Story continued from New Mutants #95
In Genosha, the Genoshan President broadcasts an
announcement that the escaped New Mutants will be executed as terrorists, and
asks Cameron Hodge what he thinks. Hodge approves, believing this will prove to
the world that Genosha is to be taken seriously, and further his goal of
eradicating all mutants! The Genegineer raises objections to the public
announcement, as well as with Hodge, but the President points out that they
currently need each other. Hodge then looks over the escaped mutants to be
captured and thinks how the announcement is sure to bring the X-Men and
X-Factor there, an attack on a sovereign state sullying their name even more,
and allowing him to have his revenge! Meanwhile, a Manhattan newsroom reports
on Genosha’s announcement, and clarifies that the United States has decided to
end diplomatic relations with Genosha, seeing them now as a terrorist nation. The
head of the newsroom then demands that his reporters dig up everything they can
find on the captured New Mutants. Elsewhere, X-Factor, along with Cable and
Forge, arrive in Washington D.C. for a requested meeting with Val Cooper. Cyclops
wonders why Genosha’s made such a public move now, and Iceman suggests that
perhaps they want to provoke them. They land, and meet up with Val Cooper, who
tells them the President has a secret proposition for them!
Meanwhile, back at X-Factor’s base, Banshee oversees
Gambit, Cannonball, and Sunspot readying some aircraft for possible attack on
Genosha. Cannonball breaks down at the idea of Warlock being dead and Banshee
promises that they’ll carry out their plan. They then catch a scathing
interview with Boom-Boom’s father, and think that she always wanted more media
coverage, just not like this. At the meeting with Val Cooper, she tells
X-Factor that officially they’ve broken off ties with Genosha but unofficially,
they’re willing to offer their support in getting the New Mutants back. Val
gives X-Factor all the information they have on Genosha and they head back to
the headquarters and tell everyone to gear up! Cyclops says goodbye to his son
and Iceman gives Opal a farewell kiss as they prepare to head to Genosha! As
X-Factor’s ships make their way to Genosha, they’re caught on Cameron Hodge’s
sensors! Hodge is delighted that they’re coming just as anticipated and forces
the Genegineer to send his forces to intercept them, and ensure Genosha’s
victory!
The ships land on Genosha and Cyclops leads everyone
inland. He orders Archangel and Cannonball to scout ahead, and as they make
their way in, they’re spotted by a Genoshan lookout. The magistrate field
commander blasts Cyclops as the rest of the magistrates swarm to ambush
everyone else! Wipeout arrives to attempt to de-power everyone, and Jean
quickly takes him out, while Cyclops tries to figure out what hit him! He’s
blasted again by the magistrate field commander, responding with his own blast,
finally revealing to him that the commander is his brother Havok! The rest of
the X-Men fight the magistrates, as Scott tries to get through to Alex,
pointing out that they’re immune to each other’s powers because they’re
related! Cyclops has no idea why his brother doesn’t remember him, and ends up
slamming his head repeatedly into the ground in order to try and wake him up! Alex
starts to have inklings of memories but in desperation orders Pipeline to
transmit him and the rest of the forces away!
Elsewhere, in the citadel, Wolfsbane sits in her cell,
as Boom-Boom, Rictor, and Storm each make their way through the citadel
stealthily. Storm ends up hiding in a laundry truck and plans to secure an ace
in the hole. With the battle with the magistrates over, Cyclops mourns that his
brother has sided with Genosha and feels this means that someone is trying to
hurt them personally. Now that their enemies know they’re coming, Cyclops and
Cable agree to move in and attack them hard and fast! However, all of this is
overseen by Cameron Hodge, who promises that Havok’s demonstration of loyalty
to Genosha will drop them all into his hands! To be continued!
Story continued in Uncanny X-Men #271
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