After a moment, Tomax speaks, “I’m told you’re the one to make my problems disappear, Commander.” He swirls the drink and takes a sip. “But what makes you think I have any problems?”

The truth is you know about the numerous investigations into Tomax’s shadier business dealings thanks to your lieutenant, Anastasia Graham. She’s known more sinisterly in the media as ‘Baroness’. With good looks that belie a cunning intellect and a lust for destruction, she’s something like your right hand in Cobra. Beyond that, you personally held in your hands the life of one of the investigators. Even now, your other top lieutenant, Major Bludd, is ensuring that the investigator’s body and car will never be found as they settle to the bottom of the Hudson River.

Men like Tomax you know well enough.

“You’re obviously a clever man, Mr. Paoli,” you say. “Your time is valuable.” The chromed, reflective faceplate you wear muffles your words only slightly. “You would not have agreed to meet complete strangers after receiving our message unless you felt it would benefit you in some way.”

Tomax sips his drink. “And how is it you think you can help?”

“A business proposition,” you say.

“I’m always ready for business. What’s your proposition?”

You shift slightly in your seat, leaning forward subtly. “It’s simple,” you say, speaking slowly and clearly. “You and Extensive Enterprises will work directly for me. In exchange I will make you one of my top lieutenants and-” you pause. “I won’t release the evidence we have of your illegal operations.”

Tomax puts his drink down, looking from you to Baroness. “Blackmail? Really? I’d expected more from the famed Cobra Commander.”

“Simple tricks work the best,” you say, not missing a beat. “We intervened just in time to secure some quite damning information from making its way back to the European Trade Commission. I don’t think they’d approve of your murders. Or your Crimson Guard.”

Tomax reacts at this, just a twitch of an eyebrow and a slight widening of his eyes. Fear.

“It’s clever really,” you say. “A second chance for troubled veterans. Who doesn’t love a feelgood rehabilitation story? Only you’re not interested in reform and advancement. You’re interested in building an army.”

(1/2)

“So,” Tomax says, leaning back in his chair, “You’re giving me a choice: turn over my business to you or be destroyed publicly?”

You shake your head. “A takeover, yes, but one I think that will benefit both of us. Cobra can make you wealthier than any miserable trading on the stock market. Defrauding more than just your shareholders. Serve me well, prove your worth, and earn your autonomy back.”

“You really expect me to believe you’d hand me the leash you hold?”

“Believe what you want,” you say, “But your organization is nothing compared to the power I’m dreaming of. I need a face for my own business enterprises, something I’m ill-equipped to do. You run your business and mine, but you answer to me.” You pause a moment to let the words sink in. “Truthfully, I think you’re bored of this life, Tomax. You have money, you have power, yet you insist on slipping back into old habits, returning to the sword time and again. Join me and you can wield it all the time.”

“It’s tempting, Cobra Commander,” Tomax says, a smirk on his face. “But for two things.”

You and Baroness are alone in this office, seated side by side facing Tomax who smiles back blandly.

“The first is the old axiom, ‘might makes right’. So long as I hold the upper hand, I have no reason to follow your lead. And the second, Commander, is that you’re outnumbered here.”

The click of the door opening behind you is soft, but to your attuned mind sounds like a gunshot. You leap from your chair and whirl about to see Tomax entering the room. This paradox baffles your mind long enough for you to register that this apparent doppelganger of Tomax bears an angry scar down his cheek and is brandishing an assault rifle.

“Meet the best kept secret in Extensive Enterprises, Commander. Xamot Paoli. Hello, brother.”

The twin in the doorway wears dark military fatigues and does not smile. “Hello.” The barrel of his rifle doesn’t deviate from your chest.


>Draw your sidearm and take Tomax hostage
>”Do you really think I’m so naive as to bring the blackmail with me? You can’t scare me with this act.”
>”A hidden twin. That is a near trick, but this changes nothing.”
>Write in

Misspelled the title. Quest ruined. gg everyone cya next time.

>>4480554

>”A neat trick, but it changes nothing. I am not such a fool to not have contingencies. You were already sloppy enough to let the ETC investigator gather enough damning evidence to have you rot in jail and all your assets seized. Now imagine what you could get away with as one of my lieutenants. Now, Xamot, was it? Let us all sit back down and discuss the business of our...merger.”

>>4480554
>Do you really think I’m so naive as to bring the blackmail with me? You can’t scare me with this act. What's your plan, hold me for hostage? Kill me? My forces will destroy everything you have built.

>>4480573
This.
>>4480563
You fool! You incompetent nitwit!

>>4480573
Support. Sit back down and dont even give the brother a second glance.

"A cobra needs not fear another's venom, because my might is greater than yours."

>>4480658
Perhaps add something about the dead investigator being a gift.
Maybe something on "I'm willing to give you the leash when I am convinced of your loyalty. Loyal hounds need no threat of leash to be restrained."

>>4480573

This, writing.

All your senses are on edge. Nothing makes you feel more alive than having a gun pointed at you. Still, this isn’t the first time or the last time if you have your way. You inch your hand away from your holstered sidearm, forcing down your nerves. “A near trick,” you say, eyeing Xamot, Tomax’s apparent mirror. “But it changes nothing.” With every ounce of willpower you can muster you turn away from the gun-wielding twin and sit back down.

Tomax’s smile seems forced, but he maintains it.

“You underestimate me if you think I don’t have contingencies,” you say. “You were already sloppy enough to let the ETC investigator gather enough damning evidence to have you rot in jail and all your assets seized. Now imagine what you could get away with as one of my lieutenants. Now, Xamot, was it? Let us all sit back down and discuss the business of our … merger.”

Tomax’s eyes flick to his brother and you catch some unspoken communication between them. Subtle body language, a relaxing of his face. A moment later Xamot comes to stand by his brother, weapon at his side.

“Now,” you continue, “Firstly you’ll note that I disposed of the ETC investigator which was as much of a pragmatic move for me as it was a treat to you- both of you. As for the leash, I see no reason to hold a leash if you demonstrate loyalty.”

Tomax sits in silence a moment before finishing his drink. “I have to say, this is the most interesting business deal I’ve had in some time. To be clear, Cobra Commander, we’ve killed men for less than this.”

“Exactly why you should work for me.”

Tomax looks at his brother again and shrugs a moment later. “We’ll agree to your terms with one addition.”

“Name it.”

“A rival company, Featherstone Systems has been causing trouble for us. Undercutting our market and working with regulators to try to shackle us with obscene limitations.”

“It’s too obvious if we destroy them,” Xamot says.

“We’d like you to do it,” Tomax says. “A corporate robbery gone wrong. I can provide you information to locate their main assets safe on site. You can kidnap and ransom the board members, steal their funds and destroy the building.”

“Seems more fair this way,” Xamot adds.


>Accept my terms as they are and don’t waste my time, or else
>Done, we’ll help you in this matter in exchange for your merging with Cobra
>Write in

>>4480716
>>Done, we’ll help you in this matter in exchange for your merging with Cobra
I see this is a win-win.

>>4480716
>Done, we’ll help you in this matter in exchange for your merging with Cobra

>>4480716
Done.

I will expect you to begin work immediately after our operation is complete, and I want as much information as you can muster. This should serve as a good reminder that Corba is still awake rather than slumbering quietly.

We need an anarchist bint, so theft and blowing up the building?

>>4480730
>>4480740
>>4480746

>writing

>>4480730
Yeah, it's a win-win.

“Done,” you say, “Really I see this as a win-win.”

“Then I think things will work out here,” Tomax says. “Xamot will accompany you, he has the information on the target and this sort of wet work really is more his strong suit.”

Xamot says nothing.

“I have a team that can move immediately. But I want you to begin work for Cobra as soon as this operation is completed. I expect full integration of your Crimson Guard into our combat element and I will have you brought up to speed on our business element.”

“I can hardly wait,” Tomax says with an approximation of enthusiasm.

Xamot joins you and Baroness when you leave the Extensive Enterprises building though he proves to be a man of few words which suits you just fine. On returning to the garage you get in touch with Taipan who still has his battalion at Springfield, holding the COIL Retreat. You have the full might of a Cobra combat battalion at your fingertips as well as the expertise Xamot, Taipan, Bludd, and Baroness can provide.

A part of you longs to go in guns blazing, unleash the might of Cobra on a defenseless office high rise and show the world that this serpent is still coiled around its neck. Baroness and Bludd would likely appreciate a direct approach.

Still, you also have a core of experienced and competent fighters at your disposal, you could just as easily form a small strike team to infiltrate the building before executing the plan and raiding the safe.

Otherwise, for total obfuscation of your involvement or plans you could hire a specialist, someone who makes a living on being unseen. For the right cut of the take such a job should be trivial for a professional.


>Full armored assault
>Infiltrate with a strike team
>Hire a specialist to execute the job stealthily
>Write in

>>4480893
>Infiltrate with a strike team

>>4480893
No need to go big and loud on what amounts to a sideshow, but hiring someone external defeats some of the purpose.
>Infiltrate with a strike team

>>4480893
Strike team

>>4480893
>Infiltrate with a strike team

We should rig the building to blow while exiting, the point is to damage the company.

>>4480893
>>Full armored assault

We need to raise our notoriety to make people fear us.

>>4480893
>>Infiltrate with a strike team
If the enemy thinks we aren't capable of big and loud, all the better the surprise for them later.

>>4480893
>Full armored assault

>>4480893
>Infiltrate with a strike team

>>4480893
>Strike team
In, out, boom on the building. Just like they said on our conspiracy channels.

>>4480893
>>Infiltrate with a strike team

>>4480893
>>Hire a specialist to execute the job stealthily
NINJAS

>>4481590
I want ninjas, but this is a cobra op

>>4480893
>Full armored assault
Time for Cobra to be Cobra

>>4480893
>>Full armored assault
Hell yes

>Infiltrate with a strike team
>>4480909
>>4480924
>>4480930
>>4480937
>>4481274
>>4481288
>>4481290
>>4481436

>Full armored assault
>>4481196
>>4481281
>>4481941
>>4482080

Strike team wins.

Writing

Putting together an appropriate strike team for this mission is easy. You have some of your best and brightest here at your disposal. Bludd will lead the assault element, Taipan will provide sniper overwatch. You can accompany Bludd with Xamot and Baroness as well as some of your best troopers.

True to what you know, Xamot is nonplussed by your decision and the team you assemble. “It should be a simple target,” he says. “Featherstone relies on a few high end private security but is otherwise at the mercy of the local police. Nothing we can’t swat aside.”

“Tell me about the building.”

Xamot does one better, sketching a rough outline out on a pad of paper. “Underground parking garage, street-level lobby entrance. The building is forty stories of office space. Fortunately we can ignore most of it.” He taps the bottom of his sketch. “The asset vault is in the sub basement. It’s going to contain stocks, bonds, cash, and anything the board of directors doesn’t trust to be out of their hands. I’m expecting some loose assets like jewelry and art.”

