"From that fight between Captain Marvel and Superman, the chance of defeating him and harvesting his blood seems slim." Gravik's voice cut through the dimly lit chamber.
"But we have another path, certainly. Fury previously had us investigate Superman. During that search, we learned something crucial." His gaze flickered with ambition. "Tony Stark has already collected every preserved sample of Superman's DNA—blood, tissues—stored securely in the Avengers Tower." If not for the AI alarms that tracked us, we would have acquired those samples long ago, he thought grimly.
"Now, it's time to reclaim what is ours." He paused, letting the weight of his plan settle. "There are three teams. First, five hundred Super-Skrulls will sow chaos across global cities, inciting panic and destruction. Second, a hundred will abduct Superman's loved ones. And third—my team, thirty of us—will infiltrate the Avengers Tower directly." Gravik's eyes gleamed. "The rest of the fleet will remain in orbit, ready to evacuate if things go south." He advanced, voice rising. "Superman's human admiration will be his downfall. We'll use fear, pain, and distraction to break him emotionally—then we strike, and we extract his blood."
"These missions are deadly, but for the Skrull race, every sacrifice is necessary," Gravik continued. "I'll be right there with you in the thick of it. We do not retreat. We do not fear death. If our plan fails, the remaining teams will fall back immediately through the jump point to safety. Afterward, we'll regroup on a secluded world with Carol Danvers. Her healing blood will restore our people and one day allow us to return." He punched his chest. "Today, we die for Skrull!" The team echoed, rhythmically pounding their chests, chanting "Die for Skrull!"
Operation: Infiltrate and Destroy
Over six hundred Super-Skrulls, cloaked in stealth tech, descended onto Earth. They spread across cities with coordinated silence.
In Manhattan, two lieutenants, Tali and Vara—Gravik's loyal subordinates—landed precisely on target: the Statue of Liberty and midtown skyscrapers. Tali gazed at the crowd, lips curling. "Think we can win?" she asked.
Vara nodded, energy flickering around them. "Win or not, we follow Gravik's plan. He's never wrong."
Tali's simmering energy sharpened. "I despise blending in with humans. Today, we show them our strength."
Vara laughed. "When we rule Earth, I'll paint them green one by one."
Doubting Hearts in Beloved Faces
Not all Skrulls felt fervor. Hidden in a tree near Midtown High School, Gaya and Somali—both of the dove-faction—watched the chaos unfold. Gaya was Talos's daughter; neither wanted this war.
From the school window, they saw Sherry Birkin answering a question in class. Gaya sighed. "I don't want to do this."
Somali shook her head. "Hold on. After this mission, we leave Skrullos. We'll find peace somewhere in the galaxy. I've heard Xandar offers sanctuary and prosperity."
Gaya smiled. "That's where I'll take Mother."
Many Skrulls shared that longing. Decades of displacement had taught them the value of peace. Now, they glimpsed a future, and it hurt to abandon hope.
At Gravik's Amazonian hideout, he surveyed the map: every team in place. He tapped his earpiece. "Wolf. Wolf. Wolf." The triple call was their code. As a wolf pack, they hunted in unity—strike when the enemy is vulnerable, strike as one.
Global Assault
On Gravik's command, six hundred warriors erupted across the globe simultaneously—from metropolises to remote villages. Each unleashed photon energy, fists ignited like falling stars.
People saw missiles descending—fiery comets bearing war—but then, unexpectedly, everything stopped. An invisible field enveloped Earth. The Super-Skrulls, hurtling at Mach-like speeds, froze in midair. Their momentum dissipated instantly, as though evaporated by an unseen force.