Thane Ector creates a citadel atop the World Trade Center and dispatches his soldiers into the streets of Manhattan. Ector’s betrothed, Sybyl Dorn, becomes jealous of his interest in the captive Sersi, while his servant, Fool, gets upset at his consorting with someone of another race. Inside the miniaturized ecosystem on the Collector’s ship, Beast, Black Panther, Collector and Quasar defeat the alien arthropods and encounter a tribe and their leader Nakka, who were victimized by the Brethren. Captain America joins his teammates in fighting the Brethren, and when the heroes are on the ropes, the newly arrived Crystal and Lockjaw teleport the invaders into the Earth’s crust.
After reporting to the president about the Brethren’s attacks, the injured Captain America summons Black Knight, Black Widow, Hercules, Iron Man, Rage and Vision and sends them to respond to Thane Ector’s appearance in Manhattan (p).
