Cap went right back into the fray. Even though he kept his other gear he led with the new Spartan shield. He purposefully sought out a group to hit. The goal was indeed a live testing in addition to completing the mission.

He threw it into a group of cartel baddies. It operated very similar to his old shield. It banged hard into a few of them and bounced around to knock them down before returning to cap's waiting hand. He lunged into the rest and bashed away with it to test it further.

They tried to hit and stab him where they could but cap kept up the fancy moves. The shield blocked the blows and when used offensively by cap came through masterfully. Granted these weren't supers in any way so the real test for cap would be to test it against that spectrum of fighters. But it was full adamantium; like Logan's skeleton and claws that were covered in it. So theoretically it should work.

In any event cap's skill with it proved itself here and he flattened a half dozen cartel enforcers without much trouble. The Spartan symbol had to have been Sharon's idea. She know he loved the Spartan way. Nice touch there. He'd honor it as he had the red white blue when old cap. Now it was all about nomad cap.

With them down from a range of shield blows cap grew confident in the ability of his newfound weapon and tool. He had a feeling it would be at his side for a good long while. He didn't doubt it. For now it had to prove itself here more fully.

There was still a job to be done. Lives to be saved. And cap was determined to see it done. He went back deeper into the baddie base. His senses detected movement. He stayed in the shadows with his new nearly indestructible shield on his arm. He focused his hearing even more so. It was a lot of movement.

They're moving the captives. It's the only answer. Damn. They could move them anywhere. He popped his earpiece out of his gauntlet and put it into place.

"Nomad to agent 13. Do you copy." "13 here nomad. What's up?" "They're moving the captives now. Are you near the target?" "I am nomad. You need an assist?" "Yeah. You can have my old gear too. Still plenty for it." "Copy that. I'll be there most Ricky tick."

She had his location zeroed in. She reached him soon enough. Her kit was light; she wasn't intending to go into the field. Now there would be a change mid stride. They switched out their old gear expediently. Sharon liked getting the katana too.

"You liking it so far?" "It's performed well so far. If we get through this job with it then all the better." She nodded and readied the assault rifle. "You look like your old self again." "Yeah. Feels more accurate. Let's go."

They moved in closer to where the captives were indeed being moved; and all under heavy security. Interesting too how no responders had arrived either. Cap believed the cartel had solid control over them. It really will come down to us.

The couple and shield operatives took up opposing hitter positions. Cap made a series of hand signals based on what his enhanced senses now detected. Sharon gave a small nod.

They then moved in to hit. Sharon would provide fire support as she had many times when he'd been old cap. Now that he was back to using the shield as a primary weapon she would fall back into that old role again.

Cap threw his new shield hard into the back of a baddie to shatter his back. He cried out and fell. Cap surged forward caught the shield as it returned to him and he was soon into the next baddie set. He bashed away. Sharon took up a firing crouch and shot down the baddies that tried to move for him or the captives. They'd rather kill them than lose them the agents both knew. That was why they had to push hard to make it right before the baddies took it a different way. A bad way.

Cap leaped into another group of them and bashed away. He was gonna show them that nomad's mission hadn't changed any. It was just not rooted to a nation anymore. A nation that had long since lost itself. It was okay though. No one would ever tell cap what to believe in but cap himself.

And his belief was proven through his blows to these sick assholes that did this crap for power money. Nothing new in the human condition cap knew; but he'd always hoped that humanity would have gotten a little wiser after his generation of greatness had done their bit. Apparently not.

It didn't matter. Cap was here serving still as nomad and he'd make it right one way or another. His terms; his way.

Sharon's supporting fire continued to do the job. She thinned them out as fast as cap bashed them down. A few baddies went for the captives but Sharon shot them down.

One last baddie aimed his gun for the captives... cap's shield struck his weapon and knocked it from his hands. Cap super ran towards him as this happened and put a speedy series of punches and kicks to drop him dead to the floor.

It was over. Cap retrieved his shield. Sharon reloaded and rejoined him. "Call it in." She nodded. This was a helluva win from what he could see. It was a big battle won. That was all that mattered.

Cap gripped his shield tightly. It seemed he'd found his new battle companion after all. It seemed they'd have many more adventures together.

Xxx

Shield office

"Great work cap," said fury. "That bastard Salazar will feel it good this time."

"Still gotta win the war." Fury nodded. "You will; in time."

Cap now had his magnet harness on again; with shield on his back again. He still resembled old cap in many ways. Fury liked seeing it. "How'd it do?" "Good. Feels like the old one." "Speaking of the old shield; I returned it to Wakanda per your suggestion."

Cap nodded. "Good. It did its job. Time for this new shield to do its." "Amen. And that shield is yours cap. Had it privately made by a friend that owed me a favor. A thank you for your service." "Thanks Nick. I'll use it well." "I know you will. Keep it up." "Will do."

Cap's war on the Mexican cartel continued.