EPISODE V: CLOSE TO VICTORY�
�Is this the planet?� Optimus Prime asked. He and Elita-1 were searching for Woe, the planet that Elita-1 had dwelt on for several years. They were planning on making it their permanent home, away from the war.
�Yes! That�s it,� she replied.
Optimus prepared to land the shuttle craft. It was so unusual to be alone with his love, it had been so long. In fact, this was the first time the two had been in a situation not related to combat since before the Great War. It was almost like a dream.
The ship touched down on the surface, and the two got out. Woe was barren, devoid of life. Yet something seemed wonderful about it to Optimus�perhaps it was just being here with Elita-1. He didn�t even notice her evil smile as he surveyed the landscape.
On Earth, the Earth Defense Command was holding a secret briefing at their headquarters in New York. Every member who was on reserve was called on video communication as they prepared for Cobra�s preemptive strike. General Hawk was now in full command, a unanimous decision made by Marissa Faireborne�s direct subordinates. They knew that a professional was needed, and Hawk was the best to handle Cobra.
General Hawk took the podium. �Good morning, soldiers. We are dealing with an evil beyond comprehension here. I realize every one of you has gone through rigorous training, and have also dealt with attacks upon Earth soil. To some of you, Cobra may seem like a joke; an ancient organization that could never make a dent in your forces. That is the greatest misconception you could have.
�This organization has already captured your commander. They have a great army, probably created in part by the Decepticons. We do not know when they will strike, where it will be, nor from where it will come. All we can do is wait.
�However, we are not without a plan. Cobra Commander is stationed somewhere on this planet: our analysts figured that much out by looking at that video broadcast location. It was scrambled as not to lead us to where he is, but we can tell he is on Earth.
�Here is the plan. When the strike happens, I want every one of you to go out there and defend our planet. I know it isn�t much, but it�s what you signed up to do. Fight as hard as you can. I promise you, we will be doing as much as possible.�
He then went on to describe units. The EDC was separated into several groups, 100 to be exact. Each group was assigned to a certain region of the planet, and was expected to defend it at all costs.
In the front row were Duke, Scarlett and Snake-Eyes. Flint and Lady Jaye were not present: they were still working in the back on intel to find their daughter. Duke knew it was almost hopeless to find her location. Still, he finally understood what it must have been like for them. He�d do anything in his power if his son were captured.
After an hour, the EDC disassembled. The Joes followed General Hawk back to the intelligence room and joined the other two members of the team.
�I didn�t mention you five because I want you on a different mission,� Hawk started. �These kids are so wet, Cobra would eat them alive if they were doing what you will be doing. I know it seems like a lot, but I want you five to shut down Cobra�s operation from the inside.�
Duke was amazed. �But sir, we don�t have a clue where the base is!�
�We don�t know for sure,� Hawk said, winking. �But I did some research. After accessing several CIA files, I have found that the agency has been working on catching some kind of arms/drug dealer. No one knows what this dealer looks like, only that he goes by �Snake,� wears a mirrored helmet and has an unusual voice. Sound like someone we know?�
The Joes were all speechless.
�Yeah I know,� Hawk said. �I�ll bet it�s him.�
�But why didn�t the CIA contact us when the Cobra problem began?� Scarlett asked.
�Simple,� Hawk said. �They aren�t Joes. Those bureaucrats didn�t put two and two together, mostly because they weren�t around when Cobra was big time. The only ones who were are too high up on the ladder to be involved. This was a classified operation, too much talk about terrorists and the public�s in a frenzy. Only a few agents were running it anyway; kids who didn�t know any better.�
�Well how did you get a hold of it?� Flint asked.
�It�s better you didn�t know that part. Anyway, the file stated that one of the hideouts of this Snake guy was on an island in the Pacific. Large island, not charted on many of the maps. They searched it, left a few guards and left. These guards were to notify them if Snake ever returned.�
�So you think that Cobra Commander came back to that island?� Scarlett asked.
�I�m about 60% sure. It�s the perfect place for him to stash his army. I�m guessing that he knew about the guards, he�s too smart not to. He then probably silenced them and took back the island. As far as the CIA knows, it�s still uninhabited.
