Synopsis / Summary / Plot
Gauntlet is putting new recruits Cloud 9, Hardball, Komodo and Trauma through an assault course at Camp Hammond without the use of their powers (except Komodo can't turn her reptilian abilities off). Justice is watching, and is as usual unhappy about the slurs Gauntlet makes about his old team New Warriors. The world has forgotten all the good things they did, and now only remembers the last incarnation of the group as responsible for the destruction of Stamford, where the Camp is situated.
Justice asks Yellowjacket why trainee MVP hasn't been seen for days, but Henry Pym tells him it's classified. The 4 students know how Armory accidentally killed him last issue, which is why she was expelled after having her alien glove removed. Cloud 9 can't stop thinking about it, and it triggers Trauma to turn into a decaying image of the boy.
YJ sends Justice to calm the other kids down while he handles Trauma. But he orders Vance Astrovik not to ask them about MVP. Vance justifiably protests that he can't do his job as guidance counsellor if they aren't free to discuss everything with him.
When YJ berates Trauma for his action, the boy reminds him that he can't control his power. He detects that Hank too is scared of losing control, and manifests a battered image of Pym's ex-wife Jan (the Wasp) who Henry once beat up. Gauntlet has to hold YJ up while Justice pulls Trauma away.
Vance tells Trauma he'll get him some help to control his power. And demands that Gauntlet and YJ tell him what's going on. But Henry Pym has gone. Hank is in his quarters taking anxiety pills. He rings Jan Van Dyne, but hangs up when she answers, as he gets called down to the lab.
There he finds Henry Gyrich with Dr Von Blitzschlag. The doctor has been examining the body of MVP and found him to be a perfect physical specimen. Gyrich assumes it's due to the super-soldier serum his great-grandfather invented for the origin of Captain America. But Blitzschlag says there is no superpower here - the boy's physique was purely down to exercise.
The ex-Nazi doctor wants to use MVP's genetic material to create more perfect people. Pym objects, but Gyrich is ready to do anything to complete the 50-State Initiative program. Blitzschlag bites back by reminding Pym of some of his own 'successes':- Ultron and the Thor-clone Ragnarok (whose broken body he has in storage). Their squabbling is interrupted by a call to arms.
A Hydra terror-carrier (their version of SHIELD's helicarrier) is attacking the President's ranch in Texas. The Texas Initiative team, the Rangers (Armadillo, Firebird, Living Lightning, Phantom Rider, Red Wolf, Shooting Star and Texas Twister), has responded. The Pres refuses to leave.
War Machine drafts flyers (Cloud 9, Gargoyle, Nighthawk, Thor Girl and Ultra Girl plus Hulkling and Wiccan (sort of), and also Ms Marvel and Wonder Man of the Mighty Avengers) to go with him on this mission. He issues Cloud 9 a pulse rifle, despite the fact that she's never fired a gun and doesn't want to. Hardball and Komodo complain about being left behind, so Gauntlet gives them (and himself) jet packs and they join the troop.
Before they leave Henry Pym hands James Rhodes a vibranium-shelled projectile, and Rhodey notes the payload it's designed for. Iron Man contacts Camp Hammond to tell them the SHIELD helicarrier is on the way to Texas, but won't be there for an hour.
The team flies through a portal to the Negative Zone. Rhodey points out the Neg Zone prison built during the Civil War. And then they exit through another portal to Texas. (Presumably these portals link all the State Initiative HQ's.)
They're immediately in a fire fight. Cloud 9 shoots down a Hydra fighter plane, until it hits her that she's just killed someone. Ultra Girl gets hit. Heavy hitters like Gauntlet and War Machine attack the terror-carrier directly but can't get through its forcefield. But their efforts drain power from the carrier, and Hydra decide to ram the President's residence.
War Machine fires the vibranium projectile which pierces the forcefield. Its payload turns out to be Yellowjacket himself. He lands on the carrier and goes extremely giant-sized. His weight disrupts its flight and they crash in an explosion in the desert.
But YJ escapes by riding the shockwave at subatomic size(?!).
Later at the White House the President gives him the Medal of Freedom, and commends the Initiative for their actions.
Back at base Henry Gyrich takes Trauma (real name Terrance Ward) down to a secret sub-basement. He needs Trauma to learn to control his power. To that end they've sent for a specialist from the mutant community. Beast has come along as bodyguard (and for the chance to annoy his old sparring partner). We don't get to see Trauma's tutor yet, but she's a mutant who lost her powers on M-Day.