Two a.m. in Brooklyn Heights, Captain America walks up to a gas station to pick up his motorcycle which he left there for safekeeping with a trio of big fans of his. On his way home, a thrown knife bursts his front tire and Cap exerts himself to guide the damaged vehicle into a dump site, leaping clear as he does so. He is challenged by a mercenary who calls himself Machete, who hopes to finance revolution in his Latin American homeland with the money he is being paid. Cap launches himself at his foe but Machete’s spinning blades cut the straps on Cap’s shield and he loses it. The villain tries to take the shield but Cap is faster, recovers it, and outclasses his enemy in every way. Cap corners him so Machete hurls his blades cutting the electrical wires above and as Cap dodges, the baddie makes his getaway….
Back at his apartment, Steve Rogers repairs the severed straps on his shield while his fiancée Bernie Rosenthal brings the news that Dave Cox and Arnie Roth are starting to recover from their ordeal with the Red Skull (issues #292-300). Jack Monroe stops by and he and Steve head out to find Machete as Captain America and Nomad….
Elsewhere, Machete faces the leader of his new “Brigade” and is sent out for a second try at Cap with the weapons master Zaran at this side. They find Cap and Nomad and Zaran attacks, knocking out Nomad; Cap engages him in a duel of shield versus smaller and deadlier weapons. Nomad, recovering, knocks down Zaran with his disc but Machete takes him hostage. Zaran asks only that Cap allow them to leave. The hero agrees and Nomad is released as the villains vanish into the darkness. It is only then that Cap realizes they have taken his shield….
Back at their hideout, they turn the shield over to their leader: Batroc the Leaper….