�Now I can�t be positive on this one, it�s a long shot. It may very well be deserted, but I want you five to follow up on it. If Cobra is there, I want you to shut down the entire operation. These soldiers he has will probably be automated, and controlled by some kind of supercomputer. No way they are sentient, he wouldn�t allow that. Destroy this computer.�
He looked at Flint and Lady Jaye. �And get your daughter the hell out of there.�
�Why didn�t you mention this to the rest of the EDC?� Duke asked.
�I didn�t want anyone criticizing it as a long shot,� Hawk said. �Plus, I don�t want anyone I don�t trust knowing about it if Cobra is stationed there. It won�t do us much good if they up and move out before we can take care of it.
�All right then, I want you all suited up and on a transport at 1900. This gives you about 10 hours, seven of which I want you resting. Take some sleeping pills, do something. Then suit up, arm yourselves to the teeth and kick some ass.�
The Joes began leaving, but Hawk stopped Duke on his way out.
�Look, Duke,� he began, �I know you�ve been waiting for this for awhile. Don�t turn this into a vendetta, and don�t let Flint or Lady Jaye do the same. I�m counting on you as team leader to take responsibility. If you have to eliminate Cobra Commander, do so. Just don�t do anything foolish; it won�t bring Falcon back.�
Duke nodded, understanding completely. Hawk patted him on the shoulder and let him go. Although he knew that the General was right, Duke knew that Cobra Commander would die on that island. Vengeance was not the sole reason, justice had to be served.
He joined up with his team to prepare for the mission.
On Cybertron, Rodimus Prime was preparing troops for a possible war on Earth. He knew that the agreement was going to hold with Cobra: they would not be involved. Yet word had just reached him from General Hawk that GI Joe was planning a secret operation to release Marissa and shut down the army. This was great news, and Rodimus offered any help that Earth might need. Hawk told him that it was greatly appreciated and that they might need the Autobots for something.
Although Rodimus told the Autobots that war on Earth was the main reason for the training, he was still concerned about the Decepticons. He knew that they would never stop: and the fact that Optimus was gone made things worse. Megatron had fallen as quickly as he had been reincarnated, but that meant little if Galvatron was still alive.
While overseeing the preparation, Blaster approached Rodimus.
�Rodimus?� he asked. �You know how we�ve been monitoring the radio waves for a while to see if we can�t pick up anything? Well, I just caught and taped a message a few minutes ago. I think you should hear it.�
Blaster led Rodimus to the radio control room. Popping a small disc into a machine, they both heard Galvatron�s voice.
��right. We leave in an hour, Optimus Prime has disbanded from the Autobots and is living on the planet J�Asik with Elita-1. Laserbeak has informed me that the planet is deserted, so capture will be easy. We will then ransom off the two Autobots to the rest of them, or kill them. Either way, we win.�
The disc stopped. �That was all our intelligence radar was able to pick up,� Blaster said. �After that, it got fuzzy.�
Rodimus Prime was shocked. �Blaster, how long ago was this taped, and where did it originate?�
�About five minutes ago, and I�m assuming from Charr.�
�Get to work and see if you can still pick anything else up,� Rodimus ordered. He then ran to the Autobots ready for deployment.
�Autobots!� he shouted. �Our enemies have once again come up with a plan to destroy us! They plan to kidnap and murder Optimus Prime and Elita-1! We must attack the Decepticons first before they can pull off this heinous act.
�While Ultra Magnus leads most of you to attack them at Charr, I myself will go to J�Asik to inform Optimus and Elita-1 of their danger, and bring them here for safety, or maybe even take them to battle to help!�
The Autobots were especially glad to hear this, they wanted to get their friend and commander back in action. Maybe this was the boost he needed to reinstate himself. All of the squads assigned to battle boarded shuttles, while the rest stayed to defend Cybertron if needed.
Rodimus Prime looked back at his troops as Ultra Magnus was boarding them. �Good luck!� he called over to them, and got on to his own ship.
