Cobra's ground forces surged forward like enraged ants determined to devour their prey. The beleaguered Joe team, consisting of only 13 members and their two Autobot allies, knew going into this fight that they would be outnumbered and outgunned. They hadn't been fully prepared for the full weight of Cobra's forces. Cobra Commander was pulling out all the stops. Despite managing to halt the HISS Tanks, they were now faced with hundreds of Troopers, Peace Keepers, and Vipers, all following the orders of the ruthless Cobra Commander.
Cobra's first target had been the Joe Team's lone air asset, the Little Bird.
"Target that line of Vipers," Hook calls to Wrench Bender. The noise of the .50 cal unloading on the gathering troops below reverberates in the small space. As soon as they are targeted, the Vipers below open fire on the chopper. "We're taking heavy fire!" Hook speaks into the radio as bullets zip by. Sparrow uses the speed and agility of the light aircraft to try to stay one step ahead of the enemy fighters. Their first pass had unloaded a salvo of stinger missiles, the last that they had. Wrench Bender continued firing at Cobra ground forces while he tried to avoid being hit by return fire.
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Behind enemy lines, Cobra officers and NCOs race to execute orders.
"Get that FANG in the air!" Tombstone demands. "Shoot that damn bird out of the sky. Then, target behind the enemy line. I want anything and anyone they have hidden in the tree line gone!"
"Yes, sir!" The pilot wastes no time. The lift-off sends dust in all directions as the heavily armed VTOL takes to the air, ready to unleash hell.
In minutes, the FANG sets its sights on the Little Bird, "Good lock. Fox 1 away."
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In the Little Bird, a warning tone sounds, "We've got incoming!" Hook speaks over the headset, his keen eyes looking for the path of the fast-approaching danger.
"I got it. Hold on." Sparrow banks hard to the right, the missile streaking past, narrowly missing them, before turning to reengage.
"It's coming back!" Wrench Bender calls from the back.
The FANG pilot launches a second, then a third.
"Hold on, it's going to get bumpy," Sparrow calls out before banking hard to the left.
A missile detonates. It's not a direct hit, but it's close enough. Instantly, multiple lights start flashing, and warning tones sound. Hook calls them out, his tone calm and experienced: "We've got damage to hydraulics. We're losing fuel. We're losing power to the tail. We're losing everything."
Sparrow holds the stick with all her strength. Over the radio, she calls, "Mayday. Mayday. We're going down." Smoke trails from the tail as the small aircraft rapidly descends to the earth.
From the depths of his foxhole, Falcon watches the helicopter go down behind the horizon. He had wanted to leave the Little Bird out of the fight, but Sparrow insisted. She argued that the remaining Hydra 70 rockets and the .50 cal would be vital. She was right. The weaponry had made a dent in the Cobra forces. Now, a pit grows in his stomach, "Anyone have eyes on the chopper?!" Falcon radios, knowing the answer. The only person behind him is Mother, acting as Overwatch from a platform in the trees.
Mother answers, "I'm on it."
"Negative, Mother. We need you where you are!"
Witnessing the Joe helicopter spiral out of sight, the FANG pilot seizes his opportunity. He launches a salvo of air-to-surface missiles behind the Joe lines. The resulting fireball eats the forest like a glutinous dragon. Blast waves send splinters flying through the air like bullets. Black smoke covers the battlefield, blotting out the sun and turning day into eerie night. The Joes lie in their foxholes in terrified awe of the firepower being brought to bear on them.
Immediately, the atmosphere is alive with the howl of enemy gunfire.
Bullets sliced through the air like a swarm of angry bees.
Thick, acrid smoke chokes the sky.
Concussive blasts shatter the stillness, sending shockwaves rippling through the atmosphere.
Craters, deep and jagged, voraciously consume the earth as mortars plunge from above.
The screams of the wounded pierced the thick haze, a haunting symphony that resonated into the aether, echoing the desperation and terror of those caught in the battle.
Tension charges the air, fraught with the metallic tang of blood and the bitter stench of destruction.
As the din of conflict drowns out reason, chaos reaffirms its dominion. It grows darker and more oppressive with each passing moment, consuming hope whole in its gaping maw.
Even the formidable Autobots, known for their resilience and strength, were pinned under the relentless firepower.
In preparation for battle, they hastily dug shallow trenches. They fortified their positions using downed trees piled high with dirt and debris to create makeshift barriers. However, the horror of the battlefield unfolded before their optical sensors as the defenses they had constructed crumbled and shattered under the assault.
Despite their thick armored exteriors designed to withstand heavy combat, the high-velocity armor-piercing rounds tore through their metallic hides.
