issue summaries

Uncanny X-Men 484 The Rise & Fall of the Shi'Ar Empire Part 10 of 12: In Exile Writer: Ed Brubaker Penciler: Billy Tan Inker: Danny Miki and Allen Martinez Colorist: Frank D'Armata Letterer: Joe Caramagna Assist. Editor: Sean Ryan Editors: Nick Lowe Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada Date: May 2007

A short time following Uncanny X-Men 482, Vulcan (Gabriel Summers), the recently re-appointed Emperor of the Shi'ar, D'Ken and other Shi'ar watch Darwin and Professor Charles Xavier on monitors and discuss their capture. D'Ken can't believe that Xavier mated with his younger sister, Lilandra. An assistant tells D'Ken that Darwin put up a good fight until they restrained him.

Vulcan tells D'Ken that he trained with Darwin. D"Ken replies that since Darwin was Vulcan's friend, his fate is in his hands. Vulcan can kill him, make him his slave or convince him to join their side. But Xavier is his and he wants to use him as bait to get Lilandra.

A few days later, on a Shi'ar asteroid base, Warpath (James Proudstar) and Korvus take out some guards and make their way to a signal tower. Korvus picks up on Warpath not liking him, and Warpath replies that he doubt everything about him.

As they charge into battle, they discuss Korvus' relationship with Rachel. Korvus says he cares deeply about her, but Warpath replies that they have only known each other for a week. As Korvus whacks some Shi'ar with his sword, he says it seems like a 100 years to him. Warpath chastises Korvus for the screwing mind stuff and says it may seem like they have a soul connection, but Korvus barely knows Rachel.

The previous night on the ship, The Starjammer, an upset Rachel tells Korvus that this is insane and they have to stop their relationship. He replies that it would be easier to stop breathing and she tells him to stop the Shakespearean talk. Korvus doesn't understand what Shakespeare is, and she replies that that is exactly what she means. Korvus touches her should and says she doesn't make any sense. He kisses her. Rachel repeats that they have to stop this.

Back on the asteroid, Warpath and Korvus make their way into the signal tower. The Shi'ar have already sent a distress signal, but Korvus countermands it and stops all further communication.

Warpath radios to Shadowlarks One and Two that they are clear for entry.

Two ships are hidden in the asteroid field around the base. On the first ship is Corsair (Christopher Summers), Havok (Alex Summers), Lilandra Neramani and Polaris (Lorna Dane). On the second ship is Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner), Cho'od, Raza and Rachel (who isn't called Marvel Girl).

The ships attack the asteroid fortress and land

Warpath and Korvus steal a speeder and take off in it to join the others.

Meanwhile, the two groups of X-Men and Starjammers are battling their way through an entire regiment of Shi'ar soldiers guarding the fortress.

Corsair asks Lilandra if she knows the way and Lilandra explains that she had the facility built. Polaris forces open the doors to the fortress while Corsair and Havok hold back the Shi'ar soldiers.

Elsewhere, Rachel rages at the Shi'ar soldiers attacking her group, sending them flying in pieces. Kurt yells at her for using lethal force. Continuing to telekinetically blast the Shi'ar, she replies that this is war, so there is going to be death and she would prefer it’s the Shi'ar dying and not them. Kurt says that that is not the Rachel he knows.

Blasting more Shi'ar, Rachel replies that it’s the Rachel who’s family was slaughtered and who had a death sentence placed on her by these people.

Raza, who is mowing down Shi'ar with his sword, tells Kurt to not be worried about Rachel since she is battle-hardened as she should be. He needs to be more concerned about what happens if they fail.

As the other group enters the facilities, Lilandra knocked out of the way of a blast by Corsair. Havok and Polaris hold back the Shi'ar while Corsair and Lilandra go inside.

Lilandra opens a locked door and approaches the prisoner inside. The prisoner, Major-General Ka'ardum isn't exactly happy to see her.

The previous day on the Starjammer, Lilandra explains to Corsair that she wants to attempt to free Major-General Ka'ardum, who had attempted a coup against her and was imprisoned. Since D’Ken has the support of the High Council, they need someone like Major-General Ka'ardum, who used to command the whole Imperial Armada, on their side to get the Armada to support Lilandra.

Corsair doubts that Ka'ardum will join them, but Lilandra says she isn't afraid of him. But she is afraid of D'Ken getting Ka'ardum before they do.

On the asteroid, the battle rages on outside between the X-Men, Starjammers and the entire regiment of Shi'ar. Inside the facility, Lilandra speaks with Ka'ardum, trying to convince him to join with her to take back the Shi'ar empire from D’Ken. Ka'ardum was Lilandra’s father’s closest friend. He explains that his coup was only to return the imperium to the proper path. Lilandra asks if the proper path is her brother’s path of destruction. Ka'ardum says he never supported D’Ken, and hated Lilandra for putting aside her forces and her relationship with Xavier.

She asks if how many Warbirds would follow him if he asked. He still refuses to join her, but she implores him to restore his honor by helping her.

At a remote Shi'ar listening station, a Shi'ar soldier reports to Vice-Chancellor K'Tor that they received a distress signal from the asteroid and now have lost contact with it.

K’Tor releases who is imprisoned there and that Lilandra must be behind it. He tells the soldier to get ready for war.

Hours later on the Starjammers, the crew and the X-Men are celebrating their victory. Hepzibah is dancing on a table while James, Corsair, Raza and others watch on. Korvus and Rachel are seated at a table in the back talking.

Lorna goes to find Alex, who is studying charts in preparation for the upcoming mission. He doesn't think they have anything to celebrate yet, with Xavier and Darwin still missing and Vulcan working for D’Ken. But Lorna says that Lilandra and the Major-General are working on a message to the armada, so things are going well.

She approaches him, touching his shoulder and head and if anyone needs to blow off steam, it’s him. She kisses him and he looks shocked. As she pushes him down against the table, Alex stutters that they can't start up again after everything that has happened. Lorna explains that they are at war, they may never see Earth again and they held off an entire regiment of Shi'ar soldiers, so just shut up and kiss her. He looks at her and then they kiss.

At the High Council's Armada, Darwin argues with Vulcan that Xavier isn't a bad man. Darwin yells at him that he killed people like Banshee and the people on the plan, just because of rage and revenge. He asks if it made him feel any better. Vulcan says he feels fine so Darwin calls him a monster. Vulcan explains he is what they made him, and Darwin asks if he even has a conscience. Vulcan replies that that Darwin shouldn't make him regret the decision not to kill him. Darwin asks if he is suppose to be happy to see him.

Vulcan calls Darwin the closest thing he has to a friend and asks him to be his best man at his wedding. Darwin is shocked. Vulcan continues that in three days, he is going to marry D'Ken's sister, Deathbird, and Xavier’s public execution is going to be the highlight of the after-party.