The Council fleet was a technologically advanced armada, which included both conventional ships (technological / mechanical) and organic living vessels (the Acanti). Despite it being a force made up of the combined fleets of the major galactic powers of known space, it was still greatly outnumbered and outgunned by the Builders' fleet. Deployed on the fleet were not only the Avengers but also the Shi'ar Imperial Guard, the Kree Accuser Corps, and Galadorian Spaceknights.[6][7]
Council Armada over Titan
History
The Council Fleet was assembled from the combined fleets of the Shi'ar Empire, the Kree Empire, the Spartax Empire, the Brood, the Annihilation Wave, and the united Skrull warlords. The pan-galactic fleet was commanded by the Shi'ar Majestor Gladiator. It was decided to set a trap for the Builder Armada at the site of a previous battle between the Kree and Shi'ar. Which was called the Corridor, between a black hole and the remnants of two shattered planets. The asteroids were mined and they waited for the Builders' fleet to come out of warp. At first it looked as if the trap succeeded, only to discover that it was the Council fleet which fell into a trap as they lost a third of the fleet in a minute. They had no choice but to retreat.[4]
The Builders relentlessly pursued the remnants of the shattered Council fleet to the agricultural world of Whaan Prime. Refusing to run anymore Gladiator rallied the fleet and counter-attacked, successfully pushing back the Builders. In retaliation and as a demonstration of power, one of the Gardeners was sent down to the planet to destroy it with a plague.[3] The Council armada relocated to the Ringworld Behemoth, destination for over a hundred million refugees. Where they were unable to stop it from being nearly destroyed by sentient drone ships launched by the Builders' fleet.[8][9]
It was the Avengers who came up with the plan for the battle that turned the tide of war in space. The Council armada launched an attack on the main Builders' fleet over the Kree throneworld of Hala which was recently conquered by the Builders. Two of the Builders' planet killers were captured by teams of super powered individuals. Who then turned the planet killers on the Builders' fleet, destroying eight of the planet killers before the Builders were able to withdraw.[9] In gratitude to the Avengers for helping liberate their worlds from the Builders, they placed the Council Fleet temporarily under Captain America's command for the liberation of Earth from Thanos, who then used the fleet to help them liberate Earth from Thanos and his Black Order.[10]
After Thanos joined the Galactic Council thanks to the Dark God Perrikus, he appointed his lieutenant Corvus Glaive to command the Armada into hunting down the threat of the Phoenix. Corvus led the Armada into a direct attack at the Phoenix, but as they were about fight her, Nova attacked them from behind, compromising their initial strategy. This allowed the Phoenix to disable all of the Armada's weapon systems, leaving the ships inert and unable to pursue her any further.[5] Later, Corvus was forced to leave the Armada after Thanos was driven away by the Phoenix and her allies.[11]
Following the assassinations of various galactic leaders, the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda was framed for these killings and the Galactic Council sent the Armada to subjugate the empire. The Armada arrived to Wakanda's home planet through a Stargate, and had the Imperial Guard breach its planetary barrier. Black Panther and his fleet were immediately alarmed of their arrival and had quickly prepared to counterattack. As the Armada approached planet Wakanda, they first went to capture the Black Panther, only to see that it was actually his sister Shuri. This ruse served to hide Black Panther's location onboard a ship where he ordered his men to detonate an EMP weapon amplified by Wakanda's Vibranium Moon. This left over sixty percent of the Council Armada without power which allowed the Wakandan fleet to strike back. This prompted the actual culprits behind the assassinations, the Skrulls, to reveal themselves and activate their sleeper agents that have been imbedded in each faction. In addition to this, several Shi'ar soldiers also betrayed the Armada by destroying the Stargate that was used to travel to planet Wakanda, stranding them there.[12]
The Armada resolved the misunderstanding with Wakanda and together repaired the Stargate to go back to the Galactic Hub, only to find it overrun by the Skrulls. Upon reaching the Hub, the Shi'ar fleet was forced to depart due to the Shi'ar Empire changing rulers, but during the ensuing battle the Armada was joined by the Inhumans. They worked to fight the Skrulls, with Black Panther, the Hulk, Black Bolt and Star-Lord directly confronting their leader the Super-Skrull. The lords were able to take the Super-Skrull down, and with his defeat all of the Skrulls were repelled. In the aftermath, most of the stellar empires agreed to unify their forces, and soon formed the Galactic Union.[13]