Sentient World Observation and Response Department (Earth-616)

S.W.O.R.D.
Name	Sentient World Observation and Response Department
Aliases	S.W.O.R.D.; Sentient Worlds Observation and Response Department
Members
Leader(s)	Wiz-Kid Formerly Commander Abigail Brand
Current Member(s)	Armor (The Shield), Avalanche, Blink, Cable, Lila Cheney, Forearm, Gateway, Gorgeous George, Jason, Jednu, Khora (The Power), Manifold (The Guide), Peeper (The Eye), Random, Risque (The Foundry), Ruckus, Slab, Thumbelina, Wiz-Kid (The Control)
Former Member(s)	S.H.I.E.L.D. Itteration: Abigail Brand, Beast, Benjamin, Cecilia, Death's Head, Agent Deems, Henry Gyrich, Lockheed, Agent Marshall, Mindee, Agent Paulletz, K'eel R'kt, Spider-Woman, Sydren, Manifold Tyger Krakoan Additions: Fabian Cortez (The Power), Frenzy, Mentallo, Vanisher, Amelia Voght
Affiliation and Identity
Identity	Known to Authorities
Allies	The Six, Teleport Team, X-Men; Galactic Council; Zn'rx Empire; Kree/Skrull Alliance, Shi'ar Empire, X-Terminators, Guardians of the Galaxy, Quiet Council of Krakoa, Great Ring of Arrako, Brotherhood of Arakko Formerly Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D., U.S. Space Command
Enemies	Henry Gyrich, Knull, Symbiote Dragons, Dormammu Formerly Metroliths, Unit, Drenx, Cyclops' X-Men
Origin and Status
Origin	Formed to protect Earth from extraterrestrial threats
Status	Active
Reality	Earth-616
Base of Operations	The Peak, Earth Orbit Formerly Pandora's Box (research station)
Creators and Appearances
Creators	Joss Whedon, John Cassaday
First	Astonishing X-Men (Vol. 3) #3 (July, 2004)
First	Astonishing X-Men (Vol. 3) #3 (July, 2004)

History

Origin

Previous S.W.O.R.D. logo

S.W.O.R.D. (an acronym for Sentient World Observation and Response Department) was a counter terrorism and intelligence agency which dealt with extraterrestrial threats to world security. S.W.O.R.D. was a subdivision of S.H.I.E.L.D. but appeared to be largely autonomous of its parent organization. Since the departure of Nick Fury as director of S.H.I.E.L.D., relations between the two organizations became strained.

The head of S.W.O.R.D was Special Agent Abigail Brand. Its primary command-and-control HQ was aboard the orbital space station known as the Peak. S.W.O.R.D. was known to have at least one undercover operative in the X-Mansion: Shadowcat's pet dragon, Lockheed.

Breakworld

When Ord of the Breakworld tried to declare war on Earth S.W.O.R.D. was able to settle with him diplomatically by offering him a chance to eradicate the mutant gene, while they would seek to identify the mutant that would be responsible for the Breakworld's destruction. However, Ord went on his own and developed a "cure" to the mutant condition, but he was defeated by the X-Men and apprehended by S.W.O.R.D.. S.W.O.R.D. then assisted the X-Men in stopping the Breakworlders from launching a missile aimed at Earth.

Secret Invasion

During the Skrulls' Secret Invasion of Earth, the Peak was destroyed by a Skrull infiltrator posing as Dum-Dum Dugan. This caused many agent casualties, though some, including Brand, were able to survive thanks to their advanced suit with life-support system but were stranded in space. Brand was able to infiltrate one of the Skrulls' ships and freed Reed Richards which proved to instrumental in defeating the Skrulls.

Aliens Go Home

Henry Peter Gyrich was assigned as co-commander of S.W.O.R.D. alongside Brand, and persuaded the heads of S.W.O.R.D. to pass legislation to have all aliens currently living on Earth deported from the planet, while Brand was away.

Apocalypse Twins

The Apocalypse Twins then went on to damage the Peak, which forced the agents to evacuate. Following this, the debris of the Peak nearly destroyed Rio de Janeiro, but was safely vaporized by Sunfire.

Further Alien Threats

S.W.O.R.D. sent some teams to deal with the Brood threat in the Jean Grey School, but they ended up being killed. S.W.O.R.D. was then overtaken by Symbiote-possessed Brood which went on to infect other personnel of the organization. The Symbiote Imperium intended to infect Deathbird and her unborn child, before being defeated by the X-Men.

At an unknown point in time, S.W.O.R.D. was attacked by the Vescora, an alien race that acts like a virus given humanoid form. They were able to infiltrate the Peak thanks to a portal built within it and kill almost all of the agents, while the surviving ones were infected. As part for the Ten of Swords challenge, Cable and his parents entered the Peak where he used the Light of Galador to power it back up which also reopened the portal. They fought off the arriving Vescora before returning to Krakoa.

Alliance with Krakoa

With the Vescora eliminated, S.W.O.R.D. was started back up with Brand once again the head, although now in allegiance with Krakoa. To this end Cable was assigned as director of security, Takeshi Matsuya the team's technology expert, Eden Fesi the head of Logistics and a central part of the Teleport Team (consisting itself of Blink, Lila Cheney, Gateway, Vanisher, and Amelia Vought), Joanna Cargill was placed head of diplomatic relations with Armor working under her, and Fabian Cortez (much to the others' ire) head of the medical team due to his powers. When Magneto arrived at the station to provide oversight from the Krakoan council He was greeted by Cable Brand then arrived soon after and showed Erik around. The two talked about the goal of the organization with Brand telling Erik that while S.W.O.R.D. was working in conjunction with Krakoa her focus could not be focused just on mutant needs and that she had to think beyond Krakoa's needs as well, although Erik pointed out that S.W.O.R.D had Krakoa's favor and that they in fact worked for her. Erik also assured her that unlike in the past Krakoa would always be transparent with her. Soon after Brand had the Six successfully teleport to the Edge of creation to procure an artifact.

King in Black

When Knull and his symbiotes invaded Earth, Brand had Random, Frenzy, Paibok, and Fabian sent to Krakoa to rescue the Five in the case that Knull succeeded, with help from Mentallo in his Think Tank.

Paraphernalia

Transportation

S.W.O.R.D. Flying Car, Mentallo's Think Tank

Notes

• When Norman Osborn reformed S.H.I.E.L.D. as H.A.M.M.E.R., it was unknown what its relation was with the previously S.H.I.E.L.D. affiliated S.W.O.R.D..

Trivia

• Before their creation, the S.W.O.R.D. acronym was briefly used by the Great Lakes Avengers, for whom it stood for; "Superhuman Warriors Operation Redistribution Division".
• A young hacker named Bryce was able to crack S.W.O.R.D.'s database.

See Also

• 143 appearance(s) of Sentient World Observation and Response Department (Earth-616)
• 3 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Sentient World Observation and Response Department (Earth-616)
• 4 minor appearance(s) of Sentient World Observation and Response Department (Earth-616)
• 45 mention(s) of Sentient World Observation and Response Department (Earth-616)
• 7 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Sentient World Observation and Response Department (Earth-616)
• 52 image(s) of Sentient World Observation and Response Department (Earth-616)
• 42 member(s) of Sentient World Observation and Response Department (Earth-616)
• 5 item(s) used/owned by Sentient World Observation and Response Department (Earth-616)

Links and References

• Sentient World Observation and Response Department on Wikipedia.org