The injured Captain America relates to his Avengers teammates (Thor, Wasp, Giant-Man) a nightmare he had about Baron Zemo, Bucky’s killer and how all he can now think of is revenge. He is now able to describe in detail the death of his partner—and his hatred for Zemo….
Meanwhile, Iron Man is meeting with NSC liaison Agent Murch and General Paul Wallace of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, informing them that they will work with the military but not for them. Resigned to this state of affairs, the General tells him of an unexplained craft that has landed outside Waynesboro, Virginia, and asks the Avengers to check it out. Soon a military plane carrying a team of soldiers is on its way to the area, with the heroes on board. Cap has been lost in his thoughts until a GI asks to interview him for the military newspaper STARS AND STRIPES. The soldier asks Cap why he does what he does. Cap replies that he wears the colors because he believes in something greater than himself and that he and his fellow Avengers are fighting for freedom.
The alien ship belongs to the time-traveling warrior Kang the Conqueror….five hours later the press is reporting that the Avengers have been taken captive by the invader and may be dead…nine hours later, Rick Jones has managed to shut off the paralysis ray and the Avengers are free to confront their enemy. Cap rallies the heroes by calling on them to "Assemble!" Thor breaks through Kang’s force field long enough for Giant-Man to shoot a capsule at the villain releasing an acid that eats through his armor. Kang launches a neutrino missile into the air but Iron Man shoots it down with his repulsor rays. Thor uses his enchanted hammer Mjolnir to absorb Kang’s energy and fire it back at him. As his body nears critical mass, Kang escapes to his ship and flees the planet. An interviewer talks to Captain America who calmly explains that facing death is in their line, they are here to serve the people, fighting tyranny because it is the right thing to do. General Wallace receives a call from the President….
The Avengers are now national heroes, honored with a parade in New York. Privately Murch informs Iron Man that they now have their security clearance but…it all depends on the participation of Captain America. If he ever leaves the team, their clearance is revoked.
That night, Cap confides in Thor that the need for revenge against Zemo is consuming him; Thor suggests that the cure may lie in fulfilling his destiny. Cap realizes that means killing Zemo….