The Helicarrier Prometheus, commissioned by Norman Osborn but never used, is hijacked from its berth by members of S.T.R.I.K.E., former British Intelligence unit but now a band of high-tech mercenaries, led by one Sutton….

New York City is in a panic during the invasion of the Serpent. Wolverine, trying to maintain order, is fighting Scarecrow, who considers himself a God of Fear. Logan beats him up then sprays mace into his mask. During a lull in the madness, Logan meets with his girlfriend, reporter Melita Garner and they express their concern for one another’s safety. Then Logan has a call from Steve Rogers, asking him to intercept the Prometheus. Melita wants to go with him but he refuses, citing her safety. There’s some heated debate over the function of the news media in a crisis so Logan hands her his Avengers card, suggesting she head to the Tower to research S.T.R.I.K.E….

Aboard the Prometheus, Sutton informs his teammates that their employers have an additional task to perform in New York. There’s some debate over how difficult an operation in the Avengers’ hometown is going to be and Sutton reassures them that their leaders will compensate them appropriately….

The Helicarrier hovers over the city and Logan takes the opportunity to leap aboard the craft from a high building. And we see that S.T.R.I.K.E. is hanging hostages out to die in the sight of the panicked New Yorkers. Logan makes his way through the Helicarrier until he is confronted by psychic S.T.R.I.K.E. member Croydon…who turns out to be there so as to distract Wolverine from an attack from behind by his teammate Brom, who stabs Logan in the back with an electrified sword….

At Avengers Tower, Melita researches S.T.R.I.K.E. but it's when she looks up the Prometheus that she learns why the bad guys want this ship: it has nuclear warheads….