Cobra Commander is leading an armored column of Cobra Hiss Tanks across Washington D.C.; trampling the pristine green lawns, rolling treads up shattered steps and bursting through the walls of the United States Capitol Building!

At least until Zartan wakes him up. Zartan infiltrates his august Commander’s bedchambers to inform him that elements of an armed militia group, the Broken Star Liberation Army (BSLA), which was financed by Cobra had managed to capture the Statue of Liberty, Mt Rushmore, and actually roll tanks up to the Capitol Building. The fact that the US Armed Services quickly capture or destroyed these radicals was inconsequential; the terrorist actions on domestic soil was just the first phase of his plan. Cobra Commander then contacted the Jugglers, the secret cabal of Washington Generals, and suggested an alliance. The Jugglers agreed, provided Cobra Commander could bring them enough votes to institute martial law. After ensuring with Destro that there was no evidence of the connections between the BSLA attacks and Cobra, and managing viral internet propaganda with Zartan, Cobra Commander orders the green light for “Phase II” and commands Dr. Mindbender to upgrade the battle armor he designed for him. (Last seen in G.I. Joe #151)

Meanwhile, the Baroness leads Billy and Storm Shadow on a mission to secure WMDs (Weapons of Mass Destruction) from Trucial Abysmia, mowing through the Revolutionary Elite Guards until at the last moment they are recalled by the Commander. They return while Cobra Commander is testing the flight capabilities of his new battle armor, and Billy is furious. He attacks his father, Cobra Commander, who disables him with the armor, and orders him back to the brainwave scanner. In a darkened hallway of the Silent Castle, the Baroness questions Destro’s loyalty to her over the Commander. Soon after, Dr. Mindbender confides in Destro that the Brainwave Scanner is malfunctioning, and that there was a trojan horse placed in the programming by the original creator, Dr. Venom. He asks for his help, and they agree to keep this from Cobra Commander. Unbeknownst to them, Storm Shadow and Zartan overhear the entire exchange.

The issue ends with Cobra Commander giving the order to “wake up the sleepy-heads”. Ominously, telephones begin to ring all over Washington D.C....

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