Trial of the Captains Britain.
Probably my favorite issue thus far! Everyone got a little shine and we have some new characters hanging with Excalibur.
We open with the preview of Betsy meeting with the Countexes who are vague with their answers regarding the assassin who came for Excalibur last issue. She leaves, on her way to meet with Death.
Gambit is in the Crooked Market and has started his own little side business of gathering items from Earth and selling/trading them with the locals. With the UK gate unaccessible, there's great demand for Earthly things. He's confronted by Mad Jim Jaspers who warns him not to do business in HIS market. Gambit offers to give him a cut and some English tea. Jaspers uses his powers to turn Gambit into a maid (great look!) who is serving Jaspers tea, saying he can make whatever he wants. Gambit reminds Jim that he too is a mutant and that mutants are targeted right now. Jaspers brushes him saying, "That only matters if you're poor! Which I'm not!" and walks away.
Jubilee and Shogo are in the Floating Kingdom of Romapolis Regina hanging out with Roma. Shogo is flying around enjoying his best life while Roma explains to Jubilee that children have the potential to dream themselves in magic in Otherworld, and that being on Earth ages Shogo and he loses his strength of magical imagination with each passing day. Jubilee admits that among the fae folk is where he might be meant to be but she's not leaving him anytime soon, riding off with him.
Rictor, Shatterstar and Bei are in the former province of Dryador, scouting the desolate, abandoned area to see if anyone has taken residence. Bei notes that nothing has grown on the land, speculating even the land is afraid of Amenth after the place was destroyed. Rictor mentions it has nothing to be afraid of because he will not be opening the door to Amenth out of respect for •-[A]-• and his decision to stay with his wife. Bei and Shatterstar seem to be getting along nicely, as he and Ric are all cute and cuddly.
Betsy is dueling with Death as they discuss the plight of mutants in Otherworld and how war is brewing. Betsy offers to "free" Death if at any time he wants to leave. He says he's fine and says if war comes, he has the mutants' back. Betsy thanks him for the support and mentions that Storm was right about him being a charmer. Then this adorable panel...
Excalibur, including Shatterstar, sit around a campfire just outside the Starlight Citadel. Betsy tells them this might be their last night of peace in the shadow of the Citadel as the Trial of the False Captains Britain is in the morning.
(I'm going to move fast now because a lot happens.)
The trial is for the Gambit, Rogue, and Rictor Captain Britains. They were accused of taking these titles under their own actions and were sentenced, awaiting execution. Betsy demanded an appeal and starts testifying on their behalf when the other Betsy CB Corps bum-rush and grab Merlyn who snuck in. Turns out Arthur is outside the Citadel with an army which includes the Furies. Long story short, they want mutants out and will overthrow the Citadel if they must.
Excalibur meets them outside, words are exchanged between Betsy and Arthur over who is the rightful ruler of Avalon and they start fighting. The Braddock family joins the fight and so does Bei.
Inside, Merlyn reminds Saturnyne of how she once agreed with him about mutants but that she's been woo'd by them. He says, "Every kingdom will have to decide: Are these witchbreed beloved freaks? Or - and this is what I think - an invading species who are taking over a new and unfamiliar world?! Saturnyne is read to throw down with him but he vanishes from the grip of the Corps, saying as he leaves, "Enjoy your war, witchbreed. You have certainly earned it."
Outside the war rages on.