Thor transports himself, Quasar, Sersi and Vision into outer space, where Quasar quickly locates the endangered Starcore crew in a lifepod. Meanwhile, Captain America and Hawkeye compare notes on recent events, discern they’re caught in the middle of an intergalactic war and agree that both Avengers branches will meet at the East Coast HQ. Dr. Corbeau tells Vision that solar flares destroyed the Starcore space station, just as a Shi’ar fleet appears via stargate. The Shi’ar, unknowingly coaxed by the disguised Hobgoblin, mistake the Avengers for Kree and attack, but the Avengers quickly overpower the flagship and capture the crew. Later, Cap is disgusted that Sersi threatened to kill the Shi’ar and appalled that the captured crew has been reduced and contained at Iron Man’s request. Cap warns the Avengers that despite the best of intentions, thuggish wartime actions are villainous. With the Shi’ar stargates causing solar flares, endangering Earth, Cap sends diplomatic envoys to both the Shi’ar and Kree empires as mediators to end the war, with a third group staying behind to guard Earth. Hawkeye becomes Goliath again to add power. Meanwhile, Deathbird confronts Lilandra over Shi’ar leadership.
Captain America’s Kree envoy has Hawkeye (as Goliath), Iron Man, Crystal, Hercules, Black Knight and Sersi. Captain Marvel’s Shi’ar envoy has Thor, Wonder Man, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Starfox and Living Lightning. Wasp’s Earth Force has She-Hulk, Falcon, Mockingbird, Spider-Woman, Dr. Pym, Gilgamesh and USAgent. Hobgoblin’s thoughts suggest he is a Skrull, as he wonders if the humans they are facing are the ones who have stymied his race, a detail true for Skrulls but not Chameleoids; other stories have seemingly proven him to genuinely be a Chameleoid, and it is possible the Hobgoblin here is an imposter.