Chapter Summaries

Murphy’s 107th Regiment broke through the German line, but a Hydra counterattack forced the Allies to retreat and left the regiment captured. Taken to a Hydra jungle base, Murphy studied its weapons and layout while waiting for Captain America to arrive.

• Murphy led the 107th Regiment through the enemy line, earned promotion to sergeant, and scouted the jungle for Hydra forces.
• German troops ambushed the advancing Allies with overwhelming numbers and new weapons, forcing the 107th Regiment to cover the withdrawal.
• Hydra soldiers attacked the regiment with energy weapons, and Murphy surrendered with the remaining troops.
• Murphy scanned Hydra’s weapons and base as he entered its prison with more than four hundred other prisoners.
• Bucky Barnes and several soldiers were taken away, leaving Murphy’s prediction that the prisoners would be put to work immediately disproved.

Murphy helped Captain America free the captured soldiers, then led them through a battle against the enemy and discovered how a device designed for the Tesseract worked. Steve Rogers led the group’s charge through enemy lines, and the survivors reached their own defensive zone as heroes.

• Captain America freed the prisoners, gave them enemy weapons, and left to find Bucky while Murphy rallied the soldiers to fight their way out.
• Murphy led the attack on the base, ordered Dugan to take an armored vehicle, and scanned a Tesseract activation device before escaping the exploding factory.
• Captain America and Bucky emerged from the factory, and Steve Rogers gathered the officers to plan a route through the enemy lines.
• Murphy proposed using the armored vehicle and captured weapons to charge through the enemy rear, and Steve Rogers led the assault with Murphy covering the fighters.
• The group of more than four hundred fought through the enemy lines, reached their own defensive zone, and was sent to the rear as heroes.

After Captain America freed hundreds of prisoners, Murphy joined the Howling Commandos and helped them destroy Hydra bases while studying the Tesseract and seeking Steve Rogers’s genes for his research. As the Commandos prepared to attack Johann Schmidt’s Alpine stronghold, Murphy offered to infiltrate ahead of Steve and plant bombs.

• Captain America returned with more than four hundred freed soldiers, and Murphy planned to join the Howling Commandos and obtain Steve Rogers’s genes for his experiments.
• Murphy pondered why the Tesseract had exiled the Red Skull, then traveled with the soldiers to the rear and met future Howling Commandos at a tavern.
• Steve Rogers recruited capable soldiers for a commando unit targeting Hydra, and Murphy agreed to join.
• The Howling Commandos destroyed Hydra bases, became famous among the Allies, and appeared in Captain America comics.
• After learning Johann Schmidt planned attacks on major Allied cities, the Commandos prepared to assault his secret Alpine base, and Murphy offered to sneak inside and plant bombs.

Murphy infiltrated Hydra’s Alpine base ahead of the Allied assault, planted remote-controlled bombs, and hid aboard its Tesseract-powered aircraft. When Captain America’s attack triggered an explosion inside the base, Murphy detonated the bombs and Colonel Phillips led the main force through the collapsing defenses.

• Murphy persuaded Colonel Phillips and the others to let him infiltrate Hydra’s base and plant bombs before their attack.
• Murphy parachuted into the Alps, evaded guards, and planted remote-controlled bombs beneath vehicles outside the base.
• Murphy climbed to the hangar, entered along its ceiling, and hid beneath the aircraft’s Tesseract activation device.
• After Captain America was captured and an explosion shook the base, Murphy detonated his bombs in the plaza.
• Colonel Phillips led the main force in an assault as Hydra’s frontal defenses collapsed.

Murphy was accidentally transported to Vormir with Red Skull and killed him, then searched the barren planet for the Soul Stone. He reached the stone gate but could not detect the Stone and was left stranded with no clear way off the planet.

