Sorry Dick, but it was fate it seems.

At least that's what I'll keep telling myself

Colonel Marshal Strong was sitting before Congress testifying about CHESS’s activities.  After a three week grueling televised hearing, he was exonerated, but CHESS was decommissioned.   Effective immediately all CHESS files were too passed to Homeland Security along with all equipment and monies.   
Strong called all four Royals and told them this.  Dick Manlove and Nina Ramone of CHESS White responded with an affirmative.  CHESS Black Queen Betty Noir didn’t respond, and Tony Montgomery, the Black King responded with “Operation Checkmate.”     Strong knew that he was in the process of burning all files that could compromise himself or his agents.    He also knew that by the time he got to the Black Mesa, all CHESS black personal, along with all equipment and files would be gone.

While traveling to Utah, Strong was told that the navy was sent to respond to a tidal way in the Pacific.  Stormbringer and Dick Dante went to investigate the locus of the undersea earthquake, Stormbringer went to Japan after a battle with the underwater villain team, the Deep Six.  He also reported the death of Dick Dante, who was beheaded.

Strong flew to Guam and then commissioned a helicopter over the locus.  He found the capsized hydrofoil used by Stormbringer and Dante.   While searching it he was attacked by a giant squid.  He defeated the squid with his knife.  He was then greeted by Mr. Universe, an Alpha level Meta human.   Mr. Universe has been an ally of CHESS in the past but he was reported as KIA during the battle with Omnipotep.

Mr. Universe hugged Strong and offered him the love of The Mother.  Strong feigned interest and they both submerged.   

Unknown to Strong, Captain Warlock was battling to free himself from the gullet of the sea serpent that swallowed him.    He blasted his way free and battled the creature, tearing its eyes out with telekinetic blasts.

The creature retreated to the depths.   

Strong saw the light created by Glidvir, the hammer of the deceased god, Modi.   He saw that Warlock was now wielding it, also wearing Thor’s belt, and glove.   This is a potential problem, Warlock being a Moevian and all.

Mr. Universe said he had to dispatch Warlock as he would not accept Mother’s love.  As he was about to fire two blasts of cosmic energy from his eyes, Marshal Strong twisted Mr. Universe’s neck, cracking it.   The head spun around and blasted Marshal Strong full in the face.

Warlock, who was unsure what to do, as he considered both men to be his foes,  decided to help Strong who just tried to save his life.

Warlock first made telepathic contact with all life in two mile radius.  He picked up numerous intelligent minds thousands of feet below him, along with three super intelligent minds.  One of which was godlike.     He panicked a bit.

Strong used his knife and slashed away at Mr. Universe.   Captain Warlock swung his hammer and the force of the blow released Mr. Universe’s head from his shoulders.     Captain Warlock grabbed Marshal Strong and covered him in his shelter cloak and they both rose to the surface.
Marshall Strong completed his search of the boat, as Captain Warlock righted it up.   Strong found Dick Dante’s ring that was wedged in a partially crushed door.   That was a bit of luck...

The due decided to catch their breath on the drifting boat and plan their next move.