The air crackled with the sharp sounds of gunfire, and explosions erupted around them, transforming their once-cohesive ranks into a group of desperate defenders.
These brave warriors fought not just for victory but for their very survival, struggling to maintain focus and composure amid the chaos. Each blow threatened to turn their resolve into despair.
Their surroundings, now a nightmarish landscape of destruction, bore witness to the fierce struggle for life against overwhelming odds.
The arrival of the Stingers and FANGs appeared to be the death knell for the Joes. Falcon, his instincts wired for survival, couldn't shake the unsettling suspicion that Cobra was deliberately toying with them, prolonging their anguish before delivering the decisive final blow.
And then, as if the world had paused, everything came to an eerie standstill. A haunting silence enveloped the battlefield, broken only by the ringing sounds of war echoing in their ears. Cautiously, Falcon peered out from the meager protection of his foxhole and was met with a chilling sight: Cobra forces slowly encircling them like a noose tightening. The only apparent escape route lay across the nearby river. He watched with growing unease as Cobra soldiers assumed strategic positions.
His heart sank as he witnessed the closest Stinger driver stepping out from the vehicle's protective confines. The driver pulled his balaclava down and lit a cigarette with a nonchalant flick of his lighter, exhaling a plume of smoke that rose silently into the air. It was a moment of dark irony, a stark reminder that combat was nothing but a cruel game for some.
Falcon continued surveying the battlefield, spotting Bulleit racing to tend to the wounded, ignoring her injuries. All around him, the Joes were a grim sight; they were hurt and exhausted, their faces etched with pain and fatigue and raw terror from the fighting. He had served in warzones around the world and engaged in countless firefights. His Joes had only seen the odd skirmish using hit-and-run guerilla tactics. He realized now how utterly unprepared they were for what they were facing. The armored Stingers, the superior FANG, and the sheer number of soldiers at Cobra's command were far beyond what they had expected based on their intelligence.
In contrast, the Cobra forces appeared almost unscathed, their disciplined ranks moving with unsettling calm during the break in the fight. Scars of battle cover the land; thick smoke spiraled into the sky, dark and ominous, paying witness to the destruction of once mighty trees splintered like mere twigs under the onslaught. The once serene landscape had become a hellscape.
"Falcon!" The sudden call catches him off guard. He peers through the smoke, his heart racing, to find Jinx, a former member of G.I. Joe, a trusted ally and love interest, standing boldly before the assembled Cobra HEAT. Clutching a bullhorn, her voice resonates powerfully, cutting through the tension-filled air, "Falcon, no one wants to fight you. We don't want to fight you. I don't want to fight you. Look around. If Cobra wanted you dead, it would have already happened." She hesitates, her expression softening, but the urgency remains in her eyes. "This needs to stop. It would be best if you stopped," she reaches into a pouch on her tactical vest, pulls out a long crimson strip of cloth, and lifts it to her eyes, tying it securely at the back of her head. "You know how this goes," a fierce determination in her voice. "Once the lights go out..."
Jinx's body blurs with astonishing speed in a split second as she pivots expertly. The powerful roundhouse kick smashes into Outback's jaw with an audible SNAP, sending him crashing hard to the ground, his weapon clattering away. In that electrifying moment, the members of the Cobra HEAT make their choices.
Grand Slam launches into the air, his plasma rifle at the ready. The air crackles around him as he targets the FANG helicopter hovering overhead. He begins unleashing a barrage of plasma bolts, the projectiles streaking through the air like shooting stars, forcing the pilot into evasive maneuvers. They narrowly escape the incinerating fire aimed at them.
On the ground, Dialtone and Firewall unleash a whirlwind of kicks and punches onto Chuckles, catching him off guard and forcing him into a defensive stance. The ferocity of the attack overwhelms him, sending him sprawling back onto the unforgiving earth, where he struggles to regain his footing.
Meanwhile, Sneak Peek joins forces with Jinx. Jinx draws a long, dark sword from its scabbard while Sneak Peek pulls a knife from its sheath, their attention locked on the Stall family. "Take the other one. I have these two," Bombstrike and Barrel Roll narrowly escape the lightning-fast blade wielded by the crimson ninja.
Barrel Roll attempts to take to the air, but Jinx presses her attack, slicing his arm before he can launch.
Bombstrike lashes out, "I am going to enjoy killing you." As she lunges forward, knife in hand, Jinx expertly turns and strikes, the sword plunging through Bombstrike's back, entering just below her body armor, the tip of the sword emerging from her abdomen.
