Code Name: Sea-Strike!
	Short Summary The Joes battle strange Cobra robots intent on shooting down the space shuttle.
	Notes of Interest Shows Cobra Troops in some of their earliest uniforms, first and only ever sighting of the SEA Legs by Cobra, strange mechanical robots with two legs and a command platform.
	Major Players The Joes: Breaker, Clutch, Flash, Grand Slam, Grunt, Hawk, Rock 'n' Roll, Scarlett, Short-Fuse, Snake-Eyes, Stalker, Steeler, Zap Cobra: Cobra Commander, Baroness.
Creative Team Script and art: Herb Trimpe script and art, Letterer: Rick Parker, Colorist: Christie Scheele, Editor: Denny O'Neil, Editor in chief: Jim Shooter.
Long Summary Cobra Commander and the Baroness are enroute to the launch location of the Space Shuttle via boat that converts to a submarine. The boat picks up hostile aircraft on the radar and dives below. Elsewhere the Joe team (all of the original team members) is carrying out an undisclosed mission at an even further undisclosed location when Hawk rounds them up and instructs them to get ready for transport to Florida to the Kennedy Space Center to provide security for the new satellite that will be placed into orbit by the space shuttle. The hope is that the new satellite will provide the location and subsequently destroy the suspected underwater network of launch sites that it is believed Cobra is building. Meanwhile the Cobra sub/ship enters an underwater command base, one of the bases that it is hoped that the satellite will find. Inside CC briefs his officers along with the Baroness about the superiority of his underwater bases and their military invincibility. He further extrapolates that there will soon be bases of this type all over the world threatening every nation on earth. CC explains that in two days they will test fire their first orbital missile and afterwards the satellites will be launched into orbit by the hundreds thus providing positioning for warheads to strike anywhere. CC's deranged delusions really show through when he even comments about taking the first step toward ruling the cosmos itself. The Baroness further explains that the undersea bases are too deep to be attacked from the surface and the laser shields are too sophisticated for detection by conventional means. She also states that the Americans are aware of the bases. CC reminds her that they are however in the dark about the location of the base, and the fact that he is aware that a satellite will be placed into orbit that would be able to locate the base. CC contends that Cobra will attack and destroy the space shuttle that will be carrying the satellite as well as the entire complex. Threatens troops with death even if the fail. At the Kennedy Space Center, a transport plane is unloading GIJoe personnel and equipment. Some of the Joes joke about going to the beach and having fun. Later, Hawk gives a final briefing indicating the plan of defense. Hawk plans on an inner and outer ring around the shuttle. Inside the inner ring will be Zap, Short Fuze, Scarlett, Snake Eyes and Hawk. The outer ring will consist of a mobile defense unit and will be comprised of Steeler and Grunt in the MOBAT Tank towing the missile launcher (which I believe would be the MMS, however only a glimpse is shown. Rock N Roll will be riding "his bike" which is the RAM cycle. Clutch and 'Ranger' will be in the VAMP towing the laser cannon (HAL) with Grand Slam. Hawk referred to Stalker as the 'Ranger' a few times, which is his title, but later, calls him by his codename, Stalker. Hawk places Stalker in command of the outer ring. Flash and Breaker will be riding with the shuttle for the launch. The next morning at 0100 hours the shuttle moves along with the gantry on the platform into position for launch. Some of the Joes joke about the pace the shuttle is moving at. At 0700 hours Flash, Breaker and two astronauts board the shuttle for launch, when Stalker breaks in over the radio and calls a red alert indicating to Hawk that Cobra has arrived in force and is attempting a water front landing. At the waterfront, numerous Cobra S.E.A Legs attack craft begin moving along the swamp front at the space center. One of the S.E.A Legs indicates over the radio to CC that they are encountering units that appear to be from GIJoe. CC orders all to be destroyed. Stalker tells Hawk that they are caught in the open and must "advance to the rear". Grand Slam manages to shoot down one of the S.E.A Legs before he jumps to safety as the HAL is destroyed. The Joes begin their retreat with the VAMP and Stalker using the JUMP Jet Pack. CC and the Baroness watch the whole thing from a submarine surfaced outside the skirmish. CC seems to become overconfident with the attack as the Joes retreat and is scolded by the Baroness who alludes to past defeats at the hands of the Joe team. CC refuses to