Comics#21

Special Missions: Manhattan
Beach Head, Cover Girl, Low Light, Mercer and Tunnel Rat are called up from the reserve list in New York City. A group of terrorists have taken control of an old Cobra facility where a particular nasty toxin is being stored.
Tunnel Rat is guiding the team through the building toward where the terrorists are holding up. Mercer at one point is sent to clear a floor, where he is attacked by Neurotoxin. Neurotoxin is one of the last remaining Cobra leaders that can gather together enough Cobra forces to cause serious trouble. He knocks out Mercer and heads to where the terrorists are holding the virus he helped creates.
As the team approaches the terrorists, Tunnel Rat cuts the power to floor where they are holding up and Low Light takes them all out. But they are too late; Neurotoxin has already stolen the toxin from the terrorists. Mercer, after recovering, catches up to Neurotoxin holding him at gun point as the rest of the team catches up. Neurotoxin releases the toxin he is holding as a last ditch effort to take out several Joes.
Later in a containment room, the Joe team and Neurotoxin are waiting to die from the release of the toxin. Airtight and Stalker walk in and break the news to the team. Everything had been a set up. Airtight had released news of the toxin being still held at the old Cobra facility in order to flush out Neurotoxin. The toxin that was released was a fake. The GI Joe team had accomplished its mission of capturing a major Cobra agent, although unknown to them at the time.
Brother's Keeper
Silently, Thomas Stall, Blackout has just broken the neck of a man sitting towards the back of a large commercial airplane in international airspace. He then sneaks up behind another man; covering his victim's mouth he then kills him by inserting him with a deadly drug. Blackout then returns to his seat, wear he then drops some liquid drug in the man's drink who he is sitting next too. He dies also.
Dwight Stall, Barrel Roll, has just finished landing the same plane; he is currently working as a commercial airplane pilot. He receives a phone call from his brother Thomas, who was just killing the Cobra agents on the same flight. Blackout then proceeds to tell Dwight that he has just stopped a Cobra attack on his brother's airplane. He has now cleared a debt he owed his brother. Blackout finishes the conversation saying "next time we meet, it won't be as Dwight and Thomas Stall, and it'll be as Barrel Roll of GI Joe and Blackout of Cobra. See you around little brother."
P.E.T.S.
Shipwreck and the rest of the Joe team are about to be hypnotized by Crystal Ball. A just in time rescue happens by P.E.T.S. (Primal Emergency Tactical Squad). P.E.T.S is a collection of many of the GI Joe animal companions. This team includes Polly, Junkyard, Order, Max, Timber, Lamont, Freedom's Eagle, Deep-Six's Dolphin and Dusty's Coyote. They attack Crystal Ball but his defense is to call in B.E.A.ST.S. (Brute Enforcement and Slithery TerroristS). B.E.A.S.T.S. is Cobra's answer to P.E.T.S. and a battle between the groups of animal companions begins.
Watching TV Roadblock and Shipwreck are hearing Polly say "squalk ' take that loser ' squalk ' Yo Joe ' squalk ' Your going down ' squalk". Roadblock wonders what Polly dreams about. The whole rescue of Shipwreck by P.E.T.S. was dream by Polly.

Special Missions: Tokyo
Jinx returns to her home in Japan after a one year assignment. She discovers in her mail a package from estranged boyfriend Budo.
In a message, he explains that he broke up with her as a way of protecting her. He has discovered a secret society of samurai that are devoted to over throwing the current elected government. And he has been able to infiltrate himself into a very trusted position. He then explains some of the history of Tatenokai - The Shield Society and why they are going try and over throw the current government. This society is currently lead by Hayatu Toba, a follower of Yukio Mishima's, Mishima created the Tatenokai 40 years ago and is now deceased. Toba is a former parliamentarian that quit and started a weapons manufacturing company, when Japan re-established its armed forces. Toba's plants have been operating at maximum capacity but the sales have been unimpressive. Basically, producing more then it is selling by an alarming degree. Budo ends the message asking for help and that he needs it immediately.
Jinx sends the information to Sparks and General Colton over at The Rock. Since the information is out of date, Colton and Sparks become suspicious about what Budo has gotten himself involved in. Colton chooses to support Jinx in finding Budo. So they gather together the only Joe reserves that are in the area, Clutch, Rock 'n' Roll, Gung-Ho and Wild Bill, not the best options for infiltrating a Japanese organization.
