Atlas sneaks about the Vanguard as it flees the Thunderbolts. He's determined to find Dallas Riorden. The remaining Thunderbolts track the craft to Masada, the castle headquarters of the V Battalion, near Symkaria. That lets them appeal to the Sandman's new desire for revenge, and enlist him. With his help they discover Masada, and there confront the superpowered leaders of the V Battalion, the Penance Council. All of it has been engineered by a new Crimson Cowl, but why?