Synopsis
In #1-2 Rocket Raccoon, Star-Lord and the alternate-timeline couple Captain Marvel (Phyla-Vell) and Moondragon sneaked off for a mission with Nova and Marvel Boy, even though Gamora didn't want her lover-at-last Peter Quill to go. During the mission they rescued Hercules but Peter died.
Last issue Gamora couldn't forgive them and the Guardians Of The Galaxy split. Drax, Gamora and Groot were joined by this timeline's Moondragon, who is Drax's daughter. They set themselves up as a mercenary GOTG and were hired by Rocket's enemy Blackjack O'Hare and a guy who calls himself the Prince Of Power. The whole group was then hired by another of Rocket's enemies Castor Gnawbarque III, a beaver-analogue, who wants them to kill the Raccoon.
Blackjack's team have a meeting with Gnawbarque in the Beavertron Incorporated HQ on Daggett's World, where they agree to go after Rocket. Gnawbarque has a grudge since the Raccoon robbed his safe (in the 2017 Rocket mini-series comprising the Blue River Score story arc). And now he's on this very planet and Castor suspects he intends to sabotage his revolutionary new power source the D-Type Converter.
Some of the other Guardians are in a spaceship on Daggett's moon. The other Moondragon is overseeing Richard Rider's recovery from having a big hole blasted through him in #1-2. Heather Douglas is maintaining them both in telepathic contact with the rest of the team on the planet. Rocket is making himself obvious in a casino to divert attention from their *real* plan. Phyla-Vell is lounging nearby. And we see Blackjack drawing a bead on his head, waiting for Castor to stop 'savouring the moment'.
The 'real' plan is Marvel Boy white-running towards the D-Type Converter (with his mind switched off to conserve energy). It's modelled on Galactus' helmet but even larger than life, and D-Type stands for Devourer-Type. As they were informed Gnawbarque is using the technology of Galactus' energy converters to convert the life energy of the planet into power. But it will turn the planet into a lifeless desert, except for the parts the villain owns which will rise in value.
Noh-Varr breaks into the structure and worms his way through tight spaces into a clear area. But the facility is guarded by the Prince and Drax. Prince throws a mace which shatters MB's helmet (but Noh's suit just reabsorbs the pieces). Noh-Varr responds by firing explosive fingernails at him. He sends a psychic alarm call to Moondragon, but his assailants are mentally shielded against her probing. Marvel Boy switches to stereoscopic consciousness and his suit generates guns as Drax attacks him. When blasts don't work he spits psychedelic saliva which takes Drax back to his previous existence as sax-playing Art Douglas. Then someone throws a knife which Noh-Varr nonchalantly catches ... but it explodes in his face, and Gamora tells him to stay down. But the Boy's response is to use a Kree-Vann directive (and clash his wrist bands together) to quantum swap with Hercules. The Greek demi-god tells Gamora that hurting her friends won't bring Peter back, but she points out that *they* aren't friends and points a gun at him.
Meanwhile Moondragon's telepathic contact with the team has been cut off. A voice in her head asks if she recognises her opponent. It's the original Moondragon in her guise as the Dragon Of The Moon.