Wild Bill and Gung-Ho dressed in Armani show up at a scheduled meeting with Toba. Toba has no intention of continuing the meeting but Wild Bill with his big Texas personality keeps the meeting going until Clutch and Rock 'n' Roll show up as competitors for Toba's business. The four Joes immediately get in an argument that is threatening to turn into a full fledged brawl and security is called. Basically, the fight is a diversion so Jinx can sneak into the building, which she does successfully.
Jinx takes out a couple of security guards and makes her way to the main holding area, where she discovers Toba's army of soldiers, tanks, helicopters and artillery.
Budo discovers her and Jinx immediately hugs him and he doesn't return the hug. As she explains what she is about to do, Budo hits her on the back of her head, knocking her out.
Later, all the Joes along with Budo and Toba are in a room with Jinx tied to a chair. Toba proceeds to ramble on about Bushido and the way of the samurai. And that Jinx's discovery of the army has pushed the time table of the coup up, and his army is now currently making it first appearance in the streets of Japan. He then goes on to talk about how he started, funded and organized his army with the help of a representative of MARS, Destro's company. Armada steps into the room. Toba immediately realizes that he has been doing business with a non-Japanese company and orders the recall of all his forces. In return Armada shots and kills Toba. All of sudden Budo has disappeared and the lights are out. The Joes start fighting the Iron Grenadiers that showed up to support Armada. Armada is knocked down by one of Toba's supporters, and the Joe take off of to stop the army.
Out in the streets, Toba's army has started its attack, but the news of Toba's death is sent around the army and a fight between soldiers starts. Budo during his time undercover has been able to convert many of the soldiers to his way of thinking. And as Budo shows up, dressed in his Samurai uniform, takes control of the entire army and stops the military coup. Jinx also reveals that Budo, let her in on the secret plan, before he knocked her out.
At the end, the four Joes head off laughing leaving Budo and Jinx to restart their romance.
Juliet
The Joe team received a report from Storm Shadow that Major Bludd had killed a Joe. Sparks was put in charge of discovering if this claim was true, several of the members were slow in responding. But all were discovered alive but one. Recondo.
Sparks and Recondo had become great friends through their love of reading. They spent a lot of time reading together and then talking about those books. Sparks felt it was his responsibility to discover if Major Bludd's claim was true.
In Sierra Gordo, at a Tucaros village, Sparks has begun his investigation. The Tucaros have a long history of helping the Joe team and Recondo has become an adoptive member of the clan. So it is a natural place to begin.
One of the village elders explains what happen to Recondo. Major Bludd had come to the village; once Recondo discovered Major Bludd was there a fight erupted between the two. Part of the village was destroyed and after a long fight it came down to a knife fight near the edge of a tall waterfall. Using his bionic hand, Major Bludd got in a face breaking punch that nearly knocked out Recondo. As Recondo's back was turned Bludd plunged the knife into his back and kicked him off the cliff into the water pool below. Bludd remained in the village for sometime, preventing the Tucaros from helping Recondo in time to save his life. They buried him in a cave near the waterfall. Major Bludd had claimed the life of another Joe.
Sparks reports back to The Rock and General Colton on his discovery that Major Bludd's claim is true. Colton understanding Sparks friendship with Recondo, reassures him that the Joe team will catch Major Bludd and leaves Sparks to his own at his computer console.
Just as Sparks is about to leave, he receives a message.
Sparks -Sorry to leave you in the dark. No chance to brief Tucaros about you. They hated lying, but knew this ruse was vital: if Bludd/Cobra think me dead, they may slip up. When they do, I'll be there. Mark me deceased in the data desk, and keep this between us. Consider me GI Joe's secret weapon.
Be well, Alex- - R
Ps January 31. Providence. Waterfront Patio. Juliet's potion. I'll prove you wrong.
This message is welcome news to Sparks, because it proves that Recondo did survive the fight. And the post script confirms that his friend is alive by referencing a previous trip they had taken together and book they had discussed. So Sparks marks him as deceased in the data desk, even though he knows his friend is alive.

Special Missions: Antarctica
A freighter near Australia is captured and inside it they discover lots of illegal oil. This oil is then linked to a refinery in Antarctica. Antarctica is protected by the Madrid Protocol which bans any kind of mining on the continent.
