Insider Information and Outsider

It wasn't easy to activate a nuclear weapon launch sequence. Even the Secretary of Defense had to go through a fixed procedure if he wanted to activate it, and it was necessary to report it to the president.

Thus, even if it might have just been a "tactical" nuclear weapon, it was unbelievable that it had actually been launched and shot at Manhattan.

Tony didn't look happy. "Stark Industries is a little… close to that department head."

Luke looked at him. "You want to help him?"

Tony smiled bitterly. "No way. The best outcome would be for him to go home and retire. Also, those Wall Street bigshots who almost lost their lives are ready to let him go, if that means that they get to live a few years longer."

After drinking the whiskey, he poured himself more from the bottle. "If I hadn't intercepted that nuclear weapon, Stark Industries would've been in serious trouble this time."