Era #6, Part 12: Assault on Greymalkin

Grade: C

Fabian Nicieza continues to write average stories. They are not horrible, but they aren't really that good either. Cable is gone (again) only to return (again). We see more X-Ternals, mysterious Cable technology, Weapon PRIME, and angry Wild Packers. It was cool to see War Machine as a guest star, but it was lackluster. I stuck with it because I love the characters, but their development was practically nonexistent. We see some philosophical debating between Cannonball and Professor X and the beginning and Cannonball and Magneto at the end, but both felt forced. I remember thinking that I wished the title was a little more interesting and a little more integrated into the X-Men stories.

[2-Stars] 19 - "The Open Hand, The Closed Fist" X-Force remains under house arrest at the X-Mansion. Professor X is unsure what to do with his former students turned soldiers. There are no formal charges from the X-Cutioner's Song, and their leader, Cable, has passed away. While Boomer takes the time to redress the team, Warpath and Siryn steal some of the X-Men's secrets for their operations further cementing the team as rouge. Cannonball discusses X-Force's direct "take-it-to-them" approach with Professor X who cautions that they will pay a price to pay for their moral quagmire.

[3-Stars] 20 - "Assault on Graymalkin" A SHIELD exercise in space using Stark Industries technology uncovers a Cable's orbital space station that had been cloaked. Stark Industries has salvage rights, but War Machine agrees to allow SHIELD to accompany him on an exploration mission. Lila Cheney is back and with X-Force at their base in Camp Verde, Arizona. They manage to get a television working, and they immediately recognize it as Cable's home, Graymalkin, from the breaking news footage. Nick Fury, GW Bridge, War Machine and X-Force race to uncover the Cable's secrets. Meanwhile, Domino recruits Grizzly in her search for Cable's team.

[3-Stars] 21 - "War Machines" It is a full battle on Graymalkin as SHIELD, War Machine and X-Force each vie for control of Cable's legacy. The station includes an AI called Professor that sounds eerily like Ship (from the X-Factor adventures back in Era #4 & #5). Warpath, Siryn and Boomer return Camp Verde from a shopping trip. They can not find their teammates, but they do find a powerful intruder. Meanwhile, Domino and Grizzly's search for Cable's young soldiers leads them to another member of the Wild Pack, and Hammer still has a score to settle with their former leader.

[2-Stars] 22 - "Ordinance Weighed in Blood" Professor can not maintain Graymalkin after the damage the station sustained from battle between SHIELD, War Machine and X-Force. Lila teleports most of the team to safety leaving the humans to find their own way back to Earth. Cannonball and Sunspot take a shuttle escorting much Cable's ordinance to their base at Camp Verde. They are unable to save Professor. Meanwhile, Hammer helps Domino and Grizzly break into Canada's Department K to search for clues as to the location of Cable's many safe-houses. Deadpool finds Vanessa (you remember -- the woman who posed as Domino for a year).

[2-Stars] 23 - "Compromising Positions" X-Force learns that the X-Ternals kidnapped Warpath, Siryn and Boomer in an effort to lure Cannonball. X-Force plans an attack that allows Sam to keep his word of non-interference in X-Ternal affairs while still sending a message to leave X-Force alone. Meanwhile, Domino and Grizzly run into Weapon PRIME at Canada's Department K.

[3-Stars] 24 - "Prisoners of Fate" Professor X asks X-Force for a favor. Rusty and Skids were arrested as part of the MLF during the X-Cutioner's Song, but Dr. Cooper believes that the two former New Mutants were brainwashed. She was having them secretly transported to the X-Mansion for therapy when the convoy was attacked by the Friends of Humanity. X-Force has been asked to locate and rescue their friends. Meanwhile, Domino and Grizzly arrive in Boston to save Vanessa from Deadpool. While Domino may want to kill the woman who impersonated her for a year, Vanessa offers to help them find X-Force.

[3-Stars] 25 - "Fatal Attractions: Back to Front" This issue is part two of the Fatal Attractions storyline. X-Force returns to Camp Verde where they find another trespasser. This time it is their thought-to-be-deceased leader Cable. His return is interrupted  by yet another mutant intruder. Exodus has arrived and announces that the former New Mutants have been offered a place in Avalon. Cannonball and Sunspot accept taking Rusty and Skids with them. Sam secretly leaves a homing device with Cable so that his team can find them. X-Force learns that Magneto is back and transformed the remains of Graymalkin into a mutant haven. Magneto is also able to deactivate the brainwashing device Stryfe implanted within Rusty and Skids (both of whom choose to become Acolytes of their own free will). Cable and the rest of X-Force arrive to reclaim Graymalkin from Magneto and the Acolytes.