Cobra has discovered a huge oil reserve under Antarctica and has begun mining it, very illegally. General Colton and Sparks assemble a team to attack the refinery. They send Duke, Stalker, Snake-Eyes and Scarlett to meet up with Frostbite, Iceberg and Snow Job.
Using the Snowcat and Polar Bear, the team just beats a blizzard as they approach the refinery. Inside the refinery, Tomax is talking to his brother Xamot, but the table is empty and Xamot is not in the room. Tomax addresses the troops and encourages them Cobra style to improve their performance. The Joes see the address and make a plan. Duke, Stalker, Scarlett, Iceberg and Frostbite will destroy the refinery and create a distraction; Snake-Eyes and Snow Job are sent to capture Tomax and Xamot.
Snake-Eyes and Snow Job disguise themselves as Crimson Guardsmen, and proceed to sneak into the room where Tomax is eating. Tomax and Xamot are standing there as Snake-Eyes lets loose with his Uzi, spraying them with bullets, but they are a hologram. Tomax, alone with no Xamot in sight, has just escaped on a CLAW, but Snake-Eyes and Snow Job are able to grab onto the CLAW as it flies, actually causing it to crash.
Outside, the rest of the Joes have done a good job of destroying most of the refinery, Iceberg is injured and knocked out as he set a major charge on the main drilling rigs. In order to protect him, the Joes surround him and set up a defense, as the Cobra Snow Serpents close in.
Tomax escapes in one of two Earth drilling machines, as a distraction Tomax displays on the screen, the battle happening outside with the trapped Joes. Snake-Eyes and Snow Job have a choice; chase after the Tomax or go save the trapped Joes. So they jump in the second Earth drilling machine and come up under the attacking Cobras, which clears the way for the team to evacuate Iceberg and blowup the drilling rigs. Support arrives and the entire refinery is disabled and a couple hundred Cobras are arrested. As the wrap up continues the team is sent a message that a Cobra cell has been discovered in Hawaii and their support is needed.
Tactical Benefit
Using a SHARC, Wet Suit and Torpedo are dropped off underwater to help support a US Navy SEAL team that is attacking a facility that has Cobra operatives stationed at it. The first Cobras they run into are unarmed Medi-Vipers, some Cobra Officers arrive and a gun fight starts. Eventually, the Officers are killed.
Scalpel, the Chief medical officer in the Cobra ranks, arrives and opens up on the SEALs. Torpedo and Wet Suit come at him from behind and after a fierce battle they are able to subdue him.
An inspection of this Cobra medical facility begins where all kinds of discoveries are made.
On an aircraft carrier off the coast, the Joe team that was just fighting in Antarctica has arrived, even though the battle is over. Duke is given a report and he passes it on to General Colton. Wet Suit and Torpedo were able to capture Scalpel, Overkill, Monkeywrench, Dr. Biggles-Jones, the Paine Brothers and the most important captive is a comatose Xamot. (see DD #43) All are to be brought back to The Rock.

Special Missions: Brazil
Rio Negro Amazonaz, Brazil. Then.
Claymore, Dial-Tone, Mainframe, Wet Suit and Leatherneck are on an observation mission but don't have the intention of keeping it just observational. Mainframe is stationed across the river from the factory warehouse that is their target. Dial-Tone and Claymore are taking cover right at the main entrance and Wet Suit and Leatherneck are below the dock that is next to warehouse. Wet Suit has placed C-4 explosives on the columns of the dock.
A boat arrives with a businessman named Mr. Asikainen and two bodyguards. He exits the boat and enters the warehouse. Inside waiting is Headman (see Marvel #124); he is the leader of the Headhunters, a gang of drug dealers that are buying with cash vital information on the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) operations in Brazil.
The Joes decide to make an advance on the meeting. Just as they start additional Headhunters show up to causing the Joes to back off and try to sneak away. But a Headhunter spots Claymore and attacks. Claymore is unsuccessful taking him out silently and his mistake gives away the Joes presence. Mr. Asikainen takes off to get in the boat with the cash and never gives Headman the information.
Below, Wet Suit decides to blow the explosives even though he and Leatherneck aren't clear. When the dock blows up Claymore and Dial-Tone are able to escape into the river and swim to the other side to meet up with Mainframe. Wet Suit is trapped under the rubble and Leatherneck frees him just as the remaining Headhunters discover them and attack. But they quickly escape. The mission is a success in that they stopped the transaction but they all feel like they failed because Headman and Mr. Asikainen got away.