• Murphy studied the Tesseract as Johann Schmidt prepared to take off, then watched Captain America fight Red Skull aboard the plane.
• The Tesseract activated and teleported Murphy along with Red Skull, despite Murphy being hidden beneath the cockpit.
• Murphy revealed his true appearance, grabbed Red Skull, and killed him in anger over being stranded on Vormir.
• Murphy searched the barren planet for minerals and the Soul Stone, hoping to find a way to escape.
• Murphy reached a massive stone gate and used every detection system he had, but he could not locate the Soul Stone.

Murphy spent thirty years stranded beneath the stone door on Vormir, unable to reach the Soul Stone or attract rescue. When the Soul Stone appeared before him, he used it as a power source and flew into space, hoping to find his way back to Earth.

• Murphy failed to damage the stone door and crouched beneath it, conserving energy while sending distress signals.
• Murphy waited for thirty years as dust covered his body and despair left him motionless.
• The stone door trembled, and the Soul Stone appeared before Murphy, reviving his thoughts.
• Murphy replaced his New Element Cold Fusion Reactor with the Soul Stone and powered his mechanical body with it.
• Murphy used Energy Blasts to launch himself from Vormir and flew into space, searching for a route back to Earth.

Murphy spent years drifting through space before the Ravagers found him and offered him a way to earn a spacecraft by taking a job for the Sovereigns. He agreed to fight a cosmic monster and followed Stakar to inspect the Ravager fighters.

• Murphy continued broadcasting his distress signal while flying through space, and a ship from Sovereign Planet detected it but chose to leave him behind.
• After another ten years, Murphy encountered a massive spaceship, fought off its attempt to seize him, and allowed its crew to bring him aboard.
• Stakar questioned Murphy about his modified body and demanded compensation for the time the Ravagers had saved him.
• Murphy asked about galactic currency and a spacecraft, and Stakar offered him a job protecting the Sovereigns from a cosmic monster in exchange for a Ravager Fighter.
• Murphy accepted the job, and Stakar began showing him the fighters so he could choose one.

Murphy repaired and cleaned a Ravager Fighter, then flew alone to Sovereign Planet to fight a monster in exchange for payment. He killed the giant lizard with an Energy Blast and wondered why the Sovereign had hired help.

• Murphy chose a damaged but relatively clean Ravager Fighter, then repaired, upgraded, and thoroughly cleaned it.
• Stakar brought the Ravagers to Sovereign Planet, where Murphy learned that monsters arrived through space jumps on a designated platform.
• Murphy examined the Sovereign’s detection equipment and a Steel-Titanium Battery but decided not to take their technology.
• A giant lizard appeared on the platform, and Murphy attacked its underside with Energy Blasts.
• Murphy disemboweled the lizard and confirmed it was dead.

After defeating the Space Kaiju, Murphy collected his reward from High Priestess Ayesha and traveled with Stakar to Contraxia. There, he sought parts to modify his fighter and was introduced to the seller Scum.

• Murphy met High Priestess Ayesha, accepted fifty million in Universal Currency, and left her his contact information for future work.
• Murphy returned to Stakar's ship, where Stakar took three currency pieces as payment and invited him to a Ravager gathering place.
• Murphy and Stakar arrived at Contraxia, where Murphy declined biological robots and asked about buying fighter parts.
• Stakar took Murphy to a lot piled with old parts and introduced him to Scum, who could supply parts and rent equipment.

Murphy rented Scum’s workshop and secretly used its equipment and data to redesign a Ravager Fighter for himself. He finished the fighter’s major upgrades while Scum watched the surveillance feed, unaware that Murphy had taken control of it.

• Murphy inspected Scum’s equipment, paid for materials and workshop rental, and demanded privacy while he worked.
• Murphy browsed Scum’s metal and technical lists, then infiltrated the workshop’s system and downloaded its internal data while controlling surveillance.
• Murphy rebuilt the fighter’s power system and weapons, replaced the extra seats with Skynet-assisted piloting, and added missiles, detection equipment, and living space.
• Murphy optimized the fighter’s antigravity engines and ran computer simulations.
• Scum monitored Murphy, checked his system for problems, and assumed Murphy was still drawing blueprints.

