Warning! Spoilers for S.W.O.R.D. #5 ahead!
After the X-Men shook up global politics with the formation of the mutant nation of Krakoa, the mutant space program S.W.O.R.D. is now involving itself in intergalactic affairs and shaping empires through political assassinations. While mutants in this new era have not been afraid to get their hands dirty, particularly when it comes to protecting Krakoa, these latest actions represent a whole new extreme. It is a tactic that establishes a foothold for mutants on the galactic stage, while moving them further away from Charles Xavier’s original dream of peace.
S.W.O.R.D. was established to chart mutantkind’s future and explore deeper into the cosmos to find “what’s next” for Homo superior. A good portion of the ongoing S.W.O.R.D. series has been devoted to the mutants’ battles against the invading forces of Knull, the King in Black. But in between fighting symbiote monsters, S.W.O.R.D. has also dealt with the ongoing Snarkwar, the term used to describe the war for succession within the Zn’rx Empire. There are five potential heirs to the vacant throne of the Zn’rx, a lizard-like race of aliens. These heirs have been waging war against each other, threatening to destabilize peace throughout the entire galaxy. S.W.O.R.D. member Manifold approached one of these heirs, Djagyar, in the hopes of forming an alliance against the King in Black, but was rejected. Shortly afterwards, Djagyar was mysteriously murdered.
S.W.O.R.D. #5, written by Al Ewing with art by Valerio Schiti, opens with the murder of another potential heir, Prince Wezel. Two other heirs, Khondor and Lyga, are discussing the Snarkwar when Khondor is also murdered, right before he was about to shoot Lyga in the back. Lyga turns around to see Amelia Voght, a mutant and member of S.W.O.R.D. Voght reveals that she is just there to transport a mysterious other person, who picks up a blade and kills Lyga. That person is revealed at the end of the issue to be Khora of the Burning Heart, a mutant from Krakoa’s sister island Arakko and new member of S.W.O.R.D. Khora has been committing the assassinations on behalf of S.W.O.R.D. in order to install the last heir, Kuga, on the throne of the Zn’rx Empire.
The issue includes an unredacted memo, presumably written by Krakoan law of "Murder No Human" apparently doesn't apply to alien species. Brand replies that the Snarkwar destroyed her father's homeworld, and that picking the winner of the war was the cleanest way of ending it.
The ramifications of these assassinations could be monumental. The X-Men have involved themselves in galactic affairs before, most notably involving their longtime allies the Shi’ar Empire. In those instances their actions were mainly to either save the galaxy, help their friends, or end wars. Never before have they covertly manipulated a war simply for their own political gain. If anyone were to find out, particularly another galactic empire, it could bring a whole mess of trouble down on the mutants’ heads. What complicates matters even further is the fact that the Shi’ar Empress Xandra is the biological daughter of Charles Xavier. It’s not unthinkable that somebody could use these assassinations as an excuse to go to war with the Shi’ar.
Since the founding of Krakoa, the X-Men have been more willing to embrace seedy tactics. The mutant CIA X-Force, led by Beast and Sage, is particularly keen on involving itself in world affairs in order to “protect mutant interests.” Committing assassinations in order to install rulers friendly to them is a natural progression for this behavior. It remains to be seen what plans S.W.O.R.D. has to further influence galactic politics. While other countries have been wary about the mutants forming their own nation and becoming such a big player on the world stage, it may not be long before other planets also begin thinking that the mutants are overextending their reach.