“We gonna be able to haul all that out?” Bludd asks.

“The easy part will be carrying it out,” Xamot says. “My brother and I have procured an algorithm that will crack the lock within eight minutes. Once we have it open we can empty it and set demolition charges, take the whole building down to cover our tracks.”

“Simple enough,” you say.

“Unless you want to make big money,” Xamot says.

“Big money?”

“The board of directors is meeting in a few days. They’ll all be there. Half a billion dollars of net worth in one boardroom. We can bag and secure each of them, hold them ransom. That will make the safe heist look small time.”

“Sounds risky,” Baroness says.

“Risky? Yes. But-” Xamot holds up a finger, “We will already be stuck there for at least eight minutes cracking that safe. Assuming we can sneak all the way in - which is doubtful - then the second we attack their electronic locks they are going to sound the alarm. I think if we add on, say another ten minutes, we can grab most or all of the board and get away. If your man is as good as he says-” Xamot gestures to Taipan “Then delaying a SWAT team should be nothing.”

“Taipan’s skill isn’t the problem,” you say. “It’s getting our hand caught in the cookie jar.”

Xamot shrugs.


>We’ll just go for the safe and get out as quick as we can
>We can’t pass up a chance at easy money, we’ll go for the board too
>Write in

>>4482133
>We can’t pass up a chance at easy money, we’ll go for the board too

>>4482133
>Go for the board too

I did consider just saying "throw a molotov in the vault to destroy their financial stability" so we could take the board quicker. But unless torching it cuts off 5-10 minutes, we may as well take the shit and fuck off with our hostages.

>>4482133
>We can’t pass up a chance at easy money, we’ll go for the board too

>>4482133
>We can’t pass up a chance at easy money, we’ll go for the board too
Hmm, if we Die Hard this, we can make it look like we accidentally destroyed everything in the safe while trying to cover our escape, also btw, where is this Company’s headquarters? We should probably make the Kidnap/Ransom look like the closest separatist group (or any kind of group that would have been... Displeased with the corporation’s board)
FOR COBRA

>>4482133
>>We can’t pass up a chance at easy money, we’ll go for the board too

cant wait for the police assault

>>4482133
>>We can’t pass up a chance at easy money, we’ll go for the board too

>>4482197
>Where
It's in Chicago. Not far, but no separatists to speak of.

>We can’t pass up a chance at easy money, we’ll go for the board too
>Writing

“It’s a perfect opportunity to sow a little chaos and make some money on the side, wouldn’t you agree, Baroness?”

She smiles at you, her only response.

“Bludd, assemble a team. We’ll leave at first opportunity.”

“You’re joining us then?” Xamot asks.

“I’d like to make sure this operation goes smoothly. It’s difficult to do that from behind a desk.”

He points at your face, “You’re going to wear that in?”

You forgot about your mask momentarily. It’s more your face than your own face is of course. “What about you? I think if security footage shows a dead ringer from Tomax Paoli involved it will seal your fate.”

Xamot grins, the first time you’ve seen him do that. “Touche, Commander. Our faces will be problematic.”

“We will begin the heist and you can join us from the parking garage,” Baroness says. “By the time anyone sees you the alarm will already be tripped.” She looks at Xamot, “And wear a mask.”

“It is done,” Xamot said, “Commander?”

“A sound plan. Let’s get to it.”

The wait in the garage is excruciating. You somehow always forget how you hate to wait. You hate leaving your plans in the hands of others and you hate being out of control. The waiting doesn’t seem to bother Xamot. The two of you sit, masked and silent in the back of an SUV, parked inside the building’s garage as the minutes tick down.

“It’s time,” Xamot says.

You check the magazine on your rifle and open the door. A brisk walk takes your small team through the empty garage and into the building itself.

“Wh-” the security man by the desk doesn’t get any further than that before Xamot puts two rounds into his chest and sends him slumping back behind the desk. With skill and grace, Xamot vaults the security desk and checks camera feed.

“Bludd and his team are already cracking the vault. The silent alarm was tripped.”

You don’t hear gunfire or screaming or chaos so for now the plan proceeds normally. All that remains is to capture the board members before they can escape.


>Xamot, you capture the board, I will watch for police
>Xamot, watch for the police, I will capture the board
>Write in

>>4482274
>Xamot, you capture the board, I will watch for police

>>4482274
>>Xamot, watch for the police, I will capture the board
We are really more of a people person

>>4482319
Ditto

File: AIDungeonNoThots.jpg (106 KB, 992x321)

106 KB JPG

>>4482274
>Xamot, watch for the police, I will capture the board
Watching for the police is not the role for a grandstander like us.

>>4482319
>>4482331
>>4482415

>Xamot, watch for the police, I will capture the board

>Writing

“Watch the front,” you say to Xamot. “I’m going for the board.”

“Top floor,” he says.

You part ways and cross the marbled entry hall of the building, now devoid of foot traffic, only the bodies of a few security guards mark this place. On the far wall are several banks of elevators. You take the one marked ‘Executive’. Inside there are only a handful of floor choices, you press 40 and the doors close, sealing you in with your miniscule assault team.

From the information Xamot provided you know there are nine board members, eight plus the CEO himself, Roger Featherstone. He’s the lion’s share of the potential ransom money if you can bag him intact.

“Fingers off you triggers,” you tell your troopers. “If anyone leaves any bodies up there then you’ll be joining them in hell.”

“Yes, Commander,” the troopers say as one.

The elevator races upward.

“Commander,” Baroness’s voice carries over your helmet headset.

“Baroness, report.”

“Nearly done on the safe. Bludd has finished setting the explosive charges. Once we have it all we can fight clear.”

“Very good. Taipan, what’s the situation outside?” you ask.

Even with filtering you can hear the rush of wind over Taipan’s microphone from whatever rooftop he’s nestled on. “I’ve got eyes on police response, Uniformed officers, they’re not ready for what they’re about to walk into. I’ll drop a round between some eyes.”

“No,” you say. “Leave them to Xamot. You’re my ace in the hole. Wait till we need you.”

“Yes, sir. Taipan out.”

The doors of the elevator open on luxury. Plush maroon carpet and rich wood paneling. It’s so ostentatious you could puke.

“Wait here,” you tell a trooper. “No one gets out.”

“Got it.”

The rest of you proceed a short distance to the board room where you throw open the double doors and enter dramatically. The far wall is taken up by a vaulted window showing you a view over the city. No one is here.

The first thought in your mind is ‘betrayal’. A setup by Xamot. It’s fleeting, momentary and you push it away. Clearly there-

A noise.

(1/2)

You hold up a hand for silence and hear it again. A muffled breath.

Crouching down you peer under the table and meet eyes with a panicked man in a business suit, a hand clapped over his mouth.

“Hello,” you say. “Bring him out.”

Two of your troopers drag the man from his hiding place and haul him to his feet. You recognize him as one of the board.

“Where are the others?”

“They ran,” he blurts, “When the silent alarm tripped they went for the panic room.”

No one said anything about a panic room.

“Where?” you demand.

He points. “Out that way, Featherstone’s office.”

“Take him to the elevator and watch him,” you instruct a trooper before following the man’s vague directions. A short walk down the hall and you see the gilded door with Featherstone’s name on it. The panicked shouting on the other side is unmistakable. Again, you throw open the door and receive half a dozen terrified stares. The board members are clustered around a sealed metal door ordinarily concealed behind a bookcase.

“There you are,” you say, your voice saccharine sweet. “I’ve been looking everywhere. I’m afraid you’re all going to have to come with me.”

Your troopers brandish their weapons threateningly to underline your point.

“We’re not going anywhere with you,” an older woman says, defiant.

You fix her with a blank gaze a moment. “You’re coming down to the ground floor, either in the elevator or out the window.” You look over the others, “I’ll let you all in on a little secret. Even if I did believe in the ‘sanctity of human life’ I wouldn’t apply it to creatures like you. You’re vultures, maggots burrowed into the bloated body of the market economy. To me you’re all walking dollar values. Cooperate and live, or stay and die. Your choice.”

There’s no more argument. Your troopers shove the human cattle along, herding them out of the office. There’s no Featherstone. Approaching the metal door you see a small camera above it and look up at it. A panic room.

“Commander,” Baroness says via the radio, “Xamot’s driven back the first attempt to enter the building but Taipan says they have SWAT units arriving now along with armored support. I think they’re going to storm the building.”

“The money?” You ask.

“Secured.

“Good.” You look back at the camera. “The board is on their way down now.”

Except Featherstone. He’s locked in this armored womb. Cutting it open will take time. More time than you can spare if you want to avoid engaging heavier anti-terrorist units.


>Leave him, he can go down with his building
>Bring up the cutting gear. No one escapes
>Write in

>>4482569
>Bring up the cutting gear. No one escapes
>If we can't cut him out in time, Strap some demo charges to the area.

>>4482569
>Leave him, he can go down with his building
Don't get cocky.

>>4482569
>Write in
Blow up the floor below him.

>>4482605
He'll probably survive in the safe room, lets make sure he dies.

>>4482569

>Tell him simply that he can come with us and be ransomed and live. Or die when blow the floor out from under his panic room.

>>4482858
+1
Tell him very simply we're going to level the building. Come with us if you want to live.

>>4482864

No, don’t tip our hand about leveling the building

>>4482569
>>Bring up the cutting gear. No one escapes

>>4482858
This.

>>4482858
>>4482882
+1

>>4482858
Support

>>4482858
Love it.
Support.

>>4482858
Support

Get fucked featherstone. Come out willingly or go down dead then we will crack open the saferoom and get you out with a dust pan and brush.

>>4483151
If we tell him we knew about his saferoom as well and planned several floors of contingency, then he may be more receptive.

>>4482569
>Leave him, he can go down with his building

Also we should blue bliss the ones we do get our hands on, might be useful down the line

>>4483267
>Blue Bliss the Captives
This is actually a good idea. Good Idea, Anon.

>>4483451
Well to brag, but you're talking to the annon who suggested both the use of prisoners for Destro's cybernetics program as well as planing evidence against Hollywood in advance

>>4483483
The second idea wasnt so good seeing as he would have been a fine asset anyway, but you got a quick thinker between your ears.

>>4482858
>Write in

Writing

You step closer to the door and look up at the camera, seeing a recursive reflection of your faceplate in the camera lens. “Featherstone,” you say, “Can you hear me, you worm?” You tap on the camera lens with a gloved finger.

A PA clicks on in the office. “Get the hell out of my office. The police are on their way! If you leave now you can probably make it.”

