Comics#26

A ray of light breaks through a dark, cavernous, chamber, illuminating the battered, robotic shapes within. A hatchway is being torched the side of the cavern. It crashes to the floor with a bang, and in steps a familiar hooded figure followed by a squad of blue-clad soldiers.
Looking about at his surroundings, Cobra Commander has but one word to describe the scene: "Brilliant."
Soon, he is joined by the Baroness, and they agree that their Scottish arms trafficker "was right." Clearly, they've been led to this place by an outside source. The Baroness points out the strange symbols on each robot; the Commander speculates they may be part of a language, or symbols of their allegiance. He says the craft they are in must have crashed millions of years ago, and perhaps there is some trace of the creatures that piloted the robots.
Suddenly, one of the robots speaks! "I� still� function�." it drones. The Commander decrees that every nut and bolt of the aliens be brought to Cobra's facility, and that the cavern be sealed, and no trace of the ship's existence is to remain.
Elsewhere, an army truck carries a squad of soldiers toward a UN summit, where they are to provide security. Sgt. Lonzo Wilkinson asks Col. Clayton Abernathy what the colonel thinks is really going on, but the colonel answers correctly: When the president asks you to do something, you don't question orders. Wilkinson just thinks it's funny that these peace talks always require such brute force to keep things running smoothly. Snake-Eyes chuckles as well, but his lips remain sealed.
Naturally, things don't go smoothly at all! While at first it appears a gaggle of protesters are the only security risk, the area is soon under armored assault! Three high-speed sentry tanks - two black, one red - bearing Cobra sigils and firing some type of laser bear down on the security squad. Col. Abernathy orders Snake-Eyes to lead the counter-assault while he clears the civilians from the area.
It soon becomes clear the tanks aren't the only concern. A modified SR-71 leads two modified A-10s into the fight, but they're trailed closely by a squadron of American fighters, with Ace in the lead jet. Wild Weasel, in one of the A-10s, tells Cobra Commander the alien technology is performing above expectations, but he doesn't know if they can withstand the firepower of the American fighters. The Commander - in the Blackbird's drone ship - tells Wild Weasel what to do, but he is admonished, seemingly, by the pistol strapped to his leg. The weapon says the Commander is unleashing a power he cannot hope to contain�
Ace trails an A-10, but the tank-smasher suddenly inclines on a 90-degree angle and flies straight up and away from Ace! Before he can get his bearings, the craft re-appears - only this time in the form of a giant robot! Ace manages to eject moments before the robot destroys his fighter.
More and more strange vehicles appear on the ground, and the Baroness leads the column straight ahead to the UN summit. Once she has the Cobra forces in place, she contacts Cobra Commander, who tells to activate the Battle Android Troopers.
She does so, and the three sentry tanks transform into giant robots, followed soon after by the Blackbird! The gun at the Commander's side identifies this robot as Starscream, saying the one the Commander has chosen to fly is the one most likely to stab him in the back. The Commander ignores the voice and order the attack on the summit to commence!
Finally, some reinforcements arrive, and Snake-Eyes hooks up with a column of modified SA-13 mobile missile launchers. They move to take out the largest robot - the red sentry - as it seems to be having difficulties. In fact, a tele-viper tells Cobra Commander, none of the robots are responding as expected, but HISS-14 is the worst of the lot. The Commander tells the Baroness to move the attack forward while he looks after the robots.
The missile launchers close in, but before they can unleash their barrage, Starscream turns and unleashes his laser on them. Snake-Eyes is seriously wounded - he's alive but his face has been hideously burned.
Later, news reports show the robots transforming and attacking, and leaving as suddenly as they came, but not without identifying themselves - with the word "COBRA" burned into the rubble.
General Flagg debriefs Col. Abernathy and introduces him to Officer Dashielle Faireborne and Sgt. Alison Burnett. Flagg explains that the four of them are going to form a task force - codename: G.I. Joe - to deal with this Cobra/robot threat.
Col. Abernathy points it will be difficult to fight an enemy they don't understand, but Sgt. Burnett explains she's been investigating Cobra for over a year, and will provide the colonel with whatever information he needs. Officer Faireborne, meanwhile, is a tactical strategist with expertise in large-scale operations, and already has ideas of how to deal with the robots.
Abernathy assumes he'll be just another member of the task force, but Flagg straightens him out: "You're not just going to be a key member of G.I. Joe," he says, "you're going to lead it." .