The Rock, GI Joe Headquarters. Now.
Sparks receives a video message from Mainframe. Mainframe died in the second Cobra Island Civil War (see Devil's Due GI Joe #25). Sparks, very surprised, listens as Mainframe informs whoever is listening about the mission they were on in Brazil that although listed as accomplished, wasn't completed. He had set up contingencies that would notify the team members if the situation ever heated up again. General Colton arrives to help figure out what to do. But since the Brazil team has already mobilized and is doing an unauthorized incursion. Colton decides to leave them on their own. Sparks does inform Colton that Cover Girl and Shipwreck are also in Brazil but on vacation.
In Brazil, Claymore, Leatherneck, Wet Suit and Dial-Tone have gather to plan their mission when a grown up Firewall, dressed in similar uniform to Mainframe, shows up to help support them in same way Mainframe, her mentor, did on the previous mission many years ago.
And she was able to track the source of Mainframe's contingencies; they head to small computer repair store on the outskirts of town. When they enter they are introduced to Rashid (see GI Joe Marvel #58) who is a computer expert and another grown kid Mainframe was amentor to. Rashid had been keeping tabs on Mr. Asikainen and Headman all of these years. He then gives them the location of the new meeting.
At a different warehouse, Headman is making the exchange happen quickly, Mr. Asikainen takes his cash and gives Headman some new secret information. Leatherneck, Firewall and Dial-Tone have been watching form up in the rafters of the building, as Wet Suit and Claymore are outside. Mr. Asikainen then speeds away as Headman orders his Headhunters to fire on the Joes in rafters. Headman has known about the Joes and has just used this meeting as trap for the Joe team. Leatherneck saves Firewall as they all return gun fire. Headman's Headhunters are quickly taken out and his backup fails to appear when he calls for them. He makes a run for it but Claymore is there to stop him. Wet Suit was able to capture Mr. Asikainen. All are taken in custody.
The Joe team goes to head home and Wet Suit says "Mainframe may not have lived to see this... but even from his grave, he made sure we could. Mission Accomplished, buddy. Mission Accomplished"
Prelude to A Kiss
Currently in Rio de Janeiro, Shipwreck is hold down a Cobra Viper as they watch his girlfriend Cover Girl beat up several Vipers in order to gain information about a hostage they are holding.
In Flashback: The Maiden Voyage (after the battle for the new Cobra Island, Marvel #41)
Shipwreck, Roadblock and Barbecue are returning from battle as Spirit and Cover Girl organize The Pit. Shipwreck walks right up to Cover Girl and asks her out, she straight refuses and returns with an insult. Shipwreck goes into full blown dramatics about how she just sunk his battleship. Roadblock and Barbecue carry him away in a fake full blown cry. Cover Girl watches him go as she hides a nervous very amused smile.
Out on a Cobra Hydrofoil, Cover Girl disguised as a Cobra Lamprey and Shipwreck disguised as an Eel are beating up several Eels and Lampreys. They capture the leader and Cover Girl begins to interrogate him, again asking where the hostage is located. Cover Girl is very pissed that Shipwreck took her on vacation to Rio and then told her about the Cobra kidnapping. She is taking out her anger for Shipwreck on the Cobras.
In Flashback: Laying the Keel (after the battle of Springfield, Marvel #51)
Cover Girl is repairing her Wolverine tank. Shipwreck approaches and offers to help instead of going out on his R & R leave. She accepts the help but tells him straight up that his helping her won't get him a date. His response is "Going out with you would be pure torture". Then they proceed to fix her tank.
In Flashback: Dry-docked (just before the last scene of the last issue, Marvel #155)
The Joe team has been disbanded and the team members are all going their separate ways. Shipwreck again approaches Cover Girl asking her what she is going to be doing. She says some recruiting for Uncle Sam and he asks if he can get a goodbye kiss. She says in response "Nice try salty dog... Tell you what... If you ever manage to beat me in one of our poker games... then and only then will I kiss you." He agrees and they hug a good bye hug.
