Chapter 14
The Joe forces in and around the captured compound had shaken off the cobwebs of the most recent surprise attack and were licking their wounds. They were slightly embarrassed by the recent attack, but they would be all the more prepared for the unexpected next time around. Beach-Head returned from the shoreline to report that he had visual confirmation of both the USS Crockett and the Flagg. Ambush had been instructed to give Pathfinder the go-ahead to spring the captured Marines when they met up for their next scheduled rendezvous.
The jungle specialist was on time and seamlessly took his newest orders from the completely camouflaged soldier. Without a word, he turned, made the appropriate “all clear” bird call signal and returned to base. Upon his return, he read the note and was unsure what to do. It said the attack would come at 1613 hours from the west and to have the Marines ready for extraction. He studied the information then properly disposed of it by burning the evidence. Although his mind was still troubled as he tossed around the idea of joining the emerging Cobra factions, he still headed over to the stockade.
It had been many days since I had had any contact with Pathfinder. The appearance of him outside the window gave me some new found hope. It reminded me of the time my grandmother had needed a heart transplant and both my parents and her doctors had just about given up on finding her an acceptable donor in time. I held her hand as she laid in her hospital bed sobbing softly to myself. My grandmother was a tough woman. She had survived two world wars and close to a dozen Presidents. She looked at me and firmly.
“Stop crying. It will all work out. I’m not going out like this.”
I nodded and did my best to suppress my tears.
“Stevie, you need to have faith. I’m going to die only when I’m good and ready. And today’s not the day.”
She smiled at me and I immediately wiped away my tears.
“I have a good feeling.”
A day later, her doctors had found her a suitable heart donor. I watched as they wheeled her into surgery and stayed up all night while the surgery was being completed. Sixteen hours later, my grandmother woke up and I was there to see her. She didn’t speak, but her eyes confirmed what I had already known. Three months later, she was out in our backyard weeding her flower gardens on her hands and knees. My grandmother was a great woman and taught me that above all, you just need to have faith. That and the stubbornness to never give up.
The undercover G.I.Joe flashed me a hand signal and nodded. The message was simple, “Rouse the troops. Freedom arrives at 1613. I will leave the door unlocked. Be ready and alert!” I nodded slightly and then continued to stare off into the center of the compound as not to arouse any suspicion in case anyone else had been watching. The position of the sun told me it was already close to 1300 hours, and it was also close to the time that the Cobra prizefighter said he would be returning for his competition the day before. He had single-handedly taken out three of the biggest Marines yesterday and would be requesting five sparring opponents today. As Pathfinder moved out of sight, I flashed a silent code to Hollow Point and Hidalgo. Everyone’s spirits seemed to be slightly lifted.
Our captors brought us our lunch rations and within an hour the massive, masked boxer appeared in our prison cell once again. This time, however, Pathfinder was one of the flanking officers. Big Boa began to confidently strut around the prison room sizing up the competition.
“I'm looking for five good men to match me in the ring,” he sneered. “Surely there has to be some of you who can last a few rounds!”
I looked around the room. Most of my fellow Marines avoided making eye contact with the hulking man after having witnessed the sheer power of the Cobra trainer just the day before. At first, he passed me over. He sized up Hollow Point, Cpl Perez, PFC Conway, PFC O’Mallory and then his eyes fell back onto me.
“Ah, the one who Crystal Ball couldn't break!” He grabbed me by my collar and hoisted me up to his eye level. “I'm sure I'll have a little more luck.” I could see his eyes narrow through the mask. “Grab these five!”
Pathfinder and the other guards escorted us out of the stockade and into the fast-forming man-made arena. The position of the sun told me it was roughly a quarter to three. We would have to fight now and again later if we hoped to escape.
“Well now, which one of you pansies is fashioning for a new nose today?”
We all looked at each other and with a nod of agreement, decided to bum rush him simultaneously. Could he possibly take on all five of us at the same time? We were about to find out.
* * * * *
Zartan had easily picked Lt. Alkeenen out of the assembled squadrons, all he needed to do now was isolate him, knock him out, and incapacitate him before the convoy left to join the upcoming battle. For a brief moment, he almost scratched his original plan and thought about staying behind hidden in the under-guarded Pit, but the master of disguise was one to be in the thick of it all. He wanted to be there when Cobra either rose to power or fell into obscurity. As he further contemplated the situation at hand, his intended mark made a move for the privy. The disguised chameleon of a man, adjusted his uniform, lowered his hat and chin and strolled in behind him.
* * * * *
Admiral Keelhaul had been given explicit orders to launch the Sky Strikers at 1605 hours. At 1610 hours, he would deploy the first round of depth charges. By 1613 hours, Recondo, Gung-Ho, and Beach Head would be moving in through the main gates of the Marine compound. The four dozen army grunts would be approaching from the north and south to punch a hole through the outside walls. The initial air strike would take out the command center and the guard towers. Several paratroopers, Rip Cord, and Sky Dive would be deployed from an overhead convoy plane at this time in order to serve as cover fire for the approaching ground troops. The plan seemed a solid one, and if all went well, not only would the Marines be free, but hopefully some of Cobra’s higher-ups would also be apprehended, and their underwater base either crippled or destroyed.
* * * * *
Lieutenant Alkeenen straightened his uniform grabbed his rucksack and re-entered APC number two of the convoy. He sat down and peered over the new laser rifle and grenade launcher in his possession. The three armored personnel carriers drove back to the elevator and exited the Pit’s motorcade along with two Warthog personnel carriers loaded with the other participating G.I.Joe specialists. Afterward, several other Joe vehicles that included a trio of Vamp jeeps, a Mobat and a Wolverine ascended with their prospective drivers. The newly formed armored convoy, along with two dozen other G.I.Joe specialists began their trek to rendezvous with the assault teams stationed outside the Marine outpost. The whole time the master of disguise rode along completely unnoticed. If all went well, the real Alkeenen’s now lifeless body would be incinerated long before anyone was the wiser.
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