As he lands on the planet, Nova calls out to anyone who might be in the area. In response, a feline-like elderly man stumbles from the shadows. He tells the Earth hero that his name is Botanist Maow, the team leader of the research group. Maow gasps out that they were attacked and asks Rich to protect the children. Nova is stunned to learn of the children and goes in search of them. He finds the four children hiding nearby. Rich takes off his helmet to show the kids that he is friendly and won't hurt them. The children snuggle up to Nova as he turns to tell Maow that they are okay. Unfortunately, the botanist collapses from his injuries and Nova rushes to his side to give CPR.

However, as he begins to give Maow medical attention, the botanist's body turns into sand and attacks Nova! At the same time, the four kids also change shape into their native form and become Skrulls! The Skrulls take advantage of Nova's surprise, quickly capture the Earthman and prepares to kill him. Unknown to the Skrulls, one of their own stands behind them and changes shape once again. Suddenly, the remaining Skrulls find themselves face-to-face with the Super Skrull! Nova's one-time ally in the Annihilation War has come to Nova's rescue and begins attacking his fellow Skrulls!

Rich puts his reprieve to good use and unleashes a gravimetric pulse on the Sandman Skrull. He quickly follows up with a powerful punch along with an energy blast. With his foe unconscious, Nova flies to help the Super Skrull but finds his aid isn't necessary as his rescuer crushes his opponent's brain with a force field. The group of Skrulls have been all rendered unconscious or dead. The last Centurion asks Kl'rt why he was attacked. His alien ally tells him that it's because of another war but he will explain after they are finished. Confused, Rich turns to find themselves facing a V'rukk Class Attack Ship!

The two former members of the United Front quickly take to the air away from the ship. However, Nova chooses to fight and has the Super Skrull go one way to confused the ship's pilot while he circles back around to face the Skrulls head-on. As the last survivor of the Nova Corps bursts his way through the ship, he unleashes a full-power gravimetric force blast and destroys the attack ship!

With their enemies gone, Nova and the Super Skrull sit and discuss the attack. The Super Skrull mentions that he had forgotten how much more powerful Nova is now compared to the standard Nova Centurion in the past. Kl'rt also reveals to Rich that during the wars against Annihilus and the Phalanx, he learned the meaning of priorities. This was the reason he fought against his own race to save Nova. However, the Skrull ally will now be considered a pariah for helping a human with ties to his races' former enemy of Xandar. His fall from grace is made worse that he turned against the Skrulls at a time when the shape-changing have chosen to attack Earth.

Rich explodes with anger that the Super Skrull didn't tell him about the attack before now. Nova begins plotting an immediate course to his homeworld. Before the human hero can initiate the stargate, Kl'rt asks him for help. He wants to go to Earth with Nova in order to visit his estranged daughter. Rich agrees to help the Super Skrull and the two head towards Earth.

Five minutes later, the Nova Force-powered stargate opens at Earth only to find themselves facing a fleet of Skrull attack ships! The Super Skrull suggests they head towards the atmosphere before the fleet can lock their weapons on them. Before they can get to the planet's surface, Rich and Kl'rt are confronted by a squadron of Super Skrulls, each with various powers which imitate different super-heroes of Earth! As Nova prepares to battle the invaders, he is suddenly betrayed by the Super Skrull who offers to kill Rich Rider as part of his duty to the Skrull invasion!