The Starcore space station has been destroyed by an intense solar flare, and a team of Avengers consisting of Quasar, Thor, Sersi and Vision respond. They succeed in finding the lifepod with stranded scientists only to be surprised by an armada of Shi'ar warships jumping in from hyperspace. A skirmish follows, and Sersi harshly brings it to an end by threatening the life of the Shi'ar praetor in charge.Back on Earth, Captain America invites the Avengers West Coast to Avengers Mansions, feeling that they are going to need all hands on deck for this crisis. The space team returns with confirmation that the Shi'ar and Kree are using their solar system as a hyperspace stop and having a dangerous effect on the sun. Captain America decides to split the Avengers into three teams to address the situation. One is remain on Earth, and the other two are envoys to the Kree and Shi'ar. Hawkeye, angry at being assigned to the Earth team, returns to his Goliath identity and gets himself reassigned to the Kree team.On the throneworld of the Shi'ar Empire, Deathbird appears before her sister Majestrix Lilandra to offer her support in the war against the Kree.