In Flashback: X marks the spot (sometime during Devil's Due Volume 2)
Shipwreck, Cover Girl, Spirit and Clutch are playing poker and Cover Girl has just lost to the much improved Shipwreck. When Spirit reminds them about the bet they made so many years ago. Cover Girl agrees and goes to kiss Shipwreck but he turns away at the last moment. Shipwreck gets up and leaves the table saying "This isn't how it's gonna happen. When we finally kiss, it'll be because you want to kiss me". Clutch then tries to get the kiss that was supposed to go to Shipwreck
Cover Girl and Shipwreck have just rescued the hostage, a Senator Prahl from Cobra. They saved the day, but Cover Girl is still pissed that they spent their vacation leave fighting Cobra. With all his charm Shipwreck points out that it was a heck of a better time then just sitting on the beach. Cover Girl smiles and agrees. Then they say I love you and walk off. But Cover Girl gets in the last parting shot, "Now you get to make all of this up to me... where going shopping in Rio." Shipwreck says "AAAAARRRRGH, where are the Cobras when you really need them."
In Flashback: Hoisting the Sails (just before Devil's Due America's Elite #1)
The much smaller Joe team has been cut down to 8 members, Shipwreck is still part of the team, and Cover Girl isn't. They have just come from a very funny play in Times Square, New York City, that Cover Girl invited Shipwreck too. As they walk Cover Girl stops him and dips him as they kiss (reminiscent of the very famous kiss of the sailor and the nurse celebrating V - J Day in 1945 in Times Square, only in reverse). They walk off a new happy funny couple.

Special Missions: The Enemy Two concurring stories:-- Grunt's father dies when he is in high school. Grunt is very poor and his father was a good man. Grunt gives a very appreciative memorial sermon. Later, Grunt's mother tells him that he will have to forgo college because it is too expensive and that he will need to find a job. He understands, gives up a high school football career and gets a job at a construction site.-- Viper's father also dies. But he comes from a very rich family and never liked his father. The Viper stands at the memorial service drunk and talks bad about his father. Later at the reading of the will by his father's Attorney everything is given to his step mother and Viper gets a simple admonition "be a better man than I was."
-- Grunt's mother encourages her son to "be your own man, live your own life and follow your owns dreams." The next day at the construction site Grunt meets James a one armed war veteran.-- Viper sneaks into his parent's house to rob his step mother of his father's money, he sets off an alarm, is caught by the police, put in prison and sentenced to two years.
-- Grunt talks to James about signing up for the Army as a way to go to college. James says "No one should join the military for the money. Do it out of sense of duty and to protect this great nation of ours and I promise you it will be the best decision you'll ever make."-- In jail, Viper is approached by an old man saying "Interested in making some real money? I ain't talking about shakedowns and con games, I'm talkin' about getting' rich. And it is in a little town called Springfield."
-- At Fort Benning, Grunt is going through training, he helps an over weight recruit through the obstacle course.-- Viper, being trained by Vance Wingfield himself, fights hard and to avoid being last beats up a fellow recruit.
-- As Grunt meets Stalker at his formal introduction to the Joe team, Stalker references the essay that caught Hawk's attention (see GI Joe Declassified #2).-- Viper is listening to Cobra Commander in his traditional hood give his first speech to his first foot soldiers of his new army. They all respond "Cobra".
-- Cobra Island #1, (see Marvel #1) The Joe team is invading to rescue Dr. Adel Burkhart. Stalker along with Short Fuze and Grunt are tasked with controlling the airfield.-- At the airfield on Cobra Island #1, Viper is standing guard when he spots the Joes and raises the alarm.
The Viper and several of his soldiers attack the Joes, Grunt and Stalker shoot down his fellow soldiers and the Viper turns and runs away just avoiding getting killed by Short Fuze.
-- Back at the The Pit, Stalker congratulates Grunt on a mission accomplished.-- Viper avoids joining in on a card game and is very rude to his fellow soldiers.
-- At the Battle of Springfield (see Marvel #50), Grunt and Snow Job are advancing on a Cobra building. Grunt knocks Snow Job to the ground to save him and is shoot in the chest. The bulletproof vest he is wearing saves him from serious injury.-- In another part of Springfield, Bazooka, Shipwreck, Flint and Lady Jaye have discovered Viper and his team. He orders his team to charge the Joes saying "We fight for Cobra Commander and our glorious mission." As the team charges and dies Viper escapes.
