I think at this point, any further moves I could make would only serve to stretch out the game needlessly. I can't possibly win at this point, nor do I see any means by which I can earn any AP/XP.

Therefore, I shall gracefully tip over the King and conceded victory to you. Congratulations, and well played.

Thanks, That was a great game. There were times where you could have pulled it out, if not for the outwits.

It was an honor and a pleasure, look forward to playing you in the future.

Now go an Collect your points and level up!

Guardians of the Galaxy
Post-Issue 5
Adam Warlock (61 Points); 13IX/2IA
(U CM87)
W/Extended Range (10 Points)
Mantis (35 Points); 7IX/1IA
(R SV67)
W/Vault (3 Points), Maneuver (8 Points)
Gamora (73 Points); 17IX/1IA
(U SI54)
Major Victory (Vance Astro) (49 Points); 11IX/0IA
(R SV58)
W/Stunning Blow (10 Points)
Jazinda (Skrull Infiltrator) (25 Points); 0IX/3IA
(R SV04)

Team Experience: 228TX/2TA
Team Total: 250
Squad Size: 175

Issue Points
Individual:
Adam Warlock: 8 IAP (2 IXP)
Mantis: 2 IAP
Gamora: 3 IAP
Major Victory: 1 IAP
Jazinda: 2 IAP

Team: 17 TAP, 18 TXP; 1TAP/22TXP

Guardians of the Galaxy
Post-Issue 6
Adam Warlock (61 Points); 21IX/2IA
(U CM87)
W/Extended Range (10 Points)
Mantis (35 Points); 7IX/2IA
(R SV67)
W/Vault (3 Points), Maneuver (8 Points)
Gamora (73 Points); 18IX/0IA
(U SI54)
Major Victory (Vance Astro) (49 Points); 11IX/1IA
(R SV58)
W/Stunning Blow (10 Points)
Jazinda (Skrull Infiltrator) (25 Points); 1IX/1IA
(R SV04)

Team Experience: 250TX/3TA
Team Total: 250
Squad Size: 175

End of "Arc" Bonuses
Adam Warlock; 99, 5 Dice: 2,5,1,5,3 (16) 4IXP
Mantis; 15, 1 Die: 5, 1IX/1IA
Gamora; N/A, 1 Die: 5, 1IX/1IA
Major Victory; 21, 2 Dice: 5,3 (8) 2IXP
Jazinda (Skrull Infiltrator); 5, 1 Die: 5, 1IX/1IP

New Point Totals:
Guardians of the Galaxy
Post-Issue 6
Adam Warlock (61 Points); 25IX/2IA
(U CM87)
W/Extended Range (10 Points)
Mantis (35 Points); 8IX/3IA
(R SV67)
W/Vault (3 Points), Maneuver (8 Points)
Gamora (73 Points); 19IX/1IA
(U SI54)
Major Victory (Vance Astro) (49 Points); 13IX/1IA
(R SV58)
W/Stunning Blow (10 Points)
Jazinda (Skrull Infiltrator) (25 Points); 2IX/2IA
(R SV04)

Team Experience: 250TX/3TA
Team Total: 250
Squad Size: 175

Upgrades
None.

Recruitment
The Guardians of the Galaxy shall recruit E HA25 Star-Lord for 180TXP.

At the end of the first half of the Infinity Quest, and the Guardians second arc, the team is as follows:

Guardians of the Galaxy
Post-Issue 6
Adam Warlock (61 Points); 25IX/2IA
(U CM87)
W/Extended Range (10 Points)
Mantis (35 Points); 8IX/3IA
(R SV67)
W/Vault (3 Points), Maneuver (8 Points)
Gamora (73 Points); 19IX/1IA
(U SI54)
Major Victory (Vance Astro) (49 Points); 13IX/1IA
(R SV58)
W/Stunning Blow (10 Points)
Jazinda (Skrull Infiltrator) (25 Points); 2IX/2IA
(R SV04)
Peter Quill (Star-Lord) (90 Points); 0IX/0IA
(E HA25)

Team Experience: 70TX/3TA
Team Total: 350
Squad Size: 225

Nice pick up.