rationalize and continues on with his premature victorious rantings. The VAMP meets up with the MOBAT and Clutch asks Steeler and Grunt where the heck Rock N Roll is. The Joes attempt to hide in the tall grass as the MMS is destroyed as Cobra closes in on them. Steeler immediately swings around the MOBAT and takes out one of the S.E.A Legs, then another. Stalker using the JUMP Jet Pack flies up and drops a grenade in the exhaust vent of one of the S.E.A Legs machines as Steeler destroys another one. Rock N Roll eventually shows up with the RAM cycle and destroys yet another S.E.A Leg machine, commenting about his lateness saying he made a wrong turn at the last alligator. CC then orders a unit of armor to move forward. Stalker tells Hawk on the radio about the armor and requests reinforcements. Hawk replies to Stalker telling him that he sees what's going on and has deployed the rest of the team. Simultaneously a land torpedo is fired from one of the Cobra armored units destroying the MOBAT ability to drive. The Joes retaliate with the MOBAT utilizing the still capable front cannon and begin to fire on the Cobra armor units. At the same time, Zap and Short Fuze begin firing on the armored units with mortar rounds and bazooka shells. Scarlett appears and dumps a satchel charge into one of the Cobra tanks completely destroying it, while Snake Eyes descends on a Cobra Trooper who is spotting the advancement of the troops, when he is "silently" taken out by Snake Eyes. Baroness, excited, states to CC that the Joes have won, CC not being deterred in the least, fires a wire guided missile at the shuttle itself which is subsequently destroyed. The shuttle begins its liftoff. CC comments about at least there was one Joe burned in the explosion of the missile in close proximity to the shuttle, however, Hawk ducked into a blast shelter and requests a pickup from the rescue chopper. Flash comments to Breaker about the "ride" on their way up into space. Baroness and CC dive into the water with the helicopter commenting that Cobra is indeed still on the attack. Aboard the rescue chopper Stalker informs Hawk about a large "blip" on the radar screen, when Hawk responds right back with having a visual on the now surfaced Cobra underwater base. The Joes land the helicopter on top of the base and board the base. Just then CC over a loud speaker greets the Joes and would like to see if they would enjoy their second launch of the day. Just then, out from the middle of the base launches a missile on its way to destroy the shuttle. Breaker and Flash are informed of the missiles launch and devise a plan to try to move the shuttle out of the way of the incoming missile. Flash and Breaker are outside the shuttle while the missile hurtles towards them and Breaker wants Flash to come up with some type of plan and quick. Flash positions himself in front of the missile and as the missile passes he accelerates just enough to fly with the missile and tries to adjust the power of his backpack enough to force the missile just a little of course while he holds on. Flash accomplishes this, and the missile barely misses the shuttle. The missile flies out into space a little more then blows up. Breaker starts singing to Flash praises of his accomplishment. Meanwhile down on earth, the Joes are in a heavy firefight with Cobra Troops. Hawk directs Short Fuze to drop in some mortar cover fire while the Joes advance. He succeeds in destroying the tower from which the Cobras were firing. The Joes advance on the complex and begin to overrun the Cobra Troops. CC interrupts the fighting to announce that the entire base has been booby-trapped with explosives and that the Joes do not have enough time to disarm it. Steeler comments that the chopper was destroyed and all they have is the survival kits and life rafts. Hawk directs everyone to get on a raft along with the prisoners who refuse to abandon the ship stating that they would rather die and serve CC to the end. The Joes depart leaving the disillusioned Cobra Troops behind, as they begin to paddle away from the base. The base then explodes. It is then immediately pointed out that CC and the Baroness are approaching the Joes with their combination boat/submarine which also has a plane anchored onto the back of it. CC heads straight for the Joes attempting to run them down when Zap, with the last piece of ordnance, fires at the boat sinking it immediately. The Joes comment on the possibility of that being the last they see of CC, but then, the plane emerges from the water at breakneck speed and the CC and Baroness escape. Stalker and Hawk comment on the possibility of CC always being one step ahead of them as the rest of the Joes comment about where they will be sent next...the Sahara, training in the sea tanks? Who knows? By V Kaszak
Number 8, February 1983