Avengers, The (1963 series) #260

Firelord, refusing to join the Avengers in an alliance with the Skrulls, has left and returns to his homeworld Xandar only to find it in ruins. He locates the dying Queen Adora, who tells him they were attacked by space mercenaries led by Nebula….

The Avengers are aboard the flagship of Skrull General Zedrao. Captain America wants the Skrulls to give Nebula a chance to surrender, thus avoiding mass casualties, though no one really believes she will. A message capsule is launched and picked up by a mercenary ship captained by Skunge. It is then relayed to Nebula where it plays its message, General Zedao and Captain Marvel ordering them to surrender. Nebula destroys the comm-unit and orders all hands to prepare for immediate battle. The Skrull Armada emerges from sub-space around Sanctuary II and a massive space battle is on. Wasp is a tail gunner in a Skrull ship; Hercules, wearing a space helmet, drops down on enemy ships and tears them apart manually; Black Knight rides the Atomic Steed into battle and slashes ships open with his Ebony Blade, Starfox pilots one of his own world’s ships. Captain Marvel tries to penetrate the Sanctuary II’s shields, changing her frequencies to find a way through….

Firelord attacks Sanctuary II, trying to burn his way through the defensive shields; the defenders fire back, blasting Firelord out of the sky, sending him crashing to a planet’s surface. As he tries to rise, a mysterious figure asks him if he is an Avenger….

Hercules hitches a ride with Black Knight and they see Captain Marvel in the form of a massive electromagnetic storm. Sanctuary’s defense shields are now burned out and CM returns to Wasp where she collapses from exhaustion. Wasp broadcasts the message that the enemy ship is vulnerable. Thanos boards the starship, followed by the Avengers. Captain America talks Thanos out of killing the prisoners and then the Skrulls drop their disguises and we see that only Cap is himself….

Firelord tells Beyonder that the Avengers are trying to capture Nebula’s starship before he passes out. The confused Beyonder creates an elaborate space outfit for himself and teleports to Sanctuary….

The Avengers fight their way through Sanctuary and Starfox captures Nebula; he claims Sanctuary as it was built by his brother. Nebula responds that it was built by her grandfather. Starfox is so surprised that Nebula’s henchman Gunthar, a Rigellian, fells him with a mind-blast. Then Beyonder appears, looking for Avengers. He learns he is facing Nebula and, to help his “friends,” he teleports her and her henchmen Gunthar and Kehl out of the galaxy. Starfox is enraged at what he has done and the rest of the Avengers arrive and are likewise shocked. Beyonder, not understanding why they are angry at him, vanishes. Captain America wonders if this was the Beyonder he met previously while Starfox wonders if Nebula really is Thanos’ granddaughter….

Story continues in AVENGERS ANNUAL #14.