On Cobra Island, Cobra Commander and his side arm, Megatron, are having a conversation. Cobra Commander has been able to trap Megatron in the gun form, and is using him to gain information about the Transformers. The energy the Transformers run on, Energon has to be obtained in order to mount a full scale attack, which Cobra Commander is hoping for. Dr. Mindbender is hacking into Optimus Prime's brain and connects it into the network. Optimus Prime is able to access the network before they shut him down.
As the Joe team members are assembled, Snake-Eyes with his destroyed face, dead family and a ninja skill is also included in the team. Snake-Eyes proceeds to whip Roadblock and Quick Kick's butt in a mock fight. Gen. Flagg, Hawk, Duke, Flint and Lady Jaye enter the room to introduce Mercer. A former Cobra Viper that was with Cobra Commander when he discovered the ark that contained all of the Transformers. And he has shown the US government where that ship was hidden.
At the NSA headquarters, Mainframe is given a note about some serious internet activity.
Wheeljack and Bumblebee are in there traditional automobile designs and hiding amongst the car population. They are aware of the Cobra attacks on the different chemical plants, and figure out that Cobra is trying to make Energon.
Destro makes his entrance on Cobra Island, and his company MARS has been one of the main financial contributors to Cobra, and has come to view the Transformers. Dr. Mindbender introduces him to Soundwave.

Having arrived on Cobra Island, Destro surveys Cobra's current work on the giant transforming robots, including Soundwave and his cassettes, and Mindbender's newest development - dozens of suits of SNAKE armor, which Soundwave will be able to control.
Destro tells Cobra Commander he wants to lead the next attack personally, using Soundwave. The Commander reluctantly agrees.
At G.I. Joe Command Center, Flint flirts with Lady Jaye, making them late for a briefing. Stalker briefs the Joes on Cobra's next attack - thanks to their turncoat, Mercer, the Joes know that Cobra plans to take control of the USSPS - a top secret satellite project that can harness solar energy - more than enough to power Cobra's transformers. It's time the Joes to mount an ambush.
Later, Destro, inside a control unit on Soundwave's shoulders, leads Firefly and Zartan (inside Trouble Bubbles), along with Sunstreaker and Sideswipe (who transform into Stinger jeeps) to the SPS facility. He launches his Battle Android Troopers - Rumble, Frenzy, Ravage, Ratbat and Laserbeak - while Zartan and Firefly activate their Bubbles' "alien holo-cloak technology, making them invisible.
Before the attack can begin, however, Frenzy is gunned down! Down below at the SPS facility, Flash and Sci-Fi marvel at the effectiveness of their new laser weapons, while Rock 'n' Roll, Roadblock and Bazooka open fire with conventional weapons, taking out Ratbat.
Destro orders Sideswipe and Sunstreaker to transform to jeep mode and attack the main entrance, and tells Rumble to take care of the laser-rifled Joes. Rumble transforms his arms into pile-driver mode, shaking the buildings and taking Sci-Fi and Flash out of the fight. Laserbeak, meanwhile, has flown inside and takes out Clutch and Gung-Ho, but Snake-Eyes leaps out of the darkness with his sword, severing the robot condor's head!
The victory is short-lived, though, because the jeeps are bearing down on the building, loaded for bear! But, as Sunstreaker and Sideswipe approach the entrance, race car appear out of nowhere, knocking them off course!
Meanwhile, as Rumble moves in on Flash and Sci-Fi, another yellow robot, identifying itself as Bumblebee, appears - and takes out Rumble.
Back inside, in the bowels of the facility, Quick-Kick, Mutt and Junkyard guard the SPS control module. Suddenly Junkyard goes berserk, but before Quick-Kick and Mutt can figure out why, they're knocked out cold by an invisible foe. Zartan materializes and moves to secure the module, while Firefly sets charges up to create a distraction.
Outside, Bumblebee explains to Flash and Sci-Fi that he's there to help, and that he needs their help as well. But Cover Girl, being a little overanxious, fires a missile at him! He manages to deflect it towards Rumble, and Sci-Fi gets Cover Girl to stand down so they can figure just what the heck is going on.
Back inside, Quick-Kick and Mutt recover and begin to go after their invisible assailant, but are soon cut off by Ravage! With the module secured by Zartan, Destro orders the Cobra forces to retreat, but not before Ravage inflicts a savage beating on Quick-Kick and Mutt.
