Centurion Owens tells Lindy that their situation has been unchanged for the last ninety minutes with the WorldMind apparently off-line. Matu asks how the artificial sentience could be down. As he turns to respond to his fellow Centurion's question, Tre Owens sees Matu Makalani disintegrated in an energy beam! Centurion Nolan also attempts to contact the WorldMind and explains that upon their arrival, they discovered that Kaiphas's orbital dockyards had been destroyed by a Shi'Ar Ionclad ship. She also states that the Centurions are being attacked by the Shi'Ar's Imperial Guard and the Ionclad.

Suddenly, the Imperial Guardsman known as Warstar appears behind Tre and prepares to kill the Centurions. Without warning, a highly powerful energy blast disintegrates Warstar's two heads and the robot falls to the ground! Centurions Owens and Nolan look up to see Nova hovering above Warstar's body with his hand still smoldering from firing the blast! After realizing the continued threat of the orbiting starship, Richard Rider flies into space and single-handedly destroys the Shi'Ar Ionclad ship!

On the way back to Nu-Xandar, Nova Prime explains to the Centurions that he had to reboot the WorldMind in order to purge Ego and that was the reason they could not contact the artificial intelligence system. The recent recruits express their feelings of being lost while it was off-line. Rich explains that the WorldMind had been pumping them full of endorphins and subliminal commands during their time as Centurions.

They are shocked and Rich Rider explains that the WorldMind is a bit different now since the reboot. The new members of the Nova Corps are surprised to find that the WorldMind now has the image of Ko-Rel. When Tre asks about their current situation, Nova Prime explains that they are taking out the Centurions from the fighting zones, depowering them and sending them back to their homeworlds. The leader of the Nova Corps has recovered eighty percent of the Centurions with the rest still fighting in combat zones.

Tre and Lindy ask permission to remain as Centurions and help in the war. Rich is hesitant but the WorldMind convinces him that the two recruits have proven themselves and possess the qualities needed for the Nova Corps. Nova agrees and gives them permission to stay in the fight. Over in Nu-Xandar's Systems Operations, Centurion Irani Rael informs Rich that they still have not been able to get a lock on Robert Rider's suit tracer and is presumed to be missing in action. Nova Prime and the Centurions discuss Robert's situation and that he and Centurion Qubit were headed to Nil-Rast when they disappeared.

Nova decides to begin searching for his brother. He leaves Centurion Fraktur in charge of the Nova Corps and the extraction program while he's gone. Rich takes Centurion Morrow and Irani with him.

Later at Nil-Rast, the trio exit the StarGate and head towards the surface. The WorldMind/Ko-Rel reminds Rich that the planetoid is where Gamora murdered Ko-Rel. Nova Prime also reminds the WorldMind that Gamora was infected by the Phalanx and wasn't responsible for her actions. He also points out that she is not truly Ko-Rel but simply one of the personalities of the WorldMind.

Morrow provides information of the recent events on Nil-Rast. The Shi'Ar that had taken over the planetoid are now being attacked by a Kree/Inhuman army. Suddenly, the three representatives of the Nova Corps are attacked by echo weapons powered by Black Bolt's voice! The Inhuman Elite continue their attack despite Nova Prime's call for them to stand down. The Inhuman named Triton continues the attack as the Nova Corps defends itself with energy shields. The assault ends when Nova's former ally against Ultron, Ra-Venn, appears and vouches for Rich Rider.

Ra-Venn leads Rich and the Centurions to a medical station where they find Centurion Qubit. The mechanical Nova has been heavily damaged and cannot recall all of the details of the cause of his wounds. Qubit can only remember that Robert Rider and he were searching for Suki Yumiko and Cohort 86 when the Inhumans attacked. Qubit then recalls there was a bright light and then nothing. Triton interrupts to show Nova Prime a grisly scene. Richard Rider is stunned to see an area full of empty Nova helmets which appear to be from the fallen Centurions!

Elsewhere on Kree-Lar, the capital world of Ceded Territories, Ravenous finds his world being attacked by the Shi'Ar. He consults with his aid, Orbus, and states that Vulcan has now made them become allies with the Kree when he would have joined the Shi'Ar in their invasion against his enemies. Orbus reports the the Shi'Ar are beginning to fall before their forces and that Vulcan has stretched his forces too thin by fighting both the Kree and the Ceded Territories.

Suddenly, Ravenous is struck by a speeding form with great force and Orbus is killed by twin beams of intense heat! Ravenous attempted to fight back but finds himself to be no match for his attacker. The mysterious fighter reveals herself to be Xenith, the cousin to Gladiator and who now goes by the name of Strontian.

She grabs the leader of the Ceded Territories by the throat and relays a message from Vulcan. The Shi'Ar leader congratulates Ravenous on his people's attempts to fight off his forces. As a result, Vulcan feels Ravenous must die at Strontian's hands. With the message delivered, Gladiator's cousin renews her assault and beats her larger opponent mercilessly. However, before she can deliver the killing blow, Strontian finds herself smashed into the ground by an energy beam from above. The beam is coming from Centurion Robert Rider who states that he is arresting Strontian as a war criminal!