Star-lord is a cool piece. Great, but not overly powerful, he takes some finesse to play well.

So you don't miss it later, I reworded Star-Lord so that he's primarily listed as Peter Quill for the moment, to account for plotting/story/character development. I think we went over that at least a little via email, but I can go over it again or otherwise fill you in more if you need me to.

(Game Post)

The game began slowly, with the two players testing each others tactics. Then several bursts of quick gameplay took place, followed by more stretches of slow moves as the they further considered their options. This was especially true of Warlock, who quickly found himself taking defensive action that became difficult to recover from.

Thanos never once gave off any feeling of pressure, which further helped him to pull ahead, and coerced him to start taunting his opponent. Little did he know, however, that for the purposes of the match, such noises were prevented from reaching out across the board.

Not that it mattered, as before long, a point came where for all he tried to prevent it, Adam Warlock found himself in a situation where every move lead to defeat.

“I concede defeat.” He said as he lowered himself to one knee, a move that caused his holographic representation to collapse.

Epilogue:
Written by SpaceJawa

“What?!”
“Adam, there must be some move we can make which will…”

As Gamora expressed her outrage at the situation and Eros tried to talk him into continuing the game, Vance simply lowered his head at the disappointment of defeat, leaving Adam, Mantis, and Jazinda to pay attention to the fallout of the fight.

“What an interesting game that was!” the voice of the Grandmaster boomed, his head now complete with a holographic body. “With a clear, definitive victor – THAAAAAN-OS! And to the victors go the spoils!”

A holographic image of the Time Gem appeared beside him, which caught everyone’s attention, especially as the hologram floated over to Thanos. As unsettling as this turn of events was, the Guardians were left unable to do anything, as much as they would have liked to intervene.

“Thank you, Grandmaster.” Thanos said in a confident, almost smug tone, but hardly a sign of arrogance. He knew he posed more than a match for the team but he was smart enough not to underestimate them.

“And thank you, Guardians, for this test of wits,” he said to Adam’s group as he held the Time Gem in his hand, “and for demonstrating once again why your efforts are futile. There is still time to join me and find a place within the forthcoming order of the Universe. Gamora? Eros? What about you, Skrull?”

He looked at each of the Guardians in turn, looking for any signs they might be interested in switching sides. None of them gave any sign they were interested in the offer.

“No? It is your loss, fools. Do not think I will be so merciful in the future. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to put this away for safe keeping. I need not spoil myself on a mere taste of the Gauntlet before I complete my collection.”

With that, he was gone.

“Quick, you must get back to the Osiris.” Eros said as the team began to leave the room.
“Why would you exclude yourself from that statement?” Mantis asked.
“We need to keep searching for the gems, but I can’t let my brother’s quest continue so freely,” Eros explained. “I’m going to follow him. I may be able to sneak aboard his ship and hinder his efforts, perhaps even steal one of the gems from him.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Victory asked.
“It’s a better idea than continuing as we have been.”
“I’m going with you,” Gamora said.

“No, absolutely not,” Eros rebuked her.
“Why not?”
“It’ll be dangerous enough attempting to get aboard my brother's ship alone, I won’t risk any of you in the process. Now, I must be going.”

Not wasting any more time on the conversation, Eros flew off through a nearby door, intent on getting to his brother's ship before it left.

“Dangerous?” Gamora shouted after him futilely. “I’m Gamora! You want to see dangerous? I’m the most dangerous woman in the whole ing galaxy! That dangerous enough for you?!”
“Gamora, please, we must not waste any more time here,” Adam said. “He has gone to do what he must, but we still have a mission to attend to.”
“And why couldn’t that have been my mission?”
“Because the Guardians need you,” Mantis said.
“She is correct,” Adam said. “As unfortunate as it is that Eros has left us, it would be even more unfortunate if you were to leave us as well, rather than be there for any number of known dangers that might stand in the way of whatever gem we seek next.”
“You’re just saying that to make me feel better about not going after Thanos.”
“If it works, does it matter?”