Lancaster is a city in the state of California and home to Edwards Air Force Base.
History[]
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Emergence of Iron Man[]
Tony Stark escaped from his three months kidnapping by the Ten Rings in Afghanistan, when members of the United States Air Force, including his friend James Rhodes, found him wandering the desert. Stark was flown back to Edwards Air Force Base in Lancaster, where he was greeted by Happy Hogan and a visibly moved Pepper Potts.
Stark declared that Stark Industries would no longer manufacture weapons, and retreated from public view, focusing on the design of an improved armor, refining its size and flight capability, going to Edwards Air Force Base to ask for Rhodes's assistance in the project. Rhodes paused his lesson to a group of airmen to attend Stark, refusing to help in this new project even before Stark had a chance of explaining his idea.
The United States Air Force command center at Edwards Air Force Base detected an unidentified presence in Afghanistan responsible for the attack against the Ten Rings in Gulmira. Major Julius Allen was in charge of the contingency, contacting the Department of State, the CIA and the other branches of the United States Armed Forces. Rhodes suspected that Stark was the responsible of the attacks, while Allen sent two F-22 Raptors with orders to take out the target.
After engaging the F-22s, Stark admitted that what was previously thought as an unmanned aerial vehicle was in fact a suit of armor wore by Stark himself and evaded the attacks, but not without being able to prevent a hit against one of the planes. When Stark saved the ejected pilot, the Air Force called off the pursuit.
The following day, Rhodes dubbed the incident as an "unfortunate training exercise" in a press conference in Edwards Air Force Base.[1]
Obtaining an Iron Man Armor[]
James Rhodes flew to Edwards Air Force Base using the Iron Man Mark II armor, which he used to stop Tony Stark from putting his guests at risk during a birthday party.
Major Julius Allen greeted Rhodes as he landed while most of the airmen approached to admire the armor. Rhodes presented the armor to General Meade, who ordered to summon Justin Hammer to weaponize the armor in order to be presented at the Stark Expo.
Rhodes retired the Arc Reactor from the Mark II so that Hammer could not analyze it, and Hammer arrived, presenting a full array of weapons such as pistols, shotguns, a minigun and an exclusive Sidewinder Self-Guided Missile. Rhodes selected all the weapons presented by Hammer to be incorporated to the armor, and it was upgraded into the "JRXL-1000 Variable Threat Response Battle Suit".[2]
Alternate Universe[]
- "Any one of these guys would kill for your career. Are you telling me you're willing to sacrifice that to fly a bunch of snake-eaters on a desert patrol halfway around the world?"
"I am, sir."
"Then I have one thing to say to you. Godspeed." - ―Benson Gabriel and James Rhodes[src]
In an alternate universe, James Rhodes Stood in line with other soldier waiting to board a C-17 Transport Plane, to go on another search for the missing Tony Stark who had been kidnapped by the Ten Rings. Benson Gabriel arrived, planning to block the search party but decided to them go when Rhodes said this was more important than his career.
Rhodes returned with Stark to the air base, where Pepper Potts was waiting for him. He told Rhodes to help him out of his wheelchair, but stumbled when he stood up so Rhodes helped him walk down to Potts. They greeted each other before she took him to the limo, where his driver greeted him before they got into the limo, while Rhodes explained he would have to catch up with him later, going to talk to Gabriel. The limo then left and went to the Stark Industries Headquarters, despite Stark needing to go to the hospital.
More than a week later, Rhodes stood and lectured a group of student pilots, grabbing their attention before explaining how a computer could never trump a pilot's instincts. That's when Stark appeared, saying to go further and have a pilot without a plane, Rhodes was skeptical but the lecture was cut short when Stark suggested to take apart the planes. Rhodes said he thought he'd need more time but Stark was adamant that he didn't and that he had already gone back to work. But when Stark explained that he didn't plan on reversing his decision to halt Stark Industries weapon sales, Rhodes tried to change his mind getting him to admit that he probably did need to take more time. The two then bid each other farewell.
Gregory Allen stood in the Central Air Command Center as a video of the a skirmish in Gulmira was displayed on the monitors. He realized the battle showed an unidentified machine battling insurgents. Later, Rhodes arrived at the room. He paced as he called Stark, calling about what he thought this UAV was as it had flown into a no-fly zone. 2 F-22s were sent after the UAVs as Allen watched, Viper One and Viper Two. The two persuaded the UAV as Stark called them back giving them more details about it, they eventually realized that it was a man in a suit. The control room watched as the man took down the Viper One's F-22, but left him unharmed. Viper Two wished to engage the man but Rhodes told him not to, suspecting Stark was the one in the suit.
A while later, Potts called Rhodes on the phone while he was in his office and explained that Obadiah Stane had hired the Ten Rings to kill Stark, causing Rhodes to ask where Stark is currently before driving to his mansion.[3]
Appearances[]
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to be added
