Eddie stood examining the Alteron platform. He'd been running non stop diagnostics on the platform ever since the Chitauri attack. He knew the platform worked well, but he was analising his improvements to the design.

The Naquadah power conduits, that had replaced the Titanium cords, had easily managed to channel the great amounts power from the ARC reactor. Alteron's wrist mounted plasma weapons, that were designed for the Kull warriors, had been slow firing with most of the power being channelled into the propultion.

The Vibranium fuelled reactor had performed just as Tony had advertised. Although Tony didn't know about Alteron, he had helped Tony build a larger reactor that was currently powering Stark Tower and Eddie had already made plans for the design to help increase the power of his Tel'tak.

Tony stood smiling. He was stood outside one of the many hangers that the Morra Industries Experimental Air Base held. Tony stood watching a car pull up, the door opened to reveal his R&D partner.

"Eddie." Tony smiled as the man got out of the car.

"Tony, thanks for coming." Eddie nodded, shaking the mans hand.

"Would you like to tell me why I got an invitation out to the Test Base at three this morning?" Tony asked looking around.

"Wait until we're inside." Eddie smiled as he unlocked the door with his access card. The door swung open and Eddie beakoned Stark in.

"I've been working here, in secret, for the past few months." Eddie said as her pointed at the parked ship in the middle of the large hanger, surrounded by computers and equipment.

"Love what you've done with the place, very Area 51." Tony said looking up at the Tel'tak.

"I've been able to crack the encryption on the ships computers, that use a form of ancient egyptian, and learn that this ship is called a Tel'tak Cargo Ship." Eddie said as they approached the hull.

"Wait a minute, this is the origin of your technological division? The upgrades to the ISS are from this?" Tony asked, putting all the peices together.

"Yes, the artificial gravity, life support systems and new sensors are all based on this ships versions. It's the same with the new breed of space shuttle, there is already talk about sending them to Mars." Eddie smiled.

"And we're the only company that have this technology?" Tony asked.

"Yes, but unfortuantly, most of the ships technology needs a certian element that can't be synthesised. Including the ships generators. It's called Naquadah." Eddie explained as he handed Tony a diagram showing Naquadah's atomic structure.

"Well, it looks complex. This could have even more potential than Vibranium." Tony said examining the structure.

"It doesn't exsist here on Earth. My plan was to secretly build several of the new shuttles and search the solar system for Naquadah deposits. The Tel'tak has the knowledge we need to refine the Naquadah." Eddie informed.

"What about the ships generator?" Tony asked looking up from the Atomic diagram.

"It's slowly running out of juice. It needs more Naquadah." Eddie informed.

"What about a ARC reactor? Would that do the trick until we got more Naquadah?" Tony asked running the numbers.

"It would. But the only reactor that isn't the size of ur chest, is powering Stark Tower. We could build one from scratch." Eddie said, folding his arms.

"That's not entirely true." Stark admitted.

"What do you mean?" Eddie asked, confused. He of course already knew what Tony was talking about.

"Ever since the Chitauri seige, I've been working with S.H.I.E.L.D to develop defencive technologies. Ovbiously most of these technologies are too power hungry for Nuclear reactors, so I've been supervising their construction of ARC reactors. They have all three sizes, infact I believe that the prototype is now powering the Helicarrier, or whatever they're calling it." Tony explained.

"I see." Eddie nodded.

"Look, this ship has just become our best chance at defending the planet." Tony pointed out.

"It's just a cargo ship, designed for hauling supplies." Eddie reminded.

"We don't need the weapons, we could use the defencive technology and the systems you've already incorporated into the new shuttles." Tony explained.

"One problem, the defencive technologies all need Naquadah. The energy shields and invisability cloak both need Naquadah to work. The schematics show that Naquadah is the key component." Eddie explained handing him the design of a shield generator.

"I see. Well, we better get some." Tony smiled.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter guys. The next chapter will be a grouping of key moments leading up to Eddie leaving with the Alternate reality drive. Keep your eyes out because it'll be posted before next month. Please review to help give me a boost!

- Spearhead