Marvel: The Lost Generation Vol. 1 # 11
(two of twelve)

April 2000

Cover: John Byrne (penciller, signed); Al Milgrom (inker, signed)

Story: "Fifth Column" (22 pages)

Credits: Bob Harras (editor-in-chief); Ralph Macchio (editor); Glynis Oliver (colorist); Jim Novak (letterer); Al Milgrom (inker); John Byrne (penciller, co-plotter); Roger Stern (scripter, co-plotter)

Feature Characters: Walkabout, Professor Carmody, Imperial Skrull Captain Zankor, Firefall, Nocturne, Pixie, Mr. Justice, Effigy

Supporting Characters: Dr. Robert Paine, Truth "Ruth" MacRae, Reed Richards

Other Characters: Skrull Emperor Dorrek VII, Ben Grimm, Rapunzel, Dr. Mime, Unnamed Humans, Unnamed Skrull female, Yeti.

Once in, Professor Carmody (housed inside Walkabout) orders Walkabout to stop talking in the first-person plural so that their hidden enemy doesn't know he's there. Walkabout discovers that the buildings occupants (including the members of the First Line) are being held in some form of stasis tube.

The attack on the Baxter Building is being watched by T. Ruth MacRae during her lesson on Pre-Law at Northwestern University - her lecturer is Dr. Robert Paine (formerly known as the Black Fox). While Robert Paine is taking her hand-held TV away Ruth says she's surprised the Black Fox isn't involved, only to be told that he is either dead or retire by Robert. She decides that she has to find the right reason to make him come back.

Walkabout has been caught by Alchem-Tech tendrils which are draining his energy reserves, drastic action is taken and he jettisons part of his right arm (Segment R-1) after aiming it at the tube housing Firefall. The arm shatters the tube and Firefall is freed, she in turn quickly frees Pixie and together they try to get the tendrils off Walkabout.

Nocturne reveals his presence and informs them that his Alchem-Tech is altering its structure far faster than they could counter it. The Alchem-Tech is growning so fast that it has connected the Baxter Building to some of the surrounding buildings and converting them to technology as well.

Mr. Justice arrives on the scene and is communicating with Professor Carmody until the Alchem-Tech blocks Carmody's telepathy. By now Walkabout, Pixie and Firefall are all captured by the tendrils as it has become fire-proof rendering Firefall's power useless. Walkabout runs a scan on the Alchem-Tech and informs the First Liners that the Alchem-Tech is mimicking biological functions - this is all Pixie needs to here and uses her Pixie-Dust on it. This turns all the Alchem-Tech to stone which crumbles away to nothing.

Mr. Justice witnesses the Alchem-Tech turn to stone, and once he is able to hear Carmody's telepathy again joins the First Liners in rescuing the building inhabitants. Once everyone is out of the Baxter Building the First Liners discover that Nocturne must have been in contact with his Alchem-Tech as he too has been turned to stone. Mr. Justice tries to take his mask off and Nocturne crumbles to dust. They collect the dust (formerly known as Nocturne) and return to the Carmody Institute.

Whilst all of this has been going on Jay Stevenson discovers a space-ship and sees the log file of Imperial Skrull Captain Zankor telling of an impending invasion of Earth. He quickly hitches a lift to New York and shows the driver the log - the driver thinks Stevenson is crazy and throws him out of the car.

Jay Stevenson manages to get to Hegemen, New York where he enters a Police Station - he tells the Police his story and shows them another extract of the log (this time about Zankor assuming human form) upon realising the Skrull could be anyone he goes mad and the Police throw him out of the Police Station.

Stevenson makes it to a diner where he sits watching the logs and wondering what to do. Some students of State University are there including one Benjamin J. Grimm. Steveson tells Grimm about the aliens, so Grimm sends him to Reed Richards. Upon finding Reed Richards (still a student himself) Stevenson again plays the log - he is happy when Reed Richards says he believes him until Reed Richards pulls out a gun. Stevenson says that Reed must be the alien until Reed proves that the recording whilst a language isn't one from Earth and that the Skrull posing as a human (with implanted memories) must have had a bang on the head during the crash landing and forgot he was a Skrull.

Zankor reverts to his true identity and can't believe that he unmasked himself - he is taken to the First Line's headquarters, The Carmody Institute, for questioning. Effigy questions Zankor in the presence of Rapunzel, Dr. Mime and Walkabout and tells Zankor that they have already started planning for the Skrull Invasion, he also goes on to say that he's puzzled as Skrull never send out spies without a backup.

Deep in the Himalayas a second Skrull ship lands and a female Skrull spy enters the temple of Yeti (a former First Liner) she says she wants to be his friend...