Thirty years ago: the Winter Soldier has carried out the assassinations of defecting scientist Dr. Linus Tarasova and his handler, SHIELD Agent Gina Autry at the remote cabin. Now his superior Father Hammer comes in to take charge of the orphaned Tesla Tarasova, intending her for training in the notorious Red Room. Then he has his men set upon the Winter Soldier….
Today, Bucky Barnes enters the A.I.M. data hub known as the Desolation Islands, hoping to find information on the Electric Ghost. There is nothing. He contacts a hologram Nick Fury with the news and accuses the former SHIELD director of lying to him about the mission. Fury defends his action in getting Bucky back in the game where he’s needed. Why? SHIELD’s new Helicarrier has been sabotaged; LMD spies on dangerous world leaders have begun assassinating their targets; a top secret gamma warhead depot near Madripoor has exploded. And Tesla Tarasova, voice of the Electric Ghost has sent them as message indicating this is the fruit of the nation’s dangerous course. And Bucky is the only agent they can send against her because he is believed dead. Her base is aboard the hijacked satellite (issue #15) and it is due to refuel in the Van Allen Belt soon; when the station shuts off its cloaking device is the opportunity to put Bucky aboard. Rogue Agent Joe Robards, having hacked SHIELD’s computers, operates the teleportation platform and sends Bucky to the satellite. He arrives at his destination and kills a maintenance crew to gain entry. He locates the Electric Ghost by means of a built-in tracking device and readies to shoot her—but a cloud of nanites enters his brain halting his actions. A gun composed of cosmic radiation assembles itself in her hand and she demands his secrets. Bucky fires but bullets pass through her. She returns fire, wounding him—and then she recognizes him as the killer of her father….