Synopsis
A representative of the US Government with full military backing arrives at a meeting in the desert with Madame Hydra and an unarmed Hydra troop. Hydra has the captive Captain America. The US rep has a holographic device through which Madame Hydra can negotiate with the Cabinet.
Madame Hydra wants the Avengers tried for war crimes, Norman Osborn reinstated to his post as head of all law-enforcement agencies (including the Avengers and SHIELD), and HAMMER (including AIM, Hydra and the Hand) to be the international 'peacekeeping' force.
Cap urges the president not to deal with terrorists. The President orders the Hydra squad arrested. But Madame Hydra triggers them into transforming into Hulks, who trash the army.
Meanwhile at HAMMER's HQ, AIM continue to experiment with other captured Avengers.
Renegade SHIELD scientist Carolina Washington and AIM's Supreme Scientist Monica Rappaccini continue to snipe at each other as they study Storm. Because Storm has only just joined the Avengers, Washington hadn't prepared a plan to handle her. They currently have her in a zero-point energy bubble like they used on Iron Man last issue. And now they just resort to gassing her unconscious.
They turn their attention back to Iron man's bubble. Despite expecting him, Washington still hasn't figured out how to remove his armour.
They are interrupted by the devastating arrival of Quake (who tracked down the HQ location last issue).
The only other Avenger still at large is Vision, who was assaulted in front of Avengers Mansion by Norman Osborn last issue. He now follows Osborn, who has just flown off. But right after he leaves, government troops arrive to take over the Mansion.
Rappaccini organises the evacuation of HAMMER HQ, leaving Washington to face Iron Man and Storm, free from their bubbles. Quake finds Spider-Woman and Red Hulk, also free from the captivity we saw last issue. Red Hulk disperses some remaining HAMMER troops.
The trio meet up with Iron Man and Storm. Red Hulk terrifies Washington into telling them where the other Avengers (Captain America, Hawkeye and Protector) are being held. She says it's down in the basement with Gorgon's Hand ninjas. (Cap of course isn't actually there.)
Before they can follow up this lead, a door is blasted open and Hawkeye staggers in. Followed by Osborn toting an unconscious Vision, and backed by a horde of Hand ninjas.