Visiting Kennedy Space Center, the Avengers witness an explosion rip across the facility’s test pad; racing to save lives, the Avengers encounter Rocketeers responsible for the attack, who escape when the Avengers are attacked by a blast of the Dark Nebula mists. The Avengers meet with the base’s General Bridges and Dr. Cather, who brief them on the Dire Wraiths, believed to be behind several recent acts of sabotage. Meanwhile, in Transia Quicksilver discovers Bova’s cottage has been wrecked. Later, the Rocketeers reconvene with another disguised Wraith to plot one more act of sabotage, which they intend to use to cover their theft of technology to build a Wraith ship. The next day, with the Avengers on hand, the Rocketeers are spotted trying to break into the facility. During the ensuing battle, Dr. Cather uses the distraction to board his Ion-Drive rocket, with the Wasp following him secretly on board. The Avengers defeat the Rocketeers and the Scarlet Witch forces them to reveal their true Dire Wraith forms. The Wraiths warn that the Ion-Drive rocket is unstable, and could explode and annihilate the Earth!