Before the duo can get themselves to the infirmary, however, Firefly's charges go off, severely injuring both of them. Everyone manages to escape, and though the control module is lost, at least everyone is alive - and the Joes seem to have some unexpected help.
Stalker advises Hawk that Bumblebee and Wheeljack seem to be on their side, and that they should show them "the image" - a photo of Soundwave that was mysteriously leaked to the press, along with some strange code.
Wheeljack immediately recognizes the image is from Optimus Prime, and the code is Cybertronian. He says Prime's system must have sent it out as a distress call - and it has the co-ordinates to his location, as well as access to the network that's controlling the transformers.
Wheeljack hacks into the system, and soon, on Cobra Island, a shocked Mindbender is confronted by a suddenly very angry group of Constructicons, while Cobra Commander finds himself staring down a rather upset Optimus Prime!

Mainframe and Wheeljack explain to Duke, Hawk and Stalker how Optimus Prime's internal defense systems were able to briefly take over the Cobra network for a moment and send out his message with the co-ordinates of Cobra Island. Stalker asks: "So what do we do next?" The answer, of course, is to invade the Island.
On Cobra Island, the Transformers are all beginning to come into their right minds thanks to the code Wheeljack sent to the network last issue. The Constructicons face off with Mindbender, Soundwave sends Ravage and Rumble after Destro, Firefly and Zartan, and Optimus Prime confronts Cobra Commander.
The Commander tries to hold Prime off by using Megatron, but Megatron exerts his will and refuses to fire on Optimus - unless Cobra Commander frees him. Seeing he has no choice, the Commander activates a signal on his belt, freeing Megatron, who transforms - and decks Optimus! "After five million years," he says, "that felt good!"
Around the building, more and more Transformers awake, including all three components of Reflector, as well as Ironhide, Mirage, Jazz and Ratchet, and Thundercracker - who transforms with Major Bludd still inside him! The Autobots set off in search of Optimus Prime.
Meanwhile, Hawk and Flint oversee the preparations for the Joes' attack on Cobra Island when they're approached by two generals, Renegar and Horn. They order Hawk to turn Wheeljack and Bumblebee over to them for examination and disassembly at Area 51. They intend to reverse-engineer them, use their technology to their own advantage - and destroy the rest with a nuclear strike on Cobra Island!
Hawk reluctantly activates a magnetic pulse that disables the two Autobots, and tells the Joes to stand down while the military executes its nuclear strike on the Island. Barely functional, Wheeljack warns Hawk that if Cobra has energon - the Transformers' fuel source - on the island, the reaction of it and a nuclear warhead will send half the planet into nuclear winter!
Back at the Island, Megatron and Prime's fight carries them outside the Cobra compound, where Megatron gets the upper hand, thanks to Soundwave, who has arrived on the scene. Megatron tells Soundwave to find Reflector and activate the SPS satellite's microwave energy retrieval system, and create their unlimited supply of energon!
Scheming Starscream, of course, has other plans. He pops up out the blue, attacking Megatron. As always, however, he's underestimated Megatron's strength - the Decepticon leader quickly recovers and blasts his traitorous lieutenant.
But the distraction was just enough time for Prime to recover - and for the Autobots to arrive!
Nearby, Cobra Commander hopes to make his escape in a Moray Hydrofoil, and attempt to deal with the mess from a less volatile location. But Gears and Brawn - the Trouble Bubbles - are in his way! They take out the Hydrofoils, but before they can capture the Commander, Storm Shadow arrives - in SNAKE armor! He fights the two Autobots to a standstill, while the Commander gets away.
Not far away, another SNAKE suit takes out Rumble, saving Destro and Zartan. It's the Baroness, and she's brought SNAKE armour for Destro and Zartan as well.
Inside, the Constructicons toy with Mindbender, until Soundwave arrives, telling them the doctor is needed for the satellite control. Soundwave begins to make energon cubes to be filled with energy from the satellite...
At the Pentagon, generals Renegar and Horn report in. General Frankel is livid as he tells them G.I. Joe has broken rank and is heading towards Cobra Island right now!
Inside a cargo plane heading for the Island, Duke explains to Wild Bill that they're doing the right thing - and that he'll take as much of the blame as he can. Wild Bill tells Hawk he doesn't have to justify it to him or the other Joes - because even though what they're doing is against orders, some things are worth fighting for.