Murphy completed his modified fighter and refused Stakar’s offer to join the Ravagers, explaining that he intended to return to Earth and help develop it. He departed Contraxia for Xandar, while Alfred recorded the journey and Murphy prepared to upgrade his body.

• Murphy finished his fighter, resold the other craft, and Zhazha realized Murphy had tampered with the system he had been spying on.
• Stakar recruited Murphy to join the Ravagers, but Murphy refused and said he planned to return to Earth after exploring the universe and finding technology to bring home.
• Murphy told Stakar he was heading to Xandar to investigate its technology and possible trade, then left Contraxia in his fighter.
• Murphy instructed Alfred to record data during their 205 spatial jumps to Xandar, while Alfred said Murphy’s body modifications could proceed.
• Murphy tested the Vibranium Arm Blades installed in his right hand and prepared to use the fighter’s energy emitters for flight.

Murphy arrived on Xandar, obtained an identity card, and explored the capital while learning that Xandar was at war with the Kree. After studying technology in Xandar’s library, he enlisted as a mercenary and received orders to report to a combat base.

• Murphy followed Nova Corps fighters to Xandar’s spaceport, explained his journey to the authorities, and received an identity card after they verified his account.
• Murphy recharged his fighter and explored Xandar’s capital, recording information about the aliens and civilizations he encountered.
• Murphy learned from his identity card that Xandar was at war with the Kree and decided to seek battlefield work to earn money and collect weapons technology.
• Murphy paid to enter Xandar’s library, downloaded basic technical information, and organized it into a technology tree.
• Murphy enlisted as a mercenary, and a Xandarian soldier directed him to Base 0456 to receive identification and combat-recording systems before joining the fighting.

Murphy traveled to a Xandarian base to learn about interstellar warfare and join the fight against the Kree. After a week of waiting, he launched with the mercenaries as the two fleets began battling.

• Murphy arrived at Starbase 0456, registered his fighter, and had Nova Corps technicians install identification and combat-recording equipment.
• Murphy questioned mercenaries at a bar and learned that Xandar paid a hundred thousand Universal Currency for each destroyed Kree fighter.
• A week later, Murphy joined the mercenaries’ sortie and learned they waited for the main battle to begin before attacking the fleet’s flanks.
• Murphy watched the Xandarian and Kree formations exchange energy fire and collide in a chaotic fighter melee.

Murphy fought the Kree alongside the Xandarians, then alone defended a mineral transport ship and pursued the retreating enemy. He returned to Base 0456 after using all his missiles, where a Xandarian summoned him to meet the commander.

• Murphy charged into the Kree formation with his Gatling Gun and shot down several Necrocraft.
• After Alfred reported that dozens of Necrocraft were attacking the mineral transport ship, Murphy broke away from the battle and went to defend it.
• Murphy launched all eight of his missiles, destroying many Necrocraft and allowing the transport ship to escape by space jump.
• Murphy pursued the retreating Kree, and the Xandarians joined the attack as the enemy scattered and fled.
• Murphy returned to Base 0456 and told the others he had run out of missiles.
• A Xandarian told James Murphy that the commander wished to see him, and Murphy followed the messenger.

Murphy earned Xandar’s gratitude after defending its transport ships and used his new status and resources to support his fighter while learning about the war. When the Kree stopped attacking the base, other mercenaries left, but Murphy chose to stay and prepare for another battle.

• Murphy impressed the Xandarian commander by shooting down 112 Necrocraft, and the commander raised his credit rating, paid his battle rewards, and offered him materials.
• Murphy collected supplies, manufactured missiles, and earned more than ten million credits while Xandar provided free materials, energy, and maintenance.
• Murphy studied Xandarian soldiers and followed reports as the war with the Kree spread to other bases and mineral resources.
• The Kree did not attack the next transport operation, prompting many disappointed mercenaries to leave.
• Murphy refused to leave and began manufacturing more missiles in case the Kree attacked again.

