A YJA Moment - The Spy Within

During a scouting mission on earth led by elite Rhomann Dey of the Nova Corps, high-school student Richard Ryder accidentally discovered their spaceship and found himself a stowaway as it left the planet to Xandar.  After being discovered, he was forced to stay in the Nova Empire as law enforcement prevented him from further contaminating Earth with knowledge of interstellar space. This despite many Terrans having direct knowledge or contact with alien species.

Ryder grew up on Xandar, finishing his required basic education regime albeit with much difficulty.  He was recruited into the Nova Corps, where he served with distinction for many years.  In order to better understand the events going on Earth, he was assigned to the planet masquerading as a hero.  He for a time he was part of the short-lived New Warriors along with Firestar, Marvel Boy, Namorita, Speedball, and team leader Night Thrasher.  

Eventually, he was recalled back home where he was assigned to the Xandar Intelligence Apparatus.  He had shown an aptitude for espionage work during his induction into the Corps but never had shown no interest in spy work.  However, his particular biometric parameters were perfect for him to impersonate an infamous bounty hunter in order to infiltrate both the Mandalorians and the greater Bounty Hunters Guild.

Dal Norren was a well-known bounty hunter that was instantly recognizable for his jet-black armor.  He had been killed in a shoot-out with the Nova Corps, but the Apparatus had kept his death secret from the general populace, allowing the Ryder to use his identity in this operation.  Posing as Norren, Ryder then infiltrated the Mandalorian Clans which had joined Thanos, though too late to relay useful information before the alliance was fractured by the Mythic Avengers.

The Apparatus left Ryder embedded within the Mandalorians in order to provide them with more intelligence on the clan's aims and capabilities.  It turned out to be much more beneficial than they could have realized.  News started to drift within the clans that their former "allies", the Sith Order, were allying with a very old ally which they had long ago pledged their service.  Though the Mandalorians had served with the Sith with Thanos, they never forgot the betrayal of the Galactic Empire and the purging of their homeworld.

Ryder found himself with a cadre of elite Mandalorians who infiltrated the ancient Sith citadel on Khar Delba.  Utilizing a combination of stealing technology and enchantments bartered from the alien sorcerer Urthona, they were initially able to penetrate the citadel, only to be caught within the structure. Though the rest of his team were killed in the resulting attacks, Richard himself was able to escape with vital intelligence regarding the Sith.

In particular, Ryder discovered that the Sith had joined Thanos only because of the Mad Titan's association with someone from which they had pledged their service.  This was symbolized by an ancient talisman that he recovered from the vaults of the citadel.  The talisman was made of something which resembled obsidian but seemed nearly indestructible.  Etched on its surface were two symbols - the original sigil of the Sith'ari rebels of the Jedi Order, and another symbol that appears to look very similar to the omega symbol.  The symbol of Darkseid.