Synopsis
The story opens with Captain America parachuting into a Middle Eastern country to rescue Americans being held hostage by terrorists. On his return, the Ultimates need to deflect charges that instead of fighting crime, the US government is planning to use them to spread imperialism, a matter not helped by Thor's resignation from the team for exactly that reason. Hank Pym visits Bruce Banner is custody to demonstrate his new Ant-Man technology. Thor meets with Volstagg in a restaurant and is warned that Loki has escaped from Asgard and is planning vengeance against Thor; suddenly reality shifts and it turns out that Volstagg was never there, and Thor is asked to leave the premises for talking to himself. That evening the news media presents the startling news: the Hulk is Robert Bruce Banner and the Ultimates were covering it up to protect one of their own.