"Nooooooo!!!" Barrel Roll screams as his sister falls to the ground. He rushes to her side, tears flowing down his face, blood pouring from his wounded arm, mingling with the blood pooling at his sister's wound. He looks up at Jinx, the horror of what has transpired, snuffing any spark of light that may have remained.
The scream of the eldest Stall causes Black Out to hesitate.
"I've been waiting a long time for this," Sneak Peek feigns a punch, causing Black Out to block, leaving his side exposed. Sneak Peek plunges his blade hilt deep into Black Out's side.
Jinx grabs Sneak Peek, "We need to go! NOW!" She shouts, urging him along.
Surprised by the ferocity of the fight, the Cobra soldiers find themselves momentarily distracted. Seizing the opportunity, Falcon steadies his aim, taking in a calming breath before firing. The dumbstruck Stinger driver collapses, his cigarette slipping from his lips. The glowing ember dies out against the cold ground as the driver falls lifelessly. The sharp crack of Falcon's shot acts as a rallying cry for the rest of the Joes, who seize the moment to spring into action, picking off Cobra Troopers that were frozen by the events.
However, the shock within the Cobra ranks is short-lived. Almost immediately, they regroup, retaliating with a devastating counterattack. The Stingers unleash hell. Blasts rock the ground as a hail of gunfire rains down on the Joes, bullets and explosive ordnance whipping through the air, forcing them into the bottoms of their foxholes.
In the air, Grand Slam skillfully maneuvers around the FANG, weaving through its attempts to counterattack. In a stunning display of marksmanship, he locks onto the agile FANG, fires, and sends it crashing down to the earth. He watches as it impacts the heart of the Cobra ranks. The impact triggers an explosion that erupts with ferocity, bending nearby trees and sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield, scattering the Cobra forces.
Seizing the opportunity, Grand Slam fingers the trigger of his weapon, unleashing rapid-fire bursts on the Cobra troops, who are attempting to close in on the G.I. Joe position. Demonstrating impressive agility, he swoops low over the ground, expertly dodging incoming fire, before executing a sharp ascent and landing behind Falcon's entrenched position.
Falcon meets Grand Slam's arrival with a firm nod, a silent acknowledgment of his choice. "Good to see you on the right side," he comments. Falcon's voice is steady despite the surrounding turmoil, and he quickly refocuses on the encroaching enemy forces. "We've gotta help the others," he calls out, his tone urgent as the sound of gunfire and explosions echo around them.
He levels his weapon toward the Cobra lines, trying to provide cover fire for the escaping Joes. Grand Slam joins him briefly before launching back into the air, soaring above the battlefield to lay down more suppressive fire on the enemy. Dialtone, Firewall, Jinx, and Sneak Peek navigate the crossfire, desperately working toward the Joe's defenses. Each of them is keenly aware of the consequences of their actions as they push through the fighting to regroup with the Joes.
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Behind enemy lines, as the disarray spreads. Tombstone's usually disciplined demeanor evaporates, replaced by a fiery rage that ignites his frustrations. "God damn it!" In a fit of rage, he seizes the rifle from a fallen Cobra Trooper. The cold metal feels heavy in his hands as his finger tightens on the trigger as he fires wildly at the Joes, sending a storm of bullets their way until the weapon clicks empty. With a frustrated grunt, he tosses the rifle and quickly snatches up another, ready to continue the fight.
In contrast to Tombstone's outburst, Onesi remains the epitome of composure amid the unfolding chaos. Focused, he meticulously reports the rapidly evolving situation, transmitting a detailed account of everything taking place to Cobra Command and ensuring that the higher-ups are well-informed and ready to respond should the need arise. He coordinates his Viper units, confirming they're prepared to press the attack.
"Move those Stingers!" Tombstone bellows, his voice carrying over the noise of battle. The Stingers drivers, powered by adrenaline, shift their vehicles into gear, hurtling forward with wild ferocity. They unleash a relentless hailstorm of bullets that rains down on the Joes' location. The sudden onslaught pins the Joes down worse than before. Tombstone casts a skeptical look at Onesi. "What're you sitting there for?" he barks, his anger boiling over at the apparent inaction of the officer.
"I'm directing a unit up the left flank," Onesi replies coolly, his eyes narrowing as he surveys the body cam footage from the unit displayed on his tablet.
"Where is Guillotine with those goddamn EELs?" Tombstone asks impatiently.
"They can't make it upriver. The propellers snagged on steel lines that ran across it." He looks up from his tablet. "We have to assume they have traps everywhere." Suddenly, an explosion erupts from the thick underbrush, vibrating the ground. "That was Viper Team 1."
"Damn it!"
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