Sins of the Mother Part 4 of 4
	Short Summary The Baroness finally confronts Cobra Commander and Destro stands between them. Spirit and Snake-Eyes find Flint at the Cobra destination where the Baroness left him. Cobra Commander, using his master plan, forces Destro into choosing who to side with he decides the Baroness. The Joes are captured by Blackout and delivered to Cobra Commander. Destro turns over control of M.A.R.S. and his first born son Alexander to Cobra Commander in return for his newborn son. And Cobra Commander reveals to the Joes that he has all of the background information on every Joe.
	Notes of Interest Cobra Commander takes control of M.A.R.S. First time Baroness sees her son and his name is revealed, Eugen.
Major Players The Joe Team: Flint, Snake-Eyes, Spirit Cobra: Blackout, Cobra Commander, Zarana Former Cobras: Baroness, Destro
Creative Team Script: Mark Powers, Pencils: Mike Bear, Colors: Jean-Francois Beaulieu, Letters: Brian J. Crowley, Military Advisor: Phil Kost, Supreme Emperor (Editor): Mike O'Sullivan, Cover: Mike Bear, Clayton Brown and Jean-Francois Beaulieu
Long Summary GI Joe Headquarters. Two weeks ago. (See America's Elite 16-18) The Phoenix Guard have attacked the Joes base and cut the power. The Baroness has escaped her cell; she kills a couple of soldiers, unable to access the computer database, steals some data disks and then confronts Zarana. Honduras, Now. Destro is standing between Cobra Commander and the Baroness. Both he and she are pointing guns at each other. He is trying to persuade her to relax and not kill the Commander. But she is a mother hunting for her kidnapped child. Destro reminds her that he is the father and that the only way they will get their son back is listen to Cobra Commander. This is the first time the Baroness learns the sex of her child and she agrees to listen. Outside of the Cobra base, Snake-Eyes and Spirit have tracked down the Baroness' plane and discovered the tied up Flint. They release him and rush off to attack the Cobra base. As they leave, the Baroness is informed by radio to her hidden ear piece that the Joes are coming. Back inside, Cobra Commander threatens that he will raise her son in his image; she reminds him that he failed miserably with his first son, Billy. Cobra Commander wants an heir to his empire. But Destro realizes the ploy and cuts to the chase and begins a negotiation. The Joes have fought their way into the complex but they are surrounded and Blackout forces them to drop their weapons. They are then brought to the Commander. Cobra Commander then talks to Snake-Eyes reminding him of his betrayal long ago and that any chance they ever had has long past. (See Snake-Eyes Declassified). Cobra Commander then orders Blackout to kill them. The Baroness steps in to talk to Flint saying "Poor little man at least you'll get to see your darling Jaye. Goodbye, Flint." Then puts her arms around his head and kisses him. Unknown to everyone she drops a key to the cuffs in his hand. Destro's comment is "I presume that display has a point". She responses with "Trust me". Blackout puts the gun to the back of Flint's head and with free hands Flint gets the gun and knocks down Blackout. He immediately fires at Cobra Commander who ducks behind his chair. Snake-Eyes attacks the Commander. Blackout begins firing at them as Spirit and Flint duck for cover under a table as Destro and the Baroness also take cover. Cobra Commander taunts Snake-Eyes about how he has grown weak and should go back to being a ninja. In order to protect Cobra Commander, Destro stops the fighting with his wrist rockets. The Baroness wants her child. And the Commander refuses. She has no leverage but Destro steps up and offers his family's company M.A.R.S. in return for his newborn son. He takes of his mask. Cobra Commander says "I want it all-your weapons, manufacturing company, your estate, all your holdings and since you don't need two heirs…I want your other son." James McCullen, no longer Destro, agrees and the baby is revealed as a wall opens. The Baroness runs to her child and names him Eugen, after her deceased brother. Flint points out that McCullen has just given a powerful military to a madman. McCullen doesn't care he and the Baroness have their son. Flint then turns to Cobra Commander to capture him. But the Commander stops him by saying "I learned quite a bit during my time in the White House. Your most guarded secrets. Operational. Personal. I know the whereabouts of every family member of every Joe whoever served." And he points out that he has an army of vipers ready to kill them all. Hours later, Cobra Commander is by himself studying schematics of Destro's army. A viper enters to report the base is ready to evacuate. The viper questions the trade he made. Cobra Commander's deal just got him a powerful army, a new more deadly generation of vipers taken from the US military, he knows the true names of every Joe and their tactics. He lost nothing and then executes the viper. The Beginning… Summary by Josh Eggebeen
Number 24, June 2007