Hank (Giant-Man) Pym and Janet (Wasp) Van Dyne watch on television reports of the Hulk’s latest violent confrontation with the US military. Hank excuses himself and goes out to his lab; Janet follows in her tiny form and he explains that he wants to work on improving his growth formula—in peace. Janet angrily buzzes off back to the house where the TV anchor is asking "Where are the Avengers?" Tony (Iron Man) Stark is also watching at his penthouse and is concerned about the public skepticism of the Avengers’ effectiveness—and motives….
At Avengers Mansion, Steve (Captain America) Rogers is silent at the breakfast table, drawing concern from Rick Jones ands Jarvis. Fragmented memories are bubbling to the surface, memories of a masked Nazi, and a runaway plane. Rick suggests a little trip….
Iron Man arrives at a meeting with NSC liaison Agent Murch, who introduces him to General Paul Wallace of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They have a proposal to make the Avengers an official part of the military, granting them security clearance and allowing them to maintain their secret identities. Iron Man is skeptical….
At Arlington National Cemetery, Cap finds the grave of Bucky Barnes and the details of his partner’s death become clearer. He would like to know more about what happened while he was on ice. We see him salute at the grave of President John F. Kennedy and read the names of every soldier on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Iron Man tells Murch he will have to consult with his teammates about becoming a branch of the military. Murch is angered at the hero’s reluctance to gain his precious security clearance. Thor suddenly arrives in a furious windstorm and intimidates the agent into leaving hastily. Iron Man puts the government’s offer before Thor, Wasp and Giant-Man, who don’t like the idea of being the lackeys of the military (subtle joke: that is what the Avengers became in THE ULTIMATES). They wonder where Captain America is and Jarvis tells them he is off re-familiarizing himself with certain areas of American history….
A week later the Masters of Evil attack the city and the Avengers are on the scene to battle them. When Cap comes face-to-face with Baron Zemo, his final memories come flooding back and he realizes he is looking at Bucky’s murderer. He takes on Zemo’s men but the villain escapes in his heli-hovercraft. When the other Avengers find him, Cap is lying in a pile of rubble with a head wound, and muttering the name, "Zemo"….