Murphy joined the Nova Corps formation as its spearhead and attacked a massive Kree carrier fleet threatening Base 0456. He broke through the enemy formation with a missile barrage, giving the outnumbered Nova Corps a brief advantage as the battle continued.

• Murphy agreed to join the Nova Corps fleet formation for five times his usual fee and prepared his fighter with extra missiles.
• After two months without fighting, a Kree carrier arrived near Base 0456, and the commander called for reinforcements.
• Murphy asked the commander about a bounty for destroying the carrier and was offered two hundred million Universal Currency.
• Murphy charged ahead of the Nova Corps formation and fired all thirty-two missiles into the approaching Necrocraft.
• Murphy tore a gap through the enemy formation and led a small group through it, disrupting the Kree's ranks.

Murphy launched a solo attack on the Kree mothership, breaching its hull and sending missiles inside to search for its energy storage. After two targets proved wrong, only one suspected location remained as Necrocraft closed in on him.

• Murphy returned to base to replenish his fighter, then told his temporary teammates to join the others while he attacked the Kree mothership alone.
• Murphy evaded pursuing Necrocraft and circled behind the mothership before destroying the fighters that followed him.
• Murphy used his rotary cannons to breach the mothership's hull, then sent missiles inside to attack its repair area and search for vital systems.
• Murphy and Alfred identified three likely energy-storage locations and sent missiles toward them, but the first two strikes hit the central circuits and engine ignition section instead.
• Murphy had one suspected location left to target as Necrocraft began heading toward his fighter.

Murphy destroyed the Kree mothership, forcing the remaining enemy fleet to retreat and earning Xandar’s respect and a promised credit-rating increase. After returning to Xandar, he focused on expanding his Tech Tree and planning his next steps before eventually returning to Earth.

• Murphy ignored the commander’s request to retreat and destroyed the Kree mothership with two missiles, escaping its explosion as pursuing Necrocraft were caught in the blast.
• The surviving Kree fleet withdrew, and the arriving Xandarian reinforcements found that Murphy and the Nova Corps had already won the battle.
• A senior Nova Corps officer thanked Murphy, confirmed that his payment and credit-rating increase had been reported, and called him a friend of Xandar.
• Murphy returned to Xandar, replenished his supplies, and spent a week gathering technical data and expanding his Tech Tree.
• Murphy considered pursuing Sovereign and Kree technology, building investments in Africa after returning to Earth, and obtaining the Mind Stone there in the future.

Murphy returned to Sovereign to hunt a monster, unaware that it had grown stronger after eating Steel-Titanium Batteries. He survived being swallowed, stole the battery from inside the creature, and killed it, then left with the agreed payment.

• Murphy learned from a mercenary friend that the monster had killed several hired teams and grown stronger by eating Steel-Titanium Batteries.
• Murphy traveled to Sovereign, deciding to retrieve a battery from inside the monster and keep it after killing the creature.
• The monster, now more than three times its former size, swallowed Murphy while the Sovereigns watched.
• Murphy removed a Steel-Titanium Battery from the monster's stomach, then cut his way out and killed it.
• Murphy confronted High Priestess Ayesha about the undisclosed danger, accepted the unchanged reward, and left Sovereign.

Murphy studied the Steel-Titanium Battery in a Knowhere laboratory and discovered that its key mineral was too scarce on Earth to make production practical. When he left the lab, five gangs confronted him for whatever he had researched, and he began fighting them in a bar.

• Murphy traveled to Knowhere and rented a laboratory to examine the Steel-Titanium Battery.
• Murphy identified the battery’s liquid mineral core and stabilizers, but concluded that its rare metal would make production on Earth too costly without a large off-world source.
• Murphy decided to pursue a Moon Base and an aerospace company, then noticed several people watching him.
• Murphy entered a bar, where five gangs surrounded him and demanded the results of his laboratory research.
• Murphy fought back, throwing gang members through the bar’s door as a crowd watched outside.