You chuckle. “I think the police will find themselves outmatched. No, it’s your own life you should be concerned about.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Right now I’m having my men set a few pounds of high explosive on the floor below this one. We’ll blast you out of your rat hole if you won’t leave willingly.”

Featherstone’s laughter returns modulated through the speaker. “Good luck, asshole! This saferoom is 360! Armor plates on all side. Reinforced and hardened. It’d take an army to get through this and you’re running out of time.”

“Gettin in won’t be a problem for us,” you say, “Making sure you’re still breathing afterward is the trick.”

“Nice try!” Featherstone returns. “I’m not worth the trouble. Go ahead and do what you want. I’m not opening this door for anything.”

You turn away from the door with a sigh, taking a few paces over to the window to look down at the flashing bar lights encircling the building. “Baroness, what’s the situation?”

“We have the goods loaded into the getaway vehicles, the hostages are being moved now. Once you give the signal we can shoot our way out and escape to the extraction point.”

“Featherstone’s dug himself into a little rat nest. We won’t be able to get him out without some heavy cutting tools or explosives.”

“That’s a problem. He’s worth as much as the rest of the board combined, but if he’s too much trouble we might see heavier police response before we can escape.”


>True, we’ll let him go down with the building, we’re leaving
>I insist. No one opposes me. Cut him out even if it takes time
>Write in

>>4483699
>>True, we’ll let him go down with the building, we’re leaving

>>4483709
Ditto, we must keep our word

Btw TKQM I’m loving this quest, especially the little hints towards Cobra Commander’s backstory really feeling a From Nobody, To Nightmare vibe

>>4483699

>True, we’ll let him go down with the building, we’re leaving

>>4483721
Thanks!
>From Nobody, To Nightmare
Pretty much exactly what I am going for. Truthfully, it's basically CC's backstory but I'm trying to put a little of my own spin on it. Glad you're digging it.

>>4483699
>True, we’ll let him go down with the building, we’re leaving

>>4483699
>goodbye featherstone, I offered you a way out. But this was never about you.

>True, we’ll let him go down with the building, we’re leaving

>Writing

“Get everyone ready to move out once you’ve verified the explosives are in place.” You look back at the armored door, stepping close enough to be heard again. “Goodbye, Featherstone. I offered you a way out but this was never really about you anyway.”

Featherstone doesn’t reply.

You leave the office and return the the elevator, taking it back to the ground floor. When the doors open you’re hit with the sound of gunfire. Around the corner from the elevator banks you spy Xamot and some troopers peppering laser fire at the police barricades.

"Xamot!" You call. "We're leaving!"

The mercenary finishes his magazine and withdraws at a clip, the others following.

"Amateurs," he says to you, gesturing toward the police. "Let's go."

The getaway vehicles are assembled and waiting for the escape. A series of armored 4x4 trucks is led by a HISS Tank previously concealed in a semi trailer. Together this heavily armed convoy will be able to breakout through the police blockade and in the chaos of the building demolition reach a nearby extraction point.

“Cobra! Let’s move!” you shout.

“Cobra!” Your troopers return.

You mount the HISS Tank, climbing into its passenger compartment where you see Baroness sifting through a bag of money and jewelry. “Baroness? We have it?”

“Everything but Featherstone.”

“Let’s make this building his tombstone.” You toggle on your radio, “Strike team advance, let’s burn this place down.”

The vehicles roar to life, the HISS rumbling forward on tank treads, crashing over the hoods of a pair of parked cars before angling its dorsal weapons at the cage door that blocked off the parking deck.

“Fire.”

Twin beams lance out and slice through the thin metal lattice of the door , leaving a hole large enough for a truck. The HISS Tank accelerates again and smashes through this new opening and out into the open where ineffectual small arms fire glances off its armored hide.

Following behind, your truck convoy races around the slower HISS Tank and dances weapons fire across parked police cars and SWAT vans, turning them into pyres. Another burst of fire from your tank knocks a police chopper from the sky, sending it spiraling down into a neighboring high rise. The police might be preparing to give chase or otherwise pursue, but in that moment your demolition charges go off.

You feel the vibration even inside the armored cabin and watch gleefully as the crystal tower shatters, glass raining down like icy rain even as its steel skeleton warps and concrete bones shatter.

Your convoy escapes the billowing dust cloud a moment later, reaching the open park where a trio of heavy lift helicopters are touching down. The escape is seamless, smooth. Vehicles roll up ramps with hardly any hesitation before lifting into the sky.

“Congratulations, Commander,” Baroness says to you, holding up a few bundles of bills. “You’re a millionaire. Again.”

(1/2)

It feels good. More money than you could have ever conceivably earned in a lifetime of servile groveling and scraping. It’s all yours after a few intense moments. And it won’t be the last time.

“Money is a means to an end,” you say, taking the greenbacks and eyeing them greedily. “Did everyone make it out?”

“Yes, sir,” she says. “All of our people anyway. I’ve arranged a meeting with Tomax to discuss the details of this merger and to integrate his men into Cobra. For now we have a few VIPs to deal with.”

“Yes,” You say. “I have a mind to try to . . . turn a few of them to our cause with Mindbender’s chemical assistance.”

“We need to figure out where we are taking them first. If we’re going to ransom them off it will take time. I’d suggest we hold them in a central location. The COIL retreat will make a good staging ground. It will enable us to keep them under competent security and undertake any brainwashing operations you want.”

“I worry about retaliation. If EAGLE discovers them there it will implicate COIL.”

“Take your pick, we can send them to any of our bases but the problem would be the same. We could try to send them all over the country, each one held by a different criminal cell. Security will be sloppier, but it will minimize the risk of a major location being sniffed out.”

You can tell by her tone she doesn’t like this plan. “You have an objection?”

“It’s . . . untidy. These dens are fit only to house the scum we employ as pickpockets. They make poor jailors and it risks one or more of them escaping on their own or getting found by regular law enforcement. I’d prefer we exercise more control over things.”


>COIL Retreat
>Druzhba
>Cobrastan
>Distribute them to small hideouts
>Write in

>>4484027
>Distribute them to small hideouts

>>4484027

Cobrastan

>>4484027
>cobra stan

Put them in the pit, the mercenary dropped point of evil camp bastion. This gives us deniability.

>>4484027
>Distribute them to small hideouts

>>4484055
Ditto, them being held in Cobrastan also allows us to reinsert them in a 1st world country. Speaking of, how’s Cobra City doing?

>>4484106
>Cobra City
Better than when you got it. There have been incremental improvements in life there. It'll be covered in more detail soon.

>>4484055
+1

>>4484027
>Cobrastan

>>4484027
>>COIL Retreat

>>4484027
Cobrastan

If we pull this shit off successfully, can we look into grabbing an infiltration specialist? Probably can't buy Storm Shadow, but we might be able to get Zartan and Zartan might as well be crazy ninja tier. Especially if he comes with the magic powers a few versions have.

>>4484599
So far you guys have dodged every possible opportunity to recruit a stealth specialist. Now that you have the money it will be an option in the future.

>>4484626
Heh, so we have. Personally its because it is framed more as paying for their services rather than securing their loyalty, ala baroness.

So far only Bludd is the guy we hired and have no reason to distrust.

>>4484626
I know. Which is why I'm trying to push for it now.

>>4484685
The thing is, both of the canon Cobra Stealth Specialists are of dubious loyalty at the start. If I remember in canon, Storm Shadow is loyal until he finds out that Zartan killed the Hard Master then joins the Joes until he gets brainwashed back into Cobra and Zartan is generally mercenary as fuck.

>>4484705
Stormshadow is the choice to go for then. Because the guy is well worth dropping a cap in Zartan's forehead.

>>4484714
Stormshadow could be neat, start his own Ninja school in the Cobrastan mountains

>>4484714
We also might be able to get ahold of Aleph and the Night-Creepers. They're not quite Storm Shadow level, but they're decent tech ninja.

>Cobrastan
>>4484051
>>4484055
>>4484106
>>4484208
>>4484313
>>4484481

>Writing

Smuggling the board members and your ill-gotten loot out of the country is a trivial affair. A few helicopter trips, a stop on your command sub, and ultimately you arrive in Cobrastan. The scars of your coup here are largely healed over. The city does the closest thing to bustle. Connections to Extensive Enterprises and your laissez-faire attitude toward governance are turning the city steadily into a hub for commerce, both legitimate and illicit.

A series of video conferences with Tomax Paoli help mesh your organization together. The Crimson Guard are a distinct battalion under the control of Xamot. They’re elite troops who are as well versed with law as they are with combat, a welcome addition to Cobra.

Once back in Cobrastan you leave the hostages in the limited free trade zone where your mercenary hangers on spend their time. It grants you some plausible deniability when and if any trouble arrives.

Dr. Mindbender, on your orders, has been set to work on breaking your prisoners. If you can turn one or all of them to your cause they may prove useful in the long term.

In the polar regions, increasingly alarming reports are emerging of rapidly accelerated global warming. New models predict catastrophic flooding and worldwide famine within five years. In Asia, the Sino-Russian war has escalated with Chinese armored formations breaking the Russian lines with a massive right hook, cutting off the city of Vladivostok and closing in on it. Rumors abound of peace talks being opened by the Russians.

You’re basking in success, smiling ear to ear as you return triumphant to the palace. After a few short ceremonies you find yourself settling in for your next wave of plans. “Where do we stand with our funds, Baroness?”

“The cash and liquid assets are being cycled through our business fronts now. It’s much easier with the Crimson Twins cooperating.” Her excitement is impossible to miss. “I’ve taken the liberty of drawing up a tentative budget.” She offers you the printout which you take and skim over, reading aloud.

“Improvements to Cobrastan, weapons research and development.” You stop at one, “Expansion plans?”

(1/2)

File: ArashikageCRT.jpg (429 KB, 1320x1034)

429 KB JPG

She nods, “I think it would benefit us to enlarge our conventional forces. Perhaps another battalion or two as well as air assets.”

“I also want to make new contacts,” you say. “Stealth specialists. Someone reliable who can conduct clandestine missions with more competence than Ghost Bear.”

“I know of a number of contractors who fit that description,” she says. “Do you know of the Arashikage?”

“No. Should I?”

The grin she gives you is predator. “You should. They are a ninja clan in Japan. Secretive but known well enough outside of their country. Rumor has it that the clan is falling apart to infighting. Some sort of power vacuum. Many of their number are open for work, contracts.”

Cobra ninjas. Something about that just sounds so right. “What’s your take?”

“They’re mercenaries like any others. I’ve heard rumor that EAGLE is courting some of them for recruitment. If we act we might pre-empt them. Either by hiring the best talent or otherwise contracting a number of them to work for us. Or . . . “

“Or?”

“Or we can intercede in their little brewing civil war. If Cobra backs the winning horse we might be able to subsume the whole clan. Well, the ones we can rely on anyway.”

Oh, a battalion of ninjas.

