Annihilation (2006 series) #3

The United Front on Daedalus 5 thought they'd stopped the part of the Annihilation Wave menacing the Kree Empire by killing its hive mind queen Extirpia. But then they learned that Annihilus had captured Galactus and Silver Surfer. After that they were attacked by Ravenous and some others (Delinquent, Paibok, Terrax and 1 of Mad Thinker's androids), later joined by a new bunch of foes called the Centurions.

Now Drax The Destroyer is trying to kill the Delinquent with his knives but his multiple powers plus the bugs infesting him make that difficult and he doesn't succeed in temporarily stopping him before he's blasted a hole in the base's defensive wall. Then he has to fight a white-haired female with blasty hands who's presumably 1 of the Centurions. Meanwhile missile fire from the Wave threatens both sides of the conflict and Praxagora carries the body of Super-Skrull to the Rigellian doctor Mari while Ronan battles Ravenous and his Currs and Nova tells Phyla-Vell to protect Peter Quill. As the insect hordes pour through the breach the ex-Heralds Of Galactus Red Shift and Stardust realise they're losing and start to clear a path towards the escape ships.

In orbit around the planet Annihilus' flagship teleports in and he expresses his displeasure at the Wave not taking the planet yet by destroying his own fleet and killing their commanders and then sending more to replace them. He once again demands from Thanos to know why he hasn't wrung the secret of using the Power Cosmic from the captive Galactus and Silver Surfer. The Titan explains that he's discovered that the Power doesn't reside in the biological body, and indeed some holders are not biological. Instead the Power Cosmic attaches to the life force, and this changes the body in individual ways. Galactus absorbs cosmic power from the planets he feeds on and uses that power to sustain his body. We see that Big G is now strapped to the front of Thanos' starship as a weapon and when he feeds the Power will be redirected to where Annihilus can use it.

We now see Super-Skrull on a slab next to blazing Firelord in a containment tube. Mari is organising evacuation of the wounded when the scrapping Ravenous and Ronan smash into the ward. Mari shoots at the foe who fires back but the ally interposes himself to take the brunt of the blast. The doctor is knocked back into the Skrull's table which tips over and shatters Firelord's tube. The ex-Herald is revived and attacks the foe.

Outside Drax and Quill have a hard time persuading Nova it's time to abandon the planet. Drax seems unconcerned that his young 'companion' Cammi isn't with him. Richard Rider at last gives in and orders an evacuation with volunteers staging a holding action. But he knows there will be heavy casualties. Even the Thinker's android is fleeing. But Gamora is still fighting the enemy's ex-Herald Terrax who begs her to kill him because of the bug infestation that is forcing him to fight her. She obliges. Then she sees the Centurion troops pulling out as Stardust carries her to join the others and tells her that Galactus is about to attack. She contacts Quill who advises her to gather her Graces and get clear. Drax, Nova, Phyla-Vell and Quill see Mari in the rubble of her hospital. And then Super-Skrull emerges carrying the limp forms of Firelord and Ronan. Apparently the energies of their conflict with Ravenous brought him back to life.

The evacuation begins. Our main players are all in 1 ship where Cammi says she's been waiting for them. But they have to restrain her to stop her going back for Drax who is single-handedly keeping the insectoids at bay while they escape. Nova's voiceover reckons he did it for *her*. As the fleet leaves Drax sees Galactus' power-sucking beam hitting the planet and Red Shift and Stardust holding it back until the ships get away.

The ship with our group in 'randomly' winds up near Earth. Peter Quill tells Richard Rider that Ronan is leaving to take down the current Kree rulers House Fiyero, and Super-Skrull's going with him and Praxagora's going with *him*. Gamora joins them to say that she unilaterally decided to let most of the surviving troops go because she thinks their only option now is guerilla tactics, and she's off to lead them. Quill and Rider decide to send Nova's log to the Fantastic Four to forewarn Earth. And Nova says he's going alone to kill Annihilus, but Peter says he's going as well. The issue ends with Ronan's trio heading out.