Guardians of the Galaxy

The members of the team that would later become known as the Guardians of the Galaxy initially met after Star-Lord stole the Orb from the planet Morag and attempted to sell it on Xandar. There, he encountered Groot and Rocket, who were searching for Quill to collect the bounty placed on Star-Lord's head. Gamora was also there, hunting for the Orb to keep it from falling into the hands of Ronan. The first meeting of the future allies quickly degenerated into a brawl, attracting the attention of the Nova Corps. The entire group was arrested and sentenced to imprisonment in the intergalactic prison Kyln. Realizing they needed to escape, Gamora proposed joining forces, promising each of them a share of the Orb's sale to the Collector. Everyone agreed, and Rocket devised an escape plan. However, the escape was nearly foiled by an inmate named Drax the Destroyer, who, upon learning of Gamora's ties to Ronan, attempted to kill her. However, Star-Lord managed to stop Drax, promising him freedom and assistance in the fight against Ronan.
Attempts to sell the Sphere and the realization of its danger
After escaping the Kyln, the newly-formed allies arrived at the Collector's, where they learned that the Orb contained one of the Infinity Stones. After hearing Taneleer Tivan's stories and the subsequent incident at his museum, provoked by Karina, you and your friends realized the Orb was dangerous and could not be allowed to fall into the hands of evil. Unfortunately, Ronan learned of the Orb's location, and he and Nebula managed to retrieve it. Joining forces with the Nova Corps and protecting Xandar
Ronan intended to use the Orb to destroy Xandar. The team joined forces with the Ravagers and the Nova Corps to defend the planet. Together, they succeeded, though many defenders fell in battle. The Orb was handed over to the Nova Corps for safekeeping, and the Guardians of the Galaxy, as a reward for their heroic deeds, were pardoned for all past crimes and a repaired Milano starship, which they used to embark on further adventures.