“Risks?”

“We’d be sticking our noses into an internal matter with a group that we know virtually nothing about. A good way to make enemies.”


>See about hiring just their best
>We’ll try to contract a large number of them
>Let’s see if we can take the whole clan by coup
>Write in

>>4485135

>See about hiring just their best

>>4485135
>>See about hiring just their best

>>4485135
>Open a request for their best, broach the topic of discontent with the representitive and use our information from there to decide on if a coup is worth it or not.

Ideally, we want some of their ninjas who have a stake in keeping their clan together under the "right" leader, who is willing to tell us about it.

>>4485135
put our support behind a faction in the power struggle that will align with our goals.

>>4485135
This >>4485149
Ideally we discuss and back the prospective winning horse, or we allow the survivors who are unhappy with the result of the civil war to take shelter and rebuild within Cobrastan.

>>4485149
+1

>>4485149
Good shit. Supporting

>>4485149
Good way to get our foot in the door. I like it!

>>4485149
>This write in

>Writing

“Get the word to them,” you say. “I’d like to have a meeting to discuss how they can best serve Cobra. We’ll use that opportunity to delve a bit deeper into their own inner workings. As much as I’d like a pet ninja clan, I won’t rush into it.”

“I’ll arrange something,” Baroness says. “Money should be no obstacle. Not for a while.”

“You’re beginning the ransoming process?”

“Yes. We’re handling it through intermediaries in our criminal arm. Arranging payments and telling them where to pick up the hostages. So far they’re playing ball, especially after confirmation came in that Featherstone is dead.”

You smile. “Good.”

“I’ll begin the process to meet with the Ashrikage’s and also inform Destro that we’re going to need more weapons to outfit everyone. He’s working on prototype fighters and tanks that I think will come in handy when the shooting starts.”

“Excellent. Let me know how it goes.”

You have a precious few minutes of peace after Baroness leaves your throne room before Dr. Mindbender comes in, struggling to wipe his rose glasses clean on his labcoat.

“Dr. Mindbender, how does the mental conditioning go?”

“Good so far, man,” he says. “I’ve got one promising candidate. The others are just kinda stoned outta their minds, right?” he laughs.

You don’t.

“Right,” he says, struggling to sober up. “Anyway, she’s looking pretty willing. I think we can make her into like a collaborator. You know, like a quiet COIL donor on the side.”

“She’s reliable?”

“We’ll make sure first. And hell, we’re still gonna ransom her. All this shit ain’t free.”

“Hardly.”

“You and I got bills to pay right?” he chuckles again.

You suspect the hostages aren't the only ones stoned out of their minds.

“You came here just to tell me that?”

(1/2)

“Oh, no. We’ve got another problem.” He adjusts his glasses nervously, “It’s about the Dominator.”

“Dominator? It’s failing?”

He shakes his head. “No way, man. Actually … it uh. It’s working great.”

“I heard five years for total pole melt,” you say.

He snorts, “Five years is optimistic man. The Dominator is like … cascading. The effects are accumulating and the process is accelerating. It’s exponential. It’s gonna be faster. Much faster.”

“How much faster.”

“Like … five months?”

“Five months?” you repeat.

He grins nervously and nods. “Yeah. The weather guys can’t figure it out, or won’t, I’m not sure. I’ve put them on some pretty heavy shit, I might have like damaged their prefrontal cortexes.”

You brush aside the comment about chemically-induced brain damage on your thrall scientists. “In five months the polar icecaps will be gone?” you ask.

“I think so. We’re kinda in uncharted water here. Rising uncharted water.” Another chuckle.

Five months to climate catastrophe was good for chaos, but potentially bad for drawing attention. “Can you stop it?”

Mindbender considers it, “I dunno, man. From what I gather a lot of this is like out of our hands.” He gestures vaguely toward the sky. “Mother Nature playing ball with us, you know? We’re twisting her magnetic fields around and I think we might’ve really warped em.”

There was little doubt in your mind that the governments of the world would soon take note of the impending polar reduction and then take action. In a way this serves your needs but it also means the acceleration of your plans. If you continue through with this action you’ll need to come up with a second stage of your plan.
>Find a way to reverse what we’ve done. We need this process to be slow and gradual, not rapid.
>It is what it is. Let it be and we’ll stay the course.
>Five months? Can we make it five days?
>Write in

>>4485283
>it is what it is. Let it run for another month or two then stop the dominator, it should keep the ball rolling and our involvement will vanish.

>>4485294
+1

>>4485294
+1

Also, accelerate our disaster-profiting investments.

>>4485294
this

File: 19302194-7A81-45B1-8415-3(...).jpg (148 KB, 600x1040)

148 KB JPG

>>4485283
>Five months? Can we make it five days?

>>4485294
>This
Writing

>>4485283
Thinking of it, if the border clashes turn into a full scale War, that might trigger some of the old deadman switches from Soviet Russia/The USA France and that’d probably be in the interests of a few militia groups running around Uncle Sam’s ankles

“It is what it is. Let it run for another month or two then stop the dominator, it should keep the ball rolling and our involvement will vanish.”

“Right on,” Mindbender says.

“Just make sure you don’t boil their brains,” you say of the scientists. “We need them.”

“I’ll be careful.”

After your meeting with Mindbender you instruct Baroness to invest the remainder of your stolen money into commodities and stocks most likely to profit from rising sea levels. Huge sums of money are shifted between bank accounts and Extensive Enterprises is likewise instructed to take advantage of this new situation.

Over the next few weeks, the hostages are ransomed and returned one by one. One of them was successfully indoctrinated by Mindbender leading to a new sleeper agent within the corporate world.

In Asia, the Sino-Russian war has wound down with both sides signing a ceasefire agreement.

Rising water levels send stock markets crashing and create a global panic which rises at the same rate. Cobra profits extensively from this. It isn’t long later you’re contacted by Nails, one of your double agents within EAGLE.

“Was the Featherstone building you? It was right?” Nails launches right into it when you have his call connected to you.

“You know I won’t answer that.”

“Doesn’t matter, EAGLE brass says it was. Word is that Cobra is gearing up for something big and . . . word is that you’re behind the icecaps.

Your momentary pause speaks for you.

(1/2)

“Ah! I knew it. Shit, how’d you pull that off? Look, it doesn’t matter. I’m telling you for your own good that EAGLE is digging. They’re in talks with some higher ups in China and Russia too.”

“What about?”

“Dunno. That’s all need to know stuff. I do know that they’re interviewing those kidnapped executives. So far nothing concrete from em but I think they’re trying to trace where you kept them. That and hunting for major power consumption. Fresh power lines, solar plants, nuclear reactors, that sort of thing. They’ve got international inspectors starting to snoop for it.”

That’s bad. If international inspectors come into Cobrastan they’re going to start making connections.That, or you close the border to them and functionally become a rogue nation. It should protect you from anything short of clandestine raids or a formal declaration of war, but it will make your pet nation much more of a pariah.

“What else?”

“That’s all I got. I think you kicked up an anthill, bud.”

“I don’t pay you for your interpretation of events,” you reply.

“Sure. Just keep that shit coming my way. Nails out.”

You know the hostages were kept and transported in conditions that makes their sense of direction useless. There’s no way they can report where they were kept. But . . . it’s possible that EAGLE can deduce a rough geographic region with enough work. More alarmingly if they are sending inspectors around you’ll have to do something. Currently you have no reactors in Cobrastan to show them, and even if you did your nation - outwardly still Badhikistan - will seem suspect for other reasons.


>Maintain the course, if we scramble now it will just alert them
>If they request entry to the country we will refuse them (Cobrastan becomes a rogue nation)
>Evacuate all evidence of Cobra to Druzhbha and return the reactors at first opportunity
>Write in

>>4485426
>Evacuate all evidence of Cobra to Druzhbha and return the reactors at first opportunity

>>4485426
>>Evacuate all evidence of Cobra to Druzhbha and return the reactors at first opportunity

>>4485426
>Evacuate all evidence of Cobra to Druzhbha and return the reactors at first opportunity

>>Evacuate all evidence of Cobra to Druzhbha and return the reactors at first opportunity

Let's try and keep quiet as long as possible, though we need to get rolling on expanding our forces.

>>4485426
>Buy up a construction company in China, start laying powerlines that connect to places that look like Government Black Ops sites

>>4485426
>>Maintain the course, if we scramble now it will just alert them

>>4485426
Half maintain half get rid of the evidence.
Also lets see if we can get some more rattlers and get Wild Weasel to train up some new pilots

>>4485283
What if we turn it off now?

>>4485504
I want to explore this idea a bit more.

>>4485426
>>Maintain the course, if we scramble now it will just alert them

Don't panic.

>>4485426
>>Maintain the course, if we scramble now it will just alert them

>>4480550
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqSosWb3FCE

>>4485426
>Maintain the course, if we scramble now it will just alert them
It's not like we chose the most subtle way to run the nation, they're going to find out soon enough either way.

Regardless we may want to think about another secret base. COBRA will likely need to shrink again at some point if we want the heat to cool down. Or go balls deep and declare war on the world.

>>4485426
>>Evacuate all evidence of Cobra to Druzhbha and return the reactors at first opportunity

>>4485616
>Also lets see if we can get some more rattlers and get Wild Weasel to train up some new pilots
We should get our specialists in each area to train some elite forces.

>Evacuate all evidence of Cobra to Druzhbha and return the reactors at first opportunity
>>4485444
>>4485460
>>4485469
>>4485490
>>4485884

>Maintain the course, if we scramble now it will just alert them
>>4485538
>>4485665
>>4485673
>>4485725

>Evacuate to Druzbha

>writing

>>4486159
This kind of shit is why we need Zartan. So he can be the President of Cobrastan while we do Cobra Commander things like yell Cobra! and trap autobots in human sized android bodies.

It was a possibility you’d long prepared for, the eventuality of Cobrastan coming under scrutiny. Evacuation orders are issue swiftly. All Cobra combat forces and leadership will relocate to your main base in Druzhba. You’ll leave behind only the original Badhikistani military and a puppet government to maintain the illusion that business continues as usual in Badhikistan.

The reactors are decoupled from the Dominator at once and flown to Cobra City to be connected to the power grid.

It’s a monumental movement of forces that takes weeks to complete but it gives you time to organize another two battalions of troops in Druzhba. You now control nine battalions of men, as well as one battalion of Crimson Guard, and another of Destro’s Iron Grenadiers. With advanced weaponry and training they are more than a match for virtually any nation’s military. You’re rapid enough to strike and fade and tough enough to withstand a conventional attack long enough to slip away. So far only EAGLE has the training and tools to counter you in a meaningful way. Even then, there’s a chance you could smash them in a standup fight.

