Chapter Summaries

Alvin watched the Imperial Navy struggle against Abaddon's Chaos Fleet while Calgar waited to spring their trap, teaching Alvin the cost of command. Calgar revealed he was supporting Alvin because Macarius had believed in him, and he hoped Alvin would help set a new crusade in motion.

• Alvin identified Calgar as Abaddon's main target, and Calgar explained that Abaddon also meant to destroy the Imperial Navy with a flanking attack.
• Alvin asked whether they should fire while Chaos was trapped, but Calgar ordered him to wait as Imperial ships were lost.
• Calgar told Alvin that his plan was brilliant but that sacrifice was the price of victory and a commander had to spend lives wisely.
• Theodore questioned why Calgar trusted Alvin, and Calgar said Macarius had believed in the boy and that Macarius's medal had chosen him.
• Calgar said the Imperium needed to move forward again and hoped a future crusade would carry humanity's forces across the galaxy and beyond.

The Imperial Navy’s flank suffered catastrophic damage, and Commissar Houston and other crews turned disabled ships into suicide charges to hold back the Chaos Fleet. As the Imperial forces began retreating, Calgar used himself as bait to lure Abaddon into a decisive attack, leaving the battle poised for a desperate counterstrike.

• Abaddon ordered the Chaos flagship to charge the Imperial Navy’s right wing through the gap in its defensive line.
• Chaos boarding parties disabled the Black Sword’s weapons and Void Shields, so Commissar Houston ordered the ship to ram the Chaos flagship at full speed.
• Other crippled Imperial ships also charged the enemy, briefly slowing the Chaos advance and keeping the defense line from being completely surrounded.
• Calgar ordered the fleets to retreat toward weak points while the Black Mane Great Company, the Brass Hands, and the Iron Warriors covered them.
• Abaddon ordered his forces to pursue Calgar and press the attack, while Calgar waited for him to come closer and take the bait.

Marius Calgar lured Abaddon and the Chaos Fleet into the Void Claw’s strike zone, then escaped as the ancient weapon created a black hole. The Imperial Navy attacked the trapped Chaos ships while Abaddon cursed Calgar from the doomed fleet.

• Abaddon led a boarding assault on the Victory Laurel and confronted Calgar alone in its command room.
• Calgar revealed that he had drawn Abaddon in while the Imperial Navy withdrew, then teleported away after ordering the attack.
• The Void Claw trapped the Chaos Fleet in its coordinates and unleashed a black hole that dragged the ships into its gravity well.
• Calgar ordered the Imperial Navy to fire every weapon at the trapped Chaos Fleet.
• Abaddon cursed Calgar as the Imperial Navy’s Light Lances and Macrocannons struck his fleet.

Abaddon’s fleet was devastated by the singularity trap at Alert Star, forcing him to retreat into the Warp and plot to continue the war. With the immediate battle over, Alvin took the Void Claw and prepared to leave for the Imperial Black Zone.

• Abaddon ordered the surviving Chaos ships to flee through the Warp as the singularity and Imperial Navy destroyed much of his fleet.
• Warp Storms swallowed dozens of Chaos flagships, and Abaddon learned that only a third of the remaining fleet could be detected.
• Abaddon planned to frame the Fallen Angels and summoned the Chaos Gang leaders to keep the war against the Imperium going.
• Calgar told Alvin that Chaos would return to Alert Star and said Alvin could leave for the Black Zone.
• Alvin guessed Calgar knew about the Void Claw, stored it in his Personal Space, and prepared to leave Alert Star.

Torzak, a cautious Necron Lord who had hidden his awakened dynasty from the powerful Psykers on Alert Star, received a mission from Trazyn. Invoking the Silent King’s command, Trazyn forced Torzak to infiltrate Alvin Valshius’s flagship in disguise.

