Nick Fury is aboard a cruise ship for a political gala, which is being defended by a private Italian firm, so he wasn't even allowed to carry his gun on board. The ship is soon attacked by the Underground Liberated Totally Integrated Mobile Army To Unite Mankind (U.L.T.I.M.A.T.U.M.), and the only tools he has to defend himself are a desperate and interrupted S.O.S. call and the S.H.I.E.L.D. issue tuxedo he's wearing.