Druzhba itself is heavily defended, but aside from the COIL retreat it’s also your last base. Nestled in a wooded valley which brims with weaponry it’s a veritable fortress, one that even EAGLE would be hard pressed to capture.

With your global warming plan halted, at least for now, you’ve directed Tomax to sell off the assets you acquired to bolster your liquid capital.

The Sino-Russian War has officially ended with a peace treaty, each side gradually drawing down from the border. The official death toll numbers just shy of one hundred thousand.

You’re just starting to get comfortable in Druzhba when the call from Cutter comes in. Your second, and arguably more reliable EAGLE spy.

(1/2)

“EAGLE is conducting an internal investigation,” he says. “I think they’re onto us.”

“Slow down, Cutter. What’s going on?”

The soldier takes a breath before continuing, “Some kind of commotion in the brass. I think they suspect a leak.”

Your evacuation maybe? It’s possible EAGLE is closer to you than you’ve suspected. It seems that all your preparations in fortifying this base weren’t wasted. “What sort of commotion?”

“They’re interviewing people, checking backgrounds. It’s classic internal investigation. Should I cut and run?”

“No,” you say firmly. “No, that will just tip them off. You’ve done nothing wrong, they have no way to tie you to us. I’ll give them something else to worry about.” You key in a message to Baroness to leak the fake documents on another EAGLE operative, Hollywood. Once again, your foresight paid off. “Keep your head down until this blows over.”

“Right,” Cutter says before hanging up.

You’ll feed Hollywood to the internal affairs investigators. That should keep your minions safe for now. Still, it’s troubling that EAGLE could be closing onto you.

“I’ve heard back from the Arashikage,” Baroness says on arriving in your makeshift throne room. “Rather than a representative, they’ve invited you to come to one of their castles personally and speak with them.”

“Is that unusual?” you ask.

“I’m . . . afraid I can’t say. I don’t know very much about them. The Arashikage are ninja mercenaries who operate on a strict honor code. Usually. They’re secretive though so I imagine a personal invitation is a measure of respect.”

“Hm.” You drum your fingers on the armrest of the throne. “This is a difficult time. I don’t want to disrespect a potential ally, but I also hate to leave Cobra on the precipice of major action.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m concerned that EAGLE is onto us.”

“Why would you think so?”

You shake your head, “A gut feeling. They seem to be reacting to my moves.”

“You want to strike first?” Baroness asks.

“I’m not sure.”


>Go in person to Japan
>Send Baroness in your stead
>Send a trusted lieutenant
>Write in

>>4486224
>>Go in person to Japan
Let's not disrespect the crazy honorbound ninja clan.
Tell Cobra to go to ground and not do anything stupid.

>>4486224
>We go in person
>Direct Cobra to lie still, Have the baroness draw up viable places to attack Eagle at in retaliation if they make a move against us.

>>4486224
>Go in person to Japan

>>4486224
Backing this >>4486229

>>4486229
The attacks should occur simultaneous to their attacks against us. Make them think we saw their move coming from a mile off

With the dominator out of operation and poles melting on their own, we are in a waiting period, with no concrete plans. However, Eagle is closing in, so this seems to be a good time to move against them, we have time, resources and the need to set them back. I propose this plan for when we return from the ninjas;
-assemble a few battalions of expendable mercs equipped in cobra gear, supported by one or two of our battalions.
-have our main force stealthily gather in an isolated location near north america.
-arrange a 'leak' to Eagle a few hours before the operation.
-assault two high value targets (military hardware or government resource stockpiles maybe) in south america with the merc force.
-attack the eagle base with the main force, while their main force is after the diversion attacks.

If they refuse to take the bait (and send their main force) we can use our main force to attack a third target or crush any small forces they send to the diversions. At worst, we can use the resources gained to recruit the surviving mercs into a more permanent expendable formation based out of a second base to take heat.

>>4486229
Ditto
Also just thinking, that dude who we discarded as an option, the one with the mistress? We don’t really have to turn him, just her, and it’d give us another “Agent” working within EAGLE

>>4486293
I'm pretty sure we just fed him to internal affairs to keep the heat off us, or was that a different dude?

>>4486303
I don’t remember that, I thought we left him alone for the time being, I know we have two agents working in Eagle

>>4486229
Supporting this.

>>4486343
>>4486303
We looked into two dudes. The druggy and the Patriot

I think we ditched the Druggy.

>>4486350
We looked at 3 people; Hollywood (adulterer), Nails (druggie), Cutter (disillusioned soldier). We recruited the later 2. We have just (>>4486224) gave up Hollywood to Eagle to throw them off.

>>4486224
>Go in person to Japan

>>4486368
This is correct

>We go in person
>Direct Cobra to lie still, Have the baroness draw up viable places to attack Eagle at in retaliation if they make a move against us.


>Writing

>>4486422
>We go to prison
No Cobra commander, not already!

“Potentially,” you say. “Baroness, do me a favor and draw up some plans for us to strike EAGLE where it hurts, hm?”

She smiles. “I can do that.”

“In the event they make a move while I’m away I want you to attack.”

Surprise registers on her face. “Me? You want me to run Cobra?”

“In my absence,” you clarify.

“I won’t fail you, Commander.”

“I know.” As long as Destro doesn’t bend her ear. “Have Cobra stand down and lie still. Not even a twitch. I want EAGLE to lose the trail.”

“I can do that.”

“I’ll take Arashikage up on this offer. Ready transport to Japan.”

“With your bodyguard?”

“A few men,” you say. “Taipan, Ghost Bear, enough troopers to fill a platoon.”

“You expect trouble?”

You grin to yourself. “They’re ninjas, Baroness. Trouble they have in spades.”

You take a small jet from the base along with your chosen men. Ghost Bear and Taipan aren’t much for words. The hunter and the sniper keep to themselves on the long flight to Hokkaido, the home of Arashikage Castle. After landing at a private airfield outside of Sapporo, you travel the remaining distance to the castle by vehicle. The countryside is serene, wooded, mountainous. Snow capped peaks overlook dark, forested valleys. It’s on the rocky slope of one of these mountains you see the castle.

Like many Japanese castles it’s primarily wooden in construction with a large stone foundation and curving rooftops. This fortress is surrounded by an old wall that runs along the valley side, carving out a small compound.

Upon reaching the main gate a humorless guard confirms your invitation before allowing you in. Inside the walls you see that this castle is a fully functional training center that blends the modern with the archaic. Rifle ranges sit beside sword fighting dummies and archery ranges. Young men and women are training at some of these stations when you exit the vehicle.

A delegation approaches from the castle, drawing your attention.

In the lead is an old man with a placid, blank expression. To either side of him are young men, each with the features concealed in the proto-typical ninja armor. Only their eyes are visible, and they look hard.

They stop a short distance away and all give half bows to you.

“You are the one they call Cobra Commander,” the older man says. “I am Tetsuo. Welcome.” His English is flawless.

“Yes,” you look around, “This is an impressive facility.”

Tetsuo smiles blankly. “My students will show your men our complex. I would like to join you for tea.”

(1/2)

He says it like it’s an invitation, but he offers you no choice. You follow him back into the castle where you are led through a labyrinth of corridors and tight spaces. You cross a few vast, open halls floored with many thin strips of polished wood that creak loudly at your passing. Somehow Tetsuo seems not to make a sound.

Eventually he slides open a paper-paneled door revealing a quaint tea room.

“Please, sit.”

You do so, kneeling at the table as he does, not trusting yourself to speak yet.

Tetsuo begins pouring tea for each of you. “I do not mean to be rude. I am sure you will refuse to drink in my presence,” he says. “It is a habit. Consider it a ritual.” He places the cup before you. “We take such things very seriously here. As a leader of men I am sure you understand the power of habit and tradition.”

“I do,” you say at last.

“I know you are a powerful man,” Tetsuo says. “One who could make great use of my students. The two showing your men the facility now are my best. One is fury and the other silence. Together they form a harmony, the sort of harmony our clan thrives on. Storm and shadow. Arashikage. You see?”

You think you do. “Yes. Why are you telling me this?”

Tetsuo smiles slightly. “I want you to understand a bit of who we are. I know so much about you, Cobra Commander. You speak through actions. Your actions are rage, fire, and violence.”

“I believe in exercising power,” you say, “to achieve my goals.”

“It’s one path.”

“And not always the best one. That’s why I’d like to enlist your services.”

“It will be a challenging thing,” Tetsuo says. “There are some who feel you are not to be dealt with.”

“Because I am a criminal?”

“Because you are dangerous. Criminal is a classification under the law. Cobra Commander, you are a killer not of men but of systems. Some might say anarchist, but this is too simple.”


>And how do you feel about it?
>I have the money to overcome any objections you may have
>I’m only interested in contracting your best ninja
>Write in

>>4486491
>And how do you feel about it?

>>4486491
>>And how do you feel about it?

>>4486491
>And how do you feel about it?

>>4486491
>I am a follower of the old ways, I seek to tear down the current system and unite the world under the rule of absolute power, make it a place where men of strength can take what they wish and do as they please, instead of having to bow to sniveling bureaucrats. I think you can understand how such a world could be beneficial to your order.

>>4486491
>And how do you feel about it?

>>4486491
>And your feelings on the matter?

>>4486491
>>I have the money to overcome any objections you may have

right, so eagle is getting its panties in a twist, but we've learned something new now. We can accelerate a weather point into permanency with but 2 months.

Time to starve the USA. Bring eagle crashing down on empty stomachs, once the...heh...heat has died down.

Sorry guys, feeling out of it today. I'll continue this tomorrow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IMcXkvtrLQ
|
>And how do you feel about it?

>Writing

“You don’t seem the type to be swayed by the opinions of others,” you say. “What are your feelings?”

Tetsuo smiles politely, “I feel that you will destroy us as well.”

“If I wanted to destroy you I wouldn’t have come here,” you say. “Not like this.”

“No,” Tetsuo agrees, pausing to sip his tea slowly, savoring the warmth and aroma. “No. I don’t think you want to, but I think you will. You are a man at war with the world and at war with yourself.”

You grrin behind your mask, “My war is just with the people who made it this way.”

Tetsuo again smiles politely. “The Arashikage are ninjas. We are not soldiers. We have not survived this long by involving ourselves in wars.”

“Then don’t be soldiers,” you return, “By my shadows, my assassins, my spies.”

“I only tell you this so you can understand our limitations, Commander. I do not deny you our services, but I will not let you make us a part of Cobra.”

“For the right price?”

“We work for money,” Tetsuo says, “But our loyalty isn’t bought. It is freely given. We are not mercenaries. We are professionals who ply our trade.”

Your grin only widens, unable to keep condescension from your voice. “I’m sure you are.” You’ve dealt with enough professional killers to know that they’re equal parts capitalists and killers.

Tetsuo’s face remains unreadable.

“I can offer you one of my best students if you’d like,” he says.

