have caused significant trouble.
"General, you didn't rush here just to talk about Captain Rogers." The young man took a seat on the sofa.
Despite General Ross's efforts to maintain composure, a trace of agitation still seeped through.
"I'm here about the new energy collaboration between Umbrella and Stark Industries. You've started a revolution, trying to reshape the landscape. That's both good and bad." General Ross shook his head with a sigh before explaining the recent developments.
In the energy sector, Stark Industries, Umbrella Corporation, and the established giant Koch Industries had formed a triumvirate. They rapidly seized the market with overwhelming force and stabilized the situation in record time.
But as the new energy sector expanded aggressively, it sent shockwaves through the industry. Stark Industries, in particular, had poured massive resources into promotion, attempting to compress what should have taken decades into mere months. This radical strategy left no breathing room for competitors, which inevitably triggered an economic earthquake.
"Tony Stark is like a rampaging elephant. No one can stop him, and that bastard doesn't care what he tramples along the way!" General Ross fumed.
His dislike for Stark had never waned, past or present.
Stark Industries' reckless charge had not only terrified manufacturing competitors, but also sent the energy sector into a panic. Traditional energy valuations plummeted like an avalanche. While Koch Industries had pivoted early, giants like Roxxon Oil were already feeling the chill of an unexpected winter.
At the same time, this revolution triggered a chain reaction. Like toppling the first domino, the explosive growth of new energy forced oil-dependent White House policies to adapt.
Global hotspots cooled, military actions that once promised hefty returns now seemed meaningless, and the economic and diplomatic framework the U.S. had built post-war teetered on the brink of collapse.
Over the past two decades, the U.S. had launched over twenty overseas military operations; from the 1991 Gulf War (sparked by Iraq-Kuwait oil disputes) to Kosovo, Afghanistan, Libya, and beyond.
War meant defense contracts for arms dealers, promotions for soldiers, soaring stocks for oil tycoons, and a convenient distraction from domestic strife...
And until now, oil had been the 20th century's most critical strategic resource.
As former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger once said: "Oil has irrevocably changed the world."
Since Colonel Drake drilled the first oil well in Pennsylvania in 1859, human life had become inseparable from petroleum and its derivatives. It was a resource fought over by superpowers and the lifeblood of modern warfare.
For the U.S., oil wasn't just the backbone of modern industry, it was the linchpin of the petrodollar system, ensuring the dollar's dominance in global trade. The superpower's interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Arab-Israeli conflicts all served one purpose... to fracture the Middle East and cement OPEC's reliance on dollar-denominated oil transactions, reinforcing American hegemony.
Thus, the 'petrodollar system' became the successor to the collapsed Bretton Woods system, anchoring the dollar at the heart of international finance.
But Stark Industries' reckless charge was about to end the 'Age of Oil' and usher in a new world order. In this revolution, countless would suffer, speculators ruined, elites dethroned.
The most immediate example? The moment Stark Industries, Umbrella, and Koch Industries announced their collaboration, global oil prices nosedived to near-freezing levels, triggering geopolitical tremors and a flood of conspiracy theories.
Many believed this was a U.S-Saudi conspiracy to economically cripple Russia through sanctions. Rumors ran wild, markets fluctuated by the minute, and no one could predict the future.
Similar chain reactions rippled across the globe. As international tensions surged, the White House found itself in hot water. Any other company would have been forced to shut down for provoking such outrage, and its leaders would face prison.
But the Stark family was part of the ruling class, Umbrella was a rising powerhouse with formidable backing, and Koch Industries was no pushover. Together, even the most aggrieved tycoons could only grit their teeth and endure... for now.
Yet sooner or later, these tensions would erupt into full-blown conflict, and when they did, the retaliation would be swift and brutal.
Ross continued, "So, as someone lashed to Stark Industries' chariot, should I stand with Tony or jump ship early?"
Sean remained unfazed, as if utterly unconcerned about the upheaval caused by new energy.
Seeing his unshakable calm, General Ross relaxed, "I assume you already have a solution."
The young man always inspired confidence. As Betty often said, he was like an undefeated general, capable of pulling off miracles time and again.
"How's Blonsky performing?" Sean changed the subject, shifting to the Department of Defense's recent moves, "The bureaucrats finally approved your proposal for an elite expeditionary force. Congratulations, General."
"Thank the aliens for that. The president is our staunchest ally. Super-soldiers and mutants are being organized into two separate units; one for frontline combat, the other for targeted strikes." The general couldn't hide his pride.
When this force made history, his name would be remembered, "Emil never hesitates in missions. He follows orders. He's our strongest warrior, a true super-soldier. That beast Hulk isn't fit to lick his boots."
General Ross had long let go of his obsession with the Hulk, now even dismissing the creature with contempt.
"The World Security Council is making first contact with Asgard. Soon, the entire world may face high-level warfare, we both know this." Sean stood and paced, a shadow flickering in his eyes, "Why not warm up with a trial run? It could also resolve the tensions caused by new energy."
"With whom?" General Ross frowned.
Sean spun the globe on the table, his finger landing on distant Africa, "A hidden third-world nation."