• Torzak had kept his dynasty dormant for three years after discovering an Alpha-level Psyker near its tomb.
• Trazyn contacted Torzak and confirmed that Torzak had protected a human as requested.
• Trazyn asked whether Torzak’s studies of the Flayer Curse could let it imitate a Flayed One and disguise itself as another species.
• Trazyn ordered Torzak to pose as a human, infiltrate Alvin Valshius’s flagship, and await further orders.
• Trazyn claimed the mission was commanded by the Silent King, and Torzak reluctantly agreed.

Alvin prepared to leave Alert Star aboard the repaired Sword of Redemption and set course for the Dark Imperium, hoping to eventually save Horn and Elsa. As the ship entered the Warp, the disguised Necron Lord Torzak was revealed among its slaves, furious at Trazyn for his predicament.

• After finishing preparations at Agamemnon, Alvin led his family and crew to the Sword of Redemption and reflected on leaving Alert Star.
• Alvin met Grand Sage Carroll, learned that Horn's condition had improved with the Stasis Field, and ordered the family to prepare to leave Alert Star.
• Alvin took command of the Sword of Redemption and had the Star Whisperer guide the ship by the Astronomican.
• The Sword of Redemption left Alert Star and entered the Warp on a ninety-day journey to the Dark Imperium.
• Torzak was revealed to be disguised as a human slave aboard the ship, and he cursed Trazyn as he lamented being forced to leave Alert Star.

During the voyage, Alvin reviewed the forces and research he had built up across several worlds, then learned that he could finally enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He left his affairs in the Machine Spirit’s hands and prepared to visit Stark.

• Alvin stopped monitoring the battleship’s journey after Carroll assured him the professionals could handle Warp travel.
• Alvin reviewed developments in the Transformers world, where Sentinel Prime led an archaeological expedition and Optimus Prime and Megatron searched space for lost companions.
• Wesker’s forces captured Mother God Miranda, and Yani Birkin combined the Mycelium Lord with other pathogens to create a spreading fungal domain that alarmed Alvin.
• Wesker presented Alvin with three hundred loyal warriors enhanced by Umbrella’s perfect-grade T-Virus, which could awaken telekinesis.
• The Navigater told Alvin that the barrier to the Marvel Cinematic Universe had been removed, and Alvin arranged temporary cover before preparing to visit Stark.

Alvin arrived in the Gobi Desert in 2012 and learned he was near Puente Antiguo, where the events of Thor were about to begin. He found Jane Foster’s research team and offered her a hundred million dollars to join their project.

• Alvin used Soundwave to locate a town in New Mexico and learned from Shawn Cullen that it was 2012 and the town was Puente Antiguo.
• Alvin discovered that Jane Foster, Erik, and another young woman were staying nearby to investigate atmospheric electromagnetic storms.
• Alvin introduced himself to Jane as a merchant and offered to invest a hundred million dollars in her research.
• Jane was stunned by Alvin’s offer as he prepared to join her team.

Alvin funded Jane Foster’s research team and joined them to observe an approaching astronomical phenomenon, which turned out to be Thor’s arrival on Earth. After Thor attacked Erik and charged at their SUV, Alvin used telekinesis to run him over again, leaving him headfirst in the dirt.

• Alvin agreed to fund Jane Foster’s research team with a hundred million dollars in exchange for observing their research, and Jane invited him to watch an astronomical phenomenon.
• Jane drove Alvin, Erik, and Daisy toward the observation site as a violent storm swept across the wasteland.
• The SUV struck Thor as he fell from the sky, and Erik and the others found him furious but apparently unharmed.
• Thor grabbed Erik, threw him aside, and charged at the SUV while declaring himself the God of Thunder.
• Alvin used telekinesis to accelerate the SUV into Thor, sending him flying headfirst into a mound of dirt.

After Thor was injured and taken to the hospital, Alvin secretly had Soundwave monitor him and went to retrieve Mjolnir. He forced the hammer to yield with Psychic Power, then faced a Bifrost strike from the sky.

• Jane, Erik, and Daisy found Thor alive, put him in the SUV's trunk, and drove him to the hospital.
• After the others left, Alvin sent a miniature mechanical spider to collect Thor's blood and watch him.
• Alvin flew to Mjolnir's impact site and tried unsuccessfully to lift the hammer by force.
• Alvin used Psychic Power to threaten Mjolnir until he lifted it, then joked that the hammer acknowledged him.
• A vast vortex opened overhead, and a blazing Bifrost beam descended toward Alvin.

