"Charles, it's been a while since we've been on the phone, hasn't it? Do you still remember your old friend?" An aged general with white hair stood in the communications room, speaking into the phone.
"General Davis, indeed, it's been a long time. Back when we were in school, we were part of the same club. I can't believe that you've been retired for quite a few years now." Charles's voice carried traces of nostalgia. The general on the line had long been a friend of his.
"Yes, back then, you were a well-known socialite, and I… well, never mind. I believe you know, I've been invited by certain individuals to call and ask about your situation in the Andromeda Galaxy…"
The old general was very candid. In fact, he was here reluctantly, but now, with various generals from the military and some individuals from the Presidential Palace standing here watching him, he had no other choice.
"We're doing quite well." Charles grinned, "We've set up a temporary camp in the capital of the Andromeda Union civilization. For now, several mutants of the X-Men are living here."
Having said that, Charles looked around his luxurious office. It was designed in his favorite British style, with dark wooden flooring covering the entire office. Heavy, deep-red curtains hung on either side of the windows. Bookshelves lined up all the way to the liquor cabinet. The paintings hanging on the walls, ones he had moved from his own manor, perfectly complemented this style.
This was the result of a refurbishment of the luxury crystal garden from the previous Sky Island. Looking out the window, Polaris was chasing Wolverine, while Cyclops and Quicksilver tried to mediate from the sidelines. Further afield, an escort ship of the Kree people was parked not far away. The colossal spaceship occupied half the sky, making Sky Island seem insignificant.
"Okay, Charles, I'll get straight to the point. We've received news here that the Sulfur Dwarf Main Star has erupted into rebellion, affecting molten steel production. There have been sightings of human mutants there, what's going on?"
Old General Davis pushed his glasses up his nose, "Charles, you should know that thousands of space projects worldwide depend on molten steel. Indeed, halting these projects just means going back to square one. But you and I have both come from that era, don't you want to witness the brilliance of the cosmos?"
His words carried genuine emotions, but Charles was slightly puzzled, "The Sulfur Dwarf uprising? Their star zone is far from where we are now, and the X-Men have never been there."
"Davis, you know I wouldn't lie about this. To be involved in a war in the cosmos, you need a star map first. The mutants have never been there. Without a map of the place, how could they possibly participate in the war there?"
A staff member whispered, "Ask him about the Mutant Brotherhood and Magneto…"
Therefore, the old general spoke again, "Of course, I trust you completely, Charles. You're not that kind of person. But I do have my doubts… Magneto, he's always had grievances against ordinary people…"
"You mean Erik?" Charles sighed, "According to Lorna, her father also came here. But we don't know where they are now. You know, Magneto can control magnetic fields. If he wants to hide, I can't find him."
"If the one involved in the Sulfur Dwarf uprising was him, then I can only say that perhaps His Majesty Thanos has some ideas of his own regarding this unique metal."
Then, Charles lowered his voice, "Actually, I've been meaning to call you for a while now. This so-called His Majesty Thanos... his territory is in the Dark Quadrant. I've been there once. His capital star is heavily fortified and his army is very strong."
"He, himself, is a member of the Titan Clan, one of the most powerful creatures in the cosmos. He has his Black Order to assist him. What's more terrifying is that he has always been interested in Earth, the Cosmic Greenhouse. I tried to further investigate his thoughts, but I failed."
With a serious tone, Charles said, "You better prepare yourself. This instigation of the Sulfur Dwarf uprising might be his way of testing the waters. If humanity doesn't show enough resolve, then the next step won't be just about the Andromeda Galaxy."
Charles rarely spoke so much at once, but his words left the room frozen in tension. Old General Davis swallowed hard, "So, you're saying that there's a powerful cosmic force stalking us and has started making moves against the human forces in the Andromeda Galaxy?"
"Yes, it's hard for me to discern Erik's thoughts. But you should be aware of his background. He bears a strong resentment towards the average human. I am trying to reach out to his daughter since Lorna is his most beloved little girl. If she can change her mind, maybe she can persuade her father…"
Just then, a man dressed as a soldier walked in. He saluted, then said, "General, the aircraft carrying Shiller Rodriguez will be landing in ten minutes. Should we notify the control tower to take measures?"
The atmosphere in the room was now more than tense, it was on the verge of splitting open. With a powerful cosmic force lurking outside, and a vengeful force within yearning for revenge, they faced a decision: to put defense first or to safeguard their own interests.