The G.I. Joe invasion force approaches Cobra Island by air, but what they see on their approach isn't what the expect - Cobra forces apparently fleeing some sort of combat on the island!
The Joe Blue Group lands, deploying AWE Strikers, Brawlers, a Wolverine, and of course, Wheeljack and Bumblebee. Meanwhile the Joe Red Group deploys via hang glider...
Hawk leads the assault team up the beach, taking out gun emplacements as they go. Before long, though, they run straight into a giant robot melee - Thundercracker and Skywarp, tussling with Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, and Cliffjumper.
Back in Washington, the President gives the final confirmation to launch the nuclear strike on the island.
Meanwhile Megatron and Soundwave activate the SPS Satellite, and a brilliant light emerges from the centre of Cobra Island. The device works - it begins filling the Energon cubes with enough energy to power an army of Decepticons!
Outside, the battle rages. The Constructicons merge into Devastator, and blast Hound; Bumblebee and Wheeljack try to tackle him. Elsewhere Snake-Eyes comes face to face with Starscream, who thinks he can capture the commando. Snake-Eyes has different plans, though, and attacks the Decepticon! He slashes the robot across the left eye with his sword, and then aggravates the wound by punching it! Starscream loses his balance and topples over a waterfall. Finally, Storm Shadow, still in his SNAKE armor, manages to take our Trailbreaker while Cobra Commander escapes.
Not far away, Optimus Prime, still not fully recovered from his fight with Megatron and Soundwave last issue, struggles to his feet. He knows Megatron must be stopped. He transforms and crashes through into the Cobra stronghold, where he threatens to blow them all sky-high by shooting the Energon cubes. Soundwave and Ravage attack, followed by Reflector, and although Prime easily defeats them all, Megatron manages to escape.
Meanwhile, Hawk receives the word from General Flagg about the incoming nuke. He tells the Autobots and Joes they must do everything the can to get rid of the Energon before the nuke hits, but even if they manage that, there's no way any of them will escape the blast...

Four ICBMs reach for the sky, their final target: Cobra Island.
On the Island, Hawk tells Wheeljack they've got about five minutes before the nukes hit - and react with the energon, destroying the world.
Wheeljack has an idea, though - together, he and Wheeljack might be able to take control of the SPS satellite and shoot the missiles down.
When Wheeljack, Mainframe, Bumblebee and Sci-Fi reach the control centre, they find it deserted, except for a cowering Mindbender. Wheeljack coerces the good doctor into helping them, but before they get far, an outer wall explodes!
Storm-Shadow and Firefly have returned, and they open fire on the Joes. Bumblebee counter-attacks with Sci-Fi and Cover Girl, leaving Mainframe and Mindbender to finish their task...
And they succeed! They reposition the SPS and destroy the incoming nukes mid-flight.
But the control panel was damaged in the fight, and it's now firing randomly around the island! Caught in the beams, Transformers start dropping like flies.
Nearby, Cobra Commander sees this and realizes he must get away, and soon. He comes across Starscream lying near the river, and Starscream realizes they can help each other out - he needs fuel, and the Commander needs a ride...
Megatron also tries to make good his escape, but he finds a squad of Joes in his path. He attacks with his energy axe, killing Mercer before an SPS beam finds his arm, destroying his hand. The Joes pour it on, but it's not enough - until Prime arrives on the scene!
Megatron makes the first move, but Prime is back up to full strength, and he easily dispatches Megatron, robbing him of his fusion cannon in the process.
Prime then contacts Mainframe, and tells him he can shoot the SPS out of the sky, if Mainframe can give him the co-ordinates. Mainframe and Sci-Fi do so, and, using the fusion cannon, he destroys the SPS. He then clubs Megatron with his own cannon, ending the fight for good.
10 weeks later, Prime thanks Hawk for his assistance in the construction of a new Ark, which will take them back to Cybertron. Hawk says there's no need to thank him, especially since they got something out of the deal too - new battle suits, based on Cybertronian technology. Prime boards his new ship and the Autobots leave earth.
In the Florida Keys, at an abandoned airstrip, Cobra Commander works to repair an old jet engine while Starscream watches...
And in New Mexico, deep underground, a group of government scientists examine and repair a number of Decepticon parts. In a year at most, one says, they'll have them up and running better than Cobra ever did... and then he returns to his work on Megatron.