Alvin examined the Bifrost’s runes and argued with Heimdall over Thor’s Hammer, challenging him to prove it belonged to Asgard. When the hammer gave Alvin no power, he discarded it and overwhelmed Heimdall with psychic and elemental attacks, leaving him alive before departing.

• Heimdall arrived through the Bifrost and demanded that Alvin put down Thor’s Hammer, but Alvin ignored him to study the runes left by the Bifrost.
• Alvin refused Heimdall’s orders and challenged him to call the hammer if it truly belonged to him.
• Alvin discovered that Thor’s Hammer gave him no power and tossed it aside as Heimdall mocked him.
• Alvin used psychic and elemental abilities to weaken, age, and attack Heimdall until he lay near death.
• Alvin tossed the hammer onto Heimdall, asked whether leaving him alive was fair, and departed as the clouds cleared.

Alvin met Odin and correctly guessed that Thor’s banishment was a trial meant to teach him humility and compassion. Odin accepted Alvin’s offer to train Thor, leaving Alvin to plan the prince’s education at Warhammer Academy.

• Alvin realized Odin was pretending to sleep and called on him to make a deal.
• Odin appeared as a face formed from lightning, then transported Alvin to a meadow where they spoke in person.
• Odin saw visions of war and blood in Alvin but could not perceive his past or future.
• Alvin and Odin discussed how Thor needed to learn humility, kindness, and understanding of mortals.
• Alvin offered to train Thor in exchange for payment after Odin saw the results, and Odin agreed to leave Thor in his hands.
• Alvin decided Warhammer Academy would train Thor into a supposedly worthy heir.

Thor woke in a hospital beside Heimdall, who told him that a mortal had stolen Mjolnir and his divine sword, leaving them unable to return to Asgard. After searching for the thief and eating at a restaurant, Thor spotted the man leading Mjolnir by a rope and charged after him.

• Thor woke and discovered that the bandaged man in the neighboring bed was Heimdall.
• Heimdall told Thor that a mortal had stolen Mjolnir, his armor, and the sword needed to control the Bifrost.
• Thor and Heimdall escaped the hospital and searched town for the thief but found no trace of him.
• Thor and Heimdall ate a huge meal at a restaurant, despite having no money to pay.
• Thor spotted a young man leading Mjolnir by a rope, smashed through the restaurant window, and charged at him.

Thor confronted Alvin after Alvin used Mjolnir to knock him down, then challenged him to an Asgardian duel. Thor accepted Alvin’s wager, confident that the rules forbade magic, but the duel had not yet begun.

• Thor charged at Alvin, who swung Mjolnir on its rope and struck Thor in the face.
• Thor demanded that Alvin return Mjolnir and Heimdall’s golden sword, while Heimdall warned him that Alvin was powerful and could use magic.
• Thor challenged Alvin to a duel, and Alvin wagered that Thor and Heimdall would become his slaves if he won.
• Thor accepted the wager and insisted they duel immediately, confident that Asgardian duels forbade magic.

Alvin accepted Thor’s traditional Asgardian duel, which blocked magic and transported them to a realistic arena. Thor expected Alvin to be helpless without psychic powers, but Alvin defeated and beheaded him with his sword, leaving Heimdall horrified.

• Thor tricked Alvin into agreeing to a traditional Asgardian duel witnessed by Gungnir.
• The oath transported Alvin and Thor to Valhalla’s arena, where they chose swords and learned that magic was forbidden.
• Thor charged Alvin, but Alvin dodged his first attack after discovering the arena blocked his psychic powers.
• Thor attacked again, but Alvin parried, disarmed him, and severed his head.
• Alvin revealed that Khorne’s blessing had made him skilled at melee combat, while Heimdall watched in despair.