-- Grunt is retiring from active service on the GI Joe team to finally go to college at Georgia Tech and to get an engineering degree. Hawk and Duke wish him a fond farewell. At Georgia Tech, Grunt meets Lola (See Marvel #56).-- Viper, passed out drunk, is woken up and kicked out of Cobra by Zartan and his Dreadnoks for being a disgrace.
-- In his office, Grunt receives a phone call that his wife Lola is in premature labor. After a successful surgery on Lola and an extended stay in the hospital Grunt's daughter and wife are home safe and healthy.-- Viper is sitting home drunk watching TV as his girlfriend yells at him for being a fat drunk loser slob. He yells back at her "Get out of my face, you cow. Get to work and bring home some dinner" as she leaves.
-- At the GI Joe reinstatement (see DD #1-4), Grunt has volunteer to rejoin the team even though he is now a family man. His reasoning is that it is his way of protecting his little girl.-- At a reenlistment celebration, Viper is accepted back into Cobra by Tomax & Xamot. They say "The past is the past. Let him in. Besides, we need bodies and he can catch a bullet as well as anyone else."
During the Cobra Island #3 invasion, (see DD #22-25) Overlord orders his troops which includes Viper to advance on the Joe position, which Grunt is a part off. Grunt is separated from the rest of his team. Viper then gets the jump on him, knocking away his gun and pinning him to the ground. Before executing Grunt, Viper asks Grunt o beg for his life. Grunt gives him a kick and several punches that knock out Viper and says "You Cobra's never could take a punch."
-- Outside a high school, Grunt has just dropped off his teenage daughter. When Jimmy Wilcox approaches him and asks "My family's not rich and I was thinking of joining the Army." Grunt response is "No one should join the military for the money. Do it out of sense of duty and to protect this great nation of ours and you will achieve things you never thought possible. It was the best decision I ever made."-- In jail, Viper is approached by several young men and he begins to recruit them "I ain't talking about shakedowns and con games, I'm talkin' about getting' rich, having some real power in this world. Join up and all that will be yours. Become a member of Cobra and you can live the life you've only dreamed about, I did. It was the best decision I ever made."
The Grading Curve (A Prologue to World War III)(This story takes place before the events of America's Elite #18)
At a Lincoln, Nebraska hospital several attendees are talking when an explosion goes off killing most of them, in rushes a variety of Cobra Soldiers lead by Blackout. He divides the 7 member team and assigns a Cobra Eel to lead the other half.
As they make their way to the objective they indiscriminately kill everyone, man, woman and child. Blackout's team reaches the objective first. The objective is a baby, specifically the Baroness and Destro's baby. One of the team members, Sky Creeper completely questions the mission, the orders and Cobra Commander himself. Blackout moves the team away from the hospital.
On the plane ride home, another member of the team Rip It also questions the mission. Blackout and the Eel take swift action and eliminate them.
Back at the Cobra base, Cobra Commander is being debriefed by Blackout and the Cobra Eel. They had accomplished both their missions successfully; one to locate and capture the baby and the second was to evaluate the team. The following is Blackout's report on the team.
Candidate#1 Munitia - A former H.I.S.S. tank operator turned Cobra bounty hunter. With deadly precision, swiftness and no inhibitions she executed many of the civilians and perform as expected.
Candidate #2 Sky Creeper - An international thief and expect glider pilot has excellent awareness of trajectory but doesn't seem to have the killer instinct that is needed for the team, a capable operative but with a conscience.
Candidate #3 Interrogator - An excellent interrogator, his abilities in the area of information extraction are unparalleled. When given the opportunity to commit violence he becomes very violent. And is someone not to turn your back on.
Candidate #4 Rip It -- Had the highest kill count of any other H.I.S.S. Commander other then Munitia. Has a highly destructive and short temper but has many hesitations after his destructive nature subsides.
Candidate #5 Aleph - A former commander of the Night Creepers, who was excommunicated due to undisclosed trespasses. He is extremely talkative, self centered, very deadly and as long as paid well his loyalty will be without question.
The Commander is pleased with Blackout and the Eel's report and how the handled Sky Creeper and Rip It. By now adding these three new team members plus the continued recruitment of Lt. Nick Bailey, this makes the team a total of 13 specialists from numerous Viper ranks and the he is ready to move into the next stage of operations. On the spot, Cobra Commander promotes the Eel and gives him a new codename: Guillotine.