Back on Earth, the Joes were planning for their sneak attack on Cobra�s secret base. They had their rest, and now they were suiting up. Each of them packed a laser handgun, laser rifle and other standard equipment. Flint packed the C4 and timer, Lady Jaye packed her signature spears and lock picking equipment, and Snake-Eyes brought his special ultra sharp sword.
Duke was in his own room, packing up his items. The last thing he put inside was a large Army knife. This weapon had his brother�s initials on it.
�Like I said at your funeral, Falcon: I promise that Cobra Commander will die with your knife. You will be avenged.�
At that moment, Scarlett walked in. �What are you doing?�
�Nothing,� Duke said, putting the knife into his bag. �Are you ready?�
�I guess so��
�What�s wrong?�
Scarlett shook her head. �It�s Joseph. What if one of us doesn�t come back, or both of us? Cobra�s already affected our lives with loss, I don�t know if I can go through that again.� Her eyes began to tear up.
�We won�t,� Duke said. �We will be okay, I promise. Joey is going to see his parents again, and it�s going to be just fine. But we have to do this: for him, and for the planet.�
�I love you, Conrad,� Scarlett said, looking into his eyes with tears streaming down her own face. �Please, please don�t get carried away. I don�t want to lose you like I thought I did before��
Duke sighed, the injury he had suffered seemed to sting at that moment. �I love you too, Shana; and you won�t lose me. I swear.�
He leaned in and kissed her. It felt like an eternity, and Duke remembered how much he had to live for. At that very moment, he swore to God that he would try his best to make it back alive.
J�Asik was just as barren as it had been when Rodimus Prime had fought Omnicron alongside Optimus and Elita-1. Actually, the idea of the previous battle was unsettling. If the two Autobot commanders had sought asylum here, it was a strange choice.
Rodimus flew close to the planet�s surface. He immediately noticed a generator, the same that had been destroyed by Optimus Prime in his final battle with the Cybertronian general Jhiaxus. As he flew on, he remembered how Elita-1 had fallen during the battle, and Optimus�s hurt following. The whole thing was like a nightmare; that was why he could not believe that the couple would find refuge here.
BOOM! The shuttle rocked violently, as if hit by a large blast. Rodimus looked at the status screen, and then out the cockpit window. The left wing was smoldering, and he couldn�t see if half of it was missing. He searched all over to see where the mysterious attack had come from. The ground was rushing up at him, and he hurried to the side door. Rodimus opened it, and as the surface neared he jumped and transformed. He hit the ground hard, but was able to break safely.
Transforming, he drew his photon rifle and scanned his surroundings. Suddenly he knew: it was a trap! That transmission was phony, he had been set up.
�Come on out, Galvatron!� he hollered. �I know you have me, but I�m not going to go down as easily as my ship! Bring it on, and bring your army with you!�
A laughing became audible; it was Galvatron. �Oh, Rodimus, I may be take advantage of my situations, but I�m not wholly dishonorable. My army is not here, it is just you and me.� He stepped forward from behind a rock.
�And me,� came another familiar voice. Rodimus Prime turned to see Megatron, healthy as ever.
�How were you repaired so easily? You were struck down!�
�Yes I was, Rodimus,� Megatron stated deviously. �But by whom? Don�t you realize what�s going on here?�
Rodimus was horrified as he grasped the truth. �What did you do to her?�
�The human, Cobra Commander, had a little bit of fun with her mind,� Galvatron said, laughing. �Optimus Prime is about to be executed by the love of his life.�
�But you don�t have to worry about seeing his dead body one more time,� Megatron said. �We�re going to turn you into scrap metal right now. The rest of your troops will follow, in time. They are walking into another onslaught on Charr: we�re waiting for them.�
Rodimus Prime was fuming. He had reached the breaking point. There was no way to contact anyone, to warn Optimus Prime or Ultra Magnus. Then suddenly, a look of ease came over his body. Rodimus relaxed, and knew that he would have to defeat the two Decepticon commanders himself. He knew he could do it.
�Well,� Rodimus Prime said with his cocky Hot Rod smile, �let�s get this over with.�
TO BE CONTINUED