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The Ambush at the Salvage Yard was a trap planned by Erik Killmonger to kill T'Challa and destabilize the political climate between the United States of America and Wakanda.
Background[]
- "Listen, things go south, shareholders are gonna flip. Unless we secure some kind of diplomatic cover."
"We send Rhodey. There. He's U.S. Air Force, and he's the company's military liaison. We are all aboveboard." - ―Erik Stevens and Tony Stark[src]
Erik Killmonger rescues Tony Stark
Seeking to start the war between the United States of America and Wakanda, Erik Killmonger came up with a plan to manipulate Tony Stark into providing him with the resources he needed. During the deep cover operation inside the Ten Rings, Killmonger uncovered that Obadiah Stane hired them to assassinate Stark. Killmonger rescued Stark from the Ten Rings' attack and exposed Stane's plans which allowed him to gain Stark's trust and a position inside Stark Industries.
Erik Killmonger looks at Project Liberator
While working with Stark, Killmonger suggested for him relaunch the Project Liberator, creating automated combat drones that would replace human troops in a ground warfare. Stark approved of his idea and together with Killmonger, they created the first drone prototype, however, it needed a self-sustaining power source. Killmonger suggested Stark to use vibranium that could be purchased from the black market, so Stark decided to contact Ulysses Klaue. Due to Pepper Potts' protests, since working with black market dealers would damage the company's reputation, Stark deployed James Rhodes to purchase the vibranium, acting as Stark Industries' military liaison. Killmonger then informed Klaue about Stark's intentions; Klaue then leaked the information about Americans purchasing vibranium to the War Dogs.[1]
Ambush[]
Black Panther kills Klaue's mercenaries
- "My, my, my. I would not want to play chess with you, my friend. I leaked word of the sale to the Wakandan War Dogs. And it all played out just as you predicted it would."
- ―Ulysses Klaue to Erik Killmonger[src]
With Erik Killmonger navigating him from the distance, James Rhodes arrived at the Salvage Yard to negotiate the deal. Waiting for the Wakandans to make their move, Klaue decided to stall Rhodes by showing him some of his possessions, such as the Vibranium Spear before presenting him with the vibranium stock he stole from Wakanda. Suddenly, the lights went off and Klaue was informed that someone had breached the perimeter, prompting his henchmen to search for the intruder. Soon after, Black Panther attacked Klaue's henchmen with the intention to retrieve the stolen vibranium and take Klaue down.
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Erik Killmonger kills James Rhodes
Black Panther successfully took out all of his henchmen, using the darkness and his Panther Habit to his advantage, as their weapons were unable to damage him. With all of Klaue's henchmen defeated, Black Panther approached Rhodes, telling him that he was not an enemy and he simply came to retrieve the vibranium. However, both Rhodes and Black Panther were attacked by Killmonger who neutralized them using the Sonic Taser Cannon he stole from Stark Industries. After killing Black Panther with the taser, Killmonger took a clawed gauntlet from his habit and used it to kill Rhodes, and put the taser in his hand, making it look like they killed each other. With both of them dead, Killmonger told Klaue to load the vibranium and escape before the Dora Milaje arrive.[1]
Aftermath[]
- "Word to the wise. Never play Clue with J.A.R.V.I.S.. He sees all."
- ―Tony Stark to Erik Killmonger[src]
The bodies of James Rhodes and T'Challa were found at the Salvage Yard the next day, which severely worsened the political situation between the United States of America and Wakanda, just as Erik Killmonger expected. While Wakandans were blaming the US military and Stark Industries for the death of their prince, Americans considered Wakandans' attack on their officer a threat. Tony Stark, however, was able to figure out that it was not the case and J.A.R.V.I.S. confirmed that Rhodes and T'Challa were killed by Killmonger.
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Tony Stark is killed by Erik Killmonger
After telling Killmonger that he knows the truth, Stark activated the Liberator Drone prototype they created, which used vibranium from Killmonger's ring, and ordered it to attack. However, Killmonger was able to defeat the drone in a fight before killing Stark with the Vibranium Spear. Upon discovering Stark's body impaled by a Wakandan spear, the US military considered it a declaration of war, so Thaddeus Ross seized Stark Industries' assets to mass-produce the Liberator Drones and wage war on Wakanda.[1]