Alvin defeated Thor and invoked the duel’s oath, making Thor agree to become his slave. He offered Thor three chances to win back his freedom and hammer, while secretly planning to make him the Lord of the Legion and bind Asgard to his cause.

• Alvin reminded Thor that he had lost the duel and declared Thor and Heimdall his slaves under the oath.
• Heimdall threatened Alvin with Asgard’s fleet, but Alvin struck him with a psychic slap and warned him not to interfere.
• Thor accepted the oath, admitted that his arrogance had caused his defeat, and agreed to Alvin’s terms.
• Alvin offered Thor three challenges over the next three months, promising to restore his freedom and hammer if he won one and demanding a request for each loss.
• Thor accepted the challenge, while Alvin revealed that his true aim was to make Thor the Lord of the Legion and draw Asgard into his plans.

Coulson visited Alvin with a video showing Frost Giants invading Earth through a portal opened by the Tesseract. Alvin agreed to take Thor to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier, suspecting the invasion was connected to Asgard and fearing a larger conflict.

• Coulson arrived at Alvin's home on Nick Fury's orders and showed him footage of a S.H.I.E.L.D. experiment involving the Tesseract.
• The Tesseract opened a portal, and Frost Giants poured through into the human world.
• Thor identified Laufey as the leader of the Frost Giants and explained their history with Asgard.
• Coulson asked Alvin to help S.H.I.E.L.D., saying Fury believed Alvin might be the only one able to save them.
• Alvin agreed to take Thor to the Helicarrier and warned that the Chitauri might join the coming conflict.

Alvin arrived at S.H.I.E.L.D.’s aircraft carrier with his Asgardian companions and his enormous bodyguard, Ollsen, then reunited with Tony Stark and met the assembled Avengers. Ollsen’s hostile reaction to Banner nearly triggered the Hulk, but Alvin calmed Banner and Fury moved the group toward discussing the incident.

• Natasha greeted Alvin aboard the carrier, and Coulson explained that the Asgardians had been brought because of their connection to the New Mexico meteorite.
• Alvin introduced Ollsen as his bodyguard and explained that he had delayed the trip to bring him along.
• Tony Stark welcomed Alvin back and warned him that the situation was more complicated than it appeared.
• Coulson introduced Alvin to the assembled Avengers, and Alvin described himself as a Rogue Trader while calling the Asgardians his slaves.
• Ollsen sensed the Hulk inside Banner and released his killing intent, causing Banner to nearly transform until Alvin stopped Ollsen and used psychic hypnosis to calm Banner.
• Fury stepped in and began directing everyone to discuss why S.H.I.E.L.D. had brought them to the carrier.

Steve struggled to fit in with the team as they discussed locating the Tesseract and investigating the Frost Giants’ invasion. Their meeting ended with Alvin exposing Loki in the conference room and ordering Ollsen to attack him.

• Steve tried to connect with Ollsen, who ignored him, and Barton teased Steve about the snub.
• Fury gathered the team, and Steve proposed finding the Tesseract with Banner’s help while Alvin urged them to investigate the Frost Giants’ origins.
• Thor said he knew nothing about the invasion, and Heimdall revealed that the Bifrost was shut down and he could not return to Asgard.
• Ollsen sensed a hostile presence, and Alvin used his psychic power to reveal Loki hiding in the conference room.
• Loki offered Alvin authority over Earth in exchange for submission, and Alvin told Ollsen to beat him up.

Ollsen overwhelmed Loki in the Helicarrier conference room, shrugging off the Mind Stone and seeing through Loki’s illusions. After Banner called the battered Loki a weak god, Loki passed out, though Ollsen remained wary that he had not used his full strength.

• Ollsen charged Loki, identified the real Loki among his illusions, and struck him with a series of powerful blows.
• Loki tried to control Ollsen with the Mind Stone, but the scepter had no effect against Ollsen’s Black Carapace.
• Loki attempted another illusion to escape, but Ollsen found and beat him again.
• Ollsen told Alvin that Loki seemed to be holding back despite being badly injured.
• Banner called Loki a weak god, and Loki spat blood before passing out.