“We’re a large organization,” you say.

“A team is possible,” Tetsuo says. “It will be more expensive of course.”

“And who will they listen to? Me or you?”

Tetsuo smiles silently for a moment. “They will obey their code of honor first and foremost. They will uphold the name of this school secondly, and they will carry out the missions you give them.”

It sounds like a lot of hand holding. “I’d prefer less oversight,” you say. “This sounds like giving your students on the job training but with extra steps.”

“These are our conditions.”


>I’ll hire one
>I’ll hire a team
>Thank you, but I can’t agree to these terms
>Write in

>>4491879
>I would prefer to know your schools teachings properly, to what this code of honour entails. And then a demonstration of your students or best student, so that I may see what I am paying for.

So this is the man who must die if we are to take over this clan. Very well, we want the anti-establishment new blood to win. But first let's see who he is offering

>>4491879
>I’ll hire a team

>>4491879
Backing this >>4491919

>>4491919
sure

>>4491919

>This

Writing

“I would prefer to know your school’s teachings properly,” you say, “what this code of honor entails.”

Tetsuo laughs softly, “To distill years of teachings into a single conversation is nearly impossible but I will strive my best. My clan is taught to practice honor. While it is true that we lie in the shadows we are not incapable of recognizing and sparing a worthy foe. A blood debt is always kept. To kill a foe is not enough, first you must best him. Overcome his strength or his wits. We do not kill the innocent.”

This is anathema to everything you believe. The idea of sparing an enemy or refusing to take advantage of a weakness is so contrary to everything you believe. It takes all your willpower to listen to the old man spout this drivel. “I see.”

Tetsuo keeps his smile fixed on his face.

“For hired assassins you certainly have a lot of scruples.”

“Honor is what separates a ninja from a common bandit.”

You happen to like common bandits. Tetsuo will probably have to die.

“Why don’t you show me the students you have available for us?”

“With pleasure.”

(1/2)

Tetsuo takes you back to the castle’s inner yard where you see most of the trainees have cleared away, forming into ranks, perhaps fifty men altogether.

“Some of our number are away on assignment, but most of what you see here is the core of the Arashikage Clan,” Tetsuo explains.

You see Taipan, Ghost Bear, and your men off to one side as well.

“My best discipline,” Tetsuo says, indicating a ninja covered head to toe in the clan’s traditional gear, black. Even his eyes are concealed behind a narrow visor. “The silent warrior.”

The ninja bows to you, bending at the waist.

You return the gesture with a slight incline of your head.

“Snake Eyes,” Tetsuo says, addressing the warrior. “Demonstrate your skill for Cobra Commander.”

Without a word, the ninja proceeds through the gamut of training areas. An obstacle course, archery course, rifle range, at each station he performs with skill and swiftness you’ve never seen before. His shots fly true, his movements are sure and deliberate.

At the final station he produces a sword and engages with a number of other students, swiftly disarming and disabling each one without killing any of them. At the conclusion he returns to deliver the same bow which Tetsuo returns.

“Awfully quiet,” you say when Snake Eyes returns to the other students.

“Snake Eyes does not speak.”

“Ah.” As if that makes sense. “You mentioned another ninja? Fury?”

“Yes,” Tetsuo says with something akin to amusement. “I think that he is perhaps too much aligned with your worldview. I had hoped he might learn temperance from his sword brother.” Tetsuo gestures and another ninja steps forward, this one in white. His eyes fix on yours, hard, smoldering. This is a look you might almost recognize from looking into a mirror. This is a man with anger in his heart.

“He has taken the clan’s name as his own,” Tetsuo says. “Storm Shadow, demonstrate your abilities.”

You see why Tetsuo referred to these men as ‘sword brothers’. Storm Shadow is at least as skilled as Snake Eyes, running the course with ease. It isn’t until the sword match that you note Storm Shadow seems to have more of a violent edge, bodying his opponents ferociously and reacting with speed and fury where Snake Eyes might have used grace and skill.

“Impressive,” you say after Storm Shadow returns and delivers a bow. “And I can hire them both if I choose?”

“The one or the other,” Tetsuo says. “I’m afraid no amount of money in the world can convince me to give my two best pupils to one client.”


>I’ll take Snake Eyes
>I’ll take Storm Shadow
>I’ll need to think on this.
>Write in

>>4492059
>I’ll take Storm Shadow

>>4492059
>I’ll need to think on this.

Personally I want too cuck the old man, So if we throw him for a loop now. We can sweep in easier later.

>>4492059
>I will need to consider this.

Perhaps we should leave the clan to degrade a bit, then step in for the winner. Because while stormshadow is our man, this old geezer NEEDS to be taken out for this clan to be of any use to us. All we need do, is wait like a cobra and spark the flames of hate when he croaks

>>4492059
>>I’ll take Storm Shadow

>>4492059
>I’ll need to think on this.
Storm Shadow is the clear winner, but there's no need to give the old man an immediate answer.

>>4492059
>I’ll take Storm Shadow

>>4492320
+1

>>4492059
>>I’ll need to think on this.

>>4492320
+1

>I’ll need to think on this.

>Writing

“Both are impressive candidates,” you say. “You’ll forgive me if I consider my options before acting.”

“This is no problem at all,” Tetsuo says, undaunted. “You know what we offer and know what we can do.”

“We’ll be in touch.”

As you leave you are willing to admit that you covet what this ninja clan has. Such power in your hands would be invaluable but the time isn’t ripe. Tetsuo will have to go and the clan’s values will need to be broken down into something you can work with first.

Back in the small villa you’re staying at you call Baroness to get up to speed for what you’ve missed in the intervening days.

“The UN inspectors arrived in Cobrastan,” she says. “They’re moving through the country and they will find nothing.”

“Excellent. And EAGLE?”

“Observation of EAGLE HQ suggests they are on high alert, ready to deploy.”

“Eager to make the kill,” you say.

“Commander, I don’t need to tell you this but if we are to succeed in our plans we will need to destroy EAGLE.”

“I’m well aware of that, Baroness.” EAGLE is the only organization with the speed and skill to deal Cobra a fatal blow and as such must eventually be dealt with. “You’re wanting to strike now?”

“The longer we lie low the more time they’ll have to hunt for us. If they’re onto Cobrastan then it may just be a matter of time before they find Druzhba.”

“Leave that to me.”

A small pause. “How did the meeting go with the Arashikage?”

“Their master is a foolish old man,” you say. “Incompatible with Cobra I’m afraid. He’ll have to go.”

“Taking out a ninja is no small feat,” Baroness says. “But doable.”

You make a non-committal sound as you consider your options. Striking EAGLE would retake the initiative from them but toppling Arashikage would also give you access to more skilled warriors.

“There is something else I wanted to bring up.”

“Go on.”

“The Graham family owns a major stake in worldwide news broadcasting as I am sure you’re aware.”

It’s strange to hear Baroness refer to her family as though she’s outside of it, but you can understand the sentiment.

“Cable TV stations, radio stations, you name it. This network would give us global outreach if we were to tap into it and hijack the signal. It would be possible to deliver ultimatums or demand ransoms. We could use it to destabilize things or even make our mission statement known.”

“Risky,” you say. “But you know of a central nerve we can pierce?”

“Of course.”


>We’ll assassinate Tetsuo
>We’ll strike at EAGLE
>We’ll hijack International News Network’s signal
>Write in

>>4492833
>>We’ll strike at EAGLE

>>4492833

>We’ll hire one of the ninjas for now, perhaps fan the rebellious flames in the clan. Prepare to tap into the broadcast network. Prepare an “exposé” on Eagle to paint them as a pork barrel pet project with no civilian oversight used for black ops and assassinations. Play up the anti-war angle, tap into the “woke” culture for it.

>>4492833
>We’ll strike at EAGLE

I had a plan about this (>>4486257), I will propose it when selecting the attack strategy. Would be nice to know people's opinions on it.

>>4492833
We should get ninjas before striking at eagle, and taking over the news should be easy and beneficial enough.

>>4492833
>Keep an eye on the ninjas, wait for the moment to strike.

But I think it time to strike at eagle. Lure them out with a false operation and attack their base. Take out command and then trap the place.

>>4492833
>>We’ll strike at EAGLE

>>4492833
>Hire Storm Shadow and strike at EAGLE

>>4492833
>>We’ll strike at EAGLE
Set them back and we can move on to bigger things

I honestly wonder if we could beat not eagle per say, but the politicians that hold their purse strings.

Either through blackmail, bribes, or support and donations to their political campaigns.

Heck, military projects and bases get cut all the time for one reason or another. Beat em without firing a shot.

>We’ll strike at EAGLE
>>4492852
>>4492857
>>4493164
>>4493180
>>4492956


>Hire Storm Shadow then strike at EAGLE
>>4492856
>>4492947
>>4493168

>Strike at EAGLE
>Writing

“I’d really wanted to use the Weather Dominator against them,” you say wistfully, “But I think the time is right to strike at EAGLE, knock them back down a peg and demonstrate to the world how powerless they are.”

“Yes!” Baroness says excitedly. “Smash the guardians of the old order!”

“How are we set for weapons?”

“Destro has armed all ten of our battalions with the latest weapons and armor from Mars Industries.”

“At least he’s good for something,” you say. “We can leave a skeleton force to protect Druzbha, our two newest battalions while the rest concentrate on our objective.”

“EAGLE Headquarters?” Baroness is breathless with excitement.

“Possibly,” you say, pacing the villa, glancing from time to time out the windows to survey the nighttime Japanese countryside. “I’d considered a diversionary raid with a few of our units while the bulk strike at EAGLE HQ, steal what we can and destroy the rest.”

“There is another option,” Baroness says. “EAGLE HQ is quite rural, hidden from view. A victory there would have major strategic ramifications in the short term but it might only push them back on their strengths. We might also strike not at their supply depots but at their purse strings.”

“I’m interested. Go on.”

“If we can draw EAGLE into open battle on ground of our choosing and best them, we will deliver a fatal blow to public confidence in them. If we strike Washington DC itself and defeat EAGLE there then America and the world will know that no one is safe.”

“Open battle in a major city? We’d be giving them an invitation to the ball then.”

“I believe our men are ready.”

You know your men are ready, but an open battle against EAGLE sounds supremely risky. Defeat there would mean major material losses for you and a loss of face, though victory would potentially doom future funding for EAGLE.

You might use DC as the target of your diversionary attack though by its very nature your forces will be driven off or withdraw in the face of EAGLE attacks.

“What about the Dominator?”

“It’s offline, Commander.”

“I know that, how soon can we get it back online?”

“A matter of days. We can employ Cobra heavy lift and some of our slaves to redeploy those reactors from Cobra City to our base here.”

