War Machine #3
Contents Under Pressure
Human rights activist Vincent Cetewayo has been captured and imprisoned in his homeland of Imaya by its dictator, President Eda Arul. War Machine, aka Jim Rhodes, and Deathlok have forced their way into Arul’s facility to save him. However, they discover that his cell is empty and are ambushed by a SHIELD unit led by Sheva Joseph who have come to stop them from interfering. When Arul orders SHIELD to eliminate the intruders, Sheva refuses saying that they have only come to preserve peace and orders everyone upstairs.
As War Machine and Deathlok follow, Jim remotely connects to Deathlok’s computer system and tells him to get read for his signal. As they shuffle out of the building, War Machine talks with Sheva and learns that she isn’t happy with the orders she has been given. Once they are clear, War Machine gives the signal, prompting Deathlok to jump onto his back as Jim activates his armor’s jet boots and flies them both out of the area. SHIELD quickly follows after them in their ships. This puts War Machine in a bind because he can’t just shoot them down for fear of injuring or killing SHIELD agents. Deathlok tells him to keep dodging their attacks while he hacks into their computer systems and shuts down the aircrafts. Ejecting from her craft on the ground, Sheva Joseph admits that War Machine and Deathlok are good and also admits to herself that what they are doing is right, geopolitics be damned.
Meanwhile, War Machine and Deathlok touch down in the desert to figure out their next move. That’s when War Machine receives a suprise communique from Vincent Cetewayo. He is safe and gives War Machine the coordinates for his location.
Back at Eda Arul’s base of operations, the dictator is furious that both Cetewayo and the two heroes managed to escape his grasp. He orders his soldiers to do turn the entire country upside-down if that’s what it takes to find an eliminate the.
By this time, War Machine and Deathlok have arrived at Vincent’s location, the home base of a rebel camp. There they are greeted by the rebel leader, a man named Cimbuka, who takes them to the tent where Cetewayo is hiding out. After a round of introductions,[1] Vincent reveals to them that he was freed from Arul’s prison by the mutant mercenary known as Cable.[2] Cable had appeared in Vincent’s cell and told him about how War Machine and Deathlok were coming to spring him out and how this incident is a focal point of potential upheaval in global politics. Since he couldn’t stop the heroes, Cable decided that the best course of action was to “put pressure on the wound” by springing Vincent himself and brought him to the rebel camp.
Seeing how there is a resistance movement that is fighting against Eda Arul, Vincent has decided to remain in Imaya and fight alongside his people. While War Machine is willing to join the fight, a civil war wasn’t something that Deathlok signed up for and decides it is time to leave. Everyone respects his decision and both Vincent and War Machine thank him for his help. That’s when one of the resistance fighters rushes in to tell them that Arul has sent ground troops and they are heading their way. War Machine flies out ahead of the rebel army to buy them time to get ready. While War Machine is engaged in battle and the others arm up to join him, Vincent Cetewayo is confronted by Eda Arul’s Advisor. Holding Vincent at gun point, the Advisor reveals that he was actually orchestrating Eda Arul’s downfall and a violent conflict suits his purposes just fine.[3]
Meanwhile, War Machine and the rebel soldiers annihilate Arul’s forces. This resulted in the death of Eda’s soldiers, something that War Machine doesn’t entirely feel right about doing but sees it as a necessity. With his armor damaged and his ammunition supplies running low he quickly begins cannibalizing the remaining military equipment and welding it to his armor so he can lead the rebels into battle against Arul directly!
Recurring Characters
War Machine, Deathlok, Vincent Cetewayo, Cimbuka, the Advisor, Eda Arul, SHIELD (Sheva Joseph), Cable
Continuity Notes
When introducing himself to Vincent Cetewayo, Deathlok says that he has gone through some changes since the last time they meant. That’s putting it lightly. Michael Collins had his mind transplanted into a cyborg body in Deathlok #1.
As seen over the last two issues, Cable was trying to prevent War Machine and Deathlok from springing Vincent because it had the potential to start a war in the future. He believed that using diplomatic channels to free Vincent was the better option. War Machine disagreed because he feared that Arul would kill Cetewayo before they could get him free.
As of this writing (November, 2022) the motivations behind the Advisor remain unexplained.
Topical References
Deathlok states here that he saw Vincent Cetewayo give a speech at the University of California, Berkley back in 1981. This date should be considered a topical reference. Modern readers should interpret this to mean that Deathlok saw Vincent 13 years prior to the main story as opposed to a specific date.
