Norman Osborn—the Iron Patriot—reveals to Ares, God of War, that now that he is in charge of the nation’s law enforcement team, he is compiling a list of things he must do. It consists primarily of the names of people he would like to see removed—Hulk, Tony Stark, Spider-Man, the Avengers, Nick Fury, etc.—and now he needs a plan….
As word comes over the media that Osborn’s H.A.M.M.E.R. forces have rounded up the X-Men and sent them to a detention center, a hot-headed Clint Barton announces to the assembled Avengers that he is going to kill Norman Osborn. The rest of the team balks at this suggestion, arguing that assassinating a bad guy is wrong, and Spider-Man is mocking Clint most of all. The angry and helpless Clint walks out; his wife Mockingbird follows him, learning that he intends to go off on his own. She offers to accompany him but he refuses to have her put herself in danger. He decides to put off action until the morning and they go home and make love. In the middle of the night, however, Clint rises, dons his Ronin gear and heads out over the rooftops. Ronin uses a grappling hook to enter the highest level of Avengers Tower, and he discovers Mac (Venom) Gargan asleep. Ronin flings the villain through the window to fall hundreds of feet to the ground. An alarm sounds and it is believed that Venom tried to escape. The building goes into lockdown and Clint uses the diversion to take down Bullseye and, after a brief but violent battle, Daken. He comes face-to-face with Karla (Moonstone) Soffen who has no love or loyalty for Osborn and she ponders whether to look the other way—but then she realizes security cameras are watching and tries to blast him with a force bolt. Ronin is protected by the containment force field security has slid into place and he makes his way to Osborn’s office. The Avenger shoots at the master villain but he is protected by a personal force shield. As Ronin prepares to hurl his foe out of a window, Ares appears and overpowers Clint, who is placed under arrest….
Story continues in NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL #3.