Kidnapping of Tony Stark

"I'm sure they're looking for you, Stark. But they will never find you in these mountains."

- Ho Yinsen to Tony Stark

The Kidnapping of Tony Stark occurred while Tony Stark was testing his Jericho missile in Afghanistan. After the test, Stark's Humvee was attacked by the Ten Rings. He was kidnapped and imprisoned for three months with Ho Yinsen. Together they made the first Iron Man Armor so they could escape. Yinsen was killed in the process, but Stark managed to escape and was found by the United States Air Force.

Background
Obadiah Stane had been selling Stark Industries weapons to the Ten Rings under the table for some time. Wanting to takeover Stark Industries, Stane hired the Ten Rings to kill Stark Industries CEO Tony Stark. Stark had been testing his Jericho missile for the United States Armed Forces in Afghanistan. After a successful test, he traveled back to Bagram Air Base in a Humvee convoy.

Attack
During the trip, the Humvee in front of them was destroyed by the Ten Rings. The soldiers that were guarding Tony Stark, Jimmy, Pratt, and Ramirez, were killed as they exited the Humvee. Stark attempted to flee but was nearly killed by a missile that his company manufactured. The missile threw several pieces of shrapnel into Stark's chest, only centimeters away from his heart. The terrorists grabbed Stark and fled the area.

James Rhodes' Humvee arrived at the area five minutes later, but by that time, Stark was already gone.

Imprisonment
"He says they have everything you need to build a Jericho missile. He wants you to make the list of materials. He says for you to start working immediately, and when you're done, he will set you free." "No, he won't." "No, he won't."

- Ho Yinsen and Tony Stark

Tony Stark was hooked up to an electromagnet powered by a car battery, which kept the shrapnel from reaching his heart. He was put into a cell with Ho Yinsen, who had also been captured by the Ten Rings. They were instructed to make a Jericho missile for the Ten Rings. Instead of making a missile, Stark and Yinsen secretly worked on an armor that would help them escape. They also made a miniature Arc Reactor so Stark could move without carrying around the car battery. Working on the armor for three months, Stark and Yinsen formed a strong bond between one another. When they finally finished the armor, the two prepared to escape.

Escape
Ho Yinsen tried to distract the terrorists so Tony Stark could charge the armor by charging through the cave with an assault rifle. Yinsen came across a large group of the terrorists. Stark's suit reached full power and headed out of the cave. Killing several of the terrorists, he came upon Yinsen, who had severe injuries sustained from the large group of terrorists, who told him not to waste his life before dying. After exiting the cave and destroying all of their stolen weapons, Stark flew out of the area, but the suit's flight capabilities malfunctioned, causing him to fall.

Aftermath
"I had my eyes opened. I came to realize that I had more to offer this world than just making things that blow up. And that is why, effective immediately, I am shutting down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark Industries."

- Tony Stark

After crashing, Tony Stark wandered around in the desert of Afghanistan trying to find civilization. Eventually, he was found by soldiers of the United States Army, including Stark's best friend, James Rhodes.

When Stark returned to America, he announced that he would not allow his company, Stark Industries, to continue making weapons. He also made many other armors that were based off the one that Ho Yinsen helped him to invent. In the armors, he used the alias "Iron Man".