WARNING: The following contains spoilers for S.W.O.R.D. #7 from Marvel Comics, on sale now
The mutants of Krakoa and Arakko have been making major power moves lately, cementing the position of power and authority the X-Men have recently gained in the Marvel Universe. Some have even seen a potential adventitious situation in the current invasion of Dormammu in "The Last Annihilation."
But in S.W.O.R.D. #7 by Al Ewing, Stefano Caselli, Protobunker's Fer Sifuentes-Sujo and VC's Ariana Maher, Abigail Brand is revealed to have set up a way for S.W.O.R.D. to become the apparent heroes of "The Last Annihilation." However, if the plan backfires, it could seriously damage the mutant community and potentially the possibility of peace in the galaxy.
Abigail Brand has taken on an important role with Krakoa, serving as the head of S.W.O.R.D. From that position, she's expanded mutant interests across the galaxy, helping establish the mining of Mysterium thanks to the Six and serving as a major player in the formation of Planet Arakko. She's been a steady hand for the mutant space program, and an impressive leader in her own right. But she's also proven to be incredibly secretive as well. She's quietly been working to establish her own inner circle of allies that can operate and communicate outside the purview of the Quiet Council, and she's reminded Magneto that S.W.O.R.D. is an independent body that is allowed to work freely of the Quiet Council's directives.
These plans have also already had an impact on the galactic view of the Sol System. During the invasion of Dormammu into the core universe, Hulking and his allies have been scrambling to contend with the invading armies. Oddly enough, none of Earth's heroes have come to their aid. Quickly overwhelmed, with Captain Glory seemingly dead and his Excelsior Sword split by the Mindless Ones, a wounded Hulking loses his faith in Earth -- only for the mutant heroes of S.W.O.R.D. to arrive in time to save his life. While overtly Brand claims to be the only heroes willing to respond and assist the galactic alliance, she's also hiding a number of secrets from her ally.
When Hulking brings up their inability to reach Scarlet Witch, Brand deflects -- avoiding bringing up that she's just been killed on Krakoa at the conclusion of the Hellfire Gala. Her internal notes reveal that a message had been sent to Henry Peter Gyrich and Alpha Flight, but that Brand had intercepted the message and prevented it from reaching the Avengers. Seeking to shore up the mutant alliance with the galaxy, Brand decided to ensure it was the X-Men and their mutant allies that the Kree/Skrull Alliance saw as heroes instead of the Avengers. This way, one of the most powerful galactic forces in existence could call the mutants their dedicated ally, and potentially help soothe over the inevitable fallout of Emperor Hulking's husband Wiccan losing his mother on the mutant island.
However, this is a very dangerous game Brand is playing. If the Kree/Skrull Alliance learns the truth of their deception, then it could jeopardize not only their friendship with the mutants but could severely disrupt the galactic alliance of worlds that's been building in Guardians of the Galaxy. If Gyrich discovers S.W.O.R.D.'s interference with their signal, it could escalate tensions between Krakoa and his allies within Orchis (who've already been moving against the mutant nation). If the Avengers uncover this trickery, they could further lose their trust in the X-Men and their allies' ability to remain impartial heroes, instead seeing this as a deceitful act that risked countless lives so mutants could essentially get good publicity. Brand is playing a very dangerous game, with the stability of the entire Marvel Universe at stake.