Having ‘air cover’ from the Weather Dominator would be invaluable, granting your forces a measure of protection from EAGLE’s substantive air force or even just disrupting communications and sowing confusion though it will mean delaying a few days to move the reactors of course. The UN inspection is complete so it should be safe to move them now.


>Diversionary attack on DC with a main effort on EAGLE HQ
>Main attack on DC to draw in EAGLE forces and defeat them
>Redeploy the Dominator, diversionary attack on DC and main effort on EAGLE HQ.
>Write in

>>4493357
>>Redeploy the Dominator, diversionary attack on DC and main effort on EAGLE HQ.

>>4493357
>Redeploy the Dominator, diversionary attack on DC and main effort on EAGLE HQ.

>>4493357
>redeploy the dominator, diversionary attack in DC, attack the base.

Remember, we want their command apparatus captured or wiped out.

>>4493357
>Redeploy the Dominator, diversionary attack on DC and main effort on EAGLE HQ.

>>4493366
>>4493374
>>4493379
>>4493421

>Writing

Are we gonna give an excuse to pull our spies out?

They don't need to know why or what's up, just that they should meet us and we keep em safe while they have an excuse to not be there?

“Begin the air lift at once. We’ll get the Weather Dominator back online and rain death on EAGLE and the United States.”

“I’ll do that,” Baroness says.

“Major Bludd will lead the assault, Ghost Bear the diversion. Have Dr. Mindbender begin preparations to unleash the Dominator. I’ll return to Druzbha tomorrow morning.”

“I await eagerly,” Baroness says.

Your own excitement makes time seem to crawl but you arrive in Druzbha just as the first reactor is being installed. The base is alive with activity as your battalions arm up and ship out. HISS tanks roll up cargo ramps to pack the belly holds of cargo planes. The attack on EAGLE HQ will be air dropped in the wilderness under the cover of a storm and then advance on the base while Ghost Bear’s diversion will strike at Washington DC.

You assemble your commanders and review the plan. Destro and Tomax attend the meeting remotely as Bludd reviews it.

“We’ll have Taipan and his scouts on this ridge line-” Bludd indicates the mountain range with a pointer “to keep us posted on enemy action. Once we’re satisfied the main body of EAGLE forces have rolled out we’ll kick on your little thunder machine and drive right up their ass.” He grins. “Easy in, easy out.”

“Confidence you have in excess, Major,” Destro says “But this isn’t a camping trip. This is a military operation.”

Bludd’s features tighten, eyes narrowing slightly as his lip curls into a sneer. Good. “Not hardly,” he agrees. “Once we’ve shot our way inside we’ve got a team of your Iron Grenadiers on standby to make off with any loot that’s not nailed down with an eye for special weapons systems. My mate Wild Weasel’d like to get his paws on one of those Sky Strikers.”

(1/2)

“As would I,” Destro agrees.

“How long do you expect the operation will take?” You ask.

Bludd shrugs. “Hour tops. We’ll be out before they know we’re in.”

You look to Ghost Bear, “And you understand your role?”

The hunter snorts, “Bull in a china shop. You want us to trash the DC mall and then flee, yes?”

“Something like that. Long enough to draw them in, but not so long that you overstay your welcome. Timing is critical.”

“We’ve got it.”

“Tomax, I expect you to do nothing more than keep your head down,” you say. “I see no reason to risk everything in one operation. And Destro-”

“Yes?”

You allow yourself a sneer of your own, “Just be ready for the gear we bring back.”

Destro smiles sardonically.

You rise to your feet to address your assembled leadership. “A matter of days we will begin the largest operation in Cobra history. If everything has gone the way I plan then this attack will come as a complete surprise to the enemy. Once EAGLE is smashed there is going to be nothing standing between us-” you pause and lower your voice, “and world domination. Cobra!”

“Cobra!”

After the meeting Baroness remains behind as the others file out.

“Something more?” You ask her.

“Where will you have me during all this, Commander?”

“Baroness, you’ve proven yourself worthy enough to choose your own role.”

She seems to find this answer unsatisfying. “You’ll be here?”

“Monitoring the Dominator,” you say, “And coordinating the attacks. I have capable leaders in the field. My presence would be distracting.”

“Do you need assistance here? Or would you prefer I act as your eyes in the field?”


>Stay with me
>Go with Bludd
>write in

>>4493594
>Go with Bludd

Is there any way we can drug some workers at the HQ and tell us about the base? Or even better and smuggle in some explosives?

>>4493577
It's not a part of the default plan, possible if enough people want it. That just raises the possibility of the plan being discovered.

>>4493609
Also possible if people want it, but it risks detection as well.

>>4493594
>Go with Bludd

>>4493594
>Go with Bludd

>>4493594
>>Go with Bludd

>>4493577
meh they're either smart enough to figure out it's us and maybe get like wounded on purpose or something or they aren't

>>4493594
Tell Tomax and Destro to start researching and manufacturing seasteading technology. With the world's sea levels rising rapidly, millions of people will be looking for a home. A home that COBRA and COIL can provide.

>>4493594
>>Go with Bludd

>>4493594
>Go with Bludd. Your technological skills will be useful in slicing their computers.

Baroness is an info sponge thief right? She should have an easy time with locks and nabbing info from the Joe's.

>Go with Bludd

>Writing

“I need your eyes and thoughts on the intel Bludd might encounter. Hack into their computer systems, get anything you can.”

She gives you a half-bow. “Thank you, Commander.” There is a pause, “Truthfully I missed being in the field. I like the action.”

“It’s a curse then that you’re too valuable to me at my side. Go. Enjoy yourself. Major Bludd will retain tactical command but I expect you to advise him well.”

“Yes, Commander.”

It isn’t much later that your army takes flight, a legion of elite combat personnel ready to visit your vengeance on the country where your mission first formed in your mind. In the intervening day you busy yourself overseeing the re-activation of the Weather Dominator. Dr. Mindbender is here as well, a joint tucked behind his ear as he supervises.

“They’re never gonna know what hit em,” he says.

“Doctor, have you kept abreast of the situation with the poles? Do you know how much longer until they’ve melted away?”

Mindbender looks momentarily guilty. “Ah. Well at last count . . . uh they won’t.”

You grit your teeth, eyes flashing. “How is that?”

“Well it looks like whatever cascade we generated petered out when we shut the Dominator down. I mean don’t get me wrong, the damage is done! Miami is a foot or two closer to being underwater.” He chuckles before catching that you’re not laughing. “It’s not cataclysmic though. Yet.”

“I’ve directed Tomax to diversify into post-flood technology and industries and now you tell me it’s for nothing?”

Mindbender laughs nervously and holds up his hands, “Hey don’t shoot the messenger, man. I mean it’s bad but it’s not gonna flood the earth yet or anything. I’m sure we can get it going again.”

You look over the kidnapped science team. There are fewer of them than you recall. Those that remain have a zombie-like look of dull complacency on their face. Whatever Mindbender is giving them to make them pliable is taking its toll mentally and physically. You’re glad you already have the Dominator assembled, you’re not sure they’re in any shape to build another.

“Could be interference too maybe.”

“Interference?”

He nods, “Some kinda joint US/EU project. They announced they intend to reverse the damage done to the planet’s climate via weather manipulation. Maybe they got their own Dominator running?”

You doubt that’s possible given the short time frame. Still, you have proven the concept and you did leave EAGLE in possession of a number of relevant scientists.

You turn back to Mindbender and press a finger against his sternum, your mask close to his face. “I tolerate your extracurricular activities, doctor, and I bankroll your habits. Your little hobbies aren’t cheap. I allow you these luxuries because you give me results and you never shirk from a job. Don’t make me regret this leniency.”

“Y-yeah. Easy, man.”

(1/2)

You sign and turn away. “No matter. We’ll resume our ecological assault soon enough. Get the device working and attune it for atmospheric disruption over EAGLE HQ.”

The final preparations take minutes and are completed by the time Bludd and Ghost Bear signal arrival. The main command center of Druzbha is full of TV monitors displaying remote footage of the forces in position. You take special note of EAGLE HQ. strangely it seems not dissimilar from your own current base. A small airfield in a wooded valley. Taipan’s spotting team is monitoring the situation from a nearby hillside.

“No activity so far,” Taipan says, his whispered voice carried through your command center by speakers.

You’re bothered that you have heard nothing from either of your moles in EAGLE yet. Granted, last time you’d spoken with Cutter he told you that EAGLE was actively working to root out spies and you’d advised him to go dark. All the same, you don’t like operating in the dark.

“Ghost Bear. Begin the operation.”

The attack on Washington DC begins with furious activity. A series of explosions around the base of the Washington monument sever the stone obelisk and send it crashing to the ground before your armored teams swarm out from staging points around the city. Metropolitan police and standby national guard units are swept away with no trouble as your men set work work attacking government office buildings and monuments throughout the city.

INN carries live footage from the attack on its primary news channels. The message is unmissable. Cobra is here, Cobra is dangerous, and Cobra can’t be stopped. As satisfying as it is, this is not the main effort.

You turn your attention to Taipan’s footage where you see an alert force scramble from EAGLE HQ. A small one.

You frown. A single squadron of Sky Strikers and a few transport planes. Maybe a battalion worth.

Minutes tick by with no further activity.

“Commander.” It’s Major Bludd this time. “Looks like EAGLE’s not taking the bait, sir.”

Troubling.


>Begin your attack, Major
>Hold until their main force leaves
>Write in

>>4494656
>Hold until their main force leaves

If they want D.C. to burn, So be it.

>>4494656
>Hold until their main force leaves

>>4494656
>>Begin your attack, Major

>>4494656
>>Hold until their main force leaves
Worst case, we burn DC and attack the base later.

>>4494727
Support

>Hold until their main force leaves

>Writing

“If they want to let DC burn, so be it. Wait them out, Major.”

“Sir.”

Ghost Bear’s force runs amok in the city though they are too few in number to truly take and hold ground. The White House security team punches above their weight though, keeping your troops at bay with sniper fire and anti-tank weaponry.

The Capitol building is less fortunate. A pair of HISS tanks crush a police blockade before the building and deploy their squads who hurry up the front steps and inside, ransacking the building.

It brings a smile to your face but still feels so incomplete. You’re all too aware of the temporary nature of this attack.

Another twenty minutes pass with no further response from EAGLE HQ.

“Maybe we can put rounds on the base to wake em up, Commander,” Bludd suggests.

“I understand you’re eager, Major, but I won’t let you endanger my men because of your anticipation.”

Nearby some of your technical operators cluster to review a data feed.

“I’ll be good, Commander. Bludd out.”

You look away from the carnage in DC to observe your men. After a moment, Dr. Mindbender approaches to speak with them. “What’s all that commotion?” You demand.

Mindbender looks up and blinks. “Uh. Probably a technical glitch.”

“A glitch? What glitch.”

“We’ve lost contact with the number three anti-aircraft battery, sir,” one of the technicians says.

“Number three . . . “ you repeat the words willing them to register in your mind. There were no AA batteries involved in your attack unless he means- “The one here?”

“Yes sir.”

His console beeps again. “That’s . . . the number two battery offline.”

Your stomach sinks as you cross the room to peer over his shoulder. Two radar stations have gone offline on the northern perimeter of your base. These early warning posts are intended to provide coverage for the mouth of the valley to prevent easy access for infiltration or attack.

“Who’s in charge of the base garrison?” you ask Mindbender.

“Uh, Juggernaut I think.”

“Have him get a team to each of those sites. Now.” Your uneasy feeling persists. Maybe it is just a tech failure, but . . . two sites on the same side of the base? Could EAGLE have tracked you here? You return to the console and call up Baroness. “Any activity?”

“No, Commander.”

“Patrols?”

“Fewer than we’d expect. Is something wrong?”

You feel a slight tremor. Really just a minor vibration. It could be anything, an AC unit turning on, a vehicle driving overhead or-

(1/2)

“Surface explosion,” one of your technicians says.

“Weapons fire on the north end of the base!”

“EAGLE,” you growl the word to Baroness before turning to your techs. “I want a status report, now!”

“Looks like EAGLE ground forces advancing down the mouth of the valley, lots of em!” You spot fresh radar signatures approaching a moment later. Aircraft.

“The base is empty because they’re all here,” you snarl before toggling your com to the tactical channel, “Juggernaut, deploy your men for combat at once!”

“Right away, sir!”

You toggle back to Baroness.

“An attack?” She looks worried.

“It seems our EAGLE friends have the same idea we do.”

“We’ll return to HQ at once!” Baroness says.

You know at once it’s too late for that. That’s hours on hours of redeploying and logistical movement. By the time your forces are there the damage will be done to this base. All that remains is to minimize losses and hope that you can fend off this raid.


>Proceed with your attack, I’ll handle things here
>Abort the operations and withdraw to COIL headquarters.
>Get whatever you can back here *NOW*
>Write in

>>4494782
>Proceed with your attack, I’ll handle things here
>Ensure they burn baroness, This is merely a set back.

>MIND BREAKER GET THE DEVICE FLOWING TO GIVE US OUR EDGE!

>>4494786
Support

>>4494786
yeah might as well base trade

>>4494786
Yep, let's go.

>>4494786

>Writing

“Proceed with your attack, I’ll handle things here.”

“If you wish, Commander.” She looks worried but determined.

“I insist. Ensure that they burn, Baroness. I want them to suffer. Whatever happens here is merely a setback.”

“Of course!”

You kill the channel. “Mindbender!”

“Yeah?”

“Engage the Dominator. Target the enemy north of the base.”

“Sure about that, man?”

“Never question my decisions,” you return, “now do as you’re told!”

The monitors displaying EAGLE HQ light up with gunfire as the combined military might of Cobra descends from the high ground around the base, trashing defensive structures and perimeter fencing with laser fire as they breach and enter. You don’t have time to savor it, striding from the control room and making for the armory as squads of Cobra troopers rush past, hurrying to assume defensive positions while more explosions wrack the base.

You hardly notice the quartet of crimson guards who fall into place around you, weapons at the ready. How could Cutter and Nails both fail to warn of of this impending attack? You’d put bells in place to prevent this sort of thing and those bells did not ring. “What good is a bell that doesn’t ring?” You ask yourself.

You reach the armory at the same moment that a breathless Juggernaut does.

“Commander!” he blurts.

You grab a rifle and load it. “Don’t you have a defense to see to?”

He flusters only a moment, “Sir, I- we’re heavily outnumbered, sir.”

Even in the bowels of the base you hear the powerful roll of thunder.

“I hope we just evened the score,” you say. “Ensure that your men are at their posts.”

“Commander,” Juggernaut says, more insistently. “I’m not sure we can hold this base, sir, even with the Dominator.”

“You want to run away?” You ask.

“I want you to escape, sir. You and whatever we can salvage.”


>I’m staying and fighting
>Fine, prepare a plane and begin the evacuation
>Write in

>>4494944

>I’m staying and fighting

>>4494944
>>Fine, prepare a plane and begin the evacuation
>>Write in
Last team out sabotages whatever we can and gathers all the information we can. Even if it's just this week's lunch menu and leaving a lump of C4 in the command chair.

>>4494944
>>I’m staying and fighting

>>4494992
This, unless fighting can hold out long enough for us to do something to turn the tied like say reinforcements coming back to base, then we should bolt.

Only problem is we may be more vulnerable on the run outside.... we should draw in as many of their forces as possible into the base to minimize this.

>>4494944
>Fine, prepare a plane and begin the evacuation

We must destroy anything remotely related to the dominator, we shouldn't let them repurpose it to jumpstart their own eco-project and unmake our efforts in poles.
Also, recall the DC group to escort us out.

>>4494944
Use the dominator for tornadoes and other massively powerful damages on the surface. The enemy is still mostly out there so if we can take out a massive swathe it should even the odds considerably.

>>4495259
I've got an idea. Put out the word in the pit, tell those mercs that there is a bounty on how many eagle personnel and vehicles they take out of commission, with big bucks for taking the forces leaders alive. There must be a battalion or two worth of mercs who can be there in 20 misnute flat. A bit costly but to wipeout eagle with a counter charge they never saw coming? Worth it.

>>4495302
Perhaps use that time to set the Dominator to Wumbo and let er rip? I feel like we can buy enough time that way if the mercs bite

>>4495615
Set dominator to "Utter bed breaking levels of fucked" and let it loose on Eagle. It'll probably damage Cobrastan, but it's a price we should be willing to take. If we cannot hold it, then we should scuttle the base completely.

Consensus seems to be

>Evacuate
>Destroy the base
>Deal as much damage to Eagle as possible

+

Invite merc attacks
and
Set Dominator to "oh shit"

>>4495829
are we at drubzha or cobrastan?

>>4495846
Druzbha which is not in Cobrastan

>>4495857
How far out is it?

>>4495872
In the twisted/nonsensical distances of this universe? Probably about an hour away.

>>4495886
More than enough time for the eagles to be drawn in, get blown to kingdom come and the mercs to come in and wipe up the last of it.

Lets hope that we can get out under the storm cover.

“Prepare a plane and begin the evacuation,” you tell Juggernaut. “Whatever we can get out. Anything we can’t- booby trap or destroy.”

“Yes, Commander!” He hurries off with his own team to undertake the tasks you’ve given him.

Another pair of thunderheads shakes the base and the fluorescents flicker and fail, plunging everything into darkness before the come back on emergency power. Your red-armored bodyguards are looking up and around in amazement at the ferocity of the storm raging overhead.

“This way.” You set back for the control room, rifle now over your shoulder and find Mindbender. He’s grinning wildly at the flickering displays as hail and lightning lash the advancing EAGLE forces. You see a number of burning tanks and trucks littering the valley. The sky over the base is roiling and black, the temperament of an angry god. “Is it working?”

“Like a dream, man. Can’t aim it really but we took about a half squadron of their little planes five minutes ago.”

“Put every ounce of power you can into it,” you say. “Maximum projection.”

Dr. Mindbender looks at you, blinks, and adjusts his frames. “You’re serious?”

“If we can’t have it then I won’t let them either. Once you’ve done that take your team, data, and whatever equipment you can carry and evacuate.”

Mindbender nods, “Yeah. Okay.” He leans over his console to turn a dial all the way to tha maximum.

All of the monitors momentarily fuzz out as two lightning bolts strike near simultaneously, one of them setting fire to a guard tower on the edge of your base, the other fusing an EAGLE battle tank in place. The boom of thunder is god-like here in your bunker, unimaginably loud on the surface. Good.

You take note of the criss-crossing laser fire as both forces clash, Juggernaut’s men and EAGLE’s troops. Your forces are hopelessly outnumbered but giving it their all.

A moment later you dial up the Cobrastan Mercenary pit and connect to your liaison in that cesspool. “A new mission,” you say, “It’s open season on EAGLE. Bonus pay to any man woman or child that kills one or destroys a vehicle.”

The officer is flabbergasted and only gawks at you. “C-Commander?”

“Repeat it!” you spit.

“O-open season on EAGLE! A bounty on personnel and vehicles!”

“How long to get this moving?”

“A-an hour? To get the word out and get-”

“Do it.” You kill the channel already knowing they’ll be too late to come to your aid. Druzbha is finished, you just hope you take enough of them out to make the cost worth it. Another vibration rocks the base, this one smaller, closer.

(1/2)

“Breaching charges,” a technician says. “They’re inside.”

You look at the monitors to see the bulk of EAGLE’s forces still pinned down around the base. A ruse perhaps. You have even less time than you hoped. “Order all forces engaged to fight on, those who can escape should make for the hangars. Destroy your consoles and go.”

Dr. Mindbender and the others don’t hesitate.

“Commander, we should get you out of here.”

“After I get Juggernaut,” you reply. A loyal and capable subordinate for sure, but just as importantly a cybernetics testbed you can’t lose.

The passageways of the base are deserted, the evacuation in full swing and all able bodied men fighting for their lives. It doesn’t take long for you to find Juggernaut and his command team posted in an intersection. “It’s time to go,” you tell him.

An explosion down the hall interrupts any response he might have given. A wall of hot air and smoke washes over you a moment before the laser fire comes, scything down two of Juggernaut’s men.

“EAGLE!” you shout to the others, “Kill them!” You grab Juggernaut by the arm and pull him away as your bodyguards and troopers return fire down the hall.

“S-sir?”

“You and I are leaving,” you explain, rifle in one hand, Juggernaut’s arm in the other. “This position is tenuous.” You’ll be lucky if the mercenaries show up to clear what’s left of EAGLE up.

Something bursts deep in the base, something powerful, enough for the two of you to stagger and catch yourselves on the wall.

“What-”

“The generators are starting to go,” you say. You’d hate to be caught in the Dominator’s reactor room when those nuclear drives start to break down. “We have to hurry.”

Now moving under his own power Juggernaut guides you through the rat’s warren of passages and back up to the surface. Most of the surface structures are poked full of holes and marred with gashes in their sides. You can distantly see a pair of interweaving twisters circling the edge of the base and pulling apart structures over there.

A pair of Cobra transport planes brave this nightmare and take to the sky, shaking like leaves as they fight the wind and climb away.

Your choices of escape are now limited. An abandoned, two-seater attack helicopter sits nearby sheltered from the wind by a half-crumpled hangar. Also nearby is a HISS tank as well as a faster attack jeep. Flying is the fastest and riskiest way out, while the HISS is armed and armored it is slower than the jeep.


>Take the helicopter
>Take the HISS tank
>Take the jeep
>Write in