"Our spies tell us that the Joes have sent a number of their own to mingle as volunteers. Apparently, they are trying to determine whether this was a natural disaster, or one of the Cobra kind," Firefly stated dryly, purposely looking in Destro's direction. "You hit a school with your pseudo earthquake. They're not too happy when you hurt the little kiddies."

Destro waved a hand. "It was Saturday. Who the hell is in school on Saturday? If they were, they deserve what they got!"

"Not too many casualties were reported, and no fatalities." stated Tomax.

"Which is probably why they're not coming for our heads," finished Xamot, giving Destro another pointed look. "Two things you don't hurt in the good ol' US: their kids and their sports."

"Morons," the Commander mumbled, looking at the ones gathered around his conference table. If they weren't bickering with one another, they were trying to outdo the other. Granted, sometimes it had its benefits, but most often a plan was sabotaged by one of the jealous who was afraid it might actually work.

"Should have ruled this world years ago. Imbeciles," muttered the Commander again. The Baroness flicked him a glance which he ignored. She was wearing a new type of perfume and Destro was glaring daggers at her. Guess their relationship is in the "off" stage right now, he thought to himself. Good to know his trusted right and left hands were at each other's throats. Again. Wouldn't it be nice if they could actually focus on the job at hand, he thought sarcastically, instead of on their love life?

He must have voiced his last thought aloud because now both Destro and the Baroness were glaring at him.

The Commander cleared his voice. "I assume you've sent someone to the base to check the numbers of Joes that are currently on duty."

Score another one for the Commander, thought Destro, pleased to see that his friend's reasoning skills at the forefront of his mind instead of the usual cockamamie ideas he usually hatched. What was the last one? Oh yeah – to host a reality show and see how long the Joes lasted doing impossible tasks. A kind of "Fear Factor" or "Killer Karaoke," he had stated. Destro had not heard of either one of the shows, but then again, he did not watch as much TV as the leader of Cobra.

He claimed it was because he had to be in touch with today's society. Bullshit, thought Destro with a roll of his eyes. The Commander was just a TV junkie.

"Apparently some of the Joes are taking holidays as well," Tomax – or was it Xamot – stated. "The spy we put in accounting said that many have been requesting sick leave days."

The Commander chuckled at the mention of their spy. It had been one of his genius moments, he knew. For years, they had heard the Joes were going to lose funding from their own government. Now, they had someone on the inside who was going to cook the books so bad, the smoke wouldn't clear for weeks, he had claimed. So far, no one had asked to see the books, but he was ready, he claimed. At least it was a backup plan, the Commander mentally shrugged.

"We have Zartan infiltrating the volunteers. He's going to send us pictures of all the Joes working so we'll have a better idea of where everyone is. If they've sent anyone of importance, Zartan can see that certain…accidents…happen," Firefly stated to the others, getting a nod of approval from the Commander.

Destro looked thoughtfully at the Commander. He had really been on target the past couple of days. It was almost scary! Should he prepare for the dive back into madness, or was this some sort of long-winded streak?

Cobra Commander waved his arm at everyone. "Tell Zartan to have those pictures sent straight to my email. I want to know who's there and who's not!"

"Didn't we just say that?" one of the twins mumbled to the other, who shrugged in reply.

"I think I rather our Commander be a babbling idiot so we can go over his head and do whatever we want," the Baroness murmured to Destro as they left the room. They had called a temporary truce. "I think he's more dangerous in his sane moments than his insane ones!"

"Take heart, my dear," Destro replied. "Be grateful it's not some damn scheme to capture some all powerful fish to give him three wishes!"

The Baroness chuckled, earning a glare from Destro. "I remember that one."

"Of course you do! You weren't the one who had to dive six feet in that pool with the piranaha!"