S.W.O.R.D. is a counterpart of the better known S.H.I.E.L.D. but since the departure of Nick Fury as director of S.H.I.E.L.D., relations between the two organizations have become strained. The head of S.W.O.R.D is Special Agent Abigail Brand. Its primary command-and-control HQ is aboard the orbital space station known as the Peak.
S.W.O.R.D. had an undercover operative in the X-Mansion, which was revealed to be Lockheed.
The Astonishing X-Men, Hisako Ichiki, Ord of the Breakworld, and Danger, were taken to deep space by S.W.O.R.D. and Agent Abigail Brand. The psychics on the S.W.O.R.D. ship don't detect Cassandra Nova in Emma's shattered psyche. Though emotionally wounded, Emma recovers fast enough to be present for the team's departure to the Breakworld. On their way there, where they aim to disable a missile capable of splitting the Earth in half, they are attacked by Breakworld vessels. After using a diversion, the X-Men, alongside Agent Brand, land on the planet, where Agent Deems is tortured in prison.
Brand, Cyclops, Emma, and Beast land together while Wolverine, Hisako, Colossus, and Kitty land elsewhere. Wolverine's spacecraft begins to disintegrate in midair and thus they are forced to abandon the ship. Kitty and Colossus phase through the pod and through to the planet's surface, where they land unharmed while Hisako and Wolverine land with the impact burning Wolverine's skin.
Another team composed of Lockheed, Sydren and S.W.O.R.D. troops converge upon a place called "the Palace of the Corpse" which supposedly is connected to the prophecy stating that Colossus will destroy the planet. Agent Brand finally informs Kitty that Lockheed is working for S.W.O.R.D. as their undercover agent.
S.W.O.R.D.'s headquarters, The Peak, is destroyed by a Skrull infiltrator posing as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Dum Dum Dugan.
Members:
Agent Abigail Brand
Lockheed
