The Cabal Part Three
	Short Summary A team of Joes and Cobra's sent to rescue Flint and the Baroness from the Red Mafia are captured along with former October Guard member Diana. Flint and Baroness in return rescue, with the help of Destro, the captured Joes and Cobra's. In the process Lt. Gorky of the October Guard dies.
	Notes of Interest Former October Guard member Lt. Gorky dies. October Guard Diana becomes a member of the GI Joe team. Diagram of the New Pit, level four.
Major Players The Joes: Flint, Gung-Ho, Lade Jaye, Paige Adams, Scarlett, Snake-Eyes Cobra: Alexander Destro, Baroness, Cobra Commander, Destro, Tomax, Xamot, Zartan October Guard: Diana, Lt. Gorky Additional Characters: Red Mafia: Moskin, Pytor, Victor, Aleksei, Shoutan
Creative Team Story: Josh Blaylock, Pencils: Brandon Badeaux, Inks: John Larter and Andrew Pepoy, Colors: Hi-Fi Colour Designs, Letters: Dreamer Designs, Copy Edits: Scott Wherle, Graphic Design: Mike Norton, Cover: Tim Seeley and Hi Fi Colour Design, Back Cover: David Michael Beck, Miltary Consultation: Tim Everett & Tilman Goins, Translations: Lenka Goins
Long Summary In the Czech Republic, Scarlett, Paige, Daina, and the Crimson Twins have become prisoners of the combined forces of the Yakuza, the Draci Ulic gang, and the Russian Mafia. But before they can be turned over to Mr. Shoutan, the interrogator, Shoutan himself stumbles up the stairs, injured, telling his leaders that the prisoners have escaped! Outside, the "prisoners" - Flint and the Baroness - are making ready to break back in and rescue their would-be rescuers. Before they get very far, though, they are set upon by the traitor Gorky and told to throw down their weapons. Fortunately, Destro arrives in an Anti-Gravity Pod, blasting out the windows and mowing Gorky and his men down. Meanwhile, Snake-Eyes bursts in and frees Scarlett, Paige, and Daina. Flint can't believe Destro and the Joes are working together, but Gung-Ho arrives and clears his mind. Before everyone can make their exit, however, Mr. Shoutan seizes the Baroness and puts a gun to hear head. After Destro yells some meaningless threats, Gung-Ho asks Paige if she's ready, and the sharpshooter takes Shoutan down from across the room. Daina moves to the injured Gorky, who confesses he simply got in over his head, but didn't want to betray them - and he hoped the Joes would come out on top. The fat isn't out of the fire yet, though, as Moskin, the Russian Mafia leader, shows up with a tank! Fortunately Destro has one last ace up his own sleeve - his son Alexander arrives in the new Cobra Strike Hiss, and easily dispatches Moskin and his tank. Elsewhere, lost in the commotion, the Crimson Twins make their escape in a stolen Ferrari... Flint, meanwhile, is woozy from the ordeal, telling Lady Jaye he's sore from being tied up with the Baroness for so long. Lady Jaye can't help but show her jealousy, which the Baroness decides to play on by coming over and planting a wet one on Flint before she takes her leave. Lady Jaye shows what the thinks of that by decking Flint! Four days later, Snake-Eyes takes Daina to visit Gorky's grave. She feels sorry for him, as deep down, he was a good man. She says she'll miss her home, but moving to America - and joining G.I. Joe - could be just what she needs. Half a world away in Detroit, Cobra Commander orders the newly returned twins to get to work on freeing the Dreadnoks from prison. Zartan says they'll need the muscle, since it seems every zealot the Commander ever betrayed is coming out of the woodwork to take a shot at Cobra. But the Commander's not worried, since, if an attack comes, it will have to make it through Zartan's forces and Storm Shadow before it can reach the Commander. However, it seems Storm Shadow's disappeared - all that remains of him is his sword, with a torn Cobra flag tied to it... Summary by: Josh Kern Originally posted at: SgtSavage